Tempest Rising

Chapter 2

Mika gently pried my hand from her eyes, her gaze fixed on the unfolding brutality.

"This is what you want to get into? Really?"

I couldn't tear my eyes away from the carnage Apollo left in his wake. Xander remained unconscious on the floor of the ring, blood camouflaging with his red hair and sprayed across the entirety of the mat. Medical staff and officers rushed to his side, but a diagnosis was not needed to know that Xander could not have survived such a beating.

"It's not always like this. It's... it's-"

As the crowd roared, I couldn't shake the haunting question: Was I ready to step into an arena where most contestants would be a brutal display like the gruesome spectacle Apollo exhibited?

The night air outside the Titus Grand Arena felt cool against my skin as Mika and I exited into the neon-lit streets of Nicasa. The echoes of the fight still resonated within me, the cheers and screams merging into a cacophony that refused to fade. Mika remained silent for the entirety of our walk back to my home, and I couldn't shake off the worried aura she exuberated. The silence was unnerving, and regret pounded my head constantly for bringing my friend to such a brutal event.

"I'm really sorry I brought you along, Mika. You didn't need to see that," I murmured, hoping to extinguish the anguish burning in my heart.

"It's fine, Roxy. I've seen death before. I just don't want to see you losing your own life doing the same."

"I would never accept a Partisan duel; that's just sheer lunacy." This answer did not satisfy Mikas worries, who pursed her lips and kept her gaze away from mine.

"It's not just the stupid rule. That guy had no chance with his stature against someone twice as big as him. You're much smaller than that guy. That could easily be you," she stated, gazing at me.

"That's a great pep talk, Mika." I laughed, but my humour only earned me a groan and a push to my shoulder.

After some more awkward, silent walking, we finally arrived back at my home, standing in one of the quieter districts of Nicasa. It was a small one-story but comfortable place where I spent most of my time reading volumes on combat techniques, strategy, and history, then watching it all on screen and recording those same things in countless journals I have stacked up—the unemployed life, of course. Entering, the aroma of lavender and sage enveloped us, a stark contrast to the lingering scent of sweat and blood from the arena. I decorated most of my house with vines and exotic plants to remind me of my home back in Eyre, a land primarily enveloped in lush forests, jungles, and woodlands: home to some of the rarest creatures in the world. Granted, I've never even seen a pixie or fairy in person before, but I still take great comfort in the riches of my birthland.

Mika sat on the plush sofa, still wearing a contemplative and stern expression. The dim light from my hanging lantern cast a gentle, warm glow on her soft features, accentuating the concern etched on her face when she finally broke the silence.

"You've really been training all this time?" I nodded slowly. "Why didn't you tell me?" I breathed in a sigh.

"It was never really combat training for a long time. I started just getting my physique up at the gymnasium near Bronson's Tavern—nothing too intense, just something to pass my time. But I've been watching the tournaments a lot more recently and practising even more than that. I watch what they do, Mika, and it's not too difficult. Some stuff is hard to emulate, but I still manage to do it." I explained slowly, glancing at her expression every other word, ensuring she was not too overwhelmed with my secret hobby. She nodded and held my gaze.