{Valencia''s POV}
[Pinnacle Academy, Stadium 1 - Arena A: Allen''s Cafe]
[6:50 PM]
Milio Idris''s voice boomed through the dispersing crowd.
"...that concludes the ceremony! Wishing you all a wonderful evening!"
BZZZT!...BZZZZ!
[Message from Group chat: VCL <3 - Sender: Cam]
I clutched my que, checking the message from Cam.
[Camilia: <6:52 PM> Valenciaaaaa, we''re gonna be at the food court towards the main lobby, Be there so we can celebrate! (Bring Jan as well pls...)]
[You: <6:53 PM> Okay.]
They were nning a celebration dinner in the stadium''s food court... but why bring Jan?
Oh right...
Smiling, I typed a quick "Okay."
Just as I stepped off the stage, I caught sight of Jan.
He was making his way towards the exit, He seemed rather relieved.
A wave of hesitation washed over me.
Should I ask him? It felt… off.
Even with the win, celebrating in front of him tasted like ashes.
But... he was my friend – had been for eight years.
Maybe it wouldn''t sting so much. Maybe he''d understand if I just... exined.
"Jan." He turned, surprise registering on his face. "Yes?"
Keeping my voice calm, I spoke,
"There''s something I need to give to you."
Ah... a half-truth, but he didn''t need to know more.
"Could you meet Cam and Lyra by the food court? Just for a bit?"
"...?"
He looked genuinely puzzled but nodded.
Yes, the lie burned in my throat, but it was done.
Because I just realised I didn''t have the contract on me.
Without a word, I spun on my heel and headed towards the tunnel leading backstage.
The celebratory atmosphere vanished as I plunged through the tunnel''s corridor, my steps echoing against the smooth concrete.
I needed to find that document fast, or my dreams of bing a guild leader would crumble before they even began.
***
{Rel''s POV}
As I watchedValencia disappear into the tunnel, I had a few choices.
Should I just leave everything and follow?
I mean Morwen could be anywhere, and keeping my distance from Valencia was crucial.
But I needed to keep her safe cause If I didn''t, who would?
They''d write me off as crazy if I bbed about a wanted man hiding in in sight.
I needed to get her out of there, somehow.
Yet, thest thing I wanted was to look like a stalker trailing her through the tunnel.
That would just make things worse.
haah...
Finding Jan was the next step, no matter how much I didn''t want to do this.
I squared my shoulders, turned, and headed for the opposite exit.
I remembered Yuka''s request to tell Jan to head to the guest lobby.
Because Jan getting into Legion New Force was a turning point in the main plot of the story...
Yuka, with her inexhaustible ambition, and her absolute belief in Jan''s potential... She would turn him into someone who could one day beat the towers on his own.
Unlike the other guilds, she was willing to sacrifice everything to ensure their sess.
People, rtionships... they meant nothing if they stood between her and her goals.
It was admirable, almost enviable in her certainty. It just makes me wonder whether... hmm...actually, never mind.
As I walked on I knew the serum had limits, because every step on the way was a struggle.
Still, spotting Jan, I pushed through, calling for him.
"Wait up..."
He turned, surprise written on his usually calm face.
"Wow... It''s rare seeing you approach me first, Rel."
"Whatever," I snarled at him. ying my role as messenger was exhausting.
"The guild leader of Legion New Force wants to see you. You should head to the guest lobby. Now."
Jan tilted his head, a familiar twinkle in his eyes.
"Wait... Did Miss Yuka tell you... to tell me that?"
I nodded, but the memory of Yuka and Julian, their "coincidental" meeting, pricked at me.
It wasn''t a coincidence, they''d followed me.
He grinned, and before the question was fully formed, I cut him off.
"Woul-"
"No."
haah...
"Well, thanks for the heads-up." A genuine smile touched Jan''s lips.
"Want to tag along to the food court after?"
"Nope, gotta run."
"Where to?"
"Can''t tell you."
As much as I wanted Jan''s help, I knew the meeting with Yuka was important… It is vital for his future with the Legion New Force.
Borrowing his time now could destroy everything.
As we reached the tunnel exit, Jan waved goodbye.
I raised my hand in response but continued walking.
I needed to follow Valencia, and I prayed the consequences wouldn''t shatter the fragile trust I had in her, that a sudden slip-up of clumsiness would get her caught...
