by Ko, John
He passes right next to the Whirlpool. It reminds him of a gigantic stone well, full to the brim. Slowly, the waters begin to swirl as if stirred by a giant spoon. In moments, it becomes a full-fledged vortex, ready to swallow any swimmer not strong enough to swim against its current.
“Captain, good luck!” he yells. “If anyone can do this, it’s you!”
The Fate waves back. “Is that what your calculations say?”
“No, it’s what my heart says.”
“I always thought your heart may be stronger than they say, but I did not know it talked, too.” Sense can’t tell if it’s a joke. The Fate’s a funny fellow, but Sense can’t ever remember him telling a joke before, at least on purpose.
The Fate kicks off his boots and readies himself to dive.
“3, 2, 1 … Go!” A horn blares and the crowd erupts. The very first game of the Grand Finale is officially underway.
The two swimmers dive into the Whirlpool and are quickly swallowed by its turbulent waters. Stroke after stroke, they swim with all their might towards the center of the maelstrom, their valiant efforts barely adding to the force of the current propelling them towards its eye. Just before she gets swallowed into its depths, the Half-Gilled girl shoots out of the water, her arms pinned to her side like a hawk diving upwards. At the apex of her leap, she reaches out and grabs one of the rings hanging above the swirl.
The young clerk watches as the Fate mimics her movements exactly. The most dangerous part is over, but now the hard part begins: swimming out, against the whirlpool’s current.
Sense explains the new plan to Monster. He understands at once and promises to relay the message to Riser when he reaches the next leg. Monster doesn’t look worried at all. Instead he goes back to his stretching, reaching down and grabbing his toes. His bare toes … Monster’s used to running around barefoot, but the Fate will have to as well. I should’ve thought of that. I should’ve grabbed his boots.
The Half-Gilled girl climbs out of the Whirlpool and passes the ring. She flops onto her back, gasping to catch her breath. The Fate pulls himself out of the water, not too far behind. He hands Monster the ring and they’re off. He’s breathing pretty hard already.
Sense is back on the service path. He won’t have time to stop and explain everything to Riser, which should be fine. But he has to make it to Shine in time. Even if Poe gets there with the Captain’s boots first, the bard won’t be able to explain a thing.
Sense jogs towards the end of the service path. He can see the bottom of the Sheer Cliff and the lift that will lead him to its top. His legs are already weary and with each step, each breath becomes more difficult. But it’s his heart that worries him most. It beats so hard it scares him. He thinks it’s stronger than they say. And right now I have to believe that, too. I have to make it to the lift in time or all he’s doing is for nothing.
The service path is straight and level compared to the hills and twists of the Long Race Course. Even then, he barely makes it before the racers. He’s gasping as he enters the lift. I wouldn’t have been able to do that even a month ago, he thinks proudly. Before he can get too full of himself, he sees their opponent handing off their ring.
The Royal Team’s climber tucks the brass ring into his waistband and begins flying up the cliff side. He darts from one handhold to another, flying between impossible distances with ease. Monster barrels in afterward with the Fate matching him stride for stride. The Half-Orc yells out what’s going on as he reaches forward to pass the iron ring.
Riser grabs it wordlessly and attacks the rock face. She scales the steep bluff in short controlled bursts like a humming bird dodging the rain. She may be even faster than their climber.
It’s then that Sense notices just how jagged the rocks along the cliff really are. He winces as he looks down to see the Fate scurrying after her. By now the announcer has caught on to what’s happening. “Folks, Monsters to Believe In are not only keeping up with the rank one Royal Team, but one of them is attempting to run the whole race by himself.” The already rowdy crowd roars even louder as it dawns upon them just what they are witnessing.
The lift stops and he jumps off. Poe is there holding a pair of boots. Thank god he made it in time with the Captain’s Light Boots. He gives Poe a huge hug of joy. Something was weird about that, but he has no time to think about it as he watches The Royal Team’s climber pulling himself over the top. He looks at the other team’s Light Tripper. Just as he had thought; he’s a ringer, too. I’ve never seen him before. He may even be a Tripper from the World Circuit—a real pro.
“Shine, Captain has to run the whole course. It’s the only way. You have to let him follow you exactly.” Even with the short rest on the lift, he’s barely able to spit it all out. “But you still have to go your very fastest, or we don’t have a chance.”
“We’re not too far behind. I’ll lose him if I go too fast.”
“No, you have to go faster than you’ve ever gone before. I know the Captain will keep up. Believe in him. It’s the only way.” Sense nods to the other team’s Tripper. “He’s a Pro-Racer from the World Circuit.”
“But …” The other Light Tripper takes off. His first step explodes in a boom. The sounds of his footsteps follow after. This is not good, he realizes. Even Shine doesn’t always hit that speed on her first step.
Riser is there in a heartbeat. She flies towards them and with the last of everything she has, she hands off the ring. Right behind her is their Captain, who jumps onto his backside as Poe shoves the Light Boots onto his feet.
“Go,” the Fate shouts, leaping to his feet, covered in sweat. I’ve never seen him look like this. He never gets tired, Sense worries.
