Chapter Three

How does one relax? Spend so much time pushing yourself that it's hard to grab that feeling anymore. [Recall] reminded her of times hiding in the corners as a maid, tasks done, and one of Tyler's books borrowed. Relaxing with Ambrosia while she hummed out a new tune. The magically heated tub from the inn for some moments. Well, if they had enough funds for more staff they'll have enough for one of those tubs. Harmony made a note to tell Bates. Ambrosia was also busy helping with the mess her mother created. The idea of trying to sneak away with a book was the old her. Before she'd gone into Nae's Garden day after day, fighting, dying, and returning for more. Before she'd evolved. That change was too fresh as new eclipsed the old and that citrusy taste of rebirth still lingered.

Was it rigorous that made her thorough and driven? Was it being an eraser now that recognized problems and the need to remove them? The moment Bates told her what she needed it latched on, aggressively seeing a way to make her more restful. It included the potential for violence. That might be a contradiction.

"Are you sure this place is acceptable? I'm not familiar with Hazeldown like I was with Naewuald." Nick asked.

Drew grunted in agreement with his partner's question. The bodyguards were nearly brothers.

No, she wasn't sure. But it's not like there was a wide range of references to choose where to go. Lady Coodly's garden parties focused on balls, and events the elders preferred. This was the one place she'd been introduced to where young lords and royalty visited. They descended the stairway to the dungeon club known as The Down. "I'm sure it will be fine."

Harmony was already feeling better being away from Kelly's proximity. The heavy atmosphere of death by being in Old Bones's domain helped. Being in Nae's Garden had always been a bit overwhelming with how life-infused it had been and aggravated her desire to kill. Her control and the dungeons fought a little, anger at being intruded on, but the feeling wasn't as strong as when she last visited. Behave, she ordered it and the feeling receded.

Harmony knocked on the door. "Password?"

A little authority and dropping her name and the hostess upstairs had been eager to give it to her. "Honey bee."

The doors opened to the familiar raucous sight of well-to-do patrons chatting and socializing. Many seemed more wealthy than the last time she was here, but she wouldn't be out of place. Doors to the market and fighting room and four others were still there presenting options for distraction.

"Greep." Hyacinth meeped from this place grabbing onto the shoulder of the simple black silk dress she chose to wear. It was cut and didn't have cleavage he could hide in. The dress wasn't the current fashion but easily replaced if she needed to equip Night.

The shadow toad enjoyed his new-found mobility as a deceptively cute companion at the same time he enjoyed being lazy by having Harmony carry him everywhere. After he woke up he offered to disappear Kelly, and Harmony insisted to him that it wouldn't be necessary. He was vehement enough that she didn't want to leave him alone in close proximity to her mother.

"I'm sure we'll find something relaxing to do here."

A hostess made her way over wearing her barely covering herself outfit. "Lady White, it's an honor to have you at our establishment. Here to mingle and make connections?"

Absolutely everyone knew who she was in Hazeldown. A thing she was still getting used to. "Just stepping out a little before the Games. Care to show me around?"

"Well, you've come at the perfect time. Follow me."

There was something in her choice of words, but no doubt the hostess would clarify it in time.

"Outside of Hazeldown's jurisdiction, The Under operates as an independent outpost, acting through a guild charter much in the same way legendary dungeon cities work in the far reaches. A place for neutral discussions, tax, and record free transactions, as well as pleasures and vices not allowed elsewhere."

The hostess gestured to the doors, first with a heart, "A spa where you can soak, meet lovers, or connect with touch professionals." The coin, "The dungeon market, where gold could remove your only barrier to progress." The crossed swords, "A rowdier drinking environment with brawls and contests of strength." A lock. "Privacy against all listeners, scryers, a place where secrets can be passed safely." A book, "Our reading room, not the biggest collection but required by our charter." A throne, "last where those who've taken a step up in power can socialize And test themselves. We've been seeing a lot more activity there, and I'm sure you'll find something that interests you there."

That was the hint. Without it, she'd definitely go picking around the club's meager library for a few hours. Still could. Might as well see what's behind door number six. "Appreciated."

Nick opened the door and Harmony stepped in. Children? That wasn't fair but not far off from what she saw, three distinct groups and several stragglers that were a handful of locals who looked old, even having some gray hairs. The distinct groups were mostly comprised of children, only a year or two off from having made their class and profession choices. Adult enough to go into dangerous dungeons, but hard to call them even young adults. Child soldiers maybe as they all had weapons and armor that they seemed comfortable with.

"Looks like we got another local we can embarrass." Joked one of the kids with a musical accent to his speech. Harmony dubbed his group the birds because of their white and blue outfits, the group that was wearing all browns and black, the stones, and the ones wearing yellow and green with hints of brighter colors the flowers.

Five-ish young-looking adventurers per group each with one or two older guides or managers nearby. The foreign competitors? Uniforms too, no one thought to coordinate outfits, not that Len, Tyler, Max, or Rose had anything that could match Night, and she wouldn't be wearing anything else.