***
{Morwen''s POV}
[Pinnacle Academy, Stadium 1 - Arena A: Media Sector, Outside]
Morwen sneaked through the media crowd surrounding Pinnacle Stadium.
The noise of their constant chatter was the perfect cover for his undercovermunications.
beep!...beep!...beep!
One finger tapped his earpiece, activating the call with Kayn.
"Kayn," he rasped into thems, his voice a chilling whisper.
"Yes, Master!" Kayn''s frantic reply echoed back. "Is it time?"
"Indeed." Morwen savoured the anticipation. "Where is Franz?"
"Uh…" Kayn stammered a hint of panic in his voice.
"He''s a bit…upied, Master. I think I hear the Bandits raiding our building again!"
Morwen''s eyebrow twitched.
Bandits? Did Franz have a bandit-shaped rm clock that went off at inconvenient moments?
"Just…hand him thems."
He could almost picture Kayn fumbling with the device.
A muffled yell and the tter of something falling echoed through the line, followed by Kayn''s breathless voice.
"Franz! Master''s on the line! And seriously, get up! I swear if to god if you''re doing anything that''s not your job right now…"
haah...
Morwen sighed.
Dealing with these two sometimes felt like a bizarre side-quest in a low-budget video game.
"FRANZ! GET OFF THAT STUPID GAME! AND IS THAT... MINECRAFT? WE USE THAT COMPUTER FOR KIDNAPPING PEOPLE, NOT BUILDING PIXELATED FARMS!"
Kayn''s voice erupted, punctuated by the frantic tapping of keyboard keys.
"IT''S MY COMPUTER, I BUILT IT!" Franz''s whiny reply rang out.
"Besides, Master understands! These creepers are way more challenging than any decent member you''ve brought in!"
Morwen fought back a groan.
A challenge for Kayn?
Definitely...
A few secondster... a sniffling Franz came on the line.
"Master! It''s an honor—er, sorry about the dy—how may I assist?"
Morwen cleared his throat. "Focus, Franz. I scanned the parts of the stadium. I require an urate prediction of the back entrance."
tap...tap...tap...
"Yes, Master!" The sound of frenzied typing filled the silence, interrupted by the asional sound, "Take that, zombie!"
Morwen squeezed the bridge of his nose.
Soon, very soon, he''d be dealing with Valencia rather than digital distractions.
Hopefully, she was less prone to procrastination.
...
...
...
[Pinnacle Academy, Stadium 1 - Arena A: Student Hallway (South-Side) -]
"Follow the blue line, Master," came Franz''s voice, surprisingly steady and professional over thems.
"Security sweeps through the student section every twenty minutes. You''ve got a seven-minute window."
A map popped up across Morwen''s watch, a blue route guiding through the maze of corridors.
Child''s y… but useful nheless.
With a smirk, Morwen slipped through the back of the stadium''s entrance.
His dark form melted into the shadows, evading the asional roaming staff with ease.
Unlike his botched attemptst time, thanks to Franz''s guidance, the path was clear.
"Any updates on her location?"
Morwen''s smirk widened.
"Excellent work, Franz. No need for further navigation – I''ll take it from here."
The thought of Valencia, drawn to his magic like a moth to a me, was intoxicating.
"As you wish, Master. Remember I''m on standby if you need…additional insight."
The amusement in Franz''s tone barely hid his arrogance.
Morwen chuckled darkly.
Perhaps the boy wasn''t as ipetent as he once was.
"Alright, Good work Franz..."
kachup!
Morwen severed the connection with Franz, a satisfied grin ying on his lips.
The faint pulse of his mana markers drew him forward.
He surveyed the deserted corridor, the dim lighting casting elongated shadows.
Everyone else was gone. Good. Valencia, though, Morwen knew she''d be around.
No crowds, no witnesses... this was even better than he''d hoped for.
swoosh...
"...!"
A flicker of movement at the far end of the hall caught his eye.
With a frown, he squinted into the gloom.
A figure, slender and with dark hair, slipped out of view.
The archer from Valencia''s semi-final... his hair looked slightly dishevelled.
Likely another attendee making their exit. Unimportant.
Morwen scoffed, a sense of superiority washing over him.
Compared to Valencia''s power, the boy was a mere insect.
With a final nce around, he continued confidently down the corridor.
Perhaps he had overestimated the difficulty of this task, after all.
_______________
Authors Notes:
- Kayn and Franz were granted the title of Morwen''s executioners.