Arc 2: The Valley Tournament
Part 2: Preparations
We stood at the entrance of this grand, dim-lit room. The man far inside who greeted us had brunette hair, eyes that were a hazy gray that still seemed to beam despite being a monochrome hue, and a smile on his face that was gentle and welcoming.
There was no hint of status or rank in his presence, like some other mages—whether they were royalty or simply from an established Guild—often did. No. He was just an ordinary man inside a lavishly dark room, within an overly grand castle.
The interior of this room had gothic features similar to the Wolves' Den. It was subtle, but there was also a hint of prestige that had been etched into the walls, something our steampunk gothic castle just didn't have. It seemed more… sleek, for lack of a better word.
As we remained standing outside of it, the large double doors began to close on us. "I would come in now before those doors close… Wouldn't want you getting caught in between," the man said with a tone of cringey wit.
We obliged and made our way inside.
The room had both height and width; the carpet below was dark red and trailed all the way to where his gold and black table was. And he sat behind it—both elbows propped with fingers crossed just below his mouth.
From the doors to where he sat, large bookshelves were filled to the brim from floor to ceiling. Tall, sliding ladders appeared on either side, one at the opposite end of the room and the other closest to the double doors.
Behind the man was a large window, which was basically the entire wall, covered with floor-to-ceiling black-and-red seamed curtains—filtering the light, aiding the room's ambiance.
It took us about thirty silent seconds to finally reach him.
"JoAnne," the man called politely.
To his mention, Jo clicked her tongue and looked away, hands still in her jacket pockets. "Try again," she replied with a bit of attitude, like he had clearly forgotten an important detail.
Panicked, the man collected himself and said her name again—this time, in a more preferred way. "A-Apologies… Anna… I just wanted to be formal in front of your Captain here." He scratched his head nervously.
"Don't bother. He's the last person who cares about formalities," she said in a friendlier, nonchalant tone. Was this really how she addressed the Arcane King?
"Ah, yes. I've seen you around when Asura was the recent Captain, but I don't think we've formally met… I am the Arcane King of the Valley Kingdom, Daz. Again, it's a pleasure to meet you at last."
I never got goosebumps or had shivers from anyone's presence aside from Asura and one other man. This man—though his gentle nature was radiant—behind it, I could sense a deeper, ominous power within him.
Arcane King Daz… I could tell, even in this first brief interaction, that he was worthy of his title; the third person who managed to do that to me—a presence that pulled the fear out of you but also commanded respect without ever uttering a word about it.
"Good to meet you finally," I responded, closing my eyes and lowering my head to appear distant, yet treating him like an equal all in the same. "Well… you already know who I am, so I guess there's no need for reintroductions."
He smiled, saying gallantly, "Good man! I like that tone. Direct. Unwavering. A hint of nonchalance, but in a respectful way… I've always hated formalities—feels a bit stuffy, if you know what I mean. Asura taught you well."
"Appreciate it" was all I said, letting Jo take the lead here. This was her realm, technically.
The room was somewhat awkward after that, as nothing was said. Jo still looked away, completely disinterested, sucking on another popsicle that she effortlessly manifested onto the previously bare stick she held.
Daz merely sat there, beginning to twiddle his thumbs like an anxious child. "So! Uh… Would you two like some tea? Please sit down!" he said gawkily as he went to grab a kettle nearby, gesturing to the open space in front of him, which had no chairs. "Uh… Sorry, here!" He snapped his fingers, and two black chairs appeared where there had once been empty space.
This guy's mannerisms were like Asura's. An annoying quirk—like they were only pretending to be meek.
We let ourselves get comfortable as we sat across from him at the table. He served us black cups and filled them with tea, like he wasn't the Arcane King, and he was a mere thrall. Gestures like these reminded me of Asura as well.
"Thanks, but don't you have maids to do this for you? You are the esteemed Arcane King after all," I asked as he poured my cup first.
He formed a gentle grin, eyes still focused on the cup as he poured, and said, "That's what you would expect, yes, of someone like myself. But you see, I wasn't born of Royalty or was regarded as anyone of importance in my lineage…" He finished my cup and then went next to pour Jo's tea. "Well, there was the first Arcane King of the Valley—the one with the Phantomdrake ability… I think he might have been my great, great grandfather… or was it great, great, great?" He let the sound of the pouring hot water fill the quiet for a moment. "Regardless, even though he was such a figure for the Valley back in the day, my mother and father were only half relatives unworthy of being considered part of the true bloodline. In fact, many of my council, and even Sirus, didn't even know I was related to him until I had officially become the current Arcane King. So, to answer you quite frankly… I was—and am—just a regular mage, through and through," he concluded with one last note. "A regular mage with a big dream."
