Arwin’s prediction proved correct. It didn’t take long for something to go wrong. As good as Olive, Elias, and Maeve’s cooperation was in the simple fights, the holes in their shared experience were ripped wide open the moment Olive managed to land her first good blow on the Ripfish’s back.
Her sword carved deep into the heavy chitinous carapace of the monster and it let out a bone-chilling scream, thrashing and bucking her right off. Olive hit the ground in a roll and jumped to her feet — just in time to see a massive claw crashing down toward her.
She rolled out of the way, but the Ripfish wasn’t done there. It lashed out with its smaller claw at Elias and Maeve.
Elias grabbed Maeve and dashed to the side to bring her to safety, leaving Olive’s side undefended.
Maeve wasn’t that close to the attack. Elias is focusing on protecting her too much. She could have dodged on her own.
The Ripfish lifted the large claw and Olive’s eyes traced it, preparing to dodge again. She didn’t notice the claw that the monster had just swung at Elias and Maeve, and they didn’t see it either, as their backs were still turned to the monster.
“To your right!” Arwin roared.
Olive threw herself back without an instant of hesitation. She didn’t even turn to look in the direction that Arwin had indicated, and an instant later, the monster’s second claw slammed down into the ground where she’d been standing.
Elias spun toward Olive as the Ripfish raised its claws back into the air, rubble spilling away from them and clattering against the ground.
Elias’ bandages unraveled from the Ripfish’s arm and furled back to twist around him. The lobsterlike monster twisted to try and grab him, but Maeve flicked her translucent fingers and he danced out of the way, the misty strands connecting to his limbs yanking him into the air as if he were a puppet.
The song gripping the room reached a crescendo. Olive blinked and shook her head, control of her body returning to her. She took a step back, refocusing on the fight. Blood trickled down from one of her ears and she swayed in place— she hadn’t been spared of the ear-splitting noise any more than Arwin had.
Elias leapt forward, diving past one of the Ripfish’s claws and extending his arms behind him. The bandages whipped down his body and fluttered through the air in his wake like long, flowing ribbons.
His feet hit the ground and the bandages fluttered in sync with the song, binding together and wrapping around the Ripfish’s eyestalks. Elias yanked the two gangly stalks together, smacking its eyes against one another with a squelch.
A hiss of pain filled the air, but Elias wasn’t done. Maeve’s misty form yanked her hand back and Elias mirrored the motion, jerking the monsters eyes down to the ground. He took a step forward.
Olive beat him to it.
She lunged, bringing her sword down with both hands upon the exposed target. The blade carved through both stalks in a single blow, driving into the ground beneath them.
An agonized scream tore through the cave.
The Ripfish reared back.
Arwin’s scalp prickled as the haunting song grew more aggressive. Elias’ bandages stiffened and dug into the ground like they’d transformed into cloth appendages. They launched him forward, carrying him through the air on dozens of white legs, and he threw himself at the Ripfish’s head, slamming into it and binding its front legs together with the bandages.
Olive ran after him. By the time the Ripfish was reaching blindly in his direction, she’d arrived before its face.
With a wordless cry, Olive drove her blade straight through its face. She ripped it down lengthwise, carving deep through the monster’s head and pulling the sword free in a spray of gore. Chunks of carapace skittered across the ground at her feet.
She wasn’t done. Olive reared back and drove her sword home again, ripping it down in the opposite direction and carving an X into the monster’s face.
The Ripfish crashed to the ground, and the song went silent.
Arwin lowered his hands. He hadn’t needed to interfere after all. It had gotten close, but in the end, Elias had actually worked with Olive instead of just completely abandoning her and fighting together with Maeve — though the screech that had damaged his and Olive’s hearing had definitely been questionable.
They’re still holding back their full capabilities, but what kind of technique are they even using? Is Maeve using Elias like a puppet? What sort of monster is she?
Elias’ bandages retracted and wound back around his body. He hopped to the ground as they covered him once more. His eyes cast to the ground as shame washed over his features, and the misty form of Maeve behind him dissipated.
“That was a poor showing,” Elias said, his voice distant and tinny. “I take full responsibility.”
“Better to screw up now than later,” Olive said. She wiped some of the blood from the side of her face. Arwin was pretty sure she was speaking a lot louder than she needed to, but her ears had definitely taken a lot more damage than his. “Did you really have to do that scream thing?”
“Yes,” Elias said with a firm nod. “Maeve’s magic would have done a lot worse if you could hear it properly.”
He cast his gaze in her direction. Arwin followed it.
Maeve laid on the ground in a heap. Purple mist swirled around her body, slowly pouring back into it.
“Is she okay?” Olive asked, taking a concerned step toward her.
“She’s fine,” Elias said. “That’s just what happens when we do… well, you saw.”
“Not the best teamwork,” Arwin observed. “Seems like something that should have been discussed before a fight.”
Elias flinched. “I know. It’s not something we can afford to use at the tournament, though. We weren’t planning on ever doing it. If we did it in public… well, it would be pretty obvious that I’m not human anymore.”
“Wouldn’t have happened if you were looking out for Olive as much as Maeve,” Arwin said. “You’re overly focused on one member.”
“She doesn’t have a way to defend—”
Arwin arched an eyebrow.
Elias’ shoulders slumped. “I know. I’m sorry, Olive. It won’t happen again.”
“It’s fine. I got stuck in place because my arm started acting up and you saved me, so I think we can call it even.”
“I did not realize your arm was capable of doing… that. I’d heard rumors, but I didn’t realize it was so powerful.”
“Another thing that should have been discussed,” Arwin said with a wry smile. “Especially since Olive is more than capable of using that power during the tournament. I don’t need it hidden, Olive. I’ve said as much.”
Everyone stared at the corpse of the monster. The fight had been a lot closer than any of them had wanted. On the other side of the room, Maeve brushed the dirt off herself and rose to her feet. She shook herself off and walked to join them, embarrassment playing over her features.
Arwin clapped his hands together.