LOST SHADOWS - A Broken Lie

Chapter 3

Dawn told Milly when she got back about what had just went down. "She was amazing, isn't she?" Milly said as she let out a sigh. He knew she hadn't heard a word he said, she had been watching the competition, planning out strategies. He shook his head and chuckled. "Aw sis, does someone have a crush?"
This earned him a hard smack to the stomach and he let out an Ouph! "YOU STOP THAT CRAZY TALK! A CRUSH?? ME? WHA—?!" Molly's face had gone bright red at this point, providing Dawn his answer. They both calmed down and finished getting ready.

The first round was about to start. The rules were simple: don't kill, win by K.O. or forfeit. The matches were one-on-one and set up in a bracket system, which was posted on a screen in the front of the room. Everyone began to gather to see who they were going to fight.

Just then, the overhead speakers went off.

"Ladies and gents! We have some exciting news! We have none other than STAR-HERO and the CEO of Slayer Industries joining us today!"

The camera panned over to the VIP booth to show the infamous Protector and his main supporter. Everyone knew that when he wasn't saving the day, Star-Hero was never seen without her. She was a tall thin woman with a sharp jaw, cold eyes, and short wild curly brown hair. Hah! From this angle she looks a bit like...

Suddenly Elaina appeared with a hotdog in her hand, braking Dawn's train of thought. "Well, hey there! Fancy seeing you guys again so soon! You ready to go show them the badass' that you two are!" She greeted them warmly, her voice determined. Milly was very distraught by the sudden reoccurrence of the blond girl. "Y-yeah... totally..." Her voice was failing.

Elaina cocked an eyebrow and smiled warmly at them.

"So~ a little birdie, or rather a kitty, told me that you two are being referred to as the 'dark horses' of the event." Elaina's arm suddenly was loosely around Dawn's neck as she leaned in, and he felt himself tense up. Her eyes were full of curiosity and it was clear to Dawn that she was up to something. "H-How do you know that?" He couldn't help the crack in his voice. "Lion-man over there, John, is a friend of Jean's. He recognized you..." She lazily gesturing to the person in question who was standing by the water jugs. "...he seemed surprised that you made it!" Dawn and Milly exchanged a glance.

Her smile failed a smidge as she glanced them over. After a moment, Elaina hummed. "So, what exactly are your guy's 'talents'?"
Dawn and Milly exchanged a look that Elaina did clearly NOT like.
There was no point in hiding it now...
"I'm a Healer, Milly is an Annalist." Dawn meekly answered.

"Support-Class." Hearing Elaina say it made them both freeze. Milly's face was red from embarrassment. This didn't really surprise Dawn, Milly was always sensitive when this kind of thing came up. The three of them stood there for a moment, and Dawn flinched from the pained look on Elaina's face.  He was expecting pity, but all he saw was concern and protectiveness.

She clearly actually understood what that meant... it both confused and comforted Dawn. "We've been told most of our lives that we couldn't be anything more than behind the scenes... 'Support-Talents' ... we just want to be more than that... more than just our 'talents'..." He more or less mumbled. Elaina gave him the most honest smiles he had ever seen.

"Well then, the sweeter it'll be when you give them hell!"

The room was being to have s faint smell of smoke.