Hearts pounded all across the academy. After the fourth duel, a few more students streamed into the arena to watch the end of the first rounds in person. The collected breaths were held as the last fight of the night got closer and closer. 
	Fredrik joined his fellow council members in the stands, “Good job out there, Fredrik,” Suzie greeted, standing to shove her little fist into his shoulder playfully.
	“Yes, quite impressive,” Holmit agreed, “How did you know which of his spells were illusions?”
	“He had a tell for when he was going to cast a real spell. His eyes would widen and his pupils would dilate,” Fredrik explained, smiling behind his mask, “Miss President, are you alright?”
	Miss Manus blinked and slowly nodded, “I am fine. Worried, of course, but you making it through your fight safely has calmed me down a little.”
	Fredrik nodded, “I am a bit worried about him too. Still, we should have faith in him, Miss President.”
	“Yes. Yes we should,” Manus took a deep breath, “I feel it is much too difficult to calm my frazzled nerves at the moment.”
	Blud shrugged, “I feel like you’re much more stressed than Lox is, Lady.”
	“Of course she’s stressed,” Suzie scolded as she shot an incredulous look at the goblin, “She has not one, but two entrants to this competition that she feels responsible for. Even I fear that Galahad is in great peril due to how much he angered Harold. He is untested and unproven to everyone at this academy. Why would we not be worried about him?”
"Whoa, no need for the third degree, little miss gnome," Blud retorted, "have some confidence in the guy!"
"Blud is right, you can worry, but don't show it for Lox." Rald added, coming to Blud's defense. "I don't want him to get psyched out for any reason, especially us."
"I suppose you're right, but don't bother our president. She's worried enough as it is!" Suzie replied, pointing at the fey-witch.
Manus sat deep in anticipation, ignoring the back and forth between her companions. She did her best to suppress her troubled feelings as she stared down into the arena.

         . . . . . 

	 “Settle down, settle down,” Root chided the gathering and her children. She placed the pizza boxes out, watching as her own small children went for the peppers, pineapple, and salami pizza. The orcs and fairy grabbed a few slices of meat lovers and her husband ate plain cheese with the ent. 
	“So, uh, bets?” Crud asked, looking completely downtrodden and tired from his four losses already on the betting.
	“Harold,” The fairy stated, putting her money into the bowl. The orcs nodded in agreement with her and put their money in.
	The small ent shrugged slowly, “I think that the evocation president will come out on top.”
	The goblin dad sighed, “Root?”
	“Well… I like Lox. But I don’t know if he even has a snowball’s chance in hell against Harold.”
	Crud grunted and grabbed another beer, “Fine. I’m all in on Lox. Not like I’ve got much more to go all in on him with.”
	“I’ll match that!” The fairy laughed, throwing more money in the pot.
	“Might as well,” The ent slowly decided. The orcs were next, mouths too full of pizza to chime in. They tossed in their collective wad of cash.
	Root shrugged, “Fine, let's make it fun. So, the five of us against Crudy-poo’s one for Lox?”
	“Yup!” The fairy wrote down everyone’s wagers, “Look! They’re in the center of the arena now.”
	“Ladies and gentlemen!” Gauldroy’s voice boomed through the TV’s speakers, “It’s time for the fight of the night! The one everyone has been waiting for! I–in the red corner…” The spotlight came on and the cameras focused on the well-dressed form of Harold. He smiled and waved to his fans as they cheered, chanting his name. 
He raised his hand, making it flat and bringing it down towards the floor, signaling them to quiet down. Gauldroy put a microphone in Harold’s hand. He cleared his throat and put on a handsome smile, “It feels good to be here again,” He grinned as a few clapped and hollered, “As usual, I foresee an easy victory for my house, another year reigning as their president, and a nice dinner once this tournament is over!” There were some more claps and cheers, “Honestly, I feel bad. Not for ol’ Galahad here, but for anyone dumb enough to bet on him. What kind of person would put money on a man with no accolades or victories to his name?” He handed the microphone back, having said his piece.
	“In the white corner, representing the Seeker’s house, which hasn’t happened in eight years– Galahad!” Sophia introduced the man as the lights and cameras focused on him.
	The crowd got noisy, not a lot of cheering within the jeers and polite clapping, “There’s my boy!” Crud shouted at the TV as Galahad was handed another microphone. The goblin children around him clapped and cheered for the human.
	Lox tapped the mic, making sure it was working before clearing his throat, “I wouldn’t really count your accolades as wins,” He started, “I looked into it, and Fairgarland hasn’t had a dueling teacher in forty years. At the same time, you come from a line of warrior-wizards-kings. You’ve been formally trained while everyone else just shoots spells at one another without much rhyme or reason and hopes for the best. You’re beating the lame and gloating about how strong you are– a big fish in a small pond. We'll see just how strong you are when going against someone who can really hold a staff,” Galahad hissed. The crowd was silent with a few going ‘Ooooh,’ At Galahad’s taunting. The man blinked before bringing the microphone back to his face and changing to a much more gentle and friendly tone, “And uh, thanks to ‘Mr. Raxpedalia’s Wondrous Bazaar’ for supplying me with my equipment. Shout out to you guys.”
	He quickly gave the microphone back and turned heel, heading to his starting spot. 
	Crud cheered at the TV, “I don’t care if he loses now. A shout out like that made this all worth it,” Root nodded in agreement as she sipped on her ninety-nine cent canned iced tea before dipping her pizza in ranch. She felt bad about voting against Galahad, but it was too late now. All she could do was hope Crud wouldn’t blab in the future.

	. . . . .

	Harold stood still as he watched his opponent take his place. He glared, almost furious at his comments. Sophia and Gauldroy were beaming at one another. They had a real rivalry on their hands, “Well, there you have it!” Sophia giggled.
	Gauldroy copied her wide smile, “I wonder which of these two will come out on top in this rivalry? The prince Harold or the mysterious Galahad!? It’s starting to feel like anyone’s game at this point!”
	“How long has it been since Fairgarland saw something quite like this? Tensions are high! The stakes are even higher! Wizards! Please, take your places!” Sophia cried before readying a spell and teleporting her and Gauldroy to their booth overlooking everything.
	Harold scowled and took his spot on the red side of the arena. He took a moment to calm himself down. Galahad was merely trying to get a rise out of him, he decided. He had this in the bag, rude words would be the worst he could dish out and they would do nothing to save the first-year wizard in a fight. Harold took a deep breath and brandished his staff. Galahad stood across from him, his fiery eyes peering back over the folds of the scarf he wore and under the brimless hat. Neither arm was visible under his sleeveless cloak. It was impossible to tell if the first-year was casting anything at all. Harold held his spell, waiting as Sophia continued to rile up the crowd. 
	“Fairgarland! Are you ready!?” The cat-witch shouted.
	“Let the first round of today’s final duel…” Gauldroy paused for dramatic effect, “Begin!”
	Harold was quick, holding his staff with the head pointing right at Galahad before running his hand down it. A ray of magical energy shot straight at the first-year before quickly looping around him and attempting to strike into his side. Galahad’s reflexes were quick as his hand created a thin, mostly transparent barrier that absorbed the blow. The impact still slid him a few inches across the arena floor.
	Galahad merely nodded, concealing himself under the cloak once more, “A powerful blow from Harold, but Galahad didn’t even flinch!” Gauldroy hollered, “How will the first-year respond?”
	Galahad’s hand appeared from under the cloak clutching a small mirror pendant. It glowed for a moment before being stashed under the cloak again. Harold had expected a retort to his spell, but the flash of light hadn’t done anything. He raised an eyebrow, but cast his doubts aside. If Galahad was going to make it easy for him, he would capitalize on it. He began casting another spell, his staff heating up as he muttered the magic words. Another spell blasted out of staff, a flaming ray of bright energy. 
	Galahad’s hands appeared from under the cloak, his hand and his staff created a thick barrier, deflecting most of the ray into two much weaker beams that were absorbed by the protective runes on the sides of the arena. Harold presented a thick chunk of red crystal which he placed into the stream, strengthening the attack and disintegrating the crystal. The beam was still mostly deflected by the barrier until a small streak of energy broke through, drilling into Galahad’s shoulder and making him yelp as the force fully knocked him over.
“And Galahad goes down!” Sophia yelled excitedly. The crowd was matching her enthusiasm with their shouts and yells, “Did that push him slightly out of the arena? An official on the field is checking now.”
A gnomish woman dashed out from the sidelines and checked Galahad where he lay. She put her two arms in the air, “He’s still in! Looks like the tip of his hat doesn’t count for a ring out. Is he still well enough to keep fighting?” Gauldroy wondered.
Galahad slowly rose to his feet, while Harold wound up for another attack as he summoned chilly air to create five spears of ice. The first-year brushed the char off of where he had been struck, “He doesn’t seem very hurt by it! That warding enchantment on his cloak was well worth it!” Sophia cried. “For gear that good, maybe I’ll pay a visit to this Raxpedalia’s Wondrous Bazaar myself!”
	Galahad quickly cast a healing spell on himself, mending the wound on his shoulder. Harold let the spears loose, forcing his opponent to block. Galahad put up another barrier, this one more akin to a screen. Again, the powerful blows forced Galahad to move back as his protective spells absorbed the bulk of the blows. 
	“A ring out!” Sophia yelled, sending the crowd into an uproar.
	Galahad looked down and saw that he had indeed crossed the line. He simply shrugged, grabbed a blue potion from his bandolier and downed it. Harold looked smug as he did the same, feeling more confident than ever.
	"Not much to show for all that talk," Holmit harrumphed, unimpressed with Galahad's performance.
"He's still standing," Suzie pointed out, "and did you see how he deflected that first spell? It circled right around him!"
"Pure luck," the dwarf gave a dismissive hand wave.
"Just you wait, Lox is just gettin' warmed up!" Hollered Blud, "Besides, that's only round one! Right, Rald?"
"R-right!" His sister agreed, unable to take her eyes off Galahad. She was nearly biting her nails with worry before Blud grabbed her hand and forced it down to her side.
Fredrik held his breath. Suzie was right, Galahad was still standing, but he would need to do more than that if he was going to win. He looked to his side where President Manus sat, her intense gaze completely locked on to their underclassman. Though her expression showed nothing he knew she must have been just as worried as Galahad's goblin friends.

	“Are you ready for the second round, Gauldroy?” Sophia asked her co-host.
	“Of course I am. Not the most exciting first bout, but Harold showed off some flashy spells while Galahad’s proficiency with abjuration was put on display!” The devil nodded as the lights started to come up, “Let’s get this second round… started!”
	Harold’s magic charged up, eager to be unleashed in a burst of fiery energy. Galahad raised his hand and snapped his fingers. The prince felt the mana and wind leave his lungs, completely negating the cast. Harold stood still for a moment as he struggled to regain his composure, “A powerful counter spell has left Harold speechless!” Sophia cried.
	The prince scowled and began another casting as Galahad slowly advanced toward him. Magic energy crackled as he tried his trick again, a white bolt of magic was flung at Galahad before it circled around him twice, attempting to strike his front. The first-year’s arm appeared, slapping the attack away from him with nothing more than the back of his hand and sending it careening into the walls where it was absorbed by the runes. 
	“Amazing!” Gauldroy shouted as the crowd ‘oooh’ed and ‘aaah’ed at the display of power.
	“A nice trick, but could Galahad do that again?” Sophia wondered, “He should be fighting for house Maximillion at this rate. We haven’t seen a single offensive spell yet!”
	Harold drew his rapier and cast a minor haste spell on himself. He waited a moment before casting another minor spell on his blade, making it crackle and hiss with electricity. He could see his opponent casting an enchantment spell of his own. In an instant Galahad lowered down and darted forward with inhuman speed toward Harold, his mace was drawn and brought down in a flash, forcing the prince to back step. The impact of the blunt weapon chipped the floor of the arena. Harold’s rapier was quick, but Galahad was faster and easily knocked the thin blade aside before he brought his mace into Harold’s ribs. The prince howled as he was wracked with pain, but kept fighting. The prince back-peddled again before retrieving a trinket from his pocket. He waved it in the air and blinked to the other side of the arena, giving him space between him and Galahad. 
	“Harold’s on the back foot!” The announcers shouted together.
	Galahad tapped the head of his mace with his staff, encircling it with dark, broiling energy. Harold rushed closer, shooting off a quick bolt of fire that Galahad simply shrugged off before unleashing the power of the necromancy spell in his mace. The weapon hit the floor and erupted into a powerful curse that sapped the prince’s strength. He struggled to thrust his blade at his opponent, merely knocking off his brimless, red cap as he ducked under the stab. As soon as the hat was off, Galahad put a hand on his temple, using his circlet to blast Harold with a massive ball of snow, shoving him out of the ring. 
	“Amazing display from both combatants!” Gauldroy cried, “Round two for Galahad!”
	“He’s just full of surprises!” Sophia laughed.
	“How many schools was that, Sophia?”
	“Well, we saw abjuration, necromancy, enchantment, and I think that evocation came from his magic circlet,” Sophia listed, “Last round we saw a glow from a trinket around his neck. No telling what that could be!”
	“Right you are. Looks like the two need a moment before the third round.”

	Fredrik tapped his foot as he watched the two wizards prepare for the third round, “He fights well,” He murmured, “But that is not the style of a duelist.”
	“What do you mean?” Miss Manus asked, finally peeling her eyes away from the arena.
	“He fights like a man fighting for his life, while Harold fights for sport. A real warrior or adventurer taught our friend,” The golden wizard explained, “Magically strengthening himself slowly and then going in for the ‘kill.’ I can only wonder where he gets it from.”
	“Yes, he seems much more competent than he originally let on. Why is he not studying abjuration, enchantment, or necromancy is my question. He seems so competent in all three,” The fey-witch wondered as the two wizards took their places. “Unless…”
	“Unless?” Fredrik prompted his president.
	“No, pay me no mind, it was a fleeting thought,” There was no way he was a master in those schools of magic, he was much too young. She dismissed the notion entirely.

        Round three began slowly, the two wizards rounding the arena like a tiger might encircle its prey; though which was the tiger and which was the prey was still unclear to the audience as well as Manus as she watched the first bout of spells being flung. The colors of Harold's firebolts danced over her eyes, only for each to be batted away like paper planes by Galahad.
"Looks like those deflections weren't just luck, Galahad is brushing off every spell Harold is throwing at him!" Gauldroy announced to the audience. Harold, not to be outdone, fired another spiraling fireball followed by another, each of them circling Galahad in opposite directions. The first-year warded his mace in an instant and swung, batting both balls of fire back at his princely opponent. One fireball whizzed by Harold, while the other landed before him, smoke erupting from the collision.
"A smokescreen from Galahad, what could he be planning?" Sophia wondered aloud.
"With the way things are going he could be planning anything. Literally anything," Replied Gauldroy.
There was no way for her to know for sure, but the smoke had filled most of the arena, blocking all sight of either duelist. Fredrik nudged Manus and pointed to where Galahad would have been, a light emitting from an unseen spell he was casting. It wasn't long before Harold blew a gust of wind through the arena, clearing out the smoke, "Ooh, that is not a good look for Prince Harold," Gauldroy jeered at the blackened prince. 
Harold wiped soot from his face with a snarl, drawing up his rapier and advancing on Galahad. He was cautious in his approach, his rapier held forward while his staff held a spell he had prepped under the smoke. Galahad waited, his mace held back with his staff forward in anticipation of another offensive spell. Harold was only a few steps away now, his rapier just out of thrusting distance. The prince circled left, then back right, waiting to see what his opponent would do, but Galahad remained put, simply turning to meet him. 
Why was he not moving, Harold wondered, what trick was he trying now?
The prince prodded at Galahad, his rapier clanging against the first-year's staff. Galahad slapped the rapier away, forcing Harold to retreat, but he remained still. Whatever he was planning, it wouldn't matter now! Harold quickly twisted his staff forward and released the spell, a whip of lightning striking down on Galahad's arm before pulling him forward towards Harold's rapier. The spell came out fast, but Galahad anticipated it, he ducked under Harold's rapier, knocking it away with his mace. Using the momentum, he got behind Harold and flung a spell of his own from his staff. Harold turned, ready to defend himself from anything, but nothing came - nothing visible. A split second later he felt a large, heavy object slam into his gut, sending him careening backward onto the floor, rolling head-over-heels until he stopped on his belly. As he lay face down– the wind knocked from his lungs, he saw a rune had been left underneath him. His eyes shot up to Galahad who had just caught something with his hand. The first-year grinned underneath his face coverings at the prince before a large rat appeared curled up in his arm - the invisible object that had struck him. Before Harold could react Galahad snapped his fingers and the rune activated. Not a moment later, the arena was gone, along with everyone else. Harold scrambled to his feet, finding himself surrounded by impossibly tall, winding walls in a gray, lifeless labyrinth.
After ten seconds the prince was spat back out onto the arena floor to the cheers and whistling of the crowd.
"Galahad just ejected Prince Harold to a pocket dimension! That's some high level abjuration! He also utilized a summon!" Sophia bellowed, overcome by her own hype. "Conjuration and illusion! Is there anything this kid doesn't know?"
"I'd say he doesn't know how to hold back! He hasn't pulled any punches, Sophia!" Gauldroy joined in on his co-host's energy.
"And that rat! He's so big and cuddly!" The white cat-witch swooned as Galahad fed the rat a cracker from his pouch before sending him away with the wave of his staff.

“HE DID IT!” Blud shouted as Rald gripped his shoulder.
	“My plan worked!” The lady-goblin yelled. The two excitedly cackled to each other as the bulk of Karak-Albrac stared in confusion.
	Fredrik cocked his head, “The two of you came up with that?”
	“Well, we helped Lox workshop that one. In the first round, he used his necklace to make his rat invisible. Then, under cover of smoke, he placed the labyrinth rune down on the floor. All he had to do then was lob the rat at Harold and push him into the rune!” Rald explained, “Easy incapacitation victory! Ten seconds isn’t long enough to navigate ANY labyrinth!”
	Fredrik nodded as he turned back to the arena. Harold slammed the butt of his staff on the floor to cast a simple cleansing spell that blew all the remaining soot off of himself. Galahad stretched and drank his potion as usual. Without being able to see the underclassman’s face, Fredrik could only guess if he was enjoying himself– though anyone dragging Harold through the proverbial mud-- or the very real soot in this case-- was sure to be having fun. The announcers were clearing their throats when the two combatants took their places and began their casting.
	Round four began with Sophia’s simple signal, “Go!” 
	Harold was hesitant to strike first, waiting for Galahad to start the fight. The crowd was hollering at both of them to act, but the two waited for the right time. Galahad removed his hat and shot a few ice spears out of his circlet which Harold easily destroyed with a burning wall of flames. The first-year immediately began to charge up his next spell, a quickly moving wall of force, a low level abjuration spell. The prince rubbed a brooch on his rapier and used it to cut the spell in twain. Galahad followed up with a short break in between by lobbing a fan of summoned daggers at his opponent. Harold blocked a few but two managed to slice his leg and thigh, staggering him. Galahad didn’t stop, next he put another black, necromantic spell on his mace. Harold hardly had time to begin casting a barrier before Galahad unleashed his attack as he thrust the long, dark beam of energy at the prince.
	The necromantic attack pierced Harold’s meager defenses, making him slowly fall to his knees and then to the floor. He was still in the ring, but he lay motionless on his stomach. Galahad felt his heart stop, had he killed the prince? He hurried to his opponent’s side just as the chirurgeons started to mobilize onto the field, “Looks like Harold is down and Galahad is concerned for his opponent?” Gauldroy scoffed.
Sophia tilted her head, “Looks like it, Gauldroy. Maybe he–” 
	Harold sprung up with sudden vigor as Galahad neared, thrusting his rapier forward and stabbing Galahad through the chest. The crowd started to jeer at the prince as the first-year fell to the floor, writhing in pain as the non-lethal enchantment sucked out most if not all of his energy, “What a dirty trick!” The cat-witch gasped.
	Suzie gasped in the stands and turned to her council members, “Is that legal!?”
	Fredrik’s hands were balled into white knuckled fists, “Unfortunately.”
	“C’mon, Lox. Get up,” Blud grumbled his hopeful plea.
	A bell rang ten seconds later and Galahad remained on the ground, “Looks like round four goes to Harold,” Gauldroy noted as the incapacitation timer was up.
	The prince just chuckled, “You’re in no shape to continue. Just give up now, boy.”
	The chirurgeons helped Galahad to his feet, “Are you well enough to–”
	Galahad slowly gripped the weapon in his hands and tore the rapier from his chest with a pained grunt. The audience gasped. The sword clattered on the wooden floor as the first-year’s breaths turned labored and pained. He went for his bandolier and grabbed a few potions as he wordlessly moved to his spot.
	“A tough son of a bitch, ain’t he?” Holmit smirked, more invested in the fight now than before.
	“Yeah,” Suzie just stared in awe as Galahad downed a massiva mana potion, the one that Manus had given him. The gnome glanced at the fey-witch who looked more pale-blue than before.

	Sophia issued a few orders to the spotlight operators as each of their beams shined down on the two duelists. Each one went for their potions, “What a match!” Gauldroy laughed into his microphone from his plush chair in the floating, overhead booth, “It’s been a while since I’ve seen a duel go to the fifth match!”
	“That’s right, Gauldroy,” The cat-witch nodded, “Exciting stuff tonight– oh? Looks like Galahad is moving to the center of the arena?”
	“Miss Manus!” The first-year hollered to house Karak-Albrac’s section of the arena as he removed his hat and face coverings. Most of the crowd quieted down, curious to what he was doing, “Your champion has a request!” He was putting on an uncharacteristically thespian voice after saying next to nothing the entire duel.
The fey-witch stood in her section after being quietly egged on by Fredrik, Suzie, and the goblins, “Yes?” She called back. Her hands were starting to feel raw from the amount of nervous wringing she was doing under her cloak while she was filled with worry all day, “What would you have of me?”
	Galahad looked around the arena, to Harold, and then to Manus, “I… well, you see how hard I’m fighting here,” He chuckled to himself and put on the most handsome grin he could despite the pain, “Had I not been so hard pressed up to this point, I would not feel this way, but I’m fighting for the benefit of your house. How about some kind of reward for when I win?”
	“IF you win!” Shouted Harold, getting red in the face.
	“A reward? Of course, what can I offer you?” Miss Manus replied, ignoring Harold. 
	There was a moment-long pause as if he was building suspense before Galahad looked back up at Miss Manus, “How about something Harold will never have? A simple kiss will do?”
	There was an uproar in the crowd almost immediately. Jeers, shouts, hollers, ‘oooh’s, and excited cheers all filled the arena. Harold’s teeth were grit and now even his ears were red hot with simmering rage. Galahad swore he saw some obvious blood vessels on his temple popping. The first-year just smirked and shrugged, “I can’t believe it! Can you imagine being so bold!?” Gauldroy yelled into the microphone, barely audible over the yelling. 
	“I don’t know whether to call this romantic or insane!” Sophia laughed, “Could this be revenge on the prince for his dirty trick? The crowd is starting to quiet down and look to President Manus for a response!”
	Four of her hands were gripping the brim of her hat, trying to hide her rosy cheeks. She took but a moment more to compose herself, letting the brim go and clearing her throat. She did not need to look for advice from her house mates, “I agree, Galahad. A kiss shall be yours– if you win, of course. I swear it.”
	There was even more of an uproar. Galahad just grinned at Harold. The princely wizard was shaking, his eyes were getting watery, and he was completely flustered. He felt nothing but fury.
	“What a perfect lead into the final round!” Gauldroy shouted over the crowd, “How about you get this thing started, Miss Sophia?”
	“Of course! Duelists! Take your places!” The cat-witch hollered. Both went to their sides and began their opening casting, “Here comes the final bout! Who has the energy to finish this fight? Who will come out on top!? Round five– go!”
	Harold was quick to cast, his first spell was supposed to be a large blast of fire, but due to his emotions running wild the spell fizzled into nothing more than a few sparks. Galahad winced from his wound as he tried to start another spell. Despite healing and reenergizing himself with potions, the sudden stinging pain caused his casting to fail as well.
“Both casters have suddenly developed some kind of casting dysfunction! Sputtering spells on both sides!” Gasped Gauldroy, “They’re both trying to calm themselves down or get over their wounds! Who will sling something out first!?”
Both Galahad and Harold panted, their eyes locked on one another with intense glares. Galahad revealed another red potion and quickly drank it. Harold attempted to calm himself down, taking a deep breath and readying a spell slowly and carefully. Galahad inhaled and did the same. He didn’t have the strength to keep this going. He would struggle to trade blows. From that massive potion he drank, he had the mana, but his body lacked the will to continue. The aching and stinging pain would get to him before long. Harold wasn’t much better. He had taken numerous hits from Galahad. He was ready to end this.
	“They’re charging up!” Sophia cried, the audience was going nuts as they shouted for their favored combatant to come out on top and strike their opponent down, “This could be it!”
	Each wizard unleashed their magic. It was a raw burst of mana from both, each one coagulating into a ray of blinding light and fervent energy. Galahad’s stream was made up of swirling blues and blacks, while Harold’s magic was hues of red. The two streams collided, each wizard drawing from the depths of their natural mana to maintain their attack as they started to let off sparks and crackles of electricity. A power was building in the center of the arena and the conglomeration of magic was threatening to burst. Harold could feel the strain on his body and something was going to break soon. His robes billowed as the aetheric currents in the air raged around them. Galahad’s body felt like it was about to fall apart. He was pulling too much of his mana, but he knew he had to win. With a grunt, he started to move, limping toward his opponent despite their contest of magical strength. A high pitched wailing came from their power struggle, the mana concentration was building to a dangerous level. Both of them knew, but neither was willing to back down. 
	The noise reached an uncomfortable volume, most of the spectators watched in awe. A few started to sweat, wondering if the two were about to kill themselves. Sophia and Gauldroy didn’t dare speak, trying to let the two focus. The congelation of mana glowed, turning a bright white before the whining sound stopped– and quickly burst. The explosion rocked the arena, ripped a hole in the ceiling as most of the energy traveled up, and left behind a massive scorch mark on the floor. Galahad and Harold were both down on one knee and the smoke hung heavy in the air. 
	The two wizards could see one another but the screaming and shouting crowd were out of view. Harold tried to cast, but his mana reserves needed a moment’s respite before being pulled for one last attack. He scrambled for a potion instead. Galahad needed no such rest, he mumbled his magic words, his aching body screaming for him to stop. He lurched his staff arm forward, blasting Harold with a wave of force, the abjuration magic knocking him back. Galahad’s arm contorted painfully as his body was pushed to its limits, draining the last bits of his mana, and making him cry out in pain.
	The smoke cleared quickly, showing everyone that Galahad stood in the center of the arena, towering over his opponent. He dropped his staff as his arm went totally limp. He gasped in pain, unable to move it. His head was fuzzy, and his vision was dim. Over the ringing in his ears, he heard the roar of the crowd, “An explosive ending! What a finisher!” Sophia shouted.
	“A round five ring out by Galahad! He’s done it! He’s won!” Gauldroy announced, “That was the closest match we’ve seen in a long time!”
	Galahad wearily looked over the crowd, raising his good arm with a fist in the air in a tired, celebratory salute. He looked right at Miss Manus who he saw clapping politely with a little smile of relief on her face. The world went dark soon after, and the first-year fell to his knees before laying face down on the arena floor. Onlookers gasped as the chirurgeons rushed to both combatants, quickly checking their vitals and finding they both lived, but Galahad was in rough shape. Rough enough for them to want to immediately move him to the infirmary. A stretcher was summoned and the first-year was carted away and out of the arena.

