In the darkness of the early morn, pale mist spilled from the mouth of a middle-aged woman with blueberry hair.
There was a determined look on her face as she muttered repeatedly to herself while walking across the well-lit, red brick pathways lined by flower beds and trees:
"This is for the best...This is for her own good..."
A student jogged past her.
Soon, the middle-aged woman arrived in front of a massive and luxurious dormitory, its walls painted in hues of blue, white, and gold.
She took a deep, cold breath and entered.
The automatic door opened to an elegant lobby. The middle-aged woman, with an insecure smile, approached the employee manning the counter.
"Hello, how may I help you, ma’am?"
"A-Ah, hello! I’m Vicky Snowcrest, and my daughter is in room fifteen. I’ve co to visit her early because she will be busy later. S-She has a tournant to attend, you see."
"I see. May I please see an I.D, Madam Snowcrest?"
"Sure, here..."
Even the simple act of handing her identification card over seed like an effort to Vicky. Well, it couldn’t be helped. This was the first ti she had been to such a luxurious place, after all.
While the employee verified her identity, Vicky looked around, attempting to hide her awe, but her overall actions easily suggested her inexperience.
It was quite obvious that she was intimidated by the place.
Fortunately, her difficult experience didn’t last for long, as the employee handed her identification card over with a smile.
"You may proceed to the right hallway, Madam Snowcrest. You can use the stairs or take an elevator to the second floor."
"I-I see! Thank you, miss."
With an overly enthusiastic bow, Vicky left and headed down the right hallway. She had used an elevator before, but to avoid the possibility of embarrassnt, she decided to just use the stairs.
Her knees were still healthy, anyway.
Vicky continued looking around in suppressed awe as she sought the stairs. Then, she ascended to the second floor, where she easily found room fifteen.
Vicky looked around in nervousness before typing her daughter’s password. The door unlocked with a beep, allowing her to breathe a montary sigh of relief.
She turned the knob and entered.
The lights were on...of course it was. Her daughter never liked sleeping in the dark, after all.
The suite was very spacious, and the furniture inside was many tis finer than that at ho.
Vicky found Iris soon. Her daughter was dozing peacefully on the soft bed to the far left of the suite.
’Must be nice...’ she mused, suppressing the slight envy in her heart and pulling out a foil-wrapped item from her handbag.
She unwrapped it, revealing a purple, spiraling, sleeping incense coil — very potent.
Vicky fixed it onto the small alloy stand and then retrieved a lighter from her bag.
With slightly shaking hands, she lit the sleeping coil up, calming smoke rising from its tip.
Vicky caught a whiff and felt a bit dizzy, so she quickly covered her nose with her other hand and carefully walked closer to her sleeping daughter, placing and hiding the coil beneath the nightstand.
She then observed her daughter for a while, her emotions an utter ss.
"Maybe not now, but you’ll thank one day for this..."
With a sigh, Vicky took liberties and laid on the sofa. The sleeping coil proved more effective than she expected.
***
**
Crownspire Arena baked under the morning sun.
However, no one paid the slightly intense rays a sliver of attention. The start ti of the event was an hour later today, giving more ti for the advertisents that the spectators who were already on the stands were forced to watch, and the bettors to place their bets.
Everyone had seen what the remaining participants could do, and although the odds had adjusted accordingly, people still went mad for a ticket.
The most famous ticket was Elune — listed as Moonpiercer — making it to the top sixteen.
Not only did she have to win just one match, but her skills made it very possible.
However, the thing that made "Moonpiercer in the top 16" a betting favorite was because of the rates.
She had to go through another A-ranker, and not just any A-ranker, but Lucas Petrov.
Still, how could people pass up a x6.72 in the odds?
So even lost control and went for the x11.09 of Moonpiercer in the top 8.
After all, if she could defeat Lucas Petrov — the top A-ranker, then she could defeat a re Cody Han and qualify for the quarterfinals.
In those screwed minds, betting on a x6.72 didn’t make any sense.
This was gambling in its purest form, as even the betting station was betting on the fact that Elune Tseradze’s run would end in her next match to make a lot of Swordcoins.
They would lose tons instead if the rates backfired.
The manager of the betting station was shaking, slightly regretting his aggressive decision. But there was no going back now.
The grace period soon ended. Most of the spectators had already settled into their seats, and the remaining participants had arrived...except for one.
Skylar glanced at the empty seat, the playful smile on his face widening slightly before reverting to the usual, then he shifted his attention back to the stage.
He could not wait for the fourth round of the competition to begin.
Hostess Nathalie was frustratingly efficient, and without too many flowery words, she was able to transition the event.
Everyone was excited, everything was ready, and it was ti.
She called the nas of the first participants from her desk.
"Class 36’s Rasharen and Class 69’s Edelweiss, to the main stage, please."
A crimson-haired young woman stood up and headed for the main stage, the determination to co out on top of a fierce match shining in her eyes.
To her confusion, the Snow Fairy was not approaching.
In fact...she wasn’t even here.
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