Now. Unnamed Alley, by Trench St.
Portland, Oregon.
Randy jumped off the building after closely following his target, an eleven years old witch, he slowly approached her from the back and drew his combat dagger silently. The young girl noticed Randy's presence, she swiftly turned her head then her body, she slowly took a defensive stance before murmuring unheard chants that was followed by a staff coming out of her chest. She held her summoned staff in her right hand, while her left hand began painting purple lights around her.
"One more step and I will splatter your brain all over this alley, make me." she said, with a tone too spooky for an eleven year old.
"Easy kid, I'm only here to collect my money by taking your head with me. Torso, or no torso, that is up to you." Randy said, he tried to sound sarcastic and playful, however the girl didn't show a slight sign of being intimidated.
"Who sent you? Did mom send you? I'm not coming back, you hear? I'm not!" before Randy was able to respond the girl blasted purple arrows at him, he barely dodged them only to be struck by the girl's staff.
"I said easy, I'm not here to hurt you- yet at least. I just want to understand what's going on, what's your name?" He asked.
"Stay away, this is your final warning mercenary scum." He was hurt, he wasn't a mercenary scum he thought, he was the best, THE mercenary.
"I didn't know my target was an eleven years old magician, look let's have a second shot at this. I'm Ran- call me Deadgene." He said, whatever struck him, whatever that staff contained it was able to shake him apart and make him feel groggy.
"Funny, even an eleven years old brat will know not to trust a mercenary. Let alone one named Deadgene, seriously how do think this will end?" She said, her stance still the defensive stance it was.
"You are a brat, do you happen to have a name?" Randy asked.
"You hesitated to tell me your real name, so you can just call me Daughter-Grimm. And I'm a wizard, not a magician." She scoffed at Randy.
That name was familiar, Randy thought, she must be the relative or even direct descendant of the original Sister-Grimm. He decided to tread carefully, hiding his concerns behind an aloof drape. "What's the difference?" Randy chuckled, recovering his balance and sheathing his weapon.
"A wizard's show is free to attend, one-way ticket that is." Daughter-Grimm said, lowering her hand and placing her staff beside her.
Then. Arena number 3, the farm.
Denver, Colorado
"Pick it up, keep your focus about you young rat, the next blow is going to do more than bruise your virgin skin." Master Takeo said, but his voice was barely audible under the constant rumbling of the arena. Randy was still too young to face a fully-fledged shadow ninja, but he was facing three of them today, armed only with a bamboo cane which he dropped several feet behind his opponents.
"You are not leaving this arena until you fatally injure or kill your opponents, they know what they signed for, they enjoy murdering little incompetent trainees like you." Master Takeo's words served no contribution into raising young Randy's motivation, it only further widened his sense of fear.
"I will kill you." he said, with a burning rage, his fists clenched and bleeding. 