Valkyrie's Page of Wonder

March 18, 2010

Fallen Angel - Midwinter Games, Part 9

“Welcome to the round two of the Elimination Bracket,” the announcer's voice echoes through the speaker system. “First match up is Gilbert Monroe, who defeated Nalthana Naar'ru earlier this morning. Now he will have his work cut out for him as he faces the Grand Melee Champion and Hero of Maerd, Xannon Okunen. Thus far Gilbert has only had to deal with physical combatants. Xannon however, is well versed in magical combat as well. Will we see some of that magic displayed this evening? We sure hope so!”
Cheers erupt from the gathered crown in agreement with the announcer.

“The arena for today's match is...Klemayn Tower, which as you know overlooks Minge Canyon and the great Minge River far below. One false move off the edge could send them plunging to their deaths.”

Xannon and Gilbert meet at the entrance to the magic room. Gilbert extends his hand.
“I've heard this is your first tournament match. Are you scared? Not about fighting, but about the massive attention you're about to get. Knowing that no matter what happens your fight will be studied and scrutinized? Your every flaw itemized for public view?”
“Actually, I hadn't thought about it that way,” Xannon replies shaking Gilbert's hand. “Honestly, it doesn't bother me that much. I got just as much scrutiny when I was in school.”
“Do have a family yet? Girlfriend?”
“Girlfriend. We met at school. She should be watching right now actually.”
“Okay, then I'll try not to kill you. I make no guarantees though. Calm decisions aren't known to survive in the heat of battle.”
“What about you? Do you have any family?”
“Nope. I'm a one man show. Been doing this tournament for several years. Some years are good, some bad. This one is bad. I've never lost the first match before.”
“Maybe you've lost the edge?” Xannon suggests.
“Perhaps, but I did well against Nalthana.”
“Thirty seconds, gentlemen,” one of the coordinators announces.
Gilbert nods and his entire expression changes, becoming hard and distant. He slips on his gauntlets and grips the hilt of his sword resting in its sheath.
Xannon checks his armor one last time. Being primarily a magic user, he had no training in the heavier armor limiting him to leather. He suddenly feels unprotected against Gilbert's steel armor and sword. Tightening each of the leather straps holding his greaves and vambraces on he finishes his armor check just in time.
The doors to the magic room open revealing the top of Kelmayn Tower. Gilbert runs through the doors toward the other side of the tower. Xannon steps through the doorway and stands ready. The door behind him closes and dissolves into the scenery. For a moment he swears they had actually been teleported instead. A voice cuts through the wind blowing across the top of the tower.
“Good luck gentlemen, may the best man win! Begin!”
Without wasting a moment, Gilbert charges Xannon from his starting position. Xannon reacts quickly, drawing his sword and bringing it up to block the initial strike. Gilbert brings his shield forward and smashes it into Xannon. Blocking with his forearms, Xannon absorbs the impact but finds himself sliding backwards toward the edge of the tower.
Keeping the pressure up, Gilbert again advances and attacks. Xannon deflects the attack and side steps, putting the edge of the tower to his left instead of behind him. He quickly realizes he should have stepped right, behind the shield, as Gilbert's sword comes swinging around. He ducks then brings his sword into an upward strike. Gilbert leans back avoiding the tip of the blade then takes a step back to regain his balance.
Xannon begins casting a fireball but is interrupted as Gilbert charges again. He curses as he realizes he will have to gain distance if he wants to use any decent magic. He counters Gilbert's next attack throwing him off balance and uses the brief opportunity to get a clean shot. With a quick, precise attack, he severs the leather straps holding Gilbert's shield to his arm. As he recovers, Gilbert tosses the shield over the edge and grips his sword with both hands. He does a full turn and brings the blade down hard. Xannon blocks the attack and feel the impact all the way in his legs.
Needing to get distance, Xannon turns to the edge of the tower and jumps over the railing. Catching a flag pole near the top, he vaults himself into one of the upper windows. He crashes through the aged glass and rolls into a ready position. He quickly scans the room and locates the stair way to the top and prepares another fireball. He sends it flying toward the staircase just as Gilbert emerges from above. The flames wash over him, but he shrugs them off and again presses the close combat fighting.
