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Sneik.
As I stepped in, my gaze settled on the Supervisor’s large polished desk, and there he was, standing to attention to one side.
Sneik, the very bane of my existence, with that characteristic crooked grin stretching across his face.
His dark eyes glinted with malice, but it was that smile, a smile that promised nothing good, that made my stomach drop.
“Ashale,” he drawled, rolling my name on his tongue as if tasting a delicacy. “Didn’t expect to see you so soon.”
Swallowing my apprehension, I replied, my voice steady. “Can’t say the same. Somehow, I had a feeling you’d be behind whatever this is.”
He chuckled, a sound that was dry and humorless. “Oh, I’m always around. Watching.”
Every instinct in my body was on high alert.
I could feel the cold, regulated air of the room brushing against my skin, could hear the faint hum of the machines powering the building, and even the soft ticking of an analog clock.
Despite the bright lights of the room, everything felt cold and detached.
The Supervisor, a tall, imposing figure, emerged from the shadows behind his desk.
His skin was pale, and his eyes, devoid of any emotion, watched me closely. “Thank you for joining us, Ashale,” he said, his voice a deep baritone.
I took a deep breath, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a knife. “What’s this about?”
Sneik’s laughter cut through the room again. “Always straight to the point, aren’t you? Patience, Ashale. All will be revealed.”
The Supervisor tapped on a holographic display that materialized from his desk, bringing up a series of images.
They were of my previous fights, every move captured in high-definition clarity.
The image focused on one image — the most recent.
I watched, puzzled, as I saw myself unleashing my spirit animals.
They darted, roared, attacked, and defended, all at my command.
“What is this?” I asked, my voice edged with annoyance.
The Supervisor fixed me with a steady gaze. “Do you recognize these?”
“Of course. They are of my fights. My victories,” I added, emphasizing the last word. “Why?”
The Supervisor’s lips thinned, a clear sign of displeasure. “There have been… concerns. Accusations.”
My heartbeat quickened.
I could feel it pounding in my chest, the rhythm echoing in my ears. “Accusations? Of what?”
Sneik leaned forward, the predatory glint in his eyes growing more pronounced. “Cheating,” he whispered, drawing out the word, relishing it.
I stared at them, incredulous. “Cheating? I fought with all my might, with all my skill! Every victory I’ve earned has been with my own strength!”
Sneik’s mocking smile grew wider. “Ah, but that’s the thing, Ashale. These…” He waved at the images of my spirit animals. “….They’re not your spirit animals, are they? The first set are but the second… And in the pit, support from other fighters is frowned upon.”
The Supervisor nodded in agreement. “There’s been talk. Whispers. Rumors that your connection with this second set of spirit animals is not… legitimate. That you’ve cheated the system.”
The weight of their gaze, the weight of the accusations, pressed down on me, making the room feel smaller, more oppressive.
