Faust also agreed. He hated the moments before a fight started.

Drege turned to the uniformed man behind Vi, who also turned to watch the man nervously.

"A full Farseer involving yourself in a schoolyard squabble," Nems said to the man. "’Rai, sir Marik."

The Farseer, Marik, cringed at her. "Speak to me again, Valerius slave. I’ll beat you to death here."

Marik turned to Vi, suddenly frowning and somber. "I drove Harlan to his graduation. I was at his wedding. I have known the boy since he was a kid. He was sweeter than anyone I’ve ever known. Did you feel brave when you crushed his skull? Do you feel brave now?"

"I didn’t want to," Vi answered slowly, speaking more to herself as she knew no one was listening.

"We don’t believe that," Drege said. Around them, the Teleste fighters got ready.

Vi looked undaunted, but her eyes flickered to Nems. "You can’t kill me. This is not a duel." She looked up to the edges of the terrace, and Faust noticed cameras embedded in the walls.

His blood turned cold as he realized what was happening.

Vi, still thinking of murder, continued speaking, fear creeping into her voice.

"I’m a member of the Union. First of my class. Vicius Valerius, daughter of Mirac Valerius. There will be consequences for murder."

Marik chuckled. "There will be no murder. That’s why I am here. I will make sure you leave here alive."

Vi froze as the realization came crashing down on her. She looked up at the cameras again, then to Nems, who was trembling with anger. They weren’t here to kill Vi.

They were here to disgrace her.

Her eyes jumped between the people around them, finding weaknesses like Faust had in the beginning. Smart girl. But she was still doomed.

"Stand aside, slave," Narla said to Nems. "We won’t kill your master to avoid war. But no one goes to war over a dead slave."

They expected a moment where Nems considered her situation.

That was when the girls struck.

Nems swung her long hair, sending drops of water into the enemy’s eyes. Vi moved in and punched Narla so hard her head snapped back.

She grabbed Lighteater, but the sword was ripped out of her hand by an invisible force, flying into Farseer Marik’s raised hand. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Vi ignored the inconvenience. She rushed Drege, ducking under a haymaker that would have taken off her head, screaming like a mad dog. She rained blows on his body, caught a blow, and slammed her elbow down on his nerves.

One of the Teleste fighters tried to rip her off Drege, but she elbowed his jaw so hard he slumped to the ground. She spun back on Drege, but he blocked her high kick.

Her time was up.

The remaining Teleste fighters converged on her, done with Nems. A fist cracked against her skull and her eyes went distant. Drege slammed his fist into her belly so hard she was flung into the air. It looked like she would fly over the edge of the terrace.

Marik flicked a finger and an invisible force dragged her back to hell. Miraculously, she hit the ground on her feet. But the Teleste fighters surrounded her, all striking her lithe body at once, driving fists into her ribs, oblique kicks that shattered her knees, and a hard punch that crushed her beautiful face.

Drege picked her up and slammed her into the marble floor so hard a crack crept through the stone.

He lingered over her and brought down his hammer-like fists on her face over and over again, until she was almost unrecognizable.

"Enough!" Marik shouted, ripping Drege off her with a flick of his fingers. "Cut her hair and take one eye. Let us be on our way before her allies come."

Narla brought Lighteater forward quickly as they dragged Vi up. "Right, right. I don’t want to face Drekar without armor or curse protection."

Narla used Lighteater to brutally shear off Vi’s dark hair, slicing into her skull and pretending to be sorry. She pointed the sword at Vi’s left eye, and Faust admired Vi’s resolve in that moment.

She stared at the blade unflinchingly.

Nems, who Faust had thought dead, forced herself to her feet suddenly. She stole a dagger, slit the owner’s throat, and jumped at Narla.

"Get away from her!"

Marik stopped her in the air with a gesture.

Narla stared at her dying cousin, slit throat spilling blood over the marble, and shrugged. Then she stabbed Nems in the chest.

"AAHHHHH!" Vi’s horrified scream made Faust shiver.

Finally, a Schema was used.

Faust didn’t know how he knew, but he felt it when Vi used her Schema. Narla glowed red, and all the Teleste fighters had horror in their eyes.

Narla only had a second to shout, "Wait—"

Her chest tore open like she had been stabbed, similar to Nems.

"Enough," Marik muttered. He flicked his hand, and the sword tore out of Nems’ chest and slashed out Vi’s eyes.

Drege pushed her aside and turned away. "Two dead. Mom won’t be happy." He turned back and spat on Vi’s shaking, naked body.

Then they left.

They left her there, shaking and crying. Slowly, she crawled to Nems and cradled the body of her friend.

"I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry," she mumbled over and over again.

Faust couldn’t understand why she hadn’t used her Schema this whole time if it was so powerful. But he didn’t have time to think about that.

Vi and Nems disappeared. The balcony reset itself, closing the pool and retrieving its chairs.

Then the Teleste fighters returned, but now their faces were blank and uncanny, devoid of the righteous anger and cruelty from before.

It was like they were just puppets.

Faust gripped his axe tighter, realizing this might be his trial.

Then they all walked towards him slowly.

***

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