Chapter 7

The Showdown

Training meant sweat. Lots of it. And calluses.

Within half an hour, Meredith found her muscles sagging from the workout, and her teammates didn’t fare much better. Eddie was passed out on the floor, staring at the ceiling of the stadium’s training room with wind sputtering from his hands. Emil had long stopped floating, a dazed and far-off expression adorning his face while he stared out into the starlit sky. Only Vivian remained standing with any amount of energy, savagely trying to eviscerate a cloth dummy in the room.

Don’t focus on her. Focus on you, Terrill sharply reminded her. The blade in her hands grew heavy and she felt it was like a blow to the back of her head. A grimace crossed her face. It was all Terrill’s way of telling her to step it up. Not that it was easy.

I’m trying.

Clearly not enough. You need to be able to switch and steady your hold. Be like the earth. She was starting to hate that analogy.

Still, Terrill had a point, and he was a seasoned warrior, far as she could tell. There was no reason to not trust his advice. So, Meredith straightened her back, gripping her sword with both hands and spinning it around. Holding it forward, she thrust the Earth-Splitter and then twirled. As she spun, the blade whirled in her hands to the point it was now pointing backwards. Her hand secured, she swung upwards, slicing at another dummy in the room.

It tore into the object, but not quite through it, leaving Meredith displeased with the results.

“Get better, Childs. Needs more oomph. Maybe coat the blade with magic,” Amelia said. She kicked her legs back and forth, twiddling across numbers on her screen.

“That’s what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to get used to switching things on the fly.”

“Well, fighting dummies won’t do that for you, and I doubt people like the Home Guard would give you a chance to spend time and figure it out.” Amelia tapped her screen, scowling just a bit at whatever was on it. She stowed it away. “Lacroix. You and Childs, battle it out.”

“They’re gonna kill each other.” Emil was sent flying backwards with a flick of Amelia’s finger. Meredith glanced to the feral Vivian, whose eyes were glowing with naked malice. Emil’s words held much more weight.

“I need you two to spar, and this’ll be a good way to work out your respective combat problems. Besides, Childs, you need to be ready for anything tomorrow. Who knows what’s planned. Even Roy won’t tell me.”

“What’s that matter?” Vivian snapped, her bow transforming into a sword, as per usual. “Trial of Power, right? We just blast through it.”

“Blast through Childs first, then, because the Home Guard was a lot stronger than you and your crappy pride.”

Home Guard is tough, huh? Brynn’s face surfaced in Meredith’s mind, taunting and expectant of a grand battle between their two teams. Meredith’s fingers tightened on the hilt, her vision zeroing in on Vivian. For a moment, their two faces comingled, allowing a savage grin to spread over Meredith’s lips.

She really hoped that Brynn would be stepping out the next day.

But for now, she was happy to settle with beating Vivian into the ground, and she knew the easy way to make it happen.

“Come on, Viv, don’t tell me you’re scared?” she taunted, spinning her sword around. Vivian scowled.

“Shut it!” The blonde made the first move. She swung her sword and a crescent of energy, red in color, flew for Meredith. It was all to expectation.

Meredith took a step to the side, avoiding the attack and running at Vivian. The girl, realizing how close she was getting, started to transform her sword back. Meredith offered no relief. She swung her blade, necessitating for Vivian to block. Not missing a beat, the black-haired teen whipped around, her sword aiming for Vivian’s legs. The familiar blue glow of an enchantment preceded her attack landing, though Meredith didn’t let that stop her. She pushed forward, and a small cut appeared on Vivian’s legs.

“Aw, did you think a simple enchantment was gonna stop my attack this time?” Whether Vivian was going to acknowledge the change or not, Meredith didn’t wait to find out. Her grip changed, dropping the orientation of her blade to take it in her new backhanded stance. Then, she slashed up. This one, Vivian blocked, her blade glowing with blue. However, Meredith saw the blonde being pushed subtly back. “Come on, Viv. Be better! Earth Fang!”

It wasn’t easy, taking every ounce of concentration to hold her blade against Vivian’s and stomp her foot on the ground. The earth underneath Vivian began to move and rumble, upsetting the girl’s balance. With the perennial scowl, Vivian slashed, batting Meredith’s attack away.

