Much to Fleo's relief, it didn't take too much time for Nolan to work himself out of his funk and arrive back at his more or less usual level of surliness. Thinking about his question, she ran back in her mind the match that had just taken place. It had been, she decided, so quick and confusing. Without a particular need to appear knowledgeable to her friend, Fleo mused to him and James,
”That one was real tough to follow. I didn't know where they were half the time, or what was happening. This isn't the first time I'm glad I decided to pass up the games. I woulda gotten de-stroyed. I mean, I know Maddox can teleport. Haven't seen him around much since I joined the guild, but he's talked about a bunch, yeah. I couldn't really get a read on that Grant guy at all. Anyone who fights with blood is a weirdo in my book.” James had yet to speak, it seemed. Fleo decided to supply him with something.
”Whaddya think? Could you have taken him?” With the beginning of the new match, Fleo cast a glance at the two ladies now in the ring before shrugging.
”I've never heard of those people before. They look kinda like models. There's not gonna be the 'glamour battle' from a hundred years ago, right? Yeesh, I cringe just thinking of it.”XVI
Above the arena, perched upon the precipice of its outer limb, was a figure not at all distinguishable from a statue. It stood, more still than stone, its mixed jackal and human features in utter defiance to any known being on Fiore. With the sobriety of an ancient god, forgotten and forced to observe the ignorant throngs of humanity for a painful and empty eternity, it presided over the Doma Flau. Pitch-black and glossy was its exterior, with sapphires inset in the eyes of the metallic headpiece, all save for its long and tattered tail. Only the steely blade of a long, curved knife, embedded by the point into the stone around its feet, could gleam with the reflected rays of the sun and possibly betray the existence of this strange and lonely statue up on high.
Torn between helping Ayame along and making sure Eve seemed alright, Nero moved slowly along the Crocus street. People, or at least those with no interest in the Games, were now out and about, and while the strange trio received a few appropriately dubious looks nobody interfered with their travel. The genie was more than happy to leave the rotten brothers behind. With no true goal in mind, he landed upon the notion of just continuing until he found something that interested him. Crocus was, after all, a huge city. Surely it contained something to stir the intrigue of three dark mages?
After about twenty minutes, the trio stumbled upon a store that sold antiques. Ceramics, books, paintings, pottery, and much more could be seen on the front shelves alone, though there appeared to be no trace of magic about the place.
”Perfect,” the genie decided, and led the way in, holding onto his young, distraught companion with a guiding hand.
Inside, aside from the various objects of intrigue that littered the two-story shelves, there was what looked like a card table from seventy years ago set up in one corner of the shop, basking in the light of a nearby window. At the table was seated a
woman, alone and preoccupied with shuffling and reshuffling a deck of cards. On the other side of the shop was a
young, bespectacled man leaned against the wall with a serious and even nervous expression, appearing to read a book but sneaking a glance every so often at a
headphone-wearing, punkish sort of girl browsing the antiques. Farther back in the shop, in a close group and speaking in low tones, was a group of
five students. Nero hoped that Ayame and Eve would find something diverting in here. With all the interesting sights and even smells (machinery, wood, wax, and porcelain, and more) it seemed impossible that they wouldn't. The dark mage had his eyes set on the lady at the card table. People on their own were easiest to work with, and if her nature mirrored her image as a player, she might be willing to bet. He whispered to Eve,
”Tell me, do you know much about poker? If nothing, find someone who does and send e my way.”Nero walked over to the card table and seated himself, receiving barely a disinterested glance from the lady. He grinned.
”Nice work shufflin' there. Those cards will be in great shape when it's time to use them. Do you know how to playpoker?”With a wry smile the lady collected her cards with quick, nimble fingers. When she spoke, her voice was husky from smoke, and she occasionally said the wrong word. “It is my second favorite gain...uh, game. Are you thank...thinking of challenging me to a game?”
Her potential opponent grinned widely and nodded.
”Yepper-doo! It's my first time, though. You looked pretty serious, so I thought I'd see if you'd teach me a lesson.”The woman now treated Nero to a smirk. “You will defiant...definitely learn something when you are defeaten...er, beaten by Leah Miles.” Moving her fingertips faster than the eye could track, she began to deal.
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