	Suzie blinked as the duels ended, completely speechless. Galahad had pulled it off against all odds. Every student in the arena chatted with their peers, some in worried, hushed whispers and others with excited cadence in their voice. The gnome looked at her fellow housemates and the two goblins that had come to sit with them, “He did it! He did it!” Rald shouted, “I knew he could!”
	“You said it wasn’t likely when you scryed it,” Blud snorted.
	“Shut it!” She punched her brother on the arm.
	Fredrik cleared his throat, “Though I am sure I know your answers, we shall make this official. I hereby put forth the petition to induct Galahad into House Karak-Albrac as the official house duelist.”
	Suzie shook herself, “House duelist? We haven’t had one in a decade or more. Very few houses even have one now. Are you sure?”
	Holmit downed more booze from his flask, “The honor and glory of his victory will go to our house, and he will gain status as a council member of Karak-Albrac. A win for both parties. I see no mistake in it. Aye, I’m for it.”
	Suzie nodded, easily convinced into it, “Might as well.”
	“I-I see no reason not to. Better him dueling than me…” Todd mumbled with a nod.
	“Miss President?” Fredrik asked, “It will make it easy to keep him close at hand, hm? Seeing as you have a vested interest in his development as a transmutationist as both his teacher and tutor.”
	Miss Manus nodded, “I struggle to see how much my tutoring will do now after witnessing his strength, but I would still like to induct him. I will converse with him about our tutoring later.”
	“After you give him that kiss you promised?” Blud teased with an impish grin.
	“That was merely a ploy to get a rise out of Harold,” The fey-witch replied matter of factly, “We had best be off then since we are all in agreement.”
	“Alright, I think I know where they took him,” Rald declared as she hopped up, “C’mon! Hurry!”
	Down in the arena, Harold slowly rose from where he had been ringed out. He silently dismissed the young chirurgeon who stood by to check on him. His body was sore, but he had stopped before hurting himself too much. The most pain he felt was in his pride. The thought passed his mind, wondering if Galahad was cheating due to how quickly he could chain spells together, but Harold struck the idea from his mind. He knew better. His own grandfather could do that technique. It was difficult and taxing, but entirely possible. It was something only war-magi taught and learned to do– usually, at least. He brushed himself off, knowing the rest of his house was going to be very cross about losing their prime lab and recreation time slots. 
	“Harold!” A few journalists and a news crew rushed across the stadium to him. It took a moment, but the prince put a handsome, princely smile on his bruised face as cameras were pointed at him. Lights flashed and numerous journalists spouted off unintelligible questions.
	The prince shook his head, “One at a time, please. You, what do you wish to know?” He pointed to a pretty woman with a tape recorder in her hands.
	“Harold,” She cleared her throat, “This is the first time you’ve ever been knocked out of the Fairgarland duels in the first round! Anything to say?”
	“Eh, no comment,” He grunted before pointing to another journalist.
	“Anything to say about your opponent, Galahad? The first-year?”
	Harold tilted his head, “Well… he is definitely not a first-year in the traditional sense. I will not make the mistake of underestimating an opponent again.”
	“What are you going to do now?” A third in the back howled.
	“Train for whatever comes next. Good day,” He nodded and strutted off, heading back to his dorm room. There were a lot of things on his mind now that he needed to contemplate alone. 

	. . . . .

	Galahad lay on a cot with a thin cotton sheet covering him. His arm was in a sling and one leg was wrapped in rune covered bandages. The non-lethal stab wound from Harold’s rapier had left a large bruise on his chest instead. He squinted at the journalists– both from Fairgarland and local papers that had come to interview him. They all shouted questions at him, too many for him to really pick out any singular one, if he could even work up a response. His throat ached along with the rest of his body, leaving him exhausted and struggling to speak. He grimaced as another picture was taken of his bruised and beaten form. 
	“Make room! Make room!” A nasally voice ordered as the gawkers were forced aside. 
	There were a few more grunts and shouts, “Coming through, official Fairgarland business, you see,” A more regal voice explained.
	“Galahad?” A soft voice said the wizard’s name, prompting him to painfully turn his head and blink until he could open his eyes more. A few people had gathered around him, the first he saw was Manus followed by Fredrik, the goblin siblings, Suzie, Holmit and Todd. 
	“Oh, hey,” The first-year grunted as he struggled to sit up, “What’s–” He winced in pain.
	“Take it easy!” Rald scolded as she helped him lay back down, “Did you not let the chirurgeons heal you?”
	“Let a bunch of amateurs mend my bones? No thanks,” He chuckled as the goblin woman frowned at him.
	“You did great!” Blud excitedly shouted, “The way you blocked and countered his spells! And when you threw the rat! And–”
	Fredrik cleared his throat, “May we not forget what we came here to do? So that our friend might rest? We may shower him in praise another time.”
	“Right. Manus?” Suzie prodded the witch forward as a few journalists took notes or spoke into their note taking devices.
	The fey-witch slowly approached her champion and stood by his bedside, “Galahad Loxley,” She slowly began, “After the great risks you took for House Karak-Albrac, going against the reigning champion of the Fairgarland duels– because of you, we have gained much better lab times for our students, not to mention the recreation space we will get to use at similar times. From each and every one of my fellow council members and house mates, thank you, Galahad.”
	The injured wizard smiled the best he could, “Sure. Nothin’ to it,” He joked, “Wasn’t even–” He grunted in pain, “hard.”
	“On behalf of Karak-Albrac, after a unanimous decision by the council, we have come to petition you to join our house. If you would accept it, we would also like to bring you into the fold of our council as house duelist. Karak-Albrac has not had one in a long time, and we feel that only you would be suitable for the role,” The fey-witch’s voice was flat and her face was stoney as she proposed her offer.
	Galahad didn’t take much time to respond, “I’ll do it. Duelist and all that. I would be honored–” He grunted in pain again as he tried to get up, “Forgive me. I’m in no shape to kneel.”
	“There is no need for that,” She assured him, “The honor is ours, Galahad. Welcome to our house,” She pulled a golden sash from beneath her robes and adorned his good arm with it. Video and photos were taken as a few journalists shouted off more questions that were subsequently ignored again, “I would shake your hand but I fear I would hurt you further.”
	“Don’t worry about it. Just gotta sleep this off for a bit. Thank the heavens I don’t have a class tomorrow. I’ll be back in your care on Wednesday,” He gave her a crooked smile before closing his eyes.
	“We shall prepare a room tonight,” Fredrik offered, “You will be welcomed with open arms as soon as you feel well enough to venture to our house.”
	“Thanks,” Galahad sighed and nestled into his bed as Rald pulled a thicker blanket over him.
	“Alright, everyone clear out! Let the man rest!” Holmit shouted as he started ushering the journalists out with Todd’s help.
	“Should we set a watch for him?” Blud wondered, “Don’t want anyone to bother Lox, right?”
	Fredrik nodded as he, the goblins and the other two council members started to clear out, “Suzie, perhaps you should procure some refreshments for our friends?”
	The gnome nodded, “Gotcha!” She dashed out of the room, leaving Manus and Galahad alone as the door closed behind the gnome. 
	The witch smiled softly as Galahad’s labored breathing turned quieter and he quickly fell asleep. She glanced at the closed door, making sure no one was around. She had a promise to fulfill. She had no idea how to do it correctly, nor where to do it. She thought about how her mother and father did it, maybe that was too intimate? She shook her head and looked at the wizard’s forehead. She took a deep breath and leaned in quickly, planting a small kiss on his forehead, her fey ancestry forcing her to uphold her promise. As she stepped back, she swore she saw a little twitch of a smile on Galahad’s face before his head rolled away from her. Miss Manus nodded. Her duty was done. She wished to rest with a nice book and a glass– no, only a full pitcher of tea would do after such a stress inducing day.

	. . . . .

The rest of the duels proceeded as planned over the next two days, with the semi-finals on the second day and the finals on the third. In his current condition, Galahad was unable to continue to compete due to his mana deprivation and broken arm. Rather than giving both Fredrik and Wilbert free rounds, the two went against one another in the second match of the second day. Dotti lost to Lillian in the first match, and Fredrik won his bout and went on to lose in the finals to Lillian the next day in a long four round match; leaving the conjuration house to take their first win in more than fifty years. Thus concluded Fairgarland Academy’s five hundred and twenty first annual duel.
At the goblin’s home, Crud celebrated win after win, his luck turning around completely once Galahad’s victory gave him the biggest pot. He stayed on his winning-streak the whole three days. The goblin made a note to send the kid a care package after getting so badly injured and him profiting off of it and taking such a big pot home.
Galahad did not move into his new accommodations at House Karak-Albrac until well after the duels concluded.

. . . . . 

	Sophia Hamilton stepped off the carriage, returning her to Fairgarland’s school grounds. A rain was just starting to come down in a light drizzle, not enough to ruin her designer robes, but she cast a duck feather ward on herself to be safe. She had just returned from a long celebratory night with most of her house. They had rented out an entire pizzaria for house Hamilton’s celebratory victory dinner. The liquor, beer, and Sophia’s favorite: a halfling red wine called Redbuckle's, had all flown freely and she had admittedly had a little too much to drink. Her house, along with the other duelists who had been invited as a polite gesture, had partied long into the night. Wilbert and Harold had not come due to being sticks in the mud with Galahad still bedridden in the infirmary and could not attend. Fredrik had taken a box of pizza upon his return, planning on giving it to the new champion of House Karak-Albrac. 
	All other party goers had returned already with Sophia being the last. She had many things in town to take care of, thankfully being slightly inebriated didn’t slow her down much. The cat-witch hummed to herself as she walked across campus, taking the southern path by the woods to make a quick stop at the labs to pick up a project that had been brewing. As she neared the labs Sophia’s nose and ears both twitched. Something terrible was assaulting her senses. It was a putrid smell, worse than anything she could remember for being inebriated. As the smell pervaded, Sophia sobered up entirely. A feeling of dread washed over her as she looked toward the woods where a soft wind was blowing from. Whatever it was, the smell was coming from there. Without any hesitation, she tapped her staff on the ground, teleporting herself into the lab where the lights were off and she could overlook the immediate area. She saw a dark figure emerge from the woods. A tall, slender person making their way towards the campus. Sophia trembled as they passed under a dim streetlight. Their face and features were not visible due to the darkness of the night and the heavy cloak they wore. Though they were moving, she saw no sign of walking, no legs to speak of coming out from under that long, heavy cloak. It was as if they were floating, she realized. For a moment the light reflected up and shone on the entity's face, pale and unemotional. A disguise? Sophia could see what she thought was a mask under the hood, its white features marked with a red stain– blood. 
	When they moved out of the lamplight, they used a wand to blow the blood from their cloak and veil before moving further north through campus, heading toward the house towers and dorms. The rain swiftly swept the crimson liquid away. Sophia put her back to the wall and slid down it, sitting on the floor with her legs hugged to her chest. What had that been? A ghost? A student? A murderer? She wondered silently as she trembled, unwilling to look out the window again. She can't let them go to the dorms unchallenged, what of her fellow students? At once she forced herself to her feet - though on shaky legs, and teleported out to meet the fiend. As she stood where the hooded figure was with a spell prepared for a fight, she realized it was gone. The would-be murderer had disappeared into the night like vapor, leaving the cat-witch shivering alone in the dark, rainy night.
	The brim of Sophia’s conical hat drooped as it got soaked. She pushed it up and shook her head, wondering if she had drank too much. Despite her doubts, she decided to report what she saw to the campus security at once, simply hoping she wasn’t going mad now.

	Lights beamed down from the upper row of the seating from massive, hot stage lighting that shone down on the freshly waxed flooring of the arena. The area of the ground was about the length of three basketball courts and as wide as two, plenty of open space for the one-on-one duels to come. Around that flooring was a stone wall, similar to that used in ancient civilization’s arenas. Rows and rows of seats rose high over the courts. Spectators had gathered around with camera crews ready to broadcast the duels on local networks. Each house’s banner was draped down over the walls of the arena with each house’s members sitting in their sections. Most students were in attendance while others stayed home to watch it with their families or in their dorms on TV. The roof over the arena kept the rain out, but a bit of fog had managed to creep in, casting a light mist over the floor.
	Miss Manus sat in the front row of her house’s section, right above their proudly flying banner. Suzie sat on a pad to help her see over the barrier and down into the arena, while Todd sat a few seats up so as to not block the other students’ views. Holmit sat on the other side of Suzie with his arms crossed, looking disgruntled as ever. Fredrik was the only member of House Karak-Albrac’s council that was not in attendance due to his participation in the duels, the golden wizard being sequestered away to the locker room with the other waiting entrants. It was the same with Galahad.
	“How are you feeling, Manus?” Suzie asked as she stretched her arms.
	“Anxious. Like I always do when our duelist enters the arena. All six years as president and my four years as an underclassman in House Karak-Albrac I have always felt this way,” Miss Manus’s hands were all interlocked as she tried to keep them busy, “I tried not to attend before I was president, but usually got dragged along.”
	“If I remember right, you were close with our previous president,” Todd mumbled, leaning down to speak to the fey-witch.
	“Somewhat. He brought me onto the council for this house when I first started. He saw something in me, or so he said. Perhaps it was merely because I was attempting mastery,” She sighed, “How our house has fallen since Markus left.”
	“Stop beating yourself up,” Holmit grumbled, “We lost our house duelist when Markus, Tera, and Persephone graduated. That is why we have fallen.”
	“For once I agree with the dwarf,” Suzie smirked, “As our leader, you are more than fine. We just need a fighter and we’ll be back to where we used to be. Good hours for labs, good standing with the other houses, and a good showing at the duels.”
	“Ya just need Lox to win then, huh?” A nasally voice inquired.
	Whipping around, Manus and Suzie laid their eyes upon the two goblins they had met just the day prior who had snuck up on them, “You don’t mind if we sit with you, right?” Rald asked.
	“Yeah, the Seekers House has been brewing with animosity towards our friend and I’m about to break someone’s nose over it,” Blud stuck his tongue out in the direction where his house sat.
	“Very well,” Miss Manus nodded, “I think your insight into Galahad’s tactics might prove useful.”
	“Yeah, it's not like much of our house showed up, grumbling about no alcohol being allowed in here. They’re probably watching this on TV in the dorm…” Suzie frowned.
	“Yup,” Holmit procured a flask from his pocket and took a swig, “Damn shame.”
	“If there’s one thing you dwarves got right, it's how to conceal liquor,” Blud drank a dark liquid from a potion bottle and wiped his mouth, “Too bad your own house isn’t here to watch Lox own-zone Harold for your benefit.”
	“Own-zone…?” Manus echoed in confusion.
	“Aye,” Holmit grumbled and turned back to the arena, “They struggle to believe he will win. Some even think him arrogant and foolish.”
	“You think he’s arrogant and foolish, too,” Suzie reminded him.
	“Aye. I do. But he’s got the guts that this house needs,” The dwarf replied, “That much I can respect him for, but it won’t mean a thing if he loses.”
	Todd nervously tapped his fingers together, his one big eye staring down at them, “I just hope they don’t get hurt too much…”
	“I hate all the… hate that Lox has been getting for standing up to that guy,” The lady goblin adjusted her cloak and folded her arms, “It’s all a load of bull.”
	“Even if he wins, I’m not sure if things are going to get better,” Said Suzie with a frown, "Some people just can't get over themselves."
In Manus' mind she saw that comment being directed at Harold. Should Galahad somehow win, would that humble the prince or would he double down? There was doubt in her mind, no amount of rebuffing had deterred him before, why would it work now? She shook her head, looking to her friends to see them all quieting down along with the rest of the crowd.
"So when does he fight?" Asked Blud.
"Who?" Said Todd who turned and leaned down towards the goblin.
"Lox, who else?" Before they could continue the deep sound of drums began to roll like thunder, signaling the start of the tournament. Several lights shone up towards the roof and swaying back and forth until finally they met in the center.
	“Welcome, welcome, one and all!” An announcer cried, her voice amplified by a magic spell. It was as if her voice came from everywhere as the lights died down and a flat circle made of a green, shimmering goo descended from the ceiling. Two people stood atop the slowly spinning goo, using their casting implements like microphones. The first was a witch with bright emerald eyes and white hair holding a long, gnarled staff with a green orb grafted to the top, “To Fairgarland Academy’s five-hundred and twenty-first annual dueling tournament!” It was Sophia Hamilton, a showy cat-witch whose black robes billowed as she hovered in the auditorium.
	“We’ve got a special showing for you all tonight!” The second announcer cried. He was a tall, skinny fellow with red skin and horns. He adjusted his ashen gray suit and red tie. A devil with a long, spindly tail and slicked back hair and a yellow armband– that of house Zucarius. He was a handsome devil known for being a showman and one of the main editors of the Fairgarland Newspaper, “Ten contestants will enter this arena, two at a time, and fight in a best-of-five rounds competition! Shall we go over the rules, Miss Sophia?” He asked into his smooth black wand with a golden tip.
	“Of course, Mister Gauldroy! As my fellow announcer stated, there will be five rounds in a match. Whoever wins three rounds will win the match! To win a round, you either have to make your opponent tap out, keep them from acting for ten seconds whether it be binding or incapacitation, or force them out of the designated arena!” She waved her hand and the dueling area, a little bigger than a basketball court, was outlined in a bright green light, “And to make sure no major accidents happen, our campus chirurgeons are standing by to heal any major wounds, we even have a cleric on hand for anything extreme!”
	“That’s right. Unfortunately for our combatants, they are on their own for their wounds and mana loss between rounds,” The devil explained, “Potions and healing spells are allowed to be used. Rounds will begin with a ten second period for combatants to prepare a spell or cast some kind of buffing spell on themself. Anything else, Sophia?”
	The cat-witch rubbed her chin, “Well, each combatant is allowed three magical trinkets. It should be an exciting evening seeing how each wizard or witch cleverly uses their talents!” Her eyes sparkled as the lights came back on, “Gauldroy, how about we speak to our contestants before the first match?”
	“A splendid idea! We’ll be right back in a few moments!” He threw his hand down, enveloping the two in a black smoke. When the smoke vanished, the two and their summoned platform were both gone. 

. . . . .

	Carly sat next to Dora, the two watching with anticipation as the two hosts disappeared and all the spotlights went out, "They're going to interview Harold!" Carly whispered as best as she could over her giddiness. 
Dora stifled a laugh, "They're going to interview everyone."
"Shush, look!" Carly pointed down onto the court. There were two wizards, a dwarf and a human readying a device in the dark. It had several moving gears and a wheel-shaped crystal turning steadily on one side. At the center of the device was a glass 'eye' that was slowly building up with light from inside.
Dora squinted through the darkness at it, "Is that--"
"It's definitely an Artificial Eyemax Caster," Carly answered matter-of-factly. Soon enough the two wizards got the device working, a beam of light shooting out of the 'eye' as it began to project an image in the center of the arena for all to see. It followed Sophia and Gauldroy into the lockers under the arena where each contestant was waiting eagerly in their own ways.
"Fairgarland can afford AECs?" Dora asked, bewildered.
"There are more students this year, so maybe there's a bigger budget, now shush," answered Carly. She silently wished she had one for herself, as they were perfect for live broadcasting.

. . . . .

The hosts, Sophia and Gauldroy, approached two of the contestants who were excitedly chattering, “Talmirin Ryvalia!” Sophia excitedly introduced as she gestured to the first of the two, a small and lithe gnome.
	“And Dottathum Azum-Barowitz!” Gauldroy announced, pointing to the stocky dwarven woman as the two took places on either side of the contestants. A dwarf and a human held equipment, a TV camera on the dwarf that was transmitting to a local channel and a magic-tech device used by the human that showed the interview to the Fairgarland stadium through the AEC. The abjuration house cheered for Talmirin while the evocation school hollered when Dottathum’s freckled face was shown. 
Both smiled and waved at the camera, “So, the two of you seem to be getting along well,” Sophia commented.
	“Yup! Dotti is a good friend of mine,” Talmirin gave a bright smile to the camera.
	The dwarf nodded, “Aye. I knew Talmirin was in the tornamen’, and when Presiden’ Harold came ‘round lookin’ fer anothar contestant to go agains’ ‘er, I jumped at da chance!” She laughed, “Had to fight off some otha’ house memba’s fer it!”
	“I see!” Gauldroy smiled, “Have the two of you fought in a duel with each other before?”
Talmirin shook her head, “Nope! We’ve sparred a few times, but only recently have we gotten really into dueling.”
	“We wur kin’a waitin’ fer a good time fer our firs’ fight,” The dwarven woman brandished her long, metal staff, “Today seems like a good firs’ time, eh?”
	“I couldn’t agree more!” Sophia nodded, “Anything you want to say to your adoring fans out there?”	
	“Um… if I win,” Talmirin tapped her chin.
	“I’ll buy ya a roun’ at the pub, eh? Some glasses ah gnomish wine? Those onion rings and pre’zles ya like?” Dotti suggested.
	“Oooh, I’d like that. If you win, maybe we’ll go get some southern-human made steak? My treat?” Talmirin suggested, “Some flagons of ale too!”
	“Aye, that sounds heavenly!” The dwarf laughed. The two seemed to just forget they were on camera and went back to talking and chatting about classes, boys, hobbies, and everything else.
	“We’ll let those two get back to it,” Gauldroy sighed with a smile.
	Sophia nodded and adjusted her hair, “Agreed. How about we talk to–”
	“Interviews?!” A voice cried, just off screen. From the slightly muffled voice, the entire transmutation school knew who it was, “And you had the gall not to start with the fan favorite!” The cameras shifted to show the owner of the voice and the full glory of gold that he adorned himself in.
	“Ah, Fredrik Alistar Jeoffrey,” Sophia sounded less than enthused. Even then, people in almost every house cheered when they saw the golden wonder.
	“Fear not my advances, Lady Sophia. I have found another muse.”
	“Oh? Looking to dedicate the win to her?” Gauldry asked, taking the obvious lead for conversation.
"As it so happens, I am, though I cannot divulge for whom. That is only for the two of us to know," His mask, a golden devil ready for battle held an ever present grin, four tusks curling outward while two golden horns jolted up and out from his forehead.  
"Ooh, a secret rendezvous afterwards perhaps?" Gauldry egged on the golden wonder.
"Well… if you must know, I plan to reveal my affections to her when I take the gold," Fredrik announced.
"Haven't you already taken the gold? Why not call out to her right now?" Sophia snorted at her own joke, to which Fredrik joined in laughing. 
"Ever the clever jester, Lady Hamilton. I cannot, however, as I must admit, my heart is not yet ready."
"Then we shall not keep you from your preparations, I will personally be cheering for your victory, and the inevitable union of you and the lucky mystery girl!" Sophia layered on the schmooze.
"Oh, please, Miss Hamilton! Please do not be disheartened by my rejection, surely there is another man out there waiting for such a lovely, pure-white, blooming caster such as yourself."
Many in the crowd were laughing at the Golden Wonder's antics; though Sophia did her best to hide her embarrassment, her flushed face made it plain that a cord had been struck.
Gauldry quickly ushered her away with him towards their next interviewee, "Here we have a returning duelist, Rigard Aemison, as mighty with magic as he is muscle, but not much for speaking, as he tells us every year. We’ll give him a break this time," Sophia announced as Gauldry goaded him on to strike a pose. The orc smiled at the camera and flexed his arms, his biceps testing the seams of his sleeves. Many witches in the audience swooned. Rald and Suzie groaned, both of them smiling at one another as they realized they shared an opinion on the matter. 
"Why don't you ever flex for us, Todd?" Some of his underclassmen teased. The timid cyclopes seemed to shrink down into himself, hunching his shoulders up to his ears as he stammered as his face turned red.
	“Anything to say to the crowd, Elton Sidgard?” Gauldry asked the stout gnome as they approached him. The divination house hooted and hollered for the hairy, bespectacled gnomishman.
	He ran his fingers through his white beard and pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose, “I have divined the odds of my victory! They are quite high if you look at the math here,” He procured a scroll from his red and yellow robes and unfurled the ten yard long parchment, “As you can see here–”
	“In english, please,” Sophia groaned.
	“W-well…” He looked at some notes, “Carry the seven, plus eight… roughly a seventy-five percent chance that I will defeat Wilbert! I have divined his signature spells and prepared accordingly to deal with them!” He proclaimed as he started to pull graphs, diagrams, books, and even an old magicked laptop from the seemingly bottomless storage. As soon as a powerpoint presentation was opened up on the laptop written in comic sans, Sophia and Gauldry knew it was time to move on.
	“Alright! That’s all the time we have! Good luck, friend!” Gauldry called as the two hurried away, "B-but I haven't shown you my victory speech!" The white gnome called after them, waving around a lengthy scroll he had prepared beforehand.
	Sophia looked around frantically for their next interviewee as she tried to get away from the gnome. She knew that Harold needed to be left for the end so more viewers would pay attention to the rest. But who would draw eyes back to the screen? Sitting in the corner away from everyone else was her answer. He was sitting on a bench and facing the lockers that lined the walls of the dressing room turned waiting room, “Mister Galahad Loxley,” Sophia introduced.
	From the other side of the AEC, Miss Manus frowned as she heard the jeers and boos of the crowd, “Damn moss-collectors,” Blud scowled back at the faces of the crowd.
	“Do ya think he’ll prove ‘em wrong?” Holmit asked no one in particular.
	“He has to,” Rald and Suzie both muttered before Rald’s face lit up, “JINX! You owe me a soda!”
	“Quiet, he’s gonna talk,” Todd hushed.
	The cameras took a moment to fixate on Galahad, it wasn’t obvious it was him at first due to his garb. He had the red conical hat on along with the black robes in addition to a red scarf that covered much of his face. His bright, fiery eyes were the main indicator that it was him, “Well, Galahad, what do you think about your opponent?”
	Galahad’s eyes darted between the cat-witch, the cameras, the devil man, and Harold who eyed the group with interest. It took the wizard a moment to gather his thoughts before he cleared his throat. His eyes looked down, but the rest of his body was very still, “Not much to say, but it should be a– fun bout.”
	“Fun?” Gauldroy smirked.
	“Not fun like–” The young wizard glanced at the dwarf and halfling who were still chatting excitedly, “like they’ve got. It should please the people, I think. Or,” The crowd could see a mischievous smirk, even behind the face covering, “it could really piss them off, ya know?”
	Sophia and Gauldroy glanced at one another, “Good for ratings?” Sophia joked.
	“Oh, it should be the match of the night. Really glad we’re saving it for last. Heh,” Gauldroy nodded, “Well, good luck to you Galahad. I know many want me to tell you to ‘break a leg,’ but I like your spirit more than they do, at least.”
	“I’m really looking forward to it, Galahad!” Sophia called as they pulled away, looking for the next interviewee.

Miss Manus nodded as she stared at the projection, “It seems that Galahad is taking this very seriously.”
“Huh?” Most everyone around her gave her puzzled looks.
The fey-witch felt a bit more at ease, “He is covering his face so as to not let his opponent see what he is casting. I can guarantee he will cast beneath his cloak as well.”	
	“I don’t know what to make of him, really,” Holmit mumbled as he went for his flask again. 

	“There’s Lillian Gourdbeater of house Hamilton!” Sophia shouted, “How are you, Lillian?”
	“F-fine,” The halfling played with her long, curly brown hair as her eyes darted around. Sophia made a gesture, rolling her hand as if to say ‘yes, and?’ to her. Gauldroy got the feeling Sophia had coached her fellow house member, “Oh, uhm, I’m a little nervous of course. Excited, m-maybe?”
	“That’s natural,” Gauldroy assured her as he adjusted his robes, “Now, how do you feel about your opponent?”
	“R-Rigard? He seems pretty strong… but I’m feeling confident I can go toe-to-toe against him,” She smirked, “With a little help, of course.”
	Sophia smiled, “I would be greatly disappointed if we were not going to see the help. Anything else to say?” The halfling just shook her head and the interviewers moved on.	
	“Wilbert Dodgary, he isn't your average plainsrunner griffonite, people! This one is sharp and experienced,” Gauldroy politely and respectfully introduced the aging griffonite man. 
	The plainsrunner wore a hood across his face, casting unnaturally dark shadows over his eyes. He glanced at the interviewers as they slowly and carefully approached. The wingless griffonite nodded slowly in greeting, crossing one taloned leg over the other while his taloned hands gripped his gnarled wooden walking stick. The necromancy house politely clapped for their representative. Sophia and Gauldroy exchanged looks before the cat-witch swallowed nervously, “Anything to say, Wilbert?”
	There was a long pause before the griffonite glanced at Elton who was still struggling with his papers and scrolls, “The gnome. He speaks too much.”
	Sophia blinked and looked at Gauldroy. The demon just smirked, “We can agree on that at least. You’re a man of few words, so we’ll call this interview concluded.”
	“Next on the docket, the great Ulyses Bradley!” He introduced, clapping for the human man who stood and bowed to the cameras before striking a pose. 
He was definitely a pretty-boy in every sense of the word, he made the illusion house cheer for him with a smile while women from many other houses swooned for him, much to their classmates' chagrin. He was in enchanted black robes with swirling yellow, flowery designs running across them, “A good day to you both,” Ulyses grinned and winked at the camera, “What do you wish to know?”
Sophia looked at him then to Fredrik on the other side of the room, a sense of dejavu washing over her, “What do you think of your opponent for today?”
He scoffed, “The Golden Wonder? Eh, I’m not too worried,” He shrugged with a little smirk. 
	“Really? He’s usually done pretty well in these tournaments,” Gauldroy warned as he gave a wary look to the camera. 
	“Well, yeah. But transmutation isn’t a great combat spell. Even though it is my first year competing I’ve watched several of his old duels and I think I’m prepared. To be honest, I’m more worried about the others,” He explained. He didn’t bother waiting for them to press him to continue, “You’ve got Harold, of course, the respected head of evocation, not to mention Dotti, his underclassman. Her and Talmirin are two competent witches in schools geared towards combat. The mysterious Wilbert. Who knows what he’ll do? But, you also have the wild card, completely untested and unproven, yet here he is, all bundled up– Galahad. To be honest, I wish I was going against him.”
	“Oh?” Sophia pressed.
	He smiled and leaned in, “An easy first round, I’ll bet. That dog, Harold, doesn’t need the freebie, now does he?”
	“You certainly are confident for your first year in the tournament,” Gauldry pointed out, “Are you sure you aren’t a little too confident?”
	“Nah, it’ll be fine. I’ll get worried when I fight Harold next round.”
	“I just hope you can put your money where your mouth is,” Sophia gave a wink to the camera, “Anything else?”
He struck another pose, “Shout out to my fans out there!” He grinned and gave a thumbs up, “I’m sure your support will give me the edge I need!”
	“Aaaand last but not least,” Gauldroy and Sophia approached the last of the ten contestants, “Harold Garnalga Babarry!”
	“What do you expect the outcome of this tournament will be?” Asked Gauldroy.
	“A flawless victory for yours truly, of course,” Harold’s voice oozed with smugness. 
	“What about your first opponent? Do you think he’ll be a challenge for you? No one has ever seen him fight, he could have a few tricks up his sleeve,” The white cat-witch pointed out.
	Harold scoffed, “A challenge? Sophia,” He gave her an incredulous look, “I have had four consecutive years as reigning champion, I assure you I shall not have any trouble with the whelp. Personally I am glad that he is my first opponent, as the other tournament goers shall have a greater experience and more excitement while I have to babysit. It really is a shame, the boy never had a chance.”

