Home for the Few - The Awakening of the Silenced Ⅰ

XVI. Love is not guaranteed.

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   The Gelid Colosseum was one of the exits from the main square. After descending winding stairs and crossing a fragrant, beautiful park filled with lovers on romantic dates, it came into view. Built from mud and stones, hidden among moss, thorny vines, and snow, its circular structure featured grand arched entrances adorned with mistletoe.

   The amphitheater, nearly fifty meters high, was cleaned every morning, with snow cleared from the arena and the staircases, which also served as seating. The arena was circular, made of compacted earth, with Serendipia's symbol embedded in the ground, crafted from stones. It hosted battles, festivals, tournaments, dances, weddings, training sessions, and even mass executions when necessary.

   The big day arrived quickly. The sky was completely clear, the streets were packed, and tension hung palpably in the air. All of Vulpes was preparing; the port was overflowing with people. Humble boats arrived from neighboring regions, eager to meet foreigners and attend the festival.

   Sauro, Lorenza, Kaira, the Black Block—all were on edge, dressing in their finest attire, tightening corsets, hiding daggers in their clothing, and styling their hair. The rebellion rehearsed the simple but risky plan over and over. While everyone in the castle scurried about in fear, Lorenza chased them down with violent orders. Her anxiety was evident in the fury of her gaze.

   Kaira stayed close to her uncle, Victoriano, wanting to observe the preparations up close and distance herself from her mother and future husband. Sauro didn't stray much from his usual habits but had appointed a young man as his personal escort. The guard Grimn stood out easily among his peers and, despite his youth, was intimidating. The King immediately recognized him as the right person to protect him against potential betrayal by the foreigners.

   No one said it aloud, but they all felt trapped in a whirlwind of confusion. They were eager to go to the colosseum but also afraid.

   The Torvar brothers, however, had no doubts about the people's reaction. After speaking with merchants, housewives, innkeepers, and others, Vilkas and Farkas compiled a list solely of inventions that could improve life in Serendipia. They didn't want to introduce too much; it was clear that the people weren't well-versed in or receptive to change. They didn't want to scare them—they needed their support.

   When they began the preparations, they discovered the colosseum was much smaller than what they were accustomed to. This problem was swiftly resolved by Farkas's best friend, Yong, who came up with the idea to use the stands for the presentation and place the audience in the arena. They set up a platform for the royal family at the center of the arena. This would create the effect of being surrounded by the future, suspended above their heads.

   Preparations lasted all day, starting before sunrise. By sunset, citizens from all over Serendipia began to enter, confused by the new seating arrangements. King Sauro sat on a large quebracho throne; at his sides, on smaller stools, were his daughter and wife. Victoriano stood behind Sauro, with Grimn at his side. In recent days, Grimn had captured and executed thief after thief. That very morning, he had been knighted.

   His only challenge was Sauro's prohibition against sentencing foreign criminals to death. The King feared offending them and prompting them to leave—or worse, seize the throne by force. For the first time in Serendipia's history, the dungeons held prisoners destined for something other than death.

   The sole executioner in all of Serendipia, Sigmund, had more work than ever lately. He had always executed Vulpes criminals and those sent from other regions with his ebony axe. However, thanks to Grimn, Sigmund decided to introduce more methods to end the lives of prisoners, guilty or not, as long as the foreigners were excluded.