I woke the next morning in an alleyway. I’d been too lazy the past few nights to find a decent place to sleep, and I didn’t want to fly or portal to Widow’s Dusk. Checking that it was morning, and finding the luminescence from Warfield in the sky above to match a morning-ish intensity, I got out my scrying mirror and focused on Clary.

She appeared in the mirror, sitting on a rock, staring out into a box canyon and talking to Malk. “Malk, I just don’t see the point. It’d be two bases in a box canyon. If one side captures the other, all they have is two bases in a box canyon!”

“It’s the principle of the thing! They’d have our flag, you know? We have to get back because… because of orders.”

“Orders? What, like it would be some sort of official military base, as if the Dark army has some reason to put two bases in a box canyon and pit them against each other?”

“Well, it wouldn’t be the Dark army, it would be like… the Blacks and the Whites, or the Greens and the Purples! Two factions that are pitted against each other, eternally locked in battle.”

“Over a box canyon.”

“Look, it isn’t a perfect idea. It doesn’t need to be! Maybe, maybe it could be a game, or a comedy show or something. It was just an idea.”

I concentrated on the mirror, and focused my thoughts on creating a new rune. It appeared, and I held my finger on it, before saying, “Testing, testing, you two are silly, testing, is this thing on?”

Malk and Clary looked around in shock, and I grinned. “Hello, puny elementals. I am your new goddess. Wait, no, I’m already your goddess. Well, anyways, hi Clary, hi Malk. What are you talking about?”

Clary mumbled, “S-shadow? Is that you?”

“Yes, of course it’s me, you ninny. This mirror is fucking awesome, I can do anything with it. Anyways, what were you two talking about?”

Malk said, “Uh, I was telling her about this idea I had, using the canyon. Like, two teams playing some sort of capture-the-flag thing, but as if they were in an actual war instead of just a game. Possibly with jokes.”

“It’ll never catch on. Anyways, I’m going to be bringing the potentials and such to your location hopefully today, so I’d appreciate it if you got things ready. Is that the spot, where you’re at?”

“Yes. And don’t worry, we’ll work quickly.” said Clary.

“Okay, thanks, bye.” I said, and ended the spell. I stretched in place, put away the mirror, and began walking toward the headquarters. I arrived moments later, and was ushered into the building proper. I found myself once more facing the Council. “Well? You lot finish voting yet?” I asked.

Renessa said, “Actually, we were waiting for you to be here.”

Fitzdonald nodded. “Now that we are all gathered, the Council shall come to a vote. All in favor of Kiana’s contest, say ‘aye’.” There were a few who were silent, but for the most part it was a chorus of ‘aye’. Fitzdonald sighed. “Aye. The Council has voted. This… contest shall become a reality. Kiana, where is it, and when can it be arranged?”

I grinned wickedly. “It’s in a canyon I can show you to, and we can begin the moment you gather the other potentials and the soldiers.”

Fitzdonald frowned. “Very well. It will not take long to gather soldiers, and both potentials are in the city, outside this building. Meeting adjourned.”

I strolled out of the building and quickly sighted the other potentials, since I’d seen them before at the training place. The young one, Drake, was still looking a bit fancy with his outfit and rapier, while Kymien was wearing armor and using a sword and shield instead of the warhammer from before. As I walked towards them I called out, “Hello, competition.”

They turned to face me, and they were both affected by my appearance. Drake stared, his eyes wide and his jaw slightly open. Kymien simply drew his weapon and shield in a single movement, his face guarded and wary.

I laughed. “Well, I’m glad someone finally noticed my outfit. The whole bloody Council didn’t seem to notice or care that I was wearing a fucking skull on my shoulder, and armor adorned with spikes and looking all wicked and evil. Seriously, I don’t know what was up with that. I bet Fitzy got to them, warned them so they wouldn’t be intimidated. Bastard.”

Drake relaxed somewhat, while Kymien tightened his grip.

“Potential Kiana, do not mock Fitzdonald. He is a noble man, and a good friend,” spoke Kymien.

“Yes, yes, you two are BFFs or whatever. Lighten up. And seriously, what’s with the clutching of the shield and sword? You are aware I trained as a caster first, right? What is armor or a shield going to do when I can just stab you in the face from all the way over here with dark tentacles?”

Kymien scowled, but lowered his shield.

“Good boy! So, what’s up with the two of you?”

Drake said, “We were waiting for you to get out, so we could hear what’s going on. You’re Kiana Vessian, right?”

My eye twitched. “I’m Shadow. Fitzy McDouche calls me by my given name, which I despise because it’s boring. And the verdict’s in, we’re going to do the competition I devised. So is Drake your given name?”

“Yup! I got wicked lucky.”

“Nice. So, you two are the other potentials, huh? What’s your stories?”

“Well, I’m considered a bit of fighting prodigy, graduated top of my class in the Academy of War and managed to learn a bit of casting on the side. Although, that’s apparently nothing compared to what you’ve done.” I nodded my head in acknowledgement, and he continued, “This guy though, I’m not sure what his deal is. Apparently he’s fought in a few wars, which is cool, but he doesn’t talk much, and when he does it’s all formal and shit, like every day is a funeral or some big political thing. I don’t really care for all that, I just want to be awesome and help the Dark army.”

