Piercing the Top - A Blazing Pace

Chapter 1 - The Best in Town

"Estelle uses her rose warp to intercept the core. She strikes the core off the wall and over to Imiko Imiko takes a shot! It's blocked by Vossler, who sends it up the other way. Straight through the center -- a dangerous pass -- Kelum takes it. A blistering shot and a DIVING SAVE by Richter. What a stop. The core is sent up to Imiko, who shoots, stopped again by Vossler, but whats that? The shot is followed up with crystal thorns from Estelle! The thorns hit the core with a follow up, another huge stop by Vossler, the rebound! Estelle sends it across to Imiko and she sinks it! That's it! The game is over! The Swift Rangers defeat the Flame Knights! The Swift Rangers win!"

"Uh huh, do you have to narrate all of our games Ellie?"

Ellie stares around at her friends. In their mind, the small barn was the glorious Ahten City arena.

"oh" they say "sorry, I got kinda lost in it".

"We know" mocks Ilka "you always do. But that's why we love you".

The two teams of three stand panting, trying to catch their breath. "We *huffs* almost had you this time" one of the boys on the losing team says.

"Yeah if we could only get one past ol' speed demon in your net there", says one of the girls

Rori stands there looking flustered. "I just have long legs is all" he says.

"Maybe if our goalie could stop a beach ball or something" their goalie says staring at his own net.

"You guys will get there! You were a lot more coordinated this time, you synergized well!" Ellie says.  Ilka stands unwinding the bandages on her hands. "Maybe soon enough we won't beat you 3 sets zip" she winks.

The other team mutters to themselves. "You guys are just too good for us. Don't you ever get bored?" one of the boys says

Ilka, Ellie and Rori glance back and forth at each other in an awkward silence. Then Ellie pipes up
"You're our friends! We just enjoy playing with you".   They run their hands through their long white hair and stare up and out through the window into the impending dusk. "Besides, you're all good enough to make us have to work for it. It keeps us sharp."

"Whatever you say..." one of them says "maybe we can mix up the teams next time?"

"And break up the best team in Tiro Anaph? No wa-"
"Sure thing, Max" Ellie says cutting off Ilka. "Anyways, it's getting dark, you guys should run home before your parents worry".

"Right! See you later" The kids say as they run out of the barn.

Ilka plops down onto the floor and stretches out her legs. Her orange hair was rustled and dirtied from the intense game. Her white cut off crop top hangs loosely offer her shoulders. Despite her small stature, she was known among the local kids to be fierce competitor not afraid to throw or take a punch. Of course, her best skill was her crafting. Each game she brought a new contraption designed to aid her in scoring.

"Did you guys see my dart shooter in action?" She says "One of them even exploded this time!"

"Yeah and it almost took off Anna's hand" Rori snarls back

"Well, she should have been paying better attention."

"Uh huh. Says the one who as a kid made a habit of almost getting hit by cars"

"Low blow. I was a space-case back then"

"Yeah, Back then" Ellie interrupts

"If I wasn't completely burned out I'd come over there and rub your face in the dirt"

Silence again overtakes the air. The rustling of trees in the calm Tiro Anaph winds creating a calming cadence. Rori sits on a haybale drawing circles with his feet in the dirt. Rori is tall and
lanky. His slim figure is made especially clear by his bony knees poking out of his shorts. Despite the hard workout, he prefers to play in a long sleeve shirt with the Swift Rangers team logo on it. He wears non-descript running shoes and white socks. His hair is short and his eyes are a pale grey.