They trade blows for a minute and Xannon begins edging his way back toward the window. Gilbert sees this and moves to block his escape. Undeterred, Xannon counters another attack, knocking Gilbert back a step, and dives for the window. As he falls toward the ground, he casts a levitation spell that allows him to gently land on his feet. He runs away from the tower but keeps the edge of the cliff nearby. Behind him, Gilbert lands hard on his feet after jumping from the same window. Slightly fatigued, he continues his pursuit of Xannon nonetheless.
After figuring he had enough room, Xannon turns and begins casting a powerful wind blast. Channeling as much power as he could and using the existing wind blowing up the cliff face he casts it just as Gilbert begins his charge. The sudden blast of wind stops him in his tracks forcing him to shield his face from the dust and debris. The wind intensifies and throws him into the air. Xannon continues channeling energy into the windstorm allowing him to trap Gilbert in a whirling vortex. The stresses inside the vortex are so intense, Gilbert is forced to release his sword in an effort to keep his arms and legs attached by curling into a ball. One small shift in the spell by Xannon sends Gilbert and everything else trapped in the vortex flying back toward the tower.
Gilbert hits the base of the tower back first, crushing his steel armor and forcing the air from his chest. He frantically tries to defend himself against the rocks raining down on him but fails to see his sword coming at him. The tip of the sword pierces his armor and flesh, puncturing his right lung, and embedding itself into the stone tower. He struggles to breathe and desperately attempts to remove the sword. Xannon runs over and grabs the hilt, tearing the sword from the wall and from Gilbert's chest. The bell sounds confirming the end of the match and the medics pour in through the doorway that appears to their right.
“Guess I have lost the edge,” Gilbert manages to say as blood fills his lungs.
He coughs up some more blood then slumps to the ground, unmoving. The medics continue to try and heal him but they soon give up, his spirit having left his body passed on. Xannon drops Gilbert's sword next to him.
“May the Gods of Life and Death look upon you well and speed you on your way,” Xannon softly prays.
Xannon exits the magic room and winds his way through the temple and out the front door. Loud cheers greet him as starts to walk to where Sarah, Kris and Gatomon were waiting for him.
“That wasn't quite what I expected,” Xannon says as he reaches his friend. “I was obviously way over classed for him, which cheapens my victory, makes it hollow.”
“Nonsense,” Kris counters. “You did great, you saw that close combat with him was dangerous and you turned the tables. Just because he was unable to counter magic with magic shouldn't diminish your win. You also have to remember that he let go of his sword in the middle of the vortex, a bad idea no matter what the case. He made a mistake and paid for it. If he had retained his grip, the fight could have gone on longer and maybe had a different result.”
“He's right,” Sarah states. “You did great. These people are no push overs. Each of them is powerful in their own right.”
“Learn from your fights,” Gatomon adds. “We already know that your next match will be against Ilsanith Dinaithil. She is an elven warrior, which means she will bring the added challenge of being able to use magic.”
“Elven magic at that,” Kris warns. “Elven magic is no simple thing. It works very differently than our own. Most of your protection spells will have little to no effect against their magic. I'd suggest you review the combat recordings and figure out a way to defend yourself. Elves have dominated this tournament for years for this reason. Last year's winner was a full Elven Sorceress, able to manipulate magic however she wanted, not limited to spells and certain elements. She decided not to come back this year, thank Bast.”
“I've been reviewing past battles in the tournament involving elves,” Gatomon reports, “and their only real challengers have been melee fighters, usually the Katta or Dwarves whose close combat skills are exceptional. Only a handful of magic battles resulted in a loss for the elf. You will have to study and learn if you expect to succeed against Ilsanith.”
“Right, I get it,” Xannon says turning toward the temple. “Study, learn and practice. Can I at least have something to eat first?”
“Of course you can,” Sarah says taking him by the hand. “There is actually one place at the carnival that serves decent food. We went there for lunch. I think you'll like it.”
Sarah and Xannon head off toward the carnival followed by Kris and Gatomon.

