Vivi teleported straight to Ythar's dream island. The skies, contrary to the usual perfect weather, were gray and cloudy. Cool wind breezed the skin of her legs under her skirt and caught her hair. The locium buildings were less blinding to look at. The wide main street wasn't as crowded as it usually was. There must have been less than a hundred hunters present.

Is someone dead again? Vivi asked.

"Probably," Lucius said. "Cloudy weather usually means that some light tragedy has happened. But it's not raining."

For once, Vivi was glad it wasn't raining. Her dress definitely wasn't waterproof.

"The others in the smithy are questioning your sanity," Lucius said with an amused grin. "I'm listening to them now. Lucas asking if you really dressed up just to go to sleep."

Vivi let out a chuckle. Maybe we can explain Paradise one day. For now, I have some things to figure out…

Her earlier visit to Paradise wouldn't stop bothering her head. Something had been odd. The hunters hadn't called her the Cursed Runesmith anymore. They called her the runesmith's girl. That could have been Andre's doing. It was possible he had done something to clear her name. He could have also reached out to Grandpa's old customers to buy runeswords.

But if Andre had truly worked to clear her name, why was Vivi banned from entering Paradise? Why did the hunters kill her on sight?

Vivi scanned her surroundings, checking everyone's waists and belts for any signs of scabbards. Nobody around her wielded runeswords, or any physical weapons at all. Spirit blades were definitely still the most common weapon the hunters used.

Lucius, is it possible to send a signal to Andre? Vivi asked. Maybe he can explain things.

"It's possible," Lucius said. "Do you want me to?"

Vivi considered it. Let's look around first. I don't think I could trust Andre's words regardless of what he tells me.

With her skin coated in a light layer of ether to look part amongst the shiny streets, Vivi picked a direction and began walking. She tried not to appear too nervous and kept her posture straight. More hunters passed, none wielding runeswords.

The attention she received, in her new outfit, changed again. Eyes were more curious. She was now a newcomer that people didn't recognize. Some people didn't glance in her direction at all. She blended in nicely enough.

How many hunters exist in total? Vivi asked. Is there a precise number?

"It's just under ten thousand," Lucius said. "There are enough hunters to defend most corners of the world. But ten thousand is still not that many in the grand scheme of things."

And maybe just a few of those are runesword wielders, Vivi thought. We can only meet them when they're asleep.

"It'll be hard to learn anything by wandering aimlessly."

True enough… Vivi thought. What if we try to talk to a stranger?

She looked around herself in search of someone, preferably alone, who didn't look like they wanted to eat Vivi alive. The problem with hunters was that they all looked authoritative with scary postures, as if helping others was the last thing they wished to do.

"Excuse me," a voice said behind Vivi. "Miss, could you offer me a few directions?"

Vivi turned and was faced with a young woman, half a head shorter than Vivi. The girl had her finger on the hem of her swordmaiden's dress. Her footing was solid, and the white dress was exquisitely tailored, but the girl was flushing. She seemed to think of herself as Vivi's inferior.

"Hello," Vivi said. "You are…?"

"Essi Sylva, Miss. From the Sylva Bloods' second hunting group. My team was on the way to the arena to watch the showmatch. My spirit, however… I'm embarrassed to admit, but my spirit has forgotten where the arena is."

"Oh, so that's why the weather is like this!" Lucius said. "There's a match going on. Ask her if the arena is free entry. Who's fighting?"

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"Who's fighting? Is it free entry?"

"It's Henric and Dragven Barrowbow together against Melloris Greenwitch," Essi said. "The Greenwitches are testing their new weapons. It's a free entry."

"Their new weapons?" Vivi asked. "Is it… runeswords?"

"Yes, I believe so," Essi said. "Andre Greenwitch, the survivor of Zand's prison, hired a new runesmith. The Greenwitches claim that runeswords have surpassed spirit blades again. They've already won showmatches against three different hunting companies."

What the hell? Vivi thought. They hired a new runesmith? Is it Jonah?

"They're fighting right now," Lucius said. "Let's go. I'll point at where to go. The arena is underground inside the island."

Vivi agreed. "Sure, let's go. My spirit knows the way."

Essi rubbed the back of her head and laughed nervously. "Thank you. And sorry for bothering you. You're the only one who looked my age. I thought you must be a new hunter as well."

"I'll gladly help anyone who isn't trying to kill me," Vivi said. "You seem a lot nicer than most hunters."

"Eh, really?" Essi asked. "Have the hunters been that rude to you?"