“I can respect that. I want to be Champion so I can slaughter anything that gets in my way, and carve a bloody swathe across the cosmos, until the very capital of Lux is nothing but rubble beneath my feet, and I rule on high as the goddess of all elementals.”

Kymien raised his sword again, glaring at me, while Drake just blinked and said, “Heavy.”

I smirked, and said, “Thanks. Perhaps, if you survive the coming days, you might be given a high place within my empire. Got any skills?”

“Well, according to the Academy I’m a strategic genius. I helped plan a few campaigns.”

“Nice. You could be a general or something.”

“Heh. Yeah. Are you really going to try and become, like, the ruler of all worlds or something? That’s a bit ambitious for a potential. What if you don’t become Champion, anyways?”

“Then I’ll destroy anything that gets in my way, and if I have to I’ll start a civil war, as long as I end up leading the armies of Darkness against the other elements. Nothing can stop me.”

Kymien growled again.

“Uh, wow. Well, I hope you don’t take it the wrong way, but I still would like to compete for the spot of Champion. If you win though, I’ll gladly help you out. And if I win, I, uh, probably won’t try and oppose you. I don’t much like the Council anyways.”

“Thanks. I’ll try not to kill you, if it comes to that.”

We waited in silence for a few minutes, until the soldiers arrived in a group.

They were in a formation of nine, three-by-three. The casters were in front, the slayers behind. Once they arrived, they introduced themselves, the casters speaking.

“I am Ahlen Vas, a caster. These are Jess and Rella, slayers. We are assigned to the potential known as Drake.” Drake raised his hand, and the first column moved to join him. They went off to the side to talk.

“I am Korria, a caster. These are Riley and Morgan, slayers. We are assigned to the potential known as Kymien Rathel.” Rathel nodded, and they joined him off to the side.

“I am Verca Moren, a caster. These are Jamis and Rak, slayers. We are assigned to the potential known as Kiana Vessian.”

I sighed, and said, “The name is Shadow. Now, what are your skills, training, experience in battle, so forth?”

Verca gulped. “I graduated with honors from the Academy of Magic, Shadow. I have fought in several practice skirmishes, and one ratlakka hunt.”

“Okay, that’s… a bit low. You’re going to be facing monsters more powerful than the average veteran. Can you do illusions, tentacles, what sort of Dark magic can you use?”

“I can, uh, create basic tentacles, or a brief flash of night, shrouding the area nearby for a few seconds in blackest darkness.”

“Hmm. I suppose I can use those. Right, slayers! What can you do?”

Jamis said, “Rak and I are trained in the basics from the Academy of War, and we’ve fought on several hunting patrols in the region nearby.”

“In other words, you have no experience with actual combat, only hunting rabbits, or the occasional monster that dies to twenty swords at once. Terrific.”

Rak said hesitantly, “Pardon my for asking, but aren’t you the potential who is supposed to be one of the most powerful elementals on Nyx, maybe all worlds?”

“Yes, and yes I could just slaughter all the enemy monsters, but Fitzy and the Council dorks need to see that I can lead, direct armies and squads, and do things the hard way. Bunch of self-righteous pricks.”

Verca’s eyes widened and she cried out, “But, they’re the Council! Those who lead us, who we look up to and take orders from! You can’t insult the Council!”

I smirked. “Actually I can. ‘Most powerful elemental on Nyx’, remember? I can do whatever I want.”

She paled and took a step back. I shook my head, sighed, and said, “Oh, relax. I’m not going to kill you, I need you alive to win this contest.”

Verca relaxed a little, and I continued, “Okay, here’s the basics; we’re going to be fighting ridiculously powerful enemies, so let me take the aggro. You three focus on dealing DPS, and we should be fine. From time to time I’ll give you orders, commands, and general advice to help you fight and use your abilities. Verca, you should stick to the tentacles in combat, only use the other abilities when I tell you to. Got all that?”

“Uh, yes, but what does ‘aggro’ and ‘DPS’ mean?”

I sighed. “I miss Clary. Okay, aggro means hostile attention, how much the enemy is focusing on you. DPS is an acronym for damage-per-second, meaning how much damage you’re dealing. They’re gaming terms, I guess.”

“Ah.”

A moment later, I saw the Council begin to stream out of the headquarters, coming towards us. When they had all arrived, Fitzdonald came forward and said, “Alright, tell us where the arena is, or what city it’s near, and we’ll head to the city portal.”

“That’ll take too long. How about I just make one right here?”

He blinked at me. “What are you talking about? Make one what?”

“One of these,” I said as I gestured with my hand. A meter away, a portal shimmered into existence, stretching out to make a large gateway. On the other side, I saw Malk and Clary standing at attention.

The Council, the soldiers, the potentials, and most of all Fitzdonald, were absolutely dumbstruck.

“You… you just created a portal.” Fitzdonald sounded shocked.

“Yep. Military applications are endless, aren’t they? Shame I’m not the Champion.” I said in response.

For a moment, for one glorious moment, there was doubt in Fitzdonald’s eyes. Then, they hardened, and he said, “Well, that’s very impressive, but we must focus on the task at hand. Through the portal, everyone. We have a contest to judge.”

Fitzdonald walked through, followed by the Council, Kymien, Drake, and finally me.