Diamantine (Weapons and Wielders Book 2)

by Andrew Rowe

  I didn’t mind that sort of thing. I know some people don’t like complex games, but I grew up around the Crowns board. It was a common hobby in the area around Selyr, and I was happy when I found out they had it on Kaldwyn, too.

  My impression was that this game sounded similar to kovasi, a team sport I’d played back at home for a couple years. I was pretty excited about trying it, even if I looked silly.

  Reika backed me up. “Seemed pretty straightforward to me, at least the parts we read. Get the ball onto the pedestal on the opposite team’s side of the field. First team to get two points wins. If we win, we play more matches later in the day.”

  “Right, those are the basics.” Walter turned to Reika. “There’s also a time limit, and it may be necessary to stall if we score one point and can’t manage a second. In terms of additional matches, it’s single elimination, meaning that if we lose any match, we’re done. We need to win at least three or four matches if we want to move on to the next round. The number of matches we have to win varies from year to year. We should aim for at least four. Do you have any questions?”

  Reika’s expression shifted to contemplative. “The weirdest part was the elements. We each have to pick one?”

  “I’ll assign us elements,” Walter explained. “There are six of us, and six elements.”

  “The same six as on the sacred swords,” Reika noted. “But there are different weapon types for the different elements, right?”

  Walter nodded. “That’s correct. We have a limited variety of weapons to work with. We’ll retrieve those soon. We need to be careful to pick ones that are appropriate for countering the other teams with dominant elements.”

  “Dominant element? I read that in the rules, but I wasn’t sure what it meant.” I asked. “Aren’t opposite elements usually what are relevant?”

  Shun sighed. “Valians and their obsession with opposites.” He didn’t actually bother to help clarify, but fortunately, Walter did.

  “Mana Core uses the elemental wheel, showing each element dominant over another, rather than focusing on opposing forces. It’s an older tradition. Water beats fire, fire beats earth, that sort of thing.”

  “...I’m starting to see why this might be complicated. Okay. I’ll need to learn the whole list.”

  Walter nodded. “I’ll explain later. For now, team assignments. Ari, slight change from what we discussed before. You’re not front line, you’re defending the goal.”

  Ari’s expression sank. “Aww, no! You sure? I’d be extra good at running with the ball!”

  “I’m sure you would be, but you’re also the toughest one here. We really need you on defense, Ari. I’m trusting you with the hardest role. Can you handle that?”

  Ari blinked. “I…yeah, of course! I’ve got this!”

  “I know you do.” Walter gave him a smile and encouraging gesture.

  Not bad, Walter. In just a moment, he’d managed to turn Ari from dejected into enthusiastic. I didn’t actually agree that Ari was the strongest defensive player, but I doubted Walter actually thought that. He was probably allocating Ari to that position because Reika — our actual strongest defensive player — also had the ability to fly, making her incredibly mobile.

  Which meant…

  “Reika and Meilin, you’re runners — go for the ball.”

  I nodded in agreement. That had been what I’d expected.

  Then, Walter continued. “Keras is on offense. He’ll focus on eliminating enemy players. I’m going to be flexible and fill in wherever we need it.”

  Meaning that he’d probably spend most of the match escorting the ball carriers, or possibly helping Ari with defense. I could see the logic there, too.

  “And Shun?” Reika asked.

  “Shun,” Walter grinned, “is our secret weapon.”

  ***

  “Let’s talk elements.” Walter began. “We all have elements from our attunements. There are two schools of thought about element selection in Mana Core — either matching or complimenting. People pick weapons that match their elements if they think they have good enough mana manipulation abilities to pull off tricks with their weapon, like projecting the weapon’s mana at a distance. It’s more common to pick a complimentary element, though, which increases your flexibility and misleads opponents about your capabilities.”

  “What are we doing?” Reika asked.

  “We’re doing a mix. I’m matching one of my own elements, and so are Ari and Meilin. You and Shun are getting ones that compliment your existing skills. Keras is getting light for a third reason — symbolism and morale. Seeing the wielder of Dawnbringer using a similar weapon should hopefully be intimidating to the other team and engaging to the judges and audience.”

  I wasn’t really worried about the judges or audience, but impacting enemy morale was important — and I was getting used to wielding light weapons.

  We discussed strategy for a bit after that, and then Walter sent us to retrieve weapons based on our element.

 

  It’s just a game, Dawn.

 

  I sighed and checked over the light-elemental weapons that were available. There were some interesting options: a crossbow that shot bolts of light, a glowing trident, and a dueling cane that projected a sword-length blade of light energy. That last one was pretty tempting, but I realized I wouldn’t be able to utilize my strength advantage with it very much, since the light beam would pass right through solid objects. That also meant I couldn’t parry with it.

  Ultimately, I picked a single-edged sword that was about the same length as the Sae’kes, meaning it was built to be used in either one hand or two. The weight was a comfortable amount, and I appreciated the flexibility of being able to switch my grip type. I also liked the glowing white effect along the weapon’s single striking edge.

