Cearbhail:

So... every good anime has this. You know... you probably hate it. Everyone endures it. They take forever, but they're essential for character development, especially when you have 100+ characters to show off.

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It's the TOURNAMENT ARC!

Enjoy. =^^=

[Erickha]

"I would like to welcome everyone to the Improvised Imperial War Mage Tournament 4e 004. It's a lovely Tirdas morning. It's around 10:00 A.M. and it's time for the Combat Tournament Tier 1 Round 1. If you're not interested in the combat rounds, there are several other tournaments happening today. In the order of events today, we have the Combat Tournament, each round lasting 5 minutes. The rules are simple: either knock your opponent out of the square ring, knock them unconscious, incapable of fighting for longer than 10 seconds, or make them forfeit either through verbal exchange, or by literal tap out. My name is Sosia Ernard, I am the Arch Mage of the Imperial Branch of the Mages Guild, and the headmaster of the Arcane University. And I'm joined with my esteemed husband, Adam Ernard, professor of the Arcane University."

I glanced over to the aging Breton man. He bent his head down to his wand, clearing his throat. "Good morning, all." His voice echoed across the whole inlet. "I'm honored to be here this morning to help examine the various tournaments that will be held today. My neck is still a bit stiff from… previous events, but I assure you… I'm only partially blind in both eyes."

Sosia chuckled. "Oh, you are the salt of the planet." Sosia slapped her husband's shoulder playfully.

"Only when you're sprinkling it on me." He replied just as playfully.

Sosia regarded the older Khajiit sitting next to her. "And here to my right is a woman who should always need introduced, depending on whatever codename she's operating under. I'll let her introduce herself."

The Khajiit woman cleared her throat. "I'm an old woman. Sword expert. That's all you need to know."

Sosia nodded cheerfully. "And that's all that you need to know." She looked back at her husband. "Okay, sweetie. Are you excited?"

Adam nodded. "I sure am." He turned, narrowing his eyes as he glanced at his wife. "But seriously, this tournament sprang up last minute. What do we have in store for our spectators and competitors today?"

"I'm so glad you asked, salty." Sosia chuckled. "We have the combat tournament. Four tiers, 15 rounds total, and with 5 minute rests between the final two tiers, a grand total of 85 minutes or… just shy of an hour and a half. The Combat Tournament should wrap up just around 11:30. We will then immediately transition to the Alchemy Tournament. Eight Competitors, one 15 minute match… one winner. We'll explain the rules during the tournament. After that, the Conjuration Tournament will begin. I'll explain that one right here. It's a completion to see whose summoned beings are stronger than the other. It's a Pocket Dimension Monsters battle. Or Pockedimon battle. Each match will be 5 minutes. There are only six competitors, so it will be a two part battle royale, and then a final round between the two left standing. With the Enchantment Tournament, it will work more like a function show, showing off combinations that excite us… the judges. And then we'll finish with some unique magick users who will present themselves as a talent show. It will be a fun time for us all. And if the weather doesn't turn orange unexpectedly, we'll have a lovely fireworks display."

Everyone cheered for that last part.

"So, without further ado, let us welcome the first two competitors. In the left corner, we have from Unit 3, Erickha Snow-Pelt, a Khajiit girl born in the colder winter mountains in northern Skyrim, to one of the very few Snow Leopard tribes living in Skyrim, just northeast of Winterhold. And just to give you a little information on our little snow leopard, her favorite season is winter, her favorite color is lavender. She loves pancakes, loves doing martial arts, and she's all about honorable combat between herself and whoever's in her face. Other than that, we'll take it over to her proctor." Sosia looked over my old proctor: Katia Mana'akha.

Katia smiled at me as she nodded a welcome to me. "I've known her for a while now. She's a smart, energetic, empathetic girl. She's just as hardworking as they come, and with a strong moral code to boot. She's really protective of her friends. She's always asking questions, seeking new ways to cast impossible spells. It's this curiosity that drives her studies. But it's her raz'akha that will be the deciding factor in this tournament today. I feel that she has it in her to make it to the finals if she keeps her cool." Katia gave me a knowing glance.

