The Witch of Gemmare

"Eh? EHHHH?" exclaimed Zero at the sight of this golden orange frog speaking.

In Elyria, Spirit Threaders usually specialize in one of three areas: Spiritual Control (Spiritualists), Elemental Expression (Elementals) or Spiritual Mergers (Hybrids). Spiritualists focus their energy on manifesting their spirit animal into a tangible aspect, usually they specialize in their spirit's unique abilities. Elementals focus on their control over their own elemental attribute such as lightning, fire, water, wind or an unique elemental power they possess. Finally a Spiritual Merger is a rare specialization for individuals who resonate so strongly to their spirit animal that they physically combine their soul with their spirit animal and embark on physical changes to their body, becoming half human - half spirit. 

"What? Is there something on my nose?" questioned the self-conscious golden orange frog.

'Calm down Zero, this is perfectly normal, a talking frog... I mean it could be a spirit... Spirit... Wait...' thought Zero to himself. "Wait... Are you a Hybrid?" softly muttered out Zero.

"Oh me? I'm just Murph dude, no need to put labels on me."

"Right... Sorry about that, it's just I've never seen anything like you before."

"Vibes. I get that a lot dude. All the more reason you'd want to draw me though eh?"

"I mean... Sure! That actually sounds like a lot of fun! Did you have anything in mind for the background."

"Dude, look around you. What better background than what we have back here."

Zero looks around this 360 degree observatory and yet again is taken aback by the beauty of the Juria Rainforest. Wearing an excited smile Zero says, "You're totally right Murph! You'll be a much better canvas than a certain witch I know!" as he glances over to the blue haired woman who is now sleeping with her arm on her forehead. 

"Obviously." As Murph takes a weird stance with both frog hands at his back, knees bent. 

"I think this will turn out great Murph!"

Almost an hour passes by as Zero finally finishes his master sketch. "Ta-da!" revealing just a regular frog in a lily pond. 

"Did you really just make me pose there for no reason... Why would you do that dude... Not cool..." Tears begin to form around his eyes. 

"Whoa whoa I'm sorry! Calm down Murph, it's just a joke! Here's the real one, sorry, sorry!" Zero presents a very finely detailed pose of him on top of the corpse of the previous blue haired model amidst the Juria Rainforest.

Murph takes a moment to look at it then back around to the blue haired lady but she's long gone by now. 

Laughter is shared by the both and Murph slaps Zero's back. "You really got me there dude! And here I was about to swear an unending revenge towards you."

"Hahaha, sorry about that -- wait what?"

"Well anyways it's about time I head out, see you around artist guy."

"The name's Zero by the way! It was nice to meet you Murph!"

"Nice to meet you too."

Back at Kenny's Mystery Shack business is booming. Glare's usual calm look is now replaced with a Chef's headband, an intense gaze and sweat rolling down his sleeveless attire. He looks noticeably tired but determined and focused. 

"Another Mystery Rice please!"

"Coming right up sir!" exclaims Glare with a smile. 

"Um Glare, why are you a red head?" questions Zero as he arrives to this hectic environment.

"Huh? Oh yeah, it's been a hell of a day. If I maintain my eyes and hair red I avoid a bunch of questions during work. Sit down, I'll make you something soon."

"Don't need to ask me twice! I'm starving."

"Another beer for me please!" says a familiar swirly blue haired lady with shaved hair on her side.

"Eh? No way... Glare! Psst! Glare! Be careful around that chick! She's got a real mean attitude bro."

"Who? Her? She's been nothing but kind all night. If anything TOO kind."

"Eh?" Zero glances over in the woman's direction and he sees a totally different woman. 

Surrounded by 2 other guys, the woman sways, laughs and shows an overflowing amount of charisma. She has these other two men in the palm of her hand as she even playfully feeds one of them. "Ooopen up Garu dear."

"What the hell am I looking at here man. I swear she was not like this a couple hours ago. She was hella rude." exclaims Zero, questioning the events of today. 

"Well she has been drinking for the past two hours, that'll do that to you. Or maybe she just didn't like your porcupine hair bro."

"Could it be!? You think so!?"

"I'm just messing with you bro, look there's a pretty woman over there. Try talking to her and see if she likes porcupines, haha."

"Very funny Glare, maybe I will." Zero grabs a beer and heads over to a young woman with glasses, long black hair tied in a ponytail, wearing a black blouse and long pants.

"Hey there sweetie, is there a breeze here or is that just your looks blowing me away?" Said Zero as he produces a small breeze to throw his hair and face back. 

