Rookie to Professional

A night of victories turned into a week of victories. And then a month. Then two months. Then four. Pretty soon, the amateur league was no longer a welcoming place for Queen Bee. It seemed few wanted to fight someone who had never lost a battle. 

Fortunately, by then, the determined professor had gained enough confidence to consider taking the next step: the professional leagues. 

It was not an easy choice, and it took even more research and observation before her foray into the big leagues could begin. Late one night, she made her quiet entry into an arena that resembled an ancient theater-in-the-round. 

Velvet curtains hung overhead in a dramatic display while theatrical torches lined the edges of the stands to give the combatants light to see. 

Bee appeared in the middle of a wooden stage full of nervous energy. 

"Challenger Queen Bee has entered the Theater."

"Queen?" Someone whispered. "Did they just say Queen Bee?"

"Is she what all the buzz is about?" another asked, eyeing her carefully. 

"Guess she finally decided to make the leap," a third shrugged. 

The words were all quietly said, but it seemed in the setting of the Theater, each of them was amplified as if they had been spoken right into her ear.

'Buzz?' Bee furrowed her brow. 'Why in the world have all these people heard of me?'

It seemed at least some of the professionals kept tabs on the up-and-coming amateurs. And why shouldn't they? All of them had been amateurs as well. It was good to be aware of possible competition. 

Bee shifted in her armor, trying very hard not to look at her shoes. Her name may have had Queen in it, but just now she felt like a peasant. Just like her first duel, there was a small part of the Awakened that told her she did not deserve to be there.

Thankfully her pride was stronger than her urge to flee. Not wanting to embarrass herself by making the wrong first selection, Bee looked around for someone she recognized from her observations.

Like a good student, she had made notes on who she could reasonably have a chance against and who was likely out of her ability at present. Unfortunately, none of the Awakened on her list were present, putting Bee in a quandary. Should she stick around and try her luck or leave and come back at a better time? Gritting her teeth, Bee decided to stay. 'I don't want to make a fool of myself by making a foolish selection. I'll just wait and see if someone challenges me. 'It took some time. Just as Bee was sizing others up, so too were they trying to decide if they wanted to try their luck with an unknown. Her blaring record of zero losses was unheard of.

Each wanted to be the one to deal the blow, but few were willing to risk being the first professional to lose to the newcomer. After Bee watched a match or two from the edge of the stage, a lone figure approached.

He was just shy of two meters tall with red-auburn hair and a slightly bushy beard. He wore a winsome smile and a mantle of silver fur across his bare shoulders. Knotted on his chest, Bee could see a slightly too realistic tattoo of a Celtic dragon. 

But that was not what caught Bee's attention. This man had a seafoam green bandana tied across his eyes. 

The duelist was blind. "Excuse me, my lady. Would you be Queen Bee?" the man asked cordially. 

Bee froze. She had not yet spoken in the Dreamscape, and she did not want to break that streak just now. But the duelist could not see her nod.

Fortunately, he continued as if she had answered. "It seems we have not given you a proper welcome. I prefer not to duel a lady unless she starts the match, but I feel we have left you without a dance partner. Seems most unfair."

The man flashed another smile. Bee could not tell at first if he was trying to lull her into a false sense of security. Was he really just that polite? He at least seemed friendlier than the others.

His emotions were calm as he spoke, not spiking like someone trying to deceive. She sensed no malice from him.

Bee was here to battle, not make friends, but the two were not mutually exclusive. She decided to make a judgment after the duel was complete. The woman would not let down her guard.

Placing his hand across his bare chest, the man gave a small bow.

"Bane has challenged Queen Bee." 

The stage suddenly felt much larger as those around cleared the designated ring. Bee's heart raced. If Bane couldn't see, this should be an easy victory. 'Should.' Bane was a professional duelist. He had won many victories to find his way onto this stage. He could not be underestimated.

With a rain of sparks, the [Unlikely End] appeared in Bee's hand. She raised it defensively, her eyes swirling in a mix of greenish-grey. Bane summoned no weapon. He simply raised his fists as two pieces of wrapped cloth materialized around his wrists and palms.

"Shall we dance?" he asked amiably. Bee quickly discovered that Bane was not kidding. After attempting her first strike, Bee was astonished by the grace and agility of her opponent as he inexplicably moved out of the way.

Of course Bee's movements were flawlessly fluid–she was secretly hovering less than a centimeter from the ground. But Bane was not.

Yet somehow his large frame defied physics, as if he was using the wind itself to guide his movements.