March 16, 2010

Fallen Angel - Midwinter Games, Part 8

Xannon and Sarah, fully rested after their plush filled mayhem from the night before, stand in front of one of the viewing screens watching the fight between Gilbert and Nalthana. Kris and Gatomon sit at one of the tables with a tournament score card in front of them.
The round was not going well for Nalthana. Despite all her trick she couldn't Gilbert far enough away to use her ranged abilities. The cramped canyon wasn't helping matters any.
She dodges another swing from Gilbert and vaults backwards. Jumping onto a nearby rocky outcropping, she fires off a round from her bow. The arrow streaks across the narrow gap and strikes Gilbert in the upper thigh. Wincing in pain, he quickly grabs the arrow and yanks it out. A sudden burst of speed brings him back into close combat with Nalthana follow by a shield bash which sends her sliding back and into the canyon wall. Momentarily stunned, Nalthana is unable to dodge his next attack. The blade rends her armor at the stomach, leaving a deep gash through her flesh. She jumps off the outcropping and heads farther down the canyon, hoping to get some distance before attempting to cast a healing spell.
Pain shoots through her leg and she looks down to see the point of a dagger protruding from her calf. She stumbles a moment then catches herself against the wall. Gilbert quickly approaches, his blade for the final blow. She fires off another shot, aiming for his exposed neck. The arrow is off target and is deflected by the armor around Gilbert's shoulders and does nothing to slow him down. Drawing on the last of her strength, she draws her pair of whip thin blades. Another shot of pain shoots up from her calf but she maintains her balance.
Gilbert swings his sword as he enters range and impacts the amazingly durable blades. The attack is deflected and Nalthana whips the blades around and strikes Gilbert's right arm. The blades cut through the armor and deep into the muscle. With his left hand, he punches her in the side of the head. She stumbles backward, her vision white and her ear ringing. She releases her grip on the blades and falls to the ground. Gilbert switches the sword to his weaker left hand and drives the point through the previous rend in her armor, through her torso and into the rock and dirt below.
She starts coughing up blood as the bell sounds for the end of the fight. Gilbert retrieves his sword and takes a few steps back. Priests pour in through the entrance and being healing Nalthana. He turns away and roars in victory.
“Gilbert it is then,” Kris announces as he marks on the scorecard. “Did you learn anything from watching the fight, Xannon?”
Xannon is silent for a moment as the screen continues to show Gilbert playing to the crowd.
“A few things. Range is definitely his weakness. His charging shield bash is something to watch for. He used it as a stun the first time and the second time actually used it to close the distance Nalthana had gained.”
“Any idea for how you will fight him?” Sarah asks as she takes a chair next to Gatomon.
“Depend on arena chosen I guess. If it's an open arena, I'll try to keep my distance and pelt him with magic. If it's a narrow space like that canyon, I'll be forced to rely on my physical skills. Which, after watching that fight, I'm seriously doubting are up to the challenge.”
“Don't doubt yourself,” Gatomon consoles. “Doubt leads to failure. Believe in yourself and in Bast and everything will be okay.”
“She's right,” Sarah says. “With Bast's help there isn't anything you can't do. You've already proved that back in Maerd. In fact, I wouldn't doubt it if some of the people here aren't hoping for another display of power like that.”
“I'd save your power displays for some of the final matches,” Kris interjects. “Try to pace yourself for now. Remember, you've never been here before. So you don't know how much each fight will drain out of you. Even with Bast's help, if you overextend your power you will be emotionally exhausted by the third round. Once you get this first fight under your belt you can really see what the whole tournament will be like.”
“These matches get recorded, right?”
“Yes, you want to see his first match against Forrt I'm guessing?”
“Please. I want to see what Forrt did to win against him.”
“Then you should have been out here yesterday instead of messing around in your room,” Gatomon eyes him accusingly.
“Sorry. We were planning on being back in time but time got away from us.”
“Anyway,” Kris butts in. “You can review the fight in the special viewing booth for combatants. Its one of the rooms in the temple. They have the ability to pause, rewind, slow, add markup, and all kinds of other stuff to help you understand the fight. You better go now. You only have a few hours before your fight with Gilbert and you need to learn all you can before then.”
“Thanks.” He turns to Sarah, “Did you want to go with me?”
“No thanks. I know you study better by yourself and I don't want to distract you when what you'll be learning might save your life.”
“Alright, I probably won't see you till after the fight then.”
Xannon hugs her heads off for the temple. Sarah turns to Kris.
“Tell me the truth. Is he going to be okay?”
“Absolutely,” Kris states. “I have no doubt he will win his first match. But I don't want him getting cocky. He needs to learn to study his enemy. I'm hoping he takes the time to review the other matches as well. If not all of them then at least Verana's two fights.”
“How did her second match go? We were too focused on Gilbert's.”
“Rather interesting actually. Wojceich was the favorite among the katta entrants. His strength and power is known throughout Katta Isle and even in some of the mainland cities. He has even studied the magic arts enough to be able to mount a decent defense.
“Despite his aggressive tactics against Verana and what seemed like the upper hand for the first half of the fight, she never showed signs of worry, as if she was playing him, figuring out his strategy and developing a counter to it on the fly. Once she actually started fighting back the combat was intense, but Wojceich kept the pressure up, defending against her attacks both physical and magical.
“Near the end, the odds were almost even. You see, up until this point, Verana was using normal attacks and the normal magic you and I are taught. Once she learned that Wojceich might actually be able to beat her like that, she shifted into elven magic and used that magic to amplify her attacks. Once she did that, Wojceich's magic defense was almost useless. With just a few combination attacks, Wojceich was battered, beaten, and bloody. He would have fought till the end until one of trainers realized both his eyes were swollen shut and he was going on smell and instinct and called the match.
“He'll face off next time against either Quartzalia Redtail or General Emerson. Fortunately he'll get a full day to recover from this beating. Xannon won't have that luxury. He'll be fighting twice a day till it's over.”
“No rest for the weary, then?” Sarah asks.
“Nope, but that's where you come in. I'm going to need your help to make sure he gets all the sleep he needs and all the healing and restoration he needs.”
“Which means no more messing around till this tournament is over,” Gatomon adds. “Think you can handle that?”
“Yes. I believe I can restrain myself.”
“Good, then let's go get something to eat,” Gatomon says. “It's time for lunch.”
The trio gets up from the table and head across the grounds to check out the greasy food provided by the carnival.