 

  I can admire other swords without wanting to replace you, Dawn. You’re immeasurably more beautiful than any of these toys, anyway.

 

  I got a rare surge of raw emotion from her after that. Embarrassment, maybe? And maybe a little bit of pleasure?

  It was adorable.

  I might have teased her, but I didn’t have the time. I pinned on a sigil that matched the sword — it was necessary to count the number of times that I was “hit” during the game. I briefly debated pinning on a different sigil instead, but I hadn’t read whether or not that particular trick would be allowed in the rules. I could try it in future matches if I checked later and felt like it.

  Then, I hefted the sword and went back to meet with my team.

  Most of them chose weapons that I expected — a halberd for Walter, a huge axe for Ari, and a pair of hilariously oversized gauntlets for Reika. Meilin was using a quarterstaff, which wasn’t her usual weapon of choice, but close enough to a spear that I’d seen her using that it didn’t seem too strange.

  Shun chose a longbow with no obvious source of ammunition. I presumed it fired some sort of mana-based attacks, similar to the crossbow I’d seen, but it was also possible he’d just decided to abandon us and not bother fighting. That sort of seemed like his level of investment in our team.

  Element wise, Ari was using earth, Walter had fire, Reika had air, Shun had water, Meilin had shadow, and I, of course, had light.

  With our weapons chosen, Walter gave us a few last words of encouragement, then we stepped through the arena doors.

  ***

  The Mana Core field was closer to a traditional sports stadium than I’d seen in any of the previous events, but it still managed to be awe inspiring.

  The arena floor was a glossy black substance, with glowing white lines to mark increments of distance. The ground felt a little bit squishy, like some kind of rubber, presumably to prevent people from being too badly hurt when they inevitably hit the ground.
A flickering blue translucent dome separated us from the crowd, presumably to prevent any stray blasts of magic from annihilating any of the civilians sitting there.

  The field measured four hundred feet from end-to-end, and it was about a hundred feet wide. The pillars that served as our goals and starting positions were fifty feet from the entrances, meaning three hundred feet away from each other.

  An aura of some kind of dense mana permeated the air throughout the entire field. Moving though it felt almost like walking underwater, with the resistance slowing our movement. Apparently, it was there to make it harder to cross the entire field from the center in the seconds between when the ball changed elements. It would also reduce the power of offensive magic in the arena, making the weapons more relevant.

 

  Is it hurting you? Do I need to run back and put you in the waiting room?

 

  I can get you out of here. You’re more important than the match.

 

  I frowned. Okay, but tell me if you change your mind.

 

  As we walked into our side of the field, the roar of the crowd shook the air like thunder. There were tens of thousands of people in those stands, all waiting to see who would prove themselves worthy to move on to the next stage in the competition.

  It made my heart beat faster just thinking about it.

  I loved it. I loved the crowds, the cheering, and the pressure. I loved the fact that my opponents standing on the other side of the arena were going to have similar skills of my own, and they’d have their own plans for victory.

  And when their plans clashed with my own, we’d have to improvise.

  That was exciting.

 

  Dawn’s mind was still fixated on something a little different — a terrible loathing for the elemental wheel that the game used.

 

  I mean, you were stuck in a rock for most of your life, Dawn. That kind of sounds like earth beating you.

 

  Match is starting, restrain thy drama.

 

  To her credit, Dawn quieted after that.

  An attendant led us to our starting positions, which were six marked circles all around our starting pedestal.

  The pedestal itself was a waist-height stone pillar with a bowl-shaped indentation for the ball to be placed on top of it. There were also fancy glowing runes in the bowl, most likely to detect when the ball was placed in it.

  “Shun, now.” Walter whispered.

  Shun closed his eyes. A green circle manifested beneath our group, and I felt a surge of power flowing into my body. I couldn’t tell exactly what he had cast, but I felt refreshed, like I’d just had a good night of sleep. The circle beneath us vanished immediately, but the energy within me remained.

  An endurance refreshing spell, maybe? That’s unusual, and it could be very useful if we’re doing several fights in a row.

  “Good.” Walter nodded to Shun. “Stick to the plan, everyone. We’re about to get started.”

  I gave Reika’s hand a quick squeeze, then the announcer began.

  “People of Edria, esteemed guests — it’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for. Let the first match of the day begin!”

  There was a loud gong to signal the start of the match, and then the chaos began.

  In the blink of an eye, I had cut our pillar in half.

  A heartbeat later, Ari had grabbed the severed top of pillar and started to run toward the edge of the arena.

  There was a gasp from the crowd, but I ignored it. Breaking the pillars completely wasn’t allowed, but taking them apart and moving them? Nothing in the rules against that.

  Walter rushed after Ari to provide him with cover. When they reached the corner of the arena, the plan would be for Walter to start putting up stone walls, but I couldn’t watch to see if that went as planned.

