Heart pounding, head throbbing, limbs shaking, he hadn’t fought like this in a good few months, but he was still in it. For such a scrawny man, he certainly had a lot of physical endurance. But endurance alone didn’t make a win. He had to bring something else to the fight to secure victory. After a moment of silence that lasted only for a few seconds for the audience, yet felt like an eternity for the two fighters, the two dashed towards each other ready to trade blows once more.

Several onlookers had their thoughts on the situation.

Cho, after having picked up the pieces of his board game back up, was finally paying attention to the fight. He didn’t care about who the winner would be. Right now, his curiosity was focused on Casper. No one would just come into town and volunteer for a fight without some sort of ulterior motive… Pay perhaps? This sort of curiosity is what forced Cho to stay until it was over. “Strange…” He mumbled to himself, unintentionally creeping out the people sitting near him. “Someone has my interest.”

People had voted on who would win, with most of the money on Rakkan, with his impressive track record; you don’t get a title like “The Wandering Fighter” by losing all the time. Others had voted on Casper, hoping to receive a huge windfall on the off chance that the weaker party had won. All the while, Trace just wanted both fighters to have fun.

Back in the arena, the first attack went to Rakkan, who swung a powerful haymaker punch to Casper’s side. The latter of whom got ready to block the attack with another forcefield; despite their glassy appearance, the sound effect made by them being struck was something akin to sheet metal being struck. When creating these shields, there were several things to keep in mind, that he had only seconds to comprehend. If he made them too thin, they would shatter too easy. If he tried to make them super dense, then it would take too long. It was a good thing that he had learned just how strong Rakkan’s punches were.

As Rakkan’s haymaker landed, the forcefield gave off a vivid burst of light, yet the shield did not break. As the audiences eyes adjusted from the bright light, it was revealed that Casper was still standing. Not only that, but the Lion’s fist was visibly bleeding from the punch.

With Casper practically against his torso, Rakkan guard was down! “Gotcha!” Casper shouted, as he slammed his open palm into Rakkan’s chest. With no chance to brace for impact, the amplified strike hit the Lion directly in his solar plexus. All this a recipe to finally topple the giant fighting Lion, who stumbled backwards just a few feet, the surprise clear on his face. All of this happened in a sparse few seconds. Even less than that.

But, Casper wasn’t about to let up on the attack. Now that he had seized the opportunity, he was not going to let go. In the short frame of time after the impact of his last attack, he had to piece together what action to take next. A direct approach wasn’t going to do it, with how top heavy Rakkan was, relying on his immense weight and giant fists.

Such weight came at the cost of a lack of mobility. To keep it short and simple, Casper moved in, this time sticking to Rakkan’s side, instead of taking going straight forward. He went for another punch, this time aimed at Rakkan’s pectorals. Casper was attempting to use the forward momentum of his punch alongside the backwards momentum of Rakkan. He was going to knock him down!

“Go Casper!” Trace shouted from the stands, “But also go Rakkan!” She also shouted, feeling like she would be rude if she didn’t.

Yet, Rakkan did not falter. Casper realized that he was far too heavy for a single punch. Even with each magic imbued punch, he did not budge or fall. So, in retaliation, the Lion punched Casper right in the chest. A quick and relatively weak punch, but still strong enough to stun the cat momentarily. With this one punch, Casper was the one falling backwards this time. Before he could fall away though, Rakkan grabbed him by the arm with one hand and pulled him forward, then with the other hand he struck Casper in the chest. But the painful combo did not stop there. It was all topped off with one final attack, still gripping Casper by the hand, he spun him around and tossed him away, just as he did at the beginning of the match, causing him to painfully tumble away. “Ar har har! That’s just a taste of what I have to offer!” Rakkan shouted, flexing.

“Looks like this might be over…” The ref said, as he approached Casper’s body, now lying face up. Absolutely still, other than the rising and falling of his chest, thankfully telling everyone that he was still alive. “Casper, are you okay? I’m going to call the fight if you are seriously hurt.” The Macaw said, showing genuine concern for the fighter. His voice was incredibly calm. After all, a level head was required for an occupation such as this.

Rakkan walked up to Casper’s seemingly unconscious body, looking down at him. Sure, he only landed a few hits on him, but the Lion commended his endurance, slowly nodding with a smile on his face. Shields or not, he had taken several attacks head on. Which, for someone in Casper’s weight class, which was far below what was expected for competitive fighting, was nothing short of impressive. Now, he was lying still, Rakkan then got ready to raise his hand in a thumbs up, signalling the end of the fight.

