Chapter 9 Part 1

After a good night's sleep in Christopher's room. Christopher and the twins head down the stairs onto the second floor of the inn, where they bump into Beluf, who just left Heddwyn's room.

"Oh, hay cubs. How did you sleep?" Beluf says, scratching the back of his neck.

"Screw the small talk." Heather says abruptly. "So. Did you get lucky with our dad?"

"Ahahaha. You leave nothing to chance, do you, Heather." Beluf bellows. "No. Your father was adamant that we take it slower. Get to know one another a bit more."

"But you two look so happy together." Heather whines.

"I have to respect your father's wishes. You know how demanding he is." Beluf says.

"We're about to have breakfast. Care to join us?" Haider asks.

"Sure, I'll be down in a little bit." Beluf says.

The youngins head down to sit at one of the tables, leaving Beluf in the hallway. Heddwyn opens the door to his room a few seconds later, placing his head on top of Belufs, hugging him from behind.

"Last night was amazing." Heddwyn says.

"Yeah, and I just had to lie to your kids about it too." Beluf nervously chuckles.

"Heather?" Heddwyn asks. Beluf nods. "Typical Heather."

Christopher and the twins head over to a table where Relov has already settled. They say their good mornings and sit at the booth side of the table.

Zoey approaches them with a notepad in her hands. "Morning everyone. What will you be having for breakfast today? We have mango porridge and a fry-up for today."

"I think we'll wait till dad and Beluf join us but I'll take some porridge." Heather says. Haider requests the same.

"I'll have the fry-up." Christopher says.

"I'll have the same as him." Relov says.

"Alright then, I'll keep your breakfast on standby until the other two join you." Zoey says.

Before Zoey could walk away from the table, Heddwyn and Beluf materialise in the two remaining chairs.

Relov screams. "Ff-udge. Stop doing that!"

"Bahaha. Me and Beluf will take the fry-up please." Heddwyn says.

"One day, you two are going to give me a heart attack." Relov winges.

"Bah, don't be such a wimp." Beluf mocks.

Enjoying the banter, Zoey heads off to the kitchen to place the order.

"I'm not a wimp. You two just like startling me." Relov moans.

"You're damn right. You're easy to startle, haha." Heddwyn laughs.

"Any idea when the semi-finals are? I wasn't paying attention." Beluf asks.

"Too busy planning your future with Heddwyn we're you? It's just after lunch, about 3pm." Relov says.

"I mean...I won't deny I was at some point." Beluf answers, staring deeply into Heddwyn's eyes.

Alright, that's enough big guy. You're going to embarrass me." Heddwyn kisses beluf on the cheek, blushing.

"How am I going to embarrass you?" Beluf asks, taking Heddwyn's hand.

"My kids are watching." Heddwyn answers.

"C'mon dad. You should know by now that we don't care. I find it cute." Heather says.

"And you've already had sex so you clearly like one another." Christopher says bluntly.

"Hu-. what? We didn't." Heddwyn deflects.

"Yes you did. My bedroom is directly above you. That headboard hit the wall for hours." Christopher says.

"Honestly, we didn't have sex." Heddwyn denies.

"Then how do you explain the moaning? Sounded like you enjoyed it." Christopher says plainly.

"I. I honestly have no idea how to answer that." Heddwyn says, his face flushing red.

"Ok, ok. Stop teasing your father. He deserves to keep things a secret if he wants to." Beluf says, amused.

After a few minutes, Zoey and one of the wait staff approach with their breakfast. The porridge is what you would expect, a little lumpy, mixed with a mango puree and a few slices of mango resting on top. The fry-up is a large platter of pan fried food, including 3 fried strips of bacon, 2 eggs, 2 Maranus sausages, a serving of baked beans, a fried tomato, a portion of fried mushrooms, 3 slices of black pudding with a side of fried and toasted bread, 2 of each. Included in both meals is a glass of orange juice or a black coffee, per your preference.

"This looks great. I didn't think it would be this much though. I might not need lunch later." Christopher jokes.