. . . . . 

Crud could barely hold himself back from throwing his beer can at the TV, “What an ass!” The goblin hollered as he slouched in the human-sized recliner. Four of his kids sat on either side of him.
	“Crud! Language!” His wife, Root, seethed.
	Their friends laughed. The house was full of various demi-humans. An orcish couple, a pixie woman, and a small ent with crisp, green leaves and long, spindly limbs. A few of them brought their children who played with the small horde of goblin children who didn’t care about the duels, “Screw this Harold guy, I’m sick of seeing his smug face every year,” Crud grumbled. 
“Yeah, but you’ll bet on him winning like you do every year,” The pixie smirked.  
The ent’s wooden form creaked as he looked around, “Betting?” He slowly asked.
	“We bet every year on the fights. You can sit out if you want,” The orcish man explained. 
“Usually only the last fight matters for betting as everyone goes all in,” The pixie continued.
Root nodded, “Usually it's all in good fun. My husband gets a little heated sometimes.”
	“Sush! The first duel is starting soon!” Crud cried, “I’m puttin’ my money on Talmirin.”
	“Really?” Root smirked, “I think that dwarf has it.”
	“I just wanna see our ancestral enemy lose,” The father goblin grumbled.
	The pixie turned back to the TV and grabbed a tiny can of beer that was on the shelf next to her, “Shaddup and watch, it's almost time.”

	. . . . . 

	“I really just wanna see the dwarf lose,” Blud chuckled, “That’s what my dad would say if he were here.”
	“Blud, you don’t need to tell everyone that our dad is racist,” Rald groaned.
	Suzie smiled, “Most of us probably have close relatives that would say something along those lines, no need to be embarrassed. A lot of people still cling to the ways of the old world.”
	“I for one want to see the dwarf win doubly, now.” Holmit jeered at the goblin. Blud tightened his lips as he eyed the dwarf, but he thought better than to insult him and instead placed his hope in the little gnomish woman.
	Miss Manus’s hands idly rolled her cracked sphere between themselves. Seeing Galahad taking this seriously had helped a little, but as time dragged on she was becoming more and more anxious, any confidence she had was slowly and agonizingly whittled away with each passing moment.

	. . . . .
	
As the debating over duelists went on in the crowd the lights quickly and gradually turned off, ceasing all conversation. Two stage lights lit up both Sophia and Gauldoy who stood at the center of the arena.
"In the blue corner, come all the way from across the Atlantic in Winshire, England, she's been with us for years now and is a skilled abjurationist! More fearsome than she looks, Talmirin Ryvalia!" Gauldroy announced with his magically amplified voice. The gnomish woman was illuminated by another bright overhead light as she twirled her magic dagger between her fingers before casting a warding spell over herself. Her house cheered the loudest for her, causing her to blush.
“And in the red corner, from Azumovall, Alaska, one of the best evocationists in Fairgarland and as fierce a friend as anyone could ask for! Known as ‘Dotti’ to her friends, Dottathum Azum-Barowitz!” Announced Sophia, the dwarf standing as tall as she could on her side of the arena while flourishing her iron staff. 
Gauldroy held both his arms out to either duelist before projecting his voice again, "Contestants, are you ready?" The two bowed their heads to him and to each other before stepping away from one another and taking their positions about a basketball court’s length away from one another. They stood in the ring, the boundaries of the arena being easily visible, "Fairgarland, are you ready?!" The crowd roared as the lights were gradually turned up, but kept dark enough around the arena for the two duelists to focus on one another, "Then let the five-hundred and twenty-first annual Fairgarland tournament begin!" A bell rang out, marking the start of the match.
At once Dottathum let rip a firebolt from her iron staff, her quick-cast spell aimed for Talmirin's chest. The gnome easily deflected the spell, sidestepping it and batting it aside with a handwoven ward where it struck the edges of the wall, fizzling on contact with the magicked barrier. The crowd was already hollering, excited by the flashy casting. Dotti fired another spell just as fast as the last one with two more to follow, though this time Talmirin redirected them back at the dwarf. She ducked under one firebolt and blocked the other two with her staff. Dotti laughed, "'Atta girl, Tal!" She cheered, holding her staff forward as she charged up a different spell.
"You've gotten faster, Dotti!" Talmirin called back, weaving another ward between her hand and her dagger as the dwarf let loose a thunderous crack of lightning from her staff, "But you'll have to do better than that if you want to win!" The gnome, while blocking with her dagger, reached out and took hold of the lightning with her other hand, using her warded fingers to curve the arcs back around at her friend from all directions. Dottathum held out her staff with either end at her side, using them as a lightning rod to absorb the spell back into her weapon. 
"I've been workin' on more'n jus' speed! How's about this?" The dwarf spun her staff around, firing off a firebolt as well as a blade of wind with the other side. Talmarin blocked the firebolt but struggled to ward off the windblade, Dotti closing the distance between them Talmirin did her best to keep up her defense, some of the dwarf's spells making it past her hands and bouncing off her ward she had cast from the start. As the gnome retreated, Dotti pursued, looking to get a ring out if possible. As she closed in on the gnome, Dotti raised her staff and prepared to land a finishing blow that would push her gnomish opponent out of the ring, but just before she could strike Talmirin waved both hands into a clap, and an invisible force constrained the dwarf, pushing on her from all sides.
"What the - Tal! When did ya have time fer this?!" The dwarf cried out from her magical prison.
"It was the first spell I cast at the start! Did ya like my little trap I set for you, Dotti? I can use wards for more than just defense y'know!"
The dwarf struggled inside the ward, unable to break it. After ten seconds there came the toll of a bell, marking the end of the round.
"Looks like we have a winner for the first round, Talmirin has immobilized Dottathum in a sneaky ward trap!" Gauldroy announced as the two duelists wasted no time getting ready for their second round. Both took a drink from flasks, regaining some of their lost mana. 
"You betta be careful, Tal. I won't fall fer that again!" Dotti called from her side of the ring, corking her flask. Talmirin smiled back at the dwarf as she refreshed her ward, and took another sip before putting her own flask away.
"Round two!" Sophia called before the bell tolled again. This time Talmirin charged forward, pushing her open palms towards Dottathum one after the other, each thrust forcing out a wall of magic that pushed the dwarf back as they passed through her. Dotti growled, agitated at the sudden waves of magic shoving her back. She forced herself to lean against the next wave before casting a fire spell that engulfed her iron staff. Each wall that came close to her she struck with such strength that they shattered instantly, the crowd cheering at her display of raw power both physically and magically. Even Talmirin was surprised, though the gnome regained her composure quickly and kept up the pressure. She kept pushing with one hand while preparing another spell with the other, keeping her distance while waiting for an opportunity to present itself. Dottathum roared, charging right through one - two - three more barriers before Talmirin cast a great barrier, pushing the dwarf back on her heels. Dotti pushed with both hands, even using her head and shoulders as best as she could but the barrier continued on its path, taking her straight towards the edge behind her and out of the ring.
Talmirin nearly let out a laugh, but stopped herself short when her dwarven friend furrowed her brow. She was getting angry, the expression on her face made that plain. The gnome quickly prepped a warding spell, there was no telling what Dotti would do when she got mad. Dottathum was already working up a spell much like her, her staff held high as she awaited the bell. When it came, both witches cast their spells, Talmirin forcing out a dense ward to push Dotti quickly while Dotti thrust her staff forward, a crack blew through the whole arena as a bolt of blue lightning crashed through the ward like glass and shattered the spell, slamming into her gnomish opponent and sending her flying back across the arena, her petite body sliding over the floor until she came to a dragging stop. The whole arena gasped as one. Manus' heart sank as Dotti let out a cry of terror. "Tal?! What've I done?!" She raced to her friend. Gauldroy and Sophia both swooped in as well as one of the necromancy wizards. Sophia quickly dispelled Talmirin's ward while the necromancer checked her body and cast his recovery spells on her wound. 
"She's still breathing," He assured them, "She's going to be okay, her ward held back most of it." 
Dotti was fighting back her tears as she knelt down beside her friend, "Oh God, Tal, I'm sorry!" She wept, "I didn't mean ta…"
Talmirin coughed, her eyes snapping open. "You sure can pack a punch…" She smiled, flinching in pain as the necromancer moved his hand over her stomach.
"She has a bruised rib, she's definitely out." He advised Sophia. "I'll have the chirurgeons take her to the infirmary."
The tears rolled down Dotti's cheeks, "Tal, I-I didn't mean ta--"
"It's okay." Talmirin cut her off, "You won fair and square, now you better win first place for me- ouch!" She flinched again as two volunteers helped her onto a stretcher. Dottathum nodded and wiped her eyes, "I'll do it, I'll win for ya. But first we need to get ya to tha infirmary, we can watch the rest of the matches from there."
Gauldroy cleared his throat for the audience, "Well, there you have it! The win goes to Dottathum Azum-Barowitz! And how about Talmirin, what a trooper, can we get a round of applause for one of House Maximillion's most stalwart defenders?!"
The arena lit up with cheering and thunderous applause as the gnome was taken out by the chirurgeons with Dottathum following close behind.
Manus was beside herself. She had just witnessed her greatest fear for Galahad take place in another student. In her mind it was a sign, an ill omen for things to come. If a friend could hurt another in such a way then what would stop someone like Harold from maiming or worse, killing Galahad? Would he do such a thing? In her mind's eye, Manus could easily see him play it off as an accident and that Galahad was at fault for entering the tournament in the first place. Was he truly capable of something so despicable? Was she being irrational or would this spat between the two facilitate such a barbarous act?
"Hey, are you okay, Manus?" Asked Suzie, "You look… faint."
"I will be fine," the fey-witch lied, knowing that if anything happened to her student… she pushed the thought from her mind. Have faith, she reminded herself. 

	. . . . .

	The second duel came and went in a way that surprised everyone, with Lillian Gourdbeater trouncing her opponent. Rigard’s orcish strength could do little against the hordes of creatures that Lilian summoned against him. One round he was carried out of the boundaries by a massive horde of spectral rats. Crud swore as he paid out his lost bet again, “Oh-for-two. But that Elton guy has the next one. I can feel it,” He decided as his wife brought him a tall beer. 
	“Sure he will, Cruddy-Poo,” Root lovingly teased, “I’m on Wilbert,” She tossed her money into the betting bowl. Crud’s expression was that of betrayal, “What? You lost me money the last two times.”
	The pixie laughed, “I’ve got you this time, my money’s on the gnome. He’s got that math stuff backing him up.”
	“Thank you!” Blud groaned, “Is the next one starting soon?”

	. . . . .

Fredrik sighed and stretched. He was itching to fight and the wait was starting to drain him. It was quiet with Dotti and Talmirin gone now. With a glance around, he spotted Galahad who still sat alone in the corner of the room. The gold-clad man stood and made his way to his friend. He could feel the eyes of the other contestants on him as he moved, all four sets of eyes. Galahad's were planted firmly on the floor as if he was examining the tiling of the locker room. Fredrik plopped himself down on the bench and put his arm on his friend’s shoulder, “You shall pop a blood vessel if you continue to stress yourself like this,” Fredrik whispered.
Galahad turned to him, “I’m fine. What about you?”
“Well, I am full of anticipation and anxiety, in all honesty. But I would assume everyone in this room is.”
The first year adjusted his face coverings to speak softly without the others hearing, “Anxious? I thought you’d be full of confidence, Fredrik.”
Even through the mask, it was obvious Fredrik was making an annoyed expression, “Always the kidder, hm?”
“Mhm. But I’m feeling like you are. It’s hard to deal in absolutes with magic involved. Even if a hundred diviners said I was going to win, I’d still be worried.”
“True. I still have nothing but confidence in you, Galahad, even if the bones rolled the opposite way.”
“Thanks, Frederik. I’m sure you’ll do well today, too,” Galahad smiled, “You’re gonna make the whole of Karak-Albrac proud, I’m sure.”
“As will you. Win or lose, your place is with us. You have already proven yourself to our house,” The golden man assured him, “Remember, Suzie and I will take over your tutoring if necessary.”
The young wizard sighed and looked weary, “I pray that won’t be needed.”
An attendant opened the door, “Wilbert? Elton?” 
The necromancer and the gnome both got up, sizing one another up before exiting the room, leaving only four remaining wizards, “The hour approaches,” Frederik mumbled to himself, “I have preparations to complete. Good luck, my friend.”
“And good luck to you too.”

. . . . .

	“What a match!” Sophia cried as the chirurgeons loaded Elton onto a stretcher. He groaned, his arm in a sling already and an ice bag on his head. 
	Gauldroy nodded, “A two round tap out brought on by Wilbert’s evocation and hemomancy! A real upset when everyone was expecting him to use skeletons and zombies! Anything to say, Wilbert?”
	“He spoke too much,” The griffonite grunted before walking off the field, his bum leg obvious as he limped off.
	“Well there you have it,” Sophia shrugged, “How about we quickly move to the next match?”
	“Right you are, my lady!” The devil waved his hand and the lights came down slowly, leaving only the excited chattering of the crowd in the dim stadium.
	Two lights came on. The more eye-catching of the two was Fredrik, clad in golds and blacks, he nearly glimmered in the spotlight. On his belt was a sheathed longsword, a magic weapon he had used in each of his duels.  He ate up the attention, posing for the crowd with his arms spread outward. Across from him in black robes with constantly swirling and almost mesmerizing patterns was Ulyses who held his wand with a tight grip as he stared down his opponent. 
	“In the yellow corner!” Gauldroy shouted, “Ulyses Bradley!” The illusion house cheered for their champion as he snapped to attention and waved to the crowd.
	“And in the gold,” Sophia began. Even before his name was uttered, numerous fans of the golden wonder cheered, “Fredrik Alistar Jeoffrey!” He waved and posed, taking in the adoration of the crowd. 
	“A wonderful evening for a duel, hm?” Fredrik asked the audience, magically amplifying his voice, “I know the fight of the night is next, but I am honored to take part in the penultimate duel. Wouldn’t you agree, Ulyses?”
	The illusionist sighed and shrugged, “I guess so. I’m just looking forward to denting that stupid gold mask,” He amplified his own voice by talking into his wand.
	“We shall see about that,” Fredrik replied, throwing his hands to the side before pressing two fists together at the side. When he spread them apart, he revealed his now summoned staff made of glimmering gold. The air around him sparkled as if he had thrown flakes of gold around him, each reflecting in the eyes of the audience. Ulyses swallowed nervously and got ready to prepare a spell.
	“Are you ready, Fairgarland?” Sophia cried, riling up the crowd. Fredrik moved to his starting position and began to prepare a spell, golden runes appearing on the ground around him. Ulyses waved his wand above his head and prepared his own casting.
	“Round one,” Gauldroy raised a hand, “Start!” He dropped it.
	Ulyses let loose a spell, an arc of bright, forking lightning. Fredrik’s counter was ready in front of him, as he let the spell loose, raising a collection of slender stone pillars to shield himself. The bolt cut straight through, even through Fredrik, but did nothing to him. “Simply an illusion,” The gold wizard mumbled to himself as his stone barriers fell away. The young illusionist was preparing another spell, Fredrik knew he had little time. He gazed at his opponent’s face, watching as he uttered magical words to himself. Fredrik’s off-hand slowly reached into his robes. Ulyses’ eyes grew wide and he waved his wand at his opponent, a single, large fireball being sent toward the foe. Fredrik was 	quick, drawing his golden longsword and slashing the fireball in twain, dissipating the magic.
	“An impressive move by both combatants with Fredrik coming out on top!” Gauldroy shouted. Fredrik ran his staff down the blade, sending golden sparks around him. He stood his ground, the horrific mask seemingly gazing into his opponent’s soul, ready to devour it. 
	Ulyses felt himself clam up. He swallowed his nervousness and started another spell, “He’s just standing there!” Someone in the crowd shouted as Fredrik didn’t move a muscle in reaction.
	“He's trying to intimidate his opponent!” Another added.
	Ulyses snarled, “It doesn’t matter!” He shouted as another spell came out of his wand. This one was a barrage of icicles, summoned as a half circle above his head. Fredrik still did not move as each of the eight ice-lances flew straight towards him. Each one phased through the stalwart wizard, “W-what?” Ulyses gaped. 
	Fredrik seized the moment as his opponent’s shock took hold, “Those illusions need work!” He hollered
He pointed his staff and sword, letting loose a raw burst of magical power that knocked Ulyses back and out of the arena, “Round one goes to Fredrik!” The crowd cheered as Fredrik waved to them.
	The chirurgeons looked over Ulyses, “Nothing too bad,” One of them muttered, “Ready to get back in there?” 
	The young illusionist grunted as he was helped to his feet. He downed a small blue, salty, and alcohol tasting potion and threw the empty glass bottle on the ground.
	Even more gold flakes and dust were scattered about the arena now. Fredrik put his sword away then prepared and held his opening cast. Ulyses did the same, knowing exactly what to do now, “Round two! Start!” Sophia shouted.
	Ulyses was quick on the draw. He waved his hand left, and then pointed his staff to the right. Identical copies of the illusionist. They spread out in a half circle to the left and right, “Find the real one!” He taunted as the copies shuffled about, each one speaking in unison. 
	“A mirror image spell!” Gauldroy shouted into his microphone. 
	Fredrik ceased his original casting, “Impressive,” He began again, this time procuring a bar of magicked gold from his cloak and tossing it into the air before shooting it with a beam from his staff, covering the arena with gold flakes. 
	The audience gawked at the sparkling flakes, “An expensive but seemingly meaningless spell by Fredrik!” Sophia hollered, “How will his opponent respond?”
	The mirror images encircled Fredrik who stood his ground. They started to cast. With the snap of Fredrik’s fingers, each flake of gold around him began to glow. Only one of the copies had a glow on them, easily telling him which one was the real Ulyses. He watched the facial expressions on the copies, their eyes went wide again. Fredrik turned as each copy fired off a spell. He put his palm out, conjuring a flat, semi-transparent golden screen to block the real blast of fire, “A rousing display!” Gauldroy shouted, “Looks like those flames engulfed Fredrik, will the heat melt his–”
	“No! Look!” Sophia interrupted, “The golden wizard still stands! That fire didn’t do anything to him! Amazing!” 
	“H-how…?” Each copy of Ulyses was panting, unsure how Fredrik had figured him out.
	“You rely too much on illusions,” Fredrik warned, with the wave of his staff, numerous pieces of gold flew to the real Ulyses’ wand and quickly began to heat up.
“Ah!” He cried as his hands started to burn before he threw his wand away. Fredrik drew his sword and slowly advanced on his now unarmed opponent. The  illusionist patted down his own cloak, desperately searching for something to aid him. He grabbed a small gem, crushing it in his hands and blowing the dust at Fredrik. A single slash of his sword blew the dust away, completely sweeping it aside. Ulyses fell to his knees, feeling completely overpowered, “I yield,” He mumbled, “I’m out.”
“And a decisive victory for Fredrik of house Karak-Albrac! A two round surrender!” Sophia shouted as the crowd cheered for the golden wizard.

	. . . . . 

"Wow, Fredrik sure is fired up today," Suzie smiled widely at Todd before she stood and cheered alongside her few housemates that came to watch. The cyclops nodded at her and raised a fist for a brief moment before putting it back down. Even the two goblins were cheering for Fredrik, Blud and Rald shaking Holmit by the shoulders who sat with his arms folded. Eventually even he began roaring praises and old dwarven victory hymns, much to their surprise. Manus put on a smile of her own, clapping a set of hands for the Golden Wonder, but inside all she could feel was dread. Now that this duel was over it was finally happening. Galahad was going to fight Harold. Part of her didn't even want to watch, but she had to see this through. She had to hope that Galahad could win, for both their sakes.

	. . . . .

Harold sat with his legs crossed and his eyes closed. He was deep in meditation, or at least was attempting to be. Every time he started to slip into his trance, a piercing, cold feeling would shoot down his spine. He opened his eyes and glanced at his opponent, the only other person in the room. Galahad’s fiery red eyes stared back, “Cease your mind games, cur. They will not affect me.”
	“If you say so,” Galahad’s eyes blinked softly. 
The crowd overhead cheered, “And a decisive victory for Fredrik of house Karak-Albrac! A two round surrender!” Sophia cried, her voice was muffled through the floor of the arena overhead. 
	Harold scoffed, “It appears your friend is not as foolhardy as I thought. Glory to Karak-Albrac, as hollow as it may be,” His voice oozed with sarcasm, “A fluke, I’m sure. They will not get two victories.”
	He looked back at his foe who stared back, his fiery eyes giving an intense stare, “So you and Manus, hm?”
	“Yes, my future bride to be. I will overcome you and then win her heart. Eventually. A fey heart is quite hard to penetrate. Not that you would know anything about a maiden’s heart, other worldly or no.”
	Galahad’s eyes blinked softly again, “What do you think kissing her is like? Maybe hugging her is cold to the touch?”
	Harold furrowed his brow, his concentration on meditating completely destroyed, “I have no clue why you would ask. You will never have the opportunity to.”
	“You sure? She seems to like me a whole lot more,” Galahad’s grin even under the scarf irked Harold, “Maybe after I win, I’ll get a kiss. Ri-ight on the cheek. Cold, but also warm, in a loving way.”
	“Love!?” Harold laughed and laughed, “What makes you think she would love you.”
	“I could say the same to you. You are nothing more than the prodigal son of a dead kingdom. You have nothing more than a title to your name, isn’t that right? I don’t have much of anything, but at least I don’t act like I do.”
	Harold grit his teeth, “We will see who the pretender is soon enough. I will see you on the field,” He stood as the officiator came to collect them.
	“Yeah. We will,” Galahad smirked, adjusting his clothes and heading up stairs.

Commission for Anon! Thanks again!

	A fire crackled, sending dancing orange lights across the stone flooring of the open air building. The building was a square shape with the various rooms along the outer edge. There were six rooms, two bedrooms, a lounging room, an unused room, a small bathing room, and a room to store various goods like foods and treasures. I stood next to the fire that sat in the middle of the open air courtyard of the building, tending to the chicken that was cooking in a pan along with beans, jalapenos, onion, tomato, and corn. I could feel my stomach rumble as I stirred the soup with a wooden spoon. The simmering brew smelled wonderful as all the flavors mixed. It was nearly done, I just needed to wait for Taak’in Muuch to finish her duties.
	Taak’in Muuch, or Muuch as I called her, was a tlaloque. A kind of rain spirit that took the form of a gorgeous, dark-skinned woman with limbs that turned from caramel to light blue with dark blue splotches. Her extremities, the hands and feet specifically, were like that of a frog but that never stopped her from being able to manipulate small, fine objects with ease. She sat on a mat, her legs folded, and her eyes closed but still she looked up at the star filling sky as she communed with the nature around her. Across her lap sat her staff, a long and smooth length of wood with a golden medallion at the end adorned with bright blue feathers. Her headdress was decorated with the same feathers and her clothes matched the colors while also being fashioned with glimmering golden jewelry.
	She moved her hands in circles as the incense around her burned. The mana salt and herbs in her hands were gently mixed together. She moved one hand in the air, collecting the smoke from the incense and the nearby fire into an orb of congealing and glowing smoke. Muuch grumbled magic words to herself before putting both of her hands around the orb of smoke. I saw the fire, both that of the incense and cooking flames, flicker as the aetheric winds picked up and the air hung heavy with electricity. I swore I heard a tiny bit of thunder as the frog-woman pushed the orb up to the sky, wafting away on the wind and drifting out of view. 
	“All done?” I asked as she rose to her feet, using her staff as a cane.
	She nodded, “As was requested, the rain will come tomorrow. The crops will drink deeply,” Muuch gave me a smile, “And what of us? Will we drink well tonight?”
	“Of course. I didn’t venture to the nearest city for nothing,” I smiled as I took the soup off the fire, “Maybe if the village gave you your favorite drink as tribute, we could spend more time on your work.”
	“Rick! They give me plenty. Too much even,” Muuch huffed.
	“I joke, I joke. I know your storeroom is full of foodstuffs. Not to mention the gold and jewels. We all really do appreciate what you do for us,” I smiled as I ducked into the store room and went to the small, enchanted ice chest, one of the few amenities from the modern world we had. Well, a bit of the old world too.
	“As the village thaumaturge, it is my duty. The gifts are a nice gesture, but my duty is what matters,” The frog-woman insisted as she sat at her table, eager to eat. 
	I brought the pot of soup and the jug of chicha beer I had bought in town to the table, “It’s so strange to think about,” I started as I sat down, smiling at my childhood friend, “that you’re a fully fledged thaumaturge now.”
	“It’s tradition. I have become a generalist witch just like my ancestors before me. My mother taught me and her mother taught her, so on and so forth. Even in the old world, this was how it was.”
	“And just like in the old world, the village thaumaturge, usually the only caster in the village, needs her assistant,” As if to prove a point, I dished up for the two of us, making sure to give her a large portion, “Honestly, I don’t know if I was glad when I was called back to be your assistant. It was my lot in life according to everyone else, but I did feel I needed to. Traveling for work, seeing the outside world… I don’t know how I feel about it all compared to this quaint little village.”
	Muuch removed her headdress and set it off to the side, “We do not really need the outside world, Rick. Everything we need is here,” She assured me before starting to devour my cooking.
	I blinked as I looked down at my food, “I miss electricity, to be honest. TV and video games were neat,” I shrugged, “We don’t have any of that here.”
	“You do not NEED those things!” She protested, illuminated by the dim fire, “I know entertainment is sparse, but we have each other again, do we not?”
	“I know we do. I’m very glad to be back and spending time with you.”
	Muuch was quiet for a few moments as she put more tortilla strips in her soup, “Do… you do not resent me for the role you are forced to play, do you?”
	I sighed and put a few more avocado slices into my meal, “If I didn’t want to be here and helping you, I probably would have just kept traveling and working in the outside world. Even if I hadn’t been born the same day as you, setting my path in this big wide world as the one to be your assistant once your mentor passes on, at least according to our elders, I still would have come back.”
	“Because I asked you so nicely?” She teased.
	I sighed again, “Yeah. I’ve never been able to say no to you.”
	Muuch’s smile positively glowed at me, “Which makes you a great advisor! Rick, please eat. It is late and our duties are done. I am eager to retire tonight.”

