The New Girl
Ah — the new hero in the arena.
I gave a small nod of my head as she let me pass by into the main and grand training area on the ground floor.
I walked past her, entering the arena and heading towards Agile, who was practicing her bowman skills.
Despite everyone else gathered in the arena, my eyes kept drifting back to the newcomer. I was the newest member before her, so I naturally felt drawn to her. Wondering how her experience was going to be like.
Would she fit in?
I was curious to know how she would adjust.
I had barely fit in despite how kind and nice everyone in the GOU has been to me, except for Toxic Doxie. Toxic thinks Hornet took pity on me when inviting me to join the crew, she told me multiple times.
And maybe he did exactly that.
Other groups in the arena maintained their distance.
I knew Agile was protecting me.
What about the recent addition to the arena?
Who was going to look after her?
"Tig."
My eyes snapped back to Agile when she called out my name. More of a nickname that everyone in GOU calls me.
It was this or that obnoxious title of "tiger girl."
I didn't even look like a tiger. They were orange-tinted. I was yellow.
If anything, I would describe myself more as a bee. They always work themselves to death for the hive — kind of like I used to.
"You seem lost. What's on your mind?"
She asked.
"Nothing really."
Words coming out mumble. I watched as she aimed her bow at the dummy. Shooting the bullseye. She was skilled in everything. From martial arts to Tactical planning. She was a great commander of the division I was part of.
And her agility was the best. I didn't know a body could move like that.
I admired her.
A lot.
"You're lost again."
She commented.
"It is of no importance. Just…"
I pursed my lips behind my mask, wondering how to phrase it in the language she would understand.
"Quiet down, Earth boy."
My head turned around when I heard the loud commotion coming from behind.
What was going on?
Both Agile and I followed the commotion where we both saw Noctira holding the new girl's wrist.
She was in trouble.
Noctira was well known for being… a talltano*.
And being insanely strong. Stronger than any GOU member.
After all, she hailed from the Zionalma kingdom beyond any stars I have travelled so far.
The Zionalma Kingdom is an ancient civilization that rivals Aeterna Veritas Arcanum — that is the extent of what I know about them.
Even so, I stepped forward on instinct—only for Agile's hand to catch my wrist and stop me.
"How about we play… a game, new girl?"
Noctira said in a mocking voice. Like a tiger playing with its meal.
"Let go of her, Killer."
Fern demanded.
Noctira yanked the new hero into the three lined circle called Coom*. A word that comes from moshserno, a language spoken by the AVA's people. It was a sparring circle.
"Tawa shd, White Watch, uktaz tt quakt?"*
Noctira asked.
I didn't understand what she said, but I could feel my instinct telling me it was no good.
"C'mon. It is for your good, White Watch."
Skarvek promised.
Say no. Say no.
I pleaded internally to the new girl. As if she could hear me.
They were up to no good.
Agile had warned me about their ritual before.
I wasn't ready to see it in real life.
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Glossary
Talltano (Tal-ta-noh) — a curse word meaning "asshole"; from the language of Txetia.
Coom — a sparring/fighting circle; from the language of Moshserno.
"Tawa shd, White Watch, uktaz tt quakt?" (Ta-wah shud White-Watch oz-ka-taz te qa-wa-ket) — "Do you, White Watch, want to spar?" (Zkarna).