"This is the winner? A little girl?"

That was the first thing Vivi heard when stepping up to top split. Fulrad brought her to a small organizers' booth for arrangements. Vivi felt like she was at the backstage of a show.

The speaker was a cleanly shaven demon with smooth side-parted hair, wearing a white vest and a sweater. A nice outfit, but he was still dressed for a job over appearances.

"This is Vivian Runeblessed from the Lost Raindrop," Fulrad said. "Her sword, Blossom, has won low split and promptly middle split. Please take a look at it."

He handed the sword, and the doubtful inspector examined it.

Outside, the announcer's voice echoed louder now. The last of top split's contestants, along with their swords, were being introduced. Low and middle split had been concluded before top split even started testing. Vivi guessed this was by design. Top split was the main attraction.

"It is an interesting sword," the examiner said. "You're certain she has made it?"

"Vivian crafted the sword in low-split," Fulrad said. "Nothing about it makes sense, but the sword is powerful. Her victory is not a question. This sword dominated the competition."

"Our beauty experts might be very confused." The demon gave Vivi a look, as if warning her. "But very well. This sword can be presented. Congratulations to Vivian for winning both low and middle split. My name is Ian Stoneshire, and I will be your guide for top split to ensure the show goes smoothly."

He lowered his head ever so slightly, not out of respect, but because treating her well was his job.

"Tobias Fing is about to be introduced next as predicted the runner-up," Ian said. "Zack Vanhammer is, of course, entering last. Middle split's winner will be introduced between the two to add suspense. That will be you, Vivian. We have fifteen minutes to prepare you for the show. Do you have any experience speaking before a crowd?"

"No," Vivi said. "Will I be asked questions like the others?"

"The announcer will ask you simple questions, and we expect simple answers. It's customary to express your gratitude and to say you're honored to have moved up. You are allowed to speak honestly, but I don't recommend attempting any clever remarks, especially as this is your first time."

Ian eyed Vivi's outfit. She came straight from the smithy, in a dirty blacksmith's apron with her clothes covered in many days worth of sweat. "And I would recommend," he added, "a change of clothes. The audience consists mostly of nobles. Contestants typically change out of their work gear to better present themselves. Do you have an outfit to change to?"

My raincoat is back at the smithy… Vivi thought. "I'd like to present myself like this. I believe I entered a runesmithing competition, not a beauty contest."

"The audience, and especially the auction, pay great attention to detail," Ian said. "A pretty young lady in a dress will sell a sword for more ether. There is still time to change."

"I'm fine, sir," Vivi said. "A dress would feel unfitting for the situation."

Ian looked doubtful, but said, "Very well. You shouldn't expect anything amazing from the crowd. Regardless, you can be more than happy with your run so far. You are guaranteed a spot in middle split for next year with good chances to enter top split. The lowest scoring sword of top split will be bumped down. If you manage to score even a point above that, you will qualify for top split for next year. And of course, Blossom is qualified to enter the auction."

"And if I win, what was the prize again?" Vivi asked.

Ian let out an amused laugh. "I doubt you will have to worry about that. The prize for winning is a hundred thousand ether alongside the trophy and fame of winning Shivenar's competition. The trophy will most likely end up in Vanhalla again, unless Tobias Fing manages miracles."

"Hmm," Vivi said curiously. She glanced out of the window, at the platform in the middle of the square. The next contestant was climbing up the stairs—a middle-aged man, around the same size as Frewell. His beard was tied in a bun, with chin-length hair covering most of his face. He looked a lot like a warrior, though the way he walked was ordinary.

Another man, the announcer, stood atop the platform with a voice amplifier device in hand. "After a lacklustre failure last time in top split, with an unexpected stellar performance of craftsmanship and art, representing Fenlor's Rune Masters, Tobias Fing!"

Cheers rang. The stands and seats in the audience were filled mostly with nobles and shiny outfits, as Ian said, but further back, citizens from lower in the city were allowed in as well.

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Tobias Fing waved at the crowd, though he kept a composed and serious face.

"Tobias, right away, if I may ask…" the announcer said. He grinned. "What happened?"

He offered the amplifier to Tobias. "That is a good question. I don't quite understand what you mean."

The crowd chuckled, and the announcer looked around himself with some sort of funny expression. Was this a play of sorts? Lucius was watching intently from Vivi's core with his tail moving back and forth.

"Two years ago, you were bumped out back to middle split after a catastrophic failure," the announcer said. "Many believed the failure to be the end of your career. The next year, you rose back with a solid, moderate by some considerations, two-runed sword. This year, you have returned with a brilliant three runes. After a seventh place finish last year, what has driven you back to striving for the top spot?"

Tobias thought for a few seconds, shrugged, and said, "Money, I guess."

More laughter from the crowd. When it calmed down, Tobias added, "And fame isn't bad either." The crowd was resparked, as if he'd told some hilarious joke.

