Tourney Start

  Chapter word count: 3177

  Instead of waking up naturally, Airot awoke to the sounds of banging from his door. Startled by this, he levitated to unravel himself from his blanket. Once free, he released his glow allowing him to fall back to the ground. He had a wobbly landing as he was still groggy, but he forced himself upright and reached his door.

  “Yes…?” Airot’s voice was still hazy.

  “Hey, what’s keeping you? It’s about time we go.”

  Elfein was at the door. He spoke enthusiastically, but seeing Airot’s dishevelled state, his spirit dwindled a little.

  Elfein stepped back. “Hey… don’t tell me you just woke up…”

  Airot yawned. “Well, I kinda did.”

  “You… you slept in?” Elfein remarked, judgingly.

  “I just slept normally, it’s nothing crazy,” Airot shrugged Elfein off before turning back towards his room. “Besides, I can get ready in just a minute.”

  Elfein let out a swift breath. “You should really be prepared on time.”

  Airot made a swatting motion, waving Elfein off as he headed back to his room. Leaning against the doorframe, Elfein watched as Airot prepared himself.

  Extending his arm, Airot focused on linking with his jacket draped over the nightstand. A glowing yellow thread, visible only to him, connected them, and the jacket glided smoothly into his hand. He slipped on his steel-heeled boots before stepping into the bathroom.

  Elfein fiddled with a miniature tornado in the palm of his hand as he waited.

  When Airot finally emerged, Elfein straightened and turned toward the hall. Airot looked at the desk, where his scattered belongings remained, and debated whether to bring them as usual.

  “Come on,” Elfein had already begun walking down the hall.

  Deciding against it, Airot left his room without his notepad, but he did pull the unwrapped necktie toward him.

  ‘It’s not like they’d help me in a fight. And I’d rather not lose them in one.’

  Not wanting to suffer like yesterday, he wrapped the cloth around his arm instead, securing it in an uneven, amateurish knot.

  Following Elfein down to the lobby, Airot noticed that instead of the usual short white jacket, Elfein was now wearing the white overcoat he bought at the boutique. It felt vaguely reminiscent of Narro’s coat. But the more Airot tried to recall its exact details, the fuzzier his memory became.

  Chalking it up to his grogginess, he let the thought slip away as they exited the inn.

  Halting in his tracks, Elfein commented, “Wasn’t Haruku supposed to pick you up?”

  “Yeah? I think so,” Airot replied, racking his head.

  “I ate a whole meal waiting for you, only to find out you were sleeping in. And now, Haruku’s nowhere to be seen,” Elfein lightly complained.

  Airot yawned again. “Why so bothered? Are we even late?”

  “It’s far better to be early. You’ve got to learn that here.”

  Airot grimaced. “Can we even tell time here?”

  “Uh, kind of, kind of not…” Elfein spoke uncertain of how to answer. “I mean, for us, we now have the privilege of knowing when it’s day and night. But, apart from a few exceptions, most of the time you’ve just gotta feel it, you know?”

  “Feel it?” Airot scoffed at Elfein’s answer.

  “Yeah. After a while of living here, abiding by the city’s schedule, you sort of develop an internal clock,” Elfein elaborated.

  “Is that so,” Airot replied.

  “Something like that.” A voice interjected.

  They turned around to see Haruku.

  “There you are,” Elfein noted. “Shall we get going now?” his excitement noticeably rose as he saw Haruku.

  “Maybe.”

  Haruku went inside the inn and headed for the tavern bar counter. Elfein swept back his hair with wide eyes as he saw Haruku go inside, while Airot stood silently, watching as Haruku ordered a drink, downed it in one go, then paid before returning outside.

  “Now we can,” Haruku declared.

  Elfein’s hair and coattails fluttered in a favorable breeze as Haruku returned, though Airot felt nothing. Ignoring it, Haruku pulled them both in, huddling them together before teleporting to Urara’s tournament.

  “We’re barely arriving on time,” Elfein commented.

  “I always arrive on time,” Haruku stated.

  ‘I probably still would’ve been asleep.’

  Airot scanned his surroundings, noting that the location remained the same as yesterday, except now, it was alive with dozens of people.

  Though the crowd likely didn’t exceed 40, their presence was striking. Some wandered about, while others sat comfortably in the shaded seating area, which, upon a second sighting, was arranged much like a movie theater. Most were settling into their seats, while a few lingered, idly chatting and nibbling on light snacks.

