In retrospect, maybe Vivi shouldn’t have been so fast to count Suyin out. The gap between the two fighters’ respective power levels had made her assume the match could only end one way, but there had been avenues to victory other than exhausting or outclassing one’s opponent. With that in mind, Vivi should’ve recognized that Suyin’s odds were higher than they’d looked.
Unfortunately for Suyin, a similar strategy wouldn’t succeed in the real tournament, not unless her foe was capable of breaking the Sorceress’s own enchantments. Vivi would be going to great lengths to ensure both the audience’s and the combatants’ safety. Without a participant who could overpower her best-effort shields, the only way to win or lose would be by competing in the intended fashion.
Sorely tempted to listen in, Vivi had watched the sword disciple and the dragon speak animatedly with each other. Sneaking past Ember’s anti-eavesdropping artifact would have been a trivial task. But the fact it had remained active suggested Ember didn’t want to be heard, and Vivi would obviously respect that wish.
Eventually, the conversation concluded, and Suyin returned to Vivi with a few emotions warring on her face—primarily bewilderment and subdued amusement. That was how most people walked away from Princess Embralyne Valeriana de Caldaros, and not just because princesses and dragons weren’t the most in-touch people in the world. Some of the fault no doubt lay in the woman herself. Ember would’ve been an odd one even if she’d been born as a peasant’s daughter.
“She was quite emphatic on the point that she’s never met either of you,” Suyin said with bemusement. “So I suppose I imagined the way she reacted a few minutes earlier.”
There was a question plainly lurking in that statement, and Vivi chewed over how to respond. She could keep insisting that she ‘didn’t want to talk about it,’ but that felt rude when they’d been spending a fair amount of time together. Vivi also owed Suyin for training her in the sword and thus saving her from making a fool of herself later in the tournament.
Maybe I should just tell her who I am.
That seemed sensible, and she trusted Suyin. But it would be awkward.
…and telling her will change how she treats me.
“It’s a complicated topic,” Vivi answered after her short deliberation. “She probably didn’t lie to you outright. We’ve met, but not with me as ‘Vianora.’ She was trying to keep my confidence.”
Suyin tilted her head. “That’s not your name, then?”
“Is Suyin yours?”
“Born and raised.”
Vivi paused. She was briefly caught off guard by her incorrect assumption.
“But Xun Vey is not my master’s, so I understand what you mean,” Suyin said as she adopted a thoughtful look. “Mine isn’t a name that would draw unwanted attention, so I hardly needed a new one.” She glanced to the side where Ember had returned to her posse of admirers. The dragon didn’t seem to have lost any fans for the mishap in the arena. If anything, the crowd had grown in size. “There must be a story there, you having met a recruit of Vanguard’s. Can’t be easy to earn a place inside that guild.”
Vivi chose the simpler of those remarks to address. “Not as hard as you would think, perhaps. They’re recruiting. Lady Ember Moore isn’t the first, and there’s been more than a dozen new members already. It’s also common knowledge they’re using this tournament to identify candidates.”
Suyin pursed her lips. “Well, that’s just a rumor, isn’t it? But fair enough.”
Just a rumor? Vivi thought. While placing high wasn’t the core criterion for being invited, she had assumed Rafael had made it clearer to the public that Vanguard was watching for potential fits. But maybe keeping it ambiguous is better. People act differently when they know they’re being evaluated.
“Regardless,” Vivi said, “while I’m sure Lady Ember earned her place, I think you’re making it sound more exclusive than it is. I wouldn’t be surprised if they sent out a good number of invitations by the time the tournament ends. Who’s to say you wouldn’t get one?”
Suyin seemed startled, then laughed. “I’m flattered you have that perspective, Lady Vianora, but I don’t see myself fitting in that guild.”
“You don’t?”
Suyin cleared her throat, maybe realizing how she’d sounded. “I wouldn’t turn a blind eye to bandits attacking a caravan or a monster swarm at a nearby village, of course, but I’m not seeking out evils to vanquish.” Her tone wasn’t mocking of the concept; she was just stating facts. “My life’s pursuit is the mastery of the sword, not heroics.”
Vivi had given considerable thought recently to the ideas of obligation and how much a person owed the world, so she didn’t blame the woman for her mindset. Not everyone could be an Eshara… in fact, almost nobody was, even among Vanguard’s current members. “I see. What do you have planned when you do reach mastery?”
Suyin’s lips pursed. “My master would tell you that there is no such thing. Mastery is the end of the Path, and the Path is infinite. The very concept of attaining its pinnacle is ridiculous. But I won’t be pedantic. So…” She thought for a few moments. “I’m not sure. I still have so much to learn from him. I suppose I’ll want to see the world, go on an adventure or two without someone watching over me. The idea of glory doesn’t interest me, necessarily, but conquering impossible odds, making your mark on history… it does sound appealing.” She wrinkled her nose. “I’m a little less focused on the future than most who are striving for a Title.” Her hand fiddled at the hilt of her weapon. “Perhaps the fact that I love the sword for the sword is the very thing to thank for my swift progress. Though I’m coming off conceited, now.”
“You aren’t.” Vivi always found it impressive when people knew themselves well enough to give frank responses like that.