	The sounds of the roosters’ morning calls roused me from my slumber. The sun was rising, and I was up soon after. I sat at the edge of my bed and drank from the glass of water at my bedside. I grumbled to myself, rubbing my eyes and stretching before slipping on my sandals and stepping through the curtain that concealed my private chambers. Shadows filled the courtyard where I began my work. Living in Muuch’s family’s ancestral abode was tradition of the village thaumaturge’s assistant. We lived in a small, picturesque village with just around a few hundred people living in it. I grew up here with my parents and sister, as did Muuch. Muuch was the youngest of her family, they had ten kids and the last of them was the magic-user they needed, someone to look after the village when the previous one would step down. 
	I started the day by igniting a small lantern with whose light I used to illuminate the firepit where I constructed a small fire. I went to the store room and procured the materials and ingredients to make two hearty breakfast burritos. Ground beef, tomatoes, eggs, onion, garlic, cheese, and an avocado– one of Muuch’s favorite foods for some reason. She had the bad habit of eating avocado plain with just chips or on a tortilla. I smirked as I thought about my friend. As far as demi-humans went, she was the only one I felt like I understood. Most were so strange and complicated, they had odd traditions and mannerisms, strange features and weird hair and extremities. But Muuch was different, to me at least. Her routine was easy to keep up with, she casted spells for the village and blessed the livestock. It made a lot of sense to me. 
	As I started cooking the beef, I went back to the store room and retrieved the fruit I had set aside. I got to cooking the eggs, throwing in other ingredients like cheese and onion as I cut up the fruit off to the side. Two hearty breakfast burritos and two little bowls of fruit salad. I began to dish them up, carefully wrapping the insides of the burritos. I heard a yawn coming from the other room making me smirk, “Always hungry in the morning,” I mumbled to myself as I shook my head. 
The frog-woman was quick to leave her room, dressed in a light blue nightgown and hurried to the table, “Good morning!” She cheerily called with a little wave.
	“Good morning,” I called back as I finished dishing up both meals, “Sleep well?”
	“Mhm,” Muuch nodded as her rosy cheeks gave way to her cute dimples, “I’ve been doing some thinking, Rick.”
	“Uh oh, that sounds like trouble,” I teased.
	“Hush! This is important!” She pouted and folded her arms, looking quite steamed.
	I chortled to myself, “Alright, lay it on me.”
	“Well, as I am sure you are aware, Aztlan Academy is hosting a tournament this year,” She started, timidly tapping her fingers together.
	“You mean the student duel?” I guessed, hoping that I was right. To my dismay, she shook her head, “Go on…” I gave her a wary look and folded my arms.
	She blinked at me, “I am talking about the open tournament, the women’s one, specifically,” Muuch explained, “I want to go.”
	“To observe, right?”
	She hesitated for a moment, “No…”
	“Muuch…” I trailed off with a big frown on my face. I felt sick to my stomach. 
	She pouted, “I want to enter! I can do it!”
	We stared at one another until I grunted, “I don’t know.”
	“What do you mean, you do not know? I am a fully fledged caster!” Muuch protested. 
	I shifted in my seat anxiously, “I know you are, but what are you going to do? Wash them away with the rain? Bless a cow to fight for you?”
	“Har har, very funny,” Muuch rolled her eyes, “Surely you know that I can cast other spells!”
	With wandering eyes, and an awkward cough, I could only shrug, “Well, I really don’t. I’ve hardly been back for a year, but I only see you bless crops and cattle, summon the rain, and I think you called down lightning on a roving band of marauders. The lightning is very powerful, but is that enough?”
	Muuch smiled, “Perhaps this is an opportunity to surprise you. Will you allow me to enter?”
	I frowned and cocked my head, mid burrito bite. I swiftly chewed and swallowed, “Why do you need my permission?”
	“You are my assistant and advisor. This outing will take me away from the village and I want to know if you think this is alright. I also very much value your input, Rick.”
	I smiled before quickly frowning again, “Are you sure you want to enter the whole thing? It will be a few days spent in town and like you said we’ll have to be away from the village. You’re these people’s protector and helper.”
	She nodded, “Then how about just an exhibition match? One day in town,” I hesitated once more, “Think about it,” She urged, “We have chores for today and the tournament is far off. Take your time.”
	My mouth closed and I nodded, “Right. I’ll answer by the end of the day. Maybe we should ask my dad too.”
	“The sheriff? A marvelous idea,” Muuch nods as she picks up her breakfast, “Eat! Eat! We have dawdled long enough.”
	I sighed as my belly rumbled, nodding in agreement before munching on my own cooking.
	
	I put my boots on and stood by the front door, holding it open as Muuch in full priestly blue and golden garb stepped out of her home. I closed and locked the door behind us before following her down the steps and along the cobblestone path. The well worn stones were light and multicolored, arranged in a thin few feet wide path. I followed right behind Muuch, her staff being used like a walking stick. It jingled slightly from the golden charms that hung from it. 
	The house was on the outskirts of the village, just a short walk to the northern part of town which was where the center of commerce was. To the left and right of the path were beautiful flowers which Muuch stopped to examine, making sure her precious plants were well watered and happy. She nodded in satisfaction as she checked some of the leaves. Past those were her just as precious avocado trees whose fruit were nearly ready to harvest. The witch nodded at these two before moving on to the village. 
	I trailed behind, looking around as we stepped into the village center. A few villagers had set up tables where they traded with others for their crops or wares. All who Muuch passed by gave her warm greetings, glad to see their faithful quasi-deity amongst them. Muuch gave each and every one of them a just as warm greeting back. 
	“Good morning, Muuch. Is the rain coming?” One asked.
	“Good morning to you too,” She replied, “Yes, you can see the dark clouds on the horizon.”
	“K’uhul, my prized cow gave birth this morning, will you bless the calf?” A second said.
	Muuch nodded and smiled, “Of course! I shall be by later for it. You live in the southern farms, correct?”
	I smirked. ‘K’uhul,’ the word for her title, ‘divine authority.’ My own was ‘Batab,’ or ‘axe-wielder.’ I folded my arms and gave a bit of space as Muuch spoke with the villagers. Most were human with a few halflings sprinkled in. The only other demi-humans were a family of ocelomeh, bipedal jaguar-like people. They made up most of the village's guards as they were war-like people, especially compared to the usually peaceful rest of the village.
	“Rick,” A gruff voice grunted my name.
	I turned to look the man in the eye, “Father,” I replied. 
	He smirked, “A good morning to you too. We have nearly finished preparing a small wagon with tribute for our K’uhul.”
	I glanced over at the little wooden wagon full of food and a bit of gold and jewelry. I also spotted a sword, most likely created by our local black smith, “Thank you. Think you’ll ever get tired of being sheriff?”
	“I happen to enjoy the managerial aspects of the job. Besides, no one else in the village wants to do it,” My father smirked as he folded his arms, “What brings you two here today?”
	“Hello, mister Sheriff,” Muuch interrupted as she approached the two of us, “What a wonderful morning it is.”
	“Yes, it is,” My father nodded.
	“The reason we came, other than to check on the village, was about something Muuch brought up to me,” I explained.
	She nodded, “I want to leave town for a few days to enter in Aztlan Academy’s upcoming tournament. I would take Rick with me of course.”
	My father furrowed his brow and blinked at the two of us, “I know very little of this tournament, or the school, really. How did you learn of this, Muuch?”
	“Oh, I commune with some other casters through crystals. One of them went to the academy and told me all about it. It would be three days long.”
	“The trip there is a half-day by horse,” I added, “We would be gone for five, at least,” There was an apologetic tone to my voice.
	The sheriff paused for a few moments, “Maybe you should stay a bit longer?” My father suggested, “Seeing a bit more of the world might be good for her. Especially if she can learn from the other casters.”
	“So we can go!?” Muuch’s eyes sparkled at me, “What do you say, Rick?”
	“Is Rick hesitant?” My dad smirked.
	I sighed, “I don’t know… I don’t want her to get hurt.”
	“She is stronger than you think,” My father put a hand on my shoulder, “It will be good for you to leave the village again.”
	“Alright, father. Thank you for your wisdom.”
	I felt something nudge my arm as my father turned to continue guiding villagers. Muuch was poking at my arm, “Soooo?”
	I folded immediately upon seeing her star filled gaze, “Yeah. We can go.”
	“Yes!” Muuch clenched her fists in victory, hardly stopping herself from throwing her hands in the air. She coughed as she caught a few confused looks from the villagers, “I am glad you came around,” She smiled, “We should prepare soon…”
	“We have two weeks. We can wait to put away our toothbrushes,” I assured her, “Come on, you’ve got cows to bless.”

	. . . . .

	A sunny morning greeted Muuch and I as we loaded our little horse-drawn wagon. A few villagers had come to see us off, handing over small containers of prepared meals, dried fruits, or drinks. I graciously accepted each in Muuch’s stead as she prepared another rain spell for while she would be gone. We had a small cart pulled by two horses owned by Muuch’s family. The wooden cart had a spot for the two of us to sit and enough storage room for more than enough food, a tent, some bedrolls, and all casting components that Muuch might require. 

	The sound of heavy foot falls behind me alerted me to a presence, “Here,” My father grunted, “Take it with you.” 
	“Huh?” I turned away from the wagon that I was painstakingly organizing and looked at him. 
A heavy object was put in my hands as my father gave me a proud look, “The family axe.”
	I looked it up and down, the long single bladed axe. The axehead itself was silver with gold designs inlaid on it, which shone in the morning sun. I felt the heft in my hands, it wasn’t much more than a ceremonial item within my family. Admittedly I knew it was meant to represent us; having been handed down repeatedly within my ancestry, “Really? You want me to take this to the city?”
	“Of course. Something to keep you safe and to represent our people with,” He explained as I took a moment to strap the weapon to my back, “Keep her safe, alright?”
	“I will, father,” I smiled before picking up a few more gifts and putting them in the wagon.
	“Sister! Sister!” A voice cried, cutting through the crowd. A few older tlaloques approached Muuch, “I cannot believe you get to go to the city!” They laughed as they hugged their sister goodbye.
	“I know!” Muuch giggled back as she looked at her three sisters, the rest of her family wasn’t far behind, “I am so excited to go!”
	Her mother approached, a much older tlaloque, and the village’s previous K’uhul with yet another parcel in her hands, “Will you be safe? I have heard the city is dirty and dangerous. And the food is addictive and fattening.”
	“I will be fine, mother,” Muuch assured her with a smile as she took the parcel, “Rick has lived amongst the city people and he will be my guide.”
	“I’ll make sure she comes back safe and sound. Preferably without eating any fast food,” I chuckled as I took the package from Muuch and placed it into the cart. It was warm and had a delicious smell.
	“What is fast food?” Muuch asked.
	“Thank you, Rick,” The mother tlaloque gave me a relieved smile, “May your trip be safe and easy. Muuch, good luck in the tournament, dear,” She hugged her daughter who quickly hugged her back.
“Thank you, mother,” Muuch pulled away and grabbed her staff, gripping the wood tightly as she looked at her family with a wistful expression, “We… had best be off, it will be a long trip. Rick? Are we ready?”
“Just about,” I threw a tarp over the wagon and tied it down with my father’s help, securing the contents of our wagon, “Ready to go,” I nodded and climbed up onto the wagon’s seat, gripping the horses’ reins.
With my other hand, I assisted Muuch in climbing up next to me, letting her settle in as she pressed herself against me on the small seat. My childhood friend looked at me, the melancholic look on her face turning into a cute, little smile. She turned away from me and waved to the onlookers who waved back with tools, weapons and firearms as they watched their thaumaturge turn to leave. She nudged me, giving me the signal to move on. I snapped the reins, getting the horses to start trotting down the stone path toward the east end of the village, “BYYYYE!” Muuch cried as she turned back to wave one more time. The cobblestones under the wagon turned to damp mud as the horses started on the slim path that was encroached upon by trees. The humid air felt heavy, but I was glad to be on the road, “Rick?” Muuch sat close to me with a smile on her face, “You seem quite glad.”
	I smirked and nodded, “I like being on the road and traveling.”
	Muuch’s smile slowly faded and she put her hands in her lap, “You must resent being tied down to me then…”
	“Nah,” I assured her, “I’m glad I’ve got you with me this time too.”
	She grinned at me as she tried to get comfortable on the hard wooden seat and I leaned against the backrest, “Thank you, Rick. Hey, you never told me what fast food is.”
	“Oooooo,” I coughed nervously, “Don’t worry about it, okay? You really don’t need that stuff.”

	On the morning of our third day, I still held the reins in my tired hands. We had stopped to eat, sleep, and to rest along the way. Muuch had made me stop to collect a big bouquet of flowers that she later gave to a passing family. The two of us wore cloaks to keep the drizzling rain off of us as we rolled into town. The light fog did little to obscure the buildings that we passed by, restaurants, stores, hotels, and anything else we might want lined the streets. Muuch stared with wide eyes at everything around us, “This is what the city is like?” She mumbled, even staring at the asphalt under our weary horses. 
	“This town is a little on the small side,” I explained, “The main attraction is their little magic academy. We need to find a hotel.”
	“A hotel?” Muuch cocked her head to the side in confusion.
	I nodded, “Uh huh. A hotel is somewhere we pay for to sleep for a few nights.” 
	The frog-woman nodded, “I see… What will we eat?”
	“Well, there’s a few restaurants we could eat at. We’ve got more than enough money from what the village could scrounge together for us, though we do still have some food leftover, I’d rather save it for the return trip,” I looked around, slowly easing the horses to a stop as we neared a red light. A big, fancy, horse drawn carriage crossed in front of us, “Check that out,” I nodded behind the carriage at the car slowly coasting along. A bright yellow cruiser with lit up headlights. The vehicle’s mana reactor quietly hummed along. 
	“Oh my stars, what is that?” She gaped at the car in awe, her eyes not leaving it until it rounded a bend.
	“A car. A pretty nice one too. Hmm, I think this is a fine place,” I glanced at a small hotel with a stable for horses on one side next to the sparsely populated parking lot. We pulled in and put the wagon in a parking lot, using a lock to tie it to a pole before getting the horse’s untied from it. 
	We quickly paid for the horses’ care and checked into the hotel. We unloaded the wagon and put the contents in our room. It was mostly food but also Muuch’s casting components and clothes. Muuch climbed up onto one of the beds and jumped on it, making it creak and groan. She giggled, “Look, Rick! Look how bouncy this bed is!”
	I sighed, “Cut that out, we need to get you registered. Then we can get lunch, okay?”
	“Fast food?” She pleaded.
	“No, you’re mom said to not feed you that stuff,” I smirked, “We’ll get you something healthy at a nice place. It's your first time eating out, I want it to be good and not make you ill.”
	“Okay… you are always looking out for me, huh?” She smiled as she picked up her staff and picked out a few magical reagents, “Come along then.”
	
	The on foot trek was short as we meandered through the small college town. Muuch stopped at nearly every shop to ogle at the items in the window. Cloaks, wands, and staffs in one. Puppies, kittens, and lizards in another. Dresses, TVs, appliances, and many other things drew her attention. I kept stopping and watching her, seeing the awe and curiosity on her face brought a smile to mine, “Rick! Look! What’s that?” She pointed at a dishwasher.
	“It washes dishes. Muuch, we’re gonna be late…”
	“Sorry, sorry,” She sighed and continued walking down the street with me. 
	Aztlan academy shortly came into view, making Muuch’s eyes light up at its splendor. The fog cleared and the rain stopped as we crossed the last street. We stepped into the building that we spotted other wizards filing into. I had never been to one of these magic academies, but I assumed this was some kind of admin building. The walls were lined with portraits of wizards and witches of all kinds. Muuch and I examined a portrait of a wolf man in a dapper looking suit and tie with a matching conical hat, “Former dean: Lyander Lucrosse, 1968?” Muuch read.
	“Looks like he was in charge here for a bit. Let’s get you signed up,” I motioned for her to follow me. We stood at the back of the line, both still wrapped in our damp cloaks. Three fold out tables were set up where three people signed up the entrants. 
	We got in the left line and my eyes started to wander. Muuch’s did too as she started to stare and glance at everything she saw. She hummed to herself as she looked at the dresses, gowns, robes, and outfits that the other casters wore. She ogled at one in particular in the middle line right next to us. A long, opulent white and silver dress worn by a sneering dark-skinned half-elf. Muuch blinked as she noticed the detestable gaze, “I see they let anyone into Aztlan Academy these days,” She scoffed.
	“P-Pardon?” Muuch meekly mumbled.
	“What are you? A frog beast-man?” The woman wondered as she ran her fingers through her long, blonde hair.
	“I-I am a tlaloque, Taak’in Muuch. I-I am my village’s K’uhul–”
	“K’uhul?” The elf rolled her eyes, “You villagers and your superstitions. I care not to deal with your voodoo mambo jambo and shamanisms.”
	“O-okay,” Muuch put up her hood and slinked over to me, “Why is she like that?” She whispered.
	“Just ignore her. She’s from the city and thinks that makes her better than us,” I whispered back. I swore I saw her smirk as she stepped to the front of her line. 
	“How many?” The woman at the front asked.
	“I will participate in… five,” The half elf decided. The administrator nodded and waved a metal wand in front of her. The wand flickered a bright orange color, “Top of my game, as always.”
	I frowned, having no idea what that meant. Muuch stepped up the table next, “How many?”
	“Uh… one?” Muuch had a wary look in her eyes as she had the wand waved in front of her. In a few moments, the tip of the wand also flickered orange, “Oh?” Muuch tilted her head. She had little time to ask what that meant as the admin started asking multiple other questions that made Muuch’s head spin. I stepped in and assisted her in answering a few. Once that was done, the two of us left the building, knowing that the duels began the next day and that was when Muuch would be competing. 
	We stepped into the midday sun, still somewhat obscured by dark rain clouds. Muuch rubbed her face, “I think I am ready for a nap after that interrogation and the mean woman.”
	“I know what you mean. We’ll go get lunch and–”
	“MUUCH!” A voice cried. 
	Muuch shook herself and looked to the voice. A beast woman mage had bounded up to my friend, “Piya!” The frog-woman replied, putting a wide grin on her face, “You look so much different in person!”
	“Aye, you as welll,” Piya had sharp cat ears on to top of her head and jaguar fur on her arms, signifying that she was a wayob– a shapeshifter who could turn into a large jaguar, “I am so glad I got to see you today. After you told me through our scrying-crystals, I couldn’t wait to sign up! What group did you get in?”
	“Group?”
	“What color was the wand they waved at you?”
	“Oh! It was orange, I-I think,” Muuch looked to me and I nodded.
	Piya’s eyes got wide, “You placed in the top rank?! Oh! I am so happy for you! You never told me that you were so strong!”
	Muuch blinked, “I-I had no idea. I have no other casters to compare myself to back home.”
	Piya nodded, “No worries. You will do well tomorrow. So who is this? Your boyfriend?” She gestured to me.
	Muuch was shocked by her friend’s guess, “W-well– H-he’s…”
	The beast-woman just laughed at Muuch’s tomato-colored face, “Ah, young love. Go get some rest, friend, and try to enjoy your time in the city… with your boyfriend,” She hastily added with a laugh.
	Muuch looked at me nervously, “S-should we go eat?”
	“Like a date?” I teased.
	“RICK!” She cried.

	. . . . .

	I tapped my fingers on the half wall separating me from the twelve or so foot drop down into the arena. I had seen some lower level duels up till now, they threw somewhat impressive spells at one another until one ran out of mana. The middling group were a bit better, actually knocking one another out, the high rank even more so. Now we were in the master’s. Muuch was one of the first fights. Best of three rounds, either incapacitate your opponent for twenty seconds, make them tap out, or push them out of the boundaries of the arena. Muuch had taken her position, the crowd cheering for her as she stripped off her cloak and revealed her blue and gold priestly garb. Her opponent, the half elf from earlier, sneered as she brushed off her white robes. 
Muuch timidly scanned the crowd, waving once she spotted me. I smiled and waved back, holding in my nervousness. There was little prelude to the fight, the announcer merely said the name of both, “Elyra, the half-elven wizard!” The elf woman waved her staff overhead, showering the stadium in sparkles, “Muuch, the tlaloque thaumaturge!” Muuch hesitated for a moment, thinking of what to do. She simply raised her staff and summoned a light, pleasant rain that cooled my skin. I heard a few people in the big crowd whine, but the rain only lasted a few moments before giving way to the harsh sunlight. The elf gave a smug look before dropping into a casting-ready stance. Muuch did the same, looking a little awkward in her pose.
“You look nervous,” The half-elf smugly declared, “Your outfit, do they let all peasants wear gold where you come from?”
Muuch blinked, “Not usually. Do the people where you come from all act like children?” 
The elf just glared in response as the announcer’s microphone switched on. My mouth felt dry as the crowd started to chatter with anticipation, “Begin!” The announcer cried. 
The half-elf released a powerful arc of magical lightning at Muuch. The frog-woman raised a single hand, catching the arc in her palm and sliding back from the force of the attack. Muuch unleashed her spell as the surprised elf ceased in her barrage, “Impressive.”
 The tlaloque raised her staff in the air and summoned the rain once more, this time as a torrential downpour, “You’re all washed up!” She smirked at her little joke as the dirt floor of the arena turned into a thick mud almost instantly. The elf tried to cast again, but stumbled as she tried to take a different stance. Still, she managed to charge and cast another bolt, the rain and water only making it stronger as it struck Muuch. I heard her yelp in pain before being tossed out of the boundaries of the arena. I stood as I watched her slump over, every part of me wanting to rush to her side. Thankfully, the arena’s chirurgeons were instantly on her, mending her magic burn. One round to the elf who looked more smug than ever, “As expected.”
 The rain continued to pour. The second round began as Muuch took her position again, the announcer telling them to begin. The elf started to cast again, but Muuch only had to stomp her staff on the floor to vanish. The elf stopped, looking around or Muuch’s location. Unlike the elf, Muuch’s footsteps were not visible in the mud as she gracefully glided over it, her feet not sinking at all into it as I could not see footprints. My mouth was agape, I was stunned at what Muuch was capable of. I assumed the rain was making it hard for the half-elf to hear, as I knew they were usually very perceptive. Muuch suddenly appeared behind her, touching her staff to the ground and opening a sinkhole beneath the elf. She struggled in the mud, yelling and cursing in her weird elven tongue before tapping out. With the wave of Muuch’s hand, the mud spit the elf out. She looked pissed, her once opulent dress was now stained brown, “I feel that ugly color is much more befitting of such an ugly soul,” Muuch mused at the elf. The score was one to one.
	The rain started to let up, but not before soaking every onlooker to the bone. I stared intently, my heart pounding as I watched the two casters take their places. The elf had gotten her footing and the rain was starting to let up. Another cry from the announcer signaled for the two to start. Muuch was quick, dropping low and pressing her hands in the mud. The elf waved her hand and staff, from the look on my friend’s face I could tell that the spell must have failed. The half-elf threw a barrage of flaming spears, each on sailing through the rain and landing in a ring around Muuch. A moment later, a fiery cage formed, starting to cook the frog-woman, “Hah! Victory! Tap out now or burn, little frog!” The elf looked smug again, thinking she had won as the cage started to shrink. Thinking quickly, Muuch slammed her staff down in the mud, forming a barrier around her, completely obscuring her in the small cage. 
	The crowd started to mutter amongst themselves. The cage and the mud falling away, revealing that Muuch had vanished again. The crowd cheered and the elf scowled to herself. The mud exploded in the center of the arena, revealing Muuch before she threw a single shot at the half-elf, just as the frog-woman disappeared under the mud once more. The opponent stayed on her toes, easily blocking the first attack, but she wasn’t prepared as Muuch appeared behind her and threw three more bolts. The elf blocked two, but was struck by the third. Muuch stood before her opponent, preparing another spell. The elf tried to cast but stumbled and vomited, the frog’s poison taking hold instantly, “Even a child knows to keep their eyes open in the rain, elf,” Muuch giggled.
	Muuch uncontestedly stabbed the tip of her staff into the mud, forming big stone and mud pillars that closed around the ill elf. Muuch smiled and skipped over to the half-elf who scowled and groaned in pain. With the single tap of her staff, Muuch sent her opponent and the mass of mud slamming into the wall on the other side of the arena, winning with a ring out.
	The crowd cheered for my friend who simply stood in the slowly revealed sunshine with a big grin on her face. She brushed some mud off herself, looked up at me and waved again. I waved back, glancing over at the cursing, mud covered elf and chuckled.

	. . . . .

	“I can’t believe you did so well, Muuch,” I praised as I watched my friend devour her food, “I didn’t expect you to be so underhanded and sneaky,” Muuch smiled at me as she finished chewing her big mouthful of fries and burger. She quickly went for the milkshake next.
	Piya nodded in agreement, “So you turned down the scholarship?” She gave a confused look to the frog woman, “You could have attained mastery in a school of magic here! Gotten a fancy diploma and everything!”
	Muuch shook her head, “I have the village to look after,” She explained. The three of us sat in a stall at a small burger joint. Probably the only restaurant in town serving up American food, “And… Rick would not have been able to come with me as he is not gifted with magic.”
	“Ah. Gotta keep your man close at hand. I get it~” She teased. Muuch and I both turned red as the jaguar woman laughed at us, “He seems pretty attentive of ya from what you’ve told me. You’re a lucky lady.”
	I started to mumble, “I-It’s my–”
	Muuch wrapped an arm around me, “Yup! He is a great boyfriend, after all,” My face was even redder, somehow.
	Piya laughed, “You make a fine couple!” She calmed down as she took a massive bite of her burger with her sharp front teeth, “What did you do with the prize money then– or what will you do, I mean.”
	Muuch smiled, “Well, I bought a mana reactor for the village. With all the agriculture and my weather shaping magics, it should be able to keep a few things going. Besided, with some modern appliances, Rick’s cooking should be even better!” 
	“A nice oven would be nice to have…” I rubbed my chin, thinking about all the things I could make.
	“And a deep fryer too?” Muuch quietly added.
	I sighed, “If you want.”
	“Yes! Thanks, Eric!” Muuch leaned over and gave me a hug. My face turned red again.
	

	With slow moving and unblinking eyes, Manus’s gaze scanned across the papers in front of her. Two sets of documents, tournament related paperwork specifically, sat before her. One for Galahad and one for Fredrik. It was her duty to work on the golden wizard’s paperwork, but she was doing Galahad’s out of kindness. The young wizard had been working hard, Manus knew that for a fact due to tutoring him and having him in one of her classes. He was pulling high B’s in her class, a respectable letter grade as a mid C was the average for her transmutation students. 
	It was a Saturday morning. Miss Manus had taken care of her homework between Thursday evening and Friday morning and had gotten all her grading done on the rest of Friday, “G’morning, Manus,” Someone called as the scent of a sweet tea hit the witch’s nose.
	A white, fancy tea cup was placed next to her on a matching plate. Looking back, Manus saw that it was Suzie and she had a big smile on her face. Her usual witch’s robes were replaced by a fluffy set of weekend robes, perfect for lounging, “Good morning, Suzie,” She greeted the gnome with a small smile.
“Sheesh, boss. You look tired. Even your fey blood doesn’t save you from mortal fatigue, huh?” The gnome climbed up into the seat next to the Multifold Manus and sipped on her own cup of tea, “Muffin?” She pulled a warm, freshly baked breakfast treat from a bag of seemingly endless sweets.
	“Yes, please,” Manus graciously took the poppy seed muffin and started to break off little pieces of it. Two arms held the tea, one held the sweets, another pulled off pieces of it and fed them into her mouth while her last two arms started to work on the documents for the two wizards.
	“Can I help at all?” 
	“Thank you, but I can handle it, I believe,” Manus replied.
	Suzie frowned, “I just want to find some way to help…”
	Manus nodded, “I understand that. Todd and Holmit are keeping an eye out for those that would disrupt their rest or training. They may still be sleeping, but go and check if they need anything.”
“Sure, I’ve got some more muffins that I’d be happy to share,” Suzie finished her tea and got down from the chair before brushing the muffin crumbs off herself, “I’ll be sure to knock. I don’t want to know what would happen if I saw Fredrik’s face on accident. Do you think it’ll be like that movie where they open that Ark and their faces melt off? Or maybe what happened to those guys who really found it and just turned to ash, or whatever.” 
	Miss Manus cocked her head, not knowing much details on either of those events, “Surely he has measures in place to prevent you from seeing it. He has kept up this act for a very, very long time.”
	“Right,” The gnome paused as she started to walk away, “Y’know, it feels a little… wrong to let those two mysterious boys bunk together.”
	“What harm would they cause? They are more docile than most of the men in our house,” Manus commented. Rita couldn’t tell if that was a joke or not as she walked away. Manus continued to sip on the cup of sweet tea. While she enjoyed the muffin, it was very sweet, probably too sweet. 

