Fable - Ask The First Rule . . . (Elbion)

[Aiko]

It was a strange sensation to go to sleep in one place and awake in another. Aiko had fallen asleep in the comfort of her bed and awoken on a metal slab in pitch darkness. Light was thankfully easy to summon, with a simple incantation providing a ball of purple light to the room. The slab which she awoke from was revealed to be a black-gray iron, the same material as the floor, ceiling, and walls. Looking around the room was simple with no decoration and two doors at opposite sides. Quick tries on both sides revealed they were locked. Next was the forceful approach, pushing magic into the purple sphere of light and throwing it at one of the walls. The sphere bounced rather than deforming the wall as a flash of red lines went over the wall. Aiko could not make out the full inscription, but it was an elaborate rune warding the walls. It was then despair began to set in. If this room were warded there was little Aiko could do at this stage of her magical career to escape.

Creeek

The sound split through the room as one of the doors opened. In walked a upperclassman, a woman with red hair tied into a neat braid. She wore a tight crop top, shorts that stopped just below her hips, fingerless gloves and simple white shoes with blue streaks. Her nose crinkled as she looked up at Aiko.

"You're not Lissa." She said as her eyes scrunched together to examine the elf.

"I'm her roommate Aiko." The elf responded.

"Kress, somebody fethed up then." The girl responded. "Still . . . this'll work." A devilish smile went over her face. She looked the girl up and down. "Are you really going to wear that?" Aiko instinctively pulled her arms around her chest.

"This is my nightgown!" Aiko protested.

"I'll get you some other clothes." The mystery woman responded.

"I will not have my gown taken by some ruffian!" Aiko fought. The girl chuckled.

"I won't take your gown, promise. Trust me, you'll want different clothes. I'll bring some options." The girl said and left before Aiko could say anything in response. The elf paced for a few more minutes before the girl came back.

"What is going on?" Aiko asked. The girl grinned, but gave no information on her face.

"Call it a test. It was supposed to be for Lissa, but you're stuck with it now." She said, and dropped off a small wooden chest. "This has some clothes for you inside. You can put your gown in there. If you cast a grade two ward on the lock it'll personalize to your touch, and it'll be tough as a grade five ward to break. No one'll get your gown. The other door will be opened in about ten minutes. Walk through it when you're ready for your test." The girl said. Aiko gave her a scowl, but the girl was gone as soon as she came.

She had two options for clothes, one of which being the crop-top shorts combo the upperclassman had worn, the other being a similarly tight leotard. There was an option of showing her stomach or her legs. After a moment of deliberation she chose the leotard, putting her nightgown in the chest and placing the ward on lock. She could feel the additional magic brought from the lock to her spell. At least that was the truth. Aiko let out a sigh, a bit uncomfortable showing so much of her legs, but walked out the other door with her bare feet.

She was mortified to learn that she had entered an arena, surrounded by a giant spherical ward made of magical hexagonal tiles. The borders of the tiles could be seen, but the centers of the hexagonal tiles were as blurry glass. Beyond it Aiko could see students in a crowd, but nothing definitive enough to make out a face. Across her was a similarly tall young elf, with short white hair and striking eyes of purple.

Feä Mindalië

 

[Feä Mindalië]

A dagger unseen had been plunged into Feä's back, and she as yet knew it not.

In the case of Aiko and Lissa it had been an accident; with Feä, more of a "planned" accident, as it had been the very upperclassman, Rico, whom Feä (perhaps naïvely) had taken to be a spontaneous friend, who arranged for her to be taken as she slept.

A similar confusion happened, as it had been with Aiko, when the same upperclassman woman with the neat red hair came into the secret room which held Feä.

"And you're not Mariam."

"Where am I?" asked Feä, clinging clouds of sleep still at the edges of her eyes, for only had she woken less than a minute ago.

The red-haired girl sighed. "Very well," she said dramatically. "This will just have to do."

"I do not understand."

"You will. In a moment."

And as it had been with Aiko, so too did the red-haired girl explain (however vaguely) and offer the same choice of more suitable clothes for the enigmatic "test". And when the girl left, Feä begrudgingly (though she had little choice) resolved to play into this game as it had been presented. She choose for her garments the small shirt and shorts, and sealed her own nightgown in the chest given her.

Mirrored, then, on the other side of the arena as Feä emerged through her own door, was Aiko. Both elves had by misfortune and mischief found themselves in this strange and worrisome predicament. Each of them had stepped into what could only be called an arena, geometric tiles enclosing the space about them, figures obscured peering through and in.

Feä's breath stole away from her chest for a moment, and confusion abounded. But she overcame, and she said, "Ai...Aiko?" She knew her not so well, only a name heard and face seen in passing. "What happened? What is this?"

Aiko

 

[Aiko]

The girl knew her name. Aiko didn't remember Feä's name, but easily recognized the face seen in passing around the college and first year women's dormitory. How could she not, towering over the human girls with snow white hair, purple eyes, and pointed ears the two shared. She had planned on meeting the girl at some point, introducing herself, but not like this. Trapped in some sort of magical zoo to be gawked at in such tight clothing.