March 14, 2010

Fallen Angel - Midwinter Games, Part 7

Xannon and Sarah march triumphantly back to their room, each with an armful of oversized cheap plush toys. A giant pink gorilla from one game, a life sized sea-turtle from another and an assortment of other animals in various sizes and colors.
“That was fun!” Sarah exclaims as they reach the front door of their apartment. “We should try again tomorrow!”
“I'm not sure they'll like us coming back. We kind of cleaned up tonight. Plus tomorrow is my first match, I should probably watch the second round and actually learn about who I'm going to be fighting.”
Sarah turns and pouts.
“I suppose you're right. I rather join you in the winner's circle than claim another oversized stuffed gorilla anyway. But we do still have tonight, right?”
Xannon fumbles for the door handle amidst the bundles of fluff.
“Of course.”
He finally gets the door open and, after letting Sarah inside, shoves his way through the doorway and tosses the mess of prizes on the floor.
“What are we going to do with all these things?”
He looks over to Sarah who simply shrugs. Xannon closes the door and looks down at the colorful animals.
“I suppose we could put them on display some—“
One of the plush toys hits Xannon right in the side of the head. He dodges the next toy which squeaks as it his the wall. He turns to see Sarah picking up another of the colorful animals, a playful grin plastered across her face.
“Doth thou wish to challenge me?”
He retrieves one of the toys from the floor and sends it flying across the room at Sarah. She lets out a short squeak before batting it away and sending her projectile back across room. Xannon dodges and grabs the first plush that hit him as well as the giant gorilla.
“Whoa now,” Sarah interjects. “I'm not armed for that.”
Xannon looks down at the gorilla and trades out the smaller plush in his other hand for the sea turtle. He tosses the turtle across the room light enough for Sarah to catch it.
“Defend yourself!”
He swings the gorilla over his head by its leg and scores a hit on Sarah's shoulder. She returns the favor by swinging the turtles soft shell right into Xannon's face. Momentarily stunned by the impact, Sarah scores another point with a powerful hit to his shoulder. He takes a step back to get some distance, but Sarah grabs a smaller plush and begins double pelting Xannon, not giving him a moment to rest. He manages to get his gorilla up to block the turtle but takes a duck to the side of the head. Sarah swings again, but Xannon blocks the turtle and grabs the duck. As she brings her duck back, the stitching gives out, severing the duck's head from his torso, white fluffy guts spill out all over the bed.
Sarah looks at the severed duck head in her hand, then looks up at Xannon. He looks at the remains of the duck and she quickly bounds across the room to retrieve another weapon, a purple bear.
Xannon frantically searches for a second weapon and finds a stuffed frog lying innocently on the ground behind him. He grabs it by the leg and swings blindly behind him catching Sarah in the side. Her double turtle-bear attack, undeterred by the impact, crashes into Xannon's head. He stumbles forward a step before swinging the gorilla around. Sarah catches the arm, arresting its attack and proceeds into a violent storm of purple haze.
Not wanting to relinquish his hold on the gorilla, Xannon endures the onslaught of the bear while attempting to free the arrested ape. With a final tug, the stitches holding the arm on snap, freeing the pink mammal at the cost of his arm. With his now freed primate, he swings back and up into a pink uppercut, catching Sarah unaware and ending the purple haze. Fluffy stuffing pours out of the arm hole of the ape with each hit as he begins his counterattack. Soon the stitching gives some more and the majority of the remaining stuffing is strewn across the room, leaving the primate an emaciated shell of his former glory.
Using the advantage of her opponent’s loss of a weapon, Sarah counters with the seemingly indestructible turtle. Hit after hit drives Xannon back toward the front door. He shields himself as best he can with the much smaller frog as he bends to trade out the gaunt gorilla for a tubby tiger. Using the frog to deflect the turtle, he swings the tiger by the tail and catches Sarah in the leg nearly toppling her over. She stumbles back a few steps and Xannon charges her with the tiger. Her turtle blocks the attack but she finds herself knocked backwards. She lands on the bed and Xannon quickly pins her arms down with the frog and tiger.
“Do you yield?” Xannon asks, nearly out of breath.
“Only if thou wouldst kiss me,” Sarah replies.
He kisses her then stands up and deftly helps her to her feet. They look around at the gruesome display of stuffed animal mayhem. Severed animal parts and fluffy gore cover the floor and bed.
“Should we call the police?” Sarah asks.
“Of course not!” he fires back. “They'll arrest us for sure! There's no way they believe this was an accident. We'll have to hide the bodies and dispose of the evidence ourselves.”
Sarah nods in agreement.
“But that can wait till tomorrow, right?”
“Yes, for now, let us revel in our fluffy rampage.”
He kisses her again and pulls her into a tight embrace. He brushes the remains of the stuffed animals on to the floor and turns out the light.

