“So tell me Odin, how did you and your family get here in the first place?”

“I have been here for a while, maybe a year now.”

Cortez and I looked at each other and said in synch.

“A YEAR?!”

“Yes, back in the day when people were more friendly if you don’t count the questing massacre between the Darkblood brotherhood and the Guardian angels. Me and my family flew down the grand fall with many others, but as time went by things turned more and more grim.

Odins face got blank for a few seconds as he remembered something very important personally, probably something dramatic that happened to him or his family, I wont dare to ask, at least not now.

“Hey I can see the city over there!” The snowy mist slowly disappeared as we got close to the city.”

“Be careful, there can be bandits lurking around!” Odin drew his swords.

Sniff sniff.

“I cant smell or sense anyone invisible nearby at least”

I entered stealth mode just to stroll safe.

“Here Odin, you should join our party”

Cortez invited Odin to the party and he accepted as the hud appeared before him.

“Hey why is Elisa at my place?”

“What do you mean?” I wondered.

“We should hurry, looks like she still isn’t in great shape, I know someone who can aid her if we have the money.”

“Someone? Why not go to the medical bay?”

“There is no medical bay here and probably not later either, we are in the shit now. Everything you know from before have been a tutorial an easy journey compared to what lies ahead and its not an easy one.”

After hearing Odin talk I realized that he might not be such a kid after all as I first thought him to be, he have probably survived a lot of hardships himself, if what he says is true and he want to support his family by fighting then that is a strong moral from someone who have been living here for such a long time.

We entered the city, the gate was wide open and it smelled really bad. It was dark and foggy, kind of like the real world, at least this climate was always cold and not drastically changing. The city was just a big circle with several districts and in the middle was a big arena where the tournaments are held I suppose.

“Guys, its just over here!” Odin waved us in as he entered a creaky old door.

It was a small room, dark, dirty and holes everywhere, just as cold as outside too.

“Hi mom, hi Helen!” We all entered the room and saw Elisa unconscious on the sled.

Helen

The room was quiet and gloomy.

“Her condition is very dire, she got several fractions in her back, neck and legs from the fall if not healed she will die.”

“Is there any healers in the city?” Elisa woke up, coughing.

“There is a few, but they will only do it for a bunch of money, that’s how healing works here sadly.”

“How much money are we talking about?” Cortez used his money on new gear, but I saved up mine.

“ For these kinds of wounds that will keep dealing damage over time it will cost 150 000 mesetas to heal it and then the regeneration will be enough, but it will take a few days on the bed.”

Author note: These wounds are really severe, a mere healer is not enough, there has to be a fully geared and experienced.

“150 000 mesetas? Where can anyone get that much money at such short notice?” I panicked as I saw Elisa was tearing up.

“The tournament is the only way to get that kind of money so fast, but then you have to win, because the price is 250 000 mesetas, but that is insane.”

“I will do it! You said this is the only way? I will join the tournament and win! That`s a promise!”

Elisa was crying.

“Thank you!” Were the words she managed to force out of her mouth as she coughed.

“I will join as well! Then the odds are higher.”

“Take care of Elisa for us, Cortez lets go”

“Wait! I will join too!” Odin was sobbing and tearing up, but I could see fighting spirit in his eyes.

“I am the reason she is in this condition and I will not stand here doing nothing like a weakling! Wont tolerate it any longer!”

“Odin….” Helen seemed worried for her brother, his mom smiled a little.

“Do your best Odin! Whatever happens we are always on your side, don’t you forget that!”

“Mhm!” We left he room with Odin and headed to the big arena in the middle of the city.

“This place smells so bad, yuk!” Cortez held his nose.

“I cant even smell it anymore, I have gotten used to it.” Some creepy people were giving us a nasty look.

The place was filled with mist and smoke because of the pollution of the armor smiths, bakers, sewers and climate, everything kind off had a greenish hue.

“Get away from me you creep, this is the last time I will deal with your shit! Join me outside and fight like a man dipshit!” Some guy was arguing with someone as they left towards the entrance.

This place is like hell on Earth or Hell on Felia I guess.

“There is the sign ups, the tournament starts in 1 hour and ends at 03:00”

“The tournament is hosted ever day and the pot is that big?” That is a lot of money.

“The tournament is the only thing that really matters here, the pot is always sponsored by higher level people who want to see us noobies fight for our survival.” Odin signed up.

“Don’t forget why we do this” I signed up.

“I will do my best” Cortez signed up.

“A big heads up, no one is fan of assassins speced with poison or stealth, people think they are cowards, so I strongly suggest you use combat.” Odin decided to tell me this now 1 hour before the tournament.”

“Is that so? How inconvenient, I guess I can use my spare money on the gear, if we win first place then money wont be a problem, can you show me the auction house?”

“Sure, follow me!” Odin showed us the way.

People were still giving us nasty looks.

“Do we have any idea who our opponents are?”

“The only way to know who is fighting is to look at the list of names, no class or anything is showed, the matches are randomized.”

“We can only hope we aren’t up against each other, cuz you guys will lose for sure, just saying” That smug face of Cortez almost made me laugh. He putted his hands behind his head as he said it.

“Pfffff, i will slice you up before you can hit me!”

“Try it kiddo, you will need to deflect my arrow if you want to win haha. I. Never. Miss.”

Same old cocky Cortez.

“I didn’t know what I expected” The auction house looked like crap.

There was one person there with a filthy hoodie and I could see his face was a bit deformed.

“What you buyin?” He asked me.

“Well, bring up the melee combat gear for lvl 6”

“Wait you got level 6?” Cortez seemed surprised.

“Yes, back when we delivered the quest to the old lady, you were probably thinking to much about the jump to notice, you should probably level up soon to.”

“Wait, so there is level advantages in the tournament? That is unfair is it not?”

Good question from Cortez.

“The damage and health is rearranged before the match to the level, so there is no way others can have better or worse gear than you, that is why the gear I use right now can be used. Even if someone is 2 levels higher, their damage will probably be reduced with 10-15% just like damage and armor. There is no real advantage really, if I fight an opponent lower level then me and I have just acquired a new spell, then I cant use that spell because then I have more abilities and that would be unfair.”

“I see, makes sense”

I bought full combat gear for the rest of my mesetas and some new daggers, light and sharp, felt nice.

“We should head back and get ready in the waiting room, everyone have to meet there”

“Let’s go!”

Next chapter: Who will they meet in the arena? Will they fight each other? Will they lose? And who is that mysterious assassin sitting for him/her self at the bench?