Loretta
She gave a nod, brushing her hair firmly out of her face. Very well then- that simplified things.
"Of course."
This was probably for the best, of course. Her eye should heal naturally... Risking any healing magic interfering with her abilities would be reckless. She wasn't a reckless kind of person. She gave the physician a quiet thanks and apology for taking his time, and turned to return to her assigned arena. She should be able to handle herself perfectly fine with her vision as it was.
Mildred
```ini
["WATCH YOURSELF."]
```
Geraldine
Ha allowed Kuouo to guide her near the ledge where he and Daniel had settled— to the vocal dismay of her sword— and was suddenly able to feel a soggy, messy texture in the palm of her hand. What it actually was had not been explained to her, but he claimed it would make her feel better. Despite its perceivable unpleasantness in terms of how it felt, she had no reservations against consuming the item. The only thing that mattered was if she trusted Kuouo enough in his statement and offer to actually eat it, which Salhaeja, naturally, raised some concerns about. However, he *Also* Admitted that he'd have no reason to do so circumstantially, and that she could benefit from having food in her stomach. Furthermore, Medei food, from what he understood, had some properties to it that transcended the simplicity of sufficing minimal malnutrition. She had not had any breakfast this morning, nor stopped for anything at the festival, albeit she still wasn't especially hungry. Sometimes, she just forgot to eat.

Ha quietly bowed her head as to display gratitude toward Kuouo, and lifted. . . What felt like, some sort of bread with a sort. . . Sauce, or rub, up to her face in order to take a small nibble. She became slightly distracted by the sensation of flavor; it tasted unlike anything she'd had in her homeland, nor anything she'd consumed since returning here— granted, her diet mostly consisted of ramen and chocolate, and it wasn't so much that it was delicious that it was. . . Unique. Fortunately, Salhaeja would insist on listening in onto the conversation as she somewhat separated herself from reality. The blade immediately reiterated that Ha's question was a good one, but she wasn't one for personal validation. It could almost sense the gears in Kuouo's head turning, and mentioned that his phone was destroyed in the mayhem of their previous entanglement. He was a little surprised Daniel was so willing, though. Upon addressing her directly again, she turned her head with

Her mouth still glued to the wonderous bread roll. Sal would remind her of their actual purpose regarding their presence at this festival, one that she conceptually did not want to attend. Her general distaste for events like this had become irrelevant.

``"Ohm—"`` She spoke with her mouth full, unintentionally disregarding basic table manners, not that anyone would care much. ``". . .Wellt, I— hve antheor matta to deale wit-"`` It wasn't too difficult to transcribe her words, as she slowly swallowed and lowered the bread roll against her planted sword. ``"But. . . Perhaps I could hold. . . The fish, since you need someone to. If that is okay with you?"`` Of course, said fish did not interest her, but Salhaeja insisted she inquire, excluding reason. Kuouo's assumptions now meant nothing, although she did find them curious. It was then another character arrived at the scene, which startled Daniel. It concerned the announcement; Sal would state that this person was of no momentary consequence.
Jose
Kuouo had nodded once in appreciation of Daniel's offer, taking the phone from his palm and swiping towards the phone app. He dialed one out of two numbers — both of which could contact someone Kuo held dear and trusted with his life besides Daniel — The first was an assassin with the ability to clone herself and make capture of the Koi perhaps even more troublesome. The phone rang and rang as Kuo envisioned entrusting the fish to the introverted, edgy-dressed, girl that he considered the love of his life...

```
"Baking Cheesecake. Call back later." But the deadpan voice message, after 10 rings, indicated that she was currently out on a job. The repair payments on top of a debilitating mortgage didn't pay for themselves after all.
```

After a heavy sigh, with the bandit moreso disappointed he didn't get to drag Raven into his shenanigans, he dialed the second number. A little girl, with the ability to ghost-ify herself and summon creatures from the fiery depths to defend her, was all grown up now. The phone rang twice as the bandit envisioned Lulu cheering him on, mixed with pangs of worry after each blow Kuo didn't manage to dodge...
Susan
"Hey. What's good. Can I help you with your car's extended warr-"
Jose
Instead of going to voicemail, the demonic voice tormented the bandit through the phoneline, causing him to crunch his face up in cringe and disgust. That was a sure sign that Lulu was busy in the realm of Hell, and for whatever reason, whenever he called down there, demonic imps and the like hijacked the call.

```
"Gaggh, fuckin' dammi-"