Then, he heard a clap from below, a clap from Casper. His first movement since he fell down. Both of his hands were now clasped together, as if he was holding something in them. His eyes were shut tight and was looking away from his hands. He had one shot at this, he thought to himself. Peeking his eyes open just enough to see Rakkan looking down at him, his eyes focused on his hands, he opened them up.

Releasing a powerful flash of light. One more powerful than any of the previous ones. Not only that, but from how he positioned his hands, it was more like a concentrated camera flash, focused directly in the Lion’s face. That was the last thing Rakkan had expected, now, taken off guard, the attack immediately robbed him of his sight. Placing a hand in front of his face, everything blurry, it set him up for another attack that he could not predict or see. A powerful hook straight to the side of his head.

Back in the world of the seeing, Casper was now standing in front of Rakkan, back on his feet. He hated to pulled such a dirty trick in a competitive fight. It was something he reserved for people who pissed him off. But, if the jovial and overall friendly Rakkan would use dirty tricks, he might as well use them as well, right? The strong punch had left the Lion wobbling where he stood, clearly stunned by the attack. “Phew… Close one, eh? Told you I’d give you a good fight? Now then…” Casper lightly shoved Rakkan, “Are you going to fall?” As Rakkan slowly began to fall backwards, Casper lit up another cigarette, the red smoke trailing from his mouth. “By the way, I made that stuff up about knowing your weakness… I was improvising to sound cool. Hoped it worked, eh?” Then, as he looked back to Rakkan, he realized he was no longer falling backwards; he was falling forwards, towards him.

“Shit!” Casper shouted, trying to dash away from the giant man primed to fall right on top of him; only to fail and be flattened. If it wasn’t for the shield he put between him and Rakkan to lessen the impact, he was sure he would be splattered on the ground.

With the fight coming to a close, not ending on a super powerful note, and instead ending with the screams of Casper yelling at the wall of muscle that was Rakkan to get off of him, yelling something about what he eats. The referee raised his hand. “Uh… The win goes to…” He looked down at the pair, noting the fact that Rakkan was now regaining consciousness. “Win goes to both! It’s a draw!”

Some in the professional business might find such a conclusion to be disappointing, but from the cheers and claps from the audience, they loved it; it did what it was intended to do, bring entertainment to the boring town of Tracks. Trace got up, heading for the arena, ready to return Casper’s gun to him. Cho, meanwhile, stayed a while longer, wanting to answer the questions he had earlier.

Back in the arena, Casper remained on the ground, catching his breath, feeling like his organs had been compressed, Rakkan, sitting up straight, gave his opponent a thumbs up. “Told ya, Skinny, told you they’d love ya!”

Casper sat just a few yards from the arena; for his troubles, a few cooks in the town prepared him a decent meal. A bowl of meat and veggie stew, mantis meat from the taste of it. While he was just earlier in the spotlight, he now sat alone, he preferred it this way. Although the lack of spices gave it a flat taste, he wasn’t about to so callously reject other’s generosity. It was acts like this that gave him the vague idea of waiting in Tracks just one more day, maybe get a good night’s rest and a bath, then head off. But he also preferred to not stay too long, he had places to be.

For now, Rakkan was off on his own, chatting with fans. Pretty soon the two of them would be off traveling together. A temporary alliance, Casper kept telling himself, one that he planned to dissolve once his primary objective was fulfilled. Cruel, but it was for the best. From these thoughts, he remembered the last alliance he held. Remembering those words spoken to him and him alone.“I spared you because you are my friend. There’s no other reason.”

Yes, dissolving the alliance with Rakkan was for the best. He’s just coming along to get me in touch with the Coalition’s higher ups… If he can even do that.

Steadily, he began to realize the tiny little flaws in his plan. Rips in his plan growing bigger and bigger. Until his train of thought was interrupted by a light jab to his right shoulder, causing him to jump, “Ah!” He yelped, looking to see who it was.

It was the Hyena, Trace, also holding a bowl of food; having only one arm, she balanced the bowl between her stump of an arm and her right breast. Clever. “Ayo~” She said, giving a wave, before sitting down, setting her bowl down in her lap. “Is this seat taken? I know some people like being alone.” She asked in her usual upbeat and friendly tone.

“Hey… Er… It isn’t taken, no.” Casper shook his head, scooting to the side, now setting his empty bowl aside. He did want to be alone, but again, she was being nice. “So guess this is goodbye? Feels like I barely got to know you or Tracks.” He said, figuring that he might as well strike up conversation.

“Guess so.” Trace said, spoon in her mouth, “But, hey, don’t worry. We’ll be good without a gunslinger like you. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to say goodbye to people I got along with. It comes with living here.”

“Guess so…” Casper repeated, “Anything else you want to show me? I feel there is so much more that Track’s has to offer… Beyond being a town of travelers.”

