Chapter 1: Competition for the Snaff Prize

Clank... Clank... Clank... Vini sighed, and wiped her brow, placing her tool down. She stared at her new work of art. If it can even be called that, she thought with a frown. She stuck her hands within the crest of the cannon, and it was hot. This device was her new invention; one specific to her profession—a cannon that could make someone invisible upon contact.

The question was how to finish it? And how to make it small enough to fit in an asura's pocket? The latter would have to solved later. Hmm... maybe if I just... oh! Ohh! This might work! Closing the crest, she opened the body of the cannon, and began to fiddle with blue and purple copper wires. Carefully, she swapped the connections, and closed the lid.

She pressed the activation button (not to be confused with the fire button), and the cannon hummed quietly. That told her that everything was functioning well.

"Okay," she said to herself. "I just need a test sub—"

"Vini!" a familiar voice cried out. She groaned, looking up at one of the many pyramids that dotted Rata Sum. "Vini!"

She turned around, and saw her brother, a light brown skinned asura, wearing his typical garb—poncho pants, a large kilt, and well-tailored shirt. "What is it, Pol?" she asked, trying to mask her annoyance.

"We're late!" he exclaimed. "I know you were working on something new, but Varkk's been waiting for us, and he's going to be none too happy about our tardiness!"

Vini blinked in surprise, her annoyance transformed into panic. "Oh... by the Alchemy, I forgot!" And she was not one to forget. "All right. Listen, let me put my new invention away right now, and we'll leave."

"Just... what is it?" Pol asked, peering at it with a curious expression. "It looks like a long serrated cannon."

"No time to explain!" Vini said, putting the components of her invention into a square, darksteel container and into the hands of her personal golem. She looked at it. "V-3MC, take this to my room, and lock it away with my passcode, understood?"

"Yes—mistress—Vini—to—your—room—at—once," the golem responded in its typical mechanical voice. It turned around and walked away in a slight swaying fashion, carrying the metallic box. Vini turned to Pol and nodded.

"Let's go!" she said, putting her hood over her head (and fitting her ears through the slits on the sides). She smirked at her brother. "Let's not keep greatness waiting." She ran for the portal to Metrica Province, her feet tapping across the tiled pathway.

"But we already have," Pol said, running beside her, exhaling quickly while trying to keep up.

"Well, then we shouldn't delay it any longer! Come on!" She headed toward the tri-set of circular, purple-energy gates and she could hear her brother falling behind.

Vini stopped and waited a second for Pol to catch up; she could hear his rapid breathing.

"Why do you run so fast?" Pol asked, gasping.

"Because I'm trained that way, come on!" she repeated. Vini didn't wait for a response as she jumped through the left portal. She felt the familiar, and yet comfortable draining sensation as she was pulled through the gate into a purple vortex.

Soon, the noticeable Metrica Province came into view, and Vini stepped out of the portal. She sighed, stopping. The province didn't have the clean air of Rata Sum due to its location in the jungle. Thin trees lined the ground and the mountains in the distance.

Pol appeared beside her, and without any further words, they ran toward the main square where the competition was to be held.

-S-

"Where have you two been?!" Varkk growled at Vini and Pol. He was an older asura, wearing robes of dark yellow and brown—ugly in Vini's opinion. Varkk's eyes were surrounded by thick brown marks and one of his ears was drooping downward. He was short—shorter than Vini even, but that didn't make him any less imposing.

"I've been waiting forever for you!" he continued. "Look!" He pointed to the competition square, light blue in color with several small pillars—one each corner. Each pillar hummed with magical energy passing up and down the structure. "The other krewes have already gone ahead of us."

Vini smirked, and removed her hood. "Well, they saved us for last, then. Last is best, correct?" she said, feeling confident. "We're going to win this competition; it's guaranteed. No one has anything like our Interspatial Translocator." She smiled. "It'll be okay, Varkk. Just relax..."

"Don't try to use your charms on me, girl," he growled again. "We're up next—and I mean within a few seconds. Pol, you're our target."

"Wait, what?" Pol blinked, backing away a little. "B-but... that thing could—"

Vini sighed. "Let me be the target. I'm more familiar with the device than my brother," she said, folding her arms. "Besides, I think he is better at controlling it."

"Fine!" Varkk snapped. "However it is done, it must be done perfectly!"

Sheesh, his mood is worse than usual, Vini thought with a frown. Varkk didn't seem to notice; he turned around and faced the judges. One of them Vini recognized as Zojja, and she was wearing her usual blue outfit with the matching goggles on her head.

We're going to impress her by far! Vini grinned eagerly. She had only met Zojja once in her life while she was studying under Councilor Canni (though, she was still her mentor from time to time), and Zojja commented on Vini's work.

"Well done on that project. I can tell, Vini, that you're going to be ahead of your classmates in the future."