Seeing the next strike coming, Meredith backpedaled. Her hands fumbled, trying to change her sword back to her usual stance while Vivian had the time to make her bow up again. The glow of an enchanted arrow thrummed along the string. “Quadra-fortis. Strike Shot.”

She fired, the angry red missile aiming for Meredith. The girl barely had time to plant her feet and hold her sword forward. The attack barreled down, but Meredith didn’t waver, and slashed. For a moment, she felt resistance, and Terrill’s urging to change up her stance. It was a momentary reaction, but Meredith followed the advice, allowing her to switch her hold on her blade. For the first time, she felt steady, recognizing that core of rock that rested inside both Terrill and herself. Then she sliced upward and the arrow of energy was thrown off, careening into the ceiling. It left a smoking hole in it.

“Looked pretty strong, Viv, but don’t tell me that’s all you have? Even a fourth-tier enchantment is nothing from you!” Vivian was steaming mad, and in the corner of the room, both Emil and Eddie were sitting up, watching the two. “Come on. Use a max enchantment.”

“I’ll kill you.”

“Doubt it. So, come on. Use it.” Vivian refused. She just nocked another arrow of the same strength and fired. Meredith brought her sword close, holding the flat edge of the sword against her palm, and blocking it with minimal effort. “What’s the matter, Viv? That seems weak. Why’re you holding back?”

“Because you’re not worth it. I don’t need-”

The predictable excuse was followed up by a less predictable reaction. Meredith closed the gap, her backwards blade slashing up. Vivian dodged, but stumbled, and her magic fell away. With the hilt of her sword in position, Meredith drove it into Vivian’s stomach, sending her to the ground and then pointing the blade straight at the girl.

“I win, then.” Vivian said nothing, though her glare imparted all her murderous intent. “If you’re going to ignore the strength of the enemy before you, then we’re never putting you out if we can help it. You’ll just…drag us down, Viv.”

“SHUT UP!” Meredith didn’t know what had happened. All she knew was that her sword clattered to the floor and she was punched across the face by an irate Vivian. The two tumbled, their weapons forgotten, and before long they were locked in a tussle of fists and hair, each trying to pull at the other’s. “Shut up with that name. Shut up with your attempts to hide your weakness. ‘Cause I’m not you! I don’t drag people down like you! I’m not some worthless, magicless piece of trash like you that would only tarnish the name of the Guardians! I’m not Viv to you!”

“Stop it, both of you!” The blast of wind knocked Vivian off of Meredith, but it hadn’t come from Amelia. In fact, the woman had quirked an eyebrow in Eddie’s direction, the boy standing with his palm outstretched. He was wearing a stone-cold glower, one that caused even Meredith to shrink in on herself. “That’s not like you, Mera, taunting people like that.”

“She gets on my nerves, and you saw! She has no intention of helping us win this tournament unless it’s her way! Entitled bitch.” Vivian’s fingers itched, clearly to ready to strangle her in the same manner that Meredith wished to return. “She’s just daddy’s little girl, thinking she’s better than anyone, and I don’t want someone like that on my team.”

“But she is on our team, whether we like it or not,” Eddie said. Over in his corner, Emil had turned away. He wanted no part of it, and Vivian’s cold aura likely had something to do with it. “Guys, we can’t just be out for ourselves here. We’re on TV! We need to show everyone we’re a team. Lacardia may have lost today, too, but we were just…embarrassing.”

“Maybe you were…”

“Vivian, drop the act,” Eddie said. He was growing impatient, scratching at the bruises on his arm. Every one was a clear reminder of the loss and shame they suffered, and one he wanted to move past, dragging them along the way if he had to. “You lost just as bad as I did. I don’t know why, and I don’t care, but I do care about this team. It’s okay to support other people. It’s okay to lower yourself for a moment. That makes you more respected, not less.

“And Mera…just stop fighting…You led us back at the settlement and the Metropolis, but how can we trust you to lead if you’re…” Eddie ran out of words here. His body slumped and he sighed. “Whatever…just…let’s try to win by working together, yeah? Can we get some sleep now, commander?”

