Myth//OS - Chapter 78 (Patreon)

I checked my Glass—yep, this was the place. I stood in an alley just across the street from a large theatre. It was one of those posh ones, with people in fancy clothing lining the street all the way around. I paused for a moment, and then my Ebonshroud flowed out into something a bit more fitting for the occasion. I didn’t realize this was a dress up event.

My baggy hoodie and jeans swapped back to my armored state that’d been my go too for Nyx. The sleek plate covered me, and Ebonshroud shifted to a more metallic sheen. Spikes pushed up intermittently from the armor to add to the unsettling feel of it. My mask also flowed back into the horned one I’d taken a liking to.

Dressing up like the rich men and women in ornate clothes was also an option, of course. Blending into the Anarachs and Wardens standing around was just easier and more comfortable, though. Interestingly, for both sides of the coin being present, the two sides kept away from each other without stirring anything up.

[Nighteye eyes the wacky people. How can you tell the difference?]

I can’t. You’ve watched the news with me though, haven’t you? I recognized several Anarchs from clips and wanted posters I’d seen in the past. None of them were high ranking, but they were definitely noticeable. Anyone of them could ruin or make my night depending on how things went. 

“I was worried you wouldn’t come.” A voice called from behind me. Shadows condensed, and a dark well opened up in the alley. A man surged out of the shadow well—the rykan from the warehouse. He still had that perception block on his face, but those eyes were unmistakable. “You never called.”

”Lost the card.” I eyed the man. “Deal still?”

”I don’t know.” The man tilted his head to the side and tapped at his chin. “I brought someone else in.”

Discerning All-Speech sent a bolt of disgust through me. He was lying—he hadn’t found anyone else. What a stupid thing to lie about. My mask covered my face, otherwise he would’ve seen the full extent of my disbelief. “Lie?”

”Caught me red-handed.” He laughed and clapped his hands together. A wave of shadows washed out, and a subtle tension filled the space. The outside world felt muted like he’d separated us. “You’re more likely to win, anyway.”

”Win what?” I still wasn’t totally sure what he wanted me for. I figured it’d be some kind of fight based on how he found me, but I wasn’t entirely sure.

”A duel.” The draconian eyes of the man narrowed into a smile. “Tournament style. There’s three other duelists picked by my compatriots. Whoever wins settles a little dispute between the four of us.”

It probably wasn’t the greatest idea to go get in a fight so soon after nearly dying, but I was ready to go. Not to mention I wanted to go blow off some steam after talking to the Arbiter. I figured there’d be a fight, which was half the reason I came. The other half—well, he promised he’d buy me something expensive, didn’t he? 

“After you.” He waved a hand toward the theatre. A well of shadows appeared just in front of me, and he partially sunk into it. “We’ll take the express way, if that’s alright.”

“Trap?” I eyed the circle of shadows on the ground. They were incredibly thick and unnatural. It looked like the ground itself just faded away into a hole straight to the abyss.

“If I was going to trap you, I wouldn’t need your permission.” He chuckled and fully vanished into the shadows. His voice still echoed out, though. “Unless you’d rather go through the line, Miss Nyx?”

“…” I glanced back over my shoulder toward the theatre’s entrance. There were more and more people gathering. Lotus’s auctions drew people far and wide to come. The fights might very well be over by the time I got in there. 

Without hesitating any longer, I stepped into the shadows. My foot slipped through the ground, and I sunk down into the darkness like it was some kind of ooze and not just condensed darkness. A nauseating sensation of moving exceptionally fast filled my gut, and then I was spat out into a VIP viewing room looking out over the theatre. 

A low chatter filled the air, and there were already hundreds of people gathered and seated around. On the stage, a troupe of ballerinas danced to some song I didn’t recognize. The music droned in my ears, causing a slight headache to form. This place reminded me of the noble courts—they were never my favorite venue.

”We’re next after them.” My host called from the other side of the room at a banquet table set up covered in finger foods. They looked like an assortment of expensive foods, just left here all for him.

“Name?” I asked and looked away from the wasteful display.

”Ah, where are my manners? Yes, of course.” The rykan dipped into a deep bow, and his draconian eyes flashed with ether. His shadow behind him glanced at me, and then quickly bowed like it just remembered it needed to keep up appearances. “Umbra, at your service.”

”Umbra?” Never heard of him. Nyx and Umbra—did he do that on purpose? He seemed like the showman sort, so it was possible.

“I like to keep to the shadows.” He snickered and finished filling his plate with food. “I’d offer you some, but it looks like you’re about to be up. Are you ready?”

“…” I shrugged and moved over to the balcony railing to get a better view of the theatre. This was my first time in a Lotus auction, so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. It was definitely a fancy event, though. At least, based on the attire of those attending. 

