Saena, City of the Kingdom of Stilyra- Mid Summer 14 years AR

Dani sat between Arn and Freya on the hard stone seat. She’d spent all morning studying and had been practicing in the Academy compound when they’d found her and nearly drug her out into the city, only relenting long enough to change her clothing… She tried sneaking out the window so she could get back to practicing but Arn was waiting at the end of the alley and called her out.

They of course drug her to the Arena. Once here she didn’t see the appeal, men and occasionally women running around hitting each other with wooden swords and treating quarter staffs as spears because they weren’t actually allowed to use weapons. Freya told her that they had apparently used to have slaves fight to the death for entertainment. Now the only deaths you would see were public executions or the rare death in a man versus monster match.

Still it wasn’t all bad, Freya was from a wealthy merchant family and paid their way in; plus bought food and drinks.

“CITIZENS AND GUESTS OF SAENA, PLEASE WELCOME THE NEXT SPECTACLE TO GRACE OUR ARENA. SOON TO DEPART FOR THE MAINLAND LEGIONNAIRE-MAGUS THAEDRED OF BARIA!” The announcer who was using some form of AMPLIFY announced as Dani stood up to see the Legionnaire-Magus enter through one of the tunnels. It had to be someone similar to her. Baria was the capital of Dain, it was a long way for a legionnaire to travel unless he had just graduated from the academy, “HIS OPPONENTS WILL BE A FIGHT TO THE DEATH! RECENTLY CAPTURED IN THE MOUNTAINS OF THE ELVAN, I GIVE YOU GARGOYLES!”

Gates opened and two slightly larger than man sized creatures walked out, their gray skin giving the appearance of stone. The smaller of the two immediately took flight and grabbed hold of the chains suspended high in the air, the arena was built to house monsters like this. It let go and coasted around the pillar that held the chain net in the center before spotting Thaedred. His appearance immediately began to grow transparent, he wasn’t completely invisible but he nearly was. Dani knew the spell, it was CONCEAL!

The legionnaire sprinted towards the center column underneath the smaller gargoyle as the larger one took flight. The gargoyles were making calls to one another and must have thought he was prey. As the larger one approached the column, she could barely see Thaedred point at the monster and suddenly the monster was yanked through the air, colliding with the wide and heavy column. It didn’t hit hard but it was enough to send it tumbling out of the air. The smaller gargoyle dove at him and he flashed to the side, appearing 5 feet away from the column, his hand rose and as the smaller gargoyle passed him, it was pushed into the stone. It hit the ground and did multiple roles end over end. He was using ATTRACT and REPEL. Dani was nearly bouncing, nope she was, she could cast three of the four spells he used so far!

“How’s he keeping his visibility spell up and casting others at the same time? I didn’t even know you could cast two different spells at once.” Freya asked dumbfounded by his ability. Dani didn’t know the answer but she vowed to learn it.

In the Arena a sudden flash of light ripped out with a boom. The BOLT spell slammed into the head of the smaller one and even from the stands Dani knew that he’d slain the monster. Unfortunately he didn’t see the larger one coming from behind him. It tackled him to the ground with a wing bent and broken. It tried to punch him in the back of the head but gray fist only connected to an invisible wall, Dani wasn’t sure which one but it was definitely a ward spell. Just then the gargoyle shot up in the air a few feet letting Thaedred roll to the side.

“Where’d he cast that from, his arms were pinned? Did he cast it through himself or did he cast it out of his back!?” Arn watched in amazement, getting excited and the well trained magus in the ring. As soon as it landed and got back up the monster dropped to it’s hands and knees again, it struggled to lift itself. Thaedred walked calmly over and pulled a dagger, holding it up for all to see.

“Oh come on, your a magus!” Freya yelled out, he actually looked at her and grinned. Rather than stabbing the monster he quickly jammed his hand into the area of his spells effect and let go. The gravity spell he was using pulled the dagger down far faster than it could on it’s own, piercing it’s thick skull easily. They stood there in awe, even using a mundane weapon he had used his magic to take something that would have hurt to making it lethal.

Dani Jumped up and clapped while the others around the far from full arena did the same. He waved and ended looking up at their group. Freya flushed.

“Do you think he heard me?”

**********

As they walked out of the Arena an hour later they were approached by a man, it was Legionnaire-Magus Thaedred.

“So you doubted me a little bit?” The man sauntered up towards them, hands on his hips. Dani nearly swooned, black hair, square jaw, tall, handsome.

“Ah, never doubted but didn’t expect you to use magic like that. It was incredible!” Freya got out, her cheeks turning pink as she pulled her hair on the one side she had it behind her ear.

“Well thank you!” He gave a little bow with a flourish of his hand, “Perhaps I could explain some of my techniques to you? Drinks tonight? Eagle head tavern?”

“Ummm… sure. I mean I’d love to,” Freya was a beautiful, tall, strong woman but sounded like a little girl talking to her crush, If Dani wasn’t a little Jealous she would have giggled, “what time?”

“I assume you’re at the Academy or at least know where it is, front gate at say 6 bells?” he smiled. Arn was standing behind them, sniffing. Dani glanced back and he didn’t look happy, was he jealous?

“Maybe you shouldn’t, we’ve got plenty of studying to do?” he said in a not very pleasant manner.

“What???” Freya seemed confused, Dani was confused. They’d been here for a few weeks, Freya never studied at night, “I’ll see you at six bells Thaedred.”

“I look forward to it.” his charming smile graced them once again, Dani noticed a shadow move and turned. Arn had shifted and now stood towering over them in his lycan form.

“wha-” Dani cut herself off, she was going to demand what he was doing but Arn almost always stayed in his human form.

“Ah northerners,” Thaedred said, looking unworried, “It’s a pleasure, I never did get your name?”

“Freya, I’m Freya.” She said and he repeated it soundlessly before walking away.The whole situation was weird now. Freya and Dani both turned to their lycan friend.

“What’s gotten into you?” Freya demanded looking up at him. Completely unafraid of the monstrous form. People walking past, not so much they gave Arn a wide berth.

“He smells like three different women?” Arn said bluntly and pointed to his nose.

“So? If he’s about to leave for the legion maybe his mother and sisters came to visit.” Dani tried to throw out an idea that wasn’t as scandalous as Arn seemed to be implying. She didn’t know if it was jealousy but knowing Arn it was probably more him being protective and worrying about Freya.

“Is he having sex with his mother and sisters?” Dani’s eyes shot up with that. She couldn’t help but think that was trouble and felt sorry for lycans at the same time.

“I’ll be careful, it’s just drinks and I’ll tell you guys what I learning” Freya said and rubbed his arm, “I’m a grown woman, I’ll be fine.”

“I don’t like it.” Arn said after turning back into his human form, some nearby residence breathed a sigh of relief. Even in Lindom people didn’t like being around an angry lycan. They’d never hurt anyone but there was still the instinctual fear seeing something that powerful mad.

**********

KNOCK, KNOCK KNOCK

Arn woke up and stretched in his bunk, Stoki stirred in the bunk below him. He crawled out and dropped to the floor and opened the door. No one was there, the hall was empty.

KNOCK, KNOCK KNOCK

It was coming from the shutters. He walked over and saw a short Elvanni girl with red hair.

“Dani?” Arn was confused, judging by the light it was early morning. He looked at her and saw a wary look on her face, “What’s wrong?”

“Freya never came back last night!” She said as Stoki sat up behind him.