I leaned back in my seat and just watched him. Everything he was—from his slightest movements to the way he spoke—seemed rooted in humility. I didn't sense any ounce of pride. He really was just like Asura, and it wasn't just a facade.
"How do you and the old man know each other? I recall him talking highly about you sometimes. And I often witnessed my goofy captain talk to you in such a familiar manner," I said casually, grabbing my tea and holding it to my mouth, not drinking yet…
"Asura? He and I go way back. Like you and Ryo." He stopped there. The pause was awkward. Like he wanted to say more but he held himself back. "One thing led to another, and look at us now… We're married!" He chuckled; it was a lame joke. I only snickered out of pity while Jo rolled her eyes in unamusement.
Could he have been… like me, Asura, and the others? I pocketed the thought for later… "Way back, huh? And you know of me and Ryo?" I asked. He even called him by his nickname.
"Yes! Ryo talks about you all the time. He's one of my trusted mages after all."
I said nothing, putting the tea back down without having taken a sip. I glanced at Jo, who merely sat there with her arm sitting on her armrest, propping her head up, disinterested. She hadn't even touched her tea or looked at it.
Daz then poured himself a cup from the same kettle, and as he finished, it disappeared into the ethers in a blink as he reassured, "You don't have to worry… I didn't drug your tea." He lifted his cup and took a sip.
I raised an eyebrow, pretending I had no idea what he was talking about. But he read me like a book.
"You're truly his pupil… 'Never trust so easily,' he used to always say… Or rather, the precise quote he used to say was 'just because one is easy to talk to doesn't mean you can trust them just as easily.' Something like that," Daz preached.
I lowered my brow and gave him a subtle look of approval at the mention of one of Asura's most important lessons.
"So… did I hit the nail on the head?" he asked, putting his cup down, relaxing in his large black-and-gold chair.
"Spot on, actually," I said, grabbing the tea again and taking a sip this time.
And though she had seemed to be disregarding us, Jo had really been watching us intently.
"Now. For the matters I had you come here for, Anna." Daz shifted his attention to her. "How was the infiltration mission?"
"Well, it didn't exactly go as planned…" she replied boredly.
"How so?" Daz asked.
"Because. I didn't get to infiltrate anything. The base was a bust. And there was no Head Officer."
Silence filled the room. I kept quiet the whole time, too, being that this had nothing to do with me. Though I still wondered why I was here in the first place…
"The bandit group you had me follow was indeed connected to Riot Gang. But the 'hideout' wasn't a hideout at all. Or rather, it probably was one until they found out I was coming."
"You? Found out you were coming? How could that be?" Daz continued to question.
He was right to think that; out of many mages, aside from Sensory-type magic users, Jo was excellent at hiding her presence until the last moment. It was a skill she easily picked up after Asura taught her. It only took her six months to learn, whereas most mages who attempt to master it usually take most of their lives just to get to her level.
"I don't know," she merely replied.
"From what it seemed, they didn't just sense you coming and then flee. It almost seemed like they knew you were going to be there beforehand. Otherwise, if they truly ran, you would have easily caught up and apprehended them—that I have no doubt," Daz went on. "Another reason I chose you, aside from your skill, to take on this mission—and pardon my next words, I don't mean any offense…" He faced me with serene, closed eyes, then proceeded to speak to us both. "It's because outside of the Valley, no one knows who the Black Wolf Knights are. I'm afraid your reputation does not spread any further than Valley jurisdiction—even with the fake Black Wolves activity that happened fairly recently. Unless that has changed?"
I took no offense to that. It sounded more like a compliment to me. However, when Daz brought up the fake Black Wolves again, word might have gotten out past the Valley's jurisdiction. We had apprehended all of the fakes in the Valley that day, but who knows if that was truly all of them…
What did that have to do with Jo's mission, though?
Daz continued, "Even if we didn't capture every single one of the fakes, many of them were mere hired bandits." He thought to himself for a moment, then asked another question, "How did the mission end up concluding?"
Jo reached for her tea and raised it high. When she reached her desired height above all our heads, she began tilting it, spilling the tea to the side. But before it reached the table, it froze completely, leaving nothing spilled. When she placed the cup back right side up, the frozen-spilled tea sat sideways like a decorative piece.
