Disappearance of Roselei Hawthorne

Chapter Five

As he stepped out of the carriage, Kallen was taken aback by just how large the colosseum was. He'd only been once before, as all students of the Grand Witch University are taken there at least once. The students were taken to the colosseum on a class trip as part of their history class. It was so they could learn about the 'triumphant history of mankind'. Kallen spent the whole trip being in awe of the building's sheer size. If he had known about the horrid treatment of the dragon-borns, he wouldn't have been so excited.

The colosseum was a large, circular building supported by several enormous quartz pillars. In between each pillar stood an arch made out of what Kallen assumed was either marble or granite. The building was colored in various shades of white and grey, causing it to appear as though it were glowing in the reflection of the sun. Despite now knowing the torture and the pain that took place within its walls, Kallen still admired the building's impressive architecture and magnificent size.

"To place our bet, we'll need to go to over there." Gideon pointed to a large hut-like booth off in the distance. It was surrounded by a large crowd of people, all waiting in line to pace their own bets.

"There's a lot of people around. We'll need to make sure we stay close to each other." Lillia said as she grabbed hold of Kallen and Gideon's arms.

"Auntie Lillia, I'll be fine. You don't need to hold onto me so hard." Kallen sighed. But Lillia only tightened her grip.

"No way. All three of us need to stick together. If we get separated, who knows if we'll even be able to find each other again?" Lillia pointed out.

"Actually, I disagree." Gideon pulled Lillia and Kallen closer to him so that they all formed a huddle. "Listen, I think it would be best for us to divide and conquer. I have the music box and textbooks, so I'll go place our bets. Lady Lillia, I'll leave you in charge of finding us seats. Try to be sure you get a row close to the front. The dragon-born might feel more supported if they can see us."

"I don't know about this... are you sure?" Lillia slowly began to let go of Kallen's hand.

"Don't worry, I have faith that everything will be alright. Now, we must hurry. Kallen, I wish you luck." Gideon gave him a pat on the shoulder.

"Thanks." Kallen smiled weakly. He was a little nervous, but he figured he'd knew exactly what to say once he got there.

"And Lady Lillia," Gideon continued, "I wish you luck as well. And remember, be careful. The crowds are so thick inside the colosseum that navigating through them feels like being trampled by a stampede of horses. Try to stick to the walls, it will be less crowded."

"Alright I will." Lillia gave them a small wave before walking off to find them some seats.

"Kallen, if I remember correctly, the dragon-born that is prepped for battle is kept in a special cell on the first floor of the colosseum. It might be in the back, somewhat hidden and tucked away. If you struggle to find it, don't hesitate to come find me. I'd go with you now, but I really need to place our bets."

"Don't worry, I got this." Kallen took a deep breath, preparing himself for what he knew would be a difficult task. Gideon walked off to go place their bets, and Kallen ventured off on his own in search of the dragon-born's cell.

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Kallen wandered around aimlessly. He had circled the colosseum twice, and now he was hopelessly searching the inside of it. There were several floors to the colosseum, but Kallen didn't have the time to search them all. He needed to come up with a plan... and he needed to do it quickly.