The King's Gamma (#Wattys2024)

Seventy Seven

We drew our lots, each holding up a number. The numbers indicated the order as well as our opponents. My father looked at my number before quickly looking at the rest, grabbing the number from Ezekiel and handing him his own lot. I shook my head. He made sure we would face each other in the very first round for both of us. 

He was berated while Heiji tried his best to get my father to hand him the lot instead.

"You do realise that the goal is to have as many of us in the top 3 as we can, right?" I asked, and both looked at me for a moment before their lots were shoved towards someone else.

We were seated near the stage area of the arena now, the Oni joining their partner who made sure to stick close to me.

I watched each bout as they came and went, never quite having my chance. I soon realized why. Ezekiel seemed to have a hand in this, placing either my father or Heiji in my intended slots. He slowly topped the ranks until finally only he and Heiji were left to go against one another. I took Heiji's lot, a bit irritated now, and stepped forward, earning gasps from the crowds.

"I would advise you to return to your seat, Princess Mazgannek."

I smiled at him, standing in the arena to watch him for a moment before I looked over the onlookers. It became more and more obvious that the request to keep me out had been from the Bardells, especially considering the troubled looks on their faces.

I held up my hand to the officiator, standing in front of Ezekiel. I cleared my throat softly, then made sure to speak loud enough for the officiator's microphone to pick up and relay to the entire arena.

"Tell me something, Ezekiel."

He frowned, glimpsing at the hushed crowd as we stood. "What is it, Princess?"

"You already suspect what I am, don't you? You have since I was a child."

"I don't know what you mean."

"We both know that you are well aware that I am Kent Bardell."

There was a murmur among the crowd.

"Just as we both know you have been watching me ever since you took me to the academy when I was a mere child. Just as..." I smiled sweetly. "I know that your family are the god's divine ears. I've heard them. The constant and incessant muttering. That irritating babble that never quite makes sense to me, simply because it's not meant for my ear. Oh? They're surprised, aren't they?"

His eyes narrowed as the noise ceased exactly at the time I mentioned it. 

"Would you like to tell everyone your guess? Since so many around me have been wondering, I'm quite curious how close to the truth you might be."

"It has been strange," he started. "You overwhelmed so many battle-hardened fighters even as a seven-year-old child. We poured over the tomes, conversed with the gods and determined to watch you to see what you would become. And at this moment, it seems our fears might not have been misplaced."

"Care to elaborate?"

"In history, we have seven instances of humans gaining power above expectation. But it never turned out good. They all became calamities."

"So you suspect me to be a calamity? Is that all?"

"A-all...?" he seemed taken aback.

"Are you telling me that this was the only thing you could figure out? That I am... a calamity, as you call it?"

"What do you mean, is that all?" he seemed downright shocked.

"How about I ask you a question right now? Something that might... clear the air?"