  At the edge of the seating area, beneath the canopy’s shade, a small row of mobile food vendors had set up shop, drawing a modest line of customers.

  Farther out, on the opposite side, Urara stood by the registration table, engaged in conversation with a small group.

  Elfein guided them in her direction, but as they passed the row of cushioned couches, a voice called out from the corner edge of the seating area.

  “Yo, Elf. I don’t recall hearing you’d be backing me up.” The voice had a deep, feminine charm to it.

  Elfein turned speedily. “Oh, Lady Greenriver,” his tone harbored more respect as he subtly lowered his head, making a light bow. “Were you the one assigned here?”

  Airot followed Elfein’s gaze and saw the woman he had first seen during his initial visit to the library. She sat cross-legged on a cushioned armchair, and snacked on wafer sticks, likely bought from one of the snack vendors.

  A bland, buttonless topcoat loosely wrapped her, its simple white design reminiscent of Elfein’s color scheme, though hers appeared far less maintained. Her dark brown hair was tied into a short ponytail, with streaks of orange cutting through in random strands. Round glasses flopped down on the bridge of her nose, revealing sharp eyes, which had faint dark spots underneath them.

  Yet what caught Airot’s attention the most was the armband on her shoulder, brandishing the emblem of a gray spiral tower.

  “Why, yes, I was,” Greenriver answered before snapping a bite off a wafer stick. “But what about you?” she side-eyed Elfein.

  Elfein nervously chuckled. “Actually, I’m not here on library business.”

  “Oho? Here to watch, then?” her voice lightened up. “There’s an open seat right next to me,” she invited.

  “Uh~ha, no, not really that either,” Elfein avoided eye contact by looking at the stage she was facing.

  Greenriver tilted her head slightly. “Oh my, don’t tell me… you’re the one I’ll have to babysit here?”

  “Well, yes. I’m participating,” Elfein affirmed, putting on a nervous grin.

  Feeling awkward listening in, Airot glanced around. People were finishing getting settled in their seats. That was when he noticed that Haruku wasn’t beside them anymore, instead he was already at Urara’s table.

  “Hey,” Airot nudged Elfein’s shoulder. “We should probably go.”

  “Huh? Oh, yeah,” Elfein agreed. “Well, I’ve got to go.”

  Greenriver glanced at Airot then turned back toward the stage. “Sure, sure. Put up a good fight,” she encouraged, making a slow wave without looking at him. “Don’t go crying up there.”

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  “I won’t! I’ll do my best!” Elfein mustered before turning around and heading to the registration table with Airot.

  Traversing to the separate canopy where Urara was talking with someone, Airot noticed a newly added seating area near the table.

  “So,” Airot began, “what’s she doing here?”

  “Oh, uhm, well,” Elfein stuttered. “So, since this is a tournament where multiple yappers fight, they first notify the library for any event like this.”

  “She did mention officializing yesterday,” Airot recalled. “But why the library?”

  “It’s mostly a formality kind of thing,” Elfein shrugged. “Because while it’s not illegal for yappers to fight—since it’d be very difficult to restrict that—having sudden reports that there’s a sizable group battling would raise interest more than a normal one-on-one.”

  “Okay, I get that. But that doesn’t explain why… er, Lady Greenriver is here,” Airot copied Elfein’s way of referral to avoid disrespect.

  “Well, it’s also a bit of a formality, but also as a safeguard,” Elfein scratched his cheek. “On one hand, the library is a third-party, and a trustable one, so for events like these we send a member to act as a representative of trust. On the other hand… oh wait, you don’t know. The library actually also acts as the law enforcement for the city,” he raised his hands, just accepting how it is.

  “Ah, I’ve heard this, actually. The G.L.L., right?” Airot corrected.

  “Whoa, you did?” Elfein showed shock. “Well, yeah, you’re right. The Grand Library’s Law pretty much runs the city’s legal system—if we can even call it that,” he muttered with a hint of ridicule. “So Lady Greenriver—and any librarian on duty—being sent here is just for official security. You know, in case anything goes wrong.”

  “Wait, security?” Airot furrowed his eyebrows. “Doesn’t that mean—”

  “Yes,” Elfein cut in. “Lady Greenriver’s a yapper.”

  Airot bobbed his head as they reunited with Haruku, who stood idly in the shade.

  A bit away, beside the foldable table and chair, an additional set of six cushioned armchairs sat beneath the same canopy. In one of them rested a figure bundled head-to-toe in winter attire.