Sosia nodded. "And there you have it. Let's go to the right corner to the second competitor. From Unit 4, we have Dulzul from a Stronghold located up in Hammerfell: Barfel. Dulzul's destiny to the Arcane University began when his mother discovered that he would summon flames to his hands as a baby. The Stronghold seemed to think that Dulzul was an affront to their lifestyle and needed to be sacrificed to Malacath. Dulzul's mother escaped with Dulzul using her own magick to help them escape. They moved here to the Imperial City, joining the small Orc community, the Imperial Stronghold. They were welcomed with wide arms. And he's welcomed here with arms just as wide. And now a little information on our huggable Orc. His favorite season is spring; his favorite color is blue. He loves to sing, loves to play drums. And if you catch him on a good day, he'll shock you with how powerful his voice is."

Dulzul smirked as he glanced at me. "Oh yeah… I'll shock you alright."

He'll do what? He'll… shock me? He must have a beautiful voice.

I found myself smiling as I held out my hand for Dulzul to take. "I'm honored to meet you, Dulzul. I hope we can have a good match. I promise to keep my red eyes to myself. I'm saving them for someone special."

Dulzul laughed. He nudged me. "Vatu told me all about it. Don't worry… you won't be making it to him. Not on my watch. So… you better go all out. Not that you can stand a chance against me. I'm 100 times better than any little thing you can throw at me. And even if you manage to beat me… I'll make you bleed for it."

I found myself laughing. "I'm sorry?" I flicked my ears. "Care to say that again? You'll make me bleed?"

He nodded. "Oh yeah. One Dulzul special coming right up." He gave me a wink as he took my hand in his. "Let's have a rocking blast."

"I'll give you something." I replied back. This Orc… was he playing with me? Insulting me? Challenging me? I'm still getting used to how people talk. Back in my village… we don't talk to each other like this. We don't casually insult each other. We don't threaten bleeding either. He hasn't even seen my spellwork yet, and he's claiming he's… 100 times better than me? I… I feel angry about that. I feel attacked. Embarrassed. I want… I really want to show him up now.

"Okay, competitors. Ready… start!"

I readied my Conjuration portals, ripping out my bound katana. I wasted no time as I charged for my first strike. Dulzul wasted no time as he arched his head back, taking a deep breath. Was he about to sing for me?

Dulzul screamed, and I was suddenly was thrown off my feet as lightning blasted through his mouth. I brought my arm up, summoning whatever small Shield I could cover my arm in. The sheer force of his scream lifted me off my feet. I struggled just to keep myself planted. Throw in the lightning coming out of his mouth, and the Air magick he was manipulating… I was having a hard time keeping my feet planted.

Thinking fast, I plunged my ethereal sword into the tournament stonework, or trying to anyway. It seemed that the tournament tiling was enchanted to resist magick. Interesting. I wonder if I could use that to my advantage? I had a Shield wrapped around my left arm protecting my face from the incoming sting of Air magicka. And… I'm an Atronach. My fueling of this spell was dependent on the incoming magick slamming my aura being absorbed into my being.

As I was calculating what I was going to do next, something slammed into my back… hard. It was hard enough that I tasted metal in my mouth and saw stars in my eyes. I fumbled forward just slightly. I didn't have time to look behind me though to see what it was. I had a charging Orc running at me full speed still screaming at me full force. He had two summoned maces in his hand.

I sighed. Okay, Erickha… time to do your thing. I jumped forward at Dulzul, meeting his knee thrust with my Shielded elbow. I threw myself under his knee, hoping to throw him up, but… I didn't work like that. He blasted his wind voice at me, shooting me with lightning from his mouth. My absorption abilities held out though, and I was keeping my cool as I collected his magick into myself.

"Ooh, interesting strategy…" Arch Mage Sosia said from the judging podium. "Dulzul seems to be going for the pin."

