Mystic Grove Academy

18: Fire Dancer's Festival: The Revelation

The Next Day (Thursday, February 21st):

Mystic Grove Outdoor Arena - Darren P.O.V.

Hearing about Marcie's parents last night was a real downer but today's a new day. Earlier, the War Council sent two Rank B teams to the palace to scout out the situation. This morning, the Student Council did get information about movements around the palace forcing us to investigate and see what's going on. I still have a feeling that this is the last day we're going to have as a normal school day; or rather, as normal as things get around here. Today though, is the second of the 'Big Three' school events known as the Fire Dancers' Festival. Most of the upperclassmen like to show off in this event which is part dance battle and part exhibition showing off the best moves they've mastered. For us second-year Fire Elementals, this is a suggested event but not one to be taken lightly. That's why Amaya and I are entering: not only for the challenge but also our class grade is dependent on these events.

"I can't believe the lineup for this thing," Amaya whispers to me looking at the group we're in the middle of. "It's almost like everyone's gearing up for finals, right?"

"You can say that," I answer. "Then again, our seniors really want to show off before they walk the aisle to graduate."

"That should be the least of your concerns," Issac's voice makes me roll my eyes. Lately, he's becoming more of an annoying pest than my little brother back home. Mental Note: check on my family after this. "We fourth-years aren't going easy on the few underclassmen that are in this, right?" he glances over at a guy I haven't met before. He's taller than me at around 6'4", has shaggy hair, and has this air of danger around him. One look at him says stay the hell away from me or else. The guy nods letting Isaac continue. "For most of us, it's our last hurrah before we leave this place."

I roll my eyes and give my senior a look. I give the same incredulous look to my younger brother when he screws up. "Whatever, Senpai. Don't go running off crying somewhere when one of the underclassmen mops the floor with you." I walk off with Amaya toward the stage. "I hate it when he gets like that."

Amaya starts laughing as we join everyone around the main stage. "And yet he's your Senpai."

"Don't remind me."

At the stage, Mrs. Porter stands alone with a megaphone in hand. I guess things are about to get started. "Welcome participants," she gets everyone to settle down, "and welcome to the second of the 'Big Three' events: The Fire Dancers' Exhibition!" We all applaud the start of this event. She turns to the monitor behind her as various pairings start appearing. "Here's how this tournament is going to go: it's a two-on-two situation but for all pairings; the opponents will be decided at random." That's odd; typically, we go two against two for these battles but the way she's talking . . . something bigger is going on. "Without further ado, will the first pair wait here while the rest please go to the waiting area."

Looking up at the board, the first pairing is Isaac and his mysterious classmate. They're up against a pair of third-years who I know nothing about. I'm guessing they're with one of the lower rank teams. "Look," Amaya points to our duo and we're basically the next to last match in the first round so we're in for quite a wait. "We don't go until the end of the round."

"What fun."

The rest of us head to the prep room to get ourselves ready for our turn in combat. The monitors light up seeing Issac and his classmate standing opposite their opponents. "There's something about Giovanni that creeps me out," someone speaks up. "He's hardly been in class this entire school year." Now, that's curious. So, my Senpai's partner is Giovanni Sallecito, an Italian transfer from the school in Florence, Italy that was taken out last semester. Strangely enough, he hasn't been around this semester since he enrolled here. Now that I think about it, there are red flags all over this dude.