Including Death

Soul and Ji-Hye walked into the garden where a horse-cart awaited, the night air cooler than before. In the back of the cart sat Nia and Hyun-Ki, their expressions a mix of boredom and readiness. The old man holding the reins was grizzled and weathered, his long gray beard rustling in the breeze. He gave them a nod as they approached, but his eyes were focused on the path ahead.

"About time you got here," Hyun-Ki said with a yawn. "I thought we'd be waiting all night."

Nia shrugged, her arms crossed as she leaned back against the cart's wooden side. "Finally!"

Ji-Hye climbed into the cart and found a spot to sit, her posture straight, her demeanor tense. She was thinking of the Family Match, no doubt.

Soul followed, stepping into the cart and finding a place to sit beside Hyun-Ki. The old man gave the reins a gentle flick, and the horses began to move, the cart creaking as it rolled across the cobblestone path. It was a bumpy ride, the uneven terrain making the cart rock slightly from side to side.

"Why so early?" asked Soul.

"The Arena of the Champions," Ji-Hye replied, her eyes fixed ahead. "It's far. Four hours."

The cart moved slowly at first, navigating through the dense forest that bordered the academy grounds. The uneven terrain caused the cart to jolt and sway, making the journey rough and slow.

The old man driving the cart focused on guiding the horses, carefully steering them around large roots and rocks. The forest was quiet, the usual sounds of the city distant and muffled. Soul remained silent, his eyes scanning the surroundings, while Nia and Hyun-Ki talked in low voices in the back.

As they progressed, the forest began to thin, and the path became smoother. The cart's pace increased, the horses able to pick up speed without the constant risk of stumbling. The road opened up, the trees becoming sparser, allowing more moonlight to illuminate their way.

"Okay…" Nia whispered to herself. "First, low level spells. Make them waste their energy on Ki. And then –"

"Excited?" Hyun-Ki asked, cutting her off. "Because I am, too."

"Of course I am," she replied, her voice low but filled with anticipation. "I'm going to fight against a god's champion. Who wouldn't be excite -- oh yeah, Soul. Soul wouldn't."

"Hmm." His focus was elsewhere, but he heard them talking. "Has anyone ever died in a Family Match?"

"Yes – some have died in the past." Ji-Hye said. "Why did you ask?"

"Just making conversation," he replied, though it didn't sound entirely truthful. "Let's say I killed someone in that tournament. Would that make me a criminal?"

"No," Ji-Hye replied, with a serious voice. "Everyone signs a waiver before they enter. It states that they accept the risks, including death. If someone dies, it's on them. Same thing goes for us."

"Okay."

"You... planning on killing someone, or what, man?" Hyun-Ki asked with a nervous laugh. "Don't scare us like that."

"Like I said, just trying to make conversation. Sorry." Soul's tone was calm, but the sudden change in topic left a weird feeling in the cart.

Nia cut in, steering the conversation back to practical matters. "We should go over our tactics again," she said. "Which magic we'll use, who'll stay behind or go in front, and all that."

"Yeah, you're right," Ji-Hye agreed. "Okay, listen up. The plan is simple. Hyun-Ki and I will take the front. Nia, you'll be our enhancer and support. Soul, hide as soon as the fight starts and protect us with your –" She lowered her voice, ensuring the cart driver couldn't hear. "You'll protect us with your blood magic. Any damage we take, you'll heal us."

Soul nodded. "Hmm. Okay," he said, his tone indifferent but his eyes focused.

The cart trundled along, the old man at the reins seemingly unaware of the conversation happening behind him. Nia and Hyun-Ki exchanged looks, then turned their attention back to Ji-Hye, who was giving final instructions before they reached the Arena of the Champions.

"Soul, remember to stay out of sight," Ji-Hye continued, her voice low but intense. "Your blood magic needs to be our hidden advantage. Don't let anyone see you using it. You know what happens if you're discovered."