"I . . . I don't know." Aiko responded to the elf. By the ancestors, what was her name? Thea? Phoebe? Floette? Florina? Theadora? Aiko silently cursed herself for not meeting the girl sooner.

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"
A rythmic chant began to fill the air. While Aiko could not see through the erected magical barrier it seemed to no effect on her hearing. Aiko looked over at the Nithelem elf, realization hitting her face.

"They mean us to-"

"Welcome everyone!"
A booming, yet high voice overwhelmed the arena. It was feminine, yet the volume was an obvious product of magic.

"You've asked for it, and we've delivered! Our first match tonight will be between Fea Mindalie and Aiko Yamaguchi, the Twin Towers of Fal'Addas!"

A roar emerged from the crowd. Aiko looked over at the Fea and felt the air dry in her throat.

"Bets will be taken at the west table for the next five minutes!"

Aiko looked around the arena. While she still couldn't make out faces or features it was easy to see movement towards one direction. A violent buzz went through the platform. Aiko turned to meet it and found a familiar face had joined them. The red-haired human girl with the neat braid. Aiko began to understand her dress now. Tight, not-restrictive, hair neatly in place and out or her eyes. Garb for someone who expected to fight. Her own clothes and those of Feä provided by this woman for the same purpose.

Sport.

"Looks like you two have figured it out. I'l be your referee today. You got three mintues for questions."


Feä Mindalië

 

[Feä Mindalië]

Feä found great cause for both alarm and bemusement in the sudden announcement. How could this have come to pass? Who, obscured by magicks unknown, asked for a "match" between herself and Aiko? From uncertainty sprang fear, though she dare not let it be seen or known. She could only look to Aiko, and pray that her eyes told the other elf the story that was the truth: she wished not to harm her.

But there, the human girl with the red hair, the only villain in this affair bold enough to let her face be seen, appeared before them again. Questions, she said. Hardly could Feä believe it, and so did her incredulous gasp attest this disbelief. Oh, Stars Alight, she would receive the questions she invited!

"What manner of black heart have you?" Feä demanded in outrage. "To steal us away from our beds, to bid us fight as though you are our master and we your hounds!?"

Aiko

 

[Aiko]

Aiko recognized the face of Fea as the announcer made her declaration. It was a show of strength and defiance. To show she was not a coward to her captors. Aiko could feel the other elf held no ill will towards her. And yet she wondered if Fea held the same fears she did in her heart. The strength of their captors, bold enough to kidnap those with magical strength and at least a little training. Or worse, that she might be forced to comply.

In response to Fea the girl laughed.

"You're wasting your time. But if it help's you'll next wake up in your own bed. What you might not do is remember." A frightening smile went through her face. She turned her head to Aiko. "You're next."

The way the girl said the words made Aiko shudder. Between Aiko being aware of her uncovered legs, the girl's smile, and her tone Aiko felt no control over the situation.

"What if we refuse to fight?" Aiko said, allowing herself a glimmer of hope.

"There are ways to make you fight. Some less pleasant than others. I'd not recommend it." She responded, then turned her face back to Feä Mindalië . Her face went from the smile to a less pleasant frown. It was difficult to read, but Aiko thought the girl legitimately preferred not to exercise her 'options'.

"Two minutes left."

 

[Feä Mindalië]

None of the red-haired girl's answers did Feä adore, and each cast an ever longer shadow upon her heart. The girl turned to regard Feä again and Feä dropped her eyes, not out of deference, no, but in the hasty search for what to ask. Her eyes darted, racing, as often happens when such haste and grasping collide. And she searched for a question not born merely from pulsing emotion.

Lo. She found one.

Feä glanced back up slowly. "Has this...happened to you too?"




Aiko

 

[Aiko]

The girl smiled at Fea’s question. Aiko felt it still frightening, yet somehow more personable than before. It almost had a warmth to it.

“Yeah, when I was a first year. Won my bout, figured out who got me in there. Gave him hell later.” She said before turning to Aiko. Aiko pet a couple breaths, still not sure of her question. Then it came. Follow the trail Fea had left for her.

“Why do you still do this?” Aiko pushed.

“Now that’s a question!” She responded, a little excitement in her voice. “This is initiation. Prove your mettle. But there’s more to it. I’m a better student, mage and fighter because of this. You will be to, if you choose.” She turned to Fea.

“Last one.”

 

[Feä Mindalië]

Moved to pity was Feä. Her brows betrayed her, and Feä's stolid expression changed at once to reveal her sympathy for the red-haired girl, whether the girl wished it or no. Why did evil seek ever to propagate itself in like manner, from person to person, so that with the passing of time victim and perpetrator would inexorably become one in the same? No greater corruption was there, Feä ventured to reckon, than to become the very image of the villain who wronged you.

But Feä had not any time to see how deep the roots of this reckoning, this feeling, went in her heart. Time ran slim.

And, discarding the girl's testimony of having been made better, Feä recalled what she had earlier said: ...figured out who got me in there.

Speaking quickly, and with an air of great import and earnest sentiment, Feä said, "Do you know who brought us here? And if so, if we fight as you wish for us to do, will you tell us, and tell us truthfully?"

