Chapter Ten

Time with Hemlock was unusually informative. Seals were spiritual locks on abilities. Anything considered too strong would be balanced for the games. The best seals would be invisible once they settled in, leaving aspects that needed improvement untouched while suppressing overpowered traits. It took experts with the skill to do it properly, but the ancient dungeon spirit had the knowledge and abilities to place seals on competitors to create an even playing field.

While unheard of in this kingdom, she'd managed to pull out of Hemlock that seals were used among evolved kingdoms to train unbalanced skills or allow powerful people to work with others on more equal footing, while avoiding injury. If it meant she could avoid accidentally hurting those children entering the Ascendant Games, she'd take it.

"There was a high-level investigator, a crime hunter, who liked to seal himself to infiltrate organizations and unseal himself to take down." Hemlock babbled about lords who pretended to be peasants. Martial artists who used them to perfect the root of their styles. Enough hints veiled in stories that she might be able to use to her advantage. It would be foolish to imagine that seals wouldn't be placed on her. [Keen Investigative Awareness] pointed out that Hemlock was looking to burn time.

"That's why the seal system will be the most prominent way we're equalizing the field or the games."

"There'll be other ways?" Harmony asked.

"It's a surprise." There it was. "Would you look at the time, we'd better get you to the competition. You wanted to get there first, rather than the grand entrance after they arrived, right?"

Harmony didn't like the way he grinned. Payback for having him taken to the dungeon to negotiate this contest? It couldn't help but linger in her mind as she was rushed off to wait.

Focus. The contestants were entering the Colosseum. It's easy to get lost in thought while ignoring the buzzing from the crowd in the stands. She'd negotiated this. Adric and a mid-sized Hyacinth stood by her side, while next to her was a bone pillar that would open the gate to the games. [Style and Grace] and [Poise and Bearing] eased the strain of waiting an hour while the place filled. It meant she'd barely gotten any time with Max, Len, Tyler, or even Rose after the extended conversation with Hemlock.

"Owlsley Wurrick, prismatic enforcer of Alpat!" Her giant sloth moved at a graceful speed, not slow at all, as it kept up with the girl it towered over. No other external bonds were visible; the rest of hers related to skills or items.

There wasn't an order to the announcements, random lots had been given. Twenty-five competitors and their bonds. The amount of gear each carried varied. Hyachinh had a pack strapped to his back, and Adric carried a bag, but some entered loaded for a siege. It was a bit disappointing to see Eric get the nod, he still wasn't looking at her eyes as he walked towards his spot around the dias. Kenny did make it from Calestia, so someone else must have been cut.

"Felix Campbell, the legate blade of the Broken Isles." This was her first sight of a polyamorous bond. Four swords, too many to be useful, all linked to him through tight, web-like bonds that connected them all. Each blade had a lifelike energy and skills built in. Felix gently touched them all absentmindedly as he walked. He must really love those blades. Polyamorous bonds restricted you from having other bonds.

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That was the advantage of being on the dias that Harmony negotiated for. Being able to watch her competition as they entered. Since evolution, her competitive streak had bitten down harder. It didn't help that everyone turned their nose at Hazeldown, the tourists, the lords of Naewauld, and the locals who wanted to flee. Undead, a dirty word born of a dirty class, and this was the city based around that. To call her the Lady of Hazeldown was a half joke because where else would a necromancer rule, but damned if she didn't want to win this for Hazeldown. And herself.

Every contestant and their bonds stood on their spots in the arena. There was only enough time to look deeply into a few competitors. It took a lot of energy to use soul sight.

Guild Master Hemlock entered. "Welcome to the first annual Ascendant Games! Your trials and tribulations, rises and falls, bonds and battles will be displayed as you compete for five potential titles.

Opening the games is Hazeldown's very own Royal Harmony White. She'll join you in sealing her strengths, stripping her advantages, and putting herself to the test." Hemlock had caved in quickly to the request not to speak. She could be the local celebrity cutting the opening ribbon.

Harmony waved to the crowd. It was time to open the games. A ribbon would have been simpler. Harmony sliced her palm and placed it on the pillar. No mana or will, this was a simple knock to let Haz'el Ri know she was here. Not making that mistake again.

Do you wish to open the Ascendant Games?

Yes. A wave of deathly energy passed through her soul. She'd achieved something. Not a title. Unless there were hidden ones? Research that. But it was more of a gift since she was only here at the dungeon spirits' request. It's hard to say when every act helps define who you are.

That sense of death that had been so frightening in the dungeon those months ago, chasing her and her party, emerged from the ground. Ha'zel Ri's spirit, a ghost dog. The greater spirit's translucent form filled the arena, causing Harmony's skin to prickle as she and all the other contestants and their bonded became enveloped within its body. A new form for him, different from the more physical one that ate Duke Darren.

"Welcome to my games. I'm honored to be a distance on your paths. Those in the arena who meet the requirements may accept the restrictions to take that step. Let everyone watch you ascend."

Accept sealing and enter the games? Yes/no?

Eager selectors hit theirs first. A few groups blinked away in a flash of light. This arena wouldn't be where the games were held, would it be the dungeon? Home turf advantage could be valuable as a necromancer.

Harmony watched the sealing with a combination of soul sight and the feeling from [Mana Rotation]. Complex rings of constructed soul framework powered by a web of magic, a quasi-ward. How much was she missing? They descend from the sky from a greater casting powered by Haz'el Ri that was past her level of comprehension. One hit a competitor, and he shuddered, as another group of seals descended on one of his bonded. Both sank into their body, frame, soul, skills, and attached to their body, soul, and container until the seals faded from her soul's sight. With a teleport, they were gone.

A cluster of rings descended, drawing Harmony's eye to the Target, Hargreaves was being neutered, and poof, the princess was gone. Two rings descended into the crowd in the stands. Humph, only twenty-five candidates? That's a lie. How many would there be in total? Not a bad plan for drawing in hopefuls in future years to Hazeldown.

Having seen enough. Harmony accepted the sealing and looked up, "Oh, rotting fates." A massive pile of seals rained down on her. Squeezing, pinching, snapping into place. She couldn't see where all of them were even going. There was an instinct to fight it, but she let that go, and Adric and Hyacinth were carried away with her to start the games.

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