My ears are in massive pain from that imbroglio I’ve witnessed. It’s as if I was in an airplane and it started to descend, giving me ear barotrauma; my poor poor equilibrium is all out of whack. So this is what happens when Ryder goes all out. Is this what Will goes through on a consistent basis? If so, maybe I am better off than him. Wait, I have Adam, nevermind I still have it worse. Speaking of Adam, I see that he’s healing his damaged ears and is doing the same for Nerva, who is too busy freaking out over how cool the explosions were to realize her ears are slightly bleeding due to trying to take the force head on like Jack and Armstrong. I take a glance at Will and see he’s fine for the most part, as is everyone else albeit they look a little uncomfortable trying to recover from what just happened. I’m glad Akane, Warren, and their child aren’t here right now. If that girl couldn’t handle normal loud noises, ear shattering explosions would’ve given that poor girl a heart attack.

“I’d say that was quite the explosive beginning!” Emperor Marcus jokes before letting out a hearty chuckle.

The audience groans because of the joke and the literal pain they’re feeling.

“I agree! It was quite the bombastic display!” Luther concurs, letting out his own laugh.

The two men laugh together as the audience below them winces in pain.

“I don’t know who you are or how you got here but I like you!” Marcus exclaims.

“I am Imperial Knight Luther, my dear emperor and I am blessed to say that I currently have 33 girlfriends!” Luther responds while sparkling in his lawn chair.

“Fascinating. Hume, promote this man.”

“Sir you don’t know him like I do I really don’t-”

“Nonsense! Promotion!”

“Huzzah!” Marcus and Luther cheer.

Good job Luther, your success brings a tear to my eye. Wait no that’s the dust getting into my eyes. As I wipe them I hear the emperor announce “With my hilarious jokes out the way, I have some bad news. We’re going to have to have an intermission.”

The audience moans in disappointment. They're still in pain and I think some people are only now regaining consciousness but they’re starting to brush it off like it never happened. These people really really love this tournament don’t they? It’s like the world series plus the super bowl for them.

“I know I know, I’m upset too but we can’t have fights in these conditions. We have to start repairs but don’t worry, I’ll have the best magicians rebuild this place in no time at all. For now, we will have a two hour intermission, everyone please leave in an orderly fashion.” Marcus orders.

People start to evacuate the stadium but more so in a chaotic fashion. People are shoving one another and I’m pretty sure they’re already getting into fistfights. Well I don’t know about everyone else but I’m staying in my seat until most people leave so I don’t have to deal with all of that.

“Hey Quincy, can I ask you something?” Will asks me.

I take out my book and reply “Sure what’s up?”

“Given how strong you are now, do you think you could take on Akane or that Lancer guy on your own?”

I look up from my book, my left eyebrow raised in surprise.

“Like one on one?”

“Yeah.”

I scratch my chin, thinking it over. Have I really gotten much stronger since we were in Ayana? I’d like to think so but I highly doubt I could defeat any reaper (especially Archer) on my own. We only defeated them because we had numbers and even then, it was a struggle. Even after all the additional training I’ve received, I doubt I could win.

“Hell no.” I admit. “I’m sure I’d still get my ass kicked. Why do you ask?”

“I kinda knew you’d say that. I’m pretty sure I know who I’m fighting and it’s Snicker-I mean Sirius. I’m fighting a former reaper on my own.” Will confides.

“Wait the monk guy? The one who taught you that aura move-thing?”

“Yep.”

“How are you so sure you’re fighting him?”

“I may or may not have done some reconnaissance.”

“Hmm. What does he look like? Point him out to me.”

Will points across the stadium and despite the bedlam of people trying to exit, I see Kraken’s Deep. How can you not notice the group of buff martial artists dudes? Well mostly dudes, given that I see a strange small woman amongst them. She’s wearing a black martial arts gi with a chain belt wrapped around her waist as long curly orange hair dangles down her person. Out of the group of men one has dark blue hair who appears to be the one Will’s pointing to. He has a strong build and appears to have quite the stoic nature, appearing indifferent to everything around him.

