Fantasy For my Family

[Ninja_Onions]

Gerza almost jumped as Cerys connected the first blow. "Yes!" His eyes burned with passion at watching her go to work on the Vejta. "If the fight keeps up like this, they will be moving Karza off on a stretcher!" The enjoyment in his voice seemed a bit too sadistic, but Gerza was far too focused to care. His was another voice lost in the crowd, but to anyone who would have noticed, his pale blue eyes slowly started to fade into a rusty orange-red hue, nearly matching the sun in color.

 

[Cyrionessa]

The first blow was a round-house kick to the temple, just enough to daze Karza. In another flash, a quick two-fingered jab to the jugular stunned Karza. With the other hand, a palm heel connected just above Karza's nose bridge. Karza flew back and down into a heap, unconscious and probably in need of extensive recovery.


The judge stood, open-mouthed for a moment. "The winner is.....Cerys of Xevren!" The stands slowly erupted into applause as medics rushed in with a stretcher. Cerys walked over and whispered in the ear of one of the medics. "Take her to someone other than Estelle. She's already got a lot of people in there." The medic nodded and walked on. Cerys walked out, not a scratch on her.


"All right, suckers. Who's next?"


----


Estelle flicked her hands and suddenly Valk was back on the bed, being held down by light bindings. "Don't move or struggle. If you do, they'll suck the mana out of you." She turned her back on him, walking towards Ryrax. "Valk, I told you not to move." Estelle shook her head and looked at Ryrax. "You going to lay there staring at this like it's a freak show or sit up and let me take care of you?" Her no-nonsense tone, coupled with the restrained Valk in the background, was most convincing.

 

[Twizinator]

"Freak show? Hah! Aren't we all freaks, at least a little?" Rryax replied, rather entertained. He sat up, letting his longcoat slide off his shoulders and onto the bed as he did so; his injuries were much more physical in nature than Valk's, after all. He was pretty sure he'd gotten a few fractured ribs from the thirty-fold punches that had displaced his eyepatch along with more minor bruises the like. Also, using his right eye wasn't good for his health in general. Luckily it was a very short duration but it would still put a tax on his body and mind alike. Simply put, he couldn't control it. "Work your magic, Estelle," he said nonchalantly.


-----


Oliver chuckled to himself. Well, so much for watching two fights at once. Rudd's fight hadn't even started yet and Cerys had dispatched her opponent with hilarious ease. Oliver sat down and turned his full attention to Rudd and the black-beared man who had challenged the young lad.

 

[HilgenHoffer]

"Correct me if I'm wrong," Rudd began, "but do the judges not decide who fights who in a tournament . . . ?" Genuine confusion covered his features.


"Are you stupid? The arranged matches are just for show. The real action is here! We pick our own fights, and I'm starting with you." The man's nostrils flared with annoyance.


Behind Rudd, a wiry man opened a mouth too big for his chin. "Don't bother, Schuyler. You're not even talking to a born practitioner. That bumpkin's the Vejta stray. Picked up from a farming village, they say. You're wasting your time, challenging the son of a no-account farmer."


Rudd's eyes changed, and he turned to face the small man. "My father is twice the man you'll ever be."


"Your father can make my dinner when he finishes washing my feet."


"Arena. Now."


The bearded man stepped in. "Now, hey! I challenged you first! You can't just blow me off!"


"Wait in line, urchin." Rudd's eyes never left the slim man's gaze. "I've gotta take care of this sonuva no-account mana riser."


Neither of the other men liked that. In fact, they so disliked his condescension that they threw punches at his head simultaneously, referee be damned. This proved opportune for Rudd, who, with a single step, moved like water from the lip of a pitcher. The two men clocked each other in the jaw, and as a general piling of bodies began, Rudd began to saunter his way over to the official rings. "The Father said I'd probably be in some matches today . . . I wonder who I'll be tousling with first? I hope these ones are a mite more worth their salt."

 

[Ixidor92]

A brief crackling could be heard through the infirmary ward, followed by an ethereal *crunch*. Valk was standing up, brushing his shoulders off


"You're right. They do drain mana. But two assumptions you made that were wrong."


The man looked Estelle directly in her eyes


"The first is that you know my own mana circuit better than myself. I reforged mine entirely over years of training, I know it better than anyone. The second--"


Valk stopped inches in front of the woman's face


"Was that your power could hold me indefinitely."


He let out the sentence with a bit of a snarl


"We're both progeny of family heads. Don't forget that."


He turned around and walked out of the ward. One of his hands went up in farewell as he left


"I won't push myself until I'm ready to fight. I respect you enough to do that."

 

[Cyrionessa]

Cerys noticed Rudd and decided that she was going to have a word with the boy. She marched over, everyone moving out of her way simultaneously. "Rudd! I've got a bone to pick with you!" When she approached him, her eyes were still fiery from the last match. "Now, one of the girl from you family decided to call Estelle some not so nice things and I just had to send her out on a stretcher for her insults. Might want to tell those girls what's what. And you might want to apologize to Estelle since they've been saying such things while you're at it! I won't stand anyone insulting her."