Trace pondered it for a moment, tapping her snout, before giving her answer, then with a calm smile she wave her answer. “Well… Tracks is about what people bring. Not what it brings to them. We’re a merchant town after all. People come, buy, sell, meet people, make friends, then leave… That is the meaning of Tracks. To come and go.” She laughed, a high pitched, rapid fire laugh. She grinned like a doofus, but Casper couldn’t help but find it endearing. “Hey, sounds sappy I know, a big boast for what is basically just a giant rest stop in the middle of the forest, eh? Not quite the thing you could put on a shirt either.”

Smiling back, Casper shook his head, “Nah, don’t worry about it. It’s a good thing to be proud of.” He didn’t know why, but for that one moment, he felt his aches and pains from the fight gradually grow weaker and weaker.

“Thanks.” Trace said, looking into her bowl of stew, feeling full already despite only being half done. “Actually… There is one thing I want to show you. Come on.” She said, handing Casper her bowl, taking his hand with her now free arm. “Hold onto this for me, I’ll have it later. What I want to show you is just on the edge of Tracks.” She said, taking him away, quickly too, pulling him along; with the crowds mostly focused in the center right now, the outer edges of the Town were now mostly empty.

Where were they going? They were definitely going somewhere private. The way she was taking his hand at such a moment’s notice too. Casper’s thoughts rushed through his head, immediately jumping to conclusions on just what Trace had in mind for him. There was only one logical conclusion that he came to. Soon, they arrived at a small shed just at the outer edges of the town, up against the fence that enclosed the city. Unlike the other houses, which were made from salvaged train cars, the shed looked to be made from wood, possibly set up there after the Death Bloom. Just like the rest of the town though, it was in good condition.

“Here.” Trace said, looking around, her voice lowered, letting go of Casper’s hand. “Just a small thing I want to show you, before you leave that is.”

“W-wait…” Casper said, looking over his shoulder, as Trace began to open the door, despite his sudden feelings of hesitation, he walked in anyways. “I just met you… Besides, I’m not into girls and-” He said as he turned his head to see the inside of the shed. It was a small den, with several shelves lining the walls, each shelf holding a line of photographs or paintings of different people. The only light in the room was a lamp on the ceiling. The framed pictures were also accompanied by candles, which were unlit for now. Casper went from embarrassed, to confused, to scolding himself for having such a dirty mind. “Oh.”

“What?” Trace asked, visibly confused by Casper’s remarks. “Not into… What are you talking about?” She stepped around the room a bit, looking at each of the pictures. At the very end of the room, the first thing a person walking right into the room would see, was a photograph of three children.

“This place…” Casper whispered under his breath, rubbing his chin, beginning to just now parse together the meaning of the room.

“A memorial hall.” Trace said, as she wiped a layer of dust from one of the pictures. “As I said, we don’t have many permanent residents. It isn’t common for someone to die behind our gates. But there are times when it does. Accidents, disagreements turned violent, illness, just 2 months ago there was an Amalgamate attack. We don’t quite have room for a graveyard, especially when people want to take the fallen’s bodies to their home, so it’s here we remember the deceased.” She ran a hand through her hair, her tone suddenly saddened, prompting Casper to pat her on the shoulder, comforting her. “Even when we say goodbye to the people who come and go from here, we sometimes see them again, no matter how long. But death is one guarantee that we will never see them again.” She said as she picked up a candle lighter and lit up a few candles. But, despite her sadness, she cracked a smile. “Sorry… I went off a bit there. I always come down here when I have to say goodbye to someone I’ve grown to like. I like a lot of people as it turns out.”

Casper nodded, but soon his eyes were drawn to the photo of the three young children. A trio of young Garuda, a Robin, a Blue Jay, and a Cardinal. Each of them looking happy, huddled up next to each other. “…Who are they?” He asked, hesitantly, not wanting to touch a sore subject with Trace in her saddened state. As if on instinct, his fist and jaw clenched at the mere though of it.

Three young lives taken. A life gone before it had a chance to be used.

“They’re the ones who sparked the creation of the Memorial Hall.” Trace said, stepping beside Casper, “It was about 80 years ago, though, so everyone who was around when it happened is long gone now. But, with their picture up here, the children and grandchildren of those around then can remember them.” She bowed her head, putting her hand in front of herself, as if in prayer.

Casper kept silent, only staring at the photo, warmed by the candlelight.

Until a voice broke the silence. An oddly familiar, effeminate voice. “You’re probably asking how. Killed that’s how. By the man known as the Artist.”

Quickly, both Trace and Casper turned around to be met with the masked Fox from earlier, the one always playing his board game. The hunter of Amalgamates, the Fleeting Blade, Cho. “You?!” Casper raised his voice, stepping towards him, looking rather pissed off by the sudden bluntness.

