138*
Red Skys and Royal Cards“Am I actually allowed to come up there?” I hissed to Zelo as he led the group of us towards the platform that overlooked the large field. The stands were filled with students, all of them in levels above mine.
“Technically, no.” He flippantly replied. “But no one is going to say anything if you’re with us. Even if they don’t know your lineage, like some of the school officials do, they aren’t going to say anything if you’re with us, especially if Himchan says anything about it.”
“Don’t drag me into this, kid.” Himchan grumbled.
Zelo turned to look at the elder with large eyes and slightly pouted lips, “So you’re going to let them get mad at Sky, force her to leave and potentially remove her from the Competition? You’d let them to that to the Descendant, even unknowingly?”
“Damn.” Himchan groaned as he shook his head.
“See, everything’s fine.” Zelo joyously exclaimed as he continued along.
I sighed and just followed along. I don’t want to cause trouble, but Zelo seems set on bringing me with them and that they’ll deal with anything that comes up because of it. It was great spending time with my cousins, but it was still unsettling.
For some strange reason everyone knows who they are and they seem to be pretty popular amongst the students. From what they’ve told me, if Yongguk is as well respected as he seems and Himchan is from the Descendant bloodline in some way, then it makes sense many Dealers know them. It’s the amount of students that watch them in awe like they are celebrities, fawn over them and just want to be noticed by them that has me uneasy.
And it doesn’t help that I’m still trying to come to terms with the fact that I might possibly be a Descendant, and had said fact hidden from me. I still don’t know exactly why, and that is what frustrates me the most. If I knew the reasons behind everything, I was sure I could understand and begin to accept it.
“So what are we going to watch?” I asked after a few moments. “Why are you giving scores? I thought it was only based on wins and loses?”
Daehyun nodded towards a forth year student he seemed to know as we passed by the group before answering, “The fourth years are also graded on their fighting capabilities to determine their rank once they leave the academy, the top three go against one of the six of us at the end of the tournament if they want to, to test just how skilled they are.”
“When we graduated, Yongguk, Himchan and Zelo were the top three. All of them opted to battle an overseeing Royal. Yongguk drew the name of his father and won, it’s why he has his father’s position now. Zelo lost against his father, but it was a pretty close fight, Himchan didn’t fair as well either. Last year was our first year doing this and it’s a blast.” Jongup continued when Daehyun stopped after being pulled aside by the student he acknowledged.
Youngjae looked off towards Daehyun with a small frown, shaking his head he moved over to my side. “Two top ranking forth years are participating in Warrior combat, from the skill and proficiency they show during the battle, points are awarded to them from zero to a total of twenty. The use of their Warriors, the effectiveness of their commands, time for the fight to last, and the over all winner are taken into account and we create a score for each Dealer.”
I nodded along to what he was saying as we reached the base of the stairs leading up to the platform. “Alright, let’s head up, the match will be starting soon and Himchan needs to read off the list of rules.” Zelo began to usher our large group up the stairs.
I could feel the eyes of the students around the stadium follow us with their eyes. Wondering who we are and what we were doing moving up to the platform. Sehun found his way to my side and clung onto my arm, Kai wasn’t far off from my right side. If I looked over my shoulder slightly I could see Tao shielded by Kris as he moved along.
“Will there be room for my Warriors to sit?” I asked Youngjae just in front of me.
He shook his head. “Unfortunately, there won’t be. I can probably say that four of them will have a proper place to sit down but the rest with either have to stand or sit on the floor.”
I hummed in response and squeezed Sehun’s hand in reassurance. Reaching the top, I spotted Mrs. Han standing off in the far back corner speaking with another professor. The two looked up when we reached the solid planks used as the floor of the raised stand.
“What are you doing up here, first year?” The professor’s voiced raised slightly as he eyed me disapprovingly.
“It’s fine, Kisoep.” Mrs. Han placed a hand on his shoulder and held him back. “Find a seat, Sky, you might enjoy the show to come.” Bowing to the Royals she pulled the professor away who continued to eye me.
I bowed to them in respect before turning back to my cousins and their friends. The four of them were watching me disbelievingly. “What?”
“Mrs. Han didn’t scream at you.” Himchan gasped. “She’s one scary, strict combat teacher. What did you do that got her to go soft on you?”
I shrugged. “She helped me once.”
“Well whatever it is, nice going, Cuz.” Zelo applauded.
I shrugged once again before looking around the space. A small railing wrapped around the platform, save for where the stairs were located. Twelve chairs were arranged around the open space. The chairs were padded with pillows, the armrests were flat and wide enough to comfortably rest your arm on.
“Grab a chair and move it where you want.” Youngjae walked off to grab one of the chairs and drag it to a place in the front left corner. The other three boys did the same and spread out along the front to get a good view of the arena below.
Himchan waved me over to where he had pulled his chair up to the front and center. I walked over to him and sat in the chair he motioned for me to take beside his. Sehun stood beside me as he kept my hand tightly grasped in his.
“Find a place to sit, guys.” I spoke to the Warriors who were hesitantly standing around us, looking between one another.
Sehun sat down right where he was standing beside my chair on the left. D.O, Chen, Chanyeol, Baekhyun and Xiumin sat in front of us, legs hanging over the side of the platform arms resting on the low railing as they began to observe the Dealers below. Lay sat at my feet and rested his back against them lightly while Kris, Luhan, Suho and Kai pulled up chairs beside Sehun and Himchan.
I looked over at Tao who still remained standing to my right near Himchan. He looked up at me, uncertainty in the depths of his eyes. Shaking his head he walked over and nudged Lay aside slightly before he pulled me to stand up.
I blinked at him in curiosity, wondering what he was doing. Slipping beh
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