Chapter Fifty-Five

What a crappy prize, and it came with cramps. The pain and problems of the previous trial for merely a chance at one of the titles. Revelations around [Eternal Fable's Heart] and the unusual blood sickle felt like more of a real reward. The weapon felt natural in her hand. She didn't want to put it down. If it stuck with [stride], perhaps it would stay for the trip.

Harmony shared a look with Tyler. Owlsley seemed rather pleased despite the lack of a prize after she recovered from the body-rending pain. "Time twisted, grinding teeth that hurt."

"That bad?" Loap asked.

"Definitely not worth the prize," Tyler grunted.

"I don't think you're respecting how difficult it is to receive a title. A guaranteed one in ten chance isn't something to be disappointed about. Admissions counselors will at least notice my top four finish in this round."

"Is that all you evolved competitors care about?" Harmony asked the Alpat competitor.

"Of course! The right academy or university sets you up for future success. Not just the connections and friendships you can build. If you work to completion at the university, you complete your second evolution. Even if you only make it to your second or third year, there is plenty to be proud of."

"I've turned down spots at Everlast Academy, Askyland, and Miskatonic University. These games are the first steps in acquiring practical experience. My warren's resources will carry me through with what I need." Loap bragged.

"You didn't!?" Owlsley asked, agasp.

Reflexive annoyance suppressed by [Poise and Bearing] had Harmony stand there coolly. The Hazeldown University Len came from was a joke. Naewauld's weren't much better. The only other path to education was the basic one from the temples, and Harmony couldn't even count her years of formal education on one hand. Such passion for schools was nearly unheard of in the kingdom. Informal was all she had. She'd memorized enough plays for her mother to practice with at a young age that she'd gotten sick of fiction. Tyler's collection, which she shamelessly borrowed from, led to the choice to do it herself after the drivel of Thibodeux. First-hand experience was the way, and there was no way one could fault Loap for going that path.

"Would these schools even allow a necromancer to attend?" Ice from [Cold Touch] kept a heated bitterness out of her voice. The temples had been against such things.

"Askyland's graduating class three years ago had a demonic tutor at the top of their rankings. Accepted from one of the dungeon cities. But you're a necrotuned revivalist now? Even if that's a restricted classification, it'll actually increase your chances of getting in. Don't tell me you're thinking of applying too, Lady White?" Owlsley asked excitedly.

Harmony stopped herself from saying -Of course not!- "I haven't had the time to consider it."

"Lady White hasn't even had time to properly establish her house," Tyler added unhelpfully.

Establishing a house. Dealing with the queen's hands. Whatever happened to Queen Talia? Five dead bodies left to rot in Nae's Garden. Too many recipes for failure once she left the Games. "Being set up for success sounds appealing." A matter to decide on after the games. There were more pressing issues today.

"Harm?" Tyler started.

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"I'm merely contemplating something new. I feel like it will be valuable in dealing with the squeaky hinge at camp."

"Planning on shutting Eric up?" Loap asked.

"I'm done with him undermining me. I understand he lost support. If he's going to be open to a deal, now might be the time." [Recall] reminded her of the bleeding and dying bodies that were teleported away, and how they'd nearly gotten her in the same state. There was no proof that Eric instructed them to ambush her. But if Gareth was still here, he wouldn't bet he hadn't.

Finding Eric wasn't hard. He was whispering into Malick Barrington's ear. The earth mover who'd built most of the shelters and finished the wall to hold off spider incursions, had stayed neutral in the inter-tribe conflicts, but Eric was clearly reaching out to everyone after his loss of support.

"Malick, do you mind if I borrow Eric?"

The man stood up in one long stride to create distance. "Please, Lady White. He is all yours."

Eric made a play to escape, but stumbled in place; his feet sealed to the ground. Malick might like to stay neutral, but Eric grated on everyone's nerves. That would make this easier.

"Don't worry, Eric, I'm only here to negotiate."

"You killed my friends. You only invited us to the challenge because you knew we'd be easier to eliminate away from the rest of the tribe! Why should I trust you?"

Harmony let [Final Silence] rise up around them to shield her words from the rest of the camp. Death seeped into her voice, born from the memories of dying in that attack. Silenced, nearly helpless, one part of her felt the claws rip into her as other skills ripped into her body in the combined attack, all while she watched, worried about what Felix would do, worried about how long the silence would last. She might have lived, but the memories were there as a knife she was familiar with from all the other times she died and one she could use to cut others with.

"You shouldn't trust me. You should fear me. I don't believe your friends acted without your support or influence. Felix saved me on a whim. I'm not even sure he killed them for good, as they were whisked away before their souls left their bodies. But what I gained from that stunt was information. What would it cost me if I choose to eliminate you. A permanent vote against me being here. Now, I know it might be worth it, as that is all you've promised me. If you won't change your vote, then what I do doesn't matter. Except before I send you off permanently or not, I know ways of hurting you. The kind of pain that will linger around even if the Games rescues you. Broken skills. Mauled soul. This is the stick I offer you."

Eric was shivering with fear and rage, spittle coming from the corner of his mouth. "You're evil!"

"I've been called worse. I was honest before when I merely wanted you to prove yourselves. I didn't want any actual harm to come to any of you. At least before. Now I want you to take that option, but it doesn't have to be that way. If you throw your support behind me, I'll write a nice letter of recommendation for you to any university. Some value is better than none, right? I'd tell you to think on it, but your actions can matter. If you act against me in any way, I will end your time in the Games."

The silence effect faded. She'd be sweating to hold it up if it wasn't for [Cold Touch] keeping her cool.

Hyacinth crawled up to her shoulder as she turned and walked away. Someone needed eyes on the young man in case he tried something stupid. And she would "kill" him if needed. The more she thought about how those bodies disappeared, the more certain she was that they were rescued from the brink of death. Shattering one of Eric's skills would be a good experiment if it came to that. Someone would have news on the condition he was in when he came out of the Games. The letter of recommendation came as the least offensive thing she could offer him that he might consider wanting. No place on her staff, no mysterious favor to leverage, no actual resources, a simple and singular letter complimenting him on how persistently annoying he could be in the kindest of terms.

One way or another, Eric would be dealt with. The man was a coward. The way looked at women, usually below the neckline. His efforts to take out stronger threats rather than show up himself. The use of allies to ambush her before support arrived. Odds are he'll take the gift and fade away into obscurity in these Games.

​

A player has broken their seals. New Conditions have been met.

​

That warning, paired with the slight vibration of a beginning croak, was enough. The attack clipped her shoulder even as she [High Kicked] to the side.

Chronostasis let her assess the situation quickly while [Recall] started the countdown. Eric Cautnan had broken his seals.

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