Chapter 4

The arena that had been constructed to host each year's Carnivals was another marvel of modern technology. Large enough to house the entire Genetics student body and staff it spanned multiple city blocks worth of size. A translucent dome shimmered above the arena portion of the stadium. The stands themselves were open to the air and provided a good view of the arena. Each seat had a small handheld monitor with which the user could filter through multiple camera views. This was necessary due to the size of the arena and layout. It would be impossible to see everything. What made the stadium so incredible was what happened within that clear shimmering dome. Artificial weather could be generated as well as day or night mimicked. Although bright and midday outside, within the dome it could be dark, and cold. The attendees could see within the dome, but those within could not see out. Once inside it felt as if being inside a different world than the real one outside.

Today the battlefield was the burning ruins of a city. A torrential rain storm and night conditions were the chosen weather conditions. It was one of the more difficult scenarios for a Carnival. Chiffon sat amongst some of the third year Pandora and quickly unhooked the viewing monitor turning it on. She flipped through channels quickly settling on one before leaning back in her seat.

"President Chiffon good afternoon." A girl behind her leaned forward waving.

"Ah, Aileen Barnett hello to you as well." Chiffon answered happily.

"So it's true? You aren't participating this time?" Aileen asked.

"No, I am not."

"Well, after last year that's probably for the best. I heard there was a possibility of being included in the third year's Carnival with us." Aileen mentioned raising her eyebrows.

"That is true, but I declined." Chiffon nodded.

"Then I should thank you. Even we third years would prefer to avoid a competition of skill with you."

Genetics functioned as a four year academy. The first year for Pandora was used to teach them how to adapt to the stigmata in their bodies. The Limiters were taught how to create and expand their freezing ability to better support their Pandora partners. Throughout the year there were numerous lessons on the history of Nova and other enemies that Genetics encountered. These comprised the specialty lessons for Genetics students. They were also taught basic academic skills such as writing, reading, arithmetic, history, and language. These all grew in increasing difficulty for their first three years in the academy. The fourth and final year was a yearlong tour of duty with the active military ranks of Pandora and Limiters. Afterwards the choice to remain as active duty or to retire was given. Retirement meant relinquishing the stigmata and benefits of a Pandora. Acceptance as active duty placed the pair under direct control of the governing body of the military known as Chevalier. In truth Chevalier controlled all aspects of the Pandora project. Even the Genetics schools were under direct control of Chevalier although allowed freedom to function as they saw fit as long as it provided results.

"All the same I would prefer to remain a spectator as opposed to a participant. These Carnivals are always quite brutal." Chiffon said.

"Compared to the Carnival you second years had last year I don't think brutality will ever be a word we think of the same." Aileen said slightly hushed.

"Hm? Did you say something Ms. Barnett? Chiffon turned smiling. Aileen looked away quickly.

"No president Chiffon. Not at all." Aileen said shaking her head quickly. "I see you are paying attention to that guy too." She pointed to the monitor Chiffon was holding. Leaning against a wall his hair slick with the rain water stood Varen. He clung to a long sword glancing around the corner of the wall he leaned on.

"Paying attention too? You mean others are interested in seeing him?" Chiffon spun almost fully around to address Aileen.

"A normal guy with no Pandora taking part in a Carnival? Of course everyone is watching! Everyone has money on how fast he goes down or if he dies!" Aileen laughed.

"I see. So that's why?" Chiffon responded turning back around watching her monitor closely.

Varen looked up at the artificial darkened sky above him. Rain lashed against his face as he stared up. Just on the other side of that darkness he knew the sun was high and bright. It would be fairly warm in the stands with the artificial heat circulating throughout the seating coupled with the cloudless sky. Although winter West Genetics was situated close enough south that it never truly got cold. All things that didn't matter at the moment he realized bringing his thoughts back to his current situation. Here in the arena it was dark, cold, and difficult to see through the downpour. He had taken a steel blade with him upon entering and it was his only defense against the classmates he would be up against. He looked once more around the corner and spotted another ruined building nearby. Oil fires dotted the landscape and it was the only source of light to help with navigation. He took a deep breath and ran for the next building.

"Slow…" a female voice said from what seemed next to him and he crashed onto the slick concrete feeling a solid object pull his feet out from under him. He rolled with the fall coming to his feet quickly setting his sword ahead. He could see nor hear anything aside from the rainfall and his own breaths now coming out quickly. Whatever his eyes and ears failed to notice he knew he was not alone.

"Show yourself!" Varen called out spinning around trying to find his assailant.

"Ah, but I've been here the whole time." The female voice called from behind him and he spun once more doubling over from the impact of something in his gut. He fell to his knees choking and gasping for breath. He looked up slowly seeing the black shoes and white stockings of legs directly in front of him now.