"Thank you my dear. You know, that was the point of a fry-up. To fuel the body for most of the day. Unless you are Heddwyn. 6 foot 8 inches of pure muscle." Zoey says.

"I don't know whether to take that as a complement, or an insult." Heddwyn says.

"Everyone in Stocaea fancies you Heddwyn. Even the straight guys. It was a compliment." Zoey says, briskly walking away, welcoming an old couple into the inn.

"How did I not know that?" Heddwyn says.

"Let's dig in, everyone. Don't want this food to get cold." Beluf says.

It's almost time for the semi-finals, and the group are inside of the Colosseum waiting for the MC's direction. Christopher is talking to Heather about a strategy to beat Kiana.

"Do you think that would work?" Christopher says.

"Should do. At least it should stop me from feeling the physical effects of her Emotion Magic." Heather says.

"I hope so." Christopher sighs. "It's time, get in there sis."

"I'll win this, for you." Heather says, giving Christopher a thumbs up.

"Are you ready for the semi-finals!?" The MC riles up the audience, most of them erupting into chants of Heather name. "Alrighty then folks! Looks like we got a favourite to win, am I right?!" The crowd's chants get louder. "But we can't count Kiana out of this fight. In every fight, Kiana hasn't received a single scratch, not even from the powerful spatial mage."

For the semi's, both participants are introduced into the arena at the same time, signalling the start of the match. Heather wastes no time and a vine springs forth from the darkness of the barracks-like waiting area.

"It seems my theory was correct." Heather exclaims. "You can't use your Pathokinesis if you can't see me, can you?"

"Was it Christopher who figured that out for you?" Kiana mockingly remarks.

"Just cause i'm a blond, doesn't mean I'm stupid you know...No it wasn't him, but I did discuss my theory with him. He gave me some pointers to avoid you, nothing more." Heather replies. She takes no remorse and bites back. "Don't think I'm going to let you harass my brother either, bitch. I'm coming at you with a vengeance."

"Oooh, the kitty's got claws. Shame you missed." Kiana gestures to the vine next to her, taking out her katana, trying to get into Heather's head.

"Did i tho?" Heather says. Kiana looks towards the large vine in the ground next to her and is baffled by her statement until Heather springs out of the blue, landing a punch to Kiana's face.

Kiana staggers back, dazed by the sudden punch. She wipes her face with her fingers and a dark purplish viscous liquid. Looking back at Heather she has it on her knuckle.

"You might want to get that off you. If it gets into your skin, you might die. It's nightshade poison." Heather calmly says, wiping the purple staining fluid with a damp cloth.

Kiana panics rushing to find somewhere to get rid of it. Once again, Heather attacks her...with a kitchen knife?

(Narrator) I think it's just because she cooks and just had it on her? But she looks like an unstable housewife about to kill her husband.

The attack hits its mark, making a long strike across Kiana's left cheek. She falls onto the floor, still trying to wipe off the poison on her face.

"Will you calm down! You're starting to look pathetic. I put it on my hand. If it were poison it would also be hurting me. How did you beat Christopher? I'm honestly confused because, I'm not seeing how you could have won that." Heather says, picking the dirt out of her nails.

"You're sick, you know that?" Kiana says, staggering to her feet.

"Yeah well, I'm not the only thing you need to worry about." She replies, pointing towards the vine. As she says that, the vine rips up the earth it was connected to and encompasses Heather completely, protecting her.

"What is going on?" Kiana asks, befuddled.

"She's alive dimwit. A soulustriosized entity. Her name is Ivy"

"Very creative. Do you have to name them? I also see this as pointless. This thing can't even see. What a waste of mana!" Kiana berates.

"True, but it doesn't mean it can't if im touching it." Heather answers nonchalantly.

The vine strikes at Kiana like an angry serpent, continuing to obstruct all view of Heather.

"This stupid fucking thing! Stop hiding you coward!" Kiana maliciously yells.

"You do realise you could've used your Pathokinesis easily. It's not like I'm playing unfairly." Heather says, collecting a few strips from the vine and putting them in a pouch.