"Like that. Anticlimactically." She said as she put her arms on the table and rested the side of her head on the top of her forearms. "They were all fodder… not a single Officer." She yawned and continued, "And you know I hate black tea, Daz… I said green tea. You know, like the matcha kind. Isn't there a coffee bar in the castle foyer? Come on…"
Daz made a pathetic sound as he closed his eyes and scratched his head.
He then proceeded to ponder as he faced his gray eyes toward me. "We've spent so many months just trying to track down one Head Officer of the Riot Gang, and yet, just yesterday we had one come knocking at your door…"
It looked like he wanted to say more but his eyes just remained on me, saying nothing else.
"I'm just as curious as you are if an opinion is what you're looking for," I replied. A quiet challenge.
"Of sorts." His eyes had a calm about them like that before a storm. "What did they want?"
"A guy named Drakthor was the Head Officer who led a group called the Nightbanes," I said. "They're a faction of the main group you call 'Riot Gang'. They came to abduct one of my subordinates. A young girl with Alternate Space Creation-type magic. They collect rare abilities, apparently." I continued to look Daz in the eyes, unwavering as I went on, "Do you know anything about why they would recklessly charge my court for her out of the blue?" A question to answer a question.
The way he blankly stared at me was most definitely a quiet challenge.
"I have no idea." A lie. It was only for a mere half second, but I sensed it. It seemed Jo did as well. She didn't react. "But I find it ironic, the timing of his arrival. Don't you think it's curious as well…" Not a question. And there was more to his words than he was letting on.
"Didn't Ryo brief you on what I had told him yesterday? Also, why not have my subordinate here—who was at the center of it all—and ask her yourself? Why have me here in her place?"
There it was. The looming question that hid above this whole meeting.
Daz's mouth was covered by his hands, fingers crossed. His elbows were relaxed, studying me with a haunting quiet.
"Simple. Aside from Jo's report, you were the one I wanted to see. Didn't Ryo tell you that as well?" He paused; the silence was awkward. And then he quickly dismissed us. "That'll be all for now, Jo. Thank you for your patronage. I'll make sure you are paid handsomely for this mission."
That was it? We came here for this short meeting, and he's just going to dismiss us while barely answering my questions? Why ask for my attendance if this was all it was going to be? No. Something was up.
"Okay. Come on, GG, let's go home. But… can you please carry me on the way there? My eyes are getting heavy."
I nodded, and we got up, heading for the double doors that seemed so far away behind us. It was a long and discomforted walk back to the doors. Jo hung on to my arm the whole way, falling deeper asleep with every other step we took.
Daz, of course, watched every move we made. I could feel his eyes watching me like a hawk.
When we finally reached the double doors, they opened, and the escort mages greeted us. But as we were about to take another step nearer, I felt a swift, sudden breeze. It only took seconds—or rather, a blink when I realized someone was standing behind me.
It was then that Daz spoke inches from my ear, "Thank you for walking Anna out. Now, if you don't mind, I have a matter to discuss with you. We're not done just yet."
A sidelong look of shock overtook me. Anyone who could sneak up on me was a danger, so I did my best to hold my composure in the presence of this serene-looking man lingering behind me.
My eyes widened as I saw his quiet gaze. That pleasant smile from earlier was gone, and all that was left was an unreadable look about him. When I looked back to Jo, she was already fast asleep, standing pigeon-toed and balancing herself upright with an arm wrapped around mine like I was her prop.
I then looked over to the escort mages before us; there was about six of them—unnecessarily more than when we had arrived earlier.
They stepped back cautiously as they beheld my gaze. Was this a setup?
"Captain Greed. If you would be so kind to let my escorts assist Miss JoAnne out, while we continue our discussion, I would be immensely grateful," Daz reiterated. Sterner and more formal this time, like he was driving a wedge. He had even used her full name; that was all I needed to hear to confirm my paranoia.
Two of the escorts attempted to get closer. They inched so carefully while my attention was slightly on the Arcane King. But I darted my eyes back in their direction, and they felt the gaze as if it had aura of its own. Like a door they should not knock on.
"Don't step any closer," I commanded with quiet rage.
The escorts shivered, stopping in their tracks and readying themselves.
"Odd. I had a feeling something was up. Was this what you were planning all along?" I asked Daz as I slowly turned my head back to him.