“Hm…I guess. Won’t do us any good if the team’s exhausted for tomorrow.”

The relief the boys felt at her words didn’t transfer to Meredith. It didn’t seem to transfer to Vivian, either, as the blonde was left on her knees, staring at the ground and the weapon that lay there.

Perhaps the tongue-lashing was well-deserved. Meredith didn’t know. Maybe Eddie had hit the nail on the head more than she could have possibly thought, but he had still chastised them, and it left her in a state she didn’t want to be in for the next morning. What hit her most of all wasn’t the sudden remonstration, but instead the fact Eddie pointed out what she didn’t want to accept: she had been given the role of leader, and the others didn’t care for that.

It was a burden she didn’t want to be stuck with, and given the tentative state of her own magic, not one she thought she could handle. It was especially so with Vivian in a foul mood right next to her.

And in an attempt to ignore it, Meredith finally stood and decided to get some sleep. The next day would wipe the slate clean.

“Wwwwelcome back, ladies and gentlemen to day two of the illustrious Alliance Games!” The crowd roared, and from where Meredith was standing on the field below, it echoed with a dull, uncomfortable ringing. “As always, I’m your sports and trial commentator, Freddy Chapman, and with me in the box are Flame Commander Royston Masters of the Guardian Corps and Headmistress Unda of the Lacardia Academy.”

“I’m quite honored to be here,” spoke the voice of one Meredith had only heard a single time. Her eyes flitted to the screens, and she noted the very familiar vision of the blue-haired woman that was the leader of the Academy. Her earrings jangled and the pointed hat she wore wobbled atop her head. “I look forward to the competition and providing expert analysis on magic.”

“Fortuitous that you could come today, then,” Masters said, the dull rumble of his voice reverberating. “Since that seems to be today’s event.”

Meredith grimaced at the insinuation. The crowd’s cheering took a sharp turn into the shrill for her and she turned away to block out just what was to come: her very weakness. Looking up in the crowd, she could see Emil facepalming, while Vivian huffed. Only Eddie nodded to her as Amelia was stone-faced. She just expected results and didn’t care about any misgivings. To that, Meredith sighed and took in the rest of the teams. The Home Guard was cheering with boisterous applause over their railing while the Renegades were practically invisible, only Rico at the front as his fellow companion was slunk in the shadows.

Lacardia was energetically waving to their headmistress.

“Right you are, commander!” Chapman continued. Meredith was pulled away from her observations to the task at hand, horrifying as it was. “Today’s competition under the bright blue skies of the Metropolis is the Showdown of Sorcery!”

“Whoo! My specialty!” Autumn cried, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet.

“She’s a loud one, yeah?” The now-recognizable voice of Brynn’s came closer as the armored girl halted a few feet away. “Guess it counterbalances the quiet one from those Renegades, though. And I can’t blame her: Lacardia’s known for magic, and despite their loss, they managed to deal a wound to their opponent.”

Brynn’s observation matched with her own, recognizing that the Renegades were a member short in Maria. Whatever had broken may have healed yesterday, but she clearly wasn’t fighting fit yet. All that observation served to do was highlight the soldier as a threat, despite the amicable smile. “If she’s the biggest threat, then why do I feel like you’re sizing me up more than her?”

“You’re the GC, right? Our sworn enemy! So they say,” Brynn laughed out. Meredith frowned, turning a side-eye at her and catching notice of the Renegades’ Lovelia, silently off on the fringes of the stadium. “You don’t seem like a stuck-up person, though, regardless of your noted fame. What say we make this a competition?”

“What’re the stakes?” Meredith asked. She was interrupted by Autumn bouncing over, her fists pumping.

“Ooh, let me in! I wanna take a bet!”

“Autumn, don’t be so frivolous.” The girl’s sister was heard by many over the stadium, her face even displayed by a floating camera in front of her. She was bandaged, but otherwise fine in spite of the scowl on her face. “Just win, okay. Let’s get some points down.”

“Aw, don’t be a party pooper, Summer!”

“You better not lose either, Mera!” Emil and Eddie shouting in tandem reminded Meredith of the stakes and she threw a fist into the air before looking to Brynn.

