The grin just wouldn't stop.

Rolling her broad shoulders, Lizzy felt the advantages of having a larger body. The reach wasn't any different since it was an illusion and not body-shaping, but the illusion was strong enough that Lizzy could feel the difference in muscle mass. Her muscles felt tighter. More robust. Less lean and all-too-ready to pummel something. It was a shame that she'd have to take it out on poor Rez.

Well. Not really.

None of the other challengers were any fun. Limiting herself and feigning fatigue the entire time was beyond dull. 50% was enough for a decent match if Rez could last longer than a few seconds.

Rez took an elegant stance, fingers splayed outward like she commanded strings. Lizzy's grin remained as she settled into a sprinter's starting position. Her copper eyes became shaded by the red locks falling over her face.

"Ready?"

Eli held up a hand.

"Start."

Lizzy arrived. Rez's time dilated, slowing as she saw a laughing death inching closer to her face. The girl went cross-eyed as she watched it inch closer to her pert nose.

The sonic boom flew past her forehead, a small shockwave shooting out from the attack.

"Hoh?"

Zed's voice was curious as he peered down at the bent-back Rez. Vines draped her shoulders, pulling her down and supporting her body like the bud of a freshly sprouted flower. A sheen of nervous sweat replaced the typical dew drops.

Rez blinked away her hesitation. Thorny appendages broke through the arena floor, hazarding the terrain as the magic carried her to the opposite side of the arena.

Zed laughed, not bothering to run on the thorns barefoot. With a miniscule amount of earth magic, he stomped, lifting a slab of rock the size of a catapult's payload. Then Zed smacked it with an open palm as Kuroko would a basketball.

Orchestrating, Rez caught the spinning projectile like a pitcher catching a softball. She reinforced the slab and placed it in between her and her opponent. The umber-green appendages writhed and slithered, gathering at her location, elevating her higher and higher. She was a Queen commanding her people.

"A poor imitation."

Zed cracked his neck, stepping onto the barbed terrain. Two steps. Four. Eight to reach the barricade. Speed already a factor, Zed smacked his empowered fist with a palm for flair. The magical glow reflected off his copper skin.

The shield blew apart, smaller pieces fragmenting and shotgunned into the towering form. Reports shot through the structure like swiss cheese. The parapet becoming unsafe, Rez attempted to wrap Zed in a thorny coffin.

The attempt was futile as Zed broke out by flexing.

Rez abandoned her towering defense. Allowing the damaged vines to crumble, she wrapped whatever remained into a thick cord of rope, creating an elastic stilt she could use to skate around the battlefield.

A Sunflower spitting ranged spells: sharpened thorns, woven throwing stars, an occasional earth spike.

Batting aside each spell, Zed aimed a forceful kick, an air blade chopping the stalk down like a Jenga tower. Rez compensated by repairing and replacing the damaged section, and it changed the nature of the competition. Growth versus chopping.

"Down, down goes the beanstalk."

None of Rez's offensive spells worked against the barbaric vanguard. Being in her second-color phase, she had plenty of mana to spare, but there would be no end to this. Battening down the hatches, Rez stopped casting and gathered her energy.

Lizzy sensed the change. Seeing that it would take time for the power to build up, she decided there was time for a little more fun.

"Let's see if your magic is as flexible as you are."

Her fists wrapped tightly around the giant stalk and pulled.

Rez jostled.

A second pull.

The flower bent downward.

Vines exploded from beneath the brute's feet. They wrapped tighter than an iron maiden, but they didn't stop the beast. Zed pulled steadily, bringing the mighty flower down.

Rez calculated calmly. The time was now. Gathering the remainder of her power, she condensed it into a single point.

Of all magics, fire came to her easiest. It went against her feelings and natural style, but it was so simple. All it took was a word.

"Sunflower."

Her hair brightened, regressing momentarily back to shining gold. A circle created by her hands glowed as the fire in her eyes brightened. It was reflected in Zed's, still trapped by her steely vines.

A bent-over golden flower lit up the evening as it spouted brilliant burning light onto its trapped victim—a roar.

The scent of burnt earth and fried leaves. Steam accompanied the wave of heat and distorted space.

Rez felt her victory.

And then it moved. Downward.

With the magic still burning her leylines, the jerking motion of the flower shook her. She redoubled her effort, throwing in the remainder of her reserves. The pillar of scorching light became tinged orange as it melted the earth beneath it. Magma bubbles began to pop like blisters.

But All Rez could see were two glowing purple orbs.

A hand gripped her arm, and the magic stopped.

"Gotcha."

There was no time to react as she was uprooted. The entire flower and root system came with her. The sound of snapping cables and creaking timber accompanied Rez slamming into the ground. The upended stalk crashed several moments later.

Rez coughed as the air was knocked out of her. Forced to gaze up awkwardly, she saw Zed's glowing skin almost matched his eyes. Like a crimson daemon birthed from the embers of Rez's magic.

"You think too much."

=

"Zed is the winner. Unless you have objections."

Eli's soft smile somehow held the same feeling as her partner's grin. She looked down at the prone girl, probably sore and drained but not overtly injured.

"Well done! A magnificent display of physical prowess. I mistook you for a simpler soldier."

The Speaker strode up from her hiding place. The leylines ringing her eyes glowed in amusement.

"But then, The Elder wouldn't send a simple soldier in our time of need."

Eli's eyebrows wrinkled.

"Hey!"

Rez bit Lizzy. The girl scrambled, but two acolytes appeared in her path. Then four more.

A dozen total surrounded them.

"Move."

