You get a first hand display of politics

There was a slight pause while Ten and the new Twelve relinquishes their stone. A quick bit of chatter erupts at the lower end. You can only get snippets of the conversation but each snippet is focused on who, how and when each challenge should take place. One thing you notice is if not for the current top five's prohibitive strength team work could very well knock someone stronger down the ranks. Thinking about it fighting six people in rapid succession all of who could be fresh each time might even take out Vatarie ... you correct that to it might even take out Anastasia.

When the lower ranks have finally finished their fights and it is the undefeated Six who can challenge she rather proudly challenges for Vatarie's number five. As they took the field Vatarie's aura was radiating excitement. Ripples jumping off from around her hand as she moves her magic into her armoured fist. Six readies her sword and gets ready to defend. Given Vatarie's habit of leading each fight with a punch to the face defence is the smart decision.

"Begin." Stephanie's only got the 'B' out when Vatarie sprang forwards. Her only hand aimed for her opponents face. Six's defence was effective as she ducked out of the way and tried to drag her blade along Vatarie's arm. However it wasn't a punch to the face that ended up being Vatarie's goal. Just as Six's blade touched Vatarie's arm Vataire twisted her waist.

Her right leg snapped out as she bent to ninety degrees, making perfect use of the form Stephanie had made everyone take. Six didn't have time to react and with a snap that made your skin crawl Six was sent flying from the field into the stand. Everyone was quiet as Vatarie lowered her foot looking disappointed.

Six might be dead. She was laying still and while her chest did have a curve you are pretty sure that curve is supposed to be outwards. The stands were silent as everyone held a breath. You wondered if anyone had any bets of someone getting killed. You then felt like crap for thinking that.

Stephanie walked through the silence of the arena. Approaching the still not moving Six. You looked at Vatarie who didn't look all that concerned. She was worryingly unbothered by what she had just done. Stephanie knelt down and put a hand on Six's chest.

The cough and sound of bones magically popping back into place was drowned out by the cheer that rang out at the confirmation of life. Stephanie stood up and people wearing the academy's servant grab hurried over to help Six. "Do you challenge anyone Five?" Stephanie asked walking back to her previous position.

Vatarie looked at the four people above her. Her aura was looking frustrated at the lack of fight that just happened. You thought she would challenge Nika so when she said, "Your Highness," with an excited smile on her face you were a little lost for words.

Anastasia walked out the field looking at Vatarie with a faint smile. The Princess had the advantage, she had both arms free Vatarie only had one, her aura also looked confident and Stephanie had ranked her higher but as your eyes drifted to Six being carried off you couldn't help but picture that as Anastasia.

"Begin." Stephanie's didn't even get the 'B' out when Anastasia moved. Launching herself at Vatarie with her sword ready for a slash at Vatarie's undefended side. Vatarie shifted to cover her missing limb with her free one reaching to grab Anastasia's sword.

An act that Anastasia had predicted would happen. She let the hilt of her sword go and swung her fist. Using the momentum of her advance to drive her knuckles into Vatarie's now exposed side of her stomach. Vatarie let out a grunt only slightly audible over the sound of the impact.

Vatarie's arm snapped back latching onto Anastasia's wrist before it could be withdrawn. Anastasia didn't slow down her attack as her other hand shot forwards to grab the sword that had been let go. With Vatarie locking her only free hand out of play by holding Anastasia there was no way to stop the swing for her neck.

Vatarie twisted, jerking Anastasia's arms and body out of position sending the sword wide of its target and bring her head close to Vatarie's. You'd be lying if you say you thought Vatarie was going for a kiss. As her forehead slammed into Anastasia's you tried to not blush at the very inappropriate mental image.

The sound of the two women's skulls colliding gave the fight a moment of pause. Vatarie couldn't keep her grappled with only one hand and a free sword to worry about so she yanked Anastasia's arm up and went to kick her chest. Anastasia saw it coming and jumped back, using Vatarie's loosened grip to pull free before the kick landed.

The two stared each other down for a moment. Anastasia had a bit of blood on her upper lip but she looked unphased. Vatarie's aura was radiating excitement. She really enjoyed fighting and this seemed to be a much awaited release. Anastasia tried to circle towards Vatarie's tied back hand. Vatarie didn't let her kicking her foot into the ground and using magic to cause a sandy explosion.