That was a couple of years ago, and Vini wondered if Zojja would remember her.

"Vini! Get into position!"

Varkk dragged herself from her thoughts, and glared at Varkk. He needs to calm down, I'm not a tool. She took her place in front of the cannon, folding her arms again.

"You're getting ahead of yourself, Varkk." Zojja was the one to speak. "You need to announce yourself and your krewe, and what your invention is," she added, pointing briefly at him.

"My apologies," he said, sounding more relaxed. "Judges of the asura committee, I present to you our krewe, Vini, her brother Pol, and myself Varkk. This device is the Interspatial Traslocator, which will teleport one being to another location safely, and intact. Vini will be our subject in this run."

Vini's breath was captured when Zojja eyed her—as if she did recognize her. Does she remember?

"Ready?" Varkk asked Vini, his tone much more calm. She nodded at him, her confidence melting away and tension rising in her body. She had to impress the council—especially Zojja.

I will not fail. She stared into the Translocator and barely heard Pol's nervous breathing as the device hummed, activating.

Then, she was hit by a blast of energy. To the others, Vini knew the display would be instantaneous, but as for herself, she was torn through a tunnel of blue electrical force. Suddenly, she was drawn out of the vortex and landed on the middle of the main square.

Not feeling tired at all, she removed her hood and smiled as gasps of awe and amazement passed through the crowd. Then, there was an applause from the congregation around her and she looked at Zojja. A wider smile passed on Vini's face when she saw Zojja nod in approval.

It wasn't the first time a teleportation device had been made, but at a college level, it was impressive. Vini could tell that the other judges, from their expressions, that the device had recent a favorable reception.

"Well... I think we have a krewe that understands the fundamentals of design," said one of the judges, nodding again. "You three pass the test, and will receive—"

"Hold it!" a female voice said. A group of asuras walked onto the scene. They wore identifiable sets of outfits—black and red, all of them.

Inquest! Vini thought, nearly hissing. What do they want? Didn't they already show their invention?

The female who had strode onto the stage wore pure crimson armor. Her black hair was tied back in a short ponytail, and her dark eyes scanned the Translocator. "Well done," she said. "Especially since you did a perfect job—or nearly perfect—at hiding the fact that the device is Inquest property."

"What?!" Varkk roared. He pointed at the asura. "I've never heard a more vulgar lie in my life! How dare you, Teyo!"

"Calm down, Varkk," said one of the judges. He turned to face Teyo, distrust in his eyes. "Such a claim is a serious allegation. I see no proof that the invention belongs to the Inquest."

"Ah..." Teyo smiled again. "But I have proof."

"Floppy-eared liar," Vini snapped at Teyo. She stopped, and her eyes crawled toward Vini.

"Excuse me? You said what?"

"I said you're lacking in appearance," Vini said, smirking confidently. "You're not shapely, and your ears are, as I said, much too floppy. Not to mention your head is thick with bone—thick enough that you'd never conceive of such a fantastic invention." Besides, when's the last time you spent with a male? she thought.

Teyo's upper lip twitched. "Watch it, Vini Yunio. You're crossing a dangerous line," she hissed. Vini grit her teeth at the sound of her given surname. "I wouldn't insult me again if I were you."

She fingered her daggers, but widened her smirk. "Oh? An insult? I apologize because I must have miscalculated," she said. "What I meant to say is that you're a hideous-looking buffoon, and a smashed-face invention thief!"

Teyo's teeth grinded against one another, and she drew a crimson greatsword. "I'd watch—!"

"Enough!" Zojja shouted, loud enough to shake Vini in her place. Teyo appeared to wince. "Look, we don't have time for you two to discuss your physical appearances. Especially if you're going to try and shed blood over such a simple matter."

That stung. Vini felt Zojja's appreciation for her drop to the bottom of an abyss. Teyo sheathed her sword, still glaring at Vini. She cleared her throat. "As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, the Inquest have evidence that this Translocator is ours. Here. Documentation." Teyo's smile returned as she placed an electronic note on the judges' table.

They looked over it, raised eyebrows all around. Zojja didn't seem to care as she was still glowering at Teyo. Vini's mouth twitched. This isn't possible. Varkk, Pol and I worked on this device in Rata Sum for weeks! This is our creation, not theirs! ... especially not that pathetic excuse for a female.

Varkk's eyes were wide with fear and rage. "No, no, no, no! The documents are obviously forged! I worked on the Translocator myself along with my krewe! And there were no Inquest around, nor did we even look at Inquest documents!"

Zojja spoke. "Councilor Aski, you're the best at discovering forgeries. Would you look at the documents, then?" she commanded more than asking.

Vini's eye twitched this time. Aski's with the Inquest. He's their stupid representative on the council! This was unfair, completely unfair. But Vini knew Zojja was telling the truth when she said he was best at detecting a forgery.

