SSS Void Ascension: I Devour All Elements

Killian rubbed his forehead tiredly.

’Here we go again. Social stigma.’

Reginald slowly lifted himself off his seat, and Killian fell back on his seat, watching him. ’Is he seriously going to walk out on me...’ He raised a brow, when Reginald stretched a hand towards him.

"Let’s get out of here, Killian."

Killian immediately raised himself off his seat and followed him out. He noticed Theodore and his younger brother followed them out. "Uh, is something the matter?"

The cafeteria behind them was still silent.

"Yeah," Theodore answered from behind them. "You skipped the pep talk from the leader, didn’t you? Well, in short, it was about keeping your nicknames a secret if you are amongst the top ten."

The question on Killian’s mind was why Theodore was suddenly following them, and speaking to him since he had been avoidant.

But he pushed that to the back of his mind since they seemed to be a bigger problem in hand. "I didn’t know that."

"Yeah, you left for your sister around then." Theodore sighed, still following them. "You could get targeted or worse. Likely worse. And you said your nickname in a full room, so yeah, good luck."

Killian turned to Reginald who was sweating bullets.

"Sorry, I-I just asked. I didn’t know who you were—"

"It’s fine." Killian insisted. "I don’t really think it could be that big of a deal since we are having matches starting tomorrow. My nickname would be revealed anyway."

"The top twenty will compete among themselves, and it will be a private match." Reginald explained. "So the public will still not be in the know."

He palmed his face. "I shouldn’t have asked you anyway. You were very likely amongst the top twenty. My mistake—"

"Exactly." Theodore chipped in, staring down at Reginald who already felt like shit. "You come here and your first friend is a dunce, Killian."

Killian halted, and turned to Theodore with a frown. Theodore’s tone reminded him of when they met for the first time and he was very cold and dismissive.

’Is this how he is to people he doesn’t like?’

Killian folded his arms. "Look, if you are angry on my behalf, then thank you, but don’t hurl insults at him. I was the one who said it out loud, wasn’t I?"

"I wonder if he had set you up—" Theodore was stopped by his younger brother who shook his head. That would be an accusation based on a mistake.

Theodore scoffed, looking away. "Well, handle yourself. And don’t forget our match tomorrow."

"You said it was training." Killian reminded.

"Whatever." Theodore walked away, his younger brother following behind him. "And handle any trouble you meet before then."

When Theodore and Ephraim were gone, Killian returned his attention to Reginald, who had lost color.

He had never heard about the nicknames being a secret before nicknames defined the Warden. They were almost always attached to the Warden and the real name could be substituted for it.

’This must be a new occurrence following something that might have happened.’ "Are there cases of people actually dying?"

"Yeah."

That dropped the temperature around Killian. He looked around them, as if checking to see the incoming assassins. He didn’t even have the slightest clue of what to expect.

"Let’s go and wait in the arena, then." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Reginald nodded quietly and followed. They reached the arena and settled at the farthest seat from the door, beside a wall. There were few people seated in the arena.

A few minutes later, the gates opened. The arena had been filled to the brim with only one seat free.

The seat beside Killian.

If he hadn’t exposed his identity a few minutes ago, he wouldn’t have been worried about that. The commentators started talking and Killian wore his headphones. He planned to enjoy the match with little to no audio.

Reginald had said something but as he practiced, he nodded with a smile without knowing what was said.

The contestants started to arrive.

Evelyn walked in, lightly bumping her gauntlets together. Her eyes swept past the crowd once before she reached the stage. Light green wind mana swirled around her frame, lightly elevating her to the stage.

The crowd awed softly as the wind fluttered her hair, and gently placed her on the arena.

Killian smirked. "Show-off," he had noticed the subtle smirk on Evelyn’s face as the crowd reacted.

Reginald leaned forward instantly, eyes widening in a completely unfiltered reaction.

Killian took down his headphones, a little annoyed.

"Is that her?" Reginald asked him. "Damn... she’s pretty. Hey, you will introduce us later, right?"

"That’s why you came." Killian slowly turned his head toward him. "Isn’t it?"

Reginald didn’t even look embarrassed. He chuckled nervously. "Not really. I’m here for my friend’s match too."

Then, after a pause, he added more honestly, "But it will be nice to see your friend fight too, and she’s a Wind User like me. She has good taste in outfits, and you two are almost matching."

Killian exhaled through his nose. Evelyn’s uniform was only similar to his because of the garters, and the badge that they both shared. He didn’t say anything, but only watched Evelyn take her position on the field.

Reginald was no longer sitting properly. He had shifted forward in his seat, completely absorbed. "She’s going to win, right?" he asked casually. "She does look like she can give a punch."

Killian didn’t answer immediately. "She does. She will win."

The noise in the crowd dimmed slightly as attention shifted again to another figure.

A tall boy. He was broad-shouldered in a way that was just built for impact. His arms looked like they had been carved from hardened stone rather than trained muscle.

Even his steps carried weight, like the floor had to accept his steps. He easily jumped up the arena and strolled to the middle. His red hair was styled in a side-shaven mullet, making his eyes look fierce.

No one in the arena said anything and just noticed how the muscular second contestant contrasted with the soft-looking first contestant.

Reginald stopped leaning forward.

"Okay," he said quietly now. "That guy looks like he eats punches. Is she going to be okay?"

Killian’s eyes narrowed slightly.

’That was the guy I was supposed to fight before I accidentally took Evelyn’s match. Will she be okay?’

The boy rolled his shoulders once, then tilted his head. His gaze landed on Evelyn, and stayed there.

Evelyn didn’t move, or blink. She just watched back.

Killian exhaled slowly, and a relaxed smile crept to his face. "This match is going to be fun," he muttered.

Reginald glanced at him. "Fun or disturbing?"

Killian’s eyes stayed on the arena.

"Fun."

The main arena’s door shut with a heavy metallic sound as the match was set to start.

A coordinator stepped into view.