The distant roar of the crowd hummed in the background as I sat on a fallen log, picking at the edge of my gloves. The others seemed completely at ease, which only made my nerves feel more out of place.
Daniel leaned back against the oak tree nearby, his whip coiled neatly at his side like it was just another part of him. "Delight, I don't think I've ever seen anyone glow as much as you did in that fight. You're like a walking fireworks display."
Delight, stretched out on the grass with her chimera snoozing beside her, grinned. "What can I say? I like to shine. Besides, did you see that water serpent? Took it down like a pro." She tossed a piece of dried fruit into the air and caught it in her mouth with a casual snap of her teeth.
Devin was sitting cross-legged a few feet away, sharpening a knife in slow, deliberate strokes. "Sure, you took it down," he said without looking up, "but you barely made it out of that fight without losing your wings. A little too close for comfort, don't you think?"
Delight rolled her eyes, but her grin didn't falter. "Oh, please. You know I thrive on a little drama."
They made it all sound so easy. Like stepping into the arena was just another day at the park. I shifted, my eyes flicking to the others before I finally chimed in. "You two sound like you're describing a circus act, not a battle."
Devin looked up, smirking. "That's because Delight fights like she's auditioning for a performance."
"And what about you?" Delight shot back, sitting up. "Last time I checked, you've got your own flair for theatrics, Mr. Brooding Knife Guy."
He chuckled, shrugging as he sheathed his knife. "What can I say? It works."
Daniel shook his head, letting out a low laugh. "You're all ridiculous. If this were a real war, none of this banter would matter."
I raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly. "Good thing it's not. I'm just hoping my match isn't as chaotic as Delight's. No flying chimeras or tidal waves for me, thanks."
Daniel turned to me, his expression steady and calm. "You'll do fine. You've got more discipline than the rest of us combined. Stick to your plan, and you'll be good."
I appreciated the vote of confidence, but Delight couldn't resist chiming in. "Unless your plan is to wing it," she said with a grin. "Then you're in my territory."
I laughed, feeling some of the tension in my chest ease. It was hard to stay anxious when they were so… themselves. The kind of ridiculous, laid-back camaraderie that made me feel like maybe I could handle this.
"Alright," Devin said, standing and brushing off his hands. "Time to head back. Beatrix, you're up soon, aren't you?"
I nodded, rising to my feet and dusting off my pants. "Yeah. Guess it's time to see what I'm made of."
"Don't forget," Delight called after me with a mischievous grin as we started walking back toward the arena, "if you get into trouble, just make it flashy!"
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help the small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. Flashy wasn't really my style, but maybe… just maybe, I could give them something to cheer about.
How does this work for you?Chapter X: Catching My Breath
The distant roar of the crowd hummed in the background as I sat on a fallen log, picking at the edge of my gloves. The others seemed completely at ease, which only made my nerves feel more out of place.
Daniel leaned back against the oak tree nearby, his whip coiled neatly at his side like it was just another part of him. "Delight, I don't think I've ever seen anyone glow as much as you did in that fight. You're like a walking fireworks display."
Delight, stretched out on the grass with her chimera snoozing beside her, grinned. "What can I say? I like to shine. Besides, did you see that water serpent? Took it down like a pro." She tossed a piece of dried fruit into the air and caught it in her mouth with a casual snap of her teeth.
Devin was sitting cross-legged a few feet away, sharpening a knife in slow, deliberate strokes. "Sure, you took it down," he said without looking up, "but you barely made it out of that fight without losing your wings. A little too close for comfort, don't you think?"
Delight rolled her eyes, but her grin didn't falter. "Oh, please. You know I thrive on a little drama."
They made it all sound so easy. Like stepping into the arena was just another day at the park. I shifted, my eyes flicking to the others before I finally chimed in. "You two sound like you're describing a circus act, not a battle."
Devin looked up, smirking. "That's because Delight fights like she's auditioning for a performance."
"And what about you?" Delight shot back, sitting up. "Last time I checked, you've got your own flair for theatrics, Mr. Brooding Knife Guy."
He chuckled, shrugging as he sheathed his knife. "What can I say? It works."
Daniel shook his head, letting out a low laugh. "You're all ridiculous. If this were a real war, none of this banter would matter."
I raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly. "Good thing it's not. I'm just hoping my match isn't as chaotic as Delight's. No flying chimeras or tidal waves for me, thanks."
Daniel turned to me, his expression steady and calm. "You'll do fine. You've got more discipline than the rest of us combined. Stick to your plan, and you'll be good."
I appreciated the vote of confidence, but Delight couldn't resist chiming in. "Unless your plan is to wing it," she said with a grin. "Then you're in my territory."
I laughed, feeling some of the tension in my chest ease. It was hard to stay anxious when they were so… themselves. The kind of ridiculous, laid-back camaraderie that made me feel like maybe I could handle this.
"Alright," Devin said, standing and brushing off his hands. "Time to head back. Beatrix, you're up soon, aren't you?"
I nodded, rising to my feet and dusting off my pants. "Yeah. Guess it's time to see what I'm made of."
"Don't forget," Delight called after me with a mischievous grin as we started walking back toward the arena, "if you get into trouble, just make it flashy!"
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help the small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. Flashy wasn't really my style, but maybe… just maybe, I could give them something to cheer about.