Location: Knightmares Changing rooms
Standing in front of the Knightmares, Orb, Cyrus, Willow, Dumnorix, Abbán, Gheorghe, Wadim, and Ivana all watch as members of Bendición inspect the bodies of each of the Knightmares assaulted during the attack. They check all of their organs, which have been twisted into spirals, and as they undo the spirals and return each of the affected areas to their normal conditions, they monitor the impact of the wounds on them.
As Mõõk's leg is fully returned to normal, the member of Bendición checking him pulls backwards and says, "Please move your leg now."
Mõõk follows his instructions, and as he does, an intense pain emerges within his body, forcing his movements to a halt, and causing him to scream in pain.
The healer quickly grabs Mõõk's body and says, "I was right. The curse of that man allows him to inflict deep wounds without having to pierce your body. He makes your bodies slightly rubbery, and twists it, allowing the inner parts of your body to be hurt."
Turning to Spīdogaisma, Audra and Traucētājs, he says, "It's not a fatal curse in the slightest, but it can easily do deep bone and muscle damage just from a single touch. The three of you are out of this match."
Traucētājs says, "What do you mean! Aren't you a healer? Fix us!" The screams from the broken man send shivers through the healer in front of him, causing him to shake.
As he shakes, he quickly grabs his hand, then mutters, "Big brother give me strength." Then he slaps both of his face cheeks before composing himself and says, "That's not how this works. Like I said, you all have damage across your bones and muscles that will get worse the more pressure you put on them. The curse of my family allows us to regenerate living things, the fact that only internal damage was done with no external damage, would require us to perform surgery on your bodies before healing you, so we can pinpoint heal you, otherwise when trying to heal your damaged bones we would end up regenerating your skin which could make cancerous cells if we are not careful. Doing that to you, who just got his arms and legs damaged, is already a pain, but on those two who took damage to their necks? Fat chance we could even begin the operation on one, and carrying it out is an entirely different issue to start with. Finally, I am not just a healer, my name is José, get it right, or you can just remain like that!"
Traucētājs calms down and then says, "Sorry."
José starts to shake again, and turning his head away, he says, "Yeah, you better."
Suzuka, Iancu, Avram and Elia come out of the room beside them, and then Iancu says, "We have a problem!"
Orb, turning his head, asks, "Did you find out why he did this?"
Suzuka nods her head and says, "Apparently, the Distorted Sky works for Blamator."
Shock and confusion fill the room, and Traucētājs says, "That's impossible, are you telling me the Cursed Sky region has switched to their sides?"
Avram says, "No, it probably isn't that. The Cursed Sky region had a switch-up in team members due to a bunch of highly skilled players coming out of the woodwork. It's probably them who are the members of Blamator. When they win this year's Radonitsa match, they plan to stir up another big rumble like they did before."
Elia says, "So to make sure that such a thing was possible, they had to double down on taking you guys out of the match, or at least weakening you all before it started."
Mõõk forces his body up and says, "We've got to go to the match then."
He quickly falls down, only to be caught by Ikaras, who says, "Your wounds are lighter than the others, but you still need to sit down."
"I CAN'T! They're trying to pull a stunt like this in front of everyone. Do they not know events like this exist to pull us together, not to create more division? We have to win this and stop their attacks."
Pumnflacără says, "I think we should sit this one out."
"ARE YOU SERIOUS!"
He nods, then says, "While I don't like how they are doing things to such a special event, at the end of the day, it is just a speech; it probably won't make things any more tense than the action done early today during the burials."
Elia says, "I wouldn't be so sure of this."
Everyone turns their head to the devious-looking girl, who says, "Think of it like this. Over the last few days, as Radonitsa has been on, multiple members of Blamator have been arrested for using their curse in violent ways. Force speeches at the parks, attacks against the families of key military officials, and threats against people who import goods from abroad."
Spīdogaisma says, "I have been showing my beauty all around the city since Radonitsa began, and I heard no word of such things."
"It's because Minister Dragoste has made efforts to cover up such events. I found the documents when I was going through his office in Soarele blestemat."
Orb with red hair says, "You snuck into his quarters!"
"Of course I did, and I found some stuff written about you down. You want to hear it?"
Orb freezes in shock, before bringing his hands to his face as his mind goes wild with curiosity. Avram quickly whacks Elia on the head, and then says, "You're in trouble after this. Now finish your point."
Elia puffs up her cheeks, making the devilish demeanour she carries herself with fade. "The group known as Blamator has been performing more and more extreme actions, while showing they are perfectly able to use curses to compel people towards their points. Now, one might say that Blamator movements have been on the rise anyway, so none of this is especially bad. But that would require forgetting there are currently two major events in recent memory. First would be the destruction of Skydust, which has spread fear into the hearts of many, especially the nightmares, as Gevurah has historically had massive anti-nightmare sentiments."
