42 Clause

{RIKU POV}

"What was that all about?"

Riku couldn't help but scoff as he heard Shizu ask her question behind him. The fact that they saw one of their fellow Champions just have a classic queue meltdown against bureaucracy was rather... humanizing, for a lack of a better word. They were all in this game together, and seeing how the others were struggling gave him just enough joy to actually let off a smile.

"Something that we shouldn't bother thinking about," Riku chuckled. "Let's just focus on getting this done."

The line moved forward, allowing the person in front of him to casually submit his papers. This Champion was an old man, one that wore a dignified suit and tie as he silently waited for his business to be over. The book attached to his hip didn't look like anything, however, but if Riku was a betting man, he'd guess that it was this Champion's chosen weapon. What it did, he'd only know in combat, but it told him enough to expect something more nonsensical from him should they ever meet on the battlefield.

"Are we done here?" the old Champion asked, his gruff voice sounding wizened and calm as he waited for his papers to be assessed.

"Everything... seems to be in order, sir," the woman behind the counter nodded with a smile. "You're free to go to the second floor."

"Thank you for your work."

With nothing but another nod, the old man promptly put himself to the side before making his way up the courthouse. Watching him leave, Riku noted the golden stairway that magically appeared right where they came from, the building itself seemingly adjusting to their needs as the old Champion disappeared into the ceiling.

"So that's what's supposed to happen," Shizu hummed in amazement at what just occurred. "Phasing through the ceiling's going to be a new experience for me once we get there."

"We still don't know what's waiting for us, however," Riku reminded her. "Stay alert."

With him being at the front of the line, Riku stepped forward and submitted his paperwork to the counter. As she did last time, the woman manning the window gave his work a thorough check as she leafed through each page, looking over every dotted signature for any sort of mistakes or corrections.

"Oh, you didn't sign this one, sir."

The former assassin raised a brow as the woman returned one of the many pages to him. Pointing at one of the many clauses, he noted that she was pointing at one particular passage that he purposefully left blank.

"The agreement says that all passages must have a signature of the Champion submitting the forms," the woman explained. "Would you like to amend your mistake, sir?"

Behind him, Shizu was watching with baited breath as he prepared his defence. He really didn't want to agree to the clause promising potential of eternal damnation if he somehow broke something within the courthouse whether voluntarily or willfully.

"If I may, clause 105 section 2 states that a Champion can opt out of signing one clause of their choosing," he reasoned, leafing through the papers as he pointed out the clause in question. "That would allow me to not sign on that particular clause."

"But sir, clause 50 section 7 states that all dotted lines must contain the signature of the Champion in question," the woman reasoned, her tone suddenly becoming serious. "I suggest that you read the forms before continuing further."

Riku's eyes narrowed at the sudden change in tone. The helpful and frazzled woman from before had seemingly been replaced with a cutthroat lawyer for some reason... something that tipped him on the fact that he was probably on the right track and that these forms were actually a puzzle they had to solve.

"I respectfully disagree," Riku coldly retorted as he leafed all the way to almost the end of the many forms he filled out. "Clause 77 purposefully states that any clauses that allow the Champion to refrain from signing will take precedence over any other clause that prevents them from doing so."

"Sir, that's a clause that comes after the clause that states you have to leave no dotted line unsigned," the woman insisted. "Clause 2 states that preceeding clauses take precedent over succeeding clauses if there are any conflicts."

"Ah, but clause 188 states that in cases of conflicting clauses, the clause that succeeds the clause being questioned takes precedent," he fired back, his head starting to hurt as he did his best to remember all of the conflicting nonsense that he forced himself to memorize. "Or am I mistaken?"

The woman was taken aback as she blinked in confusion. For a split second, it almost looked like she had seen a ghost before she dove into the papers to look at the clauses in question herself. For a few minutes, she mumbled to herself, almost praying to a higher power before letting out a sigh.

"You... You're right..." she weakly chuckled. "I... I didn't think anyone would be this meticulous with their papers."

"I just want to make sure I know what I'm signing up for before committing my name to ink," Riku smugly scoffed. "So, is there anything else?"

"No, none at all," the woman beamed at him. "You're clear to proceed to the third floor."

With a smile of satisfaction, Riku stepped out of the line and looked at the stairs he was supposed to take. Unlike the one that the old Champion took, this one almost felt higher as it shot straight up to the ceiling.

"That was so cool, Riku," Shizu whispered to him just before she stepped forward. "Now, it's my turn."

"Just remember what we talked about and you'll be fine," he advised her. "I'll wait for you by the stairs."

With his piece said, Riku took his time to lean on the wall near the stairs as he waited for Shizu to finish with her own submission. Looking around, he also noted Nyx walking up to him. She had a scowl on her... Did something happen?

Also, the third floor?