```

Suddenly, the roles had been reversed with Daniel taking the forefront and aiming the pistol at a casually dressed stranger in the defense of their group. Kuouo put his paw on the hilt of his dagger, but then squinted his eyes. He didn't seem too intent on capturing the Koi — At least, from what the bandit could indicate through his body language. "Yeah, looks like those duels are gonna be down that-a-way." Kuouo pointed at the Medei King's ceremony over the ledge, just as Kuo caught Ha proposing an interesting idea.

```
"You'd hold the fish?" Kuouo asked, his head curiously tilting to the side from Ha's sudden proposal. Kuouo, reading the tone of her voice and candid movements, failed to see any malicious intent from her — Although, he refused to read a book by its cover. The bandit had just met Ha one other time; for a fraction of a moment, they exchanged quick introductions and banter before Kuouo's own chaos descended on the Navis Auri... However, it's not like he had much of a choice. Daniel's words earlier struck a damage-control resounding chord in Kuo's mind and led him to ruminate over the battle between logic and the ferocity in Kuouo's SOUL beckoning him to the arenas. Eventually though, in-between the quick tug of war, the bandit found himself pulling out a mental file from...
```

```
"Well, no offense to yer character, but we only just met. If ya wanna hold the fish for me, I oughta make an insurance policy." Kuouo held out his dominant paw. From the wrist down, it was engulfed in an especially radiant and yellow flame that distinctly lacked any heat. "If ya shake my hand, ye'll be makin' a soul-bound vow t' me that you'll return the Koi fish to me by the end of the tournament — 'less ya gets robbed through-and-through. Any funny business, however..." 

```

```
The bandit smirked, "I get t' take yer cool ass sword! And in return, I make a vow t' steal whatever ya have yer eyes set on after the festival." The bandit took an impatient step forward, "Don't have much time before the Margo Aeternitatis gets goin', so we better get goin' before the fights start! It'sa fair deal, so get t' shakin'! And don't ya dare lose the fish t' one of these losers out here!" The bandit closed his eyes with a disheveled, yet charming smile. More than eager to be offered a chance to cut his cake and eat it, too.

```
Maureen
Athena would have accepted the Shotgun and concealed it under her trenchcoat, saying nothing until they reached the area where she would wish William good luck as he approached the arena. She would sit on the sidelines Observing each battle. She would pay more attention to the battle between Rift Castaway and Reed Calderon then any of the other battles when the battle actually begins, She would in the meantime cheer on her friends who were in the arena. Watching William get his ass beat was disappointing but to be expected with most people here being used to more modern tactics of fighting and having more knowledge on magic and stuff, yet she still cheered him on. She would also notice Max enter the arena, he looked bigger then normal and a bit scary but badass with those bones or whatever protruding out of his back, She would also cheer him on despite nothing happening yet.
Justin
ERUPTS WITHIN WILLIAM AND GRYPHON'S SECTION OF THE ARENA,*** 
**As, for the first time in these series of duels,** The true nature of the ***Margo Aeternitatis*** Is revealed — what a battle between ***SOULs*** Truly implies. Shall he turn the tides of battle in the face of this new power? Will his opponent reciprocate this show of power?
Only time will tell.

***"THE WINNER OF THE DUEL IS DECIDED! GRYPHON CONTINUES THROUGH HER BRACKET TO FIGHT..."***

...The Captain pauses. *`Damn, this guy?`*

 ***"...KUOUO AICHE DEE!"***
Mildred
```ini
[". . .FINE. ACCEPT IT."]
```
Geraldine
Ha's general reaction to Kuouo's proposal and sudden intensity was. . . Very nil, in comparison, much likewise to idly watching him fail to contact multiple individuals that did not presently matter, almost as if it were delayed. She was simply not capable of reciprocating his energy and enthusiasm at any level, whereas the vow itself was reiterated by Salhaeja to be a cautious way of ensuring she did not attempt and keep the fish— the term 'insurance policy' was foreign to her, naturally, but she more or less understood why he was doing this. Trusting her or not was entirely irrelevant, and yet, the blade acknowledged it'd be wiser not to. It also *Dreaded* The idea of being in Kuouo's possession for even a fraction of a second, albeit the deal specified that it being stolen excluding penalty, and it knew that its beholder was not one for malicious intention; as a matter of fact, she was rarely one for any kind of *Intent* At all, especially in relation to said fish. The plausibility of becoming a target was another subject, though. 

Nevertheless, risks evaluated and put aside, Ha just sort of. . . Blinked at him behind her shades, not moving so much as a muscle nor overtly reacting to his impatient movements and pressure applied towards the latter end of his explanation. He did have good reason, granted: his name was now being called to combat, as pointed out by the weapon. She briefly looked down at her sword, then back at Kuouo, no more expressive than she was normally. She nodded with a quaint smile, not unsimilar to any she'd conceived previously, and reached her right hand out, removing it from the sheathed blade— the bread roll remained in her left grip. In the same motion, she used the sleeve of her Nyan Cat shirt to rub her mouth off the crumbs of the pastry she consumed, and then placed her palm onto the paw of the Medei. She considered that it may've possibly been painful, but then remembered pain was her *Whole* Life, speaking physically, and Sal a

Dded, knowing her well, that it would not be intentional on his end. That was not a concern she had the means of worrying about.

``"Oh— that's you, isn't it? I wish you. . . Good luck! And Daniel, as well."`` She would add. The winner of this 'dueling' event should've proved useful information to Sal, she figured. "Aiche Dee". . . That name fascinated her. Very unique, fittingly.