Lisa ‘Dark Horse’ White
Versus Legend
Level 2,017
XP: 66/100
HP: 100/100
EP: 75/100
RP Status: Teacher- 463 RP
Weakness Lvl 4
Lisa had taken a liking to a local bar at the edge of D.C. It had become sort of a fighters’ bar that Fistborn faculty frequented. She understood that Benson wanted to be alone and free to drink away his frief, but he could’ve chosen better than Genesis X. There were plenty of drinks he could legally consume that were powerful enough to relieve his stress. She worried that if he had enough drinks that were too much for his Paeseoan systems, he’d end up with a shorter lifespan.
She ordered a stress-reducing Mai Tai and sat at the counter. Behind her, through the reflection in the decorative glasses overhead, she could see some patrons gawking at her in admiration. She didn’t turn, pretending to be completely indifferent. She wondered how Socializers managed to pay attention to so many fans, signing digigraphs and even doing Q&A sessions. They were constantly in contact with them, doing 24/7 broadcasts of their lives, including every detail. They never seemed to have any privacy, from what Lisa could tell.
Fighters were more standoffish than Socializers. They basked in the attention during the competition, especially in the arena, but they didn’t interact with regular fans that much. Mostly, they would humor certified Versus journalists to inform fans of their careers and tidbits of their daily lives. Secrets were rampant among them.
Maybe that was why Benson thought about including more personal interactions through the competition’s PR. He wanted fighters to be more open and connected to their fans. In her career, Lisa always focused on the arena, blocking out anything that could be a distraction, including her supporters. It would be an improvement; competitors were pretty stuck-up.
A strange language caught her ear from the patron beside her, who ordered a foreign drink. It looked like a large glass of thick, red tar. The woman had a hood over her head, covering her face, but her hands were exposed, showing smooth, dark blue skin. To Lisa’s surprise, the woman’s tag was hidden.
She could rule out Voraxians; they were much taller, unless this woman was half. The language didn’t sound like anything Lisa had heard, though. She’d heard plenty over at the academy, with the mix of races and species they had. Ilamiko was also out of the question; they were much smaller, and they couldn’t procreate with other species at all. They had a very different form of reproduction than most species in the Utopia.
The woman seemed to look Lisa’s way, and she quickly pretended to stare at her drink. Her curiosity must’ve come off as rude. She quickly tried to finish her Mai Tai.
“Wondering what planet I’m from?” the woman said, sporting an American accent. Her speech wasn’t translated; her mouth formed the exact words she said.
New Person: Unknown Ruhirian
Acquaintance
“Sorry, I-I didn’t mean to…”
“No worries. I get it a lot. Our language is pretty distinct, isn’t it?” The woman took a gulp of her red tar. “There aren’t a lot of my kind on Earth.”
“I didn’t mean to stare. It was rude.”
+3 Rel-P
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“Lack of a tag attracts enough attention… but my name is too dangerous, even for a Mask. There’s no need to apologize for some morbid curiosity, Miss White.”
+2 Rel-P
Positive Acquaintance
Lisa didn’t feel startled; she’d been famous for over a decade. The following statements, however, did surprise her:
“That Medley girl is on your mind, isn’t she? You’re doubting whether she’ll ever make it, if Mr. Kalley made a mistake…”
Lisa narrowed her amber-colored eyes. “What makes you say that?”
“You closer to guessing what I am?” the woman chuckled.
Lisa’s mind clicked. This was unexpected— they were so rare on Earth. Their home planet was over a thousand light years away. Why would she be here?
“I know what you’re thinking. We tend to travel far when we’re banished.” The woman finally revealed her face by turning completely towards Lisa. She had large, black sclerae— like Martians— and curly, reflective markings on her cheeks and chin. The big giveaway was the lump in her forehead between her eyebrows; her third eye, which was closed.
