The day had come.

Jack entered from the north.

Jude entered from the south.

Their whole team and come to watch them beat the crap out of each other. It was the semi-finals, one of these two would be in the final. And as the team with two people this far in the tournament they were guaranteed a good seeding in the league match ups at the start of the next year.

Both looked serious. Eyes intensely fixed on each other.

The word “Fight!” rang out in the arena. Yet nothing happened. The memory had paused.

“Sorry to blue ball you there. I know, a tense one to leave you on. I promise we’ll go back to this in a bit, I might even put in some flashbacks to the previous term if they fit in. But remember earlier I said Jack taking over for a bit would come back? Well, that’s now. These events are from the morning of the fight me and Jack had, and they’re from a few people in the room not just my estimation. I won’t spoil who they’re from because that comes back later on. Last interruption for this cube, promise.” Older Jude said.

It was a cold winters morning in London. Though it had the temperature to snow it instead had a miserable drizzle come down. The ground and sky were grey and trudging through the miserable morning was one man.

A big, padded coat hugged around the mains torso keeping him warm. A plain black umbrella kept him dry in the drizzle.

The streets of London were crowded, everyone was concerned with getting to where they needed to go and not who else was there. It was very easy for an important person to blend into the crowd. No one questions you in London when you enter an office building, especially one who’s true purpose is unknown.

In the entrance was a metal detector and two guards to sign in with. Releasing his umbrella before shaking the water off, the man entered beyond the threshold, allowing the automatic glass doors to close behind him. Next, the coat came off before handing both his items, as well as his phone and wallet to someone on the side to scan and then store.

He stepped forward before placing his arms out and his legs apart. “Good morning Mr. Himeros-Hybris.” Said the guard before going in to scan his body for metals. He was a kind looking man, in his mid-forties, very professional.

“Good morning, Dave, how is your husband?” Mr. Himeros-Hybris said.

“He’s very good sir. He just got a promotion at work.” Dave said moving onto scanning the legs.

“Wonderful to hear Dave. I assume your daughter is doing well in her exams?”

“She’s confident for sure, sir. But, then again, she has spent the last 4 months studying and stressing about them so I would hope she be at least a little confident.” Dave jokes finishing up his inspection. “You’re good to go sir, Mx. Fyodor is already in the building.” Mr. Himeros-Hybris took his phone and wallet back from the scan and left his coat with the security team.

“Hate that kid. Thank you.” He started walking away before turning around to point at his white dress shirt, “Oh Dave. How many buttons is too many to have undone?”

“I believe three is a fine amount sir.”

“Love you, Dave.” He waved a hand up walking towards the lift at the end of reception. He was needed on the tenth floor. He checked his phone quickly before placing it on silent and slipping it into his jean's pockets. At the first floor there was a stop as a young woman in a suit entered, her heels clicking as she walked quickly in, her laptop underarm. All whilst he was rolling up his sleeves to just above his elbow.

“Good morning, Sir.”

“Good morning, Anna, was it? You started in finance last week?” He said before taking a bottle of aftershave and applying it to his neck and wrists.

“Yes, that is correct sir. I actually needed to speak to you today about this budget for next quarter.”

“Oh, I assumed you’d be speaking with Gen about that.”

“Mrs. Anderson is taking the rest of the week off after the morning’s meeting she told me to differ to you.”

“Course she did, the ruthless old bat. That’s fine Anna, please pop by my office this afternoon. Or perhaps I could treat you to some lunch and we could discuss it over as meal. Are you a vegetarian, vegan, have any dietary requirements?”

“I’m gluten free sir, I’m not sure if I have time for a long lunch.”

“Nonsense. I’ll make sure your calendar is free. I hate doing meetings in the office they make things seem so formal. And please I’ve heard enough ‘sirs’ today, call me Alfonzo or whatever you want.” The lift stopped at floor 10. “I’ll see you at my office at twelve, I’ll take you for a lunch meeting.” Alfonzo said exiting the lift.

He walked down to the end of the hall, on his right a glass wall that looked out onto the London streets below. At the end of the hall was a single wooden door with a keypad. Pulling a security card from his back pocket Alfonzo was scanned in and the door unlocked.

Inside was a dimly lit room with a rounded white table and seven somewhat comfy office chairs, a TV hung on the wall closest to the door and opposite the chair at the head of the table. A light switch next to the door had been turned onto the dim setting. The lights where LED squares in the ceiling with adjustable brightness. Alfonzo switched these onto full to reveal someone sat in the head chair.

“Get out of Victor’s chair Mischa.” Alfonzo said to the small, bodied person sat there. They had long thin blonde hair that covered their torso, hiding whatever band t-shirt they had on.

“Hmmph. He’s not here yet Al.” Mischa replied.

