Another morning, another sparring match with Felix. Over the past couple weeks he had abused my good will at every opportunity. One night I finally sat him down and asked what his fervor was all about. With a smug smile he told me he would soon ask Avarus for permission to compete in the Amphitheater. He was ready, and our blademaster had no reason to deny him.

Velassa had its own Amphitheater as well. In my home city criminals would fight each other to the death in rings of fire or compete against wild beasts driven into a panic. The thought left a sour taste in my mouth. My parents had rightfully forbidden me from attending even though it was considered a religious ceremony.

The Amphitheatre in Odena did not pretend to be holy and was supposedly less sinful. All combatants volunteered to fight, lured by dreams of greed and glory. Lethal strikes were banned even though they used edged weapons; accidents had killed countless fighters in the last couple centuries but such inevitabilities were excused under the pretext that they knew what they were signing up for.

So here I was, spending another morning acting as Felix's dancing puppet.

He proved that no matter how many times I could repeat a duel there were some opponents I could simply not defeat. I could reverse time whenever he scored a point or disarmed me but if I blocked one attack the next one was always close behind. He combined the movements of the first legato and the beginning of second into something cohesive, organic. Eventually I would grow tired of the farce and let him finish the match.

Worst of all was that quirk of his. Whenever I thought I had an opening my foot would slip on a random patch of ice or the wind blew snow into my eyes. Nothing he seemed to do consciously. Nature just favored him.

After another humiliating defeat we separated to take a break.

Avarus and four youths stood watching us. After coming down with a brutal cough the old blademaster had conceded to the elements and wore his honey-colored cloak. The youths wore the grey of acolytes and were a few years older than us. Each held a spear with a wooden blade.

“We have company.” Avarus folded his arms. “From our brothers and sisters in Karysto. Their teacher is a dear old friend. I ask him to send his best every year or so. They are more than familiar with Felix at this point.”

Felix offered them a little wave.

“I see there are four of them and two of us,” I said. “Are you planning to join us, master?”

Avarus shook his head. “I no longer take much pleasure in smacking children around. Single duels. Their best against Felix. Second best against you.”

“I’ve only been an acolyte for five months.”

“Then this should be a humbling experience for someone.”

Felix sheathed his wooden sword and strolled over to the group from Karysto. “I thought Lisara was your best.”

One of the acolytes was a portly young man with an earnest face. He blushed. “She doesn’t like being out in the cold. I would be honored if I could face you this time. After my match with Leones. If you don’t mind, of course.”

Felix looked at me and blinked rapidly, trying to hold back a smile. “They have manners in Karysto. Not even the servants in Odena are polite.”

“I came to the wrong city,” I said.

“You’re stuck with us now. Shall we show these nice boys some hospitality?”

Avarus cleared his throat. “Remember that this is a friendly competition between peers. It is also a learning opportunity for everyone involved.”

In other words, Felix should not embarrass his opponent.

The first duel was between me and the portly acolyte. We assumed our positions, ten feet apart, weapons held at the ready. No trace of friendliness remained on his face. Acceptable posture, tight grip on his spear.

Avarus whistled.

He charged. Plodding, inelegant, but damn he was big. My heart pounded, vision sharpening. The first time we fought he tackled me to the ground and there was no getting back up.

I reversed time.

In our second bout I danced to the side and swept at the snow with my boot. When he turned to me a faceful of powder blinded him. The spear licked out at me; I deflected his desperate blow, turning aside the shaft and stepping into his reach.

To my surprise he dropped his spear and tried grappling. I struck his chin with the pommel of my sword once, twice, but we never agreed to any rules for ending the match. The blows did nothing but enrage him. Between his bulk and the look on his face it felt like wrestling with a bear. He tore the weapon from my hands and pawed at me. No technique, but damn, he was plenty strong.

I tried to pivot and toss him over my shoulder but his weight barely shifted. With a bellow he pushed out, throwing me off my feet. I rolled to the closest weapon---his spear---and, grabbing it, came to my feet in one smooth motion. The spear whipped around just in time to halt his wild charge; he came to a stop with the wooden blade pressing a furrow into his thick jowls.

The bloodlust in the boy’s eyes disappeared. He took a step back and bowed his head in respect. I returned his spear, nodding. Without a word he retreated to his friends, shoulders slumped.

Avarus did not even favor me with a look. He clapped his hands. “Leones is the victor. Now for the real match. Hopefully more of a bout between gentlemen. Felix, Rayen, step to.”

Even though the others seemed to have already forgotten my victory, I could not help but grin. I would have been crushed in a grappling match but the thought did little to dim my smile. Sure, I used my power, but he had years of training and near a hundred pounds on me and I finished him in less than fifteen seconds.

I stood beside Avarus and the other acolytes from Karysto as the next two combatants assumed their positions.

The portly boy stuck his hand out. “Name’s Johan. You’re damn fast.”