----


Estelle shook her head. "You always did underestimate me because I don't fight like the rest of you. Maybe you'd better remember why I'm the heir, little Valk. Now get out of my sight before I remind you that you're not as powerful as you think." Estelle chuckled and soothing magic poured into Ryrax's wounds. "You're a simple fix but You're still going to spend some time on your back recovering before I let you back out. Now, please do this peacefully." Estelle put her hands on her hips as she looked at him.

 

[HilgenHoffer]

Rudd stared blankly at Cerys for a moment. "I'm . . . sorry? I know we're in the same family, but I can't very well help what all of my many cousins do with their free time . . ." His eyes darkened a bit. "Who did you send out on a stretcher just now?"


-----


Odom found himself staring at the upside-down spectacle of the official tournament rings. He wasn't sure when he'd made his way past the rabble, but it was just as well. The petty fights could occasionally produce interesting sights, but most of the best stuff would be happening here. Besides, he never knew when he would be called in for a match. He grinned at the thought. It excited him. Halting his stride, he began to ponder which weapon he would bring into the first fight. After all, there wasn't much to improvise with in the arenas. So many choices . . . a thousand perpetuating images of battle played out in his head as he debated potential strategies.

 

[Cyrionessa]

"Karza." Cerys growled out. "She decided to call Estelle a wh*** and a tramp for dancing with you the other night. No one insults my family like that and gets away with it!" Cerys halted for a moment. "She may not be my family, but she's like a sister to me!" She saw the darkened eyes and took a deep breath. "I challenged her for Estelle's honor."

 

[Twizinator]

Oliver had the good fortune of scanning the area from his vantage point for Rudd and his challenger just in time to see the boy dispatch two men at once. "Hah! So much for a match. Might as well return to Estelle at any rate," he laughed at what he'd seen and started back towards the healer's area.


-----


Ryrax chuckled at that. "Unlike SOME Trevastos brats, I'm willing to listen to the advice of someone who's helping me not ****ing die foolishly." He let the soothing, healing artes flow through his body. "That...feels really good, by the way." He cracked his neck leisurely as he visibly relaxed. "I might have to get injured more often," he joked with a wink.


Oliver strode into the room. "I have returned, miss Estelle!" he announced as he took a seat near both her and Ryrax. "That didn't last long, I must say."


Ryrax's attention was caught. "Rudd's fight is over already?"


"Heh. His two opponents didn't even make it to the ring. They tried to jump him but he dodged so they hit each other. He didn't lift a finger. His would-be assailants weren't the sharpest men, I must say."


Ryrax laughed. "I was hoping he'd fight a more competent opponent. Ah well. There's sure to be many more."

 

[Ixidor92]

Valk shook his head as he walked out of the ward. Maybe if the girl actually put real power behind her words he would stop 'underestimating' her--if he was even doing that in the first place. He shook his head and cracked one of his shoulders.


"Damn. She set my recovery time back with those stupid things . . ."


-----------------------


Jaeger had taken a seat in the stands with his sister. For now he had not been called to any matches, and saw no reason to initiate hostilities with the other families. He wasn't a particularly powerful member of the Xevren family, so he would have to show his worth in a different way. He was rather surprised when a man arrived beside him . . . upside-down


"Um . . . can I help you?"

 

[HilgenHoffer]

Rudd visibly relaxed, leaning back on one leg. His expression turned to thoughtfulness. "An understandable sentiment . . . but would it not be better to let her fight for her own honor? The way I reckon, she's not getting any honor by way of you fighting in her stead. Leastwise, no more than she could have lost just because some other girl she doesn't know said something that ain't true."


-----


Odom's eyes widened as he heard a voice. Something was talking to him? He looked around frantically. It wasn't the banister, it wasn't the seats below, it wasn't--


And then there was a face not a spear's haft away from his--the short way. Briefly thanking the stone against his feet, he let it go, the mana seeping back into his toes. He flipped over, landing haphazardly in the seat directly below him, looking through a veil of disheveled blond hair at the winged man now beside him. "Help? I don't know. Am I in need of help?"

 

[Cyrionessa]

"....Estelle doesn't fight because bad things happen when she fights....." Cerys said haltingly. "They call her the Star Child. She's got a ton of power but she can't really use it. The last time she did....." Cerys remembered that day clearly because it was the first time she had met Estelle. "People died. I wont tell you who and I won't tell you how many, but she lost control of the Cosmos and boom. Dead people."


----


Estelle nodded. "Good. Then there are no wounds to be tended to and I can continue my work." Her eyes narrowed as she heard the footsteps of Valk walking away. How she longed to put that upstart in his place! She sat down for a moment and gazed out the window. That's when she saw Cerys and Rudd talking. "Hmmmmm....what's that about I wonder?"

 

[Twizinator]

"What else would they be talking about but you?" Ryrax said, actually bluffing as he had no idea that they really were talking about Estelle. "Why don't you go investigate? I promise I won't go anywhere until you give me the go-ahead," he said with another playful wink.