"Dulzul is a full-front tank." A tall muscular Nord covered in scars said from beside the Arch Mage. "When I was training him, I had a hard time taking him in a full-on assault like the Khajiit girl is doing. Even at a distance, Dulzul is a threat. I would tell the Khajiit how to best Dulzul, but as a War Mage, this is something she needs to know if she's to survive in a real fight. Instead… she already seems like she's accepted defeat. Laying there won't help her defeat the Aedra."

My mentor snickered from the side. "Laying there? Please… I know my girl. She's down there because she wants to be. Khajiits are masters of the martial arts. Nimble, fast… unpredictable. Centuries of memories of warriors before her are within her grasp. Any war we fought… it's in her genetic makeup. Within her memory. Besides, I know why she's down there. The same reason I'd be down there. She's… getting a snack."

The Nord glanced at my mentor. "What's that mean? Wait… she's…?"

My mentor nodded. "You know it. And right now… she should be just about full."

She was right. I was biding my time, building up my reserves. And it was time for me to unleash all my northern fury. You see… I'm an Adept in Destruction. Journeyman in Alteration, Conjuration, and Enchantment. And when you put all four of those fields together you get…

I screamed as I threw myself up, summoning Ice Pillars up from my fur. Sheets of thin ice blasted out of me while I quickly formed plates of ice around my training robes. My Ice Armor. As I breathed, the air began to cool. Snowflakes began to form in the air. The tournament tiles, while enchanted to bounce off magicka… was not enchanted to ward off cold or heat. Ice began to cover the stone flooring. Long ice claws over my talons. I was finally ready.

Dulzul laughed as he picked himself up off his butt. He was plucking a thin ice needle out of his arm. "Nice trick. Does the pretty kitty want a pat-pat on her head?"

I growled. "You just insulted me and my entire race… but… yes. Yes I do." I readied myself on the frozen tiles. "And I'll be sure to get my girlfriend to give me all the pat-pats I want after I wipe the floor with your flesh."

Dulzul laughed. "There she is. The fierce Khajiit warrior I wanted. I thought you were going to sit there and lick yourself if I didn't get you moving." Lick myself? I really hate this Orc.

Dulzul grunted, rocks flying off the ground, surrounding him. "You're not the only one gifted with Alteration and Destruction, you know. In fact… I think I'm better. I'm an Adept at both Destruction and Alteration. And Journeyman in Conjuration. I can tell you're strong, but… I'm just stronger."

Dulzul pushed forward, trying his best to get to me. His foot slid on the frozen tile. "What the?" He slid off his foot, surviving only by slamming his armored knee into the ice. "I didn't even notice."

I found myself smirking. "Funny thing… growing up in the frozen tundra…" I slid my uncovered feet across the frozen tile. "You learn how to walk on ice. But me… I can dance on it." I pushed off my feet, sliding up to Dulzul. I slashed with my coated claws at his face. He brought up his armored elbow, taking the attack for him. My ice was just as strong as the rock he coated his elbow with. And as such… I didn't manage to hurt him in the least.

"Cute…" Dulzul said as he started to stand up. "Funny thing growing up in the Imperial City…" He screamed at me again. Lightning blasted from his mouth. The air was quickly throwing me off balance again… and with the ice covering the fighting ring, I wasn't able to keep myself stationary. I quickly planted my ice claws into the icy arena, keeping myself from sliding. "You learn how to make noise if you want to get something done." He stopped blasting me with wind lightning.

"Cute…" I replied. "Funny thing about growing up…"

"Cut the developmental chatter and get to punching each other with magick!" The scarred Nord screamed at us.

Dulzul grunted. "He's right. Been taking my time with this. Think I'll end it." Rocks started surrounding his hands, making huge rocky boxing gloves. He screamed as he charged at me. Rocky spikes were jutting out of his shoes, allowing him to catch his steps on the ice. Smart. I just have to be nimble and… I think I can take him out.