“Sorry, guess I’ll have to pass on any competition besides just taking first.”

“No problem to me. I’ve been looking forward to a clash.” The two girls reached out, clasping hands and nodding to one another.

“Whoo, our participants are ready to go, so it’s time we finish introductions and get today’s event started! From the Guardian Corps, it’s Meredith! From Lacardia, Autumn! From the Home Guard, Brynn!” Her name garnered the biggest applause, causing the girl to raise her hand and wave, soaking in the adoration. Even with that, however, Meredith could tell Brynn didn’t have too high an opinion of herself and did it out of respect. It was a far cry from the blonde that was huffing in their corner of the stands. “And from the Renegades, we welcome Lovelia!”

With Chapman finishing his introductions, all four of their faces were shown on the screens, translucent purple gauges next to each of them. Brynn folded her arms while Lovelia joined the trio of girls in the center of the stadium. They were all just as curious, and it was Unda who delivered the instructions.

“A line-up of hopefully worthy sorcerers, ready for a showdown. They should each note the word, though: this isn’t a battle,” the headmistress said. “Instead, think of it like a contest to see who can make the most out of their magic.”

“The gauges next to each face on the screen represents their success. The first to fill it proceeds on to the next round,” Chapman continued. “The one without their gauge filled drops out of the running and the next round begins until only one winner, a victor, is left standing! The winner will earn three points, second place gets two points, third receives one point and the loser earns, well, nothing.

“How does one fill up the gauge? By combating their opponents’ magic with magic! And not just the same one! If you continually use the same thing, you’ll earn less ‘points’. By varying your magic, you can fill the gauge fast. Weapons are still allowed; however, they will not help in raising your gauge.”

Seems like the perfect test for you, Terrill said, his soul emanating interest. Meredith nodded. Connecting to different souls, and quickly, would be the only way to succeed here.

“When the bell rings, make your moves, ladies!” Chapman’s announcement caused all four of the females to gather near the center, paces away from each other. Meredith reached back, gripping at her blade and holding it out. Up in the stands, Eddie and Emil could be heard, along with the cheers from other sections and murmuring from the general crowd, each waiting for the event to begin. The referee, like yesterday, stepped forth and repeated much the same rhetoric as Chapman had.

Then he swung his hand down. “Round One, begin!”

“My turn!” Autumn didn’t call out a spell name, or give any indication of what was coming. She just flipped forward, hands touching the ground before branches spouted forth from it, each writhing tentacle aiming for her three opponents. They were fast, too.

“Earth Fang!” Meredith acted, the Earth-Splitter plunging downward. It stabbed at the ground, her soul connecting with Terrill’s as the stone chewed at the ground, eating the branches. To her sides, Lovelia and Brynn had obviously made their own moves to deflect the branches, and Meredith moved forward. She swung her blade.

The earth and spires that had broken up the vines split apart, eating up much of the dirt stadium on its way towards the three enemies. Meredith pulled her blade in close, worried about any attack that could be coming her way.

Said fear was proven true. “Teleportation Strike!”

Lovelia appeared out of nowhere in a flash of light, dodging the chunks of rock, as though she could detect them all along. Meredith stared at her eyes, sharp and silent, before she ducked under the flying kick. “Wall!”

Another soul connection and the earthen barrier erected itself, colliding with Lovelia’s stomach and tossing her off. It was a brief second of calm before a stinging pain was slit across Meredith’s arm. She looked down, now, and saw the small knife embedded in the ground. Rather, there were multiple knives embedded in the ground. Another look up showed Brynn vaulting over the wall, her hands steaming. More than that, she was grinning and not saying a word.

“Hah!” With a grunt, a jet of pressurized water flew from her hands, aiming right for Meredith. She didn’t stop there, and just before the steam hit, Brynn twirled around, the water flying in a different direction as well.

Heat shuddered through Meredith, the boiling water causing her skin to rupture just a bit, burning at its surface. There was no way to block, not without reusing her earth wall, and she knew it, until she saw the knives. They formed a pattern, and within that pattern was the falling water. A shout from the side indicated the snaking vines capturing Brynn and tossing her to the ground.

