“Do you need to leave so quickly?” Lana asked.

“Well… not so quickly, no.” Ares said as they lay there together. It was only turning evening, but Ares felt so tired after thinking for so much.

Runar slapped the back of Ares’ head, as if to tell him to not go. Ares reached up and then hoisted the girl up to his chest, and after a moment of squirming, she seemed fine. She snuggled up close to his chest and Ares could feel the tickling of her breath.

“I just think th-”

“You think too much,” Lana said as she reached over and then pulled him closer so Runar was pinned between their chests. Her grip was iron tight against his elbow, wrapping it around herself as though he was her blanket.

Ares felt the hot flush flow through his body, like a stream of gentle embers. “I need to heal myself, the pain is becoming quite…”

“Quite?”

“It just hurts,” Ares said. He did not want to admit to Lana about just how painful it could flare up.

“You can’t go alone.”

Ares nodded. “I won’t.”

“We will discuss this more later.”

Ares nodded again and then kissed her, doing no more because Runar was currently kicking at his legs to try and escape from being crushed between the pair.

Ares pulled back and then held Runar up, both hands slightly under her underarms. “Yes princess?” Ares asked as he leaned in to smother Runar with kisses, causing the girl to giggle uncontrollably. “Are you missing daddy? Daddy’s right here, okay? You’ll get all my attention.” He pulled her close to his chest again and then kept kissing her all over, blowing a raspberry into her neck, which caused her to kick him again and giggle.

“I think she’s a sadist,” Ares said as he looked over at Lana. “She gets that from you.”

Lana slapped his arm.

Ares left Lana with Runar, wanting to take a quick walk in the cool dusk air. Rivea was painted purple as dusk washed over it. The coolness of the time began to smother Rivea, and many found themselves drawn to their homes and hearth, like moths to flames.

Ares wondered if there were mothfolk about, but let the thought go. He had enough to deal with. Saykkera stared over at him as he walked by the shrine, sitting down beside it.

“Hey Saykkera, lovely weather isn’t it?” Ares said.

Saykkera, as per usual, did not reply.

Ares looked down at the shrine and then the water within the fountain. He reached a hand inside and gentle wade it. He paused for a moment. What about this water?

He scooped a little out and then splashed some around his wound. It soothed him, yet nothing beyond that occurred. Ares sighed. ‘Wishful thinking…’

Ares chuckled to himself and then looked back to Saykkera. “Life, huh?” he said as he gently wade his fingers into the fountain. He scooped a little water and then drank from it.

He heard the marching of a soldier, as well as the softer footfalls of Zika. He turned to face them and then nodded. “Zika, it’s good to see you this fine evening.”

“You as well, Ares,” she said. She looked at Saykkera with narrowed eyes, a suspicious squint, before then looking back to Ares.

“Was there anything you need?” Ares asked after she did not speak for some time.

“I would like to fight this one,” Zika said, motioning her head to Saykkera.

Ares laughed. “Well… perhaps another time?” Ares tried to change the subject, but then he thought of an idea. “Well… actually…” Ares thought for a moment. “I was planning on doing something, making something, that would…” Ares remained as vague as ever as he began to think.

He could make the coliseum soon, and then Zika and Saykkera could be the first to fight within it. If the coliseum could handle the pair of them, then it should be fine for others to fight in it too.

He snapped back to attention and then looked at Zika. He kept doing this kind of thing recently and he needed to be more aware of it. “I have an idea that you may enjoy, but it will take some time for it to come into frui-” Ares paused again. “Although, I suppose that it is a good idea to have the Reptai help with it as part of their initiation to Rivea…” Ares puffed out his chest, far more proud of his idea than he had any right to be. He looked to Zika and then flashed a smile. “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.”

Zika didn’t seem to understand, but she nodded anyway. “If it is your wish,” she said.

“Right, I’ll explain…” Ares turned to the Roaring Trident nearby and then motioned with his head. “Would you please call Rori-kin?”

The Roaring Trident saluted and then marched off to go and find Rori. Ares led Zika and the others to the meeting area nearby, and soon Rori was there too.

“Rori-kin, I would like to make a coliseum. I was going to have the Reptai assist with it as part of their initation, what do you think?”

Rori remained silent for a moment, giving Ares a cold hard look. “What is a coliseum?” he eventually asked.

Ares stared at him, furrowing his brows in confusion. Then he realised that a coliseum is a thing they might not know about, the humans may know, but the beastfolk may not…

“Oh. It’s a large open aired building with seats overlooking an open area where people usually gather to fight. I was thinking that we could use it to gather people, but also to use it as a place for all types of gatherings, not just to fight. Like… like… like fighting, oral stuff like talking about stuff, some official business, maybe prayers and such, or… just things when large amounts of people need to be gathered. Festivals too.” Ares smiled, wondering if he had managed to get his intent across.

“I see,” Rori said.

“It’s a good idea, right?”

Rori thought about it for some time. “I will bring such a request up with the others.”

Ares nodded, slightly deflated. He had hoped Rori would have said yes, then he could have began daydreaming about it for some time, but he supposed that he would have to leave it in Rori’s capable hands. He used his ring’s powers to reveal a rough idea of what he was going for, and Rori nodded his head, somewhat understanding the concept.

Ares turned to Zika. “Was there anything else you wanted to speak about?”

Zika shook her head, her eyes falling across Ares’ tired face. “It is of no importance.”

“Are you sure?” Ares asked.

Zika bowed her head. “Thank you for your ear,” she said.

Ares winced and raised a brow, before nodding his head when he realised what she had meant. He excused himself and returned to Lana, who was currently feeding a quiet Runar. When Runar saw Ares though, she began to squirm and struggle. Ares puffed up his chest and felt the flowers within him bloom as he swept Runar up into his arms.

“You’re so cute!” Ares grinned at Lana, about to tease her when he saw her raised brow and very quickly he decided against such a thing. Ares leaned in to rest his head against Lana and then kissed her neck gently. Lana wrapped her arms around him and then pulled him on top of her.