Chapter 22

The Waiting Room

“Alright, let’s go!”

“Wait, give me a second to pre-“

Emma pushes the double doors wide open before I could mentally prepare myself.

“Whoa.” Aaron let out a sigh of admiration.

It was a dark and massive room shaped like a dome. Broken and headless gargoyles cling to the wall looking down at the center of the room where the stage laid. At the center of the stage was a statue of a man clad in pristine white armor, holding a giant war hammer. Red dog tags dangle on the statue's neck, signifying it’s a royal guard. Or at least it would be if it were alive.

“This place is quite impressive. I wonder why they shut it down?”

“Probably because this place is in the most dangerous part of town.”

“Ah, right.” Emma awkwardly scratches her.

Still, this place is quite something. I bet this place was quite something before all the gangs move in and took over the pleasure district.

“So…” Aaron paused and looked around. “…What are we supposed to do now?”

“The paper said await further instruction. So, I guess we just wait.”

“Ugh, why the hell do we have to wait?” Emma let out a sigh and flop down on the ground. “If all the strong are gathered here, why don’t we just kick each other ass right now?”

“Can you keep it down a bit? I don’t want to draw any attention.”

“Too late, looks like someone looking for a fight.”

“What? Already?!”

Emma stood back up and cracked her fingers. “So, you want a piece of me?”

“No.” The voice sounded empty but familiar.

A man climbs up the steep steps towards us. When I noticed the deep scars on his face, I immediately knew who it was.

“Scar?”

“You know this guy?”

“Unfortunately.”

“Looks like you made it.” Scar said, ignoring Emma, who was directly in front of him.

“If it wasn’t for your hint, I probably still be at the adventurer guild.”

“Oh, so you’re the one that helped Catherine?” Aaron suddenly jumped into the conservation. “Thank you for helping her. I would have never got this far if it weren’t for her help or yours. Oh, my name is Aaron, by the way.” Aaron lifts his hand.

“What’s yours?”

“….” Scar silently looked down at Aaron’s hand like it was an object he never saw before. While the atmosphere between Scar and Aaron became more awkward, I looked around the room for anyone else that may be familiar to me.

“The Crooked Man isn’t here.” Scar said as if he could read my thoughts. “He’s still in Horizon.”

“Is that so?” My body instinctively relaxed when Scar told me that. I immediately perk up again when I realize I was letting my guard down.

The Crooked Man may not be here, but his right-hand man is. I have no idea why Crook sent Scar after me, but I won’t let him get in my way.

“I guess handshakes don’t exist in your culture.” Aaron brushed his hair while letting out an awkward laugh.

“No, it does.”

“Huh?” Aaron looked at Scar, then at me, confuse. I simply shrug my shoulders at him. I’ve known Scar for a good part of my life, but I still don’t understand him.

Creaak…

Everyone suddenly went silently and turn towards the door that was slowly opening.

“Another contestant?” Someone in the theater whisper.

“I wonder who’s it going to be this time.” Another voice jumped in the conservation.

“Hopefully, it’s someone strong.” Emma chimes in.

“Kaaa!” A dark color lizard slipped through the door crack and flew right past me.

“Whoa! Is that a dragon?!” Aaron shouted as the lizard fly around the theater.

“No, it a wyvern.” I unconsciously answer Aaron’s question. “Wait, is that Dark? If so that means…” I look back at the door that was now wide open.

A woman draped in wine color cloak. Her pale skin white hair was the only thing that peeking out from under her hood.

“Jez? What are you…How did you get here?”

“Fol. Low.” She said slowly and softly.

“You’ve been following me?”

“Mm.” Jez nodded her head.

“This entire time?”

“Mhm.”

That can’t be possible. There’s no way I wouldn’t notice a woman in a red cloak and flying lizard following me. I look over at Aaron, who looked as confused as me.

“Man, a lot of weird people are gathering here.” Emma blurted out,

“Can you keep your thoughts to yourself before you get us into trouble? No, wait, that’s exactly what you’re after, isn’t it?”

“Mmaybe.” Emma gives me a mischievous wink. I looked away from her, not bothering to give her the attention she desired.

To be honest, I agree with Emma. A lot of interesting people seem to be gathering here. And strangely, most of the people that caught my eyes were people standing by the entrance.

A man in a gray kimono sat alone by another double door. The man had long black hair tied into a loose ponytail that reaches his lower back. Thanks to his soft and womanly face, I honestly thought he was a girl until I heard his deep voice when he shut down one of the contestants that were hitting on him.

Even though he’s resting, I get the feeling he’s going to be a tough opponent. However, the person that worries me the most is the man standing at the corner of the room. The man was clad in rusted armor. The sword he held in his hand had nicks and cracks in every part of the blade.

Multiple alarm was going off in my head warning me to stay away from the man in broken armor.