Vivi shrugged, remembering that she probably shouldn't reveal her identity. Lucius offered directions by pointing a light only visible in her consciousness. He pointed further up the main street. "Sorry, I think I've lost my manners. I've spent too long underground."

Essi gave another light laugh. "I feel the same way. I was granted a spirit three years ago after my studies. After that, I've visited home twice. My village believes I'm a hero, even though I'm only on the secondary team." She smiled and added. "I almost had my first job on the third level, but a stronger hunter bought the surge from us at the last second. But you must be much more experienced. I'm sorry for assuming you were new. What hunting group do you belong to?"

Must be nice, Vivi thought. "I'm an independent hunter."

"Eh?" Essi asked. "You mean, you're not blessed by a surname?"

"My spirit and I prefer to work alone," Vivi said. "I think I'd go insane if I had to stay with the hunters for more than a day."

Essi looked like she was about to say something awkward again, so Vivi added, "Do you know anything about the Greenwitch's runesmith?"

"I've heard rumors," Essi said.

"Please share," Vivi said.

"Do you know that… thief from the surface? Vivian Runeblessed?"

Vivi felt a twist in her heart. "Yes, I've heard of her."

"Vivian had a grandparent, who was apparently good at runesmithing," Essi said. "It's believed that Vivian's grandpa is the secret runesmith."

Secret runesmith! Vivi thought. But he's dead?

"They must be using his old swords," Vivi said. "Thomas Warren's Son died in prison."

"Really?" Essi asked. "Interesting."

Did he not? Vivi thought. This all was so confusing.

They walked in silence for a bit, Lucius leading them to a side-street. Vivi felt an urge to ask something riskier. She decided to go for it. "What do you think about the situation? About Vivian and her grandpa?"

"It's a tragic situation," Essi said. "Vivian's spirit is a known troublemaker. The spirit initiated the bond with someone it wasn't supposed to. The spirit then forced Vivian to escape. Her only choices were to die or run away." She paused, thinking. "But Andre claimed that Vivian helped him escape Zand. She can't be totally evil. Although, they say she's a total savage. I would be afraid of meeting her."

Vivi blinked, surprised. Andre has done something to help us at least.

"Do you know why she isn't allowed in Paradise anymore?" Vivi asked. "The last time she arrived, she was killed on the spot."

"Really?" Essi asked. "I didn't know she was banned from entering. I thought she was stuck on the fourth level without access."

No? Vivi thought.

This whole thing was a mess. Something weird was going on.

Lucius's directions led Vivi to a wide stairway leading underground. The stairway was positioned right in the middle of the street with a curved locium roof covering it from the sun. Stepping in, the stairs descended for over a minute. The deeper they went, the more dungeon-like the walls became. Locium richess was forgotten, probably to create an atmosphere more fit for battle.

The walls turned fully cave-like when the clash of ethereal swords sounded from below. With each clash, an ignition went off, as if a miniature surge had spawned. Ethereal blades didn't sound like metal; they sounded ominous, as if a portal opened with each swing. Ether oozed out from the opening at the bottom of the stairs.

Crossing the final stair, Vivi stepped onto a glass floor, thick but perfectly see-through. Directly underneath, perhaps three hundred feet below, lay the arena. The ground was flat and circular, enveloped with dome-shaped glass, as if the arena was a gigantic snow globe. Looking in from the very top, Vivi vaguely made out the figures fighting below.

The crowds watched outside the glass. The globe of glass was surrounded by seats and stands all around. Seats slightly above ground-level were the most occupied for the best views. Everyone in the audience was an ether hunter, of course. Around a thousand were present.

Vivi watched the fight below for a moment, but even with ether in her eyes, seeing precise details was too difficult. She looked for better seats. Elevators, if the platforms with guardrails could be called elevators, rotated up and down from one level of seats to another, as well as around the globe. The elevators didn't seem to pause for any of the levels.

As one of the elevators leading lower passed, Vivi jumped in. Essi called, "Eh?" behind her and stayed on the upper levels.

"There's a button to call one, you know," Lucius said with a giggle. "There's no need to jump in."

Vivi shrugged. This works just fine.

She hopped off a few levels before the most crowded levels, around six seats above ground-level. Here, stands were free right up against the glass. With some ether to enhance eyesight, Vivi saw clearly enough to make out facial features of the three men fighting below.

A lone man with a bright blue inside-carved runesword fought against four spirit blades. And the runesword was winning.

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