Outside the city near the Northeast exit was the Hot Ranch. It was the home of a Virtue, Mabel. Her ranch was huge, and she only lived with two students who were used as errands.
Mabel was the elemental Virtue of Fire. She was the youngest of the virtues because she had taken the place of the previous Virtue a long time ago.
She was young and attractive but very mischievous. Mabel was also known for being rude, someone who was hard to deal with. She also did nothing to cure that terrible reputation.
The Hot Ranch was where Malcom was headed.
In the big house's office on the ranch, Mabel was counting her winnings when the bell rang.
"Who is it?" Mabel asked without raising her face from her activity.
Behind the door, a firm voice sounded, saying, "Master, the girl you called is here."
"Great! Bring her in!" Mabel responded with a bright smile.
When the door opened, a young woman appeared. She was one of Mabel's students. Her faded hair fell on her face, and she talked to the visitor with a serious expression.
"Come in!" Mabel's student said before she stepped aside, allowing another young woman to enter.
She was tall and thin with short hair, her gaze fixed on her Mabel. The girl thanked Mabel's student before she stepped inside the office.
"Skyler! Welcome, I was dying to see you!" Mabel said, putting the scattered money in one of her desk drawers.
"Come! Sit down!" She added, pointing to one of the empty chairs in the office.
Skyler advanced delicately and looked around the place. The office was clean but littered with papers everywhere. The clutter was such that it gave the impression that this room was smaller than it really was, and the huge window behind Mabel made it difficult for her to look at her hostess to the face.
"How are you?" Mabel asked with a bright smile before she lifted her feet and placed them on the desk.
Skyler's lips twitched as she suppressed a laugh from coming out of her. She did hear a lot of things about Mabel, but it was still surprising to see her not caring about etiquette.
"I'm fine. I am in good shape," she replied confidently.
"I think so too!" Mabel gave her a wicked grin before continuing, "You saw the lottery? You are in the first round against a nobody. What do you think of that?"
"Of what exactly?" Skyler asked, confusion evident on her face. She was unsure if Mabel has a hidden meaning behind her words.
Mabel smiled at the girl's response. She lowered her feet before she placed her hands on the desk.
"What do you think of the opponent they choose for you?" Mabel asked once more.
"You mean Malcom? He seems very intelligent. I have seen several of his fights. I must take care of his traps," Skyler responded with a dry voice, her expression bland due to disinterest.
"Is that all you think of him?" Mabel's eyes glinted as she looked at Skyler with interest. "Just that?"
"You want to know what I think about the fact that he is one of the Marked ones?" Skyler said, trying to stop Mabel's games.
"Then you know!" Mabel said triumphantly, intensifying her ill-intentioned gaze even more.
"It's a rumor," Skyler answered with a frown.
Mabel hummed before she questioned nonchalantly, "And who else knows?"
"You mean the rumor? It is known by everyone," Skyler said before she snorted. "But nobody believes it. Twenty-three victories by a Marked one? That is not possible."
"You believe it?" Mabel asked as she looked at Skyler seriously.
"I do not care," Skyler said. Her patience was reaching its limits, and having to deal with this woman's nonsense exasperated her. "He is just another person to beat!"
Mabel grinned as she said, "You are very serious! You're too tense. You should loosen up a bit, little girl."
Skyler took a long breath. "Excuse me, Virtue. But if you don't need me for anything else, I'd like to leave. I would like to go back to my training."
Mabel got up. She approached Skyler. She then placed her hand on Skyler's shoulder
"You should start coming here to train. After all, this will be your home after the tournament, successor," Mabel stated, somewhat irritated.
Skyler frowned deeply. She knew Mabel would blatantly spit on the traditions that Skyler and her family believed if given a chance. She wanted to leave the room immediately.
The girl's discontent grows further when she saw Mabel, walked towards the door
"So you've already made your decision?" Skyler asked.
"Don't be, delusional girl!" Mabel said with an arrogant smile, "We all made up our minds a long time ago. This tournament is just a tradition. A very stupid one! So just continue acting!"
Skyler pursed her lips. It was best to remain silent in such situations. Still, she could not help but send a cold glare at Mabel.
"What an uptight successor I got! We'll have to loosen your leash a bit when you get here," Mabel said with a taunting grin before she opened the door. "You can go, girl-"
Just as Mabel opened the door, she saw Malcom waiting outside.