Yet Meredith felt for a different soul: one of metal inside the knives. It was dim, and quiet, with not nearly the same strength as the constructs of nature. It was, however, enough.

With permission granted, the knives flew upward, changing the shape of metal even as Meredith’s skin burned. The water ceased moments later, thanks to Autumn having interrupted Brynn’s attack, but Meredith’s concentration continued. It was difficult, forming the small knives into a larger shape which she sent flying towards the other three. The crowd gasped, and in Meredith’s periphery, she could see Amelia hang over the edge, a grin on her face.

Meredith’s opponents reacted in an instant: Lovelia teleported to the side with precision, Brynn cut away at her vines before throwing out a scalding orb of water, and Autumn solidified a flower that blocked the giant blade. Nevertheless, Meredith had time to run, spinning her sword and calling on the earth again. This time, it was concentrated, just as she was, and became spires underneath the other girls’ feet. Lovelia once more teleported, but Autumn caught her off-guard.

She caught all of them off-guard.

“Vine Surfer!” The plant-like appendage emerged from the ground, with Autumn riding atop it. She wore a giddy smile as it slithered through the air and across the ground, aiming right for all three of them. Brynn’s fingers sent concentrated water at the incoming vine, cutting into the surface with the heat. Meredith knew she had little chance to defend with her own magic and she held her blade across her body, diffusing the vine when it walloped into her. She skidded backwards right as a chime echoed across the arena.

“Autumn is the first to move on to the second round!”

“Then I’m next!” Meredith grunted. Regaining her balance, she swung the Earth-Splitter around, both hands on its hilt. Her eyes met Brynn’s, and for a second, her soul connected. One of a calm surface of water, nurturing, yet fierce when needed. Whether the girl realized it was irrelevant, because they were both on the same page. Meredith thrust her blade forward.

Stones emerged in a spiral, forming a drill that was on a close collision-course with Lovelia. The girl prepared for her teleportation, but she didn’t quite account for the steam. Brynn had fired a scalding stream into the hollow portion of the drill, causing steam to pour forth and obscure all visual acuity until it broke through. The jet of water sent Lovelia flying backward, known by the audible thud that resounded through the arena, and the cheers that followed.

The bell rang.

“Lovelia is out!” Chapman announced. “The Renegades, despite a strong showing on day one, walk away with a big ol’ goose egg!”

“Ha!” Meredith breathed, straightening. They finally were putting at least one point on the board. Better yet, she wasn’t completely exhausted. “Nice combo there, Brynn.”

“Not too shabby yourself, Meredith,” Brynn called through the clearing steam. When it dissipated, the girl was rolling her shoulders and jumping up and down. Said actions called more cheers from the loving crowd. Autumn, for her part, was low to the ground in a crouch, eyes closed. Lovelia had left the field. “But don’t expect a similar combo for round two. I’m in it to win it.”

That was something both could agree on. Before the bell could ring for the second round, Meredith loosened her own body, switching her sword to its other stance as quickly as she could. Now it was a real free-for-all.

“Round Two begin!” the referee called. This time, there was no waiting around.

Meredith stomped her foot, sending a line of stones across the ground to her two opponents. Brynn swiped downward, a wall of steaming water set as a bulwark against the incoming attacks. Autumn had yet to open her eyes, but the imposing branches, fitted with thorns, traveled underneath. Meredith saw the attack coming, and leapt upwards, bringing her sword down. It was only enough to catch one of the plants before another caught her leg, digging into it and slamming her on the ground.

Concentrate, Mera…use magic to get you out…Meredith’s thoughts were only interceded by the sight of Brynn also on the ground. Her attack had faltered. Both had, and Autumn was standing, her hands glowing a bright green. The floor between them was beginning to crack and groan. Need to get up…Fire! Where is there…?

Meredith’s vision whipped wildly around, unable to find a source of flame anywhere. Brynn was already burning off her own vines, withering them away with the scalding water. All the while, Autumn’s attack continued.

