Rumble in the Arena by MaLAguA

Saturday, October 22, 2016 - 1:31 pm
Whateley’s ‘closed’ coliseum. Temporary ‘Bohemian’ Arena

Over a minute and Caro is still up and fighting Cestus, I hope her spell doesn't end at the wrong moment. Oh boy, Cestus is trying to hold on until Caro's spell runs out, this is bad. He has figured out the limitation of her spell, is raging, and is still able to do an analysis like this, which isn't fair.

Caro tries once again to get Cestus to leave them to no avail, good job avoiding the attack and hitting with the kick, Cestus is going down! Uh oh, she extended the spell and would run out of mana before it did, a desperate and dangerous strategy. Fire breath, woohoo! Caro is trying to beat down Cestus but he just has too much endurance, this is taking too long.

Throat punch and throw to land right on a taser mine that finally knocks Cestus out, Caro won, yay! And now the drake's curse hits, it is going to kill her if she doesn't stop it at this rate! Bleeding to end the spell, is better than the alternative, now I see why it is called the drake's curse.

In that bad of shape and others are coming after her now, who should show up but Rachel to take on an upperclassman.

“Did I? I didn’t notice?” and when Rachel turned to look at the hyena rager on the ground, she gasped in disappointment. “What happened? Did you do that?”

“No?” Caro said, with the least of interest of adding herself into the Whitmaniac’s list of fighters. “I’m only here to help my friend and get out."

Caro, you are going to owe Rachel a favor after this is all over. Sofia is not captured yet, good. Oh no, you told Rachel it is a free-for-all, the number of students going to Doyle by the end of this just skyrocketed.

Glam, after not stopping the fight when Cestus went rager you shouldn't be in the arena trying to capture Caro and Sofia. Beating Caro up instead of just using the zip-tie on her, is revenge, Glam needs a hard lesson already.

“I’m so livid,” Glam muttered. “I was hoping that Cestus would get what he wanted, that he’d be happy enough. You know how important it is to do that for your prospective boyfriend? For the sake of appearances? But look at him. You turned him into the laughingstock of the day. Thank you.”

Ugh, I can't stand people like her, only caring about their own wants and needs, not caring who else gets hurt in the process.

Now taunting Caro because she knows she can't use her magic right now, Glam, you better hope Sofia doesn't blindside you right now. Yes! Sofia blindsided Glam and Caro grabbed the real one's hand, knocked her down hard finally. I hope Glam is actually down and this isn't just another of her illusions.

That is some spell of Caro's to boost their movement that much. Warp gates, scary if not used to, but very quick means of travel. Finally out of the arena, those were the longest minutes ever. Good, Cestus is cuffed and Glam fled the field of battle.

Before those remaining could engage each other, the doors at the front of the coliseum opened and in came the members of campus security, fully decked in riot control gear, just in case.

“We received calls of a clandestine off the books fight club… You kids have a lot of explaining to do!”

So it wasn't authorized by the staff or the staff wants plausible deniability, the Bohemians are in big trouble for this stunt.

Saturday, October 22, 2016 - 1:39 pm
Makeshift locker room at the fringe of La Pedreada

Marcos, you cheering that on when young teens are involved disgust me.

“But then again, I’ll have to inquire later, there’s no way the syndicate would be happy about that,” Caroline muttered before checking the time on her phone.

I hope she is told what the security team said, unauthorized and done by the students without staff approval.

A rematch between Root and Cole, a wooden sword this time, sounds fun. Aww, Caroline is rushing their rematch, three chances for Root to hit Cole. Root is good, but Cole adapts to others' fighting styles quickly, both are impressive. Yikes! Just what is that wooden sword made of, I know it is magic, but dang.

“It’s vera wood… a dense thing.”

“And it’s not hollowed, as I thought.” Cole said, swinging it around. “Much heavier than it looks and you’re stronger than I imagined,”

Whoa, no wonder it broke some bones. I hope Root gets a job with the Syndicate, better job than a fighter at this place, plus with his skills he only has room to get stronger.

Ah, no actual broken bones, but still impressive what he can do with a wooden sword.

“So, we leave him in the prospective column?” Caroline said.

“He fits the bill, though I’ll need some more sessions, but might as well consider extending the invitation soon.”

I hope they do hire him, Root seems like the kind of kid whose morals might have limits that this place might push too far one day.

Curtis Johnson, you think this is flirting with Caroline, I wish her or Cole would put this idiot in his place already.

“Hah, martial arts?” Curtis snorted. “They’re all fancy and good for show, but it doesn’t measure up to raw power. I can demolish a rock with a fist and barely break a sweat. I doubt your partner can do it. I wouldn’t want to break him.”