Feä flicked her eyes to Aiko, a spark of hope in them, and then squarely set her gaze back upon the red-haired girl.

Aiko

 

[Aiko]

The girl looked over at the white haired elf.

“She's an accident." The girl waved at Aiko. "But I know exactly who brought you here.” She replied to Fea, pointing in time with the penultimate word. “ You fight earnestly and I’ll tell you.” She winked at Fea. Aiko looked over at Fea. She noticed the spark that went through her pink eyes. The change in demeanor at the girl’s previous answer. Was she seriously considering fighting? Unconscious to Aiko her chest began to rise and fall in erratic rhythm as her breaths became shorter and shorter. The stress was beginning to take her.

“This is it then. To the death?” Aiko said, a moment of panic overtaking her. The girl laughed.

“God's no, we’re not in Vel Anir.” She continued. “Astra, neither of you asked about the rules. No weapons, no death blows, no curses that last over an hour. We all got class later. No mental kriff, we're putting on a show here." She said, then glanced first at Fea. Then her gaze turned to Aiko.

"Oh yeah, and no crying." She said, emphasizing the last word as she looked at Aiko.

That bitch.

Aiko's immediate thoughts were less kind than she'd ever let escape mouth. Her face went between fear to a near snarl as she looked at the girl, who only popped the previous insidious smile back at her.

"I'm going to put up a flare at the top. Both you back up to your sides and get some distance. The fight starts when the flare turns green. If there's a red flash you both need to stop, got it?" She said, and made a shooing motion to both Aiko and Fea, not waiting for a response. Aiko looked at the girl, the messenger of whatever this place was. Then she glanced at Fea, an expression of fear in her eyes. Aiko felt a force push at her stomach, not enough to move her, but remind her to move herself. She began to walk back toward the door she had come in from.

As promised, a bright red ball of magic came from the girl's fingers and went to the center of the arena, just under the hexagonal wards above them. The quiet rumble of the outer crowd began to hush. There was a sound of a blink. A second. A third, and a flash of green as the magic flare changed color. There was a cheer as the fight started.

Aiko bent her frame slightly. A stance of preparation, though one obviously unpracticed to the discerning eye. She gathered magic to her in preparation, but didn't move. Didn't throw a punch, a fireball, just waited for the first move.

In other words, she froze.

 

[Feä Mindalië]

...to the death?

For a horrid moment, Feä's blood ran cold, and what color there was in her face ran pale. She had not at all considered this! No reason interceded on behalf of the College, but rather there came the trepidation she had known as a child in the house of her family, the evils of which they were capable, and to Feä it seemed all to true that this arena now was fit to be stained with deathly blood.

But the red-haired girl laughed, and Feä breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

And then after would come more explanation, and a glance from Aiko, a mirror of the fear Feä herself felt in her fellow-elf's eyes. Thus would come a terrible twisting in Feä's gut; for, if Aiko also stood to gain the knowledge of who brought her here, Feä would have sacrificed her own opportunity such that Aiko could have hers. But instead, only was Feä's culprit available to be known...and she did indeed wish to dispense fitting retribution.

If she won—if she lost, even—Feä resolved to beg forgiveness from Aiko. Yet fight Feä would, lest both scoundrels should escape unscathed, and mischief be the true victor of this affair.

The flare turned green, and Feä raised her fists. She bladed her stance and advanced slowly, small and deliberate steps, keeping the firmness of her balance in her approach. Yet Aiko stood with the stalwart nature of a stone; this confidence (for Feä mistakenly perceived it so) brought with it a measure of intimidation. She knew she had to test her opponent.

When close, Feä gave her right hand a small shake, yet jabbed with her leading fist—her left.

Aiko

 

[Aiko]

Ancestors, she’s coming! Aiko thought to herself. What to do? What to do? She had fought goblins not too long ago, but had mostly used her magic to tie up loose clothing, pull hoods over eyes, trip running assailants, and other such trickery. Fea’s outfit and short hair provided no such opportunities here.

Aiko bit on the shake of the shake of the right hand, leaning right into Fea's jab. The girl's fist collided with Aiko's cheek. The pain was surprising, and Aiko felt it's register difficult to deal with. Intellectually she knew people were punched in the face every day across cities like Alliria and Elbion. Her 'never been punched' face however, felt it the end of the world. She remembered the words of their captor

"Oh yeah, and no crying."

No, she couldn't let the red-haired girl win. She wouldn't cower. Aiko, having spent a small time gathering magic power to her body, held up a palm. A purple light flashed in front of her, Aiko hoping to put her opponent offguard. She then lunged at the elf's torso, aiming to bring the girl off her feet and unto her back. Aiko had recognized the jab she'd taken as having a form of beauty to it. The beauty of a craftsman's work. In other words, someone who had punched more than once. Aiko had never thrown a punch before, and figured her best opportunity was get Fea on the ground.

As the jab landed, as Aiko sent her magical flash and as she lunged at her opponent the crowd around them cheered. As they fought their ears would be filled with the noises of hoops, hollars, chants and whistles. The feeling of the event being a show entered into Aiko's mind. More than anything else she felt humiliated.