“Hmmmm yeah he’s gonna kick your ass” I remark.

“Gee thanks” Will says, not appreciating my bluntness.

“You can still win though, it’ll just be a painful process. The dude has to have weaknesses or something right? How’d you beat him the last time again?”

“By coordinating with everyone and almost dying the process.”

“Well we can’t do that now. But hey, you have a bunch of new abilities so your arsenal has grown, so use it. If I were you I’d try to plan this out, that’s all I got.”

“Better than nothing.”

We continue to look at Siriusdoodle or whatever his name is when the woman in front of him looks up, somehow noticing us. She smiles and waves which sends chills down our spines. How did she notice us looking amongst everything? That’s creepy.

“Heh seems Meredith hasn’t changed” Armstrong comments behind us.

“That’s their guild leader?” I guess.

“Yup. She’s a good friend despite being a feeble old lady.”

“Funny since you two are the same age” Jack notes with a guffaw, still leaning in the back of his chair with his hat covering his face.

“Armstrong, how old are you?” Will inquires.

“I can tell you. He’s-”

Armstrong socks Jack in the arm, knocking his hat off.

“Hey my hat! You’re gonna get dirt on it. This place needs a good cleaning. Wait, that gives me an idea.” Jack says to himself, lost in thought as he starts to mumble to himself.

He better not be thinking what I think he’s thinking. I’m not cleaning this place up, not in a million years. I look back at Kraken’s deep only to see that they’re gone. Most of the arena is empty as many people have left by now.

“So what now?” Remi asks the group.

“Well I don’t know about you all but I’m going to go check up on Ryder, make sure that idiot isn’t dead.” Azura lays out, getting up.

“I’ll come with you. In fact I want to get all of us together if that’s ok. I’m gonna need help.” Will responds.

“With what?”

“I need help planning how to not die.”

“Don’t worry about it Will, we got your back. I’m sure I can use my newfound wealth to bribe Snickerdoodle to let you win.” Nazuko proposes, having rejoined us at some point.

“Let your sugar momma handle this.”

She’s wearing a bunch of jewelry that she’s stolen from the crowd consisting of gold rings and a jeweled crown.

“Don’t ever say that again” Remi and Lilith say in unison.

“Heh you two are clearly jealous of my immense wealth. Foolish poor people.” Nazuko retorts in an exaggerated aristocratic accent.

“Y-you do know who my family is right?” Lilith asks.

“Yeah but I’m richer now and Imma steal from them too.”

“You stay away from my household!”

The girls start to fight amongst each other while Will looks ahead and sighs.

“Ok we’re going now. See you all when I have to get beat up” Will proclaims.

He gets up with Azura and his party eventually leaves us.

“Hmm William needs more confidence in himself.” Armstrong notices.

“I think he’s going to be fine. Seems like a good kid” Jack concludes. “I mean he’s clearly not as strong as Adam but if he can beat up 400 or so people in a day I say his chances are good.”

Adam, Nerva, and I look back at Jack, confused on how in the world he can think Adam is stronger than anybody. I personally think Adam is strong enough to take on three small ants but anything beyond that is too much for him.

“D-dad I think you’re overestimating me.” Adam replies.

“Son, you're so humble. I can’t believe I raised such a good kid.”

“Dad I really don’t think you-”

“Because you’ve been such a good boy, I’m gonna increase your allowance”

Jack reaches into his pocket, taking out a pouch of what I’m sure is full of gold. He plops it in Adam’s hands. Adam looks inside, his eyes widening upon seeing how much there is.

“Dad, how much is in here?”

“Eh, like…half of what I earned on my past adventure. Go use it to have some fun with your friends. The festival is going on so go enjoy your youth. And don’t tell your mother.”

“But I wanna go ho-”

“Have fun son!”

I force Adam to move, seeing the futility of arguing with Jack. While I do so Nerva eagerly grabs the bag and exclaims “Hell yeah I’m gonna buy so much shit!”