“Maybe I’m a bit over my head.”

“A bit? Kid, your way over your head.” A young boy in a dark red suit approaches our little group. “Since you’re the only one in your little group that possess some common senses, why don’t you convince your friends to leave before you all get yourself killed.

The gaudy outfit and the cocky attitude made it abundantly clear he was a noble. Great, just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse.

“Don’t listen to him, Catherine. I think you're quite strong.”

“Hmm, I don’t know about that.”

My cheeks grew hot from Emma and Aaron's intense gaze.

“What do you mean ‘you think?’ She was able to dodge your attacks.”

“True. She’s quite fast on her feet, but she’s an amateur when it comes to actual fighting. I can change this, though, if you join my school.”

“You don't have a school.” And besides, I rather not get trained by someone who attacks people they meet. Wait, didn’t Dante attack me when we first met? Bella even knocks me unconscious. Is this how warriors introduce themselves?

“You guys got a lot of balls to ignore me.” The noble stomped the ground like a kid trying to get his parents’ attention.

I wish we could ignore you. God, I swear every single noble is annoying. All of them act like they’re the center of the world just because they’re rich.

“Listen, clearly no one here has any intention of leaving. So, if you really want us gone, you’ll just have to kick our ass in the tournament. I’m sure you’re looking forward to that, right?” I tried my best to keep my growing anger in check.

“And here I thought you were the smart one, but it looks like your brain is just as small as you.”

“The hell did you say?” I felt something inside my mind snap.

“Huh? You didn’t hear me? Could it be those furry ears of yours are just as useless as your brain?”

“You talk a lot of crap for someone who was born with a golden spoon in his mouth. I bet without your family influence, you wouldn’t have got this far.”

“What you say?” The vein on the noble’s forehead begins to bulge.

“Oh, you can’t hear me. It looks like your ears are just as bad, mines.”

“Be careful what you say, little girl.”

“What’s going to happen if I don’t? you going to get your daddy or butler take care of your problem like you always do?”

“No, I’ll shut you up myself.” The noble spoke so low it almost sounds like a growl.

“I’ll love to see you try.”

I ball my hands into fists as the noble kid silently approaches me. The only thing going through my mind was figuring out how to reach his face so I could rearrange it.

“Second roun-“

Before I could finish my chant, Jez step in between the noble and me. She silently nodded her head at us like a disappointed mother.

“Get out of the way Jez, this spoiled brat needs a good pummeling.”

“Who are you calling a brat midget?”

“You. You spoil little-“

“Shh.” Jez places a finger on both of our lips. “Re. Lax.

I took a deep breath to calm myself down. The last thing I want was to hurt Jez because I couldn’t control my anger. It seems the noble didn’t want to hurt her either. He clicked his tongue, annoyed, and looked away. I can see the anger burning in the noble’s eyes. Knowing how petty his kind can be, I’m confident he’ll do whatever he can to pay me back for disrespecting his honor or something stupid like that.

“You should’ve let them fight. It would’ve been a good time killer.” Emma let out a sigh as she lazily looked around the room. “Seriously, though. How long are we going to wait here? When will the tournament start?”

“I see you’re as dumb as the feline. The tournament won’t be starting anytime soon.

“What did you say?” Emma turns to the noble irritated.

“Take a good look around. There are over three hundred people here. Do you really think a tournament can be held with this many people?

Scar did tell me that these trials were made to weed out the weak. if there are this many people here…

“We’re most likely going to have to endure more trials.” The noble finish my thoughts.

“Are you saying we’ll have to run around looking for crap like we did in the last trial?”

“Probably.” The noble responded curtly.

“Fuck That!” Emma shouted loud enough. I’m sure everyone in the theater heard her. “C’mon! We all came here to fight, right?! So, let’s fight! The last person standing wins the tournament!”

I held my breath, fully expecting a brawl to break out, but to my surprise, all we got were awkward stares.

“HAHAHAHAH!” A deep laughter echo through the theater. A man in the front row stood up. He wore a simple black jacket with nothing underneath, proudly showing off the numerous scars and tattoos etched onto his well-toned body.

“Aw.” I accidentally gasp when I saw the dog-like ears on top of his head.

He’s a beastman. There are really others like me.

My father was the only beastman I have ever seen, and he didn’t have a tail or the same ears as me. At some point, I started believing all the things the kids were saying about me that I’m a freak.

There’s so much I want to ask him. Like what tribe he’s from and what these tattoos on our body mean, I doubt I’ll get a chance to do that with the way things are going.

“You find something funny about what I say?”

“No. I’m just wondering if you like to become one of my wives?”

“Wait, did he say wives? Meaning he has more than one wife?!”

“Yea, that’s exactly what that word means.” Once again, I unconsciously corrected Aaron.