Ruhirians were the only species that had true Second Sight, as humans called it. They received visions of the future through deep meditation, which was a rare occasion for them. Most of the time, they’d see unclear snippets of whoever or whatever they were thinking about. It was extremely rare that a Ruhirian would see a full-blown, clear-as-day vision. It would take tremendous strength and a direct connection with the Almighty— which was how they referred to God in their language.
If this woman was here, she likely misused her gift. They were only meant to warn and instruct people according to their visions, not attempt to change the future— which was impossible, anyway. Though they could See, they couldn’t prevent anything that happened in their visions unless they received a clear message from God that were to do so, which was also extremely rare.
There were many Ruhirians who would illegally sell their visions on the black market to ‘change’ their targets’ futures, mostly making them up to scam people out of money. Their planet’s government banished anyone they caught doing so. They could still See if they tried, but it would be more difficult on another planet, and they could still get in trouble for vision fraud.
“How long?” Lisa asked. “If you don’t mind my asking.”
“Oh, I grew up here. It was my father that got our family banished. I can’t really speak, though. I sort of fell into it… I guess it’s the ‘family business’ now.” She finished her red tar.
“So… you’ve had a vision about my students?”
“I’ve been having visions about this year’s Games for a few months now. Any Ruhirian worth their salt knows that frequent visions are a sign that something very significant is to happen. It could be in a year’s time or ten years’ time, but it’ll happen.”
“Is that why you’re here? To sell me those visions?” Lisa inquired suspiciously.
-1 Rel-P
“Oh, no, I’m not working right now. I’m actually on a very tight schedule. If I’m here for too long, I could get caught. I’m supposed to be across the country.”
Lisa glanced around, hoping no one noticed her interaction with this woman. She scooted closer, pretending she was familiar with the woman so she wouldn’t be too conspicuous. “You didn’t put a lot of work into your disguise, did you?”
“I couldn’t get your attention otherwise… or your trust.”
“You have my attention, not my trust. I can’t even see your name.”
“My name isn’t important. I’ve risked a lot to bring you this message.”
-2 Rel-P
Suspicious Acquaintance
“What message is that?”
The woman’s face grew serious. “I don’t have a clear answer. I’ve only seen very vague images. But when you go to the Games this year, you need to be careful. Keep an eye on each of your charges. Especially the human girl.”
“There are hundreds of human girls in Fistborn.”
“You know which one I mean.”
Lisa shook her head, baffled. “Does she make the team?”
“Just keep an eye on her,” the woman said. “I don’t have a clear view on when all this will happen, but it’ll be soon. I’ve gotten too many of these visions.”
“Why keep an eye on her, specifically? What have you seen?”
“I’ve seen her fighting… and not just in sports. Fighting for her life. Her family is involved, too… I don’t know how. She will be confronting something dangerous.”
Lisa’s heart quickened. “What is she confronting?”
“I don’t know yet. She will confront something during the competition, something that can threaten her… and you. All of you. All your students. I have a feeling…” She stopped.
Lisa nodded insistently. “Yes? Go on?”
The woman shook her head. “No. I can’t give you my speculations. I may be banished, but I’m not stupid.”
-2 Rel-P
“What? What are you-”
“I can only tell you what I’ve seen, not what I think. In short: something dangerous will happen in this year’s Games, and it involves that girl. I don’t know how long the repercussions will last, but it’s a game-changer.”
“Is there a way to prevent it?”
“There’s a way to prepare for it. Be alert and vigilant. Remember why the Games exist in the first place.” Without another word, the Ruhirian slipped off her barstool and went out the door, leaving Lisa in a confused frenzy.
What did she even mean? How could they prepare for something so vague? Could she even trust this woman? She was a banished Ruhirian. Lisa couldn’t be sure she was telling the truth.
She gulped down her Mai-Tai, hoping the alcohol would make her forget about the interaction, at least temporarily. It was most likely some elaborate scam, but an anxious pit had formed in her stomach.