  A thick, dark red scarf wrapped heavily around their mouth, while a fur-lined parka coat concealed the rest of their form. Their hands were covered by black gloves that were visibly thick. Their hair was short but looked stiff, and carried a faint tint of blue throughout it. Oddly enough, the air around them looked visible.

  Shifting elsewhere, Airot spotted Urara at her foldable table, her face buried in her hands, while another woman beside her appeared to be offering comfort.

  “What’s… going on there?” Airot asked.

  “She had it rough,” Haruku answered, then turned to Airot and Elfein. “Good luck on your fight.”

  “Thanks,” Elfein accepted.

  “Yeah, thanks,” Airot echoed. “You too.”

  “I’m not fighting.”

  Elfein glanced at him while Airot questioned. “What? You aren’t?”

  “No. I wasn’t your opponent, so I dropped out,” Haruku stared at Airot.

  “Is that why she’s like that?” Airot pointed to Urara.

  “Part of it,” Haruku affirmed. “The guy I was going to face made a scene after being told his opponent withdrew.”

  “Oh…” Airot mumbled.

  Elfein remained silent, and Haruku offered no further explanation, leaving an uncomfortable silence between them.

  Unsure of what to do in this situation, Airot considered panning away, but before he could, Urara shot up from her table and marched towards them, with the other woman following suit. Her approaching face was composed yet stern, showing no signs of having weeped or faltered.

  Stopping in front of them, Urara pointed towards Airot and Elfein. “You two! You’re still fighting, right?”

  Airot nodded as Elfein answered, “Yes, we are.”

  “Great,” Urara replied. She surveyed the armchairs seeing only one of them in-use, then panned over to the public seating area. With a sigh, she placed a hand on Airot’s shoulder. “Looks like you’re up first.”

  “Wait, me first?” Airot blurted, suddenly tense.

  “Don’t worry,” she assured. “Your injuries will be healed by our very own Ninfa here,” she presented the woman who was comforting her.

  “Um, hi,” Ninfa greeted with a small wave. “I’m Ninfa Tawny.”

  She had shoulder-length black hair, free of any accessories or added color. Dressed in a dark purple sweater, she carried a duffle bag and wore a fanny pack around her waist.

  “Airot.”

  “With introductions out of the way, why don’t we get started,” Urara rushed them. “Before anything else goes wrong,” she muttered under her breath.

  She directed to the boxing ring stage, but as she pointed, a paper airplane glided between them, landing delicately before unfolding itself. On its surface appeared a colored image of a near-empty living room, with someone sitting on a couch in center-focus. They wore a pink fedora, tilted just enough to obscure their face.

  As the paper settled flat on the ground, the figure within the image moved. Rising from their seat, they began walking forward, growing larger with each step while the background remained unchanged. Their form sharpened in detail, inching closer as though approaching a camera. Airot stepped back, startled, while the others simply watched.

  When the person nearly filled the entire frame, they extended a hand forward. The image rippled like water, and then that very same hand emerged into the real world, reaching out from without the image. Without pause, their body followed suit, exiting out of the paper completely.

  Now standing in full view, Airot recognized that it was the same woman he had seen just before he met Darc.

  With her presence no longer distorted by the image, her attire was more discernible. She wore a leather vest over a sleeveless white crop top, black canvas pants, and had a red bandana tied around her neck.

  She pushed her hat up, revealing her eyes, and placed her hand on her hip. “Howdy, lads. I’m not late, am I?”

  Urara smiled. “No, no, you’re good.”

  “Great. Then how about we start now?” she picked up the former paper airplane.

  “Yes, we were just about to. So if you’d like, we have a seat for you,” Urara motioned to the chairs beside her foldable table.

  “No. If it isn’t troubling anyone, I’d like to go first,” she eyed Haruku. “Is the big bad runner my opponent?” she approached him with an amused smirk.

  “Ah, no, no!” Urara quickly denied. “Your opponent would be our librarian here.”

  Elfein slowly extended his arm for a handshake. “Hi… Shanice Kent?”

  Shanice raised an eyebrow. “My, my. Do I have a fan?”

  “Ahm, no,” Elfein forced a chuckle. “I’m the student of the head librarian, so I try to remember all the yappers.”

  “Not a fan, but a stalker, I see,” Shanice teased. Elfein opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him before he could. “Well alright, mind sharing your name, stalker-boy?”

  “It’s Elfein.”