March 10, 2010

Fallen Angel - Midwinter Games, Part 6

Xannon lays in bed with Sarah sleeping peacefully next to him, her head resting on his chest. He gently rubs his fingers across her bare back. He begins thinking about their future together after the war. The life of a simple fisherman kept getting farther and farther away. At this point he would be satisfied if the war would just be over. No more fighting, just peaceful days spent with the woman he loved.
“What I wouldn't give for that...” Xannon whispers.
Sarah stirs and looks up at Xannon.
“Did you say something?” Sarah asks sleepily though half closed eyes.
“Nothing, just thinking of the future.”
Sarah closes her eyes, “A good future, I hope.”
“Very good. A future with you and me without all the fighting.”
“So I guess you won't be entering the tournament in the future?”
“In the future I'm thinking about, no. I wouldn't enter any fighting tournaments.”
“Do you regret entering this one?”
“No. I wanted to join this one. I wanted a chance to prove to everyone that a man is capable of being a High Priest of Bast.”
Sarah looks up at him.
“What? You don't really care about that, do you? To everyone who matters, you have already proven yourself worthy of that. What you want is a chance to prove yourself against Verana. Your incomplete victory in Maerd is what's driving you in this tournament. Deny if you want, but I know you, Xannon. I know what's going on in that head of yours. Sometimes better than you do it seems,”
Xannon thinks about that as Sarah gets out of bed and begins getting dressed.
“Do you think I'll get my chance?” he asks, swinging his legs over the bed and pulling on his pants.
“I do. Both of you are very powerful. I only worry about what will happen once you get your chance. You've only fought her once so there are plenty of tricks she might have that you don't know about. Elven magic is on an entirely different level than what we use.”
“Then I guess we should join Kris and Gatomon at the screens.”
Sarah nods as she finishes getting ready. After Xannon gets ready they leave the room and head to the tournament grounds.