Bwahahaha, I actually laughed at this, I would have him do a match against Sifu Ito just to teach him a lesson about technique and skill over raw power.

Calling Cole a weakling, Curtis, you are an arrogant fool.

“It’s almost karmic. At any point, there’ll be someone better. You might have a bad day. You might be weakened from a wound, or you can just make a poor decision in a fight. And when you do, it’ll be a more painful fall the higher you hold yourself.”

“You do believe that? Folks like that… like my ex, they never seem to find the way to learn.”

“Time will come.” Cole sighed. “I used to have my best friend, Oscar Newton. Both of us grew together, served the army together, trained martial arts after we were booted out. We were both anime, martial arts, and superhero nerds together. Probably the only person who could stand toe to toe up against me and actually win.”

I wish to meet Oscar Newton, sounds like a great guy. And Caroline's ex, have we heard her state his name or codename before?

“It is. Despite being a baseline, he had no fear to face off against mutants, even making himself a minor career as a vigilante. Defend the weak, be better and stand up to bullies. He swore that he would take on anyone, no matter how strong they were. I even loved him for that.”

“You’re speaking about him because he’s gone… aren’t you?”

Cole sighed. “He joined a team of investigators and helped put many criminals behind bars, many mutants that were stronger than him. However, eventually, the danger got the better of him. The details of how it happened are a mystery. Apparently, a group of killers ambushed them within a building… I never found out.”

Dang, Oscar may be called a vigilante here, but he is far better than a lot of the so-called heroes we've seen. And a good reason to train people, the world needs more bully busters out there.

Saturday, October 22, 2016 - 4:29 pm
Doyle Building, outside

Trying to sneak out of Doyle to avoid being caught by security and connected to the fight, should have just stayed put and told the truth, less of a punishment. Oh good, went easy on them.

Though, from what they heard, many of those involved, including Cestus and the rest of the organizers, would be leaving with but a slap on the wrist.

Darn it! Despite everything, they treated it as just an unsanctioned fight, good grief.

“Well… Do you think you’ll be…”

“More careful about it? Yeah,” Sofia sighed as she pushed herself up onto her feet. “I mean… Crossby is still my boyfriend, sort of, and Trevor and Steven are still my friends. But they’ll need to give me a good explanation.”

“Just…”

“I know, I know,” Sofia admitted sullenly. After all that had happened, she had no leg to stand on out of outrage, especially as she saw Caro’s bruised face. “I’ll start to set up boundaries. Hard boundaries.”

About time she did that, I hope she also learns to see when they are manipulating her. A spell to mend her notebook when needed, something every writer wishes they had.

“It is…I just needed a bit more practice. It becomes easier to miss-gauge the amount of mana I pour into them when making the down payment. And some have consequences that are part of the risk. This one, for example, was meant to suck my mana every second, it could’ve been practiced a little better, but in the end, it would’ve still kept on doing that as long as I was still marked.” She raised up her bandaged left arm.

“And can’t you like to have a clause that stops it under a certain threshold?”

“I thought about it…” Caro shook her head. “But I didn't have the time. Admittedly, it would be much more convenient if it were something I could just slip on and wear. A magical trinket.”

“You know?” Chris cocked her head. “Curses oftentimes do go hand in hand with objects.”

Yikes, the spell is terrifying if done on the spur of the moment. Magical trinket, I wonder what form Caro will choose for it. Food, yeah, they all burned through a lot of energy. Gwen was just with her boyfriend, she is so obvious. Almost worked, Caro, but even talking about her date and Dereck won't distract from the mess you and Chris are in right now.

Saturday, October 22, 2016 - 6:20 pm
Bohemians’ Club, Whateley Academy

Bohemian Lion calls that mess a job well done, if the point was to give them an excuse to kick Cestus out then okay, otherwise that was a mess. Jeff Hayes got accused of those things, the Bohemians threw him under the bus! Calling Marco a knucklehead for not thinking up a free-for-all event, Karel, your ego needs deflating. And expecting an entourage of girls like that, his ego could float Whateley away if it was filled with helium.

At least he is smart enough not to go after Caro and Chris due to them being members of the Capes. They are blaming the fight on Sofia not keeping up the act after Cestus went full rager, the Bohemians are sociopaths imo. At least the Bohemians are keeping up their end of the deal after what Sofia was put through, it not I would have hoped Whiskey and crew would stop selling to them for breach of contract.

What do we do about Sofia?” They could hear Steven ask on the path.

You do nothing, or else! Secret approval of the headmaster's assistant, shouldn't count for an event like this!

He nodded. “Basically, I gave them a suggestion. Told them about the stream and how it would be bad for the school. Proposed that they just break in just as the stream is over to satisfy all parties. That way, the stream goes uninterrupted, they can pretend they did the right thing, despite me bribing them and we get to march.”