However, Meredith wasn’t one to quit and she soon caught sight of the closest screen, living electricity coursing through it. Her soul reached out, connected with that electricity, and was granted access. Meredith’s fingers twitched and sparked, and the lightning soon came raining out from the television, cracking its surface. Some of the crowd screamed and dove away, but Meredith didn’t worry about them. The lightning was all that mattered as it seared into the vines and freed her.

“Little too late, Mera!” Autumn’s cheerful call was alarming. The following cracking noise was more so. Where there was once a dirt field, a giant tree emerged with flailing branches that begin to spin and whip around like a tornado, their appendages elongating at the slightest notice. One caught Meredith in the side, flinging her away, and Brynn was no different. In her case, however, the leader of the Home Guard team was up and running, firing shots of hot water at Autumn. “Magic is my field!”

“The arena is mine!” Brynn responded, but it was clear to the newly-bruised Meredith that Autumn was the superior mage. With a block of a thick branch, another vine trapped Brynn’s feet and sent her tumbling over before the chime sounded. There was no doubt on what that meant.

“Once more, Autumn takes the lead! Can she win it all? We’ll find out when we choose her opponent for the final round!” Chapman said, stirring up the crowd.

“Yes, Autumn has extreme control over nature, able to make it do her bidding with the slightest touch,” Unda elaborated. “With such a bevy of options, her ability to adapt in this competition has made her a near-lock. I’m most interested in who will win of the other two. Meredith’s magic has seemed odd in places, but largely earth-based, while Scalding Magic is hardly too flexible. This may just come down to the most creative, I suppose.”

“An excellent fight, either way,” Masters said, his head nodding on the screens.

Meredith didn’t like the assessment, but didn’t want to linger on it. She straightened, feeling her now bruised torso before looking across at Brynn. The girl was tying her hair again, and Meredith thought to do the same. This was a fight. Not a mere magic showdown, but a clash to decide which would come out on top: Guardian Corps or Home Guard.

With a smirk in her direction, Brynn said all that was needed to be said: don’t hold back.

All right, Terrill, let’s do what we can! Meredith brandished her sword outward as she saw Brynn sneak a pair of throwing knives out. There was a brief second of breathing and then the pink-haired girl tossed her knives. On instinct, Meredith swung her blade, batting them aside. Water streamed from them, a guidance system that honed straight in on her. Without thought, Meredith tapped her foot the ground. “Earth Wall!”

“Steam Splicer!” The stone blasted up, creating a box around her, with Terrill’s soul fueling every part of it. There was a whooshing noise, and the jets of cutting steam slashed into the wall. Part of it broke off, allowing Meredith enough space to leap over it. She attempted a flip in midair, holding tight to the Earth-Splitter and crushed her hand to the ground.

“Earth Wave!”

“Steam Spout!” The girls’ attacks clashed with one another. Meredith’s undulating earth soared for Brynn, who leapt high with a heated burst of water. She flew through the air, coalescing an orb of water in her hands. “Scalding Sphere!”

Quick, Mera, quick! Meredith scolded herself. The reminder of her training returned as the orb flew at her, ready to do harm. Meredith stepped back, spinning her blade back into her usual battle stance, remembering the quick connections of the soul and the earth beneath her feet.

“Come on, Mera! Yeah!”

“Go for it!”

“Brynn, you can make it!”

The sphere was let loose, and Meredith acted, her eyes sparing a single second to see what the gauges were reading. They were close; too close. Meredith swung the Earth-Splitter out, her soul screaming outwards to the different rocks that peppered the arena. Each little jagged edge had a conduit to it, a little soul that was strung together with her magic. “Soul Scream: Rockshatter!”

With another heave of her blade, the rocks shot off for the orb of heat. The attacks exploded upon meeting in the air, raining pebbles and water upon them. However, Meredith could see Brynn’s soul approaching, readying another magical volley. She was grinning.

“Yeah, that’s the way we like it! Battle to the end, Meredith!”

“Right back at ya!” Another pressurized stream of water blasted at her, and Meredith erected the same shield before putting a hand to it. The rock broke apart, but Brynn was on the move.