Manus had finished her sugar-filled breakfast by the time the two duelists came down to the common room. Suzie was with them as well, still in her lounge wear. Galahad wore a graphic t-shirt with a bright, softly glowing arcane rune on it that shifted colors every few seconds and dark blue jeans. While Mister Loxley was dressed casually, Fredrik was the opposite. As usual he wore an opulent golden mask, this one depicting the face of a long dead emperor from the old world, King Perseus the Fourth, the man who united humanity against the orcs that were knocking on their kingdom’s walls. The jaw was chiseled with an inlaid silver short beard, curly silver hair, and a broken, crooked nose. A large red gash ran over one eye and an emerald eyepatch covered over the grizzly details. Across his body he wore black robes with a gold sash, the garb of Perseus’s royal wizards and sorcerers.
Manus set her empty tea cup down and collected Fredrik’s paperwork, “Fredrik, good morning. I have completed your documents for the duel. Galahad, a good morning to you as well. I shall be completing yours next.”
“What are these for? I thought all the paperwork was done and I was in? I didn't know there was more,” Galahad reached down and picked a big rat off the floor. Suzie silently asked to hold the rat by reaching her arms out and he was more than happy to oblige as Randy was mostly still, just blinking his beady eyes as he looked for food.
Manus put her arms beneath her cloak as she took a moment’s respite, “That is because I volunteered to take care of it for you. These are waivers stating that, while Fairgarland will do it's best to keep the duels safe there is a chance you may be harmed, maimed or even die… it also explains that we have the best necromancers on campus attending should it come to that. I do it for my house’s duelist and at yesterday’s meeting with the other presidents, I was made to feel as if you were my second entrant. As such, I have elected to treat you as if you were. Fredrik, please sign here and here. You too, Galahad,” She pointed to the spots on both sets of papers with four hands while offering the duelists pens with the last two. Fredrik simply signed it while Galahad took a moment to read through the paperwork.
“You can trust it, Galahad. Though your cautiousness is admirable,” Fredrik assured him with a hand on his shoulder.
“Alright, alright,” Galahad sighed and signed it, “Having fun with Randy?” He asked Suzie who was carrying the rat like a baby.
“I want one…” She sighed sadly, “Why did I have to give up conjuration?”
“You could ask one of the conjuration students to assist you in making an item that allows you to cast a familiar spell a few times a day,” Fredrik suggested as he brushed off his opulent robes, “I have something similar for a simple healing spell if I find myself needing a quick necromancy spell.”
“You can’t cast necromancy? I find it a useful school to know,” Galahad commented as he helped Suzie feed Randy a few doughnut holes.
“I find no use for raising the dead,” The golden wonder replied, “Healing is useful, but evocation has a few minor healing abilities thankfully.”
	“Very inefficient, but you could mend a wound closed,” Manus joined in on the conversation, “Galahad, have you done any preparation for the duels?”
	“Uh, what kind of preparations?” He asked with a frown.
	“Magic items, potions, weapons,” Fredrik listed, “A minor enchantment on your cloak would be helpful.”
	“Well,” He drew his mace from his ever ready magic bag, “I’ve got my 'club' at the ready.”
	Manus took it in her hands, running her fingers over the flanged head and smooth metal handle. She quickly withdrew her hand as a weakening feeling struck her due to the iron in its making. The weapon had seen its fair share of battles, obvious by the knicks and scratches along the entire weapon. She frowned as she saw it had no enchantment on it, “Suzie, please enchant this with one that will make it less lethal,” Manus ordered as she handed it off. The gnomish woman took it quickly and found a table to work at, “Galahad, did you not read the rules? You would have been unable to use that weapon if you had not had it enchanted beforehand.”
“I see… guess I should read up on the rules, then,” He scratched his head, “Thank you, Miss Manus and Suzie. I’ll go work on potions when I have the chance.”
“I shall do the same. For now, I have a mask to craft for a most imposing and striking appearance!” Fredrik struck a grand pose, commanding everyone’s attention as he announced his plan, “Suzie, may I count on you for my meals today?” 
	“Jeez, when did I turn into everyone’s mom?!” The gnomish woman groaned, “Fine! I’ll do it! But you’re paying for mine and Manus’s food too.”
	“Your terms are agreeable,” He tossed her a credit card - gold of course, and left the common room, “Good luck, Galahad. I look forward to seeing your performance on Monday.”
	“Yeah, you too, Fredrik,” Galahad had taken a seat, taking a minute to rest with the rat sitting on his lap as he rubbed his face, stroking the rat’s chin every once in a while, “I’m starting to have doubts, Miss Manus.”
	Manus put her pen down and interlocked her fingers on all three sets of hands under her cloak. She turned one of her hands into a soft animal paw and started to reach out to the wizard who was staring down at the floor. She hesitated, not wanting to overstep her bounds, “I understand, Galahad Loxley. Harold will not be an easy opponent. I pray in the future that you do not behave so rashly. Even if you win, you need to avoid situations like this. Your actions may cause you to fail my class.”
“I… I know. That’s what I’m worried about. I don’t want to lose your tutoring.”
“Even if you lose, we will find another tutor. Just because you lose and cannot have contact with me, you can still be tutored by my juniors. Fredrik and Suzie would be more than happy to,” Manus gave the tiniest of smiles.
“I really wonder what people are going to think of me too. They already seem to hate me for even joining. If I lose that might just get worse. But will it change at all if I win?” He mumbled, hardly audible to the fey witch.
“Do you care what the masses think?” The witch frowned, “You are here to learn, are you not?”
“Yeah… I am,” He nodded slowly, “But I’ve already met some good people: you, Fredrik, Suzie, Blud, Rald, and Rita. It’s gonna be pretty demoralizing if everyone treats me like Harold does.”
“I have never worried about how others view me. I believe you should do the same,” She insisted.
“But you’ve never done anything to gain the ire of everyone!” Galahad snapped, making Randy leap from his lap and squeezed under a bookshelf. Manus stared with her icy blue eyes, framed by the black surrounding it. She felt shocked that Galahad would lash out at her like this and that shock was obvious in how she recoiled at his outburst.
	“Galahad!” Suzie shouted from a table away, “That is no way to talk to your future president! You better cool it or you’ll be no better than that Harold creep.”
	“I am appalled that you’d compare me to him!” Galahad’s anger turned to her, “Have either of you ever experienced anything near the harassment I’m getting? Someone cast a fireball at me yesterday!”
	“Suzie, I believe he is right…” The fey witch’s hands were interlocked nervously, “Galahad, please settle down. I understand you are frustrated and are wanting to lash out. Are the people you just referred to as ‘good’ the ones you want to lash out at?” 
Galahad’s glare turned into an apologetic frown, “No…”
	“Maybe you should get some sleep, Galahad. Sleep that anger off,” Suzie suggested as she moved back to their table, handing the mace off to Galahad.
	“I’ll just lay awake in bed and stew,” The wizard gumbled, “I can’t wait for Monday to be done with all of this anxiety and stress.”
“Just Monday? The tournament goes until Wednesday,” Suzie pointed out.
“All that matters to me is knocking out Harold’s teeth. Winning the tournament isn’t in the cards for me, my grandma was able to tell me that vision she had quite clearly. The outcome of my duel with Harold is foggy, but she’s doing whatever she can for me,” He explained as he leaned back in his chair, slumping down a bit, “I’m sorry for snapping at you, Miss Manus. You too, Suzie.”
	“I accept your apology,” Manus quietly replied. She wanted to speak more with him, but did not want to get personal with other people around.
"Just try to keep your cool next time, we're all friends here," Said Suzie.
	The three were quiet for a time, with Manus returning to her paperwork and Suzie picking up Randy when he returned to the table. Galahad ran a finger across the smooth wood of the table and retreated into his thoughts. Even if he had apologized he was losing his grip on his emotions, if I don’t get a hold of myself soon, he thought, I’m going to lose friends...
	The sounds of the front door opening snapped him back to reality, “Uh, Miss President,” Todd, the large mono-eyed wizard stumbled in from outside, “There’s two, uh, goblins here demanding to see someone named Lox. I don’t think they’re journalists. But I don’t know who they want…”
	“Goblins?” Manus echoed with a frown.
	“Are they in red, brimless caps?” Galahad asked, perking up and looking a little happy.
	“Um, yes,” Todd nodded quickly.
	“Send them in, would you?” Galahad asked with a smile.
	Todd looked to Miss Manus for confirmation. The fey woman nodded and Todd very rapidly nodded back, “Okay…”
	Soon after Todd went back outside, two short, green-skinned goblins hurried in, “Lox! Lox!” They cried, each one carrying a box in their hands.
	“Hey, guys,” Galahad smiled and sat up, “What’s up?”
	“Mom–”
	“Dad–” The goblins immediately started talking over one another before turning and glaring at one another.
	“Rald, you first,” Galahad gestured to a seat after taking the box from her.
	Rald gladly sat down next to Manus and across from Suzie, “Thanks. My mom made you some potions and a big lunch.”
	Galahad opened the box, removing a picnic basket covered in softly glowing runes that had been carved into the wood. The next item was a small wooden box, when the latch on the front was undone it folded open to reveal four rows of various potions, all labeled with painters tape and Sharpie on their vial shaped glass flasks. The last item in the box was a leather bandolier with a tag saying ‘From your goblin mom, Root,’ with a little green heart. The loops in the bandolier were sized to hold the supplied potions.
	“Sheesh, I’ll have to thank her in person when I get the chance, that’s a lot of stuff,” Galahad put on the bandolier and slid a dark red healing potion into place.
	“Yeah she loves you more than she loves Blud!” Rald laughed, making Blud scowl, “Oh, hi, Manus. I’m Rald and that’s my brother, Blud.”
	“How do you do?” Manus gave them a tiny smile but looked wholly bewildered.
	“Yo, Lox. Who’s that?” Blud nudged the human wizard and stared at Suzie.
	Galahad looked over at Suzie who already looked steamed that the nervous goblin wouldn’t just ask her himself, “Uh, what’s in your box?” 
“Oh, right. Stuff from dad. Cloak,” He tossed a black cloak that matched the goblins,’ “Hat,” Again, the article matched what the siblings wore, “A circlet that he’s been holding onto for a while,” The circlet was silver with a blue gem in the forehead. It quickly shaped to Galahad’s head, signifying its magical properties, “Aaaand… oh right, this rock,” He tossed a rock to the wizard who, upon seeing the glowing red inscription, scrambled to catch it, being as careful as he could, “Dad said you needed those last two since ya don’t know much evocation. He especially wanted to help out when we told him your opponent is a known demi-human hater.”
	“Which is funny since he’s so infatuated with the demi-human fey lady,” Rald smirked, “What’s up with that?”
	“It’s due to her being high-born. That supersedes anything. You can be a high-born anything and he’ll like you. Low-born and he’ll treat you worse than the dirt under his shoes,” Suzie rolled her eyes, “Don’t know why he hates demi-humans so much more. What a rube. Name’s Suzie, by the way.”
	“Nice to meet you, Suzie,” Blud swallowed nervously as he sat next to his sister. 
	“Wow, Blud must like you if he’s acting all polite like this,” Rald teased. Before her brother could even respond as his face turned blood red with embarrassment, Rald turned to Galahad, “What’s in the lunch box, Lox?” She asked and motioned for him to open it.
“Uh,” Galahad undid the latch and lifted up the lid as Blud cast a spell on his sister, wiping her mouth from her face. She looked like she was trying to yell at him but couldn’t for obvious reasons, “A nice big sandwich, a big container of homemade chips, an apple, a pear… oh nice! Some of those strawberry hard candies with jam in them. A variety of homemade cookies too. I’ll be eating well today,” He ran his fingers over the basket after he closed it back up, “These are some pretty well done runes. Remind me to return it when I’m done.”
	“You got it,” Blud nodded, “Oh, just to let you know, the cloak has a protection enchantment on it.”
	“What’s on the circlet and the rock?” Suzie asked.
	“I think the circlet lets you cast an evocation spell a few times a day,” Blud guessed, his sister was still trying to bring her mouth back with her own transmutation magic to no avail.
	Galahad drew his staff and reached over, carefully tracing the memory of Rald’s cat-mouth and dispelling the mouth that had been magicked away. Rald thanked him silently before punching her brother. Galahad ran his fingers over the circlet before casting a spell on it, “I can cast ice magic– ice blast, freezing winds, avalanche, and ice spear with it. Up to nine uses, depending on the strength of the spell. The stone…” He ran his hands over it, “Single use of 'summon fire elemental.' Destroyed on use.”
“You really know that without casting anything?” Suzie stared in wonder.
“W-well,” He stared at the glowing magma rock, “I can see fire, elemental, and summon runes. This rock doesn’t seem like it’ll survive more than one use.”
“You can read runes?” Rald pressed.
“J-just a few,” He put the rock back in his bag, “Anyways. Please thank your parents for me, I’ll thank them in person when I can, this is all great. I love the touch of getting me clothes to match you two.”
“We wanted to paint you green too! But you’re getting enough flack and we didn’t want to add green-face to the reasons to be mad at you!” Blud howled with laughter at his own joke. Suzie, Rald, and Galahad all chuckled or laughed too at the thought of Galahad entering the duel as a big green goblin. 
Manus frowned and cocked her head, “Would that really be a bad thing to show his support for demi-humans?”
“You can never be too careful,” Rald shrugged, “Can’t give Harold any ammo when he eventually loses, right?”
“Are you confident in Galahad’s abilities?” Manus asked, locking the fingers on each set of hands. 
“Of course! We came up with some plans, strategies, all of that. Harold is over-hyped and over-confident. Galahad has some tricks up his sleeves, I bet!” Rald excitedly explained with a twinkle in her eyes.
“I hope one of those plans is to turn Harold into a goblin,” A sixth voice chimed in.
Miss Manus turned to the sixth chair at the table, next to Suzie and across from Blud, “Rita MacKenzie?” The witch guessed.
	“Bingo,” The purplish imp appeared and shot finger guns at the blue-skinned witch, “Hey, Manus. Cozy place you’ve got here.”
	“How long have you been listening in?” Suzie growled, her hand slowly going for her wand.
	“Stay your hand, gnome. I’m not here to spy on you,” Rita gave a big smile, “Think about it for ONE second. Why on earth would I side with that… rube, as you called him?”
	“I… right. Fine,” Suzie folded her arms, “Then what do you want?”
	Manus put a hand on her fellow councilor’s shoulder, “Suzie, please. Rita is a welcomed guest here. How did you slip in?”
	“Oh, simple invisibility spell when these goblins came in,” Rita grinned, “Flew in right above them. Thankfully they were so excited to see our friend here that no one noticed.”
	“Ah,” Blud scratched his big ears, looking a little embarrassed.
	“You’re friends with Galahad too?” Rald asked.
	Rita nodded, “Well, I’d say as much. Met him in his first week.”
	“Did you need something of me? More payment?” Galahad shot her a wary glance.
	“Quite the opposite,” Her big grin hadn’t vanished, “I felt like I needed to pay you more. I know you can’t use illusions, so we whipped something up,” She procured a pendant of a small mirror on a brass chain and tossed it to Galahad, “Just a little something extra to help you out.”
	Galahad fumbled the catch, but quickly recovered it, “I see…”
	“Payment for what?!” Suzie demanded with a scowl.
	“Mr… Lox here helped me out and I gave him an IOU,” Rita began, looking mostly annoyed now.
	Galahad sighed, “I asked her to rig the bracket. I need to fight Harold in the first round.”
	Blud and Rald nodded, completely understanding the decision even if this was the first they learned of it, while Suzie looked appalled, “You cheated?!”
	“And?” Rald answered for Rita with a frown, “What are you gonna do? Tattle and lower Galahad’s chance of fighting Harold? Don’t you WANT those better lab times for your house?” 
	“I… yeah, I do. But I don’t think this was morally right. Manus?” She looked to her president for guidance.
	Manus was tapping the tips of her fingers together, deep in thought, “It does not matter what you and I think. They have chosen to act and what has been done has been done. I wish for Galahad to win, so I cannot complain too much. Do you wish for that as well?”
	“I want him to win just as much as you!” Suzie insisted.
	“And I gave him the best chance at it,” Rita concluded matter of factly, “I would have done it for free, but he cashed that IOU in, saying to help him beat Harold. So what better way than to give him a fresh start at beating him in his first duel? And I’m helping with a magic item to boot. I pulled out all the stops for this one!”
	“Thank you, Rita,” Galahad looked the item over, “The invisibility will be very useful,” He smirked before putting the piece of jewelry on. “My first duel being with Harold will minimize the damage done by our little cheat, and if– no… when I beat Harold I’ll just withdraw from the rest of the duels.”
	“You’re sounding a lot more confident,” Suzie smirked at the wizard.
	“With everyone’s help, how could I not?” Galahad spread his arms wide and stretched, finally feeling some semblance of peace, “Thanks, guys.”
	“Of course, what else are friends for if not to help you beat up this smug moss collector of a man,” Blud gave him a thumbs up after having uttered one of the worst goblin insults in the book, “We better get going soon, Rald.” 
	“Ah, yeah mom wanted us home for lunch,” The goblin sighed, “It was nice getting to spend some time with you all. Good luck, Galahad.”
	“Here, Rald," Galahad pulled out a pouch full of silver coins and handed them to the goblin, "Money for a cab, just take it and… thank you. Give your parents my thanks and I will return this basket as quickly as I can." 
"Whoa, another cab ride, huh? Nice!" Blud made a toothy grin. 
His sister felt the weight of the coins in her hand and shook her head, "This is more than enough…" She muttered, but with a smile as Galahad closed her hand on it. 
"It's the least I can do to repay you." He said as he watched them reluctantly leave. Turning, he also saw that Rita had quietly disappeared, “Thanks to you too, Rita. Wherever you went.”
	“She's such a weirdo,” Suzie mumbled before standing and stretching, “I need to step out for some chores. I should be back around noon with our lunches, Manus. I’d offer to pick some up for you, Galahad, but you’re taken care of.”
	“Very well taken care of, a little too much sugar for my taste, but I can’t complain,” Galahad smiled as he set his items aside, taking off the magic jewelry and placing it with the rest. 
	The gnome left, leaving the fey witch and human wizard alone. Manus used a paperclip and bound all the papers together before passing them to Galahad, “Your documents should all be in order. I will turn them in for you, but you might want to glance through them.”
	“Thank you very much, Miss Manus– for preparing these for me, I mean,” He gingerly took them and thumbed through the papers. A few words stood out to him on the second page; ‘Threat of injury and death…’ The thought of dying in this ‘friendly’ tournament had crossed his mind, especially if Harold was as formidable as those around him had warned. He sighed and set the papers aside, “I’m sure they’re fine. Unless you’re trying to sabotage me to keep me out of the tournament now,” He half joked with a little smile.
	“I would be lying if I told you the thought never crossed my mind,” She shot him a guilty look before pulling some books out from beneath her cloak, “But you may sleep easy knowing I will not stab you in the back. You have my word.”
	“Thank you,” Galahad smiled, “Y’know, I was told not to trust fey when I was younger. Tricksters, the lot of them,” He mimicked the voice of an older man, “But you, unless you’re building up to some unbelievable large trick, I feel like I can trust you.”
	The witch looked up, her eyes barely visible under the brim of her fluffy hat. One of her eyes looked like it twinkled at him, “There is still ample time for my master plan to come to fruition,” A minute smile appeared on her face, “I jest, of course. I am not jape-focused as my fairy and pixie cousins. All fey are single-minded, admittedly, as I am focused on my studies and magic, of course, while they love to play and prank. The one who told you to be cautious of fey was correct.”
	“I see,” Galahad observed the books in front of Manus, noting that none of them were scholarly tomes related to her classes. A book about the legend of King Arthur, Gaelic mythos, and Egyptian gods just to name a few, “What about you, though? You don’t seem to be very single-minded as you say.”
	“Even with what you may call my hobbies, I am quite studious. I enjoy learning about different cultures’ legends and myths. Why, just last month I had finished reading up on the Iliad. I find it hard to believe Helen to be so beautiful that an entire war started over her.”
“Reading through history, I actually don’t find it that hard to believe. Pretty women make men do dumb things. I’m sure if we look at history from the old world we’d see from their point of view where the same thing happened. Maybe it’s just part of our nature?” Galahad mused aloud as Miss Manus opened up the Arthurian legend book.
“I find history funny in that respect as well. There are so many different sides of the stories men tell their children. Take for example this book on King Arthur. A myth certainly, but it has an important part in history. I particularly find it fascinating that there are so many different recollections of each myth and there is no real ‘true’ telling due to it being handed down mostly through word of mouth. I have heard that the French made many additions to Arthurian legend.”
“Probably to get back at the British,” Galahad chuckled to himself, “Do you think any of these myths are really true? I’m sure most of the fantastical stories like the Lady of the Lake giving Arthur the sword seemed impossible in the past, but after the Great Cracking, maybe it all seems quite real?”
	“Where do you think the legends of fey come from? This world and the old were always intrinsically connected and every so often a little bit may spill over in either direction. Fairies had their own little fey realm here and men and women would sometimes find themselves in the old world. Most powerful heroes are descendants of such people. Who is to say valkyries, sphinxes, and lake dwelling sea serpents could not have traversed the gap between realms, into your people’s reality, and then into their myths and legends? Another reason I like reading about all these mythos is to me it feels as though it is a brief look into what the old world– by that I mean this world– was like from a human perspective. The mundane lives of man are anything but mundane, struggling and fighting to survive with not so much as a hint of magic is really telling of the human condition. Honestly, how did you all make it to the stage you did before magic was brought into your world?” She glanced at Galahad, her icy cheeks turning tomato red slowly as she looked into Galahad’s transfixed gaze, “Ah, listen to me prattle on and on. How embarrassing. You may tell me if I am boring you, young Galahad.”
Galahad stifled a chuckle before composing himself, “You’re not boring at all, Miss Manus. You’re very passionate about the past that many others don’t even bother to learn nowadays. I find that very admirable. A hundred years ago humanity nearly wiped itself off the Earth until the Cracking, and that’s most of what anyone ever cares to learn. Nobody even remembers why men were driven to kill each other like that.”
“I enjoyed learning about it, though I was loath to learn that such terrible things could be done over so little.”
“Just like you read in the Iliad. See? Men have always fought like that.”
	“You know an awful lot, Galahad Loxley. More than it seems. Speaking of which, would you mind telling me how you came to know how to read runic magicks? Knowing a little more about your magical knowledge would put me at ease.”
	Galahad’s teeth clenched and his eyes darted away for a moment before returning to Manus’s, “I… a good family friend of mine is an artificer. Well, two of them. They taught me some things when i was a young teen and that’s where I developed my desire to become an artificing wizard eventually.”
	Although the hesitation was obvious, it was not obvious to her that Galahad was lying, “Ah, I believe Fredrik mentioned you citing that as your reason for becoming a metallurgist. You have a very wide skill set, it seems. I wish my abilities were as varied as yours.”
	“I’m sure you can do a lot with transmutation or whatever other schools you know. Still, maybe someday I’ll teach you a few skills, huh?” He joked as he picked up one of her books.
	Miss Manus’s eye sparkled again, “To do that you may have to reveal to me who you really are. Will you be comfortable doing that?”
	Galahad opened up the book and flipped a few pages, “What ever could you mean, Miss Manus? I’m just Galahad,” He said in a voice mimicking Fredrik’s, which made the fey witch smile, “Still, you’re probably one of the few people I’d be comfortable sharing that with, just not yet. But regardless, everyone is definitely going to see some of my tricks on Monday, I just really hope that doesn’t alter everyone’s perceptions of me.”
	After replacing her book mark, Manus set her book down carefully, “It very well might, and I do hope it changes in your favor when the dust has settled.”
The wizard slowly nodded, “I hope so. May I ask about you now?”
	“Of course.”
	“They mentioned you being high born,” Galahad explained, rubbing his chin, “Where are you from? Who are your parents?”
	Miss Manus nodded, “I am from the fey lands of Alderia, of course. My mother is the Queen of the East Winds, her kingdom covers the eastern fey lands. My father is the prince of a powerful kingdom within my mother’s realm known as Alderia. He is a half-fey, half-elven man. I will confirm the thoughts you are no doubt having, yes, I am not fully fey. Technically more than three-fourths but less than nine-tenths fey. Iron still has ill effects on me, but as we discussed I am not as single minded as the full-bloods.” 
“Ah, interesting. Are you in line for the crown?” 
	Manus shook her head, “Fey, true fey, do not really die even if they are slain. My mother will keep the crown until she grows bored of it or goes mad. One of my many siblings may take the crown when that day comes. I have no interest in the throne, as I lack leadership.”
	Galahad smirked, “Said the House Karak-Albrac president.”
	“Well, there was no one else to take the role. Being the most senior member of this house it was my duty to take charge,” Manus explained, “I did not have much choice, in all honesty.”
	Galahad nodded, “You seem to do a good job, sorry for my little jab.”	
	Manus gave a tiny smile, “What about your family?”
	“Well…” He leaned back and stretched, “Not a lot to say. Parents aren’t really anyone of note. Dad’s a wizard, mom’s a sorceress. I have a bunch of sisters who are all sorceresses like mom is. Dad taught me magic from a very young age. Oh, and mom and my sisters are all demi-humans, by the way.”
	“Really? I find it interesting that you have no physical traits of a demi-human. Though I suppose not every demi-human transfers traits to their human offspring,” Manus noted then shrugged.	
“My turn for another question,” Galahad perked up, “Are they… natural?”
Manus gave him a blank look, “Excuse me? What do you mean?”
	Galahad’s face turned as red as a tomato, “I mean- that is, I meant your… arms,” He stammered, realizing what he had just said, “Were you born with six? Or do you use transmutation to give yourself more?”
	Manus chuckled to herself, “No, I do not use transmutation to create more arms for myself. Everyone knows that is a necromancy spell, a way to graft them to your body,” She smirked, “I did not use that either. I was born with six. Many of my siblings have additional limbs.” 
	“Interesting,” Galahad rubbed his chin, “Thank you for answering my questions, Manus.”
“That is what I am here for as your teacher, Galahad,” Manus nodded, “Do you have anything else for me?”
	Galahad shook his head, “No. I’m sated for the day. I won’t take up any more of your time,” The man got up and raised his hands above his head as he twisted his torso, popping his back a few times, “Thank you. I need to get some more preparations done. Unfortunately I need to venture outside,” He grabbed the amulet from Rita and put it on, “But at least I can test this trinket of Rita’s out.”
	“Perhaps a disguise would be better over an invisibility spell?” Manus suggested, “It would be quite easier to step out without someone accidentally bumping into you.”
	“Got it. Thanks again, Manus,” Galahad offered her another smile, “I’m gonna go have lunch first to get the feel of this thing. Talk to you later, Manus,” He raised one hand in a goodbye gesture before heading up stairs and into the labyrinth of rooms, taking his things with him under arm.
	Manus picked up one of her books with a smile and got back to reading, ready to relax for the remainder of her day. Although to some, taking notes on your casual reading was not relaxing, Miss Manus found it quite comforting. 


	The bubbling of mana salt water filled the room. A cauldron steamed, smoked, and hissed as Miss Manus tossed in a few magical ingredients. She used a ladle to scoop out some of the blue magical liquid before pouring it into a glass cup and passing it to Fredrik who toiled at an alchemy set. He ground up ingredients in a mortar and pestle before putting it over a bunsen burner in a glass cup, “I am surprised you did not bring Galahad,” Fredrik commented. Manus looked down at a book she was reading while idly stirring the cauldron, “Did he make his potions at our house’s meager alchemy kit?”
	The two stood in the common building on the south side of campus. Outside the magicked windows showed nothing but the inky blackness of night broken up by the street lamps that illuminated the southern path. The basement of the communal building beneath all the entertainment rooms were the labs where students could toil away with experiments or new spells. The labs were lined with rows of tables, most held alchemy sets or even rune engraving set-ups. One even had gem cutting tools, though they went unused tonight as  Fredrik and Manus were the only two in the lab now. Unfortunately for House Karak-Albrac, they had time slots in the middle of the night and in the early morning, making it harder for most students to make use of it and maintain their sleep schedules and go to their classes. Downstairs was the recreation area that similarly went unused. Miss Manus shook her head as she placed her book mark between her pages and set the tome down, “Galahad, surprisingly, has benefactors.”
	“Really, now. Who are these mysterious people?”
	“Those two goblins he spends time with, their parents own a store from what little I know. It seems as if they are as concerned for his safety as we are,” She looked bemused as she stood up to scoop out some of the brew. 
“We should be thankful he has such good friends, then,” Said Fredrik as he carefully sprinkled rusted iron shavings into his formula, “I have yet to meet them, but you say they are goblins?”
“Yes, they gave him several gifts for him to use during the duel; potions, an enchanted circlet, a summoning stone, lastly was a new cloak and hat. He even got an enchanted gift from Rita,” Explained Manus, a little smile on her lips. 
Fredrik scoffed, “I must admit, I am a little jealous. I certainly hope I don’t have to go up against all of that. Still, I for one am most enthusiastic about his participation. It would be most beneficial to us if he were to win his duel against Harold, not just for better lab times, but think of how many more students would be interested in joining House Karak-Albrac.”
“You forget, he is still of the Seeker’s house,” Reminded Manus.
	Fredrik nodded, “I have thoroughly thought of this conundrum. All we need to do is ask him to join directly after his match with the little princeling. Then his victory will be dedicated to our house in all coverage!”
	“Assuming he does win, but what do we do if he does not?” Asked the fey witch.
	Fredrik shrugged, “We take him in anyway and you allow Suzie and I to tutor him as we discussed. Anyone with enough guts to face off against Harold should be worth something to our reputation. Winner or not I believe he would be a good asset to our House.”
“Ever loyal Fredrik, always thinking of your House. Perhaps you would be better suited as president?” The fey teased her peer. 
Fredrik shook his head as smoke billowed out of his experiment, “And rid us of our wonderfully studious and prized president? Nay, I say. Besides, I’d not have time enough for my art.”
	Manus jokingly rolled her eyes, “Indeed. What would become of our most eccentric council member if he was deprived of his art?”
	“What of you, Miss President? Wouldn’t you miss all the benefits, delegating, making the rules for our house, the respect due to you-”
	“The constant meetings, the squabbling over amenities with other houses, the interruptions of my studies and teaching of my students. I would go so far as to say I might never have caught Harold’s eye had I not been inducted as house president,” She shuddered, “I think I could live without.”
	Fredrik smiled behind his mask once more, “Not looking for courtship, Miss President?”
	“No.” She replied flatly, “And certainly not with someone so brutish. Besides, as president I have little time to myself as it is. My time is my own, I would like to spend it how I see fit, but now I am forced to think about these things with that man’s constant pestering.”
	“But if you were to find someone?” The golden wizard pressed her. Manus stopped stirring her cauldron and turned to her golden friend, “What has you so interested in my love life, might I ask?” Her cold retort caught Fredrik off guard and he nearly dropped his glass cup.
	“I-I well, you see… Miss President, I myself am interested in someone and I thought perhaps if I measured your values against theirs I could better myself.”
	Her anger slowly softened, “I see. Then she is like me?”
	“I would say so, yes. Though, unlike you, my nerves keep me from interacting with her,” He sighed.
	"The Great and Powerful Fredrik. Afraid of talking to a woman. It almost does not seem real, ” Manus pointed out.
	“What about you? You’re much more talkative lately, has something changed in my illustrious and taciturn Miss President’s life? Not that I'm complaining,” Fredrik replied, a smile returning to his lips.
	“Nothing has changed,” Manus fibbed, cursing silently in her mind that even her peers were beginning to notice something. “So what of this woman you cannot speak to? I feel as if I’ve seen you flirt with some of the other students,” She redirected back to her golden peer.
"You should know that is another matter entirely. It is all part of my art, but when I am near the center of my infatuation I find myself breathless. Unable to find the words I wish to speak to her face-to-face. That will change soon. But enough of that, you never answered my question, so please humor me."
"Very well. The type of man I would be interested in would treat me well. Not in the sense that Harold does, I do not wish to be made into some trophy or trinket used to flaunt superiority over others.”
“I see. I pray I am not as off putting as Harold is despite my… eccentricities, as you called it.” 
	"I am certain that will not be a problem with the right woman, Fredrik," Manus smirked, “Just find one that enjoys gold half as much as you. Perhaps she will indulge in your strange behaviors and your art."
"Please don't tease me." Fredrik chuckled. "Though I really do want to see her in gold, the shine of it running off her like sunlight."
"Who?" Manus dared to ask.
"Ah, I cannot say, it wouldn't do to let rumors spread."
"Fredrik I am the last person in Fairgarland that would spread gossip," The fey frowned.
"That may be so but I would not risk it for anyone. I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise."
Manus shook her head, "As you say, Fredrik, but eventually you will have to take that mask off and start fresh with the maiden, put the true Fredrik on display."
"I could never do that."
"Then I will say no more." Manus turned back to her cauldron and pulled the ladle out, inspecting her concoction closely.
"Would she really… want that?" She heard her colleague wonder to himself. 

