Draconis Mythguard's Arc

Chapter 2 of 2

Draconis looked at the ornate X on the floor and made a choice. He walked to the ring apron, set his staff against the corner post, and pulled the crew's toolbox toward him with one clawed hand. The crew chief tensed. "What are you doing?" Draconis opened the box and lifted out a roll of red and yellow striped tape. "Preparing the ring myself. You want proof I can control it? Watch." He climbed through the ropes and began checking the turnbuckles one by one, tightening bolts with his hands instead of magic. The crew watched in silence as he tested each rope for tension, reinforced the corners, and marked problem spots with the caution tape. No emerald glow. No sorcery. Just work. The crew chief crossed the golden X and approached the apron. He didn't climb in, but he picked up a second toolbox and slid it under the bottom rope. "Top left turnbuckle needs shimming," he said. Draconis nodded and made the adjustment. Another crew member stepped forward with a wrench. Then another with fresh tape. They didn't enter the ring, but they stopped retreating. The booker's voice crackled over the sound system. "Ring crew, you've got five minutes or the tryout's canceled." The chief looked at Draconis, then at his team. "We work from outside the ropes. He works inside. Anyone who's not comfortable with that can leave." Nobody left. Five minutes later the ring was ready. Draconis stood in the center while the crew gathered their tools from the apron. The chief paused at the golden X, still marking the spot where they'd drawn their line, and looked up at him. "You earn trust in inches, not miracles," he said. Draconis felt something shift in his chest — not the weight lifting, but the shape of it changing. He'd spent years trying to prove his magic was real. Tonight he'd proven he could work without it when it mattered. The bell rang. His opponent's music hit. Draconis picked up his staff, and this time when the emerald flared, the crew didn't flinch. They just watched.