She starts to run off with the bag as Adam tries his best to follow her, fretting over the money. As I walk away I hear Armstrong say “You spoil that boy too much.”

Jack reacts with “You’d do the same if you had a kid as good as him. Just wait and see Armstrong, my boy is gonna steal the show.”

I exit the arena to see Colonus in full blown party mode. Cheerful music plays on every street, confetti is constantly being shot from cannons as various street artists perform in the streets. Bright colors are everywhere as people drink or haggle with the various street vendors. I make my way through the concourse, trying to find Adam and Nerva when I find myself at a marketplace set up about three blocks from the stadium. I see Nerva in front of various food vendors, stuffing her face with food.

“Ma’am you are only supposed to have one free sample!” one of the vendors yells.

Nerva doesn’t care, she heads to the next vendor and starts eating more, flipping off the previous one.

“Hey I’m not even offering free samples!” her next victim complains.

“U-ugh we’re sorry, please take the money!” Adam yells back, trying his best to fish out some gold from the pouch he had somehow gotten back from Nerva.

With her face full of food like a chipmunk storing food in its mouth, Nerva’s eyes widened upon seeing a group gathered at the end of the street, standing in a circle. The crowd opens the circle up as a man holding a creature appearing to be the size of a very large dog enters the circle and places it on the ground. It looks like a very small dragon but has no wings, looking like a komodo dragon but slightly larger. Another man enters and places another of the weird lizard-like creatures down. The two creatures look at each other for a brief moment, then begin attacking each other as the crowd cheers on.

Nerva swallows her food in one giant gulp, exclaims “Holy shit they’re having drake fights!”

She snatches the money from Adam yet again and sprints to the people.

“Nerva wait!” Adam begs, once again going after her.

I look on in amusement when something amazing catches my eye. Set up to the right of the weird animal fighting area, are a bunch of book sellers that have set up shop. I immediately head over, ignoring Nerva yell at the top of her lungs for one drake to kick the other’s ass as she bets most of Adam’s money. The books are set up on stands as people peruse them. The covers appear extravagant, being made out of fancy materials like velvet and the like. I may be in a different world but I can recognize collectors’ items when I see them. I have a collection of the most rare books in the country but I can’t read those without almost dying so these automatically have a higher value in my eyes. I pick some up, noticing that some are old history books. We all know where this is going. I grab as many as I can as I make my way to the vendor when I accidentally bump into someone, dropping the books.

“The books!” I exclaim in worry.

I frantically try to pick them up when I hear a voice say “Quincy is that you?”

I look up, seeing a woman dressed in a long brown skirt with a long white sleeved collared shirt. She has long black hair wearing ovular glasses. She’s also pretty tall, about 6’3. I stare at her, narrowing my eyes until I realize who she is.

“Marianne?” I assume.

She looks back and forth before hissing “shush” with her finger over her mouth.

“Yes it’s me” she whispers back, picking up her own books.

“Ugh why do you look like a lonely librarian?”

“I’m in disguise alright? I want to keep a low profile so I can enjoy myself while I’m on leave. And hey, I take offense to that. I like this outfit.”

I glance at the books she’s carrying, seeing that the covers consist of women being embraced by a variety of sexy masculine magical creatures. They look like trashy romance novels. Marianne notices me looking.

“Ugh...it’s not what it looks like” she comments.

“It looks like you’re buying-”

“No! I-I-I don’t buy them because I like them. These books are awful. Complete rubbish. They’re oversexualized and poorly written that only appeal to women’s fantasies. I-I only read them to laugh at them.” she stammers.

“Uh huh”

“So ugh...how’s the tournament going?” Marianne asks in an attempt to change the subject.

“Everything exploded.”

“Again?”

“Again.”

“Was it Ryder?”

“Of course.”

She sighs, says “At least I don’t have to deal with repairs this time. I’m so glad I’m on vacation. The last few weeks have been chaotic to put it lightly. How are you all doing?”