"Arnette right?" Varen said between labored breaths still clutching his stomach. She was tall for a girl standing at nearly six feet. She normally wore her long red hair high in a ponytail, but in this storm it clearly had come lose and streamed down the sides of her head sticking to her face and neck. She stood with one leg up on a broken piece of concrete her arms high above her head holding a thin pole that stretched down behind her to the ground where it ended in a long pendulum scythe. She wore a sadistic smile as she looked down at Varen her eyes glinting in the dark.

"That's right, Arnette McMillan the Slashing Trickster." She sneered.

"No Limiter?" Varen asked looking around. Arnette simply smiled wider.

"Morrison is watching out to make sure we aren't interrupted. I don't think his assistance will be necessary here. Besides, I want to take my time helping you understand why you shouldn't be here. You see, our class is a joke because of you. Like a lost puppy that has no home you beg for our scraps and live in our shadows. It was amusing at first, but now we have grown tired of your pitiful existence. I won't allow anyone to look down on us anymore and that starts with making you see reason." She laughed spinning the scythe around and leveling it in front of her body. Varen eyed it dangerously trying to keep his nerves calm.

"Just try it…" He said angrily getting to his feet holding the sword ahead again.

"Oh…I intend to. I already see you shaking at just the sight of my volt weapon. Let's get along you and I." She smiled one last time before disappearing from sight with a small popping sound. The rain where she had been standing splashed outward from her disappearance. Varen spun in circles trying to see where she went. He caught the flash of metal and raised his sword high to block the scythe that came racing for his chest. For a moment he was relieved that he saw it coming and had readied a block, but just as it hit Arnette and the scythe disappeared and he felt the sting of flesh tearing on his back. He screamed stumbling forward clutching at his back. He could feel the uniform torn from his shoulder down to his lower back along with the warmth of blood.

"Close, but not close enough!" Arnette chuckled coming again this time to his right. Varen spun lowering his sword towards her weapon and again just as he was about to parry it she disappeared and he felt the scythe bite into his left arm. He could barely register the blow before seeing her coming again now from behind. He turned slashing his blade hard and yet again she vanished and looked down to see a spurt of blood come from his chest. A thin red line appeared on his chest under the torn section of his uniform her scythe and cut through. He fell to his hands and knees grabbing at the wound trying to stop the bleeding.

"You're only seeing where I was aren't you?" She said, and he looked up seeing her seated on a rock a few feet away cradling the bloody scythe.

"What?" Varen said slowly blood coming out of his mouth now.

"Oh my, you didn't know? You see, it's a form of acceleration. I've been practicing it for months to perfect it. Most Pandora can accelerate faster than any human could hope to achieve. I know you know this because you are quite the well-mannered and studious student. Pandora can even accelerate a second time after a brief lag time pushing their speed further. However, I can do it without the lag time. A non-interval double acceleration. I can use that speed to make you see where I was before you see where I really am. Amazing right!" She kicked her legs laughing happily. Her laughed stopped as Varen got to his feet once more setting his feet.

"Again." He called to her. She sighed and stretched yawning.

"As you wish." She answered exploding forward slashing fast with the scythe. Four consecutive alternating slashes tore into Varen's body sending him flying back against a wall. A pool of blood mixed with the rain water on the ground running along the cracks. His fingers twitched gripping the pommel of the sword slowly forcing his legs under him and pushing his weight up until he stood once more.

"Again." He choked holding the sword out. Arnette's smile had long been replaced with fury as she glared at him.

"Acceleration!" She screamed and the air around them erupted with the sound of her speed. Varen slammed against the wall behind him looking down seeing the scythe impaled through his center. Arnette's face was inches from his the look of fury still etched on it. She stepped back sliding the blade free from his body sending him sliding slowly down the wall leaving a red smear against it until he sat in the rain his eyes closed. Arnette turned and walked away her feet clicking on the concrete.

"A…again." She stopped dumbfounded as she heard the voice behind her. With eyes wide she turned her head seeing Varen standing once more his sword ready.

"Why…" Was all she could say.

"Again." Varen said between streams of blood coming from his mouth. She looked down seeing the damage his body had endured from her weapon. Amusement, and anger, both emotions were gone from Arnette. Now her face was passive and cold as she walked back towards Varen.

"If you won't submit of your own volition, then you leave me no choice." She said whirling the scythe around so the blade rested behind her and her feet ready to sprint.

"Again…" He coughed.

"Acceleration!" She cried powering ahead again rotating the scythe once above her head and bringing it around slashing towards his neck. For a brief moment she smelt ozone similar to an electrical surge before a sharp clang echoed through the area and her eyes widened as her acceleration ended bringing her back to normal speed. Varen's blade locked with her scythe stopping it a hair from his throat. His other hand rested on one of her hands holding the scythe. Her chest rose and fell quickly as she breathed staring into his eyes. A small smile appeared on his face.

"I saw you." He said before he slumped to the ground again. Arnette stood over him still breathing heavily. She raised her scythe over his body, the blade pointed once more at his neck. The last thing he saw was her scythe swing down towards him and a flash of purple before everything went black.