"Ahh, as charming as I remember," the announcer said. "Tobias, I believe we are all familiar with the extraordinary achievements your swords have achieved throughout your years. Your relentless craftsmanship shows you might actually have a chance for the top spot." He paused to let the audience cheer. "Could you tell us a little bit about Vengeance, your sword."

The announcer held up Tobias's sword and added ether through its runes. Vivi squinted through the window and added ether to her eyes to see better. His base sword looked to be made of adamantite, though the blade was somehow shinier than the adamantite Vivi had worked with. Was it an alloy of sorts? The veins on its surface were colored a bright white.

"Your turn is soon," Ian said. "Calm your nerves and prepare yourself. You won't be questioned as extensively as Fing. They might ask one or two, at most, three serious questions on top of the introduction. With our limited information about your background or any interesting backstories, the introduction will be short."

"Yes, that's fine," Vivi said. She glanced out of the window again, at Tobias boasting about his outside-carved three-runed sword. "They'll probably ask a lot more questions after I win, right?"

Ian chuffed, shaking his head with an amused smile. "Sure, girl. They definitely will. Let's go. We don't want to waste time."

Vivi was led out of the booth to another waiting spot a bit closer to the platform: a simple sunshade near the side with curtains to hide from the crowd. Staff and organizers bustled about. One of them took Vivi's sword to be brought inside the announcer's platform.

"Your sword will be brought to the announcer through a trapdoor underneath the platform," Ian explained. "Your turn is directly after Tobias. Before that, do you need water? Something to calm nerves?"

Surprisingly, Vivi wasn't nervous at all. A strong feeling of anticipation tugged at her stomach. That could barely be called nervousness. Nothing could compare to the overwhelming anxiety Vivi had felt when finishing Blossom. Right now, Lucius seemed more nervous than her, staring at the platform where their sword was out of sight, waiting for Tobias to answer his final few questions.

The curtains at the back opened loudly as a new group entered.

"So when's my turn?" a man asked. Vivi turned to see a face she'd seen once before. Zack Vanhammer from Vanhalla.

"Middle split goes first as always, sir runesmith," his nervous guide woman said.

Zack's eyes found Vivi, and he batted an eye. "What, this little girl?"

The moment Vivi met his eyes, he turned away, as if she wasn't worth his time. He faced the organizers. "Just let me go first. I have a few things to say about that ass up on the platform. And someone deliver my sword already!"

Zack had his sword in his hands. Like Tobias, he had managed to craft a three-runed sword in a week. Looking closely, however, the time restraint showed on the veins of Zack's sword. The shapes followed theory, and the patterns looked complex on the outside. In terms of efficiency, however, the veins left a lot of space. A more thorough job could have easily created a more efficient sword. His base sword—crafted out of a reddish dark mithril, almost looked more proficient than the veins.

Feeling Vivi's eyes on his sword, Zack snorted at her. "Yes, take a good look. You'll be back in middle split soon enough."

She shrugged and turned away. If she said what was on her mind about Zack's sword, someone would have probably tried to punch her.

Zack frowned. "Who the hell is this girl? Why is she up here?"

"That's Vivian Runeblessed from the Lost Raindrop," his guide woman said. "I believe she's from the Lowmoor district."

Zack let out a deep laugh. "Runeblessed. Rune fucking blessed, from the very bottom of the slums. Very nice."

"I am also known as the slum smith, yes," Vivi said with a smile. You have a beautiful sword, Zack. The beauty judges will probably like it. But how will it fare in a test of strength?

While Zack frowned at Vivi, Tobias received his final applause. He waved for the audience as he stepped down the platform. He smiled wide as he entered the waiting area. He spotted Zack and walked over.

"That went pretty well, don't you think?" Tobias asked.

"For your standards, definitely," Zack said. "About time you finished an actual sword for the competition. I've been defeating small prey for far too long."

"And who's this?" Tobias asked. "The middle split winner? I've never seen you here."

"She's blessed by runes, apparently," Zack said. "Just watch, she'll introduce herself as the smith of ether itself, or some bullshit."

Tobias laughed light-heartedly. "Congratulations on the rise. I was expecting Mark to rise to top split this year. Beating him is an accomplishment."

Vivi lowered her head slightly. She had no idea who this Mark was, but Tobias seemed to be genuinely complimenting her. "Let's have a nice competition."

Zack rolled his eyes. "See? She's cockier than my dad. She actually thinks she's a part of the competition."

"Vivian, it is about to be your turn," Ian said, pulling her away from the two top contestants.

She nodded. "I'm ready."

Ian and another woman performed a final checkup on her body. Vivi guessed their job was to make sure no collars were twisted wrong, or that no buttons were accidentally unwrapped. Considering Vivi's outfit, however, they didn't have much to say. With the checkup done, Ian said, "Walk at a steady pace straight to the platform. You're ready to go. Good luck."

With a pat on the back, Vivi was sent toward the platform, straight into the middle of attention.

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