THE FORTUNIST

55. Lay

“Albenarum hosts their annual duelling tournaments to crown the student champion at the beginning of every new session.”

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It is the day of the finals and Lay is eager to be done with it. His ultimate prize being the drawing of the Winter Solstice for Ciara had been true to her word. Her third draft was accurate as far as Lay can recall the traces of the ring in his mind. There was only one symbol she hadn't been able to replicate. Lay has no idea what the symbol is but for him, a counterfeit that everyone would stare at from afar does not have to be perfect.

"I can see you are amped up for your final duel." Lay smells Denpo before hearing her voice. He turns to face the strong faced woman. "I hope you win."

Something in Lay bends, almost begging to break. Denpo is capable of making an ignorant person forfeit their fortune from the Fortunist. "Ciara won't be giving you her fortune," Lay is inclined to say.

"It's her choice, not yours."

"She has already made the choice, so back off."

Denpo's expression hardens. "Aah, I did not expect her to be so resourceful but I did not expect her to win either. I was just looking for… mild entertainment?"

"Just what on earth did you have on her?"

"She didn't tell you? Who she really is? Why she's really here? Ciara would be anything, even a maid, even if it means using you."

"I just know for certain that she told you nothing. You searched her thoughts for scraps."

Denpo watches Lay's face as if searching for something on it. "Very few people know my affinity."

"Too bad for you. Ciara and I both figured it out."

"Hmmn, curious. Have you ever seen the queen Lay Denwin? You have her eyes. I once trained the queen so I'm more important than you'll ever be. I can't imagine for the life of me why you want to fight Mose for a girl who lies to you. Maybe you think you are falling in love, but you are not." There is a smug look on her face as she steps back. "That's not why I'm here though. A back up machine has arrived. After your match, you and Ciara should make your way to the Dome to retake your final tests. Tell Ciara I wouldn't miss hers for the world. I wish you the very best of fortunes."

He picks up his sword, real but slightly blunted. Weapons are used in the arena as well as cryfix magic. If one is cunning and careful enough, a match could end under two minutes. He decides to go find Ciara first and tell her Denpo's news. Surprisingly, he does not find her in her usual spots. He searches and asks about but no one has seen her since she entered the cafeteria . But she isn't there. Lay fears the worse which he knows has likely happened. Xihan has taken her, the way he had taken Feng.

The match should have begun and Lay is not at the arena. If he is past thirty minutes, he would get disqualified and Mose would automatically win. Mose would no doubt hate the easy win and Lay feels better about that. Let Mose feel the way he felt when Feng had stood him up.

Only Godswood is in the final test room when Lay arrives and he is just leaving. He stops on seeing Lay, his brows furrowing in surprise. "Don't you have a match right now?"

"I've foregone it," Lay shrugs. He's not interested in answering questions knowing he has to make it as soon as possible to the palace. "Ciara won't be making it. She will not be summoning any Fortunist either."

"Even so, she still has to prove that she is a gifted summoner."

"That will no longer be necessary."

"You vouched for her," Godswood says gravely, "I hope you don't make light of us so that you think you can tell lies and walk away scot free?"

"I didn't want to this, but…" Lay whips out the Dropp Seal and brandishes it in Godswood's face. "I'm directly under the Lord General's protection. Any beef you have with me, be sure to take it up with him."

He places his hands on the device which does not break faith until its count is complete at a hundred percent. "I guess this one's broken too, whoops."

He reaches the door. Godswood is too flummoxed to stop him and Godswood is rarely ever flummoxed. "Oh, also. I'm leaving for good. Tell Mose I said congratulations. There was never a banea to begin with."