At the beginning of the third round of matches, when most were either already sitting on the stands, or making their way there, maybe even ignoring the entirety of the matches and instead roaming the tournament grounds, finding what to spend their points on, three robed figures, covered in military gear were making their way to the first floor of the human pagoda, where all the portals were.

  “It was nice to see Stella, I missed her,” Luz said, easily moving through the wooden beams as if they were water. “When do you think we can see her again?” she asked, pulling Jamie and Adrian through the wood behind her leaving no trace of their passage.

  “Focus,” Adrian said, his tone stern but muted.

  “Come on, no one can hear us,” Jamie said as he expanded his own power to envelop the room in an eerie silence. “And we’ll probably meet her soon. Hopefully after Eric returns from wherever he is.”

  “Ugh,” Luz groaned, remembering that Stella said that she would tell Eric about their little interaction. “Can’t we see her before Eric returns? Or maybe after, when he leaves again?”

  Adrian looked at his two younger siblings, fully aware that neither of them would let the conversation go. Instead, he turned his attention to the portal that was in the middle of the room, and began to make his way toward it.

  “No can do, little sis,” Jamie answered. “If we go before Eric returns, who knows what mom might do to ensure that he does in fact return. And if we go after…”

  “She’ll have us trail him, regardless of where he goes,” Luz completed, her shoulders dropping. “You know what? Let’s drop that topic altogether. Whose portal is this?”

  “From what we managed to gather, it belongs to some southeast Asian people. Can’t really say from where specifically, but they are near a coast,” Jamie answered, taking a box out from a bracelet on his left arm and handing it to Adrian. “Which is all we really need if we want to accomplish our mission.”

  “Mission,” Luz scoffed. “Like we’re soldiers.”

  “We basically are,” Adrian said, without taking his attention away from what he was doing. “Just because you didn’t receive the training that the three of us had, doesn’t mean she expects any less from you.”

  “If anything, you’re worse off than us because you didn’t receive any training,” Jamie added, a playful smile on display. “All your complaints and now you’re paying the price.”

  “I got training,” Luz protested.

  “Only the easy stuff,” Jamie said. “Fighting and survival techniques are things that you can learn on your own. However, the real shit, the things that make or break you,” he tapped his head with a finger, “that was something that you didn’t get. Which I’m not complaining about, to be clear.”

  “It would be hypocritical of you if you were, since you are one of the main reasons she didn’t get that treatment,” Adrian added, taking a small pouch out of his storage ring.

  “Like you’re one to talk.”

  “Yeah!” Luz agreed. “I remember that you two went to mom together to convince her that she not do the—and I quote—advanced training.”

  “What? No! That’s not what that conversation was about,” Jamie said. “That was—”

  “Drop it,” Adrian said. “I’m finished.”

  Luz frowned a bit at the hint of something she didn’t know, and was maybe even purposefully hidden from her. However she knew her brothers well and was sure that they wouldn’t sure anything they didn’t want.

  The portal, still sleek and futuristic, now had a small device added to the bottom, where the arch began. The device almost wrapped the entirety of the small section, but never really went into where the portal would appear.

  The device itself looked like an assortment of components from various other devices that had little to no synergy. While most were clearly of human make, there was at least one large piece that wasn’t. It resembled a metallic coral, but it had characteristics that made it alien, characteristics that only some would be able to recognize.

  “How sure are we that this will work?” Jamie asked, without a hint of nervousness. “Mostly curious if we’re going to end up ten thousand feet under the sea or not. I mean, I’m a good swimmer, but not that good.”

  “Swimming? Do you honestly think we’ll get that far?” Luz asked with a playful smile. “We’re going to be burnt to a crisp as soon as we go through that portal.”

  Jamie snapped his finger, shaking it at Luz. “Yes, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.” Jamie walked up to Adrian, getting really close. “Did you hear that? We’re going to burn up.”

  “At least it’ll be fast,” Adrian said, playing along.

  “No, don’t do that,” Jamie said, some fear finally showing in his face. “When you say things like that, it’s scary.”

  Luz was already speaking in hushed tones, mimicking praying. Though with the enhanced hearing that her brothers had, they could easily make out that she was only saying gibberish.

