It was the talk of the vicinity, talk of the building more like. The silent gazes of bystanders, the murmurs and whispers in every in and out of the premises.

The defeat of Leon the Valiant, not once, but twice in a row was a feat never once thought plausible… until now, that is.

Apparently, him losing anything wasn't something all that common around here. Battle of wits, brawns, there usually wasn't anyone that could rival him.

He'd always excel, his victories always graceful.

Then, all a sudden here comes an Elf and Vampire barging in and toppling the status quo.

Might seem trivial in the grand scheme of things, but for a community as tightly-knit and informed as this… well, waves were being made, huge ones too.

But for how accustomed the hero of the people was to winning, surprisingly, he could lose just as graceful too.

With his signature smile, along with a little sigh admitting defeat, he cheered and clapped along with the rest to the newly crowned victor of the library.

Even personally handled the reward-awarding ceremony himself, bequeathing the prized ore into Adalia's outstretched palms.

At that moment, suddenly everyone from the outside looking in had a camera whipped out to capture the moment.

As for our bet, our unofficial competition... he made good on his word, alright. Said I was free to watch the stage play happening soon that he so happened to have a major role in.

Yeah, as if I'd deliberately want to see even more of him than I have already on my own accord. Deliberately. Willingly.

Heh, that'll be the day.

Leon promptly left shortly after that, but not after he pulled me close for a moment, hiding behind the guise of a friendly parting handshake only to say, and I quote:

"Just a heads up, I think I have an idea what exactly Ash is busy with," He said, a casual, friendly tone coating his words. "And if that's really what you guys are doing, then just know I'll definitely be there to accept the challenge and also know that the next time… I won't dare lose the next time."

I'd quote his smile too if I could, but I don't think it's physically possible for my lips to stretch that wide actually…

Then, before any inquiries could even fully manifest in my head, he was already gone, with a wink and a smile… taking with him the rowdy crowd and leaving me just standing there a slightly bemused bell-rattling man.

Nick also departed the scene just as abrupt too, slinking away unnoticed somehow and without a trace.

How a giant of a man like him could disappear just like that, I'll never know… but sadly, I doubt that's the last I'd ever see of his scowling face and bushy beard.

He'll show up again eventually like some ancient pagan demon I accidentally summoned. Till then, however, I'll be doing double takes on every tall tree or bush that comes my way.

"Well done, well done, dear jester," The Witch once more applauded. "It's not every year I find a team that's as knowledgeable as yours. I always thought I was second to the developers when it came to Asterian lore. It seems I now find myself with worthy contenders to that claim."

I snorted, shaking my head at her. That was a pedestal I definitely didn't deserve standing on.

"Wrong compliments to the wrong person, I'm afraid to say," I said, eyeing Adalia hunched over by the entrance, her misty white eyes totally enraptured by the glimmer of stark red in her palms. "You wanna award any titles, it's her that deserves those crowns. She did the heavy lifting, I just sorta pitched in."

"I suppose so," The Witch smirked, following my gaze with curiosity in her eyes. "Correct with every question asked of her… you'd swear she must have been living there her whole life."

I shared her amusement, but not exactly for the same reason. "Yeah, you can say that again…"

"Listen, I'm sorry about Nick back then. I honestly don't understand it myself. He's usually a dependable person, very cooperative… I haven't a clue what gotten into him this time."

I shrugged. "Maybe he just doesn't like clowns like me."

"Or maybe just you, specifically," She pondered, frowning. "Although I can't really imagine a single reason why he would."

I can think of one, and she starts with a big capital 'A'.

Suddenly before either one of us could say another word, a buzzkill killed the chatter between us, coming in the form of a literal buzz… of a phone, that is.

Amanda immediately sprouted up into mind, her call, her cue, finally at long last.

Barely even had my hands reaching into my pockets before I saw the witch, her head exposed, her thin-rimmed hat inverted in one hand, as the other pulled out a smartphone from deep within like some sort of modern-day magic trick.

Without skipping a beat, she placed her hat back on and answered the call.

Now, I'm not one for eavesdropping on things that did not concern me in any way, so the moment she said 'Hello', I was already like two feet forward towards the entrance.

But here's the thing though… It did sort of concern me… in more ways than one.

"What? Amanda went and did what now?"

I spun my heels the full 180 back to find The Witch, a look of utter disbelief a first in her usual lax demeanor.

"But she's one of the judges for that exact - she can't just - ! Does she have any idea how many people would contend just because - what? No, of course I didn't approve it! I didn't even know about it until you - "

Kinda wished my ears right then were as long and pointy as Ash's, trying to guess the context of the conversation on her expressions alone wasn't exactly a walk in the park here.

And speaking of Ash…

"She has the Elf that battled Leon with her too? Wha - she wants them both in? That's even worse! There's only supposed to be one! What is she thinking?"

I got close, close as I possibly could without making it weird, straining, leaning, doing whatever I could to better hear the chaotic chatter that was happening on the other end of the line.

Alas, whatever audible thing that could be salvaged in the static was sadly overpowered by the ever-growing panic in The Witch's tone.

"Okay, okay, I'm coming. I'll inform the other hosts. We'll discuss this. We'll sort this. We'll see what reason she has for pulling stunts like this at the last minute."

The call ended with an aggravated push of a thumb. I heard her click her tongue, saw her with an obvious frown… and started having second thoughts about probing for answers from her.

Still, I decided to risk it. "What the hell was that about?"

"Just another thing I don't quite understand," She responded. "First Nick, and now Amanda… and there she was not even a day ago swearing she'd never participate in… hmph, I blame the boyfriend."

I cocked my head. "The boyfriend?"

"It's the only possible cause I can think of that I can think of that could spur her to… this!" She said, flinging an arm to the air, perfectly articulating the this-ness of the matter. "Lack of affection, maybe. Lack of tact. He must have done something she didn't like. Oooh, when I get my hands on this so-called boyfriend of hers…."

Instinctively, I slowly crept backward. "Uh, and what is 'this' exactly? You make it sound kind of a big deal."

"It is a big deal," She said, creases forming on her forehead. "And it's also something highly classified, so quit sniffing around me if you'd be so kind. You won't get anything."

"Alright, I won't ask," I raised my hands up, displaying whole-hearted compliance. "Word of advice though… boyfriend's probably as clueless as you in all this, just go easy if you do find him."

But she was no longer interested in what I had to say.

"Just enjoy the rest of what the convention has to offer, alright?" She said, reverting back to a lighter tone of voice. "I have to go now. Well done on winning again. Maybe we'll see each other around sometime."

I only had a chance for a brief nod before I watched her hurriedly dashed out the corner of the entrance, leaving me just standing there once an even more bemused man, his head rattling more than ever before.

What the hell was happening on Amanda's side? What does she have a plan?

I didn't even want to think about it, I just wanted answers… and I was getting answers.

My hands were rummaging through my pockets as thoroughly as they could.

Found my phone at a record pace, and typed out a message at an even faster speed than that, inquiring as eloquently, and politely as I could.

>

I didn't expect an answer immediately after. I didn't expect her to reply just as fast, or my phone to buzz in my hands so quick.

But it did… she did.

Answering just as quick.

> She replied, she said, she so ominously texted.

Wanna know how I know it was ominous?

The winky smiley-face.

Leon winked and smiled just like that too.

Okay now, I'm worried.