Trace didn’t look too happy about it either, quietly growling, “How could you be so harsh?!”

“Sorry, did I spoil the atmosphere?” Cho said calmly, leaning at the doorway to the hall. “I just figured that would get your attention… Guess so.”

“What do you want? Chin was it?” Casper asked, furrowing his brow.

“It’s Cho. Simply put, you made me curious. Someone as weak looking as you? Challenging someone like Rakkan? Either you had a trick up your sleeve or were foolish. No one does something like that without an ulterior motive. I was right on all accounts.” The Fox said, speaking incredibly quick. “But, I also saw you were here. Hm… children. “But, I also saw that you were here… Dela, Meeka, and Shu. Those were their names. Don’t think of me like I don’t respect them. As it turns out, they are linked quite strongly to a certain Amalgamate. My next target.” He was certainly long winded, seemingly not once stopping to take a breath.

“You could’ve not gone into them being killed while we’re talking about them? Did you think of that?” Casper grumbled, staring the Fox down. “I won’t even ask how either. Let me guess, next you’re going to tell me that their killer from 80 years ago became an Amalgamate and has been living this long, huh?”

“Correct. You might not be as foolish as I thought.” Cho was probably smiling under his mask, from his tone.

Casper could only look dumbfounded. Dumbfounded his question, asked in jest, was right.

“Wait.” Trace said, raising her stump of a right arm like one would raise their hand. “I’m a little bit confused. I’ll ignore your rudeness for now but… He became an Amalgamate?”

Cho, still leaning against the doorframe, hummed, tapping the side of his stout, “You don’t know? I figured it was common knowledge.”

Trace shook her head, a look of curiousity, and a bit of worry, on her face. “Well, I heard it in passing or from travelers. I… Have an inkling of what you mean.”

“I assume you don’t get out much. Plus, I haven’t seen many practicing Ascendants here. Amalgamates only show up here once in a blue moon too” Cho pondered, looking in the distance at the crowd. “What about you, Sphynx?” Cho asked Casper.

Casper only nodded in response, he didn’t give a vocal answer, figuring it would only earn him more mockery from the Fox.

“Though so, but I guess an explanation is require for Miss Trace here.” Cho started to walk away from the Memorial Hall, already ready to leave. “Let me put it in a way that’s easy to understand. Whatever rumors you’ve heard are likely true. All ascendants have varying skills and tolerances to magic. But if they can’t control their own powers, they will find themselves consumed by the energy coursing through them. They end up warsped and transformed. Losing everything that makes them them. That, by friend, is an Amalgamate.” Cho tapped the patch on his shoulder with his right hand, his mounted crossbow strapped to his arm. The patch was primarily black, with white cursive font reading HOLY DIVERS. The S acting as an underline, as well as a star in the O. “We see it as a fate worse than death, can’t have them running around either, killing and maiming whatever they run across. That’s why I’m here. On the Coaltion’s behalf.”

So they were true… She heard it a few times, growing up, from people who hunted them for a living or when one happened to get too close to the town. This whole time she thought it was only a theory or a rumor, having never seen a transformation first hand or knowing someone who became one. She was in her 20s and just now felt she was confirming information she should’ve known ages ago. But, what took her mind off of it, was the logo. Puzzling over it, reading the font. Then, her eyes opened wide with a gasp, “Wait, you’re with the Coalition? That’s… That’s great!” She said, all her anger from earlier being converted into excitement. “Casper? You know what this means? Go get Rakkan!”

Casper, looking significantly less enthused, had a slight forced smile on his face. All he could think to himself was: “This whole time I could’ve just asked him…”

All Cho could think to himself was: “So no reaction to the explanation, huh?” He sighed and shook his head, “Anyways, moving on-”

Before the fox could continue though, a 4th person joined the group. A young looking female Okapi. Panting and out of breath from running all the way over here. Looked to be in a state of panic as well, as she shouted at Cho. “H-Hunter! You need to go now! It-it showed up again- I tried to stop-!” She continued to shout until Cho put his hand in front of her to catch her attention. It was only then did Casper notice the small wound on her arm, a bloody mark, running down her hand.

“Stop. Tell me what happened? The Amalgamate, where is it?” He demanded, getting straight to business.

“The Amalgamate…” She said, taking a few deep breath, as she stood there trembling. “It took her away… The young girl. The Wyvern girl. Snatched her up… Ran off! It’s not killing, it’s kidnapping!” She shouted now shaking Cho by his shoulder. “Please, you need to go!”

All Cho and the other two could do was stare at the woman’s explanation.

The heavy feeling in the air grew greater and great, as Casper’s trigger finger twitched instinctively.