The corridors of the underground complex were cold. Cold and damp. Each step echoed like a reminder of where we were: a place where hesitation meant death.
Ciny and I walked side by side. Neither of us said much. Maybe there just wasn't much to say before facing the wall of fate — the battle brackets.
Torches flickered along the walls, casting dancing shadows that seemed to mock my anxiety.
"Ugh... Why is my heart pounding like this? And it's not just the fight I'm worried about..."
—"I hope I don't have to kill my new little friend..." Ciny said with a mischievous smile. "Like I had to do with the last one."
—...What?
I turned to her, alarmed.
—"W-What?!"
She burst out laughing like she'd just told the best joke in the world.
—"Kidding, silly."
My laugh was more automatic than genuine. Laughing with someone who might have killed a previous friend wasn't exactly... relaxing.
—"Can I ask why you're here?" I tried to change the subject. Anything to ease the tension.
She shrugged like she didn't even care.
—"Because I didn't have anything better to do, I guess."
"Seriously...? That's her motivation? That's either terrifying... or just sad."
She didn't seem interested in opening up, so I decided to talk myself.
—"Well, since you won't say anything, I will. I'm here because of my family."
—"Family?"
—"I found out I have seven siblings. Seven. And apparently, because of them... my mother was murdered. My sister told me that if I wanted the whole truth, I'd have to rise to the top of the clan."
—"Hm... and where's this sister? In your pocket?"
I rolled my eyes and pulled a random rock from my pocket.
—"Nope, just this random rock."
—"It was a figure of speech, airhead."
—"Oh... We argued. Split up."
She looked at me for a second, then gave a soft smile — the kind only she could give.
—"Well, on the bright side, at least you met a beautiful woman like me along the way."
—"Lucky me. Hahaha..."
We finally reached the mural room — a massive iron board lined with hanging papers showing the battle brackets.
Ciny let out a relieved sigh when she spotted our positions.
—"Phew... We're in different brackets. We won't even meet in the finals."
Without warning, she hugged me tightly.
—"What a relief. I don't have to kill my little friend!"
—"Y-You're squeezing too hard! Hahaha..."
She stepped back, and her face suddenly turned serious — which was rare for her.
—"Tomorrow's a big day. Are you ready?"
—"I don't know... I can't even control my power properly."
—"Yesterday, when you protected this poor, helpless lady," she said in an overly dramatic voice, "you seemed to know enough."
—"All I know how to do is shoot mana bolts... that's it."
Suddenly, she grabbed my arm tightly and began dragging me down another corridor.
—"Then come on. We're training."
And so, I was dragged away once again.
"Why is it that every strong woman I meet ends up dragging me around by the arm?"
The arena was circular, made of cracked stone, with burn marks all over. The place smelled of sweat... blood... and ambition. The kind of place where champions are born — or die trying.
—"Alright, hit me!" Ciny shouted, taking position in the center.
—"I could vaporize you..."
—"Aww~ How sweet, you're worried about hurting me? Then watch this."
She focused, and in a blink, three perfect copies of herself appeared around her in a circle.
—"F-Four Cinys?! One is already too much!"
—"Hey! Show some respect — I have feelings, you know. These are my mana clones. Go all out."
I let out a sigh of relief and started firing mana bursts. But I couldn't hit a single one. The clones moved too fast. The real Ciny stood at the center, barking out instructions.
—"Move while you shoot! Don't just stand there!"
I started running back and forth, flinging spells as fast as I could. But I still couldn't land a hit. Frustration started bubbling over.
—"HEY, WATCH IT! YOU ALMOST GOT ME!" she yelled, laughing.
But I wasn't hearing her anymore. I was too focused. Too tense. Too anxious. I just had to hit something.
And then—
—"JOHN! STOP!!"
She appeared behind me and smacked me on the head.
—"Your biggest problem is your temper! You need to stay calm. Let's go to the cell. Time to train your patience."
In the cell, she made me sit on the floor, cross-legged.
—"Meditate. Control your mana flow. Breathe. And listen."
And then... she started insulting me.
—"Ugly. Weak. Wimpy..."
Each word stung a little. But I held on. Until...
—"That's why your mother died. You're too weak."
My eyes flew wide open. Before I even realized it, a burst of mana exploded from me, slamming into the wall beside her.
—"HEY! YOU ALMOST RUINED MY FACE!"
—"Don't talk about my mother..."
She stepped closer. Didn't back off a single step.
—"If it hurts to hear from me, just imagine what others will say. You think they'll wait for some poor kid to process his trauma? This is kill or be killed. Now... again."
I didn't argue. I kept meditating until sleep overtook me. I lay down, back against the wall. Ciny stayed up on watch.
—"Hey, John... are you asleep?"
—"No."
—"Look... I didn't mean to hurt you. But no one here is going to pity you."
I turned slowly to face her. The dim light of the cell reflected in her eyes.
—"I know. I just feel bad for not being able to control it. It's more frustration with myself than anger at you."
—"Of course. I mean, who could ever be mad at a beautiful lady like me?"
—"Hahaha..."
—"Sleep. You'll need to win tomorrow. I don't want to see another friend of mine die."
—"...What?"
—"Nothing. Good night, John."
The next morning, as I walked toward the arena, one thought echoed in my mind:
—"Alright, John... Don't die."