  “Are you done?” Adrian asked, pressing the ridge of his nose in a annoyance.

  “Wait!” Jamie exclaimed, turning around, getting on his knees and mimicking yelling to the heavens. “Now I’m done,” he said, getting up.

  “Are we leaving now?” Luz asked.

  “No,” Adrian answered, taking a satellite phone from his storage ring. “One of the phones,” he shook the phone on his hand, “received a message, ‘1Id correct. Lose.’”

  “The first idea was correct and now we have to lose,” Jamie said, easily understanding the message.

  “What was the first idea again?” Luz asked. “Punishment or something, right?”

  “Yeah,” Jamie confirmed. “It was that those that didn’t arrive in the tournament grounds were still somehow involved in the tournament. And that it was likely that they would suffer some kind of punishment because of their actions.”

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “That’s why we have to lose now,” Adrian said. “We can’t risk the mission by getting injured, especially not by a faction like the Blades.”

  “What if someone enters and sees the device?” Luz asked. “I don’t think they’ll trace it to us, but do we have a backup? Why didn’t we do this after we lost?”

  “They won’t find it,” Jamie answered, his power spreading and the device disappearing. “Neat, huh?”

  Both Adrian and Luz took a moment to observe where the device had been mere moments ago, but they saw nothing. Approaching it Adrian felt something odd, or better said, he felt that there was something lacking. Part of him wanted to touch it, but he still didn’t understand his brother’s power and chose not to risk it.

  “Let’s go, we have matches to lose,” Adrian said as he rose to his feet and turned to leave.

  “Rude,” Jamie said when nobody acknowledged his question. But he quickly recovered when he thought of something else. “I really wanted to fight Anna. She’ll be so disappointed that I’m gone.”

  “uh huh,” Adrian said, not considering it worth a response.

  ----------

  “They totally threw the matches,” Alex said, putting his spoon down. “And I haven’t seen them since then, have you?”

  “No,” Stella answered, taking a spoonful of soup.

  “Me neither,” Anna added, biting on some bread.

  The three friends had left the conversation regarding the three siblings to rest shortly after it was brought up. The three did remember what they had seen, but they were exhausted. When Anna attempted to make a comment, she instead yawned, and Alex took that as a clear sign that they all needed to rest. Their fatigue clearly wasn’t physical but mental and the only way to recover from that was with rest.

  The three friends woke up at a similar late hour, late for them at least. Having been in charge of Solace for months, their days tended to begin early and end late. So, for them, anything after the sun rises is late.

  They left the human pagoda and made their way toward a random restaurant. After choosing a meal that none of them knew what they were about, they resumed their talk from the previous night.

  “Pretty sure they’re gone,” Stella said. “They probably accomplished all of their objectives, and they might even have a method to leave whenever they want to.”

  “Their objectives being?” Alex asked.

  “No idea,” Stella answered. “From what we saw, my best guess is that at least two of those objectives had to do with us. One was obviously confirming Eric’s whereabouts and the other has something to do with something inside of us or something.”

  “Yeah,” Anna said. “They made that ominous comment about us also having it or being affected by it, right? Also, something about you being affected by it surprised them,” she added, pointing at Alex.

  “Yes, I remember,” Alex said.

  “Changing topics,” Stella said. “Have you guys given some thought to what you’ll spend your reward points on?”

  “I’m thinking of handing mine over to Ed, I like his idea,” Anna said.

  “Same,” Alex added. “If you think about it, it’s the best investment we can make here. We can get manuals from the System store, the same goes for the weapons, and the armor.”

  “Add to that, that because of Clara being annoying, the crafters have begun to develop weapons and armor of their own,” Anna added. “Adding magic effects, like the little artifacts have, could reduce the gap that currently exists between System bought and manufactured.”

  “Exactly,” Alex agreed. “We will be increasing Marcus’s workload, but, eh.”

  “Eh,” Anna mimicked.

  “You say that because you’re not the one that he complains to at the end of the day,” Stella said, her tone sharp. “But you’re right. This is the best way we can spend the accumulated points. I’m also thinking about asking everyone from Solace to cooperate and pool their points together. That way we can get more artifacts with different effects and also different versions of the same effects, stronger and weaker.”

