Page 152 of Light Leech

“Maybe it’s not to prove if we’re worthy, just if we can be manipulated the right way to work for whatever is running it.”

“Sometimes your pessimism is too convincing.”

“I’m just being realistic.”

“I know. Trust me, I want to get out of here as much as you do. I think–”

“We are almost to the end!” The announcer spoke as if to complete her thought.

We looked at each other and continued to listen.

“This round will put you against one another in groups of three. There is not one single way to victory. Understand that. Make victory yours, just as a true scholar makes their truth the prevailing truth. Begin.”

Ralia and I glanced at each other until the world around us changed. The other competitors were within view. We moved in the ether as if picked up and placed on individual platforms, each on a corner of three triangular platforms. The black abyss took form and the rows of cheering spectators returned. Three video cubes floated in the air, one above each of the triangular battlefields. The themes were yet to be revealed, but I could already see my opponents.

A middle-aged woman stood on my right. She wore a simple pantsuit that fit her well with the sharp features of a corporate executive whose every detail was a perfect example of conservative workplace standards. Hair to the shoulders, brown, with no hint of light accents or dies. Simple makeup, only enough to make her predatory gaze more prominent. Everything was the standard “intimidating superior“ look, but she was not exempt from the game’s tendency for the eccentric. Her shoulders were spiked, as were her elbow and kneecaps as if she was heading to defend her office in literal warfare. She spared me a second’s glare before focusing on my other opponent with hesitancy hidden behind a grimace.

“Hey, Pet.” Distance did nothing to inhibit her voice.

“We can’t do this, Ral.”

She nodded. We both looked at the business warrior, seeing that her confusion had doubled. Ralia’s outfit was full of light and color, enough to give anyone a headache as words and symbols moved around her violet armor as if she were a walking advertisement. “We have to.”

“But–”

“Trust me.”

“What is this?” the woman asked. “You can’t join sides, that’s not how this–”

“Who said?” Ralia asked. “I never said we were joining–”

“Welcome competitors to the final round of the Standardized Test! Each of you will face two opponents! Yes, two opponents. No alliances are allowed and only one victor will prevail!”

I faced Ralia. She held her composure well, but I knew the panic was visible in my eyes. The businesswoman snorted an ugly laugh.

The announcer introduced the other six competitors before us. “On arena three, we have PetNeb in the red corner, RalEsp in the blue, and CarNin in the green! Choose your starting legends”

My cards floated before me. I didn’t care to look at them. Ralia. Zeg me, what were we going to do?

I watched her choose her cards. Her lumens depleted to one as she selected her initial legends. She looked at me with unshaken confidence.

I wanted to say something but didn’t want any comment from CarNin. I tried to appear confident, but knew my efforts resulted in an awkward countenance.

Ralia raised her eyebrows, then shook her head. She waved her hand as if brushing the whole problem away. Did she really think it was nothing?

Had she found a loophole?

She pointed at my side of the battlefield. I sighed and chose my cards. Even if her confidence was for show, I proceeded with only her trust to hold me up. My life was no tapestry of mercy, but I did not have what it took to betray her.

Zhu wasn’t in my starting hand. He hadn’t offered any advice yet, so I chose a new four-cost card called Dark Dealer, a succubus wearing a business suit not unlike CarNin’s.

I played her on my first slot, then chose Digital Dependent for the sake of novelty. I had the four-cost muscular dolphin called Purpose but chose to save it for later. Perhaps that was a stupid choice. I had made worse decisions. I made another. I spent two more lumens on The Pain, hoping that it would last more than one round despite my past failures.

I confirmed my starting legends. CarNin finished hers among some of the last few competitors.

“Please select your preferred ability card count.”

After two wins with my previous count, I settled on thirty-five again. Ralia chose thirty. CarNin chose thirty-eight.