Aski looked over the note for a minute, and then shook his head. "I see no evidence of a forgery."

"He's—!" Vini started, but Zojja shot a look at her and raised her hand to silence Vini. What? She can't possibly...

"I say the Inquest take back their device and there shall be further investigations, but no more words at this time," Aski said. "The competition is over, and the Snaff Prize will be given to the rightful owner after the investigation. Thank you, you're all dismissed."

Vini's shoulders sunk. "This... this is not happening," she muttered, falling on her knees. The title 'Savant' could have been hers. Hers. She would have gained newfound respect. Vini, the only student who had reached five-point-oh on her GPA, and yet the title had slipped out of her grasp. Now, everyone would see her as a literal thief.

The judges dispersed as did the crowd. Vini could hear hushed whispers among them. The Inquest, looking rather smug, took the device from a shaky Pol.

"I cannot believe this!" Varkk stomped his foot on the ground, even before everyone had left. "Those Inquest violators! By the Alchemy—!"

"Varkk," Zojja said, approaching him. "Calm down."

"Calm down? Calm down?!" he growled, grinding his teeth. "You let a puffed up Inquest lout to take my invention and run! Not to mention we lost the competition because of you and the judges!"

"You haven't lost it yet," Zojja said, clearly trying to keep her cool. "It's still under investigation. All you lost was your invention." Varkk opened and closed his mouth, but did not respond. She looked up at Vini. "I'm sorry I was harsh with you, Vini. I am very impressed, though, for the second time, at your progress."

She remembered! Vini's hope came out of the darkened pit. "Thank you, Zojja."

Varkk finally spoke, growling. "Look, I'm returning to Rata Sum! Whether or not you two," he added, pointing at Vini and Pol, "come with me. Stay here for all I care!" And with that, he stormed away from the group.

"Good riddance," Zojja said with a snort. Vini looked at her, surprised. "What? He was too angry for what I'm plotting."

"Plotting?" Pol asked, his eyes widening. "Wait, you...?"

"Yes, I believe you. I think Teyo is lying," Zojja said. She folded her arms. "The Inquest have been doing some shifty things of late, and I think when Aski conveniently failed to detect a forgery, that sealed the deal."

Vini's interest was peaked. "What have they been up to? Stealing other krewes' inventions?" she asked.

"Not exactly," Zojja said, shaking her head. "It seems like they are recruiting students—in masse—I thought they were merely a large krewe, but I think they may not be interested in splitting up. Besides... my old... nemesis is with them. Don't ask," she added, noting the expressions on Vini's and Pol's faces. "At least, not now."

"So... you want us to help?" Vini asked. Her anticipation rising at a rapid rate.

"Not yet," Zojja said. "What I want is to know where Teyo took your invention."

"That's impossible," Pol said with a deep sigh. "I mean, the device could be anywhere within hours! And who knows how they move it around? Not to mention they'll probably modify it. It's hopeless." He slumped forward.

"No, it's not, Pol," Vini said, feeling another smirk grow on her face. "Remember that one invention was stolen from me? I didn't want that event to repeat itself, so... I put a tracking device within the Translocator." She looked at Zojja, feeling confident again. "We can find it."

"That's the third time you've impressed me, Vini," Zojja said, smiling. "Good thinking, we can find the invention and get back at Teyo for being... a thief and liar."

"Wait... you're... coming with us?" Vini asked, blinking in surprise. "I... I'm honored."

"Oh, stop it, Vini," Zojja said, dismissing the comment with a wave of her hand. "Don't worship me like one of the humans' ridiculous gods."

"R-right," Vini said. Having Zojja around would take some time to get used to. "Though, I must ask why. That has me curious."

Zojja cocked her head. "I already told you, the Inquest has been unscrupulous of late, and I want to know what's happening." She smiled again. "Besides, I've heard you're a talented Thief—or 'assassin' as you like to call yourself, and I want to see those skills for myself."

"What about me?" Pol asked. "I'm feeling a little left out."

"Well, you're coming, so you better know how to use that rifle of yours, Pol," Zojja pointed out. "I imagine you do."

"O-oh! Yes, I'm very good with ranged weaponry!" He stammered. Vini could feel his anxiety, and she shared it. "Just give me anything ranged and I can figure it out in milliseconds! ... except bows. Could never figure those out. Leave that to my sister."

Vini patted her wooden short bow on strapped onto her back.

"Sounds like we'll make a good team then," Zojja said with approval. "Let's go to my lab where I can get my golem and we'll find that... hideous Inquest thief," she added with a smile at Vini.

She grinned. "Yes, let's do so. I'll love to plant my boot in Teyo's disgusting face and make it look even worse."

"Sounds like a good plan to me," Zojja said. She beckoned to them with a hand. "This way." Vini nodded, put her hood over her head again and followed Zojja, taking one glance at Pol to make sure he was following.