Calista was more than happy to finish the semester at Fistborn and go back to the Medleys’ cabin in Montana. She had a lot to tell them after the eventful finals week she had after her Thanksgiving break.

  Her siblings never tired of hearing the story of how Calista beat Hillary ‘Gravity’ Kaye in front of the entire school, to the point that Calista herself was getting tired of telling the story. She would have to restart every now and then when her mother chose to enter the room, her presence alone reminding her of the deal they made during Thanksgiving.

  Fistborn released the finals week tournament footage on their Hub a few days after break started, allowing Calista to show her family exactly what happened. Her father was especially excited, giddily repeating, “That’s my girl!” and squeezing her tight. Calista felt a bit surprised at how she moved in the fight; she didn’t know how awesome she looked, minus the times she wobbled and got smashed by Hillary.

  She did her best to use her break as an opportunity to destress and not think about the final list that was coming out on Christmas Day. 150 students out of the 1320 would be going to LA to compete in the preliminaries, and even though Calista got pretty good grades, she couldn’t be sure that she would make the team.

  Katelyn continuously reminded her that she was still a Fistborn student regardless, and she had plenty of opportunities in the future to make the team. But four years was a long time to wait, and Calista didn’t want to give anyone the satisfaction, especially after what they put her through during the semester. Insults, threats, interviews, and initiations… she wanted to pay it all back, and the competition was the best place to do so.

  After all, the Versus Games were all about people settling their conflicts through controlled battle to avoid war and uncontrolled violence. That was exactly what she wanted, a chance to show off her skills while punishing her enemies for what they did. Four years of pent-up anger wasn’t something she wanted to endure.

  Ten days before Christmas, the cabin got a fresh shower of three inches of snow, which was perfect for a snowball fight and all sorts of fun for the cousins. The nearby lake was perfect for some ice skating lessons— Aunt Ellie opted to try and skate the old-fashioned way, since her talent in figure skating was what got her the popularity she had on her Socializer channel. Calista struggled quite a bit with her balance, but had fun nonetheless, returning to the cabin with an icy butt.

  As Christmas approached, Calista’s anxiety grew. Why did they have to release the list on Christmas? Why distract them all from their regular festivities with their families?

  She thought of Harrison, all alone in the academy. She had thought about inviting him to come with her for break, but thought it was a bit too forward. After all, they only knew each other for a few months, and he was her Student Coach. Maybe he would’ve refused, anyway…

  She couldn’t erase the guilt. She should’ve said something.

  Christmas Eve came and Calista received a mountain of presents from her family. The gift boxes would open with a light tap on the top side, which made it explode into digital confetti with festive bells, and the gift would be revealed inside. As expected, she got a lot of cute clothes and makeup sets added to her digital closet, along with custom freeze shots of her in fighter suits, showing off cool poses.

  Her mother’s gift was smaller than usual: a 40-digit gift voucher to a fitness store. Calista didn’t know how to feel about it. Maybe it was Jennifer’s way of saying she’d accepted her new career?

  She couldn’t really complain, though; her gift to her mother was lackluster, too. She’d gotten her a new pair of sage green heels from Dreamton’s, one of the best fashion stores, which reflected a retro style from the 22nd Century with touches of the current 23rd Century. For other women, it would be a dream, but for a woman who was constantly immersed in fashion and had an outfit for every trend imaginable…

  The celebration continued well into the night, ending in the family waking up very late on Christmas morning. At noon, the Versus News channel played in their HARP room, the whole family (minus Jennifer) waiting with delicious anticipation for the final list.

  The annual hosts of the American Versus News channel, Xavier Hennett and Yvonne Macon, both appeared before the family with bright smiles. Calista barely recalled them from her childhood days of watching the tournament, but saw them many times while studying previous fights in school. They were both humans with clean-cut and well-trimmed haircuts and outfits. Xavier wore a navy blue suit, his black hair perfectly combed back. Yvonne’s brown hair was cut into a bob and she wore a slim, red dress with white jewelry— of course, they were both wearing the flag colors.

  “Welcome, Versus fans, and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!” Xavier Hennett began. “Today, we’re delivering a very special Christmas gift to those celebrating among the 150 chosen students for the American Versus team. It’s been a heck of a training period, hasn’t it, Yvonne?” He looked at his co-host.

  “Sure has, Xavier,” Yvonne responded. “This year’s string of interviews from the Journalism School students were especially interesting.”