Suyin nodded. “I do believe, though,” she said wryly, “that I’ve been distracted from how you’ve apparently met and worked with Vanguard’s most recent recruit. But I think I’ve overstepped myself enough today—I won’t push.” Her expression turned abashed. “Particularly when I have a request to make.”
“You do?”
“Assuming you can help. The stunt we pulled… I pulled… damaged the barrier, which means upcoming duels will be delayed until it’s repaired. At least, it’s my understanding that shielding enchantments don’t fix themselves.” She looked at Vivi with a question in her eyes.
Vivi considered. “Some can reactivate on their own, but that one probably isn’t sophisticated enough. A Master-rank would already struggle to create a basic enchantment that strong, much less a more complex one.”
Suyin scratched her cheek sheepishly. “Like I thought. As I said, I got carried away. I didn’t consider the consequences, and now I feel bad for inconveniencing so many other people. By any chance, do you have much skill in enchanting?”
It was a natural question to ask; most mages had some degree of familiarity with the craft. The foundational principles of enchanting overlapped heavily with the ones that underpinned spellcasting. Vivi didn’t have any census data to back the claim up, but she wouldn’t be surprised if a third or more of all mages bore a meaningful rank in the profession. Maybe half. The percentage also likely rose among high-level individuals.
“I do,” Vivi said. “And you’re right, a barrier that strong will take a while to repair, even if they have an enchanter of proper rank on standby. Which they won’t.” Craftsmen capable of etching magical defenses that could hold against Titled attacks weren't loitering on every street corner. There might be a handful in the entire city, and a few of them were probably the Institute’s archmagi and grand magi—not people who were easy to call on.
Suyin’s embarrassment turned to guilt. “Then yes. I hate to ask you a favor, but if you’re capable of fixing it…?”
“I’ll get it straightened out. And no need to call it a favor, I didn’t even think about how matches would be delayed—you’ve saved me time standing around wondering what’s going on.” She had her own pending fights to worry about, after all.
Suyin bowed. “This one thanks you deeply for rescuing her from a hasty impulse.”
“It’ll be a few moments. Be right back.”
Though she should probably start weaning herself off of [Blink], she employed the spell now to appear outside the administrator’s overhang. A short conversation ensued in which she explained her intentions.
She paused after being asked for her ‘credentials,’ but following a brief rummaging around inside her inventory she discovered once again her steward was a prescient lifesaver: Nysari had an Enchanter’s Guild badge marking her as a Master, and that was all the man needed to approve the repairs. He thanked her and told her that any supplies would be reimbursed by the Adventurer’s Guild, as would her time. Naturally, she declined the offer.
Patching up the burned-out enchantments took a few minutes. Her fingers twitched with the desire to rip out the whole design and redo it properly, but she settled for tweaking the most egregious areas. She didn’t think poorly of the enchanters who’d made it, of course, but such shoddy magic chafed at her on an instinctive level.
In total, less than ten minutes passed, the arena announcer already hurrying the next contestants inside the ring. There were buffers built between the matches, so the mishap would be a minor hiccup, all things considered.
When she [Blinked] back, she found Suyin seated on the bench next to Saffra, with the catgirl holding Suyin's blade as the disciple talked about its origin.
Vivi realized with a start that she’d thought nothing of leaving Saffra alone with the woman. I guess that goes to show I really do trust her. Saffra had enough conditional defensive spells, artifacts, and other backup measures to make even a Cataclysm bounce off without issue, but Vivi still felt a general paranoia about the fact that there weren’t many targets as valuable as ‘the Sorceress’s apprentice.’ And technically, Vivi didn’t truly know Suyin.
Seeing Vivi arrive, Saffra handed the sword back to Suyin, who sheathed it. They both stood.
“You worked fast,” the disciple said, eyes flicking to the dueling area where two fighters were moments from beginning their match.
“It was a simple enough task.”
“Then this one thanks you profusely again for salvaging her error.” She bowed deep.
“And again, there’s no need for that. I can take us somewhere we can train until our next fight arrives.” Gold-rank matches weren’t particularly worth watching. “Shall I?”
For some reason, Suyin paused.
“Or not?” Vivi said.
“My apologies. I’m wondering whether or not I should go and speak with my master.”
“Oh. Feel free if you want to. I can wait.”
“You’re too patient. But I’m hesitating because I don’t know if it’s a good idea.”
“Why… wouldn’t it be?”
“Because he’s going to laugh at me, and also tell me that he’s proud of the trick I pulled,” Suyin replied dryly. “Since I really should not have done what I did, I shouldn’t seek out encouragement.” She paused. “In fact, I’ve made my mind up. We can go now.”
In retrospect, Vivi had been caught off guard by the underhanded ploy. Suyin had appeared so serious and respectful in their interactions that conning her way into a win had seemed out of character.
But ‘Xun Vey’ was her master, and that man was clearly a troublemaker. Some of his behavior must have rubbed off on his disciple against the woman’s own will.
Vivi found that idea oddly funny. She held her hand out, and upon Saffra taking it, Suyin did the same. “To be fair,” Vivi told her right before [Blinking] them off. “It was an entertaining match.”
“Not you too, Lady Vianora.”