With most elves being disciples of Gaia, the support for Verana, who was a disciple of Kardis, was surprising. Her strength and power on the battlefield was well known and this tournament was a test of that power.
She had already heard of Xannon's success in the Grand Melee and was hoping for a rematch. She prayed for his success in the tournament if only so she could be the one to defeat him, to kill him.
Her first match was over almost before it had started. Mikash Furika, who was fresh out of his elven training, had joined the tournament in hopes of making a name for himself. Using his ties within the tournament, he managed to secure himself a seat. Unfortunately, he was paired against Verana in the first round. He knew of her record and when he learned of their match up he was tempted to forfeit the match. However, forfeiting would bring dishonor upon him and his family.
With the odds heavily in Verana's favor, it was a miracle that Mikash survived as long as he did. However, his inexperience cost him his life when a misstep brought Verana's sword to his neck.
Verana emerges from the temple to the cheers of the gathered spectators. Several priests rush in afterwards to try and help Mikash. She spots Gatomon and Kris by one of the screens and recognizes them from Maerd. As she walks over to them she calls out.
“I see you are doing well after our last encounter. I've also seen that Xannon is doing well. Where is he? Shouldn't he be here learning about his future opponents? Or perhaps he realized his limits and dropped out.”
“Hardly,” Xannon calls out from behind her. “If anything I've learned how limitless true power is. I will succeed in this tournament and I will defeat you.”
“But will you win? Mark my words Priest of Bast, within five years no one will even remember your name. You will be like a firefly, one brief moment of wonder in the infinite expanse of night, lost amidst the countless others. Do well, Xannon. I'd hate to see you lose before I get a chance to face you.”
She turns and leaves before Xannon has a chance to reply. Xannon and Sarah join Gatomon and Kris by the screens.
“I really don't like her,” Xannon states as he takes a seat next to Kris. “How did the first round go?”
“Gilbert Monroe lost to Forrt Ironhammer and Nalthana Naur'ra lost to Pythos Bloodwarden. Meaning you will be facing either Gilbert or Nalthana. The odds are currently in Gilbert's favor based on the first round. The rest of the winners from the first round are Wyntess Sul'luin, Ujarak Stonewarden, Wojceich Deathwhisper, Verana of course, Ilsanith Dinaithil, and Herschie Riverdancer. Opponents you won't have to worry about anymore are Damon Wolfe who had the upper hand against Wyntessa until he tripped into the lava surrounding the stage. And Mikash Furika who lost his head in his battle with Verana. The next round has been scheduled for tomorrow. If everything goes smoothly your first match will be tomorrow night.”
“You said I'll be facing Gilbert or Nalthana, right? What are their styles? Anything I should be on the lookout for?”
“Gilbert is your standard fighter. He did well in the fight, but Forrt's endurance and strength were too much for him. You can either prolong the fight and wear him down or you can push his defense to the limits with constant attacks. He seemed to tire quicker when Forrt kept the pressure on.
“Nalthana will be a much different fight. She will be trying to keep you away as much as possible so she can use her ranged abilities. You'll have the advantage in this fight since your magic is stronger than her arrows. But like I said, the odds are in Gilbert's favor. They don't think Nalthana will be able to keep him at bay.”
“Now that the first round is over, what's to do around here?” Sarah asks.
“There's what amounts to a carnival on the other side of the grounds. They have games with cheap prizes, stores with greasy food, and rides that cost too much. But you're welcome to check them out.”
“Yeah, you make them sound so appealing. Come on, Xannon. Let's go check out the games with cheap prizes!”