'He'll never change will he...' Thinks Glare with a smile, trying to count how many times Zero has said this pick up line as he finishes up the guy's order. "Here's your Mystery Rice sir!" 

Three days later of intense work and it was finally time. Glare goes up to pay the full $200 entrance fee before being interrupted by Zero, "Whoa bro, what are you doing? Here, my $100."

"Oh you actually got it?"

"Who do you think I am? I told you I'd pay didn't I?"

"Well sure but what job did you find?"

"No job per se, but some people paid me for a few paintings I drew."

"Sounds like a job to me, honestly I thought you'd just fool around all three days."

"Haha... Maybe past me, but y'know Glare? I'm serious about this. Let's go in there and win this."

"Look at you all grown up haha. Alright bro, let's take that grand prize!" said Glare as they both interlaced their elbows while forming a fist. 

"GATHER AROUND ONE AND ALL, THE 2 V 2 SPIRIT TOURNAMENT WILL BEGIN SHORTLY. GET TO YOUR SEATS LADIES AND GENTS, YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS THIS ONE!"

A few moments later a huge coliseum in the east of Tenmori is now filled with thousands of spectators. This type of tournament only happens once a year and people all around the Juria Kingdom come visit to see the newer generations battle it out in a magnificent display of Spiritual Power. As excitement fills the air an announcer steps to the center, a tall man with a ridiculously long moustache and pink sunglasses. 

"WELCOME LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, we have quite the show for you today, allow me to explain the rules! We have 32 young Spirit Threaders here today in teams of two. Up above you can see the bracket for this tournament." 

A 16 team bracket is displayed in chalk atop a huge stone decorated with ornate white paper threaded together with silk strands. 

"Our first match will be quite a special one indeed, all the way from the Gemmare Kingdom we have Hera Shibuki teamed up with Tenmori resident Garu Forenu."

Walking out comes a familiar swirly blue haired gal and a massive muscular 6' tall man with a tank top and jeans. 

"Glare, it's that witch from the other day!"

"A witch? Well she did have that guy enchanted that's for sure haha. Who knew she was a Spirit Threader."

"Aaaaaaaaaaand on the other side we have quite the unique Spirit Threader, the one and only Murph and his lovely partner Jayleen Amori both from the Lyrena Pond."

Walking out is the 4' tall golden orange frog equipped with a whip next to a very tall slender woman in a netted attire with a crossbow on hand. 

"Whoa Glare! That's my buddy Murph! He actually recommended my drawings to a bunch of people!"

"A hybrid huh? I've only ever heard of those. I wonder how strong he is."

"Go for it Murph! Kick that witch's ass!" yells out Zero from the crowd. Murph turns around and gives a wink and a thumbs up. 

"Alright everyone you know the rules! First team that's incapacitated or resigns is eliminated! 3... 2... 1... Show us your fighting spirit!"

At that time the muscular man immediately charges at the enemy pair as he takes out a massive sledgehammer. "A little frog? Is this a joke? HA HA HA!" Swoosh. A sledgehammer swing goes wide as Murph jumps over 10 feet in the air and lashes out with his whip. wuh-pshh. "Cracking Lash!" screamed out Murph. 

The crack of the whip echoed across the arena as it lands on Garu's forearm. Murph retracts the whip abruptly causing the brute to drop his weapon as his arm gets thrown upwards. 

"Amazing! Glare did you see that? He named his move!"

"Elyria why... Zero please, please don't do that when we're fighting, please."

"What do you mean??? A cool sounding move will inspire future Spirit Threaders, it incites excitement for the crowd!"

"It also warns the opponent what you're doing..."

The crowd goes wild at the display of Murph. 

"Tsk. That didn't even hurt me." Garu snaps his wrist back and goes to grab his Sledgehammer again. 

Vsh. A glowing purple metal bolt lands between him and the sledgehammer. 

"My my, this isn't a game boy. Better be careful." says Jayleen from afar as she launched her crossbow bolt. 

"Sigh. God men are so hopeless, guess I'll have to do everything myself." muttered Hera as water begins swirling around her rapidly. 

Murph descends from his hop right next to Jayleen and says "Be careful dude, she's about to do something!"

As the water wells up around Hera, a sinister smile forms on her face. She takes out two daggers made from bone, serrated with shark teeth and swirls into a sphere of water... Immediately the water covered woman is launched like a torpedo towards the pair without any time to react. As the water spins, the spirit of a Frilled Shark is shown in the blink of a second and as she gets right next to Murph and Jayleen the water dissipates and... SLASH! Blood splatters from the pair and Hera arrives at the other side. 

"You're wrong about that love, this is a game, and you just lost." Says Hera with a smile.