The roar of the crowd was nothing but a muted murmur to Art’s ears as he stepped onto the center stage alongside Kien and Vix. Starforge’s team approached from the other side of the arena, climbing up to stand across from them.
Art’s hands clenched at his sides of their own volition. Showing any amount of emotion in a fight was a bad idea. It gave his enemies something to work with. Weak links were always singled out and targeted first — but it wasn’t like Art could have been any more of a weak link.
He was a cripple in a sea of adventurers. It only took a single glance at his crutch to bring every single scrap of attention their opposition had down directly on his back. Targetting someone that couldn’t fight back would force his allies to spend effort covering his back, which would expose their own backs in the process.
So in that case, I suppose it doesn’t matter if they know just how much I hate them. Or perhaps its more accurate to say I hate their guild. I don’t know if these three have anything to do with the people they’ve killed.
The man in sleek white armor matched Art’s gaze, a faint smile playing across his lips. He was in his middle thirties, with the beginnings of stubble from a few days of not shaving sprouting up from beneath his helmet. His eyes were a stark purple and his features were confident.
Art didn’t have to speak to the gravity mage to ask what he thought of his chances. He definitely thought this was going to be an easy win. The man wasn’t alone in the thought.
Behind him, the twins behind him moved with the exaggerated grace of a dancer playing the crowd in a burlesque club. Every movement they made was measured — intentional. Art was more than aware that the women were far more warriors than they were performers, but they certainly knew how to play the crowd.
From the information I have on them, they’re fast. Both are acrobats with a lot of experience. Neither of them have very powerful magic, but they know how to use what they’ve got very well. Despite one twin using fire and the other using water, they actually work together to create steam that makes the battlefield harder to navigate for their opponents.
Then again, for most opponents it doesn’t matter how powerful they are. Even if I ignore the magic of the gravity mage, raw strength doesn’t always equate to threat. A dagger between the ribs kills far more efficiently than an axe. The twins are actually the bigger threat to me. They might take me out the moment the fight starts.
For whatever the reason, be it the Secret Eye fixing the matches or just sheer luck, he’d been put here on this stage across from Starforge’s team — and Art never wasted an opportunity.
“You’re welcome to try,” Art said. “By all means, I ask you to do your best. This will be the last tournament you ever participate in.”
Ursa’s lips curled in to a sneer.
“It looks like we’ve got some rising tensions between the competitors!” Kraven roared. “Let’s look forward to an exciting fight! Competitors, on your ready!”
“Which plan are we going with?” Vix asked, lowering into a fighting stance.
“You stay back. I don’t want you wasting anything on these bastards. I’m playing one of my own cards,” Art said, his teeth pulling back in a snarl.
Vix’s eyes widened. “What? But I thought we were going to save—”
“Some things are worth spending,” Art replied. “Kien, keep the twins off me. Vix, stay out of the way unless things go wrong. The more energy you save, the better.”
“Wait,” Kien said. “Are you implying…”
“I’ll deal with Ursa,” Art confirmed with a stiff nod. “Myself.”
“Are you serious?” Kien asked, his eyes widening. “This is a tournament, Art. One you and Vix need to win. Don’t get worked—”
“Enough,” Art said sharply. “You wanted to see what we were capable of. If we can hold our own. That’s what you’re going to get. All I want of you is to do your job.”
Kien grunted. “Very well. I will deal with the mages should they choose to fight me.”
“Trust me,” Art said, cracking his neck. “They won’t have a choice.”
Ursa pointed at Art. “You’d best brace yourself, boy. I’m not going to be gentle. If you talk all that talk, you need to learn to back it up. You’re here today to be put in your place.”
“No,” Art said quietly. “I’m here today to put you in mine.”
“Begin!” Kraven roared.
Ursa thrust his hand forward — and Art pulled a card from his deck. He flicked it into the air…
And nothing happened.
The gravity mage blinked. He looked down at his hands, then back up to Art. Ursa thrust his hands forward again. Not a single one of Thornhelm’s team members budged from their spot on the ground.
Art’s card drifted gently to the ground.