They became a dance. A burst of steam here, a stone wall there. They were locked in a clash of magic, and for the first time, Meredith felt…free. For the first time, she had control over the magic around her, control over her connections. It was natural and easy, and the showdown was fun, especially as she created a javelin of earth that matched with the lasering water. The two girls matched, they couldn’t hide the joy of battle, and nor could they hide their respect for the other.

Before they knew it, the bell rang.

“That’s it! Round Two is complete in our Showdown of Sorcery and the participant joining Autumn in the finals is…” Chapman paused for good effect, though Meredith knew the result before he’d said it. “…Brynn!”

“Yeah! Home Guard rocks!”

“Aw, come on, Mera! You were so close!” Eddie groaned, but the smile was obvious. He couldn’t hold it against her. Besides, Meredith realized, there was something to take pride in as she saw the gauges on the screen. There was a near hair’s breadth between herself and Brynn.

“It was most certainly a close match,” Unda explained to the crowd, “however, Miss Brynn was the one to pull out more unique moves towards the end, varying between orbs, laser-like water and overall manipulating the properties of her magic in a way Miss Meredith simply wasn’t able to pull out, resorting to walls and the like.”

“Another victory of the Home Guard over the Guardian Corps it would seem. We’re settling two for zero now,” Masters barked out, his laughter running through the crowd.

“If you call that a win,” Brynn’s voice called to Meredith. Despite the final round about to start, and the overall energy of the stadium, the girl had come near Meredith and extended a hand. “I had fun. It was a close call. We should face off again.”

Meredith paused, her body half-turned towards the stands where her team was waiting. She still didn’t hesitate to take the hand. “Sure thing. Next time we’ll make that bet, and thanks.”

“Thanks?”

Meredith chose to leave Brynn in confusion as the referee stepped forward. The girl’s puzzlement didn’t last long and she waved before returning to the ring. Meredith turned full around, gunning for the stairs up into the stands before the bell rang, signaling the final round of the showdown. An immediate explosion followed as the scald met the branches. Whoever won, to Meredith, didn’t matter as she set upon the steps. She did catch glimpses on the hallway screens of Autumn creating a swirl of thorny branches, like a many-tentacled beast, countered by Brynn’s steaming whips, knives on the end of them. That observation was cut short by a sudden arm around her.

“Nice job, Mera! Shame about being so close to the final round, though,” Emil breathed in her ear. She pushed him off, tossing a high-five to Eddie before looking to Amelia. Vivian butted in before their commander had a chance to speak.

“I could have gotten us first…”

“I don’t think it matters much,” Amelia said in counter. She had stopped crossing her legs, facing the team she was supervising. “You managed to make your magic work out there. Need to still be a bit quicker, but no doubt you’ll improve even more in the coming days. No point is worthless.”

Meredith was glad her performance hadn’t been met with further consternation, to which she breathed in relief. Her feet carried her to the balcony, staring below where Brynn’s water wall was formed. It wasn’t quite enough to shrivel away Autumn’s knuckling root that socked the girl in the stomach. Noticing that the gauges were nearly full, Meredith glanced over to the other teams, with Lacardia and the Home Guard cheering raucously while the Renegades, including a glowering Lovelia, were seated in silence.

That momentary look away was enough for her to nearly miss the end of the showdown as a giant flower, gnarled and rooted, opened up beneath Brynn. The girl attempted to block it with her knife tosses, but it did little good when the bell rang.

“And it’s over! The final round is over and the winner of the Showdown of Sorcery is…Autumn of Lacardia, earning their team a whopping three points!” Chapman’s cry was great, inducing euphoria in the stadium. “What an excellent second day’s competition! We saw fierce spells slung, a bevy of sorcerous strategies and a showdown none of us will forget.”

“Predictable that Lacardia would end up on top, but I think no other winner would quite satisfy,” Masters agreed, his head bobbing up and down on the screen.

“I can say that I’m quite proud, and I look forward to seeing what will unfold through the rest of the tournament.”

“Glad you could join us today, Headmistress Unda! But tomorrow we’ll really turn up the heat with a full-team event!” Chapman’s new info made the crowd cry out while Meredith raised her eyebrow. Eddie’s comment from the day before returned to her with trepidation; a full team event meant they’d need to work together. Meant they’d need a leader. Her, apparently. “But that’s all for today, folks. Make sure you check those scores on your way out and we’ll see you tomorrow!”