  “Considering that a lot of our people are being targeted and forced to surrender,” Anna began. “At least this will give them something to do in their spare time.”

  “We would need to figure out an appropriate compensation for their contribution,” Alex added. “It also can’t be a direct conversion. Even if we pay them the exact amount that their items are worth, it still wouldn’t be enough because we also took their opportunity to purchase anything else.”

  “Are we going to go poor if we do that?” Anna asked, her tone somewhat playful.

  “No—”

  “Than what does it matter,” Anna continued, cutting Alex off and turning to Stella. “We can get credits back with ease, but access to the unique items offered here? That’s rare even for us. I’ve barely gotten one artifact, and I constantly hunt monsters and clear dungeons.”

  “Why are you looking at me?” Stella asked. “I only said what we had to do, Alex was the one that started to doubt the plan.”

  “I never doubted it,” Alex protested. “I was merely saying what we had to consider when we had to compensate those that help us with the artifact acquisition.”

  “Sounds like complaining to me,” Anna said with a smug smile.

  Stella let out a light chuckle. “Speaking of points, how many do you have? According to someone I sent to ask an attendant, nothing has changed, is that correct?”

  “Yes,” Alex confirmed.

  “Uh huh,” Anna answered, nodding. “Speaking of little Ed, has he had any luck on uncovering the azar?”

  “Nope,” Stella answered. “And none of them have lost yet. Though I do have an idea as to what they are now. A couple of them have revealed it, its slight, but I’m sure of it.”

  “Why do you speak so vaguely, spit it out, woman!” Anna demanded playfully.

  “Pretty sure that their main source of attack is magic, their bodies are just something that they are naturally blessed with,” Stella answered, completely unaffected by Anna’s playful demand.

  “What round are we going to, fourth?” Anna said, not really a question. “Do you think that we’ll see them take off their robes? Do you think we’ll see others finally go all out?”

  “How many people are left officially? Like a thousand, right?” Stella asked, looking at Alex, who nodded in response. “From a thousand, the number will be reduced to 500, that means that if the azar want to preserve their numbers, they are going to have to. Some of the sovaryn are finally showing their hidden cards, as are the elves.”

  “What about the humans? Do you think that yesterday’s match will still affect them?” Alex asked.

  “No, it won’t,” Anna answered. “Yesterday it was fresh in their minds, and the one responsible was right there, but after a night of rest and having had time to realize that the number of available slots is diminishing, they will probably push themselves harder than before.”

  “What about those that had made an alliance?” Alex asked.

  “Some probably already mended whatever damage they suffered yesterday and should continue with their little bullshit show today,” Anna answered. “Still, I wouldn’t worry about them. Worry about those that have divinity inside them or my two… cousins…?” she said, unsure of her words.

  “Is that what we’re going with? Cousins?” Stella asked, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

  “Agghh!” Anna grunted, ruffling her hair. “I don’t know, it seems appropriate. Do whatever you want.”

  Like that, the trio of friends continued with their meal, talking about what they would do and some of what they expected to happen during the upcoming matches.

  Other than what they would do with the reward points, there was no planning going on at their table. They were just having a conversation, as most of what followed were things that they couldn’t control or influence in any way, shape or form.

  ----------

  With their back against the restaurant that the three friends were currently having a meal in, there was an average looking man, wearing average clothing and looking directly at the sun, completely unaffected by it hitting him directly in his eyes.

  It was Jeff, looking as innocuous as ever.

  “Anna, Anna, Anna… Oh! How you remind me of...” Jeff’s words suddenly trailed off, his lips curving into a smile that radiated true happiness, and then immediately turning sullen. “How I miss you.”

  Turning to face the sun once more, the brown of his eyes gently blew away like dust, revealing a yellow glint

  Shaking his head, his expression turned into one of deep pondering.

  “Oh… it’s already breaking down. Both this mind and body won’t last much longer.” Looking at his left hand, he saw the middle and pinky finger trembling on their own. “It looks like I have come to a decision. Now I just need to decide what to do.” He turned to face the wall, looking through it. “ I still have enough time for you, Anna.”

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