Rez's hair stood on end as her stance became feral. She swallowed the Qwaver. Her hair crackled with magical discharge and her pupils thinned. The two spies watched in wonder as her hair became a sparkling emerald green. A beast ready to pounce.

*Crack*

A chop struck the child's neck. Rez coughed, eyes losing focus. Two acolytes grabbed her arms and propped her up. The Speaker's hair glowed a sky blue; eyes dilated dangerously. She examined at her hand in wonder, amazed by Qwaver's effects.

"Hey! That could have killed her. What is the matter with you?"

The Speaker looked back at the duo, almost forgetting them.

"Zed, was it? Thank you again for helping us catch this little rat. She and her friends had been stealing from us. Imagine my surprise when she appeared out of the blue."

The Speaker tittered at her own joke. Her robes moved elegantly in an invisible wind, same as her charged hair. The smile disappearing, she placed a hand on Rez's head. The unconscious girl woke violently, screeching as her mana was forcible sucked out of her. Her hair lost its emerald sheen, running back to the golden yellow from the duel, then a dirty blonde, dusky yellow, brown, and finally a deep black.

"Stop! What are you doing?"

Neither Eli nor Lizzy were okay with what was happening.

"Leave her in our custody; we'll make sure she never steals again."

The Speaker continued to suck Rez dry, increasing her own power drastically. Small cracks began to appear on Rez's screaming face. They continued to sprout down her neck and arms.

"You're killing her!"

Lizzy aimed a punch at the Speaker's back. An acolyte stepped in the way with a magical shield. It shattered as the acolyte caved around the fist. The crumpled body bounced off the Speaker's shoulder and altered course to crash into another acolyte. The action got attention.

The drain ceased and Rez crumpled. The cracks remained and continued to grow with each passing second.

"You dare interfere with the Elder's business?"

Lizzy snarled.

"I'm not going to stand by while you Fracture a kid."

"This is our establishment. Our rules. Our children."

"No parent would ever fracture their child as punishment!"

"My partner is correct. You've gone too far."

The Speaker examined them both. Their power level didn't fit their confidence, and neither did it fit the ability to best one of her acolytes so easily. The man was seriously injured but alive.

"I suggest you reconsider your actions thus far and repent to your Elder. If not, you'll answer to me."

Eli's eyes narrowed dangerously. Those who thought she was the meeker one were in for a rude awakening. If this were how their identities became revealed, it would be worth it.

There was no time for a formal response as a flaming fist erupted from an acolytes chest. The blood-curdling gurgle accompanied a roar of flame. Embers licked the cheeks of everyone present.

The corpse slopped off, revealing an orange knight of crackling fire.

Then the remnants showed up.

And all hell broke loose as each side engaged.

Eli ignored the chaos, trusting in Lizzy to protect her. She ran over to the prone and fracturing form of Rez. The girl was shivering, cowering and delirious.

"Daddy. Momma. I'm cold. It hurts."

"Hush, child."

Eli caressed her face, transferring her reserves through the touch. She repaired the cracks of rampaging negative energy, wiping away the girl's trembling tears. The battle going on around her was fierce but unworthy of attention.

"Momma? Why did you leave?"

"I'm still here. I'm with you. Don't be scared."

Lizzy intercepted and smacked the flaming knight so hard that his armor cracked. Acolytes tried to pounce on him but were held back by chattering remnants.

"Get out of my way."

"Over your dead body."

Lizzy stood stalwart, uncaring as the Speaker attacked the knight. The Speaker thrust a palm into the knight's face and drained his mana. Pieces of his helmet were absorbed and flaked off before Keel managed to break away. Keel released a pent-up battle cry and punched the Speaker in the jaw. He had been trying to blow her head away, but all it did was leave a small scorch mark.

"Babe. We need to get out of here."

"You can't rush this."

Rez cooed softly.

"Dad misses you. I miss you."

"Your dad needs you to be strong. Can you do that for me?"

"I'm strong. Like momma."

"You sure are."

She finished repairing the cracks. Rez's hair remained its manaless color, but there was no more danger of Fracturing. Eli sent a mental message to Lizzy.

Lizzy, get us out of here. Cast a short-range teleport.

Are you sure? It will be a clear giveaway.

It's too late for that. Include Rez in the spell—Wait. Where'd she go?

She was gone. The only trace was a few pebbles out of place and the scent of higher-earth magics.

Eli's breathing cooled. Her voice rang crystal clear through the chaos.

"Change of plan. Teleport Keel away from here. I'll prepare the memory wipe."

"Eli..."

"Do it."

She was pissed. Enough was enough. Manaless children? Drugs? A lunatic speaker and tangible remnants? Screw any consequences. She was a Queen.

Memory magic was the epitome of her powers. It was fickle, prone to accidents and complications since it was so similar to time magic. Not even Lizzy could replicate Eli's spell. Too many variables. Not enough mana. Etcetera.

A gong rang as Eli stretched to her full height. A magic circle encompassed the entire crowd of fighters and most of the remnants.

"What is this trickery?"

The Speaker looked around in confusion as her opponent changed targets. Keel screamed his fury, rocketing towards Eli. Lizzy intercepted him, placing a finger on his forehead, unaffected by the flames.

"Bye-bye."

He disappeared.

The ringing intensified—the magic circle pulsing with power.

"Stop her! Quickly."

The acolytes broke free from the babbling remnants and charged. The apparitions stood around in a daze and discussed.

"Young one. An old one?"

"Related. Distant. A fuzzy bunny?"

"Ooh! She casts, she casts!"

"We forget now."

"Bye-bye."

The remnants on the outside of the circled waved goodbye to the ones on the inside. The acolytes surrounded Eli too late.

A chime.

A cast.

And they forgot.