Stone pillars of white marble were supports to a wooden roof. Eight pillars that were all ancient. The pillars, despite time, and times effort to claim them, were untouched. The clear skies today made them shine like new.
There were flowerbeds, and fruit trees that ran along the front of the ancient structure. The flowers were a giant circle, a lovely white loop, like the Great Pond.
There were giant arches, on the structure ,that let into a robust garden of pink, and white flowers. A path ran to a pergola. And the white bleeding heart plants covered its roof in thin drapes. Some wind shook a few. Mary Thompson, watched their little dance. She bit her lips because she was hungry.
The rest of the ten at the table paid attention to the sundial in the lawn to their left. Mary watched the fountain to the right. A beautiful stone structure made from a single piece. She shook her head in satisfaction.
"It's time." Marvin Clarke a fat cardinal stood up. He looked around, and five of the other members nodded. They were in robes today to vote.
"We will be voting for our Pope today. It has come down to two people." He smiled. His teeth were well kept. "We will vote by a show of hands."
"Raise your hands if you support myself taking up the honorable, and most esteemed position."
Six of the men raised their hands the others lowered their heads.
"Seems there's no need to verify the…." A gust of wind blew his head onto the marble. It rolled wetly.
There were stifled screams and horrified shuffling.
"How could you do such a monstrous…" she scratched across the distance, his neck to his arm fell.
"I would like you, who raised their hands, to do it again for me please."
The remaining four did. And their limbs rolled across the stone. One member bent and chose the right arm out of the bunch.
"That's for supporting my enemies. I learned a long time ago that you shouldn't prod a hungry dog. I'm teaching you lot the same today. Raise your hands to vote for me. I, Mary Thompson. Be swift and you may get to the hospital in time to reattach it."
The injured ran along the path towards the arch.
"Cover my daughter's eyes!" She was genuinely mad. "We're about to eat!"
"You all, find someone to clean my garden now."
She walked with a fast rhythm towards the arch. A little girl with long black hair, and peach skin ran into her arms. Mary placed her onto her hip, pinched her cheeks, and before she left the venue.
"Mummy.."
"Yes, baby?"
"Mummy you got a call from someone who left a message. 'She said that they were able collect most of those things for you.' I asked what they were but they wouldn't tell me. But they said, 'there were only three more to get'."
"Didn't I tell you not to let her use my phone?"
...…..
The truck slowed into a parking lot in the front of a gray gymnasium. The form stopped any wind from touching Casey. There was giant white lettering on the gray building. It read Steady.
Lavender, purple, and black were sorted on the horizon.
Casey's humming and his smile lit the parking lot.
He totted a duffle bag with drinks, and a change of clothes. He wore white sweat pant, a white tee shirt, and some red slides.
He entered, and he met the others taking instructions from his dad. They had worn white tees too.
"Case, you're late. Go, run five laps, before we start."
"Yes, sir."
He didn't argue, and in fact saw it as a good warm up. Casey stretched properly, and started running immediately after.
The steady was actually four hundred meters of hard material.
Filled grayness, black bleachers, and tinted windows. There was little room for comfort. Even the air felt too cold.
The windows, he noticed, that spanned the entire structure were also small.
Casey didn't take long to complete the laps.
His father smiled at him." Okay. I'm thinking of having you and Rico spar? He's learned a lot, so it'll be good if he can get some real experience. What do you think?"
Rico got up. "Let's do this, Casey."
"Okay. Are we using magic?"
His father nodded. "Of course, but pull your punches for me? Rico's still new."
"I'll try to."
"That doesn't sound right." Rico looked to John but saw him smiling… Casey smiled too
They walked onto the field and separated. Casey saw Rico mumbling.
"1,2,3, go!"
Rico shot towards him. He had absorbed a pile of composite mana during the count. The quiet before had turned into his body tearing into the wind.
Casey, deflected the straight to the side and stepped in with a knee. Rico had caught it with his forearm.
The force took him off his feet and carried him about twenty feet back.
"I need you wind!"
Rico brought out a mound of spinning air. It was only visible by the things that it attracted. He threw it at Casey, as he fell onto his knee panting.
The wind rubbed along the ground as it tore his way. Casey collected void mana into his forearm, before half-heartedly swinging his arm toward the attack.
He created a blur, that collided with the ball. The blur shattered and destroyed the ball before sending Rico flying.