  Calista squirmed. She hoped they wouldn’t specifically mention her interview— not that much was used from the actual interview. Tamara Wallace had taken snippets of her weakest answers and mixed them with footage of her Socializer past, her mother’s past, and her sister’s spotting at the Genesis X space station. If only Tamara Wallace were a fighter so Calista could exact her revenge in the competition.

  “Certainly,” Xavier responded. “Fistborn’s student Journalists did an excellent job of telling us all about the new class of freshmen that got in this year. But the question is, which one of those interesting new fighters got to be the new kids on the team?”

  “150 students out of over 1,000. Many hearts will be disappointed.”

  “Technically, it’s 140 spots. 10 of them are already reserved for the Student Coaches, unless one of them chooses not to join the team.”

  “You see, I always feel like that’s unfair,” said Henry, munching on some flavored popcorn.

  “They’re the best students in the school,” Calista pointed out. “The team needs them. They earned their spots.” Especially Harrison, she added in her head.

  “So, starting with the first 10… Fistborn’s famed Student Coaches.” Xavier faded into a hologram of Reilly Campbell, crossing his arms seriously for his pose. He was wearing his platinum Guild armor from the finals week fights, save for the helmet. His stats hovered next to him.

  Name: Reilly Campbell

  Call Sign: Clocker

  Academic Year: 4 (16th Earth Year)

  Guild: Alpha *Student Coach*

  Birth Planet: Earth

  Species: Voraxian

  Country of Origin: UK

  “Clocker got to the top place after the last Versus Games, being the best of Fistborn,” said Xavier. “He got pretty far in the last Games, but was unfortunately beat by the Legends of Hajja’s planet team.”

  Calista shook her head. Harrison was supposed to be the best in the academy. It was so unfair, the way they slandered a little boy out of pure envy and species bias.

  The rest of the coaches then appeared:

  Disaris ‘One-Punch’ Okione

  Delaine ‘Minx’ Evistroma

  Li Mei ‘Knifehand’ Hoss

  Kalis ‘Glaiver’ Siip

  Melsen ‘Spider-Man’ Steffensen

  Elisa ‘Double Dutch’ Fiosda

  St?sten ‘Grill’ Durchdenwald

  Catherine ‘Lasso’ Graham

  All those call signs sounded so amazing. Meanwhile, Harrison was stuck with ‘Cheater’. He was generally a positive person, so he’d probably find some way to take advantage of the name.

  “Speaking of Cheater, after my interviews with Fistborn’s famed coaches, I did get a bit of an inside scoop,” Yvonne said, prompting Harrison’s image to disappear.

  “Oh?” Xavier leaned forward curiously.

  “Harrison Smith was officially made Student Coach this year, his position delayed after the debate during last Versus. For those uninformed, Student Coaches in Fistborn Academy have Guilds, identified by their own color and Greek letter. This system is also applicable in the Canadian, English, Irish, Greek, and German fighting institutions.

  “Apparently, after Cheater took the mantle, everyone in his Guild— Kappa— quit and transferred to the other Guilds available, most likely due to the controversy surrounding him. His Guild reopened when one of the new students, Calista Medley, decided to join.”

  “Ah, Calista Medley,” Xavier nodded.

  “Oh, no,” Calista’s uncle said.

  “She’s a famous Socializer’s daughter, right?”

  “Yes, Jennifer Zyben’s daughter. Zyben won a Miss Milky Way during her career,” Yvonne said matter-of-factly. “A lot of rumors were circulating about her during the semester. She got a lot of attention when she joined Kappa, and she became a Favorite student by default— that indicates a student’s higher status in their Guild, and they often end up being their Student Coach’s successor when they graduate or step down.”

  “So Ms. Medley is Harrison’s only student?”

  “Along with recognized student Lílitha Houdge, call sign ‘Piranha’, who joined Kappa only recently,” Yvonne said. “They’re both Favorites.”

  “I see,” Xavier said with a crooked smile.

  “You’re not supposed to be talking about rumors, glitchheads!” Katelyn shouted at the projections.

  “Kate,” Henry scolded.

  “What? They are.”

  “Well, Harrison has another chance to clear his name this Versus,” Xavier continued. “He could just be that prodigious. It’s not the first time such a young Versus fighter has accomplished so much. Let’s see who else we have on the roster that Mr. Smith beat with his 10th-ranking position.”

  Name after name passed. As expected, Rosalina showed up, ranked #20. Lílitha was previously ranked #150 due to her early elimination in the last Versus, but had now climbed up to #23. Bark Davies was #26.

  Calista cheered when Camelithia’s name showed up, ranked #33 on the list. Belinda got the 85th rank. To her dismay, Hillary Kaye also made the team, but as #123.

  The family clapped for Calista when Xavier and Yvonne mentioned her having broken Hillary’s nose twice during the semester, replaying the portion of Calista’s fight with her. The human Socializer girl breaking an experienced Paeseoan fighter’s nose was evidently a big deal, enough to get to the main hosts of the channel. “Paeseoan bones are notoriously very strong,” Yvonne emphasized.

  “Yeah, my knuckles were practically powder when I hit her,” Calista commented, bringing chuckles from the family.

  “You didn’t break your hand in the fight, though,” said Quincy.

  “I had armor on, bughead. Duh.”

  More names came and went, but Calista’s was nowhere to be found. With every name, she lost hope. Geija, Alka, Charlotte…

  “Fighter number 146 is Neka Barina, one of the Gamma Guild members.”

  Calista sighed, her stomach becoming as heavy as lead. “I didn’t get in.”

  “There’s four more names,” her Aunt Ellie reassured her. “Just wait.”

  147, 148, 149…

  Calista buried her head in her arms, unable to watch. This was the deciding moment.

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “And the last fighter…”

  The room froze.

  “Will you look at that,” Yvonne chuckled.

  Calista watched in awe as her figure appeared, copied from the scan she’d taken before leaving the academy. She flipped her hair and cocked her hips, modeling in her orange Kappa armor. Her lips were curved in her most confident smile.

  Name: Calista Medley

  Call Sign: N/A

  Academic Year: 1 (1st Earth Year)

  Guild: Kappa *Default Favorite Status*

  Birth Planet: Earth

  Species: Earthian

  Country of Origin: USA

  Her family cheered, drowning out Xavier Hennett’s voice as he commented on Calista. Her cousin Gliss embraced her tightly, squealing excitedly. Even her apathetic brother, Soko, couldn’t hold back his excitement. Katelyn was dancing in her seat and Quincy ran around the HARP room, whooping and pumping his fists.

  “Jenny!” Henry called through the AIDA speaker in the ceiling. “Jenny, come down!”

  “Dad, it’s okay-” Calista began.

  “Jennifer, she got in! Come on!”

  “Dad… it’s fine.”

  The family waited for Jennifer to appear in the room, but nothing happened. Calista shrugged, expecting it, but Henry left the HARP room, probably going to lecture his wife.

  “So… let’s have the cake!” Aunt Ellie said with enthusiasm, trying to dissolve the tension.

  They moved to the dining room, where Aunt Ellie presented the huge, scrumptious red velvet cake with green frosting she’d ordered for Christmas. All the anxiety and anticipation in Calista’s stomach had gone away. It truly felt like a Christmas miracle.

  She was on the team. She was on the United States Combat Team, and she was going to LA to compete against 31 other Earthian countries. If only she could see Danica and Rebecca’s jealous faces. They spent so much time on their channel predicting that Calista would fail out of the academy, only to see her face on the team list.

  How many people in the academy did she beat out? All those people that thought she wouldn’t make it, who wound up staying in the academy while she went to LA…

  And now she could show up those people that ‘initiated’ her in the Favorites’ lounge. Rosalina, Bark, that ‘Choker’ guy, and ‘Tarzan’…

  No doubt Hillary would be looking for a grudge match after getting beaten by her twice, and Calista knew she would actually put effort into her fighting this time. She was ready, though. She found herself looking forward to her eventual fight against Gravity. She felt as though she could do absolutely anything.

  “Where’s your dad?” Uncle Shay said, looking around. “He didn’t come back down?”

  “Probably still talking to Jennifer.” Aunt Ellie looked up at the ceiling, shouting through the AIDA speaker: “Henry, come on, you’re missing out on the cake! It’s almost gone!”

  “I’ll save a slice for him,” Quincy said, serving a big slice of cake and asking AIDA to reserve it for Henry.

  Calista wished her father would quit trying to convince her mother to support her. Everyone knew Jennifer would always worry more about her fans than her family. Calista imagined that when Jennifer heard Henry announcing Calista’s success, she would’ve had an anxiety attack thinking about what the fans would say.

  She imagined she was also homesick. They were cut off from the Zyben half of the family, and they still couldn’t go back to their home in Indiana until SECURE identified all of the crazed fans trying to get at them, who were doing their best to keep themselves hidden from SECURE and free to attack their former idols.

  “I can go get Dad,” Calista said, finishing her second slice of cake and excusing herself from the table. As she passed Katelyn’s seat, she felt Katelyn take her hand and press something in her palm. She didn’t react, continuing her walk to the floor teleporter. She didn’t have to look at it to know what it was, feeling the metal legs poking against her skin.

  She appeared on the second floor and approached the wall, holding the scrambler out to find the empty space leading into the guest room her parents were sleeping in. The wall rippled a bit and she held her hand out, gently pressing on it. It wouldn’t give way; it was locked. Calista gently placed the spidery scrambler on the surface and its legs sunk into the malleable material, playing the voices coming from within. Instantly, she heard arguing.

  “-this is our daughter, Jennifer,” Henry was saying.

  “No kidding.”

  “Okay, then why don’t you act like her mother? We’ve been at this over and over again…”

  “I can’t pretend to be happy for something I’m just not happy about, Henry,” Jennifer said calmly.

  “You need to get over it!”

  “Henry, I’m tired. I want to go to our home. I want my regular job back. I want… I want our lives back! Don’t you see that the further she goes, the worse it gets?”

  “The worse it gets for you. Don’t you see how happy the kids are here?” Henry argued.

  “They think this is a vacation. We can’t be living here, in someone else’s home-”

  “If you want to go back to our house, you can. Go and have your conferences or whatever. It doesn’t make a difference whether we’re in the house or not.”

  “You know why I can’t do that.”

  “Honey, SECURE exaggerates all the time! You know that. We have the money to put up a better security barrier-”

  “I’m not spending money on-”

  Henry burst out of frustration. “Then what do you want, Jennifer?! You want to go home, but you’re too scared to; you have the money to improve our security, but you don’t want to spend it; you criticize my sister even when she’s the sweetest woman you could ever meet; you choose to live like you’re in a glitching prison instead of enjoying our time as a family here until we can go back, and we will go back, very soon, because SECURE is a perfectionist. They said it was 80% secure enough to go back home, but that’s not enough for you, is it?”

  A pause. Calista sighed, feeling a bit guilty. It was, ultimately, her fault that her family wasn’t at home right now. Jennifer probably felt paranoid because of all the death threats, and while most people wouldn’t actually act on all the cache they said on the Hub, it would be scary for anyone.

  “Your daughter has such a bright future ahead of her, and you don’t even try to be happy for her. I’ve never seen her so happy and sure of herself. You should’ve seen her in her fight,” Henry said, his voice trembling with pain. Calista’s eyes filled with tears. “If you can’t see that, then… I don’t even know.”

  Calista took the scrambler off the wall and headed back down to the dining room. It sounded like their hours-long argument had finally ended. She put on a smile when she arrived, still retaining the skill of faking happiness while feeling rotten inside. Her father came down after her, also faking a smile, though not as skillfully.

  Would this be the end of her parents’ marriage? A dream she followed, a career she chose— would that be the end of her family as she knew it?

  ===

  Fistborn Academy students were spread out all over the planet for winter break, waiting with twisting stomachs and pounding hearts for the final list to come out on Christmas. For those whose names never came up on the list, it was quite disheartening, but nothing could match their anger at the 150th name and face that appeared on their HARPs.

  Even the satisfied, reputable fighters bearing memorable call signs had their holiday gifts soured when they saw the latest competition, one that shouldn’t have been competition at all. The reactions varied from outrage, to fury, to despair, to annoyance, and to some extent, indifference. And of course, there were a good few that were happy and excited.

  However, one of her most notorious adversaries had a more… neutral reaction.

  Rosalina’s mother had called a few minutes after her own name appeared on the list.

  Name: Rosalina Wiasod

  Call Sign: Hothead

  Academic Year: 3 (9th Earth Year)

  Guild: Alpha *Favorite Status*

  Birth Planet: Hajja

  Species: Hajjian

  Country of Origin: Biz

  “Congra-atulations!” Rosalina’s mother exclaimed, her voice cutting out due to the poor quality. Labeled as a criminal, Rosalina didn’t get the best technology to communicate.

  “Thanks, amma,” she said in her native language, smiling genuinely. “Is abba there?”

  “He is working, but he will be around.”

  “And brother? Has he seen it?”

  “He must have. He has not ca-alled, but I will alert you.”

  Rosalina gazed at her mother’s face. “I miss you so, mother.”

  “I miss you too, my bennina. It feels like fore-ever… how long has it been?”

  “18 years,” she replied, using Hajja’s time zone.

  “Kusto,” her mother sighed. “Well, you will be here soon. They let you visit halfway, no-o?”

  “‘Halfway’ was last year. But I’ll request to visit after the Versus.” Her jaw trembled and she smiled humorlessly. “If I didn’t do… what I did… I would have been there last year. Back home. I wouldn’t have to do all this…”

  “Ro-osa, what have I said about the blaming?”

  “I know, I know. I just… get so angry with myself.” She looked back towards the HARP screen. They were up to student number #25 on the list. “I could do so much more… I’m stuck in this stupid place because-”

  “Rosa.” Her mother looked at her sternly.

  “Sorry. I’m sorry, mother. I just miss you. And abba. And Cohen.”

  Her mother smiled, suddenly beaming. “I confess, I have a surprise for you.”

  “What?”

  She projected some images. Rosalina read them. They looked like… passes? She gasped, her mouth dropping. “Are you serious?!”

  Her mother nodded excitedly. “Our list came out already. Your bro-other has passed to the preliminaries here on Hajja.”

  Rosalina covered her mouth, her eyes welling up. The tears were a welcome feeling, cooling her naturally hot cheeks. “Tell him I’m proud, please.”

  “I am very sure he will pass to the Versus. But even if he does no-ot, we bought him a card, as well!” Her mother projected Cohen’s pass. “If he does pa-ass, we will clear and sell his card, so do not worry about us spe-ending too much.”

  “Oh, mother.” She wiped her eyes. “I cannot wait to see you. I do not want anything more than to hug you and feel you again…” She went back to crying.

  “I miss you so, my daughter. But we wi-ill see each other, hopefully in a few weeks!”

  “And I can see Cohen. I cannot imagine how grown he is.”

  “You have seen him before,” her mother pointed out.

  “I know, but it’s different face-to-face, you understand what I mean? He is probably so tall.”

  “He is very tall. He is nearly his father’s height!”

  Rosalina’s jaw dropped yet again. “No! He’s only…” She counted. “He cannot be more than 40.”

  “That’s right. But he is growing fast.”

  “I haven’t seen him since he was 22. He was so small…” Her voice shook. “He told me… not to go. So young, yet so much wiser than I was. He never trusted those sons of…”

  “Rosa. Do not dwe-ell on this. You were young.”

  “I know, amma.”

  “I am pro-oud of you. You made a mistake, but you have made the mo-ost out of it. You have become su-uch a strong, fierce woman. You just need to control tha-at temper of yours. I hear my daughter being ca-alled ‘Hothead’ and I already know you beat someone up. Even for our spe-ecies, you are much too reckless.”

  Rosalina chuckled and sniffled, nodding. She wiped her eyes again. “I suppose I get a bit too angry at times. It’s just hard for me to control. In the tournament, I control easy enough, but with certain people…”

  “Like Lílitha?” her mother inquired.

  She shook her head. “I cannot be around her. I feel like she judges me so harshly.”

  “I remember you told me she was your be-est friend. The ‘sister you never had’.”

  “That was nearly two decades ago, amma.”

  “Whatever happened, happened long ago,” her mother said calmly. “What is fueling thi-is rivalry, my bissin? Why do you continue?”

  “Because she has tried to make my life miserable since then!” Rosalina snapped. “It is… partly because of her that I am still here. I know it was mostly my fault, but if she hadn’t-”

  “Rosalina, I am sorry, but I do not bla-ame her. Not after what you did. I understa-and you were desperate to get home, but it was wro-ong.”

  “That is what I am saying. It is mostly my fault. But she kept…” She looked back at the HARP. They were almost at number #40. The reporters discussed each fighter, narrating their odds and history.

  “Never mind,” Rosalina continued, dismissing the subject of Lílitha. “At least I have Reilly. I feel like he is the only person I fully trust on this planet.”

  “Ah, yes, Reilly. How is he?”

  “As always. Being the best. He is very protective of me, you know? He does not like when others mess with me, or get me upset.” She chuckled. “He is too much at times. I find it adorable. He does not like when I tell him this, however.” She laughed again, a little more tenderly. “He was never raised on Vorax, yet he is as proud as any of them.”

  “I would love to meet him, Rosa. He seems to make you very happy.” Her mother smiled.

  “He does. If it weren’t for him, I would be even more miserable here. He makes everything bearable. It is a shame he will be graduating.”

  “Graduating already? How old is he?”

  “Only two years older than I, but he has been in the academy for much longer.” She went to sit back down on the sofa, tired of standing. Hennett and Macon continued down the list of fighters. “I have not called him. It is Christmas here on Earth. He celebrates it. He is in England visiting his relatives at the moment.”

  “Yes, I remember you te-elling me of this ‘Christmas’. It sounds so joyful. You should celebrate it with hi-im.”

  “I would if I were allowed out of the academy,” Rosalina reminded her.

  “You cannot celebrate virtually?”

  “I suppose I can… for the time I am allowed.” A red dot blinked at the corner of her mother’s hologram. She sighed sadly. “Speaking of that, our time is nearly up. I will call you tomorrow night, amma. I hope to see abba.”

  “I will tell hi-im.” Her mother gazed at her lovingly, a tear shining. She was so close, yet so far… “I lo-ove you, my beautifu-ul Rosali-ina. We will see yo-ou soon. We are pro-oud of the woma-an you are. Do no-ot beat yourself u-up. Beat up the o-other people in that competi-ition instead.” Her hologram started to distort.

  Rosalina smiled, swallowing down her tears. “I will. I love you, too. I am so happy… so happy you will come to the tournament.”

  “I a-am, as we-ell.” The red dot blinked faster, now beeping. “Good ni-ight, my da-arling.”

  “Good night, mo-”

  She disappeared.

  “…Mother.” Rosalina leaned back, sighing wistfully. Knowing her family would be attending the Versus brought her comfort, but she wanted that moment to come as soon as possible. It had been far too long.

  After a long while of thinking to herself, letting the news play out, she decided to contact Reilly. He’d said they wouldn’t be watching the list release, since he was already guaranteed a slot. As the call sent out, the list was concluding.

  “And the last fighter…” A pause. “Will you look at that.”

  Rosalina frowned and looked at the screen. The human girl appeared, posing like a supermodel, as the 150th-ranked fighter.

  “Well, Versus fans, looks like the infamous Socializer of Fistborn has made it on the team,” said Xavier Hennett. “I feel like I should be surprised, but for some reason, I’m… not. What do you think?”

  “I feel the same, honestly,” said Yvonne Macon. “I feel the same. It feels… expected. I mean, what with the way she was picked out of so many other fighters, more capable fighters, to attend Fistborn— it’s sort of the same way here. Fistborn Academy has a lot of talented students that have studied and trained harder and longer than she has, and yet she took one of those spots.”

  “There are rumors that Benson Kalley had actually recommended her as…” Xavier’s voice faded in the background when Reilly appeared in the hologram. “Hey, sweet,” he said.

  “Hi. Merry Christmas.” Rosalina’s eyes stayed on the HARP screen.

  “Is something wrong?”

  “Uh…” She smiled at him. “No, nothing. Just wanted to see you. I know Christmas is important to you.”

  “Thanks. I got, uh… this.” He projected a Versus/Christmas themed bodysuit. “From my grandmum.”

  “That’s cute.”

  “What are you talking about? It’s hideous. You can be honest. She’s not here.”

  Rosalina laughed. She looked back at the HARP. The reporters were still talking about Calista, speculating all the ways she could’ve gotten in other than her talent; Benson Kalley’s influence, her Socializer mother’s money, Harrison’s ‘cheating’…

  “What are you looking at?” Reilly asked.

  “Um… the human got on the team,” she said.

  “Which human?”

  She gave him a look. “Medley. Who else?”

  “Oh. Look at that.” He shrugged. “Oh, well. She probably won’t make it far. What rank is she?”

  “The last.” Rosalina stared at the screen. “I guess… well… she did well during finals; I’ll give her that. She’s improved.”

  “We’ll deal with her when it comes to it.”

  “Yeah…” She couldn’t help the internal conflict. She expected herself to be outraged, thinking of everyone else that deserved that spot, but for some reason, she felt… nothing. No anger.

  The girl had changed since they ‘initiated’ her as a Favorite earlier in the semester. She’d picked up a barstool as a weapon in panic and given completely into her adrenaline, earning her plenty of bruises. But when she fought Gravity in the arena, she was different. Hillary Kaye had been very overconfident and foolish, and Calista had made a lot of mistakes, but she still did very well compared to how she started out.

  Rosalina didn’t like her at all, but she wasn’t going to blindly and foolishly deny her improvement. It was evident that she was serious about her career in fighting, despite her past.

  Once the competition started, they’d see how she’d fare.