Oliver bid the two farewell. "I've got many matches ahead!" he said as he strode out into the Neutral Grounds. He was right: every year it seemed like he got more and more challenges, which suited him just fine.

 

[Ixidor92]

"Well . . . most people don't walk up right next to someone else using the ceiling as a method of transportation. Your recognize that right?"


Jaeger raised an eyebrow


"Are you lost?"


Valera spoke up, looking at the man with concerned eyes

 

[HilgenHoffer]

Rudd thought for a moment. "You know, defending your honor isn't all about fighting. All you really need to do is prove that you have it. I guess, what I mean is, if someone insults Estelle, ain't it better for her if you prove them wrong, instead of just beatin' the daylights outta them? I mean, it's satisfyin' and all, but to be fair, puttin' her face into the floor didn't actually prove that Estelle ain't what she said. It takes some good clean livin' to do that."


-----


Odom looked left, then right, and then back at the little girl speaking to him. "I'm fairly certain this is the right place. I wasn't paying much attention, but me feet usually lead me right." He wiggled his slipper shoes back and forth as he said this, and winked at her playfully. "Why not use the ceiling? After all, you use the wind." He nodded at the bird man's wings.

 

[Cyrionessa]

"She won't defend herself!" Cerys sounded exasperated. "Lets the Trevastos walk all over her for the sake of not wanting to start anything. Wait...." A thought came into Cerys' head and she smiled to herself. "Why are you telling all of this to me? Why aren't you telling this to Estelle herself?" There was a bit of mirth in her eyes as she said it.


----


Estelle shook her head. "I can't leave the infirmary so your word won't be necessary." She continued gazing out the window and thought she saw a flash of Cerys' mischievous side. That could be very good. It could also be very bad. She'd see what happened before making judgments.

 

[Ixidor92]

"I don't use the ceiling because it tends to attract people's attention. Like you did just now."


Jaeger let himself lean back and look at the ongoing matches


"Do you need to be anywhere? Or are you just waiting like us?"

 

[HilgenHoffer]

"Well, because . . . because she ain't here's the only reason, I suppose. She'd be in the infirmary. Way I figure it, I'll probably wind up in there at some point today. Maybe I'll make a mention of it. More to the point, she ain't the one sending people *to* th'infirmary, so I'd say I don't have much to worry about from her, do I . . . ?"


-----


Odom brushed his hair out of his face, following Jaeger's gaze to the rings below. "Waiting for my turn to play. Wondering what game it'll be this time. So many choices. Ahah!" He turned suddenly, his nose nearly touching the other man's. "Maybe you can help me decide!"

 

[Cyrionessa]

"You are one of the densest creatures on the planet!" Cerys exclaimed. "You're not supposed to to get hurt and she'll probably panic if you get hurt if you come in hurt! It is possible to talk to the girl without bodily injury, ya know." She shook her head. "Your friend is in the infirmary as well." The sudden remembrance made an odd happy look come onto her face. "I'd better check on Ryrax I guess."

 

[HilgenHoffer]

Rudd's eyes bore a striking resemblance to porcelain dinner plates. "Ryrax is in the infirmary? So soon? What the hell happened?!" He drew his hand back from her shoulder, not realizing hit had landed there to begin with, and coughed apologetically.

 

[Cyrionessa]

Cerys saw that she had struck a nerve! Success! "Yes, I was going to go check on him if you so wish to come along with me." Cerys turned a bit to glance towards the building. "Though, I'm sure Estelle is taken good care of him. He shouldn't be too banged up still. He just got into a fight with Valk Trevastos..."

 

[Twizinator]

Ryrax got the feeling Cerys was about to drag Rudd into the infirmary. After winking deviously at Estelle he stretched out on the bed, wrapping an arm around his waist as he started his act of being battered and beaten.

 

[HilgenHoffer]

"Trevastos, huh? Must be a pretty strong guy to put a dent in Ryrax." He started walking back towards the infirmary. They'd call him if they needed him, right?


He didn't notice Cerys' incredulous look when the name Valk received no recognition.

 

[Cyrionessa]

Cerys was incredulous but walked ahead of him quickly, opening the door. "Ryrax! You've got a visitor!" What she beheld was the most pitiful looking Ryrax in the world. Estelle had covered him with bandages already and he looked seriously horrible. "How are you feeling? You almost ready to get up and try to walk again?"


Estelle raised her eyebrows and stayed at her desk, seeming to be feverishly working on paperwork. She'd allow this little bit of fun to go on, just this once. Cerys' mischief sometimes gave some very good results! Though she really couldn't think of anything that good that could come of this....but nothing harmful either.

 

[Twizinator]

Ryrax shakily tried to sit up but collapsed back on the bed, groaning in 'pain'. He winced and coughed harshly. "Urrrgghh...Rudd?" he said weakly when he saw the young man enter. He had an expression of minor frustration and shame. "Sorry you have to see me like this, kid..." He coughed again. He was really selling his act.