	The weekend came and went quickly for Miss Manus. As usual, she tended to her duties before even thinking about leisure. Thankfully for her, her homework was light as was the homework she had assigned to her students of all levels. She had spent her time attempting to relax after her Saturday morning one-on-one exchange with Galahad. Tea, cookies, and a few nice, long books that she took many notes on. Her thoughts on the events of the books, summaries of what had happened, and doodles of maps, creatures, and people contained in the myths. Another journal carried her notes on her own worries and feelings that did not pertain to the reading. There were a few threads of her reaching in an attempt to string her worries to the characters and supposed themes of her past readings. At the moment, her concerns were focused on Galahad and Harold. In her mind, at least as she remembered her reading of the Iliad, she saw Harold as Achilles, the supposed invincible hero of Troy. She continued down this thread, wondering who Galahad was in this story that kept playing over and over in her head. Would he be Hector, slain by Achilles? Or Paris, the destroyer of Achilles with a well placed blow? It tore Manus up as she attempted to focus. For once she wished she had homework to focus on and grade instead of fretting over the inevitable duel.
	She spent Saturday evening helping Fredrik concoct potions, then spent all of Sunday resting after sleeping in. She did not even strip from her specially made bathrobe with six sleeves after washing herself with a spell. She usually would go straight for her usual bewitching robes, but she had broken out the sparsely used relaxation kit for today. She sat in a big, comfortable leather chair with her feet put up on a small, plush stool, fluffy slippers on her feet, and a table at her side. Tea, and a half-eaten muffin that had gone cold had been set aside as now a fresh tray of various crackers, meats, cheeses, dried fruit, and tomato jam was being slowly nibbled on for lunch. Four of Miss Manus’s hands idly rolled a porous, cracked, chipped, and worn orb in her hands. Her two bottom hands were made of a crystalline material that magic flowed through, changing the orb’s material constantly. The brass ball morphed to glass, then bone, then styrofoam, rubber, plastic, concrete, and anything else Manus could think of as she idly channeled into the orb she had kept since her first year at this academy. It was something given to students to pour mana into to practice control over their transmutation. She had kept hers, constantly changing its form when she needed something to do with her anxiously wandering hands or she would have another instance where she would accidentally replace the leather of her chair with mucus. 
Manus sighed and stared into the orb as she turned it into a reflective metal, staring at her own face in the material, “What is it about men that makes them do such foolish things?” She wondered as the orb changed to a soft fabric. She tossed it into the air, “Harold, Galahad. Why am I your Helen of Troy? What am I to deserve such adoration?” She paused again as she caught the ball, eating a piece of cheese on a cracker, “Harold, your desires have been laid bare. Your abilities similarly so. Overbearing and stubborn. But Galahad, young, foolish Galahad, who are you to fight for me? You do not fawn over me like your rival does. What goes on in that head of yours?” A smirk crossed her lips as she spread some of the tomato jam on a piece of cracker which she enjoyed with some spiced salami, “How strong are you really? I wish only for your survival tomorrow. Should you have the strength to overcome your opponent, I shall be overjoyed. For now, I can only hope you live,” Miss Manus paused, tasting the savory and sweet flavors as she took her time chewing the food, “I wonder… what secrets do you hide, fiery Galahad? What have those orange eyes seen? How many tomes have you gazed upon? How many spells have crossed your lips?” She blinked and picked up a book, preparing to read it soon, “In time, I hope to find out whether you win or lose tomorrow…”
“You have me intrigued, and I remain optimistic of you due to your diligence and hard work. But how will I feel in the future? What becomes of it, we will just have to wait and see, I suppose,” She chuckled as she stared into the shimmering glass orb in her hands. She could almost make out Galahad’s face in it. The fey witch put it down, not wanting to dwell on it further before turning to her book.

	The Monday morning air was thick with fog and a light drizzle that pooled on the sidewalks, streets, and the foliage covering the academy grounds. Students hurried to their first classes, trying to keep their book bags dry using their cloaks, umbrellas, or magic spells. It wasn’t ideal conditions for a duel, Miss Manus thought as she stared out the first floor windows in the transmutation class building. The rain pattered against the glass before sliding down to the puddles that congealed below. 
	Students had begun filing in, the air about them was abuzz with chattering and excitement, commenting how they hoped their house won or hoped their rival house lost. Manus was surprised how little she heard wishing for the loss of Galahad. Of course it was there, especially from the few House Frtiz’eleo members in her class, easily identifiable by the arm bands they wore proudly.
	Galahad arrived, quickly making for his seat and sitting down in the front row. He was in his dark blue robes with no hat. Miss Manus was surprised how awake and alert he looked despite how tired he had seemed on Saturday. Manus bit her tongue, merely giving him a tiny smile and a nod which he returned in kind before pulling his wet cloak tighter around himself. Miss Manus cleared her throat, “Good morning, class. Welcome to another week of Transmutation one-zero-one. Let us begin right away, I can see how you all are very excited for this evening, but please lend me your ear for two hours and I will release you all quickly.”

	Class came to a close a little early with the fey witch hastily dismissing everyone to their next class. Galahad meticulously cleaned up his work station, making sure to sweep up any metal shaving and goo from his transmutation practices, “A word, Galahad?” Manus asked as she shouldered her own bag.
	“Yes?” He stood, giving her his full attention as he picked up his bag and water bottle.
	Manus cleared her throat, “I merely wanted to wish you luck. I am unsure if I will have the chance to say so later.”
	“Thank you,” Galahad gave her a little smile, “I’m nervous, but I’m feeling weirdly good. Confident even. I guess I should thank everyone for their support, huh?”
	“Yes, you are quite lucky to have the backing of numerous people,” Miss Manus nodded, “I wish I had something wonderful to give you for aid. But I did make this on Sunday morning,” She handed Galahad a large blue potion, “Mana. Hopefully you will not need this much. I added some blueberries to make it go down easily.”
	“Thank you very much,” He grinned as he put it in his bottomless bag, “Are you doing alright? I hope you haven’t been fretting too much over me.”
Miss Manus sighed, “There is little I can do at this point in time,” She adjusted her hat and robes, “I can only pray you are a Paris and not a Hector,” The fey witch realized what she was saying a little too late. She clenched her fists under her robes as Galahad gave her a blank look.
	“Pardon?” The wizard tilted his head and frowned.
	“Nothing. Worry not about my idle musings. You should run along before your next glass begins,” She instructed, hiding her face beneath her hat as her cheeks turned beet red.
	Galahad nodded, “I suppose you’re right. I’ll look for you and the others in the crowd tonight,” Galahad smiled before heading for the door, “See you later, Miss Manus.”
	“See you at the duel, Galahad,” She replied quietly as she watched him hurry down the hall.
	

	 The scent of coffee wafted through the common area of the Seeker’s house. Shanessa happily sat coiled around a chair as she heated up her hands by wrapping her fingers around the hot, disposable coffee cup. The machine on the table in front of her brewed more coffee that she passed out to the other members of her house as they left for their morning classes. She was more than happy to help them as much as she could, sacrificing time, energy, and occasionally money to assist when needed. Galahad wasn’t the only person who needed new cloaks from time to time.  Soon, she would set up a fundraiser for her house. She still had some left over from the last time, a bakesale over the summer that many former and current house members took part in.
	“Good morning, Miss Shanessa,” A voice called as a young lizard man entered the house wearing a postman’s uniform. 
	“And a good morning to you, Ray,” The lamia greeted back and put her coffee down.
	The lizard man rifled through his bag, “Got some mail here…” He mumbled as he produced a stack of letters, scrolls, and a few newspapers including Fairgarland’s Newspaper and Inquirer. 
	“Thank you,” The lamia sifted through the mail, quickly sorting them by student, “Do you have much more to do?”
	He looked at her with tired eyes, “A postman’s job is never done. Two more houses and then the offices and lastly the staff dorms. Then I gotta go to class.”
	“Well, we all appreciate you volunteering your precious time for this,” Shanessa handed him a cup of coffee which he graciously took.
	Ray gave her a little tip of his hat, “See ya around,” He said before hurrying out of the tower.
	Shanessa procured her wand from a pouch on her hip and set about teleporting every piece of mail to its intended recipient. Each room had a little container that mail would be deposited into with her spell. She continued to sip on her drink before turning her attention to the newspaper. She unfolded it, blinking as she saw the front page article. ‘Fairgarland dueling tournament sees Seeker’s House enter a duelist for the first time in eight years!’ 
	“I never submitted anyone…” She mused aloud. It wasn’t like they needed to go through her for it, but a few had asked in the past. Who had entered without letting her know and how? She skimmed down to see who it was. All of the other entrants were first and at the bottom was the Seekers house, it was– “Galahad?!” Shanessa gasped. A first year. There was no way he could perform well, much less even survive it!
	She leapt up from her seat and hurried to the stairs. The few students that were up at the moment got out of the long snake woman’s way. She got to the pocket dimension door and gripped the crystal next to it, “Galahad Loxley,” Shanessa barked. There was a noise as his room was brought to the front. The snake woman knocked, “Galahad! Galahad! Are you up?”
	Within a few moments the door was unlocked and pulled open. Galahad was still in his pajamas and a t-shirt that was on backwards as well as inside out. The man rubbed his eyes, “Shanessa? What’s up?” 
	“I need to talk to you,” She nervously rolled up the newspaper in her hands.
	He frowned but nodded, “Come in,” He gestured and moved aside for the snake woman to enter. She slithered into the small room and sat at the foot of the unmade bed, “Is something wrong?”
	“Yes!” She blurted out as she furiously unfurled the newspaper, “Just what are you doing entering the duel?!”
	Galahad slowly sat down in his desk chair and turned around to face Shanessa, “Shanessa-”
	“Galahad, they are going to MURDER you!” She cried, the panic was obvious on her face, “I can’t let you enter, I don’t know why Zucharius would even let you join! What on earth did you tell him?!” Galahad turned away and dug through his desk for a moment, “Tell me, Galahad, just what are you doing entering this duel?!”
	Galahad turned, a small black wand in hand along with the ingredients he had ground into a fine dust in his palm. Shanessa froze, stunned as Galahad cast at her, scattering a smidge of dust on her. She inhaled it, instantly feeling at peace. The snake woman’s trembling body and pounding heart both ceased in most movements, “Shanessa, listen to me,” The wizard repeated, “I’m going to be fine. I was just about to go train before my tutoring session,” He assured her gently and put a hand on her shoulder.
	The lamia sighed, “Galahad. I cannot approve of this.”
	“I don’t expect you to,” He picked up a gym bag and grabbed his shoes, “I just don’t want you to feel like you need to stop me. Miss Manus was acting the same way.”
Shanessa’s forked tongue slid out of her mouth as she folded her arms and looked toward the floor, “I just do not want to see you hurt.”
	“I won’t sugar coat it. I won’t be able to avoid getting hurt,” Galahad admitted, “But I’m going to scope him out a bit and learn what I need to do. I have the advantage of him not knowing what I’m capable of.”
	The lamia looked up from the floor and tilted her head, "Don't you think you are overconfident?"
"Apparently Zucarius thinks I'm capable enough. I doubt I could have lied my way past him, Shanessa."
"I suppose you are right, but even so I cannot allow this. Not even I or many others know what you can do. A first year going up against Fairgarland's best duelists, let alone Harold - it's unheard of, you can't do this!"
"Maybe this will convince you," Galahad grumbled, sifting through his dresser again to produce a letter. He quickly handed it over to the snake woman, who opened it and scanned it once over, then again and again.
After rereading it five or six times she looked up at her junior, "Is this… true?" She asked, "I have heard how you reflected one of Rita's spells and even healed her. Just now your calming charm seemed quite potent…” She rubbed her chin, “But this…?” She paused for a moment as the gears visibly turned in her head, “You must be able to sword fight if she can vouch for you.”
	“Not exactly,” Galahad smirked and reached into his bag where he procured a mace. He rolled the flanged mace over in his hands, “I can use this pretty well.”
	The lamia’s tongue flicked out of her mouth as she started to think, “Listen,” Shanessa gripped his shoulders as she suddenly lurched forwards, “I'm sure you know this, but melee weapons are allowed in the duels. Using melee combat may be your best bet. Harold is a monster when it comes to casting and even if you’re good at abjuration he may be able to outlast you. He knows how to use a rapier, but your mace would be difficult for him to counter. He struggles in close range, I have seen it.”
	Galahad blinked and slowly nodded, “I see.”
	“I have no idea why you would put yourself in this duel, but if I can't stop you then I will help you in any way I can,” Shanessa let him go and gave a little, worried smile. 
	After a moment, Galahad smiled back, “Thank you. Please don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
	“Please do not ask the impossible of me,” Shanessa sighed and rubbed her forehead, the tip of her tail slamming against the floor. 
	The wizard chuckled, “I appreciate you worrying so much about me. My mother never worried this much. I was the fifth of eight kids. She always said if I’m anything like my four sisters before me, I’m tough. But I was never as tough as them or the three girls born after me either.”
	“Y-you have seven sisters?” 
	“Yeah. All demi-humans. I’m the only one who didn’t get mom’s sorcery soul too. Growing up was hard,” He sighed and scratched his head, “Sorry, I shouldn’t be dumping this all on you.”
	“You are part of my house and you can vent to me about anything, be it family or school. Good luck with your studies, Galahad,” Shanessa turned to leave the dorm room. 
	A younger student stood outside the dorm room, nervously fidgeting as he looked past Shanessa at Galahad, “G-Galahad, there’s a crowd of reporters outside th-that want to talk to you… I-I can’t get past them to go to my class…”
	Shanessa sighed, “Vultures. All of them. Galahad, I will turn them away. Perhaps it would be best to stay inside for a time.”
	“Got it,” The wizard gave a thumbs up and got ready to do his workout within the confines of his room.
	The snake woman slithered down the stairs and went to the front door that was being pounded on. She threw the door open and stood there sternly, hands on her hips as the reporters begged or demanded to speak to Galahad. The lamia reached into her bag for her wand. Without a second thought she cast a spell that tore through each of the reporter's notebooks or recording devices and threw them up into the air, sending them out into the courtyard bushes. 
"You are causing trouble for my housemates, leave before I make you leave." She growled, readying another spell. "Or maybe I'll have Professor Zucarius expel or ban you off campus?" The reporters looked at one another then back to the usually loving and sweet but now horribly imposing lamia who stood with crossed arms as a few timid first years slinked out of the Seeker’s house in the confusion. She sighed as the reporters slowly dispersed, “I hope you know some illusion magic, Galahad,” She mumbled, “You are going to have a tough time just walking around campus now…”

. . . . .

	Fredrik was just wrapping up his last duties of helping around the campus mailroom as it was Tuesday again. Evening had already come when he looked out the window. It was enchanted like the ones in the dorms, however this one was more like a security camera showing many angles in front of the Grand Hall in each quarter of the pane of glass. In it Fredrik saw a student dragging his feet across the walkway, meandering between the crowds of others happy to be out of class and amongst friends. It only took Fredrik a moment to realize the lone student was Galahad and he was clearly bothered by something. Glancing at the clock, Fredrik quickly confirmed that it was indeed after four in the afternoon, so the man had not skipped out on studies nor had he been kicked out of class– presumably. After wrapping, weighing and measuring the final package on his table, Fredrik wrote down all the details on a card and placed the package on an appropriate shelf. Quickly he turned on his heel and made for the door, waving a silent goodbye to the mailman on duty.
"Thanks for the hard work, Fredrik," he called after the Golden Wonder.
Outside, Fredrik scanned the campus grounds and found Galahad sitting on a bench, his head in his hands. Wasting no time at all, Fredrik reached him on quick feet and sat beside him, wrapping an arm around his junior's shoulders, "What troubles you, young Galahad?" He did his best impression of what he thought might be a patriarchal figure.
Galahad tried to pull away before he looked up at the golden mask, today's the spitting image of a Venetian harlequin's mask, gold with intricately painted black and white diamonds around the eyes and cheeks. A black upper lip and white lower on its face, all encompassed by a crown like a sun with bursting, lacy points curling around the top and sides. His clothes were equally puffed up and vibrant with furls of white and gold across black, too splendorous to be a fool in motley. The expression on Galahad's face said he must agree, though the shock quickly wore off as he realized who was behind the mask, "Fredrik," Galahad simply said before relaxing on the bench. He reached up and wiped his face with both hands with a groan, stretching his body before shooting up straight to give his full attention, "How's it going?"
Fredrik chuckled, "I came here to ask you that, my friend. As I said, you seem to be troubled."
"No trouble. I'm just tired is all. I've been practicing, preparing, being tutored, and studying. I don't have much free time lately to rest."
"You should take better care of yourself, you wouldn't want to get caught 'asleep at the wheel' in the upcoming duels," Fredrik patted his friend's shoulder.
"So you know, then."
"Of course I do, I assist Miss President who has been endlessly pestered all weekend, and besides; word has spread all over campus."
"I know. Everyone has pestered me about it endlessly today, too, and Carly the day it happened," Galahad sighed heavily, his weariness quickly catching up with him, "If this keeps up, I won't even have the energy for studying, much less dueling. Even when I'm resting in my dorm I get run down by Carly and every other wannabe journalist on campus. Shanessa has chased off more than I can count, but there's only so much she can do."
"Perhaps I can help you with your predicament. I too have entered the duels and I have a special place I like to go when I am practicing." Fredrik explained, "As for lodging, why not spend a few days in my dorm? There is plenty of room, and I can easily conjure up a guest bed for you. The reporters would never think to look for you there."
Galahad looked at the golden masked man, his eyes trying to read his intentions beyond the dark slits in the metal, "You mean that?" He asked cautiously.
"Why shouldn't I? We're friends and peers, I am both obligated and honored to help a fellow student. Besides, there is a benefit beyond your rest," The golden wizard smiled under his mask, "You will be able to go undisturbed with your tutoring with Miss President. Something I hear you desperately need after the last incident."
"You have no idea how right you are," Galahad groaned, head in hand once more. "Poor Miss Manus… She has it worse than me. It seems every class she's in, whether she's a teacher or student has been bothering her about this whole thing. I can't imagine what our class is going to be like tomorrow, not to mention that Harold hasn't let up either."
Fredrik shook his head, "You worry about Harold at the duels," He said with a smirk, "For now, you should come to House Karak-Albrac. I will contact Miss President and inform her she will be able to tutor you there."
"Fredrik… thank you. Really," Galahad smiled, standing up with his golden counterpart. "You're a good man."
"Nice of you to say so, my friend." Fredrik nodded, "Come, I'll make the accommodations that you will have room and board for an easier time. We'll inform your housemate Shanessa and gather your essentials up and keep them at my dorm until all the excitement dies down. Suzie will likely help as well, I think she likes you, you know." Fredrik laughed when Galahad's face turned red, "I jest, I jest."

After what only seemed like an hour all the preparations had been made. True to his word, Fredrik had assisted in making a cozy living space in his own dorm with the help of Suzie. The gnomish woman had been a big help as well as managing to whip up some of her juniors to help move an extra bed they had in storage into the golden wizard's room for Galahad.
"Nicely done, everyone!" Fredrik congratulated, patting the dresser he and Galahad had carried up from the basement. Galahad sat on the bed, feeling the mattress underneath. Not too soft, not too firm, it was nice, he thought to himself.
"Thanks, everyone." He let a content sigh escape his lips. "This is perfect."
"A little home away from your home?" Fredrik jested.
"Away from that home," Suzie added, having sat at the work desk by the window between the two beds. "Try not to keep each other up with work or any of that boytalk I know you men like to do." She teased.
"It's as simple as a silence spell to deafen the senses," Fredrik assured the gnome. "Right, Galahad?"
"Right…" He smirked back. "I had better go find Miss Manus for tutoring."
"Good idea, she should be waiting in the common room." Said Fredrik.
"How do I…?"
"Ah yes, navigating the corridors. It should be as simple as hugging the left wall, my friend." He instructed, motioning to his left side.
"Hugging the left wall…?"
"I'll show him." Suzie giggled, "Come on, Galahad, don't keep Manus waiting."
"Oh right, I'll show you that thing I promised later!" Fredrik called after the two as they exited his dorm.

Under the cover of nightfall, Fredrik led Galahad out into the woods north of campus. The air chilled Galahad to the bone despite the heavy cloak he wore, but he didn't worry about that. He was just thankful that no one else was out to get in the way as he followed Fredrik further into the woods. After a few minutes of walking in silence they came to a small clearing in the trees, several run-down buildings filling the gaps in the forest.
"This is it," Fredrik explained, holding his staff aloft and casting a light up above them. The rays of light showed just how overgrown each building was, cracked and decayed, devoured by nature. "This was once part of the Fairgarland campus, but an earlier dean had decided that the forest was more important than the facilities, since the trees give us mana. It's my home away from home. I'm certain no other students know about this place."
"So you train here by yourself?"
"Among other things, like crafting my true art, but tonight we can do a short sparring session if you like." The golden wizard offered as he held his staff up towards Galahad. "Just to gauge each other's abilities, of course."
Galahad drew up his own staff and smirked, "So you just wanted to test me before the duels, huh?"
"I admit that I had an ulterior motive for bringing you here, but it's all in good sport, I assure you." Galahad could see a glimmer in Fredrik's eyes behind the mask, a smile in his voice.
"Well, there's no better way to practice, is there?"

After their sparring session, the two retired to their room back at House Karak-Albrac. Galahad's knuckles were stinging from the walloping Fredrik's metallurgy spells had given him. Though he managed to block them with his abjuration magic they hit hard and fast. There had been no conclusive winner to their practice duel, which had surprised him. Even so, he was proud to see that he had managed to wear down Fredrik, who despite how he presented himself was quite formidable in a fight. It was no wonder why he was the duelist representing his house.
The golden wizard flopped onto his bed and sighed, "That was quite the experience, my friend. Much more engaging than shooting darts at those buildings." He yawned. "But I suggest we get some rest. Classes tomorrow and all that."
 "You gonna sleep in that helmet of yours? Afraid that I might accidentally see your face?" He teased the golden wizard. 
Fredrik chuckled to himself, "Do not worry yourself over that, I have many ways of hiding the mystique," Fredrik pronounced, withdrawing a beautification mask from his nightstand. 
Galahad took one look at it and shook his head, letting out an incredulous laugh, "Gold?" He guessed by the look of the package.
"It is good for my complexion, I assure you. You should try it some time!" Fredrik offered another, to which Galahad held up a declining hand.
"I actually like my complexion, but thank you." The first-year wizard laughed,
"Ah well, maybe one day. I bid you goodnight, my friend."
"You as well." Galahad lay back in his bed, turning away from Fredrik as he pulled off his mask and placed the other over his face. Soon after he conjured several partitions and blocked each other's view of one another, simultaneously respecting Galahad's privacy while bidding he respect his. It was a welcome change in the room, Galahad preferred the coziness, it reminded him of home.
Home…
After a quick, circular wave of his hand, Galahad summoned his rat, Randy and snuggled up to him. He quickly reassured himself that he had made the right choice and fell into a deep sleep.

. . . . .

	Wednesday. Alchemy class. Blud’s eyes were fixated on the door, only looking down at his hands to adjust the bandages covering them. It was the only reason he would look away. It was like everyone in the class was doing the same, waiting for either the professor or Blud’s lab partner, Galahad. Which one was more anticipated now was up in the air. The goblin had no idea what was going through his friend’s head, but if the Inquirer was to be believed, he had some kind of beef with Harold now. 
	Blud himself wanted to congratulate the human on entering, not a lot of first years had the means to join the tournament and none, except for Galahad, even had the balls! No one in the Seeker’s house - well, maybe Shanessa, had the years behind them to easily petition to join. Four years was how long Blud had been in the academy and Shanessa was more than twice that. But Galahad hadn’t been around for even a month let alone a year. He kept saying he had been apprentice trained, but Blud hadn't really seen him put his money where his mouth is. Sure, he summoned a big rat the other day at his parent’s table, but that wasn’t enough to win a fight. 
	It felt like the room stopped every time someone walked in. Another group stepped into the room, splitting up as they went to their desks. Among them was Galahad. He had dark circles under his eyes and his short dark hair was a mess. He wore the green robes he had bought at the shop Blud’s family ran. Glancing around, the goblin saw that nearly every pair of eyes in the room was on the wizard as he trudged to his seat. Blud kept his mouth shut, eagerly waiting for his friend to sit down. The eyes stayed on Galahad and the scowl on his face showed that he knew it, “Yo, Lox,” Blud whispered, “Ya doing okay?”
	The human rubbed his face and pulled his cloak’s hood over his head, “I’ve just been working hard. Maybe too hard. I’m sure you know why.”
	“Yeah, my mom wanted me to ask you why you’d get yourself involved in this duel. Demanded I drag you back so she could scold you herself.”
	“I’ve already gotten enough of an earful around campus,” Galahad snapped. Blud recoiled and stared with his wide, yellow and red eyes. Galahad looked at him before sighing, “I’m sorry. It’s only been a day and a half since that newspaper came out and now every witch, wizard and warlock on campus has given me a piece of their mind." He grumbled, "Saying crap like, 'you think you're better than us, first year?' And 'you're gonna get yourself killed.' if I have to hear one more lecture from another student, it'll be too soon."
	“Note to self, tell mom and Rald not to berate or scold Lox about the tournament,” Blud grumbled to himself. 
“Did you have something to say about it too?” The man grunted, a scowl still on his exhausted face.
	“I was gonna give you a fist bump! I WANT to see you beat the snot out of Harold! But do you really have the skills to take him on? Like, what the hell kind of spells and schools do you practice in? I know how much you know about transmutation,” Blud folded his arms and frowned at Galahad.
	The wizard frowned and leaned in, quickly lowering his voice, “We don’t discuss such things in front of others. We can’t tell who here is ears for Harold.”
	Blud looked around, he could see numerous students quickly look away from the pair as they tried to listen in, “So… then what do you do? You’re all alone in this if you can’t trust anyone.”
	“I know a few I can trust, but how about we wait until after class to talk? I’m sure Rald is going to chew me out,” Galahad gave a weary sigh and rubbed his face, “I’m not gonna be able to pull my weight today…”
	“I’ll take the lead. Just act like you’re helping, at least,” Blud offered, “Relax a bit.”
	“Thanks. Don’t let me just sit here, though.”

