The woman's grey hair was neatly tied into a bun behind her. She wore all black, form-fitting clothes. She stared at Jay with a manicured smile and a pair of calculating, grey eyes. The crow's feet framing them reminded Jay of a kindly grandmother, but something about the woman's face felt off. Like it had been designed for a purpose.

This woman's dangerous.

Jay returned her smile. The air grew heavier with each step he took closer.

Even worse, she's dangerous and she wants something.

"Good afternoon, Jay. How's your preparation going?" she asked.

"Not too bad." Jay replied, tentatively entering the conversation. "Cyrus gave me some good advice. Also, not to be rude but… Who are you?"

Jay had neither the time nor skill for subtlety, so why even bother?

His bluntness forced a smile out of the woman's measured façade.

At least, that's what it looked like.

"You can call me Samira. I founded Limitless Ascent; I'm also in charge of running the alliance." She waved her hand at the grand entrance hall. "I guess that makes me a B grade gladiator too, although I don't like to think of it that way."

If Samira noticed Jay tense up at the mention of B grade, she didn't show it. "I'm happy to hear that you've found Cyrus helpful. He always has been a good mentor."

Jay kept looking at the enigmatic woman in front of him. She obviously knew more than he did, so he waited for her to reveal the real reason she wanted to talk.

What do you want from me?

"Well, if you're finding training with Cyrus so fruitful, I'm sure you would love to continue that partnership. Potentially even after advancement?"

Of course I do, but what do I have to give up in exchange?

Jay paused before responding.

"I'm just focusing on advancement for now. I'm the lowest ranked gladiator in the tournament, so I still need more training before I can even think about the next grade." he said.

Samira nodded. "Sensible. Although advancement shouldn't trouble you if you play your cards right. What do you know of the Luminary sixteen?"

The lumi-what?

Jay knew he didn't have Samira's poker face, but her coy smile only confirmed that.

"There's in fact two stages to E grade advancement. The first is the group stage that you're currently preparing for. I can't tell you much about it, but you can scrounge for clues and piece it together if you wish. During the tournament, everyone who completes the goal of the tournament advances to D grade. But there's another layer. Reserved for only the best prospects… The Luminary sixteen.

"The sixteen best prospects, hand-picked by the coliseum, are entered into a single elimination, non-lethal tournament. Placed on a pedestal for the world to see. There are serious rewards on offer based on how far you make it in the tournament. It can set you up for a lot of success if you play it correctly."

And I bet it can set you up too…

"And I'm guessing you want to help me post-advancement?" said Jay. "Provided I get picked as a Luminary. What's in it for you? You want me to join Limitless Ascent?"

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Samira's motivations seemed pretty obvious. She was giving a sales pitch. Still, Jay couldn't shake off the feeling that there was another layer to it, one that he was missing the critical piece of evidence to unravel.

"Well, I'd certainly love for you to join, but I recognise that that's a big commitment for both of us. I can't, in good faith, ask that of you. You have so much of your Harmony still to discover, so I wont force you to make such an important decision so soon.

"Instead I'm asking for your services. I want you to help my alliance in a B grade fight after you've finished with the advancement tournament."

B grade?

Jay didn't bother hiding his confusion. Yagao and Cyrus were both leagues ahead of him, and they were only D Grade. What use could he possibly be in a B grade fight?

"It's not as bad as you think." said Samira, lightly smiling at Jay's reaction. "A and B grade fights are more akin to wars than simple gladiator fights. They're fought with hundreds of combatants across both D and C grade, over the span of weeks. And they're only lethal in A grade, so you don't have to worry about that."

Jay calmed down slightly, but he suspiciously looked at Samira. "So why do you need me then? Won't I get ripped to shreds by the first C grader I come across?"

What does she really want from me? How am I useful to her?

"Everyone can be useful in the right circumstances. In a major battle you might not impact much. That just means you won't be placed there. You would be a more effective scout than Cyrus. If you replaced him in that role, he'd be available for a different position. Understand?

"If you can eke out a minor advantage, you can swing the larger battle in our favour. If you scout out a battlefield and relay the useful information to Yagao, he's more likely to win the next fight that occurs there.

"Since you're a relatively new fighter, your advantage is multiplied as our enemies won't know what to expect."

Samira made a lot of sense. But then again, she wouldn't bother approaching Jay if she didn't.

"We can go over the specifics after advancement, but rest assured you aren't simply cannon fodder."

Jay mulled over Samira's words. Based on what she said, it didn't seem like too big a commitment. He'd probably learn a lot from it too.

He knew it wasn't the full story though.

It couldn't be.

"I'm offering you the full support of Limitless Ascent before, during, and after both Advancement and the Luminary sixteen tournament. In exchange, I want your assistance in our B grade fight next month." Samira made her offer with an air of finality. The silence that followed almost dared Jay to respond.

Seems too good to be true…

Guess that means it is.

"I'll think about it." said Jay.

He meant it.

It would be easy to simply discard Samira's offer, but there was a good chance it was worth it.

Even with the strings attached.

"But I won't decide until after advancement. I've got enough on my plate at the moment without something else to worry about. No offence, but an offer like this always comes with hidden costs. Now's not the time for me to be focusing on anything other than the tournament."

Samira nodded, accepting Jay's response.

"Can I still train with Cyrus before then?" asked Jay.

"Certainly." said Samira. Her reply seemed honest, but that didn't count for much.

"If he lets you, of course."

If you let him let me…

Jay thanked Samira, wishing her goodbye before passing her on his way out of the manor.

Before their conversation, he'd hoped to review his training with Cyrus while it was still fresh in his mind.

He still could, but the conversation with Samira lingered there. He wasn't sure if he could focus with all the questions hanging above his head.

"Oh… and one more thing." said Samira.

Jay turned around.

He was already a few paces out from the manor. The giant oak doors had begun to close.

Samira stuck out her foot, stopping one of the doors from shutting and leaving a narrow gap that Jay could see her through.

She held out her hand, palm facing upwards.

A familiar golden dagger appeared above her hand. Identical to Julian's. The rippling light from the stained glass windows almost passed through the dagger, its form flickering like a candle's flame.

It rotated in the air before reforming into a floating pool of liquid gold.

Even that vanished, collapsing into a puff of smoke when Jay's gaze shifted to Samira.

"Help us, and we can help you find your older brother."

She removed her foot.

The doors swung shut.

Jay stood, alone, and stared at the set of doors he knew he couldn't open.

Jay considered banging at the door, but he knew that wouldn't work.

Instead, he looked past them, staring directly at the spot where he knew Samira stood.

"I might be willing to help you.

"But don't push your luck, Samira. Don't play fucking games with me.

"You're stronger than me now, but it won't always be this way."

Jay took a step back.

He began to turn around.

"And if you fuck me over, I won't forget.

"I'm not here to be your pawn, Samira."

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