Through the Cosmic Labyrinth

Chapter 4

Rivals

Alice couldn't believe who she was looking at right now. Standing in the entrance to her store was Olivia, wearing her unreasonably large wizard hat and highly detailed robe. As Olivia waltzed into the bakery, she was followed by her usual companion, a large hooded figure wrapped in dark clothing and heavy chains. This particular individual goes by the name of Borris, and he follows Olivia wherever she wishes, acting as her servant. Where and how Olivia got such a grim looking accomplice is beyond Alice.

"Of all the..." Alice muttered under her breath before standing up from her and went about addressing her guest. "Olivia," Alice stated in a much more cheery tone, "long time no see!"

"Mm hmm," Olivia responded. She looked around the establishment, at all the tables, chairs, cloths and pictures, and finally Alice herself. "Honestly, this is what you do after you defeat me, your greatest rival? You take the prize, disappear without any word to me or your fans, and start a newer yet lower life as a simple baker? Oh, how the mighty have fallen."

"Hey Olivia," Damien said.

"Hello, Alice's brother." Olivia wasn't aware of Damien's disappearance, nor did she likely care if she did.

"So..." Alice said before pausing to choose her words. "Did you come here for a snack or try to get me to fight you?"

"Oh, neither, dear,"

"Don't ever refer to me like that."

"My apologies. In truth, I have won three other magic duel tourneys since you defeated me last, and I haven't seen hide nor hair of you anywhere." Olivia put her hands on her hips and looked at Alice with the smuggest look. "Clearly, you acknowledge that your last, and only, victory you had against me was but a fluke. So you ran and hid yourself away, so you could live in the lie that just because you beat me once in a series of failures, you could live comfortably that you could beat me at any time in the future."

"That's not at all what-"

"BUT I'm here today to break your delusions!" Olivia pointed a finger at her rival and posed dramatically, her finger nearly touching Alice's nose. "Alice, I challenge you to a duel!"

Alice took in a breath. "Flattering that you came all this way for that, Olivia, but no. First, that last tourney I did was exactly that, my last tourney."

"Coward!" Olivia exclaimed, "You will have this rematch with me or let your reputation suffer forever in the dueling circles as I run your name through the mud."

Alice took in a breath. "I just needed the tickets to get comfortable living on my own and finally get settled in a local community."

"In a barren room that only houses this sorry place?" Olivia responded.

Alice crossed her arms and took another deep breath. "There's a small town one door over, for your information." Olivia rolled her eyes. "Second, since I'm living nicely, have good friends, and a job that brings me joy, I have matured a lot this past year. I shouldn't let something as petty as name slandering get to me."

"Huh," Damien commented to himself. "She's really changed."

"But slandering my name in the magic dueling scene?" Alice continued. "Sorry, but I cannot let that slide."

Damien's face instantly shifted to confusion. "Or maybe some things don't change at all."

"Great!" Olivia said with a satisfied smile. "Then we shall duel right now, outside."

"No," Alice responded

"Oh come ON!" Olivia exclaimed in frustration. "Don't do this to me. You JUST agreed to duel me!"