The Carnival

[Orion]

To be honest, Orion really didn't know how to react when Victoria fell into an inexplicably swift slumber and collapsed on his lap. Humans trundled by, taking darting glances at the pair, making the incorrect supposition that they were an item. Even though they were digital emulations of real people, Orion couldn't repel the stultification that burned hot in his face. He gently nudged the sleeping mercenary to transit from the land of dreams, but she was out like a light. Any greater force would add to his uneasiness, but the current situation wasn't exactly conservative either.

Sparkles ultimately grew weary of the whole scenario and descended down Orion's chest like he was zipping down a muscular slide. He twitched his refined nose as he inspected Victoria, circling her dozing face.

"She's out like a light, what," he commented. "You should wake the jolly madam."

"I tried," Orion murmured, thanking his racial heritage that blushing wasn't physically possible. "It's like she's in a catatonic state."

"I say," Sparkles reprimanded sourly. "I understand chivalry and all that, but we need results here, old bean." The rascally hamster crouched forward, leaning into his cane. His miniature paw grabbed one of Victoria's eyelids and hoisted it up like a fleshy curtain before jamming her iris with his diamond studded walking stick. Her instinctual response was understandable, considering a anthropomorphic guinea pig just poked her in the eye. She shot up right in dazed fear, quickly settling down once the situation was cleared by her mind.

They conversed for a short while until Victoria apologised for her abrupt but unconscious collapse on his groin. She smiled shallowly against her awkwardness. Orion felt the same sensation in an equal helping, but he buried it out of perception.

"Don't worry about it," he waved off, clearing his throat in an attempt to reassemble his composure. It was time to change the subject. "So, what's in your future after this tournament?"

Victoria ruminated for a brief moment. "I ... don't know yet. I've had so many new experiences here. I've met so many new people. I guess I've got a lot to think about."

Orion nodded. "Just remember not to overthink."

"Yeah, I know." A stray interest tugged at the magenta haired bounty hunter. "What are you going to do after this is all over?"

"Me?" the saiyan repeated, ill prepared for the return.

"Yeah. I mean, what will you be doing in Heaven now?"

"Well ..." he hadn't dwelled on that since he was forcibly entered into Gamer's playhouse. "I'm travelling Heaven right now, visiting the four great Masters. They're training me, teaching me the finer points of combat."

"Wow," Victoria answered, her eyes wide, mesmerised. "What are the four great Masters?"

"They're appointed to a temple, commanding the most thorough knowledge and skill in one particular aspect of battle. I've already encountered Anitan, the deity of speed, Kagu, the embodiment of strength, and Maya, the sage of defense."

"Who's the next one?" the youthful assassin pressed, eager to learn more.

"The last master is Benton, although I've yet to reach his temple," Orion relayed. "I just completed my training at Maya's and received my emblem when a swarm of Gamer's lackeys slipped from the shadows and overwhelmed me. Once this is all over, I'll be heading out to Benton."

Victoria's smooth skin on her forehead crinkled with a frown. "Gamer sent hit men into the afterlife to retrieve you? How did he do that?"

"Well, I-" Orion's answer was stunted the moment he realised he had no idea. "Hmm. That's a good question. How does someone alive get access to the next dimension? I really don't know how he did it."

"Maybe he has some special contacts?" Victoria conjectured, riveted by the subject matter.

The eyepatch clad warrior shrugged the care away. "I don't think it's pertinent. Once I feed Gamer's supple body through a sharpened portcullis, it won't matter."

"I guess so." The candy haired mercenary perked up again when she mulled over Orion's last paragraph before the tangent. "You said something about an emblem?"

"Yeah, that's right."

"What are they? Are they some sort of bragging rights in Heaven?"

Orion chuckled. "I think that's an understatement."

"Huh?"

"Certain members are permitted to enter the four Masters' realm to train for the Emblems. If a person can obtain all four seals of approval, they can return to the world of the living."

Victoria couldn't be more shocked. She climbed onto her knees. "You can come back to life after dying?!"

"It's conditional, but yes, that is what I have been promised," Orion confirmed, feeling a wave of smugness.

"Wow," she breathed, squatting back down and staring at her feet while her brain processed the information. "You can have a second chance."

"That's right. I'm only one master's appraisal away from a halo-less existence."

Victoria redirected her gaze to Orion. "Well, what are you going to do when you're alive again?"

"What am I-" Orion breathed in through clenched teeth, unintentionally hissing. He didn't want to continue down this line of conversation.

"Come on!" Victoria provoked. "Tell me."

The saiyan grunted. He knew perfectly well what his motives were upon his resurrection, but after the impromptu ethics lesson on revenge, he couldn't bring himself to explain. It was one thing to say something, and quite another to accept it. Orion was terrible at practicing what he just preached.

"I-I can't say," he finally stammered. Better to keep her in the dark than dash her chances at turning out halfway normal.

Victoria frowned, pursing her lips. "Why not?"

You want a reason now? he complained internally. "Just ... trust me when I say you don't want to know."

"You can't say that!" Victoria argued. "Now I really want to know! Come on, Orion!"

The saiyan sighed. Maybe dipping into Cabbis' old technique of half truths would prove fruitful here. "I'm looking ... for someone. Someone I knew long ago."

"Who?"

Orion groaned. Curse her inquisitiveness. "He owes me ... a ... debt. I plan to collect it."

"Oh," she said, somewhat deflated by the boring revelation after it was taboo only moments ago. "Did you lend him money?"

"I lent him something more precious than money," Orion muttered out of earshot. He raised his voice to an audible level. "Yes. He needs to pay me back."

"Ah, those rapscallions, eh?" Sparkles injected blithely into the discussion. "Take advantage of your good nature and then bugger off, what?"

The saiyan nodded, hoping the topic would fizzle out without his further participation.

"I hope you get it back," Victoria concluded.

"Me too."