Of course, they'd show up early for the Ascendant Games and the hostess would have to think she was here to meet them. Bleeding coincidences. Burnt bodies, she'd leave if that wasn't the kind of first impression she wanted to give.

A girl next to the boy who made the dig about the locals started, "I think that's…"

But he brushed her off. "Are you here to prove yourself against the future winners of the Ascendant Games?!" He yelled at Harmony. Total child.

Then he started an inspection skill. Something more advanced than a cursory look, as Harmony felt a hair-raising type feeling press into her spiritual container. [Renew Spirit] synergized with [Final Silence] and sent a wave to counter that. [Disintegrate] might have added more oomph to disrupt such an intrusion, but the skill was still too new to try something like this for the first time in public. What if she accidentally hurt herself?

The screwed-up look on the boy-child's face proved she did something. But that wouldn't be enough to make up for the intrusion. Harmony marched up to the group, purposely ignoring the boy. [Keen Investigative Awareness] helped pick apart the social dynamics of the group. All of the young competitors had some level of deference to an older man who due to his advanced evolution had an indeterminate age about him, but was clearly not a child. The man also had a touch of exasperation held on his countenance. "Is this the kind of manners you teach your younglings?" She asked him.

The older man gave a slight bow. "My apologies, Lady White. The impertinence of young talent, and how all locals who've joined here to issue a challenge failed to put up a satisfactory effort. I'm sure if you wish to try to put him in his place that would be acceptable."

The room did have a large fighting ring in the middle, and there were four exhausted locals off to the side. Is this what the hostess wanted? Was this the problem to be solved? Harmony let her soul sight look at them under the guise of a withering glare crafted by [Poise and Bearing]. There was some risk they could feel her using skills to analyze them as she'd felt but no one she'd used the makeshift skill on had commented yet. All evolved, except their chaperone had evolved twice. He was a magic user primarily, fire and lightning, and some physical combat skills. He had a silence skill. Professional skills were weighted heavily towards woodcraft, like a carpenter.

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"That would only potentially make them antagonistic towards me. As we still don't understand what the Ascendant Games will be that could pose a problem. We could be allies, friends, or teammates, instead of enemies and rivals. I'll have you take responsibility for the rudeness in the ring."

"I am far above you." The man started a bit full of himself.

"I'm not afraid of losing. If you've had any hand training these then I merely need to live up to their standards. The shared pain may bring us together."

"You last a minute and you'll impress them. There will be no going easy. I'm Brix, Alpat's observer."

This is not what Bates and Ambrosia meant when they suggested she relax. Harmony made her way down to the arena. One of The Under's staff stepped out of stealth holding two silver bracelets ready. "These have a shield charm, three solid hits or one hit with lethal power, and the bracelet will turn red. Please refrain from any attacks you think might be too strong."

"Kreeep." Hyacinth complained.

"I don't suppose you have an extra one for my familiar?"

The staff looked at my small shoulder-riding shadow toad. His [Familiar Augment] wasn't widely known. How much news traveled to Hazeldown about exactly how much news about how monstrous he'd grown to be in Naewauld?

"No familiars, pets, or sentient bonds, allowed. There are rules if any of you have golem or raised dead type weapons."

That's half of what she does. [Stride Before the Fall] probably counted as a sentient bond? It's not like the bracelet would appear on that version of her.

"Hyacinth would probably be too strong here anyway. I'll take the handicap. Nick?"

The bodyguard held out his hand and Hyacinth hopped onto it.

"I'm sure your familiar isn't that important." Brix joked.

Oh, that murderous feeling. The ceiling above the arena was high enough that dropping the full-sized toad onto him would probably break the bracelet and the man. Killing Brix wouldn't set the right impression. She still had several tricks up her sleeve, assuming she could make this a fight at all. What fights last a minute anyway?

Goodbye, black silk dress. Night took its place. The improved armor no longer looked like a skimpy maid's uniform mixed with armor. Its short maid-skirt disappeared with her evolution and the shiny black coating covered everything except the shining white metal plates and bioluminescent marks. Everything was covered even if it might look like her skin had turned black and shiny. All the naked curves were visible as Ambrosia said, trying to convince her that this new outfit was less appropriate to wear all the time. Even if it looked that way there was extra armor and protection hidden in that blackness.

Someone dropped a cup and it shattered.

Even if it was inappropriate. It's not like she could control how Night looked. Harmony took the bracelet and put it on. Preemptively she used [Beautician] and [Manipulate Dead] to turn her nails into hardened claws.

Brix kept his blue and white uniform, it did look like it had some armor built in, and a codpiece so no easy wins that way. One of his charges tossed him a wooden quarterstaff. With his profession that made sense.

This was a terrible idea. Maybe she should have chosen to pummel the rude young man? Thinking of them as children would be a bad habit. No, Hyacinth. No [Stride] copy. No soul Strike. The arena floor was stone instead of fine bone sand, so no pulling it from under Brix like she had when she first met Max. With only a little bit of practice before meeting the court and then the two nights on the road, it's not like she had a handle on everything that came with her newly evolved class, profession, and body.

Brix looked mighty confident on his side of the arena. Soul sight impressions showed him ready skills.

[Poise and Bearing] would at least fake confidence.