The stage didn’t look big enough to fight on, but I’d have to make it work. They’d probably set up some kind of ward once I got up there to keep the audience from being caught as collateral damage. It’d be even tighter… not that the small space was necessarily a bad thing. I’d have the advantage versus a ranged-attacker.

”Rules?” I glanced back to Umbra.

”Same as a corporate duel. Try not to kill each other. We’re among polite company.” He took a seat in a comfortable looking chair and laughed lightly. “If you have to, though, don’t hesitate. Especially against your second opponent. Probably be putting him out of his misery, to be honest.”

”…?” Did he know who I was going to fight? And he wasn’t lying… I expected Discerning All-Speech to kick back at that, but he genuinely believed death was preferable for whoever my second opponent was.

”I’d tell you if I could, Miss Nyx.” He mimed a zipping motion across his lips. “My… compatriots and I agreed not to give away each other’s secrets.”

“…” I shook my head and backed away from the ledge as that familiar bolt of disgust radiated through me. He could tell me, he just didn’t want to.

Umbra and compatriots… who were they? I’d never heard of Umbra before, but he seemed like he was at least an A-rank, maybe even higher. Having his own private booth like this too—curiosity itched at me. It killed the cat, though, so I didn’t scratch back. I knew better than to dig around in shadowy dealings like this.

An announcer took the stage, and the ballerinas gave one last bow. He was a pudgy man, with an exceptionally curly mustache and a top hat. The curtains closed behind him. “Give it up for the Ballast Ballerinas! Truly, their grace is unmatched… Now, how about something a bit more exciting?! We have one last show before tonight’s auction—live combat!”

A wave of cheers radiated across the theatre. They were kinda dull, though, like only a few people were actually interested. The rest were just making noise to keep up appearances and fit into the crowd better.

”Tonight’s fight is a real treat! Four contenders have been carefully picked out across all of Bastion to fight for tonight’s grand prize!” The man lifted his top hat and waved it at the crowd. “After a short intermission to set the stage, the fight will begin!”

“Ah, that’d be our cue.” Umbra waved a hand, and another shadow well opened up in the middle of the room. “Do your best, Miss Nyx. I’d rather not see you knocked out after the first fight.”

“…” This guy didn’t have any faith in me, did he? He seemed so confident back out on the street. Whatever. After the fight with the stag back at the Sky Skipper rift, I was more than ready to get back into a fight. I’d… Well, I hadn’t almost died. I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn’t hung up yet.

[Nighteye cringes. The word you’re looking for is ‘washed’, not hung up.]

Is it? I thought I had that saying nailed down… I need to get back on the net after I get done here. I shook my head and stepped into the condensed shadows on the ground. 

The portal spat me out onto the stage this time around. Only—it’d changed drastically since I saw it from up in the VIP box. An awakened construction crew rapidly built up an arena using their abilities. One guy levitated metal beams and supplies up to the others. Another guy welding the beams together with his fingers. 

The announcer from before noticed me and approached. He smoothed down his hair and messed idly with his hat. “Who are you?”

”Nyx?” 

“Ah! Right, the others are over there.” He waved a hand to the far side of the stage. There were three other people. One was a lithe foxkin of some kind. Of the fennec variety, based on the massive ears sticking out of his head. The second looked like a vampire? Maybe?

The third, though, drew my eye more than the other two. He could only be described as a monstrosity. He was massive and bloated with muscle and chrome. He stood at least twice my height, and his limbs were stretched out by metal brackets. He looked like the result of some horrific experiment.

Just seeing him brought to mind bad memories. Aside from the chrome across his body, the bloated look reminded me of Warp… A shiver went down my spine, and I resisted the urge to draw my sword. 

My grip tightened loud enough for the Ebonshroud to creak, though relaxed a moment later. Right, Warp couldn’t be here… probably. It’d surely ring alarms across Bastion if he showed up, though. Probably just a guy on some kind of seriously bad mutagen. 

“You’re up first! Give us a good show!” He reached forward to pat my shoulder, then seemed to think better about it when he spotted my spiked pauldrons. “Good luck!”

I glanced through the three of them. Which one was my second opponent, then? My nytes were on the monstrous looking guy, but I could see it being the vampire too. Not everyone could handle immortal life as an undead. Most couldn't, actually. 

As I eyed the three, they eyed me back—all except the fennec foxkin, at least. He had a hood up over his head, and looked entirely zoned out. Corded earbuds arced up from a pocket to his ears. The guy seemed like he’d rather be literally anywhere else but here.

[Nighteye eyes the foxkin. Watch yourself, Aylin.]

Did you notice something? I shrugged and headed over to my three opponents. I’d figure it out later. Regardless, I couldn’t wait to beat the shit out of someone.