Chapter 9: Spotlight

“Bless those vivimancers. They sincerely think that pumping up their overgrown muscles will help them in a real battle between mages. Such sweet little idiots.”

-Barnon Wydeson, Concordian auramancer, 188 U.E.

“Hold this,” Yin said, handing her melting ice cream to Amaline. She stood, eyes fixed on the fighters.

“Oh, uh, okay,” Amaline said. “Where are you going?”

“Yin, no,” Stephan said. “Don’t do it.”

Yin coiled up and launched into the air. She soared above clueless spectators, landing on an empty seat. Stepping on heads and shoulders, she made it the rest of the way to the concrete wall. With one last jump, she threw herself to the center of the arena, skidding on sand.

Between the lubbard and her prey.

Maz stopped in her tracks, shock apparent on her face. It quickly melted back into rage. “Move, shrimp,” she said. “This is my fight. If you interfere, I’ll kill you, too.”

Yin turned to face her. “Do your worst. I’m not letting you kill anyone.” She slapped away the auto-eye hovering about her, sending it spiraling into the sand.

Maz spat blood. “Fine. Have it your—”

Yin closed the distance between them in two steps. Uppercut to the chin, body blow to the liver, jab to the throat, all within a second. Choking for air, eyes plastered wide, the lubbard fell backward. She hit the ground hard. It wasn’t long before she passed out from the pain.

Armed security guards stormed the arena from both entrances, too late to be of any help. The crowd was deathly quiet.

“I… I can’t believe it!” Darling cried. “This mysterious spectator subdued Maz Ivicc! And with such ease! Give our hero a hand, people!”

Thousands roared their approval. Clapping, whistling, rising from their seats. Yin raised her hand and waved to them. She couldn’t help but grin.

Hero…

Don’t think I’ve ever been called that before.

Darling’s scuttler lowered him to the ground. Waddling across the arena, he snapped his fingers. The auto-eye rose up and zipped over to him, adhering in a strict orbit around the sparkly reedling.

Security lifted the two downed fighters away, and Darling made it over to Yin. He clapped her arm as if she were an old friend.

“Who can we thank for this dramatic rescue? What’s your name?” Darling asked. He thrust the farshout in her face.

Yin looked up at the myriad of expectant faces. “Uh… I’m Yin.”

“Yin? Give it up for Yin!”

Applause followed.

“Well,” Darling continued, “since Crawlin lost, and Maz disqualified herself through her disgraceful lack of sportsmanship, it stands to reason that the winnings should go to you.”

Yin shook her head. “Give it to Crawlin. He needs it more than I do.”

Darling’s mouth dropped. He quickly recovered from his shock, however, a cunning grin forming. “Did you hear that, people? Not just heroic, but generous, too! Very well, Yin. Your wishes will be honored.” Tilting the farshout away from his face, he pulled Yin close. “Listen, kid. You’ve got a future here, but I can tell from a glance you’ve got way more than 500 evos in you. Awakened vivimancy, right?”

“Uh…”

“Don’t worry about it, though, Uncle Darling’ll sort you out. Just show up to this location and I’ll set you up with a match. Off the books, y’hear?”

With a subtle flick, Darling produced a stiff paper card. Hesitantly, Yin took it and stuck it in her pocket.

“Attagirl,” he said with a wink.

*****

Yin caught up with Stephan and Amaline just outside the stadium. The pink-haired woman reached her even before her father, gathering Yin in her arms.

“Oh, Sun, that was so scary!” Amaline exclaimed. “You saved that man’s life!”

“You were reckless,” Stephan said. Hands on hips, brow furrowed. Slowly, his expression eased up. He sighed. “But you did good.”

Yin blushed at the praise.

Once Amaline finally let go of her, Stephan checked her for wounds. Finding none, he nodded, satisfied. He gave her shoulder a final squeeze and stepped back.

“I’m sorry for subjecting you to this on your first day,” he said to Amaline. “I had pictured something a little more enjoyable.”

“No worries, boss,” Amaline chirped. “I’m happy you thought of me. And thanks. Again. For hiring me, that is. You don’t know how much I appreciate it.”

Stephan nodded. “No worries. You can come in at three tomorrow—I’ll have your contract drawn up by then.”

“Thanks!” Amaline glanced up at the star-riddled sky. “Guess I should probably be going, huh? Already pretty late.”

“Do you need someone to walk you home?”

“I’ll be fine. I know how to take care of myself.” Amaline began to walk away, but waved back at the two of them, palm crackling with electricity.

“In that case, have a good night.”

“Goodnight!”

“Goodnight,” Yin said after some deliberation.

The pink-haired woman rounded a corner, leaving Yin and Stephan alone aside from the lessening trickle of spectators.

“I’m proud of you,” Stephan said. “You did a good thing tonight.”

Yin blushed, even deeper this time. “They called me a hero.”

Stephan shrugged. “That’s what a hero does. They save people. Like the knights of Loron, or the paladins of Elandra.”

“A hero has to be strong.”

“I guess so. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to save anyone.” Stephan started walking. “Come on. Let’s get home. We wouldn’t want to mess up your sleep rhythm.”

Yin was left thinking about what she had done. Although she knew it was arrogant, she felt proud. Seeing everyone else cheer her on and praise her was like a shot of liquid courage.

I want to be a hero, someday, she thought.