The Reason for the Determination (I)

After the fight was over, I went backstage and met Corneria. It was as if she had been waiting for me.

"Congratulations on your victory" she said to me.

"Thanks I guess"

"Aren't you happy?"

"Why should I? I just want to get Maria back, I'm not interested in winning"

"..."

"Don't you know if she's hiding somewhere? Earlier in my spare time I explored around the stadium, but I didn't manage to find any clues"

"No. I don't know what kind of powers they have to keep her hidden. As Rowen explained, it's possible that she's in a completely different dimension"

"I see"

As far-fetched as it sounds in theory, if we bring the Holders into the equation anything is possible.

"Why did you become a Seeker then? Don't you want to collect the Objects?"

"I never knew anything about it until much later. I just wanted the power to protect myself, this sword reacted to that and came to help me"

"... huh?"

Corneria's face was for the first time showing an emotion, specifically one of surprise.

"What's wrong?"

"Are you implying that you didn't have to take the test?"

"Test? Ah, the one where the Holder gives you a challenge?"

"Exactly"

"Not at first. Only a few weeks later when it was necessary for survival I was summoned to his dimension and faced him. When I won he considered me a real Seeker and I got its true form"

"Ehhh" she said putting her face very close to mine.

Then she started to watch me from my feet to my head.

"I, is something wrong?"

"You are an interesting case" she said resuming her posture. "We all must find the place of distortion to enter its domain then pass the Holder's test. You're an irregular"

"I guess I've been told that before"

Yes, my Holder told me the same thing when I first met him.

"Very interesting. That must be why you don't know about the Objects' potentials"

Seeing my fight she must have realized that I'm quite a novice at this.

"Does it show a lot? Well yes, my katana has the potential to cut through everything. That's all I know"

"I didn't mean your Object's name"

"How so?"

Corneria turned around and started walking away ignoring my question. Suddenly she stopped.

"All Objects reflect their nature in the name, the innate ability they possess. You only need to rely on that for them to work, although sharing their name with your opponent reinforces the idea by making the process easier. However, there are some that can unleash extra power. These are very rare to find... be careful on your next round"

She finally finished her sentence and walked away.

Extra power, is she implying that my next opponent has that?

I'll have to err on the side of caution.

Eventually the quarterfinals began. I only have a few scratches from the first fight, luckily nothing serious. Anyway, I can't do more about it other than hang in there and move on.

She is not by my side to heal my wounds, nor do I have the time to find some bandages and treat myself. I have to go in with the mindset that a critical hit may be my last.

Regardless, I headed to the stadium now that it is my turn to participate. After entering I got a peculiar surprise.

"Huh? What's happening? Why are there two of them?"

Looking at my opponent I was perplexed to realize that there were a couple of people. Two very similar men, apparently brothers, with light clothes as if they were monks very similar to each other, though of different colors, being one mainly red and the other blue, bald and each with an identical Object in his hand. These were shaped like a very long curved blade, about 1 meter long. They don't look very comfortable to use.

"We are the bearers of the twin Objects" said the one in red.

"With these blades we will finish you off" continued the one in blue.

"Hey, that's unfair! In the previous fight there weren't both of you!"

I seem to remember a confrontation where one of these guys was fighting, however only 1. I never saw that he had a twin.

"According to the organizer, we must show our full strength in this fight"

"And for that we must fight together. It's that simple"

Simple? Are you kidding!? That Rowen... does he think he can do whatever he wants in this tournament?

"Then we'll kick off this special handicap match. The twin Objects versus the Object katana. Who will win? Place your bets!"

The announcer proceeds to call the start of the battle, that means it's allowed.

Wasn't this a 1-on-1 tournament? That old man had said so! Besides he claimed not to kill my enemy to keep the rules, if he's breaking them right now!

I won't forgive him. If anything happens to Maria I'll make him pay.