The crowd buzzed with anticipation, a low hum of excitement sweeping through the coliseum like wind through tall grass. Most of it was aimed at the second match of the day—the real spectacle—but that didn't mean the first would go unnoticed. Bets were being placed, drinks passed around, and speculation filled the air like smoke.
Well… everyone except one particular man seemed thrilled.
"Who are you putting coin on for the first match?" Jefferey asked, leaning toward his friend with a wary look.
Drift scratched at his stubble, eyes on the arena. "We don't know either of them really," he muttered, voice thoughtful. "But I'll go with Mae. Slightly more intimidating name than Lexy."
Jefferey groaned. "Goddess, I really hope she doesn't win. I just want to win one bet for once."
Drift chuckled and clapped him on the back. "Keep on dreaming, Jefferey."
High above them in the back rows, Zee was a bundle of nerves, her foot bouncing in place.
"I really, really hope she doesn't get hurt," she whispered under her breath, hands gripping the stone edge of her seat.
Beside her, Nori scribbled something quickly and held it up: "Don't worry. We're resilient. She'll be fine."
Zee glanced at the message, then gave a small nod. "I know, but it's still stressful."
"C'mon, Zee," Larkin chimed in from the other side, "if she's anythin' like you, she'll be just fine."
Zee huffed and took a few deep breaths, forcing herself to settle. "Okay… okay. Calming down. Watching quietly now," she murmured, but her eyes never left the arena.
Elsewhere, nestled somewhere in the middle rows, a masked figure lounged comfortably. (How?)
"Let's see how far the Blossom family has come after all these years," Wolf muttered to himself, a crooked grin hidden beneath his mask. "Maybe they've even surpassed me."
Up in one of the VIP stands, Matthew leaned slightly toward his father, casting a glance at the arena below.
"Father, what do you think of the matches today?" he asked. "Do you think they'll be interesting?"
Samwell took a moment to respond, gaze fixed on the field. "Possibly. Three unknowns, and a Blossom on top of that. Their bloodline clings stubbornly to swordsmanship. Despite how barbaric that is, it will still be… intriguing to watch."
Matthew blinked. Interest from the start? That was rare. It stirred a flicker of curiosity in him as well.
In another VIP stand, the Emperor of Aeruna sat upright, his robes folded neatly beneath him.
"I assume the second match is the one you told me to reserve my highest praise for?" he asked coolly.
Tianteng, standing beside his seat, nodded once with that thin-lipped, unreadable smile. "Yes, my Emperor. And trust me—it will be exquisite."
Elsewhere, in yet another VIP stand, Zara adjusted the folds of her uniform and leaned in slightly toward her brother.
"These matches should be intriguing, don't you think, Mark?" she asked, her voice still tinged with the warmth of last night's unusually pleasant 'goodnight.'
"I suppose so," Mark replied, arms crossed. "We don't know anything about three of the fighters today."
He didn't turn to her, but he was well aware of how close she was standing—far closer than she'd bothered in years.
*She's practically pressed against me,* he thought with a quiet sigh, but said nothing.
"Alright, alright, everyone!" Quincy's voice rang out across the arena like a spark catching dry kindling. "I won't take too much of your time today—judging by the noise, you're all dying to get started!"
She swooped down from the sky, white wings catching the sun as she descended, stopping just above the center of the arena floor. Her arms shot out wide, fingers spread, the gesture almost theatrical.
The ground shuddered.
From either side of the circular coliseum, stone walls let out a low, grinding groan. splitting open with deep, grinding groans of shifting stone.
"On one side!" Quincy shouted, voice rising above the rumbles. "We have someone you may fear… and judging by what she told me to say, I think that's exactly what she wants!"
Her eyes swept the crowd with a wild grin. "Here to fight not for honor, or coin—but just because she thinks it's interesting. Because it's fun! Mae Eirina Qinra—the Elf!"
Gasps erupted like thunder across the stands. Thousands of shocked faces turned to one another in disbelief. Even the VIPs reeled—save for a select few.
Wolf sat motionless, unreadable. Tianteng only narrowed her eyes. Sarandel and X showed no reaction.
But for the ones who knew Mae—this was chaos.
"She just revealed herself to everyone?!" Zee yelped, clutching her head in both hands. Panic lit her face as Nori stared forward, mouth open, stunned.
In the front row, Amara blinked. Then blinked again. "Mae Eirina Qinra?" Her voice was low, but incredulous. "Mae!? That elf has a sister!?"
From the west wall, Mae stepped out with a wide grin, one hand already running through her hair, brushing it aside and letting the sunlight gleam off her elven ears. She raised both arms and stretched with a soft sigh. "Ah~ this is so exhilarating," she whispered to herself, eyes half-lidded in delight.
Quincy wasted no time.
"On the other side!" she continued, whirling to face the east wall. "We have another person who clearly wants to strike fear in your hearts. Don't let her looks fool you—this one might be the deadliest person here."
The crowd stilled, watching closely now.
"She's here to test herself. To enjoy the thrill. It's Lexy—the Assassin!"
There was another ripple of noise from the stands—less explosive than Mae's reveal, but still shocked murmurs and raised eyebrows.
From the east wall, Lexy strutted out with unshaken poise, still dressed in that peacock-like outfit. She blew a kiss to the audience. Then another. "Mwah~ Mwah~" she sang, twirling once before placing one hand on her hip.
Quincy clapped her hands once, sharp and echoing.
The arena trembled beneath the fighters' feet.
The sand was pulled downward, vanishing into hidden seams as if swallowed whole. In its place, stone surged upward in clean, deliberate formations. Buildings grew in tightly packed rows, straight-edged and precise—walls of dense mineral blocks forming storefronts, alleyways, courtyards and towers. Archways connected rooftops and narrow bridges stretched over winding stone streets. The entire city-like structure was carved to perfection, yet arranged so every spectator could still follow the action from wherever they sat.
Quincy raised one hand high above her head.
"Alright!" she roared.
Then, with a sudden snap—she brought her hand slashing downward.
"BEGIN!"