I clasped his wrist. “Leones. You’re damn strong.”

Avarus whistled for the next match to begin.

They circled each other until Rayen closed the distance with a jab. Felix turned his head just enough to avoid the spear blade. After a few near misses the Karystan lost his temper and attempted to pin him down with a flurry of strikes.

Felix weaved between the blows like a dancer, beautiful in his fluidity, not even bothering to use his sword. I understood his plan moments before it materialized. He favored this clearing because of all the tricky stones and holes obscured under the snow. Rayen stumbled into the same trap I had fallen into several times before learning my lesson.

The acolyte lost his footing and fell on his ass. Felix pinned the spear to the ground with his blade and aimed a savage kick at Rayez’s head; the blow may have killed him if Felix didn’t stop it a hair’s-breadth from the acolyte’s temple.

Avarus clapped. “Felix is the victor. Did I not say this was supposed to be a learning activity? It’s a shame Lisara isn’t here to humble these two. She will have her opportunity in the next couple weeks. The Karystan acolytes will be staying for a while to attend my classes.”

Felix turned and walked away. I crushed the urge to follow him. What was I, his pet?

“Well,” said Avarus, “I guess he will not be joining this impromptu lesson. I think an extra hour today will help us tighten up a few things. Particularly you, Leones. I have several criticisms.”

I sighed.

* * *

Felix and I celebrated that night at Amelie's. Avarus had agreed to allow my friend to compete in the Games and though he made no further comment, I was certain he would be somewhere in that crowd watching. Most combatants did not try their luck until late in their second decade. However, since Avarus was last recorded as competing as a five-legato blademaster, his word carried enough weight for the officials to agree.

That bought Felix a place in the Games to be held in ten days. Usually combatants had to sign up far in advance but some exception had been made. Perhaps because of the snow?

I drank a glass of wine and Felix worked on the rest of the bottle. That night we relaxed on a divan pulled up on the first floor. Instead of musicians, a trio of Amelies performed in an aerial silk ballet, lithe forms contorting in a pattern I could not quite follow.

"Bless me," said Felix. "I won't tell Lyra about this."

"I think she's more interested in her paintings."

"Her paintings are important. Jealousy is ugly."

I still found it strange that Felix and I had become friends. The youth was not someone I would ever associate with in my past life. I never would've encountered anyone like him. He was arrogant and off-putting but had never done anything to harm or offend me. He could be witty and the more he explained his worldview to me the more sense it made, though I never really empathized with it. There were worse people to spend time with.

Felix gestured to the entrance, wearing a sour expression. Mara stood at the head of the Karystans. Still no sign of their leader, Lisara. The lads watched the aerial silk show with a variety of expressions I couldn't help but find comedic.

Mara spotted us and directed their group towards the divan we lounged on. Judging from the complaints in her wake she was not careful in avoiding others, especially uncaring of the slumped figures on the floor too far gone into their opium haze.

"If I saw Caedius here..." said Mara.

"This area is reserved," said Felix. "Private celebration."

Johan, the large one I sparred earlier, stepped to the front. He pulled a spectacles case from his pocket and retrieved from it a pair of dainty eyeglasses. When he pressed them against his broad face he looked absurd. "Avarus asked Mara to show us around. She thought it'd be a good idea for us all to meet up."

Felix did not look impressed. The other boy met his unblinking gaze. My friend shifted and pulled a deck of cards from his pocket, slow and deliberate. He selected a single one and held it out to Johan, clenched between his second and third fingers. "Take this card from my hand and you can sit down."

Without further prompting Johan made a snatch for the card. Not even close.

"One more try?" said Felix.

This time, right before Johan made his attempt, I reached out and seized Felix by the wrist. Caught off guard, he turned toward me; the Karystan seized his moment and plundered the immobilized hand.

Felix looked like he had a lot to say. Instead he gestured beside him. Mara took the seat and the Karystans gathered around us, awkwardly hunched to minimize their space.

Rayen, the one Felix embarrassed, spoke up. "We don't have places like this in Karysto."

To my surprise, my friend responded. "You just don't know the right people. Don't talk too much, you'll ruin the show."

An Amelie with black hair and a cat-mask manuevered her way to our little group and began taking orders. Rayen eyed the pipe loosely clutched in Felix's hand before ordering an ale. The other Karystans followed Johan's lead and chose to remain sober.

We watched the remaining fifteen minutes of the show together. Mara grew more interested as the show went on, drinking wine straight out of the bottle with Felix. At the finale when the dancers clambered to the top of their silks then let themselves fall, gyrating and shedding folds of cloth until they came to a sudden stop a few paces above the floor, Mara stood and clapped longer than anyone.

"But you'd be mad if Caedius was here?" I said, sharing a little grin with Johan. He tilted his head and shrugged, as if saying he couldn't understand women either.