“Sorry, I’m not interested in men. However, I am interested in a good fight.”

“Now that something I can give you.” The beastman said with a grin so wide I could see his fangs.

“I wonder about that.” Almost everyone in the theater begins to clap as Emma boldly descends the stairs towards the beastman.

“Hey, shouldn’t we stop her?”

“Go ahead. She’ll probably kick your butt if you try to get in her way.”

“Ah, your right.” Aaron’s concern immediately vanishes. “I’ll just wish her luck.”

The applause and cheers stopped as Emma drew closer to the beastman. Only the sounds of her footsteps could be heard echoing through the theater. Suddenly, Emma leaped off the stairs, soaring over the beastman’s head.

The moment Emma landed, she ducks, barely avoiding the beast's wide swing. Emma balled her right hand into a fist and threw a punch aimed at his side. Still recovering from his wild swing, the beastman step forward, throwing his entire body at Emma. The beastman muscular frame was easily able to overpower and push back Emma’s slender body.

The beastman lunged forward and threw a straight punch at Emma, who was still sliding backward uncontrollably. At the very last second, Emma turns her head, making the beastman’s fist brush past her cheeks.

The beastman threw a wild left. Emma quickly raised her hand and guided the massive fist away with the back of her hand. Emma thrust her palm at the beastman’s wide-open chest. Just before her attack connected, she abruptly stopped and jumped away, avoiding the beastman’s rising knee.

“If this keeps up, the fight will be ending soon.” Scar said to no one in particular.

“Yea is Emma pretty much toying around with him.”

“Quite the opposite, actually. The beastman is toying with her.”

Another voice jumped suddenly in our conservation. I turned around to see the samurai from earlier looking at Scar with great interest.

“I’m impressed you notice the beastman's trap.”

“Only an amateur wouldn’t notice.”

“Ugh.” I grab my chest. Scar’s response backhanded the little confidence I had in myself.

Sorry, I’m not a professional killer like you two.

“Can you guys stop being cryptic and explain what happening for people who don’t understand, like Aaron.”

“Wait, huh?” Aaron looked at us confused.

“How would you feel being at the opposite end of the beastman punches?”

I cross my arm and thought about Scar’s question. The answer was so simple it felt like a trick question. Obviously, I will be terrified. His arms are so massive that I’ll be panicking even if he misses. “Ah.”

“So, you finally figure it out? The girl dodging his attacks, but they’re hitting mentally.”

“The beastman is purposefully throwing wild punches to make her focus on retreating.” Scar continued where the samurai left off. “And if she continues retreating, she’ll fall right into the beastman’s trap.”

“Shit.” Emma glance at the wall behind her. “So, this was your plan?”

“Indeed, and you fell for it beautifully. So, what are you going to do now?” The beastman opens his arms wide making sure Emma doesn’t slip past him.

“There’s only one thing I can do, fight.” Emma charge forward threw a punch aimed at the beastman’s exposed body.

“Too predictable.” The beastman easily catches Emma’s fist. “Looks like this is it.”

“Yea, for you.” Place her other hand on the Beastman arm’s and then jumped in the air.

“Whoa!” Aaron shouted in surprise as he watches Emma use the beastman thick arm to handstand on. The heel of her foot smashes the beastman’s nose causing him to release Emma while staggering backward.

“You’re not that bad.” With a wide grin, he casually snaps his broken nose in place.

“Your pretty good yourself.”

“Heheheh.”

“Hahahahah!”

Both Emma and the beastman suddenly started to laugh.

“I wonder what they find so funny?” Aaron tilted his head and stared at the two like they lost their mind.

“For a warrior, there’s nothing more joyful than facing someone that pushes you to your limit, although, I guess that’s something you kids won’t understand.”

“No, I think I get it.” I thought back to the time when I train with Dante. I remember how excited I use to get when we spar.

“Looks like you might have a future as a warrior. I’ll keep an eye on you.”

“I honestly prefer if you ignored my existence” It’s already bad enough I have to worry about the Scar and that noble kid the last thing I need is a samurai coming for me.

“You don’t mind if I get serious, do you?” The beastman said as he took off his jacket.

“Go ahead, I was just planning on going all out myself.” Emma pulled two brass knuckles from her pocket and slip them on her hands. “You ready.”

“Oh, yea.” With wide grins on their face, the two charge at each other.

“Stop.” A statue in the center of the stage pounds his war hammer on the floor causing Emma and the beastman to freeze in place.

“Whoa, that statue is moving!”

“I don’t think that’s a statue, Aaron.” My gaze shift towards the red dogs’ tags dangling on his body. “He’s just like Dante and Bella, he’s a royal guard.

“Silence.” The Royal Guard slams his hammer on the ground again silencing all the murmuring. “The second trial is about to begin…”