I pushed forward, sliding across the ice, using my ice claws as ways of changing my direction and speeding up. I skated across the ice, circling Dulzul. He turned to watch me as I skated around him. And that's when it happened. I took my eyes off in front of me just long enough to track his movements, which were just enough movement that he could keep an eye on me. As soon as I looked at him, I felt a heavy slam on my face. Much like the slam on my back earlier. I was thrown off my front and onto my side. My entire left side of my mouth was throbbing. I tasted blood in my mouth. I think I chipped a fang too. I had a chunk of something in my mouth.

I turned over, spitting whatever it was out. It wasn't a tooth. It was a rock. A thumb-sized rock. I looked up, seeing the small rocks levitating all around the arena.

"If you haven't guessed… Air, Shock, and Rock are my elements of choice."

I shook my head. "Wow…" My face was swollen. Really hurt too.

"I'll give you a chance to do one of two things. You can either surrender… or show me those lovely ruby eyes." Dulzul summoned his maces to his hands again.

I reached into the void, calling out my ethereal katana. "I think I'd rather just kick your ass."

"One minute remaining." Arch Mage screamed at us.

Crap… only a minute left? If I didn't end this fast, Dulzul was probably going to win on his ability to overwhelm me. He's already clocked me twice. I haven't even hurt him excluding… oh… oh.

I laughed as I started chilling the air around me again. Icicles grew in my fur. I had only one shot at this… I better make it count. I hissed as I charged at Dulzul. He screamed a small wave of lightning at me as I charged at him. And then he charged right back. Rocks were flying at me, and I was doing my best to use the frost covering my fur to keep myself protected. It wasn't working too well. I was going to be bruised for a couple days. Right as we were about to collide, I brought my katana up, deflecting his first mace swing. I wasn't able to block the second one. I didn't need too. I shot an icicle off my forearm, hitting his rock armored elbow just enough that it deflected his attack. I jumped up onto Dulzul, feeding what remained of my reserves into his rock armor. You see… I can't manipulate his rocks… I can't make them move. He can't make rocks appear on my body… but I can create frost on his rock armor. And then… well.

Dulzul screamed, coughing up blood.

I jumped off him letting Dulzul sink to his knees. He reached for his chest. His rock armor started to fall off. His ethereal weapons dissipated. The rock armor showed thousands of half-inch needles coating the interior of his armor. His skin was covered with bloody holes. Just deep enough to make him hurt. A little bit of Restoration would fix it. His body should be in intense pain right now. And since he's barely able to shout at me earlier… I'm guessing he's running out of magicka. So am I.

"I'm going to claw you now… unless you want to forfeit."

"Orcs never.."

I slammed my claw across his face. I left behind a long slash across his check. "That's for insulting my race earlier. Even after a healing… you'll carry that scar."

Dulzul groaned as he fell onto the ring. "Funny thing about Orcs… scars are worn with pride." He smirked, mumbling out as his eyes rolled into the back of his head.

"Dulzul gro-Imperial City is unconscious. Victory goes to Erickha Snow-Pelt." Arch Mage Sosia announced.

Talia popped out of a Shadowport, wrapping her arms around me. "You did it!" She quickly pecked me on the cheek.

I wrapped my arms around her. "Yeah… I did…"

I did it. I took on someone from Unit 4… and I won. Without using my ruby eyes of justice. I won using my own abilities. I'm actually not bad at this. If I can manage this… the rest of my unit should be fine too. We're not the worst mages in the world. We just got stuck with horrible circumstances… and horrible teamwork. My body was exhausted though.

I smiled as I glanced up at Talia. "Hey… can I get some healing?" Restoration would not only heal my body but the leftover magick involved would help refill my mana reserves.

Talia placed a hand on my cheek. "That looks painful. I'm not sure I want to fight in this tournament."