"I can appreciate beauty," she said after another swig of wine. "Caedius goes wild over the Games and his favorite warriors. He still wouldn't want me ogling them with a group of desperate women."

"I'm not desperate," said Rayen, scrunching up his mouse-like face. We ignored him.

Felix adjusted himself on the divan. "So why are you all here again?"

"Avarus asked me to show them around," said Mara. "Where else should we have gone this late at night?"

"There are about fifty other taverns, ancient temples, the Gardens, brothels, ice sculptures, pit fights, musical performances. Off the top of my head. All this time you've spent recently hunting me down without your boyfriend latched onto you. I'm starting to wonder if you have a little crush, Mara."

Flushing, she tossed a few coppers at Felix to pay for her share of the wine. He caught them, rolled them around in his palm, then bit into one as if testing gold for authenticity. Mara stormed off, waving away one of the Amelies who moved to intercept her path. Johan and Rayez stayed behind while the more taciturn Karystans followed her outside.

"Well," I said. "Did you really have to antagonize her?"

"I didn't invite her. Or them. Is it not rude to just barge in on us relaxing? Should I just let her do whatever she wants because I'm terrified of hurting her feelings?"

Rayen set aside his half-finished mug. "That's how you get a princess like Lisara."

Johan slapped his companion's arm hard enough to make him grunt. "Lisara is the strongest of us so she's the leader. Felix is the strongest overall so we must respect his wishes. We can leave, if we are still disturbing you two."

Felix looked tempted to take them up on that offer. Then he smiled. "A man that respects the hierarchy. You two aren't shabby with the spear. I never gave you that match you asked for, by the way. Maybe we should have a little bout. You two against me."

Rayen did little to conceal his grimace but still nodded. Johan clapped once, face brightening. He gestured for one of the Amelies and ordered a celebratory glass of brandy.

"Go for the Raisso private reserve," I said. "Touch of water and sugar."

We stayed longer than expected, chatting amongst ourselves as the other clientele dispersed. Johan complimented me on my recommendation as if it wasn't the only thing in my repertoire. Rayen in particular loosened up the more we talked, burying a second mug of ale before asking Felix if he could try the opium. My friend wiped his saliva from the pipe and passed it along. The Karystan's eyes widened after he took a small hit. Johan and I declined his offer to pass it along to us.

"So there is a separate legato for the spear as well?" I said.

Johan nodded, staring at the bottom of his empty glass. "The legato is originally a sword art but around a hundred years ago Master Jappa made a....translation to the spear. Not quite the same, and he only created up to the seventh form. It's the dream of every spearman to continue the song by discovering what comes after."

How interesting. By that point I had finished a brandy myself, turning my thoughts into pretty mush. Rayen took up as much space on the divan as he could; he looked to be in no shape to fight Felix, let alone walk back by himself.

I found myself attempting to teach the others how to create mind palaces. Rayen lacked the focus and Johan seemed to take my advice well enough, constructing a small room in his head, though he said it was obviously flawed. Perhaps the alcohol interfered. Felix, on the other hand, revealed he was completely incapable of visualization.

"You mean to tell me you can see images in your head?" he said. "You can close your eyes and see a painting?"

The idea he couldn't seemed absurd to me. "Of course. You can't? Try imagining a red triangle."

He closed his eyes for a minute before biting his lip. "No. There's something there, a kind of impression, but that's all. I know what they look like but I can't create an image of it."

"You have dreams though, right?"

"Yes, but that's completely different."

How bizarre. The philosophers had a concept known as qualia, vaguely the idea that while there is a universally recognized 'red', the actual color I and someone else saw may be completely different, but we could never know without merging our consciousness. Tutors had praised my memory and learning abilities, and I knew my sense of sight and smell surpassed most, but I wondered just how different my reality was from everyone else's. If someone else experienced my thoughts and perspective, would it be completely unrecognizable?

My musings were interrupted by an emaciated figure buried beneath a dark robe strolling toward the exit. Long black hair obscured their profile. Not the strangest looking person I saw that night, but something about their gait seemed off. As if sensing my gaze she turned towards me---definitely a woman, features sharp and graceful, skin so pale it was near translucent. We made eye contact long enough for me to notice the black depths of her pupilless eyes.

Quicker than my eyes could register she disappeared from the first floor. The door did not even open. She simply vanished.

"Did anyone else see that?" I said.

The others denied anything. Felix was trying to concentrate on his visualization and the Karystans were facing away.

I reversed time a few minutes but the lady in the dark robe never returned. Even when I went back an entire hour and excused myself from the group, I could find no trace of her within Amelie in Yellow. Questioning the servants revealed nothing.

Consumed by curiosity, I could not stand to repeat my conversation with the others. I excused myself and wandered around the city, attempting to locate her, but I knew it was a fool's errand. It was late before I returned to the disciple's barracks, now crammed with the Karystans as well as Felix and Mara.

Even when morning came I could not fall asleep.

That woman was not a human.