Elia smiles at Orb, then says, " The next would be the arrival of dragons to Jedidah."
Despite being immune to the cold, a shiver moves down Orb's back as the thought of his fabrication resurfaces in his mind.
"As far as more known dragons have taken over Jedidah, along with its sandstorm fading. To many, this is event has been holy barred from investigation by any country since a single action could spur the single greatest military force on the planet to attack. Most countries are waiting for the Chronicle nimbus to do all the work, but 'Surprisingly' they have not been able to send out a single report on their omega butterflies. Strange?"
Elia stares at those guilty for the events of Jedidah, which gets her another strike on the head. "The people feel stuck in a situation that's getting worse, during a period where the world's stability is teetering into war as dragons invade the continent just like when the land was first cursed. So altogether, don't you think these events might cause a certain degree of accelerationism to be seen as a viable option in the minds of the people? First was attacking the people, then the minister, then even holy events, maybe the next step is to show the people their strength through cursed chess. It is the ultimate physical and mental sport after the wall. It can be seen as a proxy war of sorts."
Mõõk clenches his fist as his veins pulsate across every corner of his body. "I can't let this happen. Not today, not ever!" He forces himself to his feet, and despite the pain, he still stands.
"I can play today."
José says, "It's too dangerous."
"Give me a case. My curse allows me to improve the efficiency of any weapon, so with a caste, I will be able to walk and move somewhat."
"That only solves your movement problem; the strain and pain will be ridiculous, and you could even permanently damage your leg if you were to go out to play."
"We don't have any other choice; we are down three members, and I will need to make up for it. I will use bewitchment if I have to, just let me get out their."
Dumnorix quickly steps in between to two of them, and says, "I say let him do it."
José, annoyed, says, "Are you a doctor?"
If not, I don't want to hear anything about this! He needs rest and sleep first and foremost, or otherwise he will conk out on the battlefield."
Dumnorix, using his tail, quickly stabs Mõõk in the neck, causing him to fall to his knees, and José to scream, "WHAT THE HELL!"
With confidence radiating on his face, Dumnorix says, "Don't cry, that was Dumnorix's secret concoction 4, pain killer."
Mõõk stands up, and Dumnorix says, "His body pain sensitivity has been numbed to the extreme; he will be able to handle the match. You don't have to worry about him falling unconscious during the fight."
José says, "Still, I can't."
Orb claps his hands in front of José and then says, "Look at him. Is that a man who will listen to anything you say to stop him now?"
José, looking at the determined eyes in front of him, sighs, then says, "Just try to keep your movements to a minimum."
"Easier said than done. We lost our midfielder, defender, and goalie. It's going to be a hastily to try and cover these spots."
Orb, rubbing his chin, says, "Does this game not allow for substitutions?"
With a proud look in their eyes, all of the Knightmares say, "WE NEED NO SUCH HELP!"
Iancu says, "Dumbasses."
"Well then, you can pick from any of us," Orb says with a smile.
"Huh?" Everyone in the room says.
"While we can't fully do team plays, I can assure you we all have the physical stamina to at least keep your enemies at bay, and seeing the enemies you are going up against, I think something unorthodox would be helpful."
Mõõk says, "Such a request is outrageous invite a couple of strangers to play for us. But with both the help you did at the graveyard, and the efforts you went to protect us from further harm, I would consider it an honour to stand with you on the field."
"Thanks!" Orb says as Ivana, Gheorghe, and Wadim leave the room.
"Now all we need to do is pick who will be part of our team."
As the Knightmares are talking, José walks out of the room, and as he does, he sees Wadim, Gheorghe talking to Ivana, trying to get her to calm down from a state of panic.
José quickly comes towards her and says, "Is everything ok?"
Gheorghe puts up his hand then says, "Everything is ok," with an extremely calm and collected tone.
"Everything doesn't look ok?"
Wadim says, "Please step away, good sir, don't allow her freak out to take up any more of your time, it will just be embarrassing for her when she calms down.
Under her breath, Ivana says, "I got to shift the same air as Mõõk, he literally acknowledged my presence, I can die now, I can really die now!"
José looks down at her with a disappointed expression, and Wadim says, "That's what we were trying to avoid; it's so embarrassing!"
José's look of disappointment is quickly replaced with one of intrigue, as he says, "Wait, I have seen you three before. Aren't yo-."
Elia moves into the corridor and grabs Ivana by the hair before dragging her back inside, stopping José's words from landing. She lays Ivana before Mõõk, then, getting on one knee, Mõõk says, "I would like for you to pick our new line up."