There were two types of men. Those stupid enough to turn their backs against a threat, and those stupider to lead the threat out in the open. I was the latter.
"I understand how you're feeling right now, but I asked politely. So if you would be so kind as to return that politeness with cordiality, and not threaten my mages…" His aura escalated—a quiet demonstration that shattered mine. "That would be much appreciated."
"You're the ones doing the threatening," I retaliated, pushing back with my own auraless aura; my eyes blazed, and one of the mages fell back on his hind, nearly passing out—I wasn't even looking at him.
"This won't do…" Daz said with relaxed disappointment.
Then, with one mere shove, Jo and I were separated; she was still asleep while it happened. One of the escort mages caught her, and the other used magic to close the double doors immediately after.
I gave chase, but was just seconds too late as the doors completely shut.
Then a firm hand then situated on my shoulder, pulling me back. Daz grabbed and tossed me back into the room; he now stood between me and the double doors.
I flew in the air for a short while, flipping upright as my boots perched on the floor.
"What's all this about!? Where are you taking Jo!?" I yelled.
"We're keeping her safe"—the locking of the doors rang, and he faced me with ominous eyes—"from you." He sounded as if he was talking to an enemy.
"What are you talking about? She's my crewmate!" I yelled furiously. Finally, my aura had taken shape. Just like it had all those times ago. A black fire.
"There it is," Daz said calmly. "That same black aura… just like the rest of them."
"Them?" I repeated quietly.
"I'll get to the point…" He tilted his head down and closed his eyes for a second before looking back at me. He then asked a question that gave me chills. "Are you or are you not a Child of the Sins?"
My mind raced with memories at the utterance of those words. Memories that I had pushed so far—so deep into the depths of my mind I thought they would never resurface. Thoughts I knew existed, but could not express. Just like yesterday…
"I want you to think carefully before you answer. Because if you lie, I will kill you on the spot. No apprehension. No Tartarus… Only death awaits you."
He had become someone who was once kind and clumsy, to now someone hostile and precise.
This was the true nature of the Arcane King of the Valley, and he stood only feet away from me. I understood then why he had that title. Why the other Guilds, and even Belle had respected this man.
In his presence, even I hesitated. As if I was in the presence of someone who could very well—as a matter of fact—end me. His words were not hollow.
I couldn't get the words out. But this feeling… This feeling was fear.
I shook my head. It was all I could do. Daz glowered at me. I could see his attire more clearly with the lights brighter here; it was fairly plain. He wore a long, tan trench coat that draped to his ankles, a matching tan vest with a white button up on the inside, matching tapered dress pants, and dark brown dress shoes.
He looked like an ordinary person if I didn't know any better. And yet his presence rivaled—no… it overpowered my own.
"Is that your final answer?" he asked me ominously; the shadows made their home on his face, and his eyes glowed—piercing into mine.
I said nothing, nearly paralyzed from the sight of him.
"Okay then." He raised a hand slowly, and at the end of it he held a gesture—snapping his fingers. And the floor disappeared.
We began to fall into the void, falling for a good thirty seconds until we finally hit the ground.
I lost him during the fall, and stumbled upon my landing, not knowing when the ground would appear. I remained crouched—one knee up with the other down.
Daz then landed gracefully across without ever being seen falling, then stood upright.
The ground was made of stone, tiled throughout, and I couldn't tell how large the room was or where the walls even were, for that matter. I could only assume that it was the same size as the office we had just come from, but I wasn't entirely sure. The only thing I knew was that we were deep under the castle. And when I looked up, it was also pitch black.
Daz snapped his fingers again, and dungeon torches lit all around the place. I understood then.
This is an arena…
"You're probably wondering where we are, Greed," he said through the darkness.
"How could you tell?" I replied sarcastically. Anything to mask the nervousness I felt.
Daz raised his head with a wry smile, and shadows emitted from his hand, forming the silhouette of a large black blade. A blade I was all too familiar with. And one I had wielded not too long ago…
"This place is where I will make you talk. This place… will be your reckoning."
He swung the large black blade to his side, revealing it even more. That was definitely it… that was—
"The way that you're staring at this—I can tell you've seen it before, or rather… have used it before."
My eyes twitched as the shadows from his other hand swirled and formed yet another of that same black blade. There were now two of them.
"Yes, this—these are the Arc Slayers." He threw one over his shoulder. Despite how large it was, he wielded it like it weighed as much as feathers.
"Now, Greed… let me see the 'so-called' power of the one who defeated Syemore."