“I have Light, Earth and enchanting.” Proudly declared Varisa. “What about you?”

“I have Earth, Water, Fire and light.” Responded Nadia.

“I wish one of us got Healing.” In order of commonality first came light and darkness, followed by the four elements, enchanting and finally healing.

“I, for one, am not sorry at all. It's overly complicated and dangerous.” Healing was by the most difficult discipline. A healer needