As we settled into the couches, I brought out snacks as usual and propped my feet on the table. Sereza took to my right while the others slowly filled in around us. My chest ached near my sternum but I shook it off and grabbed one of the drinks.

"Looks like you were right. Two days was bad enough, three days delay must have been too much to stomach for the arena," Sereza said.

"There's still one more pillar match right? Then it's onto the semi finals?"

"Pretty much," Celenae cut in. "Though with an odd number they'll likely invoke the crowd's favorite rule."

"Crowd's favorite?"

"Some competitions are purposely designed so that there'll be an odd number before the later rounds. Sometimes it's for the purpose of having a loser's bracket have a chance to re-engage due to poor luck. Other times like now seem to be so that the the audience can participate. Most likely after the final king's pillar. They'll announce a skip ticket, or favored ticket–depending on who you ask–to be given to a fighter. If they receive it, they won't be participating in the next round of combat."

"But that means someone acquires the third place prize simply for being more liked? Wouldn't that piss people off?"

"You would think that. But if you are given the skip ticket it's either given to well established nobles, or someone the crowd truly cares for. If the former, they'll have had their debut already and the public's opinion has already been formed. If the latter, then you managed to win over the hearts of the people. Majority rules even if some people lose their bets," Teddy explained.

Isaac scoffed. "Knowing my father, he expected the reward to be granted to some noble house. Probably a minor bastard who would appreciate the generous gift. Good way to get people on your side. I bet he's fuming at how the tournament's gone."

"Okay, so, someone gets the golden ticket. How do they handle the semifinals then? There's still three."

"Probably a crowd's regret. Give the audience the chance to select one of the defeated in the next rounds to fight the crowd's favorite. If they win they steal the third place. They won't proceed to the finals but they get the third place prize," Celenae said.

"Sounds stupid and easy to influence," I grumbled.

"The arena master wouldn't allow that to happen…" Celenae shook her head. "Usually. That might not be the case this time."

The room's mood took a nosedive. The others broke off into separate conversations while I pulled up my system screen and stared at the new change that had appeared before we left the manor.

Chaotic Resonance:

Minor increase to all physical capabilities.

The skill effect increases per every familiar actively summoned

–????–

-??-

Another line added to the skill. More question marks and no answers. Probing it did nothing, and despite my efforts I couldn't get the system to feed me information. I hadn't told the others but I would later at dinner.

We were already expecting shit to go down today. There wasn't a need to add more to their plate of the 'worry-about-Cyrus-express.'

The arena filled its seats and the announcer still hadn't shown himself. An hour in, I was ready to grab some more snacks from the vendors before there was a knock at the booth's doors.

Broken Tower readied their weapons and Teddy motioned to Isaac. The rogue slipped into the shadows while he stood up and opened the door. It was hard to see past Teddy's wide frame but I briefly saw a hooded figure loom from outside the booth.

Is that…

"I see. Give us a moment," Teddy said. He closed the door after a second's pause and turned around, a grimace on his face. "You have a visitor, Mordred."

Mordred. Being careful then.

"Was that who I think it was?" Sereza asked, sharing the same frown the others wore.

Teddy nodded. "Zogrul is outside the booth."

"What does he want?" I asked.

"To talk to you."

I dropped my head into my hands. Already the faint pounding of a headache tickled the farthest corners of my mind.

Screw it. Rip the bandage off.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"Let him in," I sighed.

"Are you sure? We can tell him to fuck off," Igas said.

"Yeah, I'm sure. It could be related to his god and whatever the hell is happening in the underground. Let's get it over with."

Teddy hesitated but eventually nodded and pulled the booth's door open. Zog ducked inside and took in the room. He paused upon seeing Khrem and a spark lit in his eyes as he laid eyes upon Arturous.

"A worthy companion. I can tell he matches your strength well," he said, nodding to Teddy.

Teddy smiled and sat down. "He does. Admittedly he hits harder than I do."

Zog grinned but he quickly sobered and looked in my direction.

"I've come here to warn you as well as apologize."

My eyebrow raised. "About?"

"You remember my perk?"

"That you're a god's chosen or the other one that lets you stalk me?"

"The latter."

He doesn't even try to deny it.

"What did you want to warn me about?"

He gave the others in the room a glance before slowly scowling. "My perk has activated in a way that hasn't happened before. Since a day ago, there has been a new tether, another awareness in my senses."

"This have anything to do with the blood mana?"

"No," he shook his head. "I do not think so. If it did, my god would have informed me. However… I believe it involves you."

The headache crept closer and the aching turned into a stitch near my ribs.

"Go on."

"This is new to me, but I can feel it tethered to you. Different from how I can sense you. It's similar to your signature but different. I apologize for not having more information to convey." He lowered his head. "As for my apology, I am here to confront the unintended side effects of my skill. Rest assured, I will not use it even when we are to fight."

"How did you know your skill had an effect on him?" Igas asked.

"Because of my perk. The chaos around you… Grew. I received a warning from my god after the match was over."

Teddy glanced my way and I shook my head. So far I hadn't noticed any sign of divine mana around me. Nor did I detect some intrusion in my soul. Not that it mattered much. Already, Zog's god had shown that he could see things in a way I didn't fully understand.

Not that there's much to be done about it.

The longer I stared at Zog's bowed head, the more annoyed I felt.

Ugh. Whatever, what's more to add to the day.

"Is that all you wanted to say?" I asked carefully.

"It is," he replied.

"Thank you then."

He raised his head and left the room. Once the door shut behind them, Sereza groaned.

"I think he snubbed me," she said.

"What?"

"He basically came and said that when you two fought, not if. I'm pretty sure that implies he thinks you two will be in the finals, not me."

"We could fight in the semifinals."

"Maybe," she admitted.

I turned to Teddy. "Isaac followed him out right?"

"To ensure he actually leaves."

I downed my drink and waited with the others. When the rogue returned he flopped into his chair and leaned back.

"He's standing near the stairwell watching the arena. Didn't see anyone approach him. Did catch the announcer though. He's been watching our booth," he said.

Eodyne frowned. "Not a good sign. Anyone else?"

"Besides some over eager fans and a few officials who watch over the arena?"

He grabbed a drink and motioned toward the screen. "It's starting."

I turned and the announcer came into view.

Upon seeing him, the crowd roared and cheered while some started shouting in anger. He clapped his hands and sent an echo through the arena.

"Good morning to the fine people before me today!" He let the crowd respond for a dozen seconds before bowing. "We apologize for the delays. It was unfortunate but the safety and protection of our patrons is our utmost priority. We understand however that the inconvenience is not acceptable. As an apology we are officially declaring that all snacks and drinks sold today are on us! Vendors, please see the nearest attendant to receive your payments."

My eyes narrowed. "I paid the guy a gold."

Igas grabbed a sandwich. "Not the worst they could have done. Combined with the free tickets and the amount of people here. That's a hefty sum to take home."

"Not even pocket change for the arena. They make more money from their cut of the wagers made on contestants," Celenae said.

After the rush of people clamoring to get their share died, the announcer stood up and clapped once more. Like before, a pillar arose out of the sands in the center of the arena. The pit divided itself into four colors and he extended his arms.

"One final match of the King's Pillar awaits you today. The ruling monarch will join the other four in their bid for supremacy. Blood, skills, and a good fight shall come! Fighters! Head to the arena, the tournament has officially… Begun!"

I nudged Sereza's side. "Do I care who's left?"

She nudged me back and I had to hide my wince as her touch sparked another ache along my side. Her eyes narrowed but thankfully she ignored it and shrugged.

"Not really? You and Zog eliminated most of the ones to watch out for. I don't think there's any fighters from a major house left. Only minor ones? I know at least two of the fighters are commoners. One's an adventurer, the other is an up-and-coming arena fighter."

"It's poor form to underestimate your opponents," Teddy scolded. "Being cocky is how you almost get cursed and crippled."

I sighed. "If you had to bet on me or those four down there, who would you choose?"

Teddy lightly patted my shoulder. "Not my point, but obviously you. From their previous matches the other two are competent but they don't have your advantages. Especially against Sereza. Maybe the fire rogue, but only because he most likely has a purge skill."

"Who?"

He pointed to the man wearing all grey with two thin blades in his hand. He looked completely unremarkable except for the cool wafts of mist surrounding his hands. For a second I thought it was smoke, but the tips of his blades dripped with water and below him looked damp.

"You said he was a fire rogue? Thought it was insanely rare to have opposing affinities."

Teddy frowned. "It is. Strange, I recall him using flame cloaks to surround his weapons and upper body. Celenae?"

"You're right. He used at least four fire-aspected skills during the duels."

"Maybe he feels threatened enough to use more skills. That or he's trying to attract the attention of a house," Igas said.

"Unless his affinities are an anomaly like our resident idiot, then he's stupid," Isaac scoffed.

I flicked a piece of my sandwich at him, which he caught between his teeth and flipped me off.

My gaze lingered on the rogue and I examined his competition. They looked as equally uninteresting save for the thin beastkin with striped fur. His stripes glowed orange and he raised his fists in a boxer's stance.

I returned to the rogue who regarded the others with an almost bored expression. The ache in my side subsided and the headache stopped its slow crawl through the back of my skull.

The announcer's voice rang through the arena and the crowd cheered. "Begin!"

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