Rimelion: The Exploiter

As we waited, the muffled roar of the crowd seeped through the walls, a constant reminder of the spectacle unfolding on the other side. My grip tightened on the rapier's hilt, the cool metal grounding me as I tried not to think too much about the chaos waiting for me.

That's when a man approached us, his attire instantly recognizable as one of Riker's—professional, complete with the same emblem Lola had on her jacket. His expression was neutral, almost bored, as he handed me two strange contraptions.

"Sword Queen, this is your frost," he said curtly, offering no further explanation before walking off like this was the most normal thing in the world.

I turned the device over in my hands, inspecting it. It was small, and clearly custom-made. A metallic mechanism with a small canister attached, the craftsmanship that screamed money. A thin string extended from the base, meant to fasten to a finger, while the rest of it slid neatly into a sleeve to stay hidden.

"My... frost?" I muttered, eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I slipped one contraption onto my arm, fastening the string to my index finger. With a cautious tug, a small stream shot out, arcing gracefully toward the nearest wall. When it made contact, the surface shimmered with an icy sheen, frost creeping outward in jagged, crystalline patterns.

For a second, I was impressed. "Woah..." I murmured, stepping closer to the wall. Tentatively, I reached out to touch the frost.

It wasn't cold.

Not even close. It was fake—just some kind of visual effect. The texture was smooth and dry, more like frosted glass than real ice. "What?" I blinked, baffled.

Lola, ever vigilant with her tablet, scanned the screen with a resigned sigh. "Mister Riker... also ordered it," she said, her voice betraying annoyance. "But of course, he forgot to mention it. I had to dig through the manifest to find it."

She mumbled under her breath, clearly directing her frustration at no one in particular. "Why is he making it so hard..."

I smirked, suppressing a laugh as I fiddled with the mechanism, the string tugging slightly as I adjusted it. "Riker does love his surprises," I said, dryly. "I don't have mic though. How does it work?"

Lola shot me a look that was equal parts sympathy and exhaustion. "They have a directional microphone, lady. And... I think he just loves chaos."

"Same thing," I replied with a shrug, testing the frost effect again. The shimmering faux ice glinted under the backstage lights, and I couldn't help but admire it. Even if it was fake, it looked damn cool.

"Well," I said, grinning as I flexed my fingers to get a feel for the mechanism. "If I'm going to cause a scene, might as well look good doing it."

Lola's lips twitched, but she stayed focused on her tablet.

I glanced up, my gaze locking onto the solid steel beams that arched gracefully over the stage like the ribs of some giant metallic beast.

"Say, Lola?" I asked, tapping one beam with my knuckles. A resonant clang echoed, promising both strength and the inevitability of a terrible idea.

Lola blinked, her focus breaking from her ever-present tablet. "Yes, lady?"

I gave the beam another testing nudge, a sly grin forming. "Do you think it'll hold my weight?"

Lola followed my gaze upward, her face going pale as her brain caught up to mine. "I... Please, I don't, Lady..."

Her plead was half-formed and far too late. My fingers were already gripping the cool metal edge, my heels finding purchase against the vertical support as I tested the sturdiness.