	Blud and Galahad idled at their desk, taking their time as they cleaned up their day’s materials and waited for most other students to leave, “Think we’re in the clear?” Blud mumbled as the next class’s students started to file in. 
	“We should get out of here before these guys even think to question me,” Galahad scooped up the last of the ingredients before getting off his chair with Blud hurriedly following him. 
	Blud quickly took point, rushing past the longer legged human, “Rald should be around here,” He looked up and down the hallway, “Okay. We should get moving and–”
	“BLUD!” Rald stormed up to her brother as the duo started to walk away from her, “Where have you been? You never take this long leaving class! Oh, hi, Lox.”
	“Hey, Rald,” The human gave her a little smirk as he adjusted his hood.
	“Wow you look…” She bit her tongue, not wanting to insult him, “Rough? No, rugged. That’s the word, I think.”
“You can say that I look terrible,” He chuckled before rubbing his eyes, “It's been hard to keep cool since yesterday. I finally have some respite as of last night, but it's hard to get some practice.”
“You can always hide at our place, Lox,” Blud reminded him.
The human nodded as the three left the transmutation building. It was chilly and a bit dim, even though it was around noon. The dark clouds overhead blocked much of the sun, leaving last night’s rain puddled on the sidewalk and in the mud, “What’s for lunch, boys?” Rald asked, “I’ve got some money and I wouldn’t mind going somewhere.”
	“Anywhere not on campus,” Blud suggested, “Lox looks like he needs a break.”
“Or just somewhere hidden away,” He groaned.
Rald’s eyes lit up, “I know. Won’t be fancy food, but we can hide,” She spoke quietly as she led the two boys a ways up the street. On the other side of the road was the staff dorms, and on their side was a few restaurants and a convenience store along with a book store. Rald glanced behind them, “Down here,” She pointed down an alley between a restaurant and the convenience store. She grabbed both men’s wrists and dashed down, nearly tripping both of them as she hurried to the far end. They ran past a few trash cans and Rald knocked one down on purpose. A stray black cat arched its back and hissed before running out the back end of the alley and out into the woods. There was an overhead fire escape for the second floor of the convenience store and restaurant. The three stopped before exiting the far end. With a quick motion, Rald drew her wand and made the shape of a square with a small intricately carved miniature of a wall in her other hand. She whispered to it before thrusting the wand forward and setting the tiny wall on the floor. The air in front of the three began to shimmer, and along the edges, Galahad and Blud could see the edges of a chain link fence. She then waved her wand again, shooting a small fireball targeting the ground in front of them, beyond the illusion. A small explosion rang out and a scorch mark was left on the walls and floor. No real damage was done to either. 
Blud crossed his arms and gave his sister a scowl, “What are you–” Rald slapped her hand over his mouth and held a finger to her own mouth.
	Galahad instinctively drew his staff as he heard footsteps rushing toward them. A group of four stopped at the entrance of the alleyway. An orc, two humans– a man and a woman, and a gnome who spat on the ground, “They musta teleported away. I think one of them goblins hangs out with people in the Hamilton House.”
	“You fat idiot,” The woman groaned at the orc, “They definitely saw us because of you.”
	“Whatever, let's just tell Harold we saw him with some goblins and they vanished. I’m tired and I don’t wanna be on this stupid patrol anymore,” The human man grumbled, “Come on.”
	“They really are trying to spy on you,” Blud scoffed, “What a… a…” He sat on a discarded blue milk crate and shook his head, “An ass, I guess.”
	“Is this crap even allowed, Lox?” Rald asked the human who leaned against a wall and removed his hood.
He shrugged, “Probably,” With the wave of his staff along with the burning of a few cotton balls in his hand. The air pressure around them increased and the sounds coming from the nearby restaurants and shops were deafened, “There. We can speak freely now.”
	“You two stay here, I’m gonna go get some food for us,” Rald offered before casting another illusion on herself to turn herself into the same gnomish woman they had seen a few moments ago, “Blud, summon some furniture. Some chairs at least,” She stepped through the zone of silence and the illusionary wall before turning to the convenience store.
	“Sure, sis,” His first task was to summon a big comfy couch made of a shimmering green material and gesturing to it for Galahad to sit on, “Rest, friend.”
	“Thank you,” The man sighed before nearly collapsing onto it.
	Blud frowned at his friend’s sorry state. He needed to do something, he felt. 

	A few discarded noodle cups sat on a summoned table with the fat rat, Randy, who ate up chips, candy, and noodle scraps that the three had discarded. Blud sat across from his sister and friend, lounging on the milk crate as he drank a blood orange flavored soda. Lox hadn’t said a word in some time, he simply sat with his hands on his knees as Rald stared up at him, “Lox, your hair is a mess,” his sister scolded. She grabbed a comb from her pocket and spat in her hand before standing on the couch and fixing up the human’s hair. 
	He gave her a little smile as she moved onto wiping his face mostly clean with a rag from her pocket, “I never noticed your mouth before,” Galahad mumbled as he embarrassedly looked at her face.
	“Huh?”
	“Your mouth, it's shaped like a cat’s. The top of it kinda connects to your nose,” He explained as he took a moment to stretch after she finished fixing his hair.
	The goblin blushed, “Oh? Do you think it’s cute?”
	“Uh, w-well, I, uh–”
“I’ve got a little nub tail too. Got it from my dad’s side, mom and dad are two different breeds of goblin.”	
	“Y-You do?” Galahad looked bewildered, like he had never heard of such a thing. His face was turning red now as Rald leaned in a little closer.
	“Maybe you wanna see it sometime~?” She giggled and teased, poking Galahad’s red cheek.
	Blud cleared his throat loudly, “Rald. Our friend here needs to rest,” He reminded her, his protective instincts for his slightly younger sister flaring up.
	“I know, I know. I just can’t stand to see him looking so disheveled. No offense, Lox,” Rald gave the human some space as she played with her hair, coiling it around her finger and gently pulling on it.
	The wizard smirked, “None taken. Thanks for helping me hide, guys. It's nice to just relax a bit.”
	“Good to hear it,” Blud nodded, “Rald, when you first saw Lox, I’m surprised you didn’t start acting like mom when she heard he had gotten himself entered.”
	“From the look on his face, I could see he had gotten enough from other people. Like, yeah I’m concerned and afraid, just like mom, but I have a bit better grasp on my emotions than our mother,” The corners of Rald’s mouth contorted into a grin, “But, if you don’t mind me asking, Lox, why? I’m not trusting the lies that the Inquirer is dishing out.”
	“You were all ready to believe it last week,” Galahad teased before shaking his head as he dropped his little joke, “Well, since you want to know. I really don’t like how he harasses Miss Manus. Constantly asking and demanding that she marry him since they’re both high born or some other crap. Constantly disregarding her dreams of being a professor and talking about how powerful they would be together.”
	“So you’re entering the tournament on Manus’s behalf?” Rald could hardly hold her jealousy back.
	“Well, there’s a bit more to it than that. He said something about me not knowing how to treat a woman right since I spend so much time with goblins and lesser demi-humans,” Galahad’s face contorted into a scowl, “I just can’t believe someone like that can be a president.”
	The anger was painfully obvious to Blud, “And then Sean broke up your fight, right?” He wasn’t sure if his friend was more upset about how Harold treated Manus or the comment about demi-humans. 
	“Yup. Then he immediately started to brag about winning the upcoming tournament and how Miss Manus would have to fall for him once he wins and dedicates the victory to her. I… was a little rash in challenging him, I’ll admit. But I had to. I wanted nothing more in that moment of time to see him lose,” The human shook his head at himself.
	“How’d you even get in?” Blud pressed a bit further.
	“Well…” Galahad’s eyes darted around, “I had some… documents that I showed Zucarius and he agreed to let me compete.”
	“You can’t just leave it at that…” Rald whined, the curiosity was killing her as she clenched the cranberry juice can in her hands.
	Galahad shook his head, “You’d… I just don’t want to talk about it. I’d rather not.”
	Blud just shrugged, “Alright, we won’t ask. But Lox, can you give me some kind of assurance that you’re not gonna get yourself killed in this duel?”
	“You know abjuration at least, right?” Rald’s face showed nothing but concern, “This zone of silence is enough to prove that.”
	Galahad looked around, “Yeah,” He slowly nodded, “I am more than adept at it.”
	“That much is obvious. But barriers will only get you so far, Lox,” Blud tossed his empty can into an open trash can, “What else?”
	“I have varying knowledge in conjuration, enchantment, and necromancy. Very little about evocation and transmutation.”
	“So illusion and divination are off the table? I remember you saying you gave those up the other day at lunch,” Rald guessed as she scratched her head, “Do you have a plan? At all?”
	“I’m gonna punch him in the face,” Galahad shrugged. 
	Rald and Blud looked at one another as both sensed a lack of confidence in Galahad, “I’ve got an idea. You need to learn his mana signature,” Blud explained, “Take an L the first round. It's the first to three. You can lose one.”
	“That might not be a bad idea,’ Galahad nodded slowly as he thought about it.
	Rald looked at Randy who was in no rush as he scurried around the conjured table. Her lips spread into an impish grin, “I think I have another idea. Something they might not expect.”
	The boys blinked at her, waiting for her to stop with her long, drawn out dramatic pause, “Go on.”
	“Well, it involves Randy…”
	
	. . . . .

	Eight wizards and witches all sat around the room. The tables were formed in a U shape with each chair spaced out evenly. The presidents all sat in the same order as their house towers were situated in the center of campus, with each side separated evenly between the eight. On the far left side of the U sat President Manus, she was quietly observing the other house presidents take their seats and exchange greetings. Beside her, to her obvious dismay was Harold looking smug as ever, though thankfully his gaze was directed at the other presidents instead of her. The conjuration president sat beside him, the shy and always puffed up Veruka Goldmoon, the owl-harpy’s feathers looking ruffled as always. Rita sat next to the owl mage, which was fortunate for her as Veruka was one of her favorite people to play tricks on, whether she realized it or not. Rita had exchanged pleasantries with her already, managing to get a smile and a hand-to-wing handshake out of the wide-eyed Veruka. That was step one of her grand plan for today.
Across from Rita sat the ever reclusive president of the necromancy house, Edelgarde Hiersing. None really knew who she was despite how long she had been at Fairgarland, and from what Rita knew that was longer than nearly everyone in this room. That title would go to the dwarvish man beside her. Malagrim Warsong was reclusive in a different way; the dwarf was hardly agreeable and even less cordial than even the angriest troll, which made him the perfect target for Rita. He was definitely the oldest at the table, though as with all dwarves he had retained his youth for much longer than the average human races. He had been at the academy since 1959, after he had mastered dwarven axe fighting, forging, tinkering, dwarven war drumming, human country music, gone on tour, then started from the basics with magic. He was taking so long due to focusing on two schools, enchantment, which he was the president of, and transmutation. He also took very few classes a term so as to not stress himself out too much. He shot Rita a frown, his grizzly, unnaturally gray beard drooping with the corners of his mouth. 
	“What’re ya eyeballin’ me for, imp?” He growled at her.
	“Oh, nothin’ really, Mal. Did ya change your hair products?” She asked with a snicker.
	“So, it WAS you!” He stood up in his chair, slamming a fist down on the table.
	“Settle down, Mal.” Sean said, taking his seat beside the irritable dwarf.
"Yes, please, no fighting." Mira Minsley spoke up sitting at the other end of the U-shaped table across from Manus. She had managed to pry her singular eye away from her crystal ball to admonish the dwarf who merely harrumphed and sat back in his chair, muttering obscenities to himself. Rita let a smile spread on her lips before Sean stood up and cleared his throat.
"I'm sure you all know the subject of today's meeting?"
"The dueling tournament," Everyone replied in unison, some more enthusiastic than others.
"Right. Well, let's hear from everyone who has submitted a duelist." He requested, directing everyone's attention towards Mira Minsley.
"House Ophelia has submitted her duelist," Mira announced, her mono-eye scanning the faces of her peers who sat before her. She wrote the name on a piece of paper and folded it in half, "Elton Sidgard. He is a junior of mine. I foresaw he will do well enough, but most importantly he will learn a valuable lesson."
"You're certain?" Sean asked, writing down the name of his house's duelist.
"I have foreseen it," Mira repeated, her decision final.
"Very well. I submit Talmirin Ryvalia as House Maximillian's duelist."
"The gnomish woman?" Harold scoffed, "Suit yourself, I submit yours truly as House Fritz'eleo's duelist."
"Again? Harold, when are you going to give your juniors a chance at dueling?" Sean grumbled, resting his head in his hand. 
The prince raised his chin at the president of abjuration with a self-satisfied smirk, "Maybe when I finally lose, but it's more likely I'll have mastery of Evocation before then," He snickered to himself.
"House Calmashorne submits Rigard Aemison," Malagrim grunted out, stroking his gray-dyed beard before scribbling down the name. Rita's smile widened, everything was going well for her little scheme.
"Who?" Asked Harold, surprising no one.
"Ye best not test me, princeling, or I'll whip the snark out of your mouth with my boots," The dwarf warned him.
"Oh, you wouldn't dare-" A shoe was thrown from across the table, striking Harold on the jaw. It stunned him more than it hurt, but the dwarf sat down, satisfied.
"He just hit me!" Harold moaned, indignation in his voice.
"He did warn you," Rita snorted, the rest agreeing with her. She smiled and stuck her tongue out at the prince who sneered back, another part of her plan in action.
Harold's mouth would be shut tight for the rest of the meeting after that display.
"I submit my favorite fellow student Ulyses Bradley," Rita proclaimed, "I hope your 'champions' are up for him."
"Wilbert Dodgary," Edelgarde's voice was scarcely heard over everyone else, yet somehow everyone had heard it and a chill ran through their bodies.
"L-L-Lillian Gourdbeater," Veruka voiced her entrant.
"What happened to Raymond?" Asked Rita.
"He came down with a bad case of Mana sickness…" 
"Overtrained himself again?" Rita surmised.
Veruka pouted, "He's s-such a blockhead."
"Well, Manus?" Rita spoke over her two neighbors. The blue witch merely nodded at her, "Fredrik Alistair Jeoffrey."
"Golden boy, huh?" Rita smiled, "Hope he does better than last year."
"Is that everyone?" Sean asked.
"No, actually," Harold scoffed, "Aren't you forgetting someone, Dear Manus?"
Rita turned to the prince, a little startled that he would speak up first. She watched as the blue witch shot a glare at the prince before standing up, "I must also announce that Galahad Loxley of House Seeker has entered into the drawing."
"Galahad? The first year from the other day?" Sean asked.
Manus nodded, "Yes. He was adamant and even managed to get Zucarius' approval."
"I see. That complicates things for our pairings."
"Nonsense," Said Harold, "You asked me when I'd let one of my own students duel, well I stand corrected, I will procure one before the day is up," He announced to the table.
"Good. Well, if that's everyone, please place your students in the hat," Sean announced, pointing to Veruka Goldmoon. The owl harpy conjured up a hat with the wave of her wand and floated it past each house president, all of them throwing in the scrap papers with their duelists names on them." Rita smirked again when it passed her by, the imp quickly tossing in her own scrap paper. Harold submitting another student wouldn't matter, she was going to pull this off no matter what.
Veruka guided the hat around her and to Harold, then Manus. After both had placed their two papers each, she put the hat before herself. She quickly wrote down her student's name and dropped it inside. Rita contained her glee as everything had gone off without a hitch. After a brief moment of magically shuffling the names, Veruka pulled out the first pair, neither of which Rita cared about. After the first two pairs, finally Veruka announced, "Galahad and… Harold." The Owl looked at Manus who grimaced, clearly still worried about her junior. Rita sighed, maybe she was right to be worried, but this fight was just too interesting not to rig and both Malagrim and Veruka had unwittingly helped her do so. Two well placed, time-delayed spells planted on either of them allowed for an easier time of casting illusions on the duelist names, Malagrim's gray beard no doubt passed through his fingers several times that morning as he tried to scrub it clean, the lingering spell infecting his fingertips and Veruka never expected so straightforward a spell cast upon her wing-talons, let alone one so mundane.
The imp allowed the biggest smile to cross her lips as the meeting continued, planning for the event to come. Her debt to Galahad was now paid, but even so she would have gladly done it at the mere thought of someone attempting to knock Harold down several pegs.
	The last of the names were drawn and the pairings were formed. Then each was given a number that was drawn in order to place them on the tournament board.
	The tournament had five fights to start. Fights A, B, and C. The winners of A and B would fight, then the winner of that would fight the winner of C. Whoever won that would go to the finals. On the other side, there were fights D and E. The winners of both would fight then whoever won that would go to the finals to fight the left side’s winner. The right side was the one that Manus and Rita were interested in. Fight E was Harold against Galahad. D was Fredrik against the illusion house’s entrant, Ulyses.
	“That settles that matter of business,” Sean announced, “Next we have a few other orders of business. Elections are coming up. If our houses feel that we need to be replaced, we shall know.”
	“Hopefully they finally kick Harold out,” Rita giggled, “Replace him with someone who has his house's interests in mind.”
	“For your information,” Harold hissed, “I have my house's interests in mind at all times!”
	“If you did, you never would have agreed to Galahad’s conditions,” Rita replied with a smug look. The prince opened his mouth to speak, “Don’t even try to talk your way out of it. You’re going to say something about being confident you can’t lose, but I know more about Galahad than you do,” She gave a devilish grin, “He’s more powerful than you know, and no amount of spies will help you learn just what exactly he’s capable of. When you lose, I hope your house replaces you with one of those demi-humans you loathe so much.” 
 	Harold slammed his hands on the table. He was covered in sweat, his nerves were frazzled and his cloak looked disheveled, “You– you have to be lying,” He decided as he stood up and adjusted his robes, “I will not lose to a first year and I will be president again. And I will not sit here and be insulted! I have important matters to attend to, good day,” He growled as he stepped from the room, taking what meager materials he had brought with him.
	Sean sighed, but most presidents looked quite amused, “Do you really have to push his buttons during meetings, Rita?”
	“Of course I do,” The imp giggled as she leaned back in her seat, “How else would I enjoy these drab meetings?”
	“As for the elections…” Sean tried to get the meeting back on track.
	“If I may,” Edelgarde interrupted softly, “None here are at risk of being replaced now that Harold has left. Most students do not want the burden of the presidency on top of their studies.”
	“Fritz’eleo is most likely the only one big enough to have such a student who would want to replace him,” Mira Minsley remarked, her large, single eye blinking a few times in succession, “I can see it in my visions.”
	Veruka nodded, “Especially i-if he loses their highly c-contested lab and rec room times…”
	“I wouldn’t mind seeing that manling prince knocked down a few pegs, but…” Malagrim frowned, “Has anyone really tested this Galahad character?”
	“Fredrik has kept an eye on him for me,” Manus replied, “They sparred and he put up a good fight, but he believes that Galahad was holding back.”
	“Do you think he can win the tournament?” Sean asked, “A first year beating Harold would be a huge upset, but winning the entire tournament would be massive.”
	“I am not sure that he even has his eyes set on winning the tournament. For how he talks during our tutoring sessions, defeating Harold is his only goal.”
	Sean rubbed his chin, “For the first time, I find myself doubting Harold’s win. Well, as I believe what Edelgarde said is correct, we can adjourn the meeting. I hope you all once again vote for me as your student body president.” 
	“You can keep it,” Rita blew a raspberry as she slumped in her seat, “Normal presidency is more than enough work already…”
	“I would not mind being student body president, at least for a time,” Mal decided as he stroked his beard, “Perhaps–”
	“Nah,” Rita smirked, “You’re too old school, you fossil.”
	“F-Fossil?!”
	Like the Cheshire Cat, Rita vanished bit by bit as the rest of the presidents slowly filed out. The last pieces to vanish were her eyes and then her mouth, grinning from ear to ear as the dwarf felt a bit of sweat pour down his brow. He unfortunately knew what the imp was capable of and illusion magic had always been the bane of his existence. He folded his arms and used a cloth from his pocket to wipe his forehead. For some reason, it felt like his forehead wouldn’t get dry from the wiping.
	Sean looked over, waiting to be the last to leave, one of his ‘duties’ as student body president, “Uh, Mal.”	
	“Y-yes?” He snapped to attention and stood.
	“You… well you have something on your face,” Was all Sean said, a little smirk on his lips, while he left before the dwarf.
With trembling hands, one of which could not remove the handkerchief from his forehead now, the dwarf conjured a mirror for himself. He had glue smeared across his forehead and with some in his beard and hair. His anger was beginning to boil.

	Galahad sat on the edge of his bed, staring out the portal window at a wheat covered valley. The wheat looked like it had been growing for some time as it waved in the wind, moving like waves on a golden ocean. It reminded him of home. The valleys and forests, the plains and rivers… he missed it. Even if he had left to get away from his parents, Galahad still missed them too. He wondered if he should give them a call soon to check in, but eventually decided against it. He was supposed to be living on his own, at least for a time. With the ticking of the clock, he tapped his foot before finally deciding to get up and bathe. His shower was small, but the water was as hot as he needed to relax his wound up muscles. He reached up and rubbed his own shoulder as he stretched the arm in a circle. The way he had held his arm to finally cast that transmutation spell yesterday had been straining on his body. The strange hand shape, the odd angle of his arm, and the concentration required was a lot more than he had expected. Miss Manus had been right, you couldn’t do it fast and loose like other schools of magic. He cupped his hand before arduously contorting it and focusing in on the water in his hand. His mouth moved as near silent words left his mouth. He felt a sizzling in his hands as the water heated up and boiled before becoming a light yellow color. Bringing it to his nose he smelled lemonade and dared to drink it, “Ugh, too sour,” He grunted before washing his hand clean of the sour drink. 
	As he finished lathering and rinsing his body, Galahad turned off the water then raised his arms straight in the air and said a single word, bringing his arms straight out and summoning a powerful gust of warm air around him to dry his skin and hair. He twisted his upper body, popping his spine and stretching his back muscles. He wondered if there was some kind of masseuse on campus that could fix his weary body. Galahad stopped himself before his mind could wander too far. Although there was something at the back of his mind, Miss Manus– not that he was imagining her giving him a massage, but what if he could change his limbs like she could? Could he extend his arms like she could? Could she even do that? He wasn’t sure. Maybe change them into something stronger? 
He shook his head and chuckled before getting dressed and bringing out his books, notebooks, magical materials, and textbooks. It was Thursday, a day of study and practice for him before a hopefully relaxing weekend, if he did manage to finish all his homework today, anyways. He laid them out on his desk and bed, giving him space to pour over everything as he practiced and studied magical formulae. He was to make an attempt at the scrivener’s casting style, where the caster would draw magical runes on a special piece of paper with special, magically infused ink. The chalice of water sat on a circle he had drawn which was surrounded by symbols for water. Circular waves that wound in on themselves. He was supposed to use this style to transmute water into another liquid once more. It was simple, draw a circle, some runes of power around it, tweak them until you get the desired liquid. He wanted lemonade and would not stop until he had it done. He stood over the softly glowing runes and frowned, what were the required sigils, again?

	Five glasses of water later, Galahad had made a palatable glass. Not too sour nor too sweet for him. He sighed, feeling how weary his body was. He wasn't tired, per say, not physically at least, though his tongue ached from the sour drinks. It wasn't mental or emotional either, it was something that only casters would feel, a pain in the soul as mana deprivation took its toll. There were a few ways to alleviate this feeling: the best was alcohol of any kind– wine more so– would jumpstart the body’s natural production of it, food and other liquids less so. Water did next to nothing. A major exception was liquor made from transmutation. The mana used would be much more than what would be regained. Alternatively, it wouldn’t do much of anything, a complete loss of mana. Even if you were giving another caster mana by making it, it was much less time consuming and more efficient to simply siphon mana to them, a technique most wizards could do and one that Galahad himself was very familiar with. The wizard stood and looked at the clock. It was nearly time for lunch. He would have liked to keep studying, but he knew he needed the mana. With a sigh, he threw a coat over his shoulders before stepping out of his dorm and out of the Seeker’s tower. It was mid day so Shanessa was already gone, probably to her own classes on necromancy healing. As Galahad left, he spotted two students sitting on a bench just outside the tower. One of them nudged the other and pointed toward Galahad before the two started to snicker. The wizard frowned but kept walking. Did he embarrass himself recently? He wasn’t sure. He couldn’t remember doing anything dumb in his short time at the academy. Sure, he had cooped himself in his room except for when Shanessa and Fredrik came to check up on him during the week leading up to the beginning of classes. 
	“Yo! Lox!” 
Galahad could recognize that nasally voice anywhere, “Hey, Blud,” He smirked at the fact that he kept getting called out to wherever he went, “What’s up?” He hollered back as he noticed the goblin and his sister. The two were walking down the path beside him, heading toward the road, “Sheesh, Blud. You get in a fight?” He asked as he saw the slowly healing red and purple wound contrasting the goblin’s green skin.
	“Oh yeah, got in a fight with Syrus Rockshaper, but that’s not where I got this. I was sitting in a bush–,” He stopped before nervously looking at his sister who was shooting him a glare, “I mean,” He pulled his hat down over the wound, “I just fell and hit my head. Really.”
	“I see,” Galahad gave a confused look but didn’t ask questions, “Hi, Rald,” He changed topics quickly.
	“Good afternoon, mister popular,” The green woman giggled as she played with her hair.
	“Excuse me?”
	“You heard me. You’ve been the talk of the campus a—all morning!” She started walking again and pointed a finger at Galahad, “Come on, come clean. How’d you manage to score her?”
	“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Galahad’s deadpan voice and blank expression made Rald back down. As the wizard looked around, he saw numerous nearby individuals looking his way, trying to eavesdrop not so subtly, “What the hell is going on?”
	Rald rubbed her face, “How?! How do you NOT read the inquirer?” 
“The what?”
	“He really doesn’t know sis,” Blud said, amused and almost impressed judging by his tone, “Peep this, my man,” He pulled a newspaper out of his cloak and handed it over.
	Galahad unfolded it and stared at the front page, “Multifold Manus of Alderia… spotted with new student in a one-on-one…” Galahad read aloud as he saw the photos of Miss Manus and himself, “What, they think we’re dating?!” He belly laughed and threw his head back, “Seriously? I got tutored once and now everyone thinks I’m going steady with her?” 
	“They’re hungry for rumors and mysteries,” Blud sighed, “It's all a spew of garbage in that paper there.”
	“It is not!” Rald protested, “This is why you don’t have any friends, Blud.”
	“I’m his friend, right?” Galahad countered, making Rald roll her eyes at him.
	The lady goblin smirked, “I guess you boys just can’t understand real culture. The Inquirer prints what people want to read. They wanna read about the real goings on here at the academy. That Fairgarland Newspaper is so boring in comparison. Carly is a real genius.”
	“Yeah, yeah, whatever. That paper is for the sad-sacks who never leave campus,” Blud groaned, “Hey, speaking of– we’re headed home, Lox. You wanna come with and get some lunch? We are friends, right?”
	“Oh, that’s a great idea! Mom loves having guests over!” Rald replied, “C’mon, Lox! You gotta! We can show you around town, too!”
	Galahad looked at the two. He found himself unable to say no as they looked up at him with big, hope filled eyes, “Sure. I’m down. I don’t need to be anywhere until four. Do you two have a car or…?”
“Nah, we take the bus,” Blud chuckled, “You think we’re rich?” Rald quickly pulled out her phone and checked something, only pushing a few buttons before she put it away.
“Well–” Galahad gave them an embarrassed look as the three got to the street that cut the campus grounds in half, “I didn’t want to assume you were poor.”
	“That’s mighty kind of ya,” Rald teased, “We’re just frugal. Some of our siblings have cars, but not us. We’re not the youngest of our family nor the oldest. Kinda somewhere in the middle.”
	“Yup,” Blud confirmed as he checked the bus schedule, “Hopefully this isn’t really thirty minutes away…”
	“Here. Hey! Cabbie!” Galahad shouted at a nearby horse drawn carriage. He pulled up to the three, “Where’s your address, guys?” Blud apprehensively stated the place and Galahad threw the cab driver some silver coins to pay for it.
	“Are you sure…?” Rald asked. She was eager to ride in the carriage, but she felt bad that their guest was paying for it.
	Galahad nodded, “Don’t worry about it. Come on,” He opened the door on the side of the black and yellow carriage. Blud climbed in on his own and Galahad helped Rald in before getting in himself.
	“Oh, such a gentleman!” Rald swooned as she was helped onto the tall first step by gripping onto Galahad’s hand, “Blud should keep hanging out with you, Lox. He could learn a lot.”
	“Yeah, whatever,” Blud rolled his eyes as his sister sat next to him, “I can’t believe you want me to take after a human.”
	 Rald giggled, “He ain’t that bad for a human, y’know? He’d look a hell of a lot better if he was green, though. Want another quick palm reading to pass the time?”

