"Brian Dean, President of the Duals. Pleasure to meet you."

The curly, brunette-haired man wearing a white Stetson stood from where he reclined in his leather seat in the Duel committee booth as Bert approached. The president stood a few inches shorter than Bert. His face was characterized by high cheekbones and almond-shaped eyes; dark freckles dotted his nose and cheeks. 

The group of Dual committee members loitered around, smoking cigars, as the booth filled with cigar smoke now that the initiations had ended. The loitering men gave Bert curious glances as he approached, but continued their conversation with one another.

"Robert Nakota," Bert said, shaking the man's hand. "I am with the Pella Press. I was hoping to get some quotes from you regarding the changes in rules that were enacted today during the Duel initiations."

"Sure, no problem," Brian replied, returning to lounge in his seat with a wide smile. "Once the duals start up, there will be no more use of heartstones. Should help boot out some people who don't deserve to be here." Brian said, shooting a glance at one of his committee members, who quickly chuckled at the comment. "Keep things fair and square."

Some of the members chuckled at that, and Bert twitched, understanding the man's implications as he scribbled down Brian's words.

"And what made you decide it was time to change the Duel rules?" Bert inquired, doing his best to keep his face neutral.

"People have been arguing for their removal since this school was founded, but we had never had any sorcerer that was so powerful with their heartstone to have a significant leg up in their competition," Brian replied, his professional expression barely concealing his poorly suppressed scowl. "A recent entry, however,  has proven otherwise."

"Are you referring to Dumas?" Bert quickly asked, tilting his head as the question tumbled from his lips, before he could stop it. "She was wearing her heartstone?"

 "Yeah, that ugly thing she wears around her neck is that witch's heartstone," Brian grumbled, his professional demeanor slipping as his face finally gave in to the scowl he had been attempting so hard to hold back.

"And you and this committee believe that physically wearing her heartstone amplifies Dumas's power to such a degree that she will fail if it's taken away?"

"Hey, I never said that!" Brian scoffed, lifting his arms in surrender and looking around at the committee men who surrounded him in mock defensiveness. "Did you guys hear me say that? I never said that! I just said there is a contender that seems to display unexplainable abilities wearing their heartstone. I never said any names. I was only answering the question of whether Dumas was wearing her heartstone or not."

"Right," Bert muttered, his mouth twitching as he gave the chuckling man a polite smile. "I'll be sure to note that on record. One last question, if you don't mind, Mr. Dean. I  don't think there have been any female contestants in the duels for a long time. Do you have any comments on their participation?"

A chuckle spread among the committee members as Brian let out an exaggerated sigh. Removing his Stetson to run his hands through his hair, "I'll tell you, this position is a lot more work than it's worth," he said with a chuckle. "Keep that off the record, too."

Bert tilted his head in curiosity over the man's words,  but nodded in agreement. 

"There haven't been any women in the duels since it was founded at the university twenty years ago," Brian explained, his face growing dark once again. "It's always been a male-dominated sport. Now, it has always been open to women. However, there have never been female participants in the duels,  because women don't want to participate. The women who do attempt to participate often struggle to handle the pressures and physical demands required to be part of these trials. They lack the skills needed to succeed." Brian leaned forward, an irritated glint in his eye as he leaned forward. His voice lowered as he continued. "I want this off the record, too, but between us men,  Margo Nadiwessi has been attempting to enter for years and never made it. The only reason she has now is because of her partner's heartstone and the university president's intervention in the initiation. She shouldn't be in this competition. Same as Dumas."

Bert's mouth twitched, his eyes narrowing as his amused grin grew over the man's claims. "So you're official statement is that women have always been allowed. There just haven't been any women skilled enough to enter. "

Brian mistook Bert's grin for agreement, and he laughed as he shrugged. "Sure. I am sure you will report on the University president's intervention today. So, I don't think there's much more for me to say. The readers should be able to read between the lines."

"Of course," Bert mumbled with a hum as he scribbled down his notes, his skin itching to leave this booth as soon as possible; the size of the egos from the men surrounding him was starting to make him feel claustrophobic. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Dean.

"Hey, Robert," Brian called, interrupting his attempt at departure. "You attend the university?"

"Yes, I do," Burt responded respectfully, although the way Brian spoke to Bert as if they were already friends caused him to tighten his grip defensively on his pen."I transferred here this semester."

"Ah! So you're a sorcerer, then?" Brian said, raising a brow, casting an amused glance at a redheaded boy who lounged against the booth wall with a cigar, watching the exchange. "You know, you're a strong-looking guy. You should enter the duels. We have one last week of initiations, you know."

"Thank you for the invitation," Bert replied, "But I think I will enjoy the Duels more if I'm watching from the sidelines. I'll leave the fighting to those with a passion for that kind of thing."

"Oh? What's your specialization then?" Brian asked, leaning forward in his seat. The way everyone was staring at them,  Bert suddenly felt like he was the one being interviewed.

"Animal and insect magic."

"Wow, that's fascinating," Brian replied, though something in his tone seemed to be a bit disappointed. "Not the most powerful, but it could still work in the duels."

Bert managed to conjure up a fake laugh. "I am not sure about that, sir, but thank you."

"You would be surprised, sometimes even the least powerful sorcerers among us can make it far in these duels. You never know if luck will look kindly on you."

There was a strange look in the other man's eye that made Bert's skin crawl.

"If you don't mind me asking, Mr. Dean, what is your specialty?" 

Brian just laughed in response, and the men around him echoed his amusement.

"Ah, my specialty?" Brian finally replied, the strange twinkle in his eye only intensifying as he leaned back into his chair.

"Why, speed, of course."

More chuckles murmured through the men, and Bert tilted his head as he studied the taunting glint in the man's eyes.

"You don't see many of those these days," Bert replied, trying to keep his sarcasm in check, as it was well-known that speed was one of the easiest specializations at the university; few wasted their money to study such a specialization.

"So, if I can be up here," Brian mused, " You could be down there," he added, with a knowing grin, tilting his Stetson to the empty duel arena floor. "I'm sure you know this, but you can make a lot of money off of entering the duels. Much more than working at that little newspaper."

"I am aware, but I'm not interested. I'll be enjoying the Duo Duels from the sidelines. But, thank you again for your offer, Mr. Dean."

"No, no, please, call me Brian," Brian replied, his gaze carefully analyzing Bert once more. "I like you, Robert. You're welcome to visit the booth at any time during the Duels. Isn't that right, boys?" Brian called, and his question met with a series of agreements.

"Thank you. I might take you up on that offer once the duels officially begin." Bert replied, carefully placing his notebook into his back pocket as he leaned forward to shake Brian's hand. He was grateful for the invitation to the best seats in the arena, yet he was unsure why he was receiving such an honor.

"You know what they say, keep your friends close, and good press closer," Brian said with a grin,   standing and extending his arm once more to slap Bert's shoulder. "I'm just joking. But in all seriousness, Robert, don't be a stranger. I hope to see you around campus this semester. Alright? In fact, we are hosting a party to mark the end of the dual initiations, and all the initiates will be in attendance. Join us, won't you?"

"I'll try to make it. Thank you for the invitation." Bert quickly agreed. A giddy spark lit in his chest at receiving the opportunity to talk to the pretty sorceress from the flower shop again. His mind was already reeling on different ways he could congratulate her.

Yet, as he descended the stairs to the booth, the men's cocky chuckling and ego-driven discussions followed him out the arena's doors. 

Something twisted in Bert's stomach, as if warning him that a friendship with these men would only end in trouble. 

But one party wouldn't hurt.