THE MISSING EMPEROR ~ The Elemental Seven Book I

CHAPTER XVIII: THE BATTLES BEGIN

The next morning, Myoku and her friends met in the dining hall to have breakfast. After breakfast, they went to meet with River and the lords for the matches.

They walked into a large white room. River was already there. He stood in the middle of the room with three other lords. "Welcome, everyone!" he greeted them. Myoku looked around the room and whistled "Nice!" When she saw River, she suddenly stopped. "Hey there!" Cray said waving her hand to River and bumped on Myoku's back when she stopped. "Ouch!" Cray rubbed her nose. "May I introduce Seoul Sandabado, Alveo Van Buren and Miggy Kharzaan. Three of the Elemental Seven. They will be traveling with us to find Lord Skye Wolfert." River said. "Today, we will have friendly matches so everyone can get acquainted with each others' powers, skills..." he announced, "...and personalities." he said looking at Cray. Cray looked at him with a brow raised as though asking him "What do you mean by that?'"  River knew what she meant by that look that he just smiled and continued, "This room was arranged by Lord Sandabado. It shall change according to the environment programmed based on the fighter's abilities. All thanks to The Sandabado Military Technology." Myoku looked at Seoul from head to foot. "Seoul, Alveo and Miggy, may I introduce Miss Myoku Reiko, Lady Emerald Leatherwood, whom you already know I'm sure, and Miss Cray Dunn." River said. "It's nice to have finally met you." Seoul offered Myoku a handshake. She saw Myoku looking at her from head to foot a few minutes ago. "Pleasure's mine." Myoku replied as she shook her hand. "Alveo this is the other one." River turns to Alveo. "She was unconscious during the first meeting." River introduced Myoku to Alveo. "Ah." was the only word that Alveo can say. He saw the others and he smiled acknowledging their presence. He approached Cray and said, "Hello there, angel." with a smile. Cray gave him a tap on the shoulder and said, "Hi'ya." Emerald smiled and said to herself. "This team may not be so bad after all." 

 Myoku turned to Cray and whispered to her, "Know what?" Cray whispers back, "Huh?" Myoku said, "They're ugly!" then she giggled. Emerald heard them and she asked, "Who me?" "No..." Myoku answered. "Them.." Myoku points her lips to Seoul, Alveo & Miggy. Alveo heard what Myoku said, but he didn't realize that he was one of the people Myoku was talking about. He leaned his head next to Myoku's ear and whispered, "I think so too." Myoku looked at him surprised and shook her head. "Idiot." she muttered to herself. Emerald looked at Cray. "Really?" Emerald said. "Miggy is so cute and adorable. Like a puppy. Alveo is... well scary but hot like River." Myoku looked at Emerald, even more surprised. "But even more so like big brother LeGrande. Scary in the same way." Emerald continued. Alveo skipped around LeGrande saying "Big brother LeGrande! You're so scary! Cute! Cute!" Myoku looked at Emerald with one brow raised, "Hot...? Like River?" she said. Emerald nodded. "No comment," Myoku said and looked at the other side. "Don't you think River is cute?" Emerald asked her tilting her head. "Again. No comment," Myoku replied without looking at her. She find it kinda awkward hearing a compliment about River whom she just recently found out to be her cousin.

"Gather 'round now, everyone!" River called. Everyone gathered with him. "Today, we shall do a little sparring. This will determine the order of command and group leaders in battle," he announced. An electronic board flipped out from the wall. "That board will name the first two who will duel." he said. Myoku looked at Emerald then grinned. Seoul looked at the board, raised her brow then looked at Myoku with a sadistic smile. "Good luck Myoku, Cray and Seoul." Emerald said kindly. The electronic board flashed names randomly then it stopped to reveal the first chosen fighter. "Cray Dunn!" River announced. "YES!" Cray said excitedly. The board flashed random names again to choose the opponent. It then stopped when the second fighter was chosen. The board revealed the name Myoku Reiko. Emerald sucked in sharp breath. River looked up concerned. LeGrande smiled seemingly unconcerned while Alveo looked at the board with an uninterested face. Myoku's jaw dropped. "Me?" Cray cleared her throat. "Ehrm." Myoku closes her mouth and clears throat. "Well... So much for fun today." she said. "Cool! Such a good match up right off the bat." LeGrande said smiling. Cray turned to LeGrande and said "You're a bit weird sometimes. Did you know that?" she poked his cheek. LeGrande smiled "It's just a match." he said looking innocent. Myoku pinched LeGrande's left ear. River cleared throat. "Ehrm. Right. Myoku Reiko will be Cray Dunn's opponent for the first round. Everyone please follow me into the viewing room so they may... begin." he said, pointing to a glass window, "The computer mainframe will randomly select a stage to be built based on your strengths and weaknesses." Everyone left except for Cray and Myoku. Myoku walked closer to Cray while looking at the others and said, "Oh well, let's have fun!" 

Cray sighed. "We'll have no hard feelings with each other after this match, right Myoku?" she stretched preparing for battle. 

"Of course, Cray." Myoku said and she kissed Cray on her cheek. "Of course."

Behind her smile, Cray's heart wept.

"Myoku again? It's the two of us again? Just like in Lascaux. I had to stop her from her rampage. I was able to do that then without hurting her. But this time... This time it's a battle. I have to fight her now for real. Even though this is just a friendly duel, but still...

Still... She's my friend. We have gone through a lot since we've met. Even though it was just a short period of time, I have gone to love her. And I know she feels the same. Now we have to fight. But why the two of us? Why should it always have to be us? Why should it be against a friend? Why not somebody else? It's always like this. Even before. Always against a person important to me. Always against someone I love. Someone I cared for. Even before. Oh fate... Why do you have to be so harsh on me?"

The lords of LaMahaya and the elementals, all made themselves comfortable in the viewing room as they wait for the duel to start. The viewing room is on the second floor of the chamber called The Arena. It was furnished with couches and a round table with a lamp on one corner. "When you're ready!" River said loud enough for the fighters to hear. The Arena is a plain white chamber, big enough to fit three dojos. At the far right side of it, opposite the viewing room, is the control room where the main system will choose the battlefield and the holograms for each duel. Each battle will have a different battlefield depending on the fighters' strengths and weaknesses. As the viewing room door closes, the first battlefield was chosen by the electronic board.

It flashed METROPOLIS.

"WHY ARE THERE BUILDINGS HERE?!" Cray asked. That was a good question. Inside the once plain and empty room, solid buildings suddenly emerged. "I thought they will just be holograms. Why are the buildings and surrounding so solid?" Myoku thought to herself. And she has the exact same question as Cray's. "It's the design. It will change with hazards, advantages, traps and even holograms of us as you battle." Raiza Sandabado explained as if reading their thoughts. "Got it!" Myoku said. Apparently, both Myoku and Cray thought that the whole design will just be all holograms. "So only the people will be the holos. But the environment itself will be close to real. Cool." Myoku thought to herself.

"Now... When you're ready!" River signaled the start of the battle. Myoku and Cray faced each other in the middle of the metro.