“Faster than you’ve ever raced before. It’s the only way.” Sense shouts, but she’s already gone with a boom, a second one stuttered just behind. The Fate is so close to her they are nearly touching. Don’t touch her or we’ll be disqualified, he wants to say, but it’s too late, they are gone. The sound of Poe crying brings him back to reality.
When he looks down, the bard is sitting there, his hands covered in blood. Fail me. I really should have brought him his regular boots earlier.
Chapter 46
KASE
[Obstacle Course, Saranghae Memorial Stadium]
Kase Shake holds a finger to the side of his neck and counts the beating of his heart. “63, perfect,” he mutters to himself, trying to stay loose and warm.
The Best of the Best looks over at the empty space where his opponent should be doing the same. Does that fool really expect to run the whole course? he wonders in disgust. Just what is he thinking? Kase has four of the top ten times this year, his fastest being the best in a decade.
It isn’t by accident, either. He has a perfect copy of the Obstacle Course in his backyard, one he built with his own two hands. Each morning he ran it; twice on weekends. He knows this course inside and out—every step, trick, shortcut and pitfall. All the best of the rest can do is dream of coming in second to him. Even him …
Just the existence of that troublemaker annoys him beyond words, but right now, the Princess comes in a strong second. When will she realize that victory without honor is no victory at all? Bringing in these other racers is something he would never have considered or even now condones. That’s why she didn’t tell me until just before the race. I’d rather lose … But he will do what he is tasked with. There is no honor in refusing.
As the racers come into view, he takes a look at the scoreboard. At this pace, we’re going to shatter the record.
In that moment he sees the ridiculous. It’s hard to really make them out. They’re nothing more than streaks, but the twin streaks on the other side are actually closing the distance. We had almost a ten-second head start, and they’re actually going to catch the best Pro Racer the Princess could find.
He readies himself, crouching low, his hand stretched out behind him, ready to explode forward as soon as the ring touches his palm. Among his man
y titles, he’s always been particularly proud to be known as the Perfect Anchor.
He hears someone come to a stop beside him. It doesn’t surprise him that it’s not the Pro. He knew it would come down to this, me versus him. He feels a mixture of dread and anticipation. Kase Shake chooses the later and promises himself, I will not let him beat me. No matter what, this I vow.
“Shine, down!” the Fate screams, unable to stop. The fool boy manages to somehow leap over the fair girl as she sprawls onto her belly. The sight of him is loathsome, though he can’t help but admire how the two work as one. If they just so much as touch, they would be disqualified.
Before he even lands, the Fate pulls of both Light Boots in one swift motion. He lands and receives his ring just before Kase feels one pressed into his own palm.
The Perfect Anchor bursts out the gate, quickly pulling ahead. He runs with smoothness, each step familiar and accounted for. The Fate jerks forward, a reckless fool scrambling on all fours with the ring between his teeth.
The crowd is so loud even Kase has trouble ignoring the clamor of their cheers. It doesn’t matter that the whole world is watching. He’d want to beat that troublemaker just as much if there wasn’t a soul in the stands.
They approach the first obstacle, the Web. Kase leaps on to the closest vertical thread and climbs forward, careful to avoid the sticky horizontal ones. When the thread he is on comes to an end, he jumps to another and continues on to the top.
As he gets to the Pumpkin Roll, he counts his steps and hits the Jump Pad perfect, sending him soaring to the sweet spot atop a round pumpkin which is twice as tall as he is. Underneath him, it begins to roll ever so slowly. But with each passing step he forces it faster and faster.
Somehow, the troublemaker is still beside him, trying to match Kase’s grace with his desperation. He can’t keep this up, not against the Chosen One. Not if I’m perfect.
As he nears the end of the runway, he leaps off the giant pumpkin just before it splatters itself against a wall of stone. The crowd screams in delight as chunks of pumpkin rain down onto those close by.
Three long strides and he reaches the base of a towering Beanstalk. He grabs a leafy handhold and pulls himself up and in no time he is at its very tip, high above the crowds. He grabs on tight and leans back with all his might. Soon the whole Beanstalk is swaying back and forth. On the third swing, he throws himself forward and leaps.
He lands safely on the next platform, which immediately begins to fall away beneath him. He leaps to the next and the next, each platform smaller than the one before. As much as he makes each movement seem effortless, his opponent matches each step with his own negligent style. Is he too ignorant to know when he’s outmatched? He can’t luck his way through this next one though, he thinks, leaping off the final platform.
Kase aims for the small dot, impossibly far below. He takes an instant to look over at the troublemaker, who has the audacity to smile back. Fail him! I hate that guy!
He focuses on the fast approaching jump pad below. At this speed, if he’s off by even a finger’s width, he’ll be launched into one of the many surrounding nets. It would be all over then.
The Chosen one hits it dead center. He glides upward, graceful as smoke in the wind. At the very apex of his jump, he snatches the first of many rings hanging from a thick rope that leads all the way to the final platform. Next to him the Fate flies past, just missing his own handhold. Kase Shake catches a glance of his rival falling. He almost feels a tinge of regret knowing his rival is out of the race.
