The walls of the hologram looked fragile and easily broken, but they were as hard as the wall of a real room.
Kira tilted her head to take in the impressive hologram of the labyrinth. From this angle, the pattern that formed its structure was impossible to decipher.
Like her, Lieven was locked in a tiny room at the bottom of the labyrinth. The only way out was to climb the levels and find the exit.
"What a pain," Kira said with a grimace.
"You could have refused," Jin sang.
“I know.” Kira sighed.
The sphere pulsed, and a sheet of light enveloped Kira and Lieven.
Armor built from light particles enclosed her limbs and protected her chest.
With a light push of thought, she directed those particles into the shape of a staff.
Midnight-blue light coalesced until Kira could feel the weight of the staff in her hand, solid and insubstantial at the same time.
On Lieven's side, the curtain of light fragmented and shattered around him. Interwoven around his chest and limbs was a ceremonial armor the color of burnt umber.
It was different than Tuann armor, consisting of plates set one on top of another to allow freedom of movement.
Kira thrust her staff forward, fracturing the panes of light. The Haldeel weren't the only ones capable of showmanship.
"Kira, look!" Jin spun in a circle, showing off his own set of interlocking armor that hovered an inch off his sphere.
His crazy swoops resembled the antics of a toddler hyped up on sugar.
"Was creating your own set of armor really necessary?"
Jin stopped in front of her and sniffed. "Why should you get armor if I don't?"
Kira prodded his armor with her spear. "Because I have limbs and other things you don't."
"The Haldeel are thoughtful—unlike some."
"You're ridiculous."
"You mean ridiculously awesome," Jin corrected.
The beat of several drums echoed around them, first slow but picking up tempo.
Lieven crouched, his lower appendages spreading out from his body with the staff held parallel to the ground.
"Get ready," Jin warned, abandoning Kira to take a position above her and to her left.
Kira didn't argue, adopting a stance of beginning. She lowered one knee to the floor and planted the other foot.
Time for a little flare.
Kira twirled the staff twice before setting it flat against her arm and holding both parallel to the ground.
Just in time as the drums went silent, only to be replaced by the lonesome cry of a wind instrument.
Kira inhaled once, then twice.
It was time.