Anastasia flinched from the fast flying grit and missed Vatarie's advance. The sound of Vatarie's fist connecting with Anastasia's stomach was much louder than the inverse had been.

That sound made you notice the audience, actually it is what made you realise the audience wasn't competing for sound. There was no noise coming from everyone. Total silence as the two women fought. The aura's were a combination of anticipation, excitement and worry. Swirls of concern radiated out from the closest to the action. You couldn't identify if the concern was financial or bodily but it was concern. Compare to the cheering of Anastasia's last fight the silence was deafening.

As your eyes roamed they found familiar faces. Edin, Clare and Delilah were sitting together. Edin was the only one looking concerned. Clare looked bored, well she looked horny but she always looked horny and you can feel a dull boredom that you aren't the one feeling so figure she's bored. Delilah is swapping between freaking out and looking interesting. Eve's focus on the combat reminds you of the duel planned between them and Vatarie tomorrow.

You look back at the current duel at the sound of another hit. Vatarie's fist pulled back from the should Anastasia's was using to hold her sword. The sword fell from her grasp as the arm went slake for a moment but that wasn't the end of the fight. Anastasia swapped her style. She wasn't winning the physical fight even with a handy-capped Vatarie.

A clap sounded out as an explosion of wind detonated between the two women. Vatarie was pushed back and Anastasia fired another explosion. The sudden pressure put Vatarie off balance and the repeated explosions stopped her from advancing. She was pressed back to the edge of the arena and you saw all the audience members around the edge of the ring struggling to keep their seats and their eyes open as particles of sand were sent flying at them.

When you thought Vatarie was about to be pushed out of the arena and into the stands like her previous opponent she came to a dead stop. Her top half was frozen leaning back but her legs were rooted to the ground. As her uniform was buffeted by the ongoing explosions she remained still.

You checked her magic and saw how she'd countered the attack. A sheathe of magic was wrapped around her and sunk into the ground. She couldn't move with it but that draw back didn't last long as it segmented. Her leaned back torso straightened and she started walking sinking magic into the ground with each step to keep herself rooted.

Anastasia kept up her attacks for a few more steps when she realised it wasn't working. It was also when she made the mistake that lost her the duel. With the attacking going Vatarie was advancing but it was slow, rather than keep up that attack Anastasia stopped it entirely and attacked with her sword again. She'd no doubt seen the segmented sheathe around Vatarie and presumed the sudden stopping of the wind and her sudden advance would catch the one armed woman off guard.

Instead Vatarie pivoted and grabbed Anastasia's head slamming her into the sand with a dull thud and kneeling on Anastasia's sword hand.

"Yield?"

It was the first word spoke since Stephanie's and it triggered the audiences held breath. Anastasia still had a sword in her held down or not.

"I yield." Anastasia said.

Vatarie grinned and picked Anastasia up beaming at her. "That was fun." Her eye's flicked to Anastasia lips before the roared cheer of the crowd reminded her of other people company. She let Anastasia go and nodded at her.

Anastasia smiled back. "You are an exceptional warrior Lady Vatarie." She bowed to Vatarie whose aura was tickled by the post combat submission. Anastasia handed over her stone and took Vatarie's.

Vatarie approached the three above her. Despite the fight she didn't look all that tired and was clearly contemplating another round. "Tomorrow?" Asune asked quietly enough that only the four of you heard. Nika didn't react but Vatarie's excitement hesitated and she looked at Asune then you.

Her aura looked frustrated. No doubt she'd forgotten about her duel with Delilah in her battle excitement and the reminder of her need to show restraint bummed her out. Even intended as a magic-less duel exhausting herself today would make any fight tomorrow impossible and that isn't including how much damage she might suffer as a result.

"No more challenges." Vatarie says taking her new place.

"Three?"

"No challenge." Nika says plainly. Not surprising. She can't beat you, beating anyone below her is pointless given her indifference to everyone else and fighting Asune isn't something you do unless you know you can win.

"Two?"

You sigh and look at Asune.