March 09, 2010

Fallen Angel - Midwinter Games, Part 5

Xannon, Sarah and Kris sit outside the temple. Sarah concentrates on her healing and refreshment spell while Kris goes over tactics with Xannon.
“These tournament matches are going to be extremely rough for you. You have to give every ounce of energy you have every time. It's the only way you will win.”
“How many years have you been following this tournament?” Xannon asks.
“All my life. My father was really into it as well. I learned everything about it from him. He always wanted me to enter the Tournament or at least the Grand Melee. I tried as hard as I could with the best trainer back home. But he never thought I was ready. After facing you and seeing what you've gone through I can see that he was right. There is no way I could have done what you've done.”
“I wouldn't say that. I'm sure you could have at least come in ahead of Adam. Then you would have had your shot at the tournament itself.”
“Maybe next year then. As long as you're here to cheer me on of course.”
“I'll cheer for you!” Sarah exclaims.
“It's settled then,” Xannon states. “Next year you enter the Grand Melee, and I'll be your trainer.”
“Whoa now, I didn't agree to that.”
“Of course you did,” Sarah says, smiling.
“Fine, but right now it's your turn,” Kris retorts, poking his finger at Xannon. “Are you sure you will be able to handle this? You can still drop out, you know.”
“Hardly. After the cheering I received from winning from the Grand Melee, I'd be a fool not to see this through.”
“All done,” Sarah says as she finishes her spell. “How do you feel now?”
She proceeds to massage Xannon's shoulders and neck.
“Much better, thank you. I didn't realize how stiff my muscles had gotten.”
“I didn't realize how big they had become. Kris here has had you training almost non stop. I didn't get any quality time with you.”
“You'll have your time with him tonight. The first round of the tournament starts in a few minutes and Xannon doesn't fight again till the day after tomorrow. But then its every day till he loses.”
“Or wins,” Sarah adds.
“Yes, or wins. One thing to note is while this is a double elimination tournament those from the Grand Melee will be entering on the losers bracket.”
“In other words, I can only lose once.”
“Correct. Also if you plan on winning, you will have to defeat the winner of the winner's bracket twice in a row.”
“Sounds like fun.”
Xannon reaches up and grabs Sarah's hand. He quickly stands up and pulls her to her feet, spinning her around in the process. Pulling her in close, he gives her a firm hug.
“Thank you, Sarah. I feel much better now.”
“You're welcome.”
“Kris, what time is Verana fighting?”
“Depends on how long the fights in front of her last, but its scheduled for three-thirty.”
“Come get us at three then. I'm not too interested in the rest of the fights.”
“Fine, go enjoy yourselves. I'll let you know if anything interesting happens.”
Xannon and Sarah head into the temple passing Gatomon on her way out. Gatomon watches them for a moment then walks over to Kris.
“They really love each other don't they?” she asks.
“Yeah, it's a little sickening sometimes. You want to watch the tournament with me?”
“Sure.”
Kris and Gatomon being walking toward one of the large outdoor screens.
“Do you have anyone waiting for you back home?” Gatomon asks.
“Not anymore. It's one of the reasons I left to join the temple actually.”
“What happen? Did she fall for someone else?”
“She died. My parents were away on temple business so we were messing around in my room. After we'd worn ourselves out we were laying in my bed when I heard something down stairs. I quickly threw on some clothes and grabbed my sword. Apparently they thought I had gone with my parents, because they weren't making much effort to be quiet. As I rounded the corner at the bottom of the stairs I practically ran into one of them. He drew his knife and attacked. This spooked the second one so much that he dove out the window. I fought with the first one for a moment when I hear her calling my name from the stairs. He immediately pushed passed me and grabbed her, holding his knife to her throat. He just wanted to escape. I just wanted him to leave. He backed his way to the front door but instead of just making a run for it, he slit her throat, pushed her toward me, then ran out the door.”
“Oh my goddess!” Gatomon gasps.
“My skill wasn't with healing magic, I tried to stop the bleeding, but there was nothing I could do. She died in my arms. She was my first love. I would have given anything to save her. By the time the medics arrived there was nothing they could do. I was so heartbroken that I grabbed what few things I could carry and left. I didn't know where I was going, but Bast guided me to the temple. I signed up for school and the rest is history.”
“So you haven't even seen your parents since that night?”
“They visited the temple once, after they found out where I was. They told me I could come home whenever I wanted, but home still brings back too much pain.”
“Did they ever catch the ones that broke in?”
“No. They didn't have enough evidence to go on and they wore masks so I couldn't identify them even if I tried.”
They reach the screen and take a seat. The first fight is just about to start.
“Did you ever meet someone new? At the temple perhaps?”
“A couple of the priestesses were interested in me, but I haven't quite gotten over her yet.”
“What was her name?”
“Julie. We had grown up together. We knew everything about each other. We were already making plans for the future. To have that all taken away so suddenly was too much. I need something to distract me from my past.”
“You don't think seven years is enough time to move on? You do have to move on eventually.”
“I know. Maybe when this tournament is over you and I could get together. Go out to dinner or something. I feel comfortable around you. I can open up to you without worrying about being judged or laughed at.”
“I'd love to go to dinner with you.”