“Not bad. I’m good, so is everyone else. Adam and Nerva are over there in fact.”

I point to them, only for Marianne and I to see Nerva choking a drake, cursing it out for losing a fight she bet a lot of money on while Adam and five other men are trying to pry her off the poor creature.

“Anyway, Warren and Akane are off doing something. They have a child.”

Mariannne looks at me with a quizzical look.

“Not in that way” I correct. “I mean like yeah they’re together but they're not together. It’s a long story.”

“Wait a minute, is Akane allowed to walk around? I don’t think she is.” Marianna realizes. “Eh forget it, I’m on leave.”

“I saw Luther earlier, is everyone in your squad on vacation?” I bring up.

“Everyone but Ricon. He said something about the Grand Skirmish being too filthy. Anastasia is with her family, in fact the noble houses should be arriving here soon. They like to show up late so everyone notices them. Nobility is interesting like that.”

“Hey is that Marianne?” someone in the crowd comments.

Marianne’s face becomes red, realizing that her cover might be blown.

“I gotta get going. Between you and me, I was never here, are we clear?”

“Crystal.”

Marianne begins to back up, slowly fading into the crowd holding onto her trashy romance novels.

I buy my books and begin to walk to the nearest portal hoping I can drop my books off back at the castle when I notice a familiar pair in front of a vendor selling miscellaneous items like they’re running a thrift store. Akane’s holding onto Sophie’s hand while she speaks with them while Warren is scanning the crowd, looking for something. He notices me and motions for me to come to them. I do so, holding a tower of books that could fall over if anything touches me.

“Hey Warren” I greet.

“Hey Quincy, have you been out here long?”

“A few minutes, why?”

“You wouldn’t happen to have seen any elves would you? Fancy looking types?”

“Can’t say I have. You’re looking for Sophie’s dad right?

He nods.

“Yeah sorry I can’t help you there. I can promise to be on the lookout but the only elf I’ve seen is Remi.” I state.

“I’m not surprised. The Grand Skirmish is primarily a human thing. I thought I’d get lucky.”

“How’s Sophie doing?”

“She’s fine, just couldn’t handle the noise. Taking her was a bad idea.”

“No it wasn’t.” Akane cuts in. “It was a brilliant idea. The child was clearly overwhelmed but not anymore. Behold, a new and improved child.”

Akane takes some ear muffs from the vendor and places them on Sophie’s head. She looks around confusedly, giving me a faint wave, saying “Hello Mr. Quincy”

I try to wave back but that makes my books start to wobble so I quickly stop.

“With this, the child can enjoy everything without worry. I saw this happen in a comic once.” Akane adds.

“That’s the one where they ugh...fight super aliens or something right?” Warren recalls.

Akane nods, says “You remember. You’re a good man Warren. The culture training is working.”

“You’ve been reading comics?” I question.

“Not willingly” he deadpans.

“Seems like you’re having fun.”

“Not in the slightest. There wouldn’t happen to be a spare room in the castle is there?”

“Nonsense Warren, you love living with us.” Akane states.

I look at him, only to see Warren shake his head.

I attempt to console him when I hear a bugle sound so loudly it somehow is heard over the commotion of the busy streets. We look to see where it came from to see a man dressed in a fancy all white uniform standing at the end of the street.

“Make way!” he hollers. “Make way for the procession of nobility! Behold, the noble houses of Westphalia!”

A horse drawn carriage comes from around the corner drawn by two white stallions with the cleanest coats I’ve ever seen. The carriage they are pulling just as white, so much so it reflects the sunlight, hurting my eyes. People start to make way as the man in front walks down the street, telling people to move. More carriages follow the one in front, looking equally extravagant as men in all white armor proceed alongside, acting as if the fancy convoy could be attacked any minute now.

We all scoot over to the side as the carriages make their way past.

“Looks like the nobles are here.” Warren observes.

“Like Dreden’s nobles?” I ask, wondering if I am going to see Lord Borin.

