The World of Emns 2: Arena

Chapter 5: Friends and enemies

Olivia was up early that morning, but by the time she got out of bed, Steven had already left the room. She ran downstairs to the bar, where she greeted Gregory, who told her Steven was out on the beach, which was about a two minute walk south. As Olivia approached the beach, it wasn't hard to find Steven. He was practically the only person there, looking at the horizon. There was a soft wind waving through his hair, and his left hand was in his pocket, while his right one was hanging beside his body. Olivia shuffled up next to him and carefully took his hand.

"The sun will rise from the east soon," Steven said with a calm, and comforting tone of voice. "To our left."

Olivia nodded.

"I thought I would find you here training and practising."

"Oh? Did I disappoint you?"

"Not at all, Sparky," Olivia smiled. "I'm glad you're letting your body rest for the morning. You'll need it later."

Steven sighed. "That I do."

A few silent minutes later, and after witnessing the sun rise, Olivia and Steven moved back to the pub, where Adria, Michael, Kaya, and Ariana had been sat down around two tables shoved together by Gregory. The pub owner had put down a grand breakfast on the table, and forced the young pair to join as soon as they walked through the door.

"You have to eat good if you want to fight good," Gregory exclaimed with full confidence. "That's how it's always been, and that's how it always will be!"

It was a delicious meal, and good too, that Gregory had fed them, because not an hour later the seven of them rushed over to the giant arena building in the centre of the city to make it in time for the sign-ups. What they found when they got there (honestly, Olivia wondered why they hadn't visited it properly yet) was an enormous, round building. Almost as big as the small village of Chronest, Olivia speculated.

The outside was lined with white pillars at least 10 times Michael's height, supporting a roof with carving of different people on it. As far as Olivia could tell, the people on the roof were different kinds of races, including a few she either didn't know, or couldn't identify.

Surprisingly, the main string of people who were entering the arena didn't take the same path as their group. They all moved to the entrance on the side, while Gregory guided them to the main hall.

"The sign-ups are here," he explained. "But all the spectators sit on upper levels a bit above the arena itself. They have to use the stairs."

As they entered the main hall, the first thing Olivia noticed was a giant fountain on the right side of the room. On top of it were 3 golden women moulded out of gold. To the left, an elf with a confident smile. To the right, a tiefling who had her hands folded behind her back and appeared to be shy. In the middle, a regal looking human woman with her hands folded together in front of her body. She had short hair which framed her face well. All 3 of them were wearing flowing dresses that looked more like large pieces of cloth wrapped around them and tied with cloth belts.

"Who are they," Olivia asked aloud as she stopped in her tracks and stared in amazement.

"That's lady Delila Kasike," Gregory said with a hint of pride in his voice, as if he was a personal friend. "She's the mayor of the Arena and the organiser of... the arena."

She could have picked a better name for the city.

"The other two are her adopted daughters; Zenri the tiefling and Eltia the elf! Aren't their kimonos quite a sight to see?"

I should get one of those myself, Olivia wondered. Maybe Steven would like to see her in one? For a moment, Olivia enjoyed the thought. Then she smacked her own cheeks as she felt the blush come up.