“I don’t particularly care for your reason, I’m just trying to save you before he makes you move.” There was an underlying sense that Alfonzo was telling off a child but also providing them with advice they should heed. Advice which Mischa reluctantly obliged.

Mischa sat down at the table, the other side to Alfonzo. Alfonzo sat in the middle seat, his back to the blank wall and facing a whiteboard; the door was on his right-hand side. Mischa sat on the seat furthest away from the head seat and next to the TV, facing the blank wall. Mischa put their feet on the table.

“And this. This is why you get in trouble. Not only do you dress like you do but also the disrespect for the table is painful.” Alfonzo said despairingly.

“Come on Al. Loose up a bit.” Mischa said flipping him the bird.

As their argument continued the door opened and someone else stepped in. A beautiful big bodied woman. Objectively she was a pretty woman, scorned by most for her weight but her features were beautiful no matter her size. She was wearing tight ripped jeans and a top that barely covered everything.

“See, Cyma wears clothes like I do all the time and you don’t say anything about her.”

“Honey, you do not wear clothes like mine. There’s a hundred dollars difference in each one. Morning Al.” Cyma replied.

“Good morning. Well, there’s three of us. The rest have about five minutes before they’re officially late.” Alfonzo said as Cyma took her seat opposite him.

Next in was a very tired looking woman in grey hoodie and sweatpants. Her black hair spilled out of the hood. “Yo.” She said holding up a peace sign before sitting next to Alfonzo and opposite Mischa.

“Morning Eunjoo”

Next in was a woman in a red dress, short Ombre hair in a bob cut. She sat next to Cyma. Leaving the final two seats being for the head and next to Victor.

It was thirty seconds before the meeting was meant to start when the final two entered; Victor Chevalier, the richest man in the world and Kali Gupta, Victor’s personal bodyguard.

Victor was a broad man who always was seen in a suit of some kind. Today it was a grey one, though they were all tailored to him perfectly. He had a crew cut on his brunette hair and was growing some stubble.

He sat down with Kali stood behind him. Kali always left his seat open so he could be by Victor during these meetings. The seat was left there as a sign it was meant for him rather than for him to use.

“Well then. Let’s get started with this meeting. Just as a recap so we all are in the same page we’ll be going over this year’s hopefuls from the preliminary tournaments, and who’s guilds they’ll help to serve best. First, we’ll take a look at America’s, Gen, I believe you have the footage.” Victor said. The woman in the red dress pulled out her laptop and the TV sprung to life streaming the videos.

Midway through the final American video crashing and banging could be heard outside the room. Everyone turned to see the door slam open to reveal a single man.

Slicked back cyan hair. Sunglasses covering his eyes. A full white cigarette in his mouth. He had an open black leather jacket revealing three claw mark scars across his bare chest. He had skinny black jeans that were turned up at the bottom to show a pair of army boots. He was a man of average height but well built. The cigarette was smoking a little at the end, but he knocked it back into his mouth and crunched; it was a candy one.

“Flair...” Victor said. “What makes you grace us with your presence?”

“I’ve heard for the last few years that this room is the future of the world. The most powerful people in the world all gathered in one place, yet you didn’t invite me?” Flair said. He was calm, jovial even. Everyone in the room was on edge except for him and Victor. Like a spider they were all ready to move at a moment’s notice.

“We obviously recognise your ability and influence Flair but unless you are part of the guild association, I cannot permit you into this meeting. And you are aware of what we could do to you if we wished?” Victor looked up at him, without moving his head.

“Of course, I do, and yet I came into this room with nothing on me except the remaining chalk cigarettes, doesn’t that scare you?” He said with a grin. “I also have filled out my application to join the guild association, plus I founded a guild of my own two weeks ago with the express purpose of being large enough to make sure you couldn’t deny my request.” He threw a golden badge down on the table. It was a circle that had a triangle inside of it, on top of the triangle was a winged heart.

This revelation baffled the room. Victor spoke slowly, without anger or judgement. “Alfonzo. Did your team approve this guild?”

“Yes sir. The Neo Arcadia guild was approved last week and in fact it was the single best application we’ve had this year.” Alfonzo said. He seemed reluctant to speak as if he was being admonished.

“I see. Mischa, can you discern our guests Alteration?”

“No. He’s unreadable.” Mischa replied. His tone was more respectful when talking to Victor.

“Okay. Final questions. To you Flair; first, did you come here alone and take out six of the best guards money can buy?”

“Nope. Me and my right hand Sadik took them out together, he’s now standing guard outside.”

“Understood. What do you know of us?”

“Well, I know you are all a bunch of pansies who sit in your London tower dishing out orders, running businesses, and making underhanded deals to push yourself to the top. Mischa over there is a cryptocurrency genius, he- “

“They” Mischa barked.