	The carriage rolled into town just before Rald finished the reading. She didn’t read anything differently than last time. The ride had taken them past the train station between the academy grounds and to the town of Lindiburg, a large town mostly known for being the closest town to Fairgarland Academy. There was another, much lesser known town to the north called Farixburg, its sister city. Blud and Rald stared out the windows, “Oh,” Rald pointed to the left, “There’s Pizza-Mountain. Dwarf-ran pizza joint, it’s alright. Their wings are pretty great, too and they deliver to the academy, mister money bags.”
	“Yeah, if you dump Manus or get dumped by her or whatever and you want my sister, get her the very hot brew battered wings,” Blud smirked, “She’ll be ALL over you.”
	“C’mon don’t say that,” Rald punched her brother’s arm, “I don’t think Lox would go for a demi-human,” She paused for a moment, “At least not ones like us.”
	“Don’t insinuate that I hate goblins,” Galahad firmly told her, “If I did, would I be here right now?”
	She shrugged, but her expression betrayed her joy upon hearing so, “Alright, fine. You win. What else do we have,” She looked back out the windows, “There’s a whole lot of bars around here, some bar-cades or whatever, arcades… Blud, what's that one you like?”
	“Games, Guts, and Grub. Run by a cool orc dude. I can’t get enough of the offal sweetbread he makes. And the cow heart burgers? That’s the good stuff,” Blud looked hungry as he stared out the window, “Oh, crap, what’s mom making? We REALLY don’t want to try and feed Lox crap like that.” 
	“I told her we had a friend, and I specified it was a human too,” She turned to Galahad, “Mom will take any opportunity she gets to make something dad would consider fancy for a goblin!”
	“Oh, she’s making spaghetti or something then,” Blud deduced, “I hope the meatballs are made of cow hearts.”
	“You sure love cow hearts, huh, Blud?” Galahad laughed as he looked at the candy stores, convenience stores, hobby shops, little grocery stores, and different kinds of restaurants of various prices. There was an antique shop that peddled with old magic and mundane wares, some clothing stores most of which catered to casters, and a hair salon among many others. The carriage stopped in front of a tall, peculiar building with a lit up glass front that had many advertisements for magical paraphernalia in the windows. Galahad got out first and helped Rald down the steps before Blud jumped down on his own. The man followed the two green skins into the building, past a sign in the window that said ‘Mr. Raxpedalia’s Wondrous Bazaar.’ 
	As the glass door was pushed open, a bell jingled, alerting the clerk to their arrival, “Welcome in!” A nasally voice called as a goblin took his position behind the checkout counter, “Ah! My good for nothing kids are here,” The old, bald goblin in a button up shirt and red tie folded his arms disapprovingly.
	“Dad!” Rald shouted.
	The goblin laughed at his embarrassed kids, “Ah, I’m just messing around. Good to see ya made it home. Record time too. That your friend?”
	Blud nodded, “Yeah, this is Lox, dad." 
“We got home so quickly since Lox treated us to a most luxurious carriage ride,” The other goblin said as she presented the human to her father.
	“I-it wasn’t that luxurious…” He looked at his feet, embarrassed.
	“Ah, modest too. I can see why you like him, Rald,” Their father laughed as Rald’s face turned red, “The name’s Crud, Lox. Nice to meet ya. Ya seem a lot nicer than the humans my elder kids ride with.”
	“Crud?” Galahad repeated.
	“Yeah. Crud,” The goblin dad smirked, “S'what my ol' Pa said when I was born, goblins are named after whatever their dads first say to 'em, accidentally or not. So that's my name. Blud, Rald, your mom’s working on lunch right now, why not show Lox around the shop?”
	“S-sure, dad,” Rald mewled before trudging away.
	“I’ll show ‘em around. Go check on mom,” Blud ordered his little sister, “C’mon, Lox,” He waved as he started to wander the aisles, “Ma and Pa keep the business stocked with all kinds of magical things. We got wands, some cloaks,” Galahad grabbed a forest green cloak. It was made of a magic resistant wool and was rough to the touch. He brought it with him as he followed the goblin around, “Picked one out already?”	
	“Yeah, I need more,” Galahad shrugged as he glanced at the mass produced wands. Good for beginners, but once you got further into your studies a wand, staff, magic orb, or even a chunk of crystal fit to you was required. Potion ingredients for simple things such as minor healing, some poisons, and perhaps a few elemental resistant potions. Glass cylinders full of blue salt sat on another which Galahad grabbed two of.
“Anything else ya need?” Blud asked.
“I need…” He glanced around the shelves at the individually packaged magical components. He grabbed a phoenix feather, a small mirror, and a clump of electrified wool, “These look good. It's like a convenience store for magic.”
 	“That’s exactly what it is!” Crud hollered, “Ya find anything good, Lox?”
	“Cloak, some salt, materials,” Galahad told him as the father goblin rang everything up, “Nice little shop. How’s business been?”
	“Thank ya, we make it by with enough extra money to send the kids off to school. Lotsa wizards in this town and a lot of ‘em shop here, thankfully,” He finished ringing in the items, “And the ten percent friends and family discount,” He muttered to himself as he punched it in on the register’s display.
	“What was that?” Galahad asked.
	“Nothin.’ Blud, get your friend some mana salt taffy too.”
	“Sure thing, dad,” The goblin replied, “On the house?”
	“Yup!”
	“Oh, you don’t need to do that,” Galahad awkwardly said as he paid for his purchases. 
	“Nonsense. You’d be surprised how many friends my kids bring home. It’s not a whole lot. Both Blud and Rald talked about you when we saw you in the newspaper today.”
	“Ah, the inquirer?” Galahad sighed as he slid everything he bought into his bottomless bag along with the multicolored mana salt taffy, “I’m sick of hearing about that newspaper,” The wizard sighed.
	“Yeah, it wasn’t much better when my wife was going there,” Crud wiped his hands off on a cloth under the counter, “You two head upstairs. I’m sure Blud’s mom is done cooking.”
	“Thanks again,” Galahad gave a little smile before the other goblin led him through a short door and into the back room. Boxes of stock for the store as well as a couch and an ancient CRT TV sat in the corner. Both looked very dusty.
	“I used to take naps down here to get away from my siblings,” Blud explained as the two started up the stairs. 
	“How… how many siblings do you have?” Galahad asked as he started to hear numerous voices from the floor above them and little feet scampering across the wooden paneling. 
	“There’s… a dozen of us?” Blud guessed, scratching his chin before he took off his cloak and hat. 
	“You don’t even know?”
	“We’re goblins. This house is really chaotic all the time. Plus it's a store that each of us have worked in. I swear I count eleven and thirteen, sometimes up to fifteen, at gatherings.”
	“Jeez, that bad, huh?”
	As if to emphasize the point, Blud opened the door into the home, showing Galahad all the goblins shouting at one another and running around. The wizard counted five goblins that looked younger than Blud and Rald. A few of them stopped as they ran past the entry and hid around the corner when they saw their brother bringing a stranger into their home. Blud hung his cloak and hat on a low hanging hook on the wall. There were fourteen hooks with a little cubby underneath each on both walls of the entry hallway. Some held a mundane coat, a few had wizard’s cloaks and each of the cubbies had a few pairs of shoes in each, “You look perplexed, Lox.”
	Galahad rubbed his face, “Not really, I’m amazed how organized this is,” He said quietly as he removed his own shoes and placed them atop an unoccupied cubby, “I assume these are your older siblings and they’re out of the house?”
	“Yup. Mom leaves ‘em up for when they come home. C’mon,” As the two headed to the end of the entryway, the younger goblins dashed away.
	“KIDS! STOP RUNNING AROUND AND COME SIT DOWN FOR LUNCH!” A woman shouted, nearly shaking the entire building with her imposing voice. Galahad was led by Blud, with the smaller, younger goblins behind them. A long and short table surrounded by a mismatched mass of chairs filled a big dining room and some of the kitchen. In the kitchen, Galahad saw the mother goblin. Her face was wrinkled and tired, but still turned into a grin when she spotted her son and his friend, “Oh! Hi Lox!”
	“H-hey,” He gave a weak smile before being shepherded into a seat between Blud and Rald. Rald had stripped off her cloak and wore a yellow shirt with denim shorts. Blud was in a blue polo and khaki slacks. The other goblins of their age wore roughly the same thing and the children wore t-shirts of various colors and shorts. 
	“Are you a wizard?!” One of the children cried.
	“Could you beat up Blud?”
	“Are you dating Rald?”
	“Do you like this cat I drew?”
	“Children,” The elder goblin said firmly to quiet them down while she started sliding plates of spaghetti down the table. She flicked her wrist, weilding a chunk of rough crystal in her hand that made the plates stop right when they were supposed to, “Everyone, why not introduce yourself to Lox? You can ask about him later.”
	Galahad listened intently, doing his best to remember all of their names as every goblin stated them and one thing about themselves. Scald, Plod, Yolt, Gholk, and Glamk were the younger ones. Torln and Wend were older, “And you may call me Root,” Their mother said with a smile as Galahad was given a big plate of normal looking and meaty smelling spaghetti. He glanced over at Blud’s, seeing how much darker his meatballs were. He guessed they were made out of the beef hearts he loved so much.
	“Lots of short names,” Glahad noted as he took mental notes, “Hopefully I can remember everything.”
	“Well, when you have a dozen kids, you make it all as easy to remember as possible!” Root laughed.
“Is it a dozen? Blud wasn’t sure when I asked,” Galahad chuckled as he adjusted himself in the short seat as the entire table erupted into chatter.
“You were in the Inquirer today, right, Lox?” Torln asked.
	“Don’t bother him about that,” Blud groaned, “That whole story is garbage.”
	“Yeah, Miss Manus is just tutoring me,” Galahad quickly explained and tried to shift topics immediately, “Is everyone here a caster?”
Root shook her head, “I’m a thaumaturge as are Blud and Rald as well as my first born. He’s since moved away, unfortunately. Crud is a bard, he was taught in a bard college over in Maine. I think my second and third both became bards too… maybe one turned to becoming a warlock? It's hard to keep track," She chuckled, a little embarrassed, "Only Scald is showing promise in becoming a thaumaturge out of those five.”
	“And that doesn’t cause any conflicts?”
	Wend scoffed and shook her head, “Do I look like I want all that work and expectation on me? I’m more than fine becoming an office worker or something.”
	“Fair enough,” Galahad turned to his food. The meatballs tasted… normal, maybe a bit too seasoned but still good. The sauce was store bought, but quite tasty. Lastly, the noodles were perfect, quite easy to slurp down.
	“Are you a thaumaturge too?” One of the child goblins asked.
	“No, I’m studying transmutation. I’ve given up illusion and divination,” He explained, “I can’t be a thaumaturge like your brother and sister at this point.” 
	“Why do you have to give those up?” Another wondered.
	“Well, you can only work on so much and learn so much. Mastering one and dabbling in five others is already a lot.”
	“Why’d you pick those ones?” Rald asked, wiping the sauce off her face with the back of her hand.
	“With divination, the future can always change. My grandma is a divination master, and from what she told me the future is usually obfuscated - hidden," He quickly explained to the younger ones, "Or it changes. Mine has changed numerous times from what she’s seen. She can really only change small details and luck consistently. With illusion, I can either trick you into believing that I’m making a fireball, or with evocation I can actually make one. Once you’ve seen through one of my illusions, you can see through all of them,” He explained, wreathing his hand in flames to prove the point before dispelling it, “I’m also too lazy to constantly change up the illusion formula to keep whoever I’m using it on guessing.”
	“I see,” Blud rubbed his chin as he looked his friend over, “You look so uncomfortable, Lox.”
	“He probably isn’t used to being around so many demi-humans,” Rald teased.
	“Well…” Galahad shifted nervously, “My mom and sisters are demi-humans. That’s not what it is. I’ve just… never been over to a friend’s house for a meal. Or at all, really. I didn’t have a lot of friends growing up…”
	“WHAT?!” Root shouted as she stood up from the table, her chair almost clattering to the floor, “You never had friends?!” 
	“Not– not many. None very close,” Galahad embarrassedly explained.
	“Galahad,” Root looked terribly sad, “If you need somewhere to go, or someone to talk to, you can always come here. I’ll always have a plate of hot food and a place at my table for you. Okay?”
	The wizard nodded, “Thank you,” He sighed, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset everyone with that.”
	“You’re family here, Lox,” She added before sitting back down, “From what Blud and Rald have told me, you’re a lot nicer than most humans are to goblins.”
	“Like I said, demi-human family,” He gave a small smile before going back to his food.
	“You… just don’t have friends?” One of the kids whimpered, “None at all?”
	“Well, I had–” He paused, “Let me show you. A good friend of mine since I was seven years old,”  He moved his hands in a circle in the middle of the table. Conjuration runes appeared in an orange color before a small flash and a puff of smoke. A rotund rodent, or a fat rat as most would call it had appeared on the table. His fur was brown and his claws and tail were pink and long. He sniffed around the table as the children stared in wonder, “My familiar, Randy Rat.”
	“You were seven when you summoned a familiar?” Root was astonished. The kids all started feeding the rat spaghetti and he happily ate it all.
	Blud smirked, “Told ya. Lox here is pretty knowledgeable.”
	“You were an apprentice, right?” Rald added.
	He nodded, “Yeah. Learned since I was pretty young. Uh, mostly mana control, simple spells, that kind of thing.” 
	“I see,” Root was obviously skeptical of a childing being able to bind a familiar to themselves only learning simple spells, “Well, you might need to teach my kids how to summon a familiar, they’re not going to want to let yours go.”
	Galahad smirked as he watched the children take turns picking up Randy Rat and holding him. He repressed a sigh, they were reminding him of his youth.

. . . . .

	Contrasting Wednesday’s dreary rain, Miss Manus found herself walking across campus as the afternoon sun beat down– at least when it wasn’t obfuscated by the clouds that moved rapidly overhead due to the brisk wind. Puddles still littered the concrete and stone paths while the grassy areas were covered in mud. Many students were out at this time, four in the afternoon was a busy time for the campus and was when most students were finished with the day’s lectures. Manus paused for a moment underneath a dripping oak to retrieve a small scroll from beneath her cloak and glanced it over. She had taken care of most of her presidential duties yesterday leaving her Thursday evening open for her tutoring session. All she had left to do was put in Fredrik as their house’s duelist for the upcoming tournament. She got a few glances as she walked by a group of students talking about their classes and professors. Most had high praise for them, but each necromancy student whined about how difficult the teachers were. A few mused about pretty teachers, funny old men, and one complained about fainting again in a potion brewing class. 
	The Multifold Manus continued her stroll by them, paying them no mind as they paid her none as well. She had a mission on her mind. She made it to the library and stopped at the cafe to get some tea and a cup of water before finding a seat. She was sitting at a corner table and began sipping on her tea, eyeing a few students who passed by, one or two of them nervously looking back. She disregarded them as she brought out her books and a journal, preparing to take notes on what Galahad needed further tutelage on. As the man had instructed, she sent a simple text message to him. All it had in the message was ‘R,’ her shorthand for ready. She began to jot down Galahad’s performance on the small test she had assigned. He had turned the water into cranberry juice and had drank it shortly after citing that it ‘could have been more tart.’ She drew magical sigils, runes, and diagrams as she took notes and muttered to herself. She had four pages covered with notes and symbols when a form appeared across from her at the table.
	“Ah, Multifold Manus, my sweet,” The pompous voice made Miss Manus’s skin crawl, “I hope you are well today.”
The witch didn’t even need to look up to know who had appeared before her, “What can I do for you, Harold?” She gave him the courtesy of looking him in the eye as she flatly replied to him.
The wizard held a folded newspaper in his hand. There was a look on his face that Manus had never really seen from him before; he looked upset, perhaps angry even. Manus felt the hair stand up on her neck as she quickly got cagey and cautious, “President Manus, I understand you are playing hard to get, but do you not think this is a little far?” He asked, folding his arms and tapping his foot.
	“What on earth are you talking about?” Miss Manus slowly asked.
	“Honestly, I thought a woman like you would read the Inquirer. Presidents need to keep their ears on the ground when it comes to the goings on at this academy!” He scolded. 
	“I skipped today’s edition. Tuesday’s paper was so dreadful I simply disposed of it. Did something come up in it?”
	Harold shook his head and slid the paper he carried across the table, “See for yourself what has been printed today.”
	Miss Manus gingerly took the paper in her hands and unfolded it to reveal the front page. A picture of herself and Galahad covered most of it. She sighed as she silently read the title of the article, “Carly…” She folded the paper and passed it back, “He is my student. I am tutoring him. We exchanged numbers so that we may plan further tutoring sessions.”
	“Why would you waste your time with a low born wizard?” Harold sighed, “You deserve only a powerful high born, President Manus.”
	“I just told you,” Manus growled, “I am simply teaching him. I will teach any student, low or high born, human or demi-human, strong or weak. If a student trusts me as their teacher or professor, I will do everything I can to aid them. Galahad came to me for help, and I intend to give it.”
	“You are wasting your time becoming a professor,” Harold scoffed, “You and I could do great things together. You need only say yes to my advances.”
	“I have no interest in you, Harold.”
	“I cannot fathom why you must spurn me, my sweet. You and I are both nobility, we were meant to be!” Harold insisted.
	“She said she’s not interested, pal,” Both Miss Manus and Harold turned to see Galahad strutting up to the table, arms concealed under his cloak, “For a high born, you seem to struggle with your manners.”
	“E-excuse me?” Harold looked shocked, a nerve had obviously been struck.
	“Galahad,” Miss Manus eyed him, “Harold. Both of you–”
	“What would you know about manners and how to deal with maidens, whelp?” Harold hissed, “Especially after spending so much time with goblins and other lesser demi-humans.”
	Galahad glared, the smugness on his face was completely gone in an instant, “Oh, I see, snobbish and prejudiced. Well let me tell you something, they’re a whole lot better than a stuck up ‘prince’ like you. I’d rather spend time with hundreds of them than put up with you for a minute more."
	“You would DARE put me beneath such filth?!” Harold’s voice rose, “I am a prince and you will treat me as such! Such insolence needs to be punished! Your blood being spilt shall be the payment for this slight!” Harold drew his gold engraved wand, and Galahad’s staff burst out from beneath his cloak in response. Both casters glared at one another, wand and staff held at the ready, neither wanting to be the first to move. Miss Manus stared at both, sweat pouring down her face as her body froze, unable to act to stop the two.
“Both of you! Cease this foolishness!” A voice hollered. Both wizards froze as the commanding voice boomed, their casting implements being wrenched from their hands and flying into the grasp of a wizard wearing a stylish suit-like set of robes with a white undershirt and blue tie. He glared at both Galahad and Harold as he approached, “Dueling outside of the campus arena is strictly forbidden, does the library look like the arena to you two?!" He scolded before giving back both casting implements.
	“Sean, thank you for stopping them,” Miss Manus finally felt herself breathe, her chest heaving slowly. 
	“President Manus,” Sean Reagal simply greeted before looking at the two wizards, “I heard everything between you and Harold as well as the exchange between these two,” He gave Galahad a look, “I do not believe we have met. For now, Harold, I expect much better of you. You are a president, I care not that you are a prince as well, but many students look up to you in and out of your house. I may not be able to control how you conduct yourself, but I can petition for your removal and have you expelled should this happen again." Sean's warning clearly had the effect he wanted, the prince shrinking back at the thought of expulsion. 
The prince opened his mouth to protest, a finger pointed at Galahad, only for Sean to shoot him down immediately, "I don't care what he did or said, you are a Fairgarland House President, you are held to a higher standard! I am almost ashamed to have you as my peer. And you–”
	“Sean,” Miss Manus jumped to her feet, “please do not punish Galahad. He merely came to my defense when he overheard my conversation with Harold,” The prince’s face oozed with jealousy and anger.
	The president of the abjuration house folded his arms, “I understand that. Harold was the first to draw so I will not punish him. Consider this a warning, Galahad, was it? As I do not know you, I will assume you are new. Keep fighting to the arena and we will have no further issues.”
“Understood,” Galahad replied, nervousness spread across his face as he put away his staff.
	“Ah, the arena…" Harold mused in an attempt to regain his composure, "The yearly tournament will be in only a week and a half! I will win and dedicate the victory to President Manus! Does that not sound wonderful?”
	“Harold…” Manus sighed, knowing she could not change his mind. 
	“You know what?” Galahad smirked, “I’m going to enter. I’ll wipe that smug look right off your face.”
	Sean and Miss Manus both looked at him in shock as Harold laughed, “There are many problems with that, curr. You are of the Seeker’s house. They do not let people in it enter the tournament!”
	“Incorrect,” Sean quickly interjected, “If he has sufficient evidence to be let in, the dean shall let him.”
	“Galahad, you do not need to do this,” Miss Manus pleaded.
	“You best listen to her. A first year has no chance,” Harold chuckled smugly with a big smile on his face, “Especially some baseborn fool from who-knows-where.”
	“You don’t know me,” Galahad hissed, his teeth were grit.
	“Oh? Then why not make this interesting? If I win, you and Manus will cease this tomfoolery under the guise of tutoring and you will cease all contact with her.”
	“And if I win?”
	“What is it you want?”
	Galahad looked at Manus who was still silently pleading for him to back down, “Miss Manus, Fredrik told me your house has terrible time slots for lab and recreation. Does Harold’s house have better times?”
	She nodded, “Y-yes it does, but–”
	“Then you’ll trade times with them if I win,” He proposed, eliciting a laugh from his rival.
	“So be it. I have no fear of you winning so I will agree. Sean, be a dear and draft a contract for this as our witness. I, Harold Garnalga Babarry of House Fritz’eleo issue a challenge to Galahad Loxley of the Seeker’s House. The duel will take place during Fairgaland Academy’s yearly dueling tournament. Should he fail to enter, lose before facing me, or lose to me, he will forfeit any time he would be spending with President Manus. But I will be nice and not include time he spends as her student outside of tutoring. Should I by some miracle lose, to Galahad or otherwise, House Fritz’eleo will trade House Karak-Albrac our lab and recreation time. Do you agree, Galahad?”
	“Agreed,” He grunted.
	Sean nodded, and with the wave of his wand he produced a paper from thin air, the writing of the challenge written eloquently in a magic ink, “I have drafted a contract. Galahad, this is the last chance to back out,” He warned as the paper floated over to the wizard.
	Galahad eyed Harold for a moment before bringing a pen out from underneath his cloak, “I have to.”
	“So be it,” Sean sighed, “Harold.”
	The prince signed it without a word, “Done. I look forward to our confrontation, should it come about in the first place. Goodbye, all,” He gave a little wave before turning on heel and strutting away, confidence oozing from every step.
	Sean folded his arms and looked at Galahad, “I hope, for your sake, that you have the ability to back up your words. Goodbye Manus. Despite the circumstances it was nice meeting you, Galahad.”
	“Yeah. Likewise,” Galahad sighed wearily and sat down, rubbing his face as Miss Manus stared at him.
	“Galahad?” Miss Manus’s expression was covered in worry, “You needn’t get into this fight for my sake.”
	“The victory might be in your house’s name, Miss Manus,” Galahad stared at the table for a moment before looking into her icey blue eyes, “But this isn’t just for you.”
	“I-I do not understand,” She frowned and cocked her head to one side, “How are you even going to get into the tournament?”
	“Like Sean said, I need to talk to the dean. I should go, I need to take care of that. I wasn't planning on doing this for a while, but I’ll have to make some calls. I’m sorry for wasting your time,” Galahad gave her a tiny bow.
“Let us reschedule this, perhaps?”
	“Thank you. I would really appreciate that. Have a good evening, Manus. Give me a call tomorrow, will you?” Galahad gave her a little smile before quickly leaving the library.
	Manus was left alone to stew in what had just happened, “Galahad…” She sighed and rubbed her eyes.
	“President Manus!” A shrill voice squawked. Not a moment later she had a microphone shoved in her face, “Carly Halestorm, Fairgarland Inquirer, do you have any comments on this development on your relationship love triangle with Galahad and Harold?!” 
	“Carly,” Miss Manus said firmly, “I am not in the mood for this. This duel should not be happening. No comment,” She quickly added to the end to shut herself up.
	“I see, I see,” Carly looked disappointed but didn’t dare push for more. The campus reporter quickly rushed after Harold as she could see through the window that he was heading back to House Fritz'eleo. 
	Miss Manus collected her things and swiftly left. She needed another cup of tea and her fuzzy slippers to calm down.

	The hooting of owls gently rang out on the campus as moonlight was cast over the trees, buildings, and stones around campus. Miss Manus walked across the lonely and quiet grounds as she made her way to the Grand Hall. She held a wound up scroll in one of her hands that contained Fredrik’s petition to be house Karak-Albrac’s duelist. She shook her head as she entered the hall and walked past the busts and paintings of famous wizards. The witch felt like each one she walked by was judging her for not trying harder to stop Galahad earlier. It was her duty to keep this from happening. She felt responsible for his safety now, Harold would not hold back and Galahad could be gravely wounded if something went wrong. She took the stairs up to the third floor and glanced both ways down the hall. A single light was on, the door was cracked and light spilled into the hallway. It was the dean’s office, Zacharius Zucarius was one of the few faculty members who would stay at the academy this late. He lived and breathed Fairgarland. Some jokingly said that he was sustained by managing the goings on at the school.
	Manus silently walked up to the door and froze as she saw a figure standing at the end of Dean Zucarius’s desk. Manus hid herself and listened in. Zucarius was slowly shuffling papers, flipping one over and setting it down on his desk as he read each one. He sighed as he set the last one down, “I must say, Galahad, I am impressed and intrigued. I have had some wizards and witches apply for a duelist slot with reference letters from well known casters, but never have I had someone bring me eight. I can see they are authentic, as well. Even if two of these are not casters, their acknowledgement of your talents is more than enough. However, I must ask… why?”
	Galahad stood with his hands behind his back as Zucarius folded up the papers, “I want to beat Harold.”
	“President Harold?”
	“Yes. In all honesty, he’s a…” He bit his tongue, “Never mind. I got really irked by some things he’s said and some things others have told me about him.”
	“I have heard he has been courting President Manus for some time. From what the Inquirer–”
	“The Inquirer is full of… it, sir,” Galahad growled, “Miss Manus is just tutoring me.”
	Zucarius chuckled, “I see. I assumed that is what has spurred this. Well, I will not pry into your social life,” He hastily scribbled something down and filed the paper, “You have been inducted as the Seeker’s duelist. It has been at least eight years since they last had one.”
	“Thank you, sir,” Galahad sighed with relief.
	“One last thing, Galahad…” Zucarius looked him up and down, “Just how adept are you that you feel confident going up against the man considered this academy’s best duelist?” There was a silence, Galahad said nothing as he stared back at the dean, “I can tell by that look on your face that something else is amiss, young man. Makes you almost look like–” The dean paused, “You may not be who you say you are, hm?” He chuckled again before Galahad could protest, “Run along now. But I must say, I am quite looking forward to your performance in the duels.”
	“Th-thank you, sir…” 
	Miss Manus heard Galahad approaching the door. Thinking quickly, she cast a spell to conceal herself in the dim light and pressed herself against the wall before sliding behind a bust of Zucarius to hide herself further. She held her breath with a hand over her mouth as Galahad walked by, none the wiser to her eavesdropping. Manus let herself breathe again as soon as Galahad was starting down the stairs. She stared after him, listening to his further fading footsteps before finally feeling a sense of ease, “President Manus, you may enter,” Zucarius called from within his office.
	“Coming,” She replied, letting the concealing illusion spell fall off of herself, “Good evening, Professor Zucarius.”
	“Yes, a fine evening. President Sean told me what happened at the library today when he turned in his form for his duelist,” The dean explained, “Quite surprising to see President Harold lose his nerve,” He chuckled.
	“Did you allow Galahad Loxley to enter the duel?” She quickly changed subjects as she placed Fredrik’s application on the dean’s desk.
	“I did, I did…” He looked Manus up and down, “You seem uncharacteristically worried over him.”
	“I… He is one of my students. I merely am worried he is going to get very hurt in the upcoming tournament,” She explained with a frown.
“President Manus, if you wish, I can start putting forth a motion to rescind his duel application. I can take the fall for it as well and tell him I changed my mind.” 
	She paused for a long time, genuinely considering telling him to go ahead with it. Finally Miss Manus shook her head, “If he cannot compete, it will be considered a loss for him. If he loses, I will be unable to tutor him further. If he fails my class I will be responsible for it,” She explained quickly, “He must be allowed to compete. I only wish to see him succeed.”
	“I understand. Galahad may yet surprise us, President Manus. From the letters of recommendation he presented, he will be fine.”
	“May I ask who they were from?”
	There was a twinkle of mischief in Zucarius’s eye, “It is not my place to say, speak with him yourself on that. The lad had me fooled for a few days - not an easy task, I'll remind you. Admittedly, I am enjoying the mystique behind him at this point.”
	“I see…” Miss Manus wrung her hands together beneath her cloak, not at all comforted by the dean's words, “Well. Moving on from Galahad, here is Fredrik’s application for the duel.”
	“Ah, the golden pride of house Karak-Albrac himself. Thank you. I believe that is the last entrant. I will pass the list of entered students to President Sean so that the bracket can be formed next week,” Zucarius put away the application after glancing over the scroll, “Is there anything else I can help you with?”
	“Thank you, but no. I need to return to my house.”
“Have a good night, President Manus,” Zucarius returned to some papers he had strewn about his desk.
“Please try not to stay up too late,” Miss Manus replied with a little smirk before leaving the dean’s office.
Things were about to get strange, she thought as she wondered what Tuesday’s papers would say about the joining of Galahad in the tournament. Until then, she would try to stay calm and collected over the weekend.