Gaining momentum with each swing, he flies forward from one ring to the next. The thick cable holding the row of hanging rings sways back and forth with the force of his passing.
Suddenly, the crowd erupts. Their screams reverberate through the whole stadium. He must have gotten lucky and hit the Jump Pad a second time, but still …
Kase almost hurries, giving up a little of his finesse. Don’t rush, he reminds himself. You know what the perfect pace is. Any faster just leads to mistakes.
The spectators are in such an uproar it begins shaking even the Course itself. It doesn’t matter what that fool does. This race is mine!
He reaches the last of the ropes before realizing the cause of the clamor. The Fate has somehow managed to get on top of the cable itself, bypassing the hanging rings all together. The fool is sprinting along it like a tightrope. I should’ve known better than to count him out. But there’s not enough course left for him to make up the distance. Besides, no matter what he does, he can’t beat the Shake Roll. These are Kase’s personal finishing steps, the ones everyone tries to imitate. But no one can.
The Chosen One leaps from the final ring, launching himself at the perfect trajectory to land on the marble platform. Next to him, he hears the desperate footsteps on the other cable and a sudden twang as his opponent leaps off of it.
Neck and neck, they fly through the air. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending, Kase thinks, preparing himself for his favorite move. It is nothing fancy, just the fastest conceivable way to reach the finish.
In one elegant movement, he tucks himself into a ball and flips once in midair. By doing so he maintains all his momentum, not even having to pause to land. With his legs still tucked close to his body, he feels the slick marble dais below him as he gently rolls forward. At the exact right instant, he straightens his legs with all his might, catapulting himself forward with uncanny speed. It’s a beautifully simple maneuver, but there is no feasible way to finish the final few steps faster than the Shake Roll.
As he comes to a stop he can barely hear the buzzer sound over the cheers of the crowd. He raises his arms high in victory. Finally, I did it! I beat him!
To the Chosen One’s surprise, he finds the Fate grinning next to him. He looks up at the scoreboard to check his team’s time on the Course—a full five seconds faster than the all-time record. When he looks at their individual times, he sees that he beat the Fate by less than a second. He doesn’t begrudge his opponent a close finish, a time befitting his rival.
Then he sees the other team’s total time, The Royal Team’s is a half second slower than their opponents. Even though he just ran the perfect race, it wasn’t enough. How could I forget … they handed off first.
He lowers his arms. The announcer shouts, “MONSTERS TO BELIEVE IN WIN! Monsters win in it with a history making time! Can you believe it?”
This can’t be happening. Failing Fate! I hate that guy!
Chapter 47
SIR GROCK
[Front Row, Saranghae Memorial Stadium]
Sir Grock Hardrime jumps out of his seat, screaming with the rest of the fans. Even a worldly gentleman such as himself can’t help but get caught up in all the excitement. The race was simply one of the most thrilling he’s ever seen.
The young clown put on a magnificent performance—truly remarkable, borderline unbelievable. The boy somehow ran every leg of the relay himself and put his team in position to win it all. With a time like that, Sir Hardrime doubts any of the following teams will even come close.
Drama; the boy has a knack for it. At the end there, it seemed as if he was surely done for. At least, until he jumped onto the cable and began running across it as only a true acrobat could. His opponent was clearly a generational talent himself. The anchor of The Royal Team executed a perfect dismount and roll, not losing an iota of momentum. Yet the remarkable clown somehow slipped past him, literally. Arms thrashing in the air to maintain his balance, the boy wasn’t even able to land squarely. Instead, he slid the final few paces across the marble platform on a blood-covered foot. Amazing, truly amazing!
What an act of sheer determination. Such is the margin between victory and defeat, Sir Hardrime thinks.
Suddenly, he remembers something of much more importance than the race’s miraculous ending.
He tugs on the sleeve of the silently cheering giant next to him. “Kutz, you saw her, didn’t you?” It isn’t surprising that the b
ehemoth is caught up in all the excitement. The Scourge has officiated more than his fair share of matches over the years. The large man nods his head.
“Let’s go. We don’t want to lose her again,” he says to the mute giant. Kutz retrieves his hat, which must have fallen off during the excitement and nods.
“She looked healthy, didn’t she? I’ve known her all her life, and this must be the first time I’ve seen her show care about anything. I think she’s been doing just fine.”
Chapter 48
BROTHER MONSTER
[Seven Corners Inn, Saranghae]
Monster finishes bandaging the Captain’s feet. The left one is littered with small cuts, which may cause some discomfort, but nothing a little balm wouldn’t heal. However, the right one is much worse, with a single large gash running from heel to mid-foot. Thank goodness they sterilize the Field; at least there’s no chance of infection. Even so, how could he be so reckless? People feel pain for a reason. It’s for their own good.
Wake is still cramping pretty badly, but he won’t stop apologizing. As much as there is reason for celebration, the mood of the group is somber. Except for, of course, the beaming Captain.
“One down, two more to go,” he says, not understanding everyone’s worry. “I do not need all of this bandaging. Just rub a little dirt in it and I will be fine.”
The worst part about it all is the fool is actually serious. “Enough! When it comes to anybody’s well being, I have final say.” Monster tells him.