"Fight!"

Chronostasis slowed everything down and Harmony used [High Kick] to propel herself forward. Brix launched forward too, so not the standard magic user, electricity crackled on his skin boosting his speed.

Rather than go with fire, Harmony sensed him reaching for his silence. Made sense the way it could end one-on-one matchups for the untrained before they began. Not if she could help it. Her [Final Silence] shot out.

Ideally, hers would hit first. Soul sight cutting out proved that wrong, but the ending of the arcs along his body revealed he was in a similar state.

Silence didn't shut everything down. [Eternal Fable's Heart] still pumped out stamina she could use with every beat. [Stride Before the Fall] could be used, but risked a forfeit. And Her post-evolution strength worked just fine.

Even silenced Brix went to bat, swinging his staff hard the moment it was in range. Chronostasis was fading, but with a beat of stamina and new strength Harmony caught the blow in her hand, stopping it cold and denting the wood with her palm.

It stung, but the black coat of Night over her palm helped some. She yanked, hoping to rip the staff from his hands.

It did jerk the man forward a bit, but he didn't let go.

"So you did get one of the evolutionary bodies from the Garden. Which one?"

There's more than one? No point asking, the talking is him buying time and waiting to see which silence wears off first. More advanced people seem to have a trick of throwing the effect off early, so practice wasn't a reliable measure for how much she had.

Now she was stuck holding one end of the quarterstaff while he held the other and she was too far away to hit him. Cursed short limbs. Stamina and her new strength might let her reach the man, but he seemed awfully competent even while silenced. Time for her other trick. As nice as it would have been to have kept the baby bastard's invulnerability skill, she'd yet been able to maintain a skill kept by [Claim the Remains of Power] through a good night's sleep. To fight its hunger she needed to hunt every morning. That was how she got [Goblin Breath]. Sitting in its little bubble sheltered from silence and only taking a burst of stamina to bring to action.

Goblins, disgusting things, their breath attack was the least of the gross things you could pick up from them [Goblin's Flatulence] which she wouldn't wish to try while sealed into Night or the gross [Scat Toss]. It was hard to find good prey on the outskirts of Hazeldown and this was only to satisfy her hunger, so she picked the least offensive option. After she'd tried it out Ambrosia insisted she not use it if she was around. It left a really nasty taste but she'd brave it.

With a beat of her [Heart] stamina squeezed the [Claimed] power, channeling it out of her. With her exhale she targeted Brix with the short-ranged attack. Invisible and one of the many reasons people kill goblins on sight and at a distance. It made her mouth taste like she'd licked clean a chamberpot, what it did to Brix was worse.

He wretched and bent over gagging uncontrollably. Finally willing to take the risk of letting go of the other end of the staff. Harmony dashed forward slamming her claws into him. She could feel one tick of the shield bracelet pop. Just two more quick hits…

The heat was the first hint of danger. Soul sight flickered on to see a fire at Brix's core as Harmony hopped backward to the other side of the arena. It's not that the silence stuck for less, it is that he broke through it damaging himself in the process. Red marks dotted his skin and steam rose from Brix's body.

"That wasn't very friendly. But now I'm not silenced anymore." He growled. His quarterstaff turned into a bar of flame. Lightning coursed across his skin as he rushed forward again at incredible speed.

Not silenced, he didn't need to say it. The heavy blow came her way. His silence wasn't the only one that had ended.

[Cold Touch] buffered the area around Harmony's body. Where Brix gripped his weapon Harmony targeted a [Mana Rotation] empowered [Disintegrate] and left him holding sawdust as the wood fell off to the side. [High Kick] had him charging into her foot unprepared. Click, one shield left. You don't tell them when silence is over.

Maybe she had a shot.

A bar of fire so bright it seemed to erase existence almost before it touched anything shot forward. [Cold Touch] peeled away. Now would be the time to use [Stride Before the Fall] to pop in behind him and end the match if she knew it could be an option. This is why you should ask for rule clarifications before doing something like this. The first of her shields broke, then the second even as she danced back and to the side. What if the shield failed to fully stop the attack? That hesitation caused her to reach for [Stride] as the third shield on the arena's bracelets popped. The bracelet flashed red and a wave of repulsion shot out sending Brix and his attack away, stopping her from using her skill at the last moments. Red, she lost and it hadn't even been a full minute.

The Under servant appeared, standing above Brix with a cross look on their face. "We asked you not to use attacks that could be considered too strong. We'll be billing you for repairs to its failsafe."

Now Harmony was glad she didn't drop Hyacinth on Brix's head. The bracelets were rare enough that she'd never heard of them, nor had Adric mentioned them. They had to be expensive even with her new funds. Bates and Ambrosia would have chewed her ear out over that. Hyacinth wouldn't have been happy about being blasted off either. Despite that lecture, the staff member did not rule her the winner for him breaking that rule.

The still-shaken Brix sat up.

Harmony walked over at least slightly satisfied that if she had all her resources she could win. "I guess the match is yours. Sorry, I failed to impress." She told him with skill-enhanced demure politeness.

Alpat's Observer started to laugh.

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