“Sorry, they know everything there is to know about. Probably help fund some of this building. Cyma, the most successful plus model of all time. Love the work by the way, power to you.” Flair walked over to the empty chair and slumped his body over it, resting his elbows on the back of the chair. “Genevieve, inherited her father’s company owning a multitude of casinos and even a newspaper or two. Also the founder and owner of the largest guild, known simply as The Gold Guild.” He turned to face the row he was on. “Kim Eunjoo. The most popular female streamer on Twitch. A loyal fanbase and a semi successful modelling career. Though due to her alteration she’s usually quite lazy. Alfonzo, rear of the year, and a prospect for dilf of the year. A decently well known actor turned guild leader. Owner of The Anjanas Guild.”

Flair turned to face the head of the table. “You two. Oh you two are fun. First that bodyguard of your’s. Kali Gupta, known as the world’s strongest man, mainly because he’s never fought me, but also the best friend of Victor Chevalier. Victor. Vic, can I call you Vic?” the question elicited no response. “Vic here, you’re the richest person in the world. Expected to be Time’s next person of the year. You revolutionised housing construction and monopolised the new world. You essentially own half the world. There’s also rumours that you funded a lot of politics and got them into power, I even heard that the reason Trump won was to so that the public was warmed to the idea of a businessman becoming president. Everyone here represents power. You are not the strongest people in the world hell half of you ain’t even strong, but you do have money, power, and influence.”

“That’s enough Flair. I asked what you knew about us. I did not ask for thinly veiled insults and conspiracy theories, you only exist in this room as long as I say you do. Understood?” Victor asked.

“Sure I do.”

“Then sit down.” As Victor spoke Flair’s expression changed to one of mild elation. He took Kali’s seat that he had been leaning on. He basically jumped on it, it did bounce slightly into the air.

“Victor. We can’t allow him in just because he knows who we are.” Alfonzo protested.

“The problem is Alfonzo he’s the ruler of an independent country, he followed all of our rules to join, and he knows far more about us than we do about him. It is more dangerous to not be with him than let him join this meeting.” Victor said.

Flair looked over at Alfonzo, over his sunglasses revealing his heterochromia; a cyan eye and a red one. “Don’t worry Al. We’ll get along.” Flair said.

After a while of tension, unrest, and some more questions about Flair’s legitimacy around being there the meeting resumed and they got onto England’s matches and eventually down to Yorkshire’s.

“Now onto York Shire.” Victor said.

“Yorkshire. One word.” Flair interrupted.

“Yorkshire. We have the last four. The matches today decide the final, only one team has two people left. In fact it’s the only team in England to have that feat. Who do we think is more valuable between the two, Jack is guy with the red hoodie and Jude is the one in the blue. Raise your hand for Jack and keep it down for Jude.” Victor said.

Six of the eight hands went up, only two stayed down. They were Alfonzo and Flair. Victor spoke first, “Please go around and in one sentence explain why you chose your option. We’ll start with Gen.”

“A capable fighter, clearly has a strong alteration, and a surprisingly sensitive side.” Gen said.

“He’s definitely got a lot more charm than the other guy, I wanna eat him up.” Cyma said.

“Simple, I like his time powers.” Mischa said.

“He fights on instincts...” Eunjoo said.

“Jude clearly thinks about his fights beforehand and clearly leads any fight he’s in.” Alfonzo said.

“He’s the craziest of all of them.” Flair said.

“We lack good time powered fighters.” Kali said.

“Personally I agree with Kali, though both seem like they’d be assets to us I think we prioritise a Time User. Jude appears to control all four of the common elements but can only use them one at a time. We can easily have four people with one each, all who are masters of each element. His plans seem to make up for his ability whereas Jack is talent. If we can acquire both and have them in one of our guilds that would be perfect. Alfonzo I want you and Eunjoo to liaise with them in the new year.” Victor said.

“Yeah sir.” Alfonzo replied wearily.

“Now let’s move onto the rest of Europe.”

A whole later the meeting finished and Alfonzo was heading back to his office when Flair quickly jumped into the elevator with him. There was silence for a moment. “You can tell an American made this sport huh? It’s like their college football mashed up with violence.” Flair said adjusting his jacket.

“Flair. I don’t really know who you are. The rest of them have probably already researched you but to be honest with you, I couldn’t care less how strong or cocky you are. But one thing we need establish is we are not friends. We are barely acquaintances. If you don’t cause me trouble and you don’t cross me or this company then maybe we can have the ethical debates about if what we do is right or not. But for now I have a meeting about budgets to prepare for.” Alfonzo said as if lifting a great weight off his chest, exiting the elevator on the fourth floor. The doors closed and Flair watched him leave.

“He should have won rear of the year. Bastard.” He ate another chalk cigarette.