“All of them. Each year they all arrive together. Guess since no one likes them they stick together in public ventures like this. It’s actually one of the few times normal people get to see them.”

I am able to see inside some of the carriages and they look like nobility all right. They are all wearing fancy clothing wearing material that must cost a fortune. Their ages range from extremely young to extremely old. Amongst them I’m able to see Ice Cube sitting in one carriage with a large fat man in white robes with a big bushy red mustache and a balding head. Ice Cube notices us and waves. We wave back. Ice Cube’s carriage continues to head down the street when it passes the drake fighting area that Adam and Nerva are at. Her carriage abruptly stops, Ice Cube emerging from it wearing an elegant white dress. Disregarding the dirt, she rushes past people to pick up Nerva in an embrace.

“Ah what the fuck!” we can hear Nerva curse from down the street.

The convoy of rich people halts, as the guards begin to move ahead to see what the trouble is.

“We should probably head over there,” Warren concludes.

“Why’s that?” I ask, thinking that it’s just Ice Cube being Ice Cube.

“Nerva and nobility don’t go well together.”

Warren begins to head over, and because I’d feel bad if I don’t go, I follow. Akane and Sophie trail behind me as we rejoin Nerva and Adam.

“God damn it sis!” Nerva cusses, trying to pry herself free.

“Ugh h-hi Anastasia” Adam speaks with a wave.

Ice Cube waves back, holding onto Nerva with one arm. Nerva continues to flail like a dog that doesn’t want to be held.

“Anastasia Ganiadi Theano Remeli you come back here this instant” a rough voice exclaims from the carriage Ice Cube bursted out from.

The large man I saw earlier, comes out, looking like a tub of lard. He traispes over to us, staring at Ice Cube. He stops in his tracks, noticing Nerva. Nerva also stops flailing, noticing the man.

“Hmph Nerva.” the man growls.

“Old man” Nerva growls back.

Nerva frees herself, standing on her own two feet. We watch on in silence, the busy street somehow becoming quiet as the two stare each other down.

“Is this what you had planned, Anastasia? Wanted me to see Nerva?” the man questions.

Ice Cube nods.

“Hmph, don’t know why you’d do such a thing. She’s not your sister anymore.”

“...” Ice Cube says.

I-I somehow understood that. Ok so what happened earlier wasn’t a fluke. This is weird. She basically said that she wanted Nerva and the man to talk to each other so when she saw her sister she saw an opportunity.

The man spits at the ground, snarls “What you thought by bringing us together we’d just get along? You’re being a foolish daughter. That disappointment is no longer a Remeli. All you’ve done is embarass me.”

The man turns around, beginning to make his way back to the carriage.

“Yeah well fuck you too old man.” Nerva calls out. “I didn’t want to see your ass either.”

The man stops in his tracks, spins around and exclaims “See it’s that attitude that got you kicked out of the family! You have no respect. You acted like a street rat your whole life. Well now you got it, you’re a disgusting street rat. You think putting down a rebellion changes things? Does being part of some hero’s party make you respectable? That’s laughable.”

“Well shit if that’s how you feel why are you here? You’d know I’d be participating in the tournament.”

“I didn’t come for you. What? You thought I cared enough about you to see you embarrass yourself in some disgusting fighting tournament, acting like the rabid dog you are? No, I came because I had to.”

That last remark leaves Nerva speechless. She looks at the ground and for the first time in my life I see that she looks sad.

“M-Mr. Remeli that’s not a thing a father should say to his daughter” a voice pipes up.

To my surprise it was Adam who said that.

“Nerva’s not a dog. S-she’s actually a kind person. She stands up for her friends and always does the right thing...mostly. Ok she does the right thing less often than not but she’s still a good person.” Adam argues, getting next to Nerva.

The man looks at Adam with narrow eyes, then responds “You’re Jack’s boy. Here’s a piece of advice, mind your own business if you know what’s good for you.”

The man gets back into his carriage and yells “Anastasia get back in here.”