  “Elf-boy it is. Well then, Elf-boy, shall we get into the arena?” Shanice finally shook Elfein’s hand.

  “Sure,” Elfein replied as Shanice patted his shoulder before heading towards the simple platform stage.

  “Wait, but we were planning to let—” Urara started, only to be interrupted.

  “We just agreed that I’m going first, so I’m going first,” Shanice declared. “Now, get going, Elf-boy.”

  Elfein turned to Urara, who had an accepting look. Caving in, she motioned for Elfein to follow along.

  Urara then turned to Airot. “Welp, I guess you’re up second. You can wait over there,” she pointed to the six armchairs by her table.

  “Fight well, you two,” Haruku commented, facing the separating duo.

  Elfein and Airot nodded but Shanice grinned. “Why, thanks! I sure will!”

  “I wasn’t talking to…” Haruku muttered, but then stopped himself.

  Airot saw Haruku shake his head with a sigh, and watched as a green square emitted beneath Haruku’s entire body, flickering briefly before vanishing along with Haruku.

  As the others made their way toward the stage, Ninfa walked alongside Airot toward the seats. Near them, Airot felt a chilling cold in the air, emanating from the only person seated there.

  From this distance, Airot could make out a youthful man, likely around his own age. Upon closer inspection, he appeared to be asleep. Not looking to disturb him, Airot sat on the opposite end while Ninfa split off toward the foldable table.

  On the stage, Elfein got up on it as Shanice went to the opposite end. It really was a simple, small platform. With no rings or outer walls, it was little more than a raised box to stand on. Urara went in front of the stage and faced the audience, suddenly holding a microphone.

  “Hello, ladies and gentlemen! May I have all eyes on me!” Urara bursted out in an energetic voice, her enthusiasm palpable. “Thank you for coming here today at my first ever Urara-ran tournament!” her voice boomed despite the lack of equipment. “Many of you already know me as the announcer for a variety of famed events. So, while this tournament is simple and small, I have the experience to make it something more. Our little event here is no doubt the first step of many, and soon enough we’ll be amongst the greatest events in Panceia! And you’re all helping me achieve that dream by giving me a chance here today, so once again, thank you!!”

  The audience responded with a round of cheers and applause. Though enthusiastic, the energy still didn’t quite match Urara’s own. Regardless, she kept her enthusiasm.

  “Now, let’s bring our attention to the stage so I can introduce our first competitors!” Urara lifted her free hand and directed to Elfein. “In one corner, with the clean white coat, is the recent junior librarian, Elfein!! A recent awakener and student of the grand library’s head honcho! As far as we know, this is the first battle he’ll experience!”

  The audience cheered more excitedly now, but Greenriver just gave an intrigued look.

  “And facing off against him is the one and only Shanice!!”

  The moment her name was spoken, the crowd erupted in cheers, much louder than before.

  “Remembered for the spectacle she delivered in the 2nd Autumn Colosseum, this battle will surely be just as entertaining! And if that doesn’t convince you, she was also a crucial contributor to the G.L.L.'s capture of the blight that was Vantio!!!” Urara yelled ecstatically.

  This time, the response was thunderous. The whole crowd roared with appreciation, the noise now befitting a stadium’s audience. Even Greenriver could be seen clapping along with a grin, despite not doing so previously.

  “With that out of the way, we can begin!” Urara outstretched her arms wide. “You now have all eyes on you!!” she thrusted a hand up to the sky.

  In that instant, the stage beneath Elfein and Shanice began to shift.

  The floor expanded outward and then lifted into the air. Rather than the platform itself rising, it seemed like something had materialized beneath them, lifting them up. It continued growing while rising, flying higher than the canopies that shaded the viewers. It didn’t stop until it had reached a height far beyond the reach of anyone on the ground, all while extending to a remarkable size.

  Simultaneously, a digital screen unfolded before the audience. There even was a smaller one in front of the side guests, where Airot was at. The display resembled the green projection that appeared when Haruku carried Airot from the hospital, though this one wasn’t color-tinted.

  It showed Elfein and Shanice on the levitating arena, switching angles and moving as it pleased, functioning as a live camera. Several shots from multiple different angles played at the same time, showcasing the entirety of the floating battlefield.

  As the stage settled into place, Urara hurried to the foldable table near Airot’s seat, plopping down into a chair beside Ninfa.

  Then, from her seat, Urara shouted, “The first match of this tournament,” her face flickered onto the screen, “begins!!!”