Andrew Rowe - Sufficiently Advanced Magic

I was starting to realize the situation was more complex than that, but I still didn’t have the will to do anything about it. Not yet.

Getting Tristan back would be the first step toward repairing my family.

I shook my head, dismissing errant thoughts. “She might have mentioned it. Anyway, he invited me to watch, and I figured I’d see if you wanted to come along.”

“How uncharacteristically social of you. I should wear my best, since this is clearly a special occasion.”

“I’m pretty sure our school uniforms are the most formal things we have here.”

“I said best, Corin, not most formal.” Sera gave me the kind of smirk that said she was plotting something. I couldn’t imagine how she hoped to embarrass me with what she was going to wear, but I was sure she’d manage it if I didn’t put a stop to this now.

I held my hands up in surrender. “Normal clothes will be just fine.”

Sera raised a hand to her lips, eyes turning upward in thought. “I suppose, but what if—”

“Normal, Sera. We’re going to look perfectly normal .”

She sighed, folding her hands in front of her. “Fine, fine. You always spoil my fun. I suppose I’ll come and keep you company, since you’re clearly ailing right now and need my support.”

I nodded, sincerely grateful. “Let’s go find this place.”

Sera insisted on arriving significantly early, but we managed to get lost long enough that we only arrived slightly early.

Esslemont Arena didn’t look like what I expected. It wasn’t an ancient-style coliseum or sports arena. Instead, it looked a bit more like a vast opera house, with expensive décor and expansive interior.

At the ticket sales counter, I mentioned we were there to see one of the combatants. They sent someone to inform Derek, and he arrived a few minutes later.

“Corin, you made it! And who is this lovely lass? Your lady love, perchance?” He gave me a knowing look. I returned one of existential horror.

“…uh, no. She’s family. Anyway, I know you mentioned you could get me in, but you didn’t say anything about two people, sorry. I can buy us tickets, I just wanted to let you know I’m here.”

He waved a hand dismissively. “Nonsense, your family is always welcome. I’m sure I can get you both into an excellent box…but I might have a better offer.”

“What sort of better offer?” Sera asked.

Derek glanced at her, then back at me. “How would you like to try fighting in there?”

I blinked. “I’ve never even seen one of these matches. I have no idea what it entails.”

“It’s not that bad, Corin.” Sera nudged me. “You should do it. Assuming he’d get a cut of any winnings?”

“Of course, of course.” Derek looked me up and down. “You already look well-equipped. You’d be doing me a tremendous favor. My partner dropped out at the last minute, you see, and I’m desperate for someone to fill his slot. I can handle the fighting on my own, for the most part… but I’m signed up for pairs, and they won’t let me in without a partner.”

Ah. Now that explained a great deal.

“I’m still not sure I’d be the best person to bring in there, although I truly appreciate the offer. My attunement isn’t really made for direct combat, but…”

“I’ll do it,” Sera interjected.

She turned around, pulling up her shirt to reveal her Summoner Attunement mark on her back.

That wasn’t strictly a scandalous action — she wasn’t showing much skin — but I was a little surprised and embarrassed to see it. Not because of the location, but because I’d assumed that her attunement was on her right hand, underneath the glove she always wore.

In retrospect, the fact that she always used incantations for her spells was a pretty big indication that her attunement mark was over her lungs. That was characteristic of their style.

“Well, well. You’re a Summoner, Miss Cadence? I think that would complement me quite well…in the arena, of course. I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced yet. Derek Hartigan.” He extended a hand. She slipped her glove back into place and reached to shake his hand. He bowed and kissed it instead.

Seriously?

I rolled my eyes. I couldn’t help myself. For some people, kissing someone’s hand might have been an old fashioned greeting, but this guy just came across as theatrical.

Sera grinned brightly, showing her teeth. “Well, well. A gentleman. You could teach my brother a thing or two.” She glanced at me, then back to him. “I’m Sera…Sera Cadence. Charmed to meet you.”

I folded my arms at her own theatrics. She winked at me.

She was enjoying this.

With introductions complete, Derek spoke to the gentlemen at the ticket counter, and then escorted us inside.

The clientele were generally well-dressed: top hats, canes, and a few ladies and gentlemen in more obscure fashion. I even noted a few wearing eye masks, similar to the one Keras had worn. That brought him back into my mind.

Had he survived that confrontation with Katashi? Mother’s letter seemed to indicate that he had. I had mixed feelings about that, since I had a pretty poor opinion of the visages, but I knew they generally seemed to work for humanity’s benefit.

There was a good chance that Keras was truly a dangerous criminal, especially if he served the Tyrant in Gold. I’d grown up with stories about how the Tyrant had conquered continent after continent, enslaving millions for his empire. I didn’t know how much of that was true, though, and Keras’ heretical claims about the Tyrant seemed to be at the core of what had started this whole mess. I’d need to do some research on the Tyrant’s children eventually, but it wasn’t a high priority at the moment.

In the meantime, I found myself sitting in a plush chair in high box over what looked like a vast stage. There were dozens of boxes like our own, as well as multiple levels of general seating in more traditional bleachers. Near the stage itself, I also spied an orchestra pit, with a full orchestra setting up their instruments.

Maybe this was an opera house. It was set up very similarly to an opera or theater, with the key exception that the main floor area was significantly larger than any opera stage I’d seen, and there wasn’t any seating down at the stage level. All the seats were overlooking the area where the battle would be taking place.

After a minute or so of searching, I was able to pick out the runes at the edge of the stage that marked the bounds of a barrier field. It was very subtle; the soft glow of the runes blended in with the ambient light cast by lanterns hanging nearby.

This is actually a lot like the way the council room was set up, but this actually looks safer for observers. Maybe the city council should get rid of whoever designed their building and hire a theater architect.

There was only room for two seats in our particular box, so Sera sat while Derek stood and pointed down into the theater area.

“That’s where Sera and I will be fighting once it’s time to begin. I had a few other options, but I feel privileged to have found you, Miss Cadence. I’ve worked with a Summoner before, but never one as striking as yourself.”

From the way Sera’s lips tightened, I could tell she was already starting to regret this.

To Derek’s credit, most people our age probably would have appreciated his complements.

Sera, unfortunately, was more like me than I usually was willing to admit.