"Look who it is," Mabel said, clapping loudly. "Match number one is here!"
Malcom looked at the women. He felt a deep drop inside his stomach. His hands began to sweat, and his heart started pounding fast. But his expression did not give any of this away.
Skyler got up from her chair and walked towards the entrance of the office.
Mabel was watching them closely. She then broke the silence. "How lucky I am!" Her scream made everyone look at her. "I could get a preview of the tournament right here!"
Skyler looked at her with utter contempt and disapproval but remained silent.
"Don't be stupid, Mabel!" Malcom yelled, "Why the hell would I show this girl my tricks before the fight?"
His way of speaking towards the Virtue surprised Skyler. She did not understand the way he spoke to the Virtue. Malcom then looked at her as if he was challenging her.
Skyler narrowed her eyes. Her decision to leave did not change.
"I'll see you at the tournament," Skyler emotionlessly said when she passed him.
Malcom smirked, before replying with confidence, "Can't wait."
Mabel started laughing when Skyler was out of sight. She went back to her desk.
"You are an idiot! What did you want to gain from this?" Malcom questioned in displeasure. He really got the fright of his life. He was still trying to control his heartbeat. It was probably the natural reaction of the weak towards the ultra-strong.
Skyler was that ultra-strong, at least in Malcom's generation.
Mabel looked at her with fake surprise. "Do you think I made you come so that the two of you would meet here?" She asked with a raised brow.
"Yes!" Malcom immediately spat as he glared at Mabel.
"So rude!" Mabel smiled, "But that would imply that I knew the results of the lottery before it started."
"Mabel!" Malcon yelled before he hit the arm of his chair.
He continued to ask with sarcasm, "Cut the crap, would you? What's your game? The Virtues want the little princess to pass for sure? Did they put three nobody for her so that she has no trouble getting through?"
Mabel burst into laughter. She was laughing hard until she held her stomach.
"You moron! You didn't finish watching the lottery, did you?" Mabel asked as she wiped a tear from her over, laughing.
Malcom shook his head.
"No. They did not make sure to let her pass. What they want is for you to get out of the tournament quickly ," Mabel explained. She then threw a paper towards Malcom.
The young man took it and looked.
Group A
Skyler, the goddess of fire. 20 wins 0 losses Elemental
Horse The Gravedigger 17 Wins 6 Losses Necro Mante
Bill Chass The Free Spirit 19 Wins 5 Losses Shaman
Malcon The Hunter 23 wins 27 losses. Materializer
He could not help laughing as well when he was done reading. He looked up, and Mabel nodded while smiling.
"They want to get rid of you! Satin is furious 'cause you humiliated his girl."
Malcom scowled. "Is there something that you filthy Virtues do not control?" He asked, full of resentment.
"No! Everything is ours!" Mabel replied proudly.
Malcom shook his head before he stood up from the chair and headed to the door. He really regretted asking.
"How much did we earn from Selina's fight?" He asked suddenly before throwing a piece of paper towards her.
Mabel distracted him big time with Skyler's appearance. He almost left before he got his share of the spoils.
"Oops!" Mabel yelled as if she was startled but still caught the paper. "We made a lot. Your cut is thirty thousand Rubies. How much is that compared to your Marked pension? A hundred times more?" She was waving her hand as if she was playing.
"Where is my money?!" Malcom demanded with gritted teeth. He felt like Mabel was scamming him.
Mabel chuckled nervously, "Promise! I'll give it to you after the first match of the tournament!"
"Tsk." Malcom would just let her be. When his hand was the doorknob, he heard Mabel speak again.
"Malcom, why are you still in the tournament? With betting and hunting, you will have more than enough. You could retire now if you want,"
"That's none of your Virtue business!" Malcom answered.
"Whatever you say, Marked," Mabel shrugged her shoulders.
"Is there anything you wanted to say?" Malcom asked while glaring at her.
"We will make a lot of money if you manage to beat Horse and Bill. A lot of money!" Mabel replied brightly, completely ignoring how upset Malcom was at her.
"What does that suppose to mean? I don't have a chance to beat Skyler?"
"Of course! Not in a million years, Marked!" Mabel said with a smile. She really hit where it already hurt.
And with a cold stare at the Virtue, Malcom left.
Mabel looked at the sky as she muttered to herself, "Well, at least this boy has guts."