Ugh, that is sickening, for 20% of the cut no less, I wouldn't have done for anything less than 30%. The cash from the bets was part of the deal with the school as well, I hope the assistant headmaster finds out about this and starts to reign in the Bohemians, especially their leader.

Saturday, October 22, 2016 - 6:30 pm
Twain Room 217

Picture of Vic's ice sculpture and Caroline gets to see it. Vic knows nothing about the fight arena, too busy with other stuff to care I bet. Cole's exercises to think must be like moving meditation for him.

“Oh, it was fine, really. Not exactly a golden age, but at least you could feel as if it was stable. Not to discredit the current administration, after all, Mazarin was a prominent member of the syndicate and one of the people who hired a disgraced heroine such as myself. You just happened to come in as the waters were starting to settle in.”

The shift in administration, the loss of Mrs. Caron, Hartford leaving, and others missing or gone, is different from the school of the past. Friends from Washington, yay, more chats.

Monday, October 24, 2016 - 12:54 pm
On the way to the Crystal Hall

Grimma, you better not just be hiding when Caro is in trouble.

“Oh, but child of Hersebeth, what do I get by being out during the more entertaining moments.” Grimma mused. “I must say, when you tapped into that aspect of dragons, the ripples it sent off reached my very being. It was like a star shining bright before receding into the deepest confines of space. What a way to start a trial run, in the middle battle. I do wish I could’ve seen it.”

Just where were you when all of this was happening, Grimma?

“Nonsense. To be a sorceress of fables, adopting multiple forms and powers as the situation demands it should be child’s play. Make yourself as imposing as a giant, as ferocious as a dragon or humble as mouse, it should be a habit you’ll have to get used to if you aspire for this.”

“I’m not even sixteen, I don’t have anything to aspire for yet.” Caroline said, frowning as Grimma hovered around, crossing eyes with her. “You’re free to take away your gifts and job offer, and scram.”

“Oh? And what? Cast you back to your unfulfilled life with two-faced girls and the prospect of shallow romances with ‘jocks’? Based on status and wealth? Your life became all the more interesting when you found me in your grandfather’s estate,” Grimma said with a small smile as she backed away.

Grimma, I would like to introduce you to Coyote and let you two have a conversation. A mystical bangle, something Chris already suggested, of course, is the solution.

Meeting Sofia on the path to the Crystal Hall, no trouble from the Bohemians so they are following their leader's order for now. Halloween, eep, be wary of everything that night.

Maybe find a werewolf for a bit of its essence? Are they even real? Perhaps go for a modern angle? And see if she can leech some power from a devised creature… Go hunting for a dragon, maybe?

To the last part, don't even think about it just yet. Oh no, she wouldn't, would she? Ah, she is going to ask Morgana for help with something, not as bad as I thought.

This has been a crazy ride from start to finish. Cestus' ego project got so out of his control he didn't even know it, Bohemian Lion playing him and the school to make out like a bandit but if the truth comes out of his deal with the school he will be the most hated student on campus, Whiskey, and his crew dealing with the Bohemians plus how they manipulated a drunk Sofia into going into that fight because they are her "friend".

I loved Vic's parts, the flashback to his time with his mother had me happy and sad for him, to lose someone like her. The art club was great, I knew Vic's piece would involve water, but he showed a lot of creativity with his choice of medium. Rusty's Popeye sculpture stood out too, skill and patience to get that one right.

Seeing the new additions to the school is great, I loved the Parkour training course.

The wheeling and dealing between the different groups on campus are interesting to see, even using a mage to make binding contracts, I wonder how common that is in the business world.

The improvement in Caro and Sofia's relationship is great to see, I hope we get to see it continue to grow. Caro's improving skills with her magic, yet still feeling out of her depth due to what happens with the drake's curse, she needs a talk with someone who has gone through similar experiences.

Caroline and Cole inspecting the underground fight club definitely showed a different side to how the Syndicate operates. I just hope Marco doesn't blow it by thinking he can manipulate the Syndicate into giving more than they are getting. And I hope Root gets out of there with a new job.

The fight was insane. I should have known the Bohemians would keep it going even if Cestus went rager, the whole group has issues with caring about anyone but themselves. Sofia was impressive, I'm shocked she was still able to move let alone fight even a little after all that. And Caro, I don't think anyone will ever underestimate a mage at Whateley again who saw that fight. Dangerous spell, but the results speak for themself.

I'm just glad the girls got out of it in one piece and aren't in any trouble. If only the Bohemians didn't get off scot-free thanks to Bohemian Lion's deal. I can't wait to read more in the future of all of them and hope to see the Bohemians, especially Karel, get their just desserts.