Ice Cube starts to move but Nerva puts her arm in front of her.

With a smile Nerva declares “Sorry sis, but I can’t get along with this asshole.”

She launches a fireball at the carriage but before it makes contact someone gets in front of it, swatting the fireball away. It’s a man dressed in a white uniform with white gloves, a flowing white cape, and bright blonde hair with sparkling blue eyes. On his hip appears to be the handle of a sword, but with no blade. The convoy’s guards start to form in front of the carriage, aiming their weapons at Nerva, preparing to charge her. At this moment Warren gets in front of Nerva, cracking his knuckles.

“Are we going to have a problem?” he asks the group of guards.

Akane walks next to him, about to unsheathe her sword with one hand as Sophie is left in the back, looking on. God dang it now I gotta get out there. I awkwardly join them still holding onto my tower of books.

“Ok I may not be in a fighting position but I’m not afraid to throw a book at a dude” I threaten.

The man that blocked Nerva’s fireball pushes his way past the guards, staring my party down.

“You’re the second hero and his party?” he inquires of me.

“You’re goddamn right” I declare, trying my best to sound tough despite holding onto my book tower.

“Why are you all so weak?”

We look at him in confusion. Perhaps he was just gauging Adam’s strength or something.

“Excuse me?”

“You destroyed the rebellion in Ayana, correct?”

“Correct” Akane deadpanly answers.

“Hmmm but I could beat you all in one move. Are you guys pretending to be the second hero’s party?”

“Unfortunately, no.” I announce.

The man sighs.

“I thought this tournament was supposed to be full of strong people. If they’re all as weak as you, it’s going to be boring. I hope the first hero is way better.”

“Bro say that again after I throw a book at your head.”

“Walter Aldai Thatcher Alexander, please return to your carriage sir, we have this handled.” a guard requests.

The man ignores the guard, instead walking close up to us. He starts to examine us like we’re an art piece.

“Your dad is Jack?” he asks Adam.

Adam nods.

“Weird, you’re not alike at all. And you’re going to be in the tournament? If I were you I’d go home, you’re just wasting everyone’s time.”

Warren steps forward, grabbing the man by the collar which makes the guards freak out.

“If you want to fight we can fight.” Warren tells him.

“I’m sorry, am I being rude again? I’m only stating the obvious. I’m going to be in the tournament, so I was hoping to have some fun.”

“Oh yeah, then how come you didn’t come with your guild?” I interrogate.

“I'm a noble, so I come with them. Class comes before guild. I’m part of Griffin’s Nest.”

The guards begin to beckon for Walter (such a lame name) to come back which he eventually does.

“I’m the only noble participating in the Grand Skirmish” he reveals, standing in front of his carriage. “They all came to cheer for me. I apologize in advance, but I’m gonna have to wipe the floor with everyone. I’ll try to make it look like I put some effort in so you don’t get embarrassed.”

With that he enters the carriage and with no other choice Ice Cube goes to hers, waving to us before entering. The procession begins to move once more, the tension of the past few minutes slowly disappearing as people go back about their business.

“A-are you ok Nerva?” Adam questions.

Nerva kicks him in the shin.

“Why’d you get involved dumbass?”

“Ow! I-I don’t know, it just happened.”

Nerva's face becomes a bit red before spinning around and as she briskly walks away exclaims “I gotta go beat up some shit! I’m too fucking angry!”

Adam tries to follow her but Warren stops him, saying “Let her do her thing. She’ll be back.”

“What a fun day.” Akane interjects. “We had a cool showdown and I’ve improved the child. Let us return to the stadium. I expect more fun to occur.”

“Ugh right.” I concur. “Wait, I got my books to put back.”

“It is too late, you must come with us. You cannot miss Will’s fight.”

“I do want to see Will get beat up. Ok fine let’s go.”

Akane grabs Sophie and together we begin to head back to the stadium as I see fire get shot into the sky behind us, most likely Nerva being Nerva. Man after all that I only got one thing to say: nobles freaking suck.