"Krt," Hyun-Ki said, using his index finger to draw a line across his neck. "Dead."

Soul crossed his arms. "I know. Thanks for the visual aid."

"Always, man."

The cart continued along the winding roads, the wheels creaking with each turn. The path was narrow in places, hemmed in by dense foliage that seemed to whisper in the night breeze. As they rode, they passed several hunter cabins, rustic wooden structures with smoke coming from their chimneys. Some had animal skins and furs hanging from poles or stretched across drying racks.

The roads were uneven, with patches of loose gravel and sections where the tree roots had pushed through the soil. The cart swayed as it hit a rough spot, causing the passengers to hold on to the wooden sides for balance. The old man driving the cart steered carefully, keeping the horses steady despite the challenging terrain.

"Seriously, though, who were they? The women inside your room?" asked Ji-Hye, her voice sharp with suspicion.

"There was no one. Only me."

"Women? As in, more than one?" Hyun-Ki said, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. "Wow… you're the last person I'd expect to have a threeso –"

"I was alone in my room," Soul cut him off, his voice cool and firm.

"The roads are pretty bad in these parts!" said the coachman, raising his voice to be heard over the rattling of the cart.

It was an understatement. The rough terrain made the cart sway and bounce, forcing everyone to hold on to keep their balance. The old man guiding the horses seemed to know the route well, expertly maneuvering around potholes and protruding roots, but even his skill couldn't fully smooth out the ride.

"I'll die of brain damage before we get there," Nia muttered, gripping the edge of the cart just in time to keep from being thrown off-balance. "Gods."

"This champion of Sieranar – what do we know about him?" asked Soul.

"He's extremely –" Ji-Hye's grip tightened on the wooden edge of the cart as it hit a bump. "Extremely skilled with swords and shields. But he's not alone. As you all know, this is a four-on-four match. He'll have his friends with him."

Nia glanced at Ji-Hye. "Do we know anything about his friends? What kind of magic they use or their combat style?"

Hyun-Ki nodded, his expression turning serious. "Yeah, we've fought them before," he said. "The champion got three teammates: a bowman who's crazy accurate, and two healers. They're not to be underestimated."

Ji-Hye adjusted her grip as the cart swayed. "The bowman is deadly from a distance, so we need to be cautious about staying in open spaces," she said, her voice calm but filled with experience. "As for the healers, they can turn the tide of a fight if we're not careful. They can keep their team in the game much longer than we might like."

Nia frowned, taking in the information. "Great, so we've got to deal with a champion of a god who's good with swords and shields, a bowman who can pick us off from afar, and two healers who can undo all our hard work. Sounds like a fun."

Soul listened quietly, his focus on the strategy forming in his mind. "What's our plan, then?" he asked. He knew that fighting against skilled opponents required more than just brute force; it required careful planning and adaptability.

"We need to isolate the bowman first," Ji-Hye replied. "If we can neutralize him, the healers become our next target. Once we take them out, the champion will be at a disadvantage without his support team. We just need to stick to our roles and execute the plan."

A gust of wind swept through the forest, rustling the leaves and sending a shiver down everyone's spine. The cart flapped noisily as the wind grew stronger, making the journey even more uncomfortable.

Hyun-Ki saw the rear of the cart, where a small curtain was hanging to shield the passengers from rain and situations like these. He reached up and pulled it down, closing off the back to keep the wind out. The noise from the flapping fabric diminished, but the gusts were still noticeable as they continued down the bumpy road.

"Umm… so – how did you lose your eye, ma'am?" asked Nia, her curiosity getting the better of her as the wind howled outside.

"If we win… I'll tell you later," Ji-Hye replied. "Focus on the task at hand."

"Right," Nia said, nodding. "Sorry."

"I'm going to catch some sleep," Soul leaned back against the cart's wooden frame. "Wake me up when we get there."

Nia raised an eyebrow. "This guy… is he even real?"