  The rest of us charged toward the enemy team.

  As Reika ran, I saw the back of her outfit beginning to stretch, and I realized we had a minor wing-related problem.

  She grunted, slowing down. A blast of lightning from across the arena missed her by inches.

  Meilin kept running for the ball, which floated in mid-air at waist height in the center of the arena. Shun stopped near Reika, then pulled back his bow and returned fire on the enemy team, launching arrows of ice in their direction.

  “Keras?” Reika turned to me as she slowed.

  “Coming.” I rushed toward her, raising my sword and deflecting a pair of blasts of fire. The top half of the sword’s blade began to melt.

 

  With a mental command, I shifted the heat out of the blade and re-solidified what I could, but it was already damaged. It was still glowing, meaning that it was probably functional, but I didn’t know if it could take a lot more damage. I’d have to be more careful for the rest of the match.

  When the next blast of flame came in, I was ready, and I simply shaped it out of the way rather than parrying.

  Then I’d caught up to Reika. “Hold still.”

  I raised my sword, then changed my mind — I didn’t want this to count as a hit. I moved my opposite hand instead, shifting my destructive aura around it.

 

  Resh, you’re right. Uh, my bad. I’ll just do this real quick and stop.

  My hand moved, cutting two lines down the back of Reika’s outfit.

  I heard another murmur from the crowd.

  Up ahead, Meilin was near the ball, deflecting attacks from two players from the opposite team. She was successfully keeping them away from it, but fighting at a severe disadvantage. Shun fired an arrow at one of them, but the opposing player simply blocked with a gigantic stone shield.

  “Gotta go!” Reika surged forward. Wings burst from her back.

  There was a surprised cheer from the crowd as she took to the air, then immediately spun and twisted to dodge a hail of projectiles aimed at her.

  Being in the air was a big help from a maneuverability standpoint, but it did have a few problems. First, it made her an obvious target. Second, people attacking her didn’t have to worry as much about friendly fire, so they could safely unleash larger attacks. And third, it was almost impossible for the rest of us to defend her up there.

  Since I couldn’t do much to defend her from my current position, I had to do what I did best — rush straight into enemy forces.

  I sprinted toward the two figures attacking Meilin. She deftly hopped over a swing from a spear, then deflected a sword, only to be hit from behind by a blast of lightning from one of enemies standing near the goal. Her suit flashed to indicate the hit, but she barely slowed down, landing and swinging her staff upward toward the spear-wielder’s chin.

  He stepped back out of range, but a blast of force followed Meilin’s swing, crashing into him and hurling him backward.

  His suit didn’t flash — whatever magic type Meilin had used, it didn’t count as a hit.

  I changed the trajectory of my run, going straight for that guy. He must have heard me running. He spun around toward me, and I recognized the blue glow around his spear as representing water.

  That meant we could both hit each other normally, which was perfect. He was less likely to disengage if he thought he had a chance.

  Brace yourself, Dawn.

  He brought his spear in for a jab. I smacked it out of the way, aiming straight
for the metal point. When we made contact, I issued a familiar mental command.

  Fall apart.

  The metal head of his spear — the portion containing the runes for enchanting the weapon — fell right off.

  His eyes widened. Then, remarkably fast, he turned and began to run.

  Breaking weapons was both allowed and expected. There were extra weapons lining the walls, and he could grab one if he reached them.

  I bent down, grabbing the fallen piece of his spear, and reshaped it into a ball. Then, after side-stepping a blast of fire from somewhere across the arena, I hurled the ball at spear guy’s back.

  I...might have forgotten to reduce my strength. The ball slowed when it hit his shroud, but it hit the center of his back hard. He let out a yelp and he fell to the ground.

  I winced. I hadn’t intended to hurt him that bad.

  I did the kindest thing I could think of, running and dodging blasts of fire, and then hit him thrice in the back before he could get off the ground.

  He vanished, teleported out of the area. He’d be back in a minute — unless the people monitoring the resting area decided he was too injured to continue.

  I hoped they’d give him a healing spell or something while he was out there, at least.

  I didn’t have much time to worry about it.

  Reika had descended on the mana core, grabbing it out of the air and flying toward the enemy team’s goal...which I couldn’t even see. The entire area near the pillar was covered in a dome of fire, and Reika didn’t have any easy way to break through it.

  Arrows of ice were crashing into the flames, making brief holes, but without causing any lasting damage. I couldn’t tell if Shun’s shots were actually hitting anyone inside or not.

  Meilin was still squaring off against the fighter with the giant stone shield. They both seemed to be defensive and deliberate, and I couldn’t tell who had an advantage.

  ...But Meilin’s shadow seemed off, somehow. Was it moving on its own to sneak up behind the guy she was fighting?

  I couldn’t focus on that.

  I picked the reshaped spear-head back up in my free hand and ran toward the dome of fire.