The faces blinked out, replaced with the scoreboards. Things had changed, but if there was one thing Meredith was proud of, it was that there was no longer a zero next to their team.

HOME GUARD 4

LACARDIA 3

RENEGADES 2

GUARDIAN CORPS 1

“Last place still…pathetic…” Vivian’s scoff was notable, the blonde standing and flicking her hair behind her head. Meredith sighed, taking one last glance to Brynn and Autumn below before they split. “We better not take a loss tomorrow. I don’t think I could suffer the shame.”

“Get your head out of your ass enough to work together with us, and maybe we actually can win,” Meredith said, tossing her head back. Having nothing else to look at, Meredith patted the balcony and aimed for the passage out of there. Amelia didn’t stop any of them, so she presumed it was safe to depart, leading their team’s procession out.

“Hey, at least we have a point, and Mera showed some wicked cool magic out there.”

“Yes, thank you for the compliments, Emil, but we still have five days to go and we’re way behind,” Meredith pointed out, exiting to the hall beyond before it could fill up with crowds. “Vivian may be bitchy about it, but she has a point. All of us have to step it up tomorrow. Even my upgraded magic skills may not make a difference.”

“Nevertheless, it was a stellar show, Mera.” That voice was older and gruffer from the rest of her team, and Meredith pulled to a stop. She turned, noticing an older, bearded man leaning against the stone walls of the coliseum, waiting for her. Her eyes widened. “I tracked where you were in the stands and decided to come here and wait with some other guests.”

“Mr. Matthew! It’s been a while!” She didn’t put much thought behind her actions before she hugged the man standing before her. Well, more than just a simple man, he was her teacher, mentor and all-around guide in the ways of magic. And he hadn’t even changed a day. “Ah, there’s so much I’d want to tell you, but what are you doing here?”

“Came with Unda, of course. Couldn’t pass up an opportunity to see my protégé in action,” Matthew said, offering the girl a wink. Vivian emitted a labored sigh, but when Matthew looked to her, she bowed in respect. Said man’s gaze soon transferred to Meredith’s sword, however. “Is that…?”

“It is. Maybe we should catch up over some dinner and I can tell you all about it.”

“No dinner love for your parents, Mera. We’re injured.” If there was a sound any less expected than the sound of Matthew’s voice, it was that of her parents, and as her teacher stepped aside, they certainly became visible. So did the Montgomery family.

“Eddie, are we hallucinating?” she whispered to her best friend, the boy drawing close. Emil began to guffaw loudly, silenced by a quirked eyebrow from Matthew.

“I don’t think so…pretty sure our parents are right there.”

“Nice! Family reunion time for you guys! I’m Emil, friend of your daughter and son!” the dirty-blond spoke, skipping forward. Just as Meredith realized she truly wasn’t imagining things, the boy had reached her parents and began shaking their hands. “Very nice to meet you all. Mera, I see where you get your looks from.”

“Ugh, please, Emil. You were doing so fine before you acted like another Conrad,” Meredith spoke, stepping forward to reach her parents. Eddie did the same with his own, the couple taking their son in a sudden hug. “It’s nice to see you, mom, dad. But…uh…what are you doing here?”

“Well, funny story, actually, but-”

Whatever the answer was, it was interrupted by a voice that was just as imposing as its approaching soul. Deep and scolding, the voice sent a new shiver down Meredith’s spine, but it had all the more effect on the one it addressed out of the blue.

“I see you’re just standing around, Viv. I’d have thought with your rank in the tournament you’d be working harder. How else do you even expect to be competent?” The biting words made Meredith flinch, and she wasn’t alone. Eddie and his parents did so, stepping aside to let the new arrival through. Only Emil winced and turned away instead of letting his eyes gravitate towards the imposing man. His reaction had nothing on the words that tumbled from Vivian’s mouth, and everyone was drawn to them, whether they could help it or not.

“I was on my way to train before I was…held up…” Vivian said, sucking in a breath. Then, she further addressed the man. “Sorry to disappoint, father.”