Part 2 - Once again, Night

My pen tapped against the table with an incessant rhythm I couldn't control. No matter how hard I tried to focus, my mind kept drifting back to Liora's offer. Her voice, her words—they echoed in my head.

I looked down to my right arm, "Why me..." I muttered under my breath. "Why do I have to be the one stuck with this..."

Suddenly, a rapid knock on my door jolted me upright in my chair.

"Kiara! The brackets are releasing! Let's go!" Konota's voice came through the door, full of energy.

"Coming!" I called back, quickly pulling myself together and getting up.

...

We gathered in the large lobby once more, where the other participants hanging around. Aelith greeted us with her usual infectious smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Welcome, all twelve of you!" she beamed.

As she spoke, a massive screen descended from the ceiling with a mechanical whir.

The suited man stepped up to the stage, his posture stiff and formal. He held the microphone close, his voice carrying over the quiet murmur of the crowd.

"Let's begin with the tournament brackets. The structure is as follows: all twelve of you will be sorted into three groups, with four contestants in each group. Only one victor will emerge from each group, and those victors will then face each other in a three-way final.

The rules are simple:
1. Leaving the stadium or ring is prohibited and will be counted as a forfeit.
2. Each round will continue until one side is unable to fight, or surrenders
3. External help from an outsider is not allowed.

That's all. Now, let's reveal the brackets for Group A."

The screen flickered before lighting up with names.

"For Group A, we have... Liora versus Bennu! And Konota versus Zarek!"

My eyes darted to Konota, who stood a few feet away from me. "You're in Group A!" I exclaimed.

She frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. "Yeah, and in the same group with Bennu too..." She sighed heavily, though a hint of a grin tugged at the corners of her lips. "It's fine though, I gotta do this for my family name. I got this."

I nodded, but my gaze returned to the screen, locking onto one particular matchup.

Liora versus Bennu... What are their skills...?

The weight in my chest grew heavier as I processed the matchups. Liora... The one with all the answers, the one with the offer hanging over my head like a dark cloud.

My mind flashed back to her words, to the way she toyed with me. And now, she was matched against Bennu.

I glanced over at Bennu, who stood with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. His eyes showed no emotion, no concern—it was like he didn't care who he faced, as if the entire tournament was just another routine for him. But Liora... Liora was anything but routine.

"Now!" The suited man's voice cut through my thoughts, "Let's move on to Group B."

The screen shifted, new names flickering into place.

"For Group B, we have... Cassia versus Sable! And... Luna versus Corin!"

Luna? Against Corin? ??

My stomach dropped. I turned to Luna, who stood stiffly, her face pale but determined.

Konota must have noticed the tension too. She leaned toward Luna, her voice low and gentle. "You sure you're okay with that, Luna? Corin isn't easy to beat."

Luna took a deep breath, her hands clenched into fists. "It'll be tough," she admitted, her voice wavering slightly before steadying, "But I will do it. I have to."

My gaze wandered across the room, seeking out the unfamiliar name. Sable. Who was she? My eyes landed on Skylar's group. Skylar was cheering on someone I hadn't paid much attention to before.

She stood quietly beside Skylar, her demeanor reserved, almost distant compared to her teammates' enthusiasm. There was something sharp about her presence, a certain quiet confidence that made me uneasy. I couldn't pinpoint her abilities, but there was an edge to her that suggested she wasn't someone to be underestimated.

Skylar's third teammate... So that's Sable.

"And finally, for Group C," the suited man announced.

The screen flickered again, revealing the final set of matchups.

"For Group C, we have... Kiara versus Bronwen! And... Ephraim versus Skylar!"

Bronwen? I'm up against him? My heart skipped a beat.

At that moment, I caught the sound of muffled laughter. My eyes darted to the source—Bronwen and Cassia, both whispering to each other, their glances directed at me with a smugness that twisted my gut. Bronwen leaned back, a sly grin on his face.

I clenched my fists, trying not to let their condescension get to me.

A firm hand landed on my shoulder, grounding me for a second. It was Konota. "You don't even have to worry about him," she said with a comforting tone, though her voice held an edge of seriousness. "But you do gotta worry about Skylar though... seems rough, huh?"

I followed her gaze to Skylar. The moment our eyes met, the tension eased.

Skylar's bright smile cut through the tension like sunlight breaking through clouds. She nodded at me, full of confidence and energy. Despite everything, she radiated positivity.

I forced a smile in return, but my mind was swirling. Bronwen. His arrogant demeanor grated on my nerves, and now I had to fight him. But Skylar... Skylar would be fighting Ephraim, and if she wins, I'll be up against her.

Konota's words echoed in my head. Worry about Skylar. She was right, but I couldn't let myself be distracted. I had my own battle to focus on.

Bronwen and Cassia's mocking glances burned in the back of my mind, but I pushed them aside. I couldn't let them get to me.

This wasn't just about winning anymore... it was about proving myself... I'll show them...