"Eyes are not the only way to see, Queen Bee. And some have better sight without them." Bane gave a lopsided grin but did not attack. 

Bee widened her stance and prepared to attack again. Something felt wrong about striking at the blind Awakened, but this was a duel. Surely he knew that! 

However, he only made defensive maneuvers. A quick series of swings from the estoc were met with blocks by Bane's hands. The wrist guards on his palms were exceedingly durable. While the point of her sword might have been able to pierce them, he was quick to catch the edge and deflect it to the side. 

'Why isn't he attacking? Is he toying with me?' Bee was growing increasingly frustrated. 

Bane, on the other hand, seemed unbothered by her assault. To him, this was just a sparring match. 

Queen Bee wanted him to do something. Anything! If this kept up, she would become worn out, and Bane would swoop in and take an easy victory. 

'That's exactly what he is doing! Preying on my frustration to wear me out. I've been a fool!' 

Disengaging, Bee swished her sword out to her side. The blade caught one of the spotlights, flashing brilliantly. Tilting her chin up, she faced her opponent with an obstinate scowl. She would not waste any more of her energy on an opponent who made no effort to engage.

"I see you have changed your tune. Good. I liked you from the moment I 'saw' you. Such a pure soul is rare." The man clicked his tongue. "Now, don't get discouraged. You've clearly got the power, but you need to work on your pace. Conserve your energy and move with purpose." Bane lifted one finger like a teacher scolding a pupil. 

Queen Bee cringed, 'Do I sound like that sometimes?' 

The new arrival decided not to fight the advice of the more seasoned veteran. Obviously, Bane could 'see' something that she could not. 

Taking a deep breath, Bee slowed her pace. It indeed felt more natural and allowed her time to circulate her essence more efficiently. 

Whereas before Bee felt nervous, the fluttering Awakened finally began to feel in control of her body. Her haphazard movements ceased. Her actions became instinctive, much closer to how she had handled herself in the amateur rings.

Relinquishing control to her muscle memory meant that Bee could focus on more important things, like anticipating her opponent's next move. 

The battle suddenly shifted as the tension in the ring took on a new form. "Another melody? This one is your best yet. Do not go easy on me, Dearest Queen." 

He began to hum lightly, but it did not phase Bee. On the contrary, it only added to her determination and drive. It was like he had heard a song inside her soul and was urging it forward. 

'Is that his aspect?'

It didn't matter. 

With renewed energy, Bee whizzed her estoc through the air and pointed at Bane. He smiled amiably and lifted his fists. The fun began. 

Bane was strong and spirited, but Bee was swift and even more agile. The slash of the sword and each strike of the fist made for a mesmerizing display. It was nothing short of stunning. 

One of [Unlikely End]'s silent stings made it past Bane's guard, drawing a thin line of blood from his bicep. 

He began to sing louder, but Bee only narrowed her eyes, continuing to focus. Bane blocked a dozen more of her careful advances before a second dastardly slice made a gash in his thigh. 

"That's a potent little weapon you have there." Bane gave a pale smile as he wiped the blood from his leg. 

The sharp tip of the estoc had done extensive damage. If he had been a mundane human in the real world, the cut would have severed the muscle completely, making a person unable to walk. Somehow Bane remained upright. 

Bee felt Bane's emotions waver. There was a spike that she recognized after months of battles to mean only one thing. 

He was about to strike. 

Bane's song suddenly stopped. He lunged forward, his fists full of power that would crush his dainty opponent into a paste.

But Bee shifted. 

Hovering slightly to her left, Queen Bee slid to the side without moving her feet to indicate a step. 

It was not enough for anyone watching to notice, but perfect for Bane's strike to come down centimeters off from its intended target. 

And just the right spot for the [Unlikely End] to plunge into the man's stomach. 

The stage rumbled as the blind Awakened's fist crashed into the wooden structure. Bane gasped, then smiled as blood began to pool in his mouth.

"Now you are beginning to see what I mean," he said, his teeth stained with red. " Best of luck, Ms. Bee. Never forget your song." 

Like that, Bane disappeared in a rain of sparks. 

"Queen Bee has won!"

Bee turned around. Behind her, the stage was already repairing itself from the duel. Bane's fist had decimated the ring so completely that the illusion of the dream was broken for a moment, revealing a black void of stars below. The Queen shivered. 

'Did he miss…on purpose? Why?' Bee had many questions. But she had a feeling that the answers would only bring more confusion. 

In the end it did not matter; the result was the same.

The floating monarch was now, officially, a professional duelist.