Rise of Yahunyens: Origin

Episode 71: Abnormal

The Red Arena buzzed with murmurs, the spectators still high on adrenaline from the duels they had witnessed. The commentator's voice had shifted to a more casual tone, breaking down the highlights of the matches—the strategies, the techniques, and, of course, the jaw-dropping moments that had left the crowd speechless. Yesdar, having just claimed his victory, climbed the steps back to the preparation room, his thoughts clouded. Danior's fall still played on his mind. The moment he collapsed without answering Yesdar's question about his sister lingered like a shadow.

Why did he pass out right then? Yesdar mused, his eyes cast down as he ascended. The noise of the arena seemed distant, muffled by the weight of his thoughts. There was something more to that, something off...

As he pushed open the door to the preparation room, he was greeted by the usual. The room hummed with the energy of those waiting for the next event. Eyes turned to him, some filled with awe, others simply curious.

"That was an interesting fight to watch, man. Where did you learn to fight?" asked one passerby, his voice dripping with admiration. But Yesdar didn't respond. He moved past without even acknowledging the question, his mind still preoccupied.

"Every winner's like that. They don't say shit, their pride rises." someone else muttered after noticing the lack of a reply. But Yesdar, still oblivious to the chatter around him, walked straight toward Griswa, who, as usual, sat casually in his corner, his hands lazily behind his head, legs stretched out like he had not a single care in the world.

"Congrats," Griswa said nonchalantly, his eyes half-closed, not bothering to look directly at Yesdar. "You did well—not like I expected any less from you. Good job."

Yesdar's expression remained flat as he sat down across from him. "The mass battle begins in an hour," Yesdar said, his voice void of any real emotion.

"I know," Griswa replied, his tone just as casual, barely moving from his reclined position.

"Where's Malaes and Virumi?" Yesdar asked, glancing around the room as he sat down.

"They went to grab something to snack on," Griswa replied, pointing lazily towards the empty seats. "Said they'd check if any seats were still available so they could watch the next fight outside instead of from this device or window."

Yesdar nodded. "I see..." His voice trailed off, but then his thoughts snapped back to the fight. "So, what did you think of the last match?" he asked, finally looking directly at Griswa.

"I didn't see it," Griswa said flatly.

There was a pause—a pause filled with disbelief. Yesdar's jaw dropped, his eyes widening in exaggerated shock.

"You didn't see it?!" Yesdar's voice shot up, the disbelief almost comical. "What the hell were you doing at that time?!"

Griswa, unbothered, barely shifted as he replied in the most indifferent tone possible, "Sleeping."

"SLEEPING?!" Yesdar repeated, his tone now a strange mix of disbelief and irritation, his hands dramatically gesturing toward Griswa, as if trying to make sense of this absurdity.

"Relax," Griswa said, as though the entire conversation was beneath him. "I didn't expect any less of you."

"Yes, but you didn't watch it!" Yesdar shot back, still incredulous. "Why didn't you watch it?!"

Griswa opened one eye lazily, meeting Yesdar's gaze for a brief moment before delivering his answer with maddening calm, "Because I didn't expect any more of you either."

Yesdar's face fell into a comical mix of disappointment and frustration. He sighed, shaking his head. "Yeah, but I didn't need to use my full potential," Yesdar muttered, still trying to justify himself.