I gave her a knowing glance. "Tal… if we don't… Unit 3 will continue to be a joke to the other War Mages. We have to prove to the others that we're not the weakest. And when I defeat the Hero of Fanacas… they'll start saying we're just as good of War Mages as Unit 4." That's right. My reason for fighting Vatu… it wasn't just learning more about Khajiits from other cultures… or learning about the red eye thing… it was kind of personal. If I knew how to do it too… I could have been right beside him, not only representing Unit 3… but also keeping his pelt alive. We barely passed our examination. Our leaders almost cast us aside, calling us too inferior to be involved in this war. But… we're here, and I refuse to let these other War Mages dismiss us as the weakest, the most vulnerable mages. And if I have to beat everyone up to prove that… I will.

...

[Vatu]

That was pretty impressive. Erickha was a better fighter than I would have guessed. She was light on her feet, quick to use her magicka… and not afraid to get in someone's face. With how expressive she was when she asked me to fight her… I should have guessed she'd be a monster in the ring… but… jeez. I don't know if I can beat her.

Erandur was standing next to me, whistling. "Wow… Unit 3 has some knock-outs. She KO'd Dul… that's… I'm afraid to spar with him." Erandur rubbed his chin. "That being said… using her elemental choice of ice to override his rock armor… I will have to remember that. Might save my life one day." Erandur placed his hand on my shoulder, giving me a good slam. "You sure know how to pick them, Vatu."

I almost wanted to laugh. "I'm so glad she's gay…"

Erandur glanced at me, bursting out into a laugh. "Why? Afraid she'd give you as much hell as that Argonian girl, or Primrose? Or even Pra'ja?"

I found myself nodding. "Yeah… and I'd probably let her."

Erandur gave me a side-glance. "Well, if I didn't know better… I'd say you have a small crush."

I chuckled at the remark. "Well… it seems appropriate that I'd fall for someone I actually can't be with."

Erandur patted me on the back again. "Well, think of it like this, Vats… Erickha… she's too cool for you." He winked at me as he turned around. "Now, I have to join Primrose and other healers. Dulzul needs his leader there to scold him when he wakes up. Orcs are weird, man."

Pra'ja stood on my other side. "So… you like the nimble and flexible dancer type, huh?"

I shrugged. "You know… Nexa is kind of like that too." She just doesn't use magicka. She hardly even uses her Shadow… from what I saw at the university.

"Once again… I'm happy that a Khajiit girl is gay. I'd hate having to lose to her. But… she is cute. Her little gray circles in her white fur… so puffy. And she's so flexible. Like a dancer…" Pra'ja chuckled. Then she paused. "Oh no… I'm… I'm catching feelings. Shit… I have to leave, Vatu. I need to call Vara. Like right now." She immediately Shadowported away.

"Up next is Travis Upall versus Jessie Downall. Please report to your respective corners. Information is available at the judging table." Mom was talking into a crystal ball. The sound amplified, making sure we could all hear it. "On standby will be Ugha and Starian. Please begin your stretches."

Erickha walked by me, mostly being supported by her girlfriend, Talia. She gave me a lopsided grin. "You see that, Vatu?" She could barely talk through her inflamed face. "I'm going to drop you like I dropped that massive Orc turd."

Talia chuckled. "Eww.."

"Glad to see you understand trash talking now." I replied back. "Dulzul was playing with you… you know that, right?"

Erickha's ears perked up. "Oh… oh crap…" Her ears folded back. "Still… calling me kitty. He deserved that scar."

"He's been begging me for a scar. He probably really wanted to make you mad. More than likely… he'll wear that scar with pride for the rest of his life." And knowing Dulzul… he'll probably pleasure himself to it too. Man… Orcs are weird.

Erickha smiled at me. Well, as best as she could. Her entire left side of the face was horribly swollen, and blood was dripping from her mouth. "I'll see you whenever I see you. Right now… I need a healer's touch."

"Ask Primrose… she loves touching people." I replied back.

Erickha laughed. "I have a girlfriend for that."

Cearbhail:

Every chapter will hopefully be this invested. I can't say that though. I might show Travis versus Jessie... but... come on. Really? They're the same character. Literally. The exact same. Only because I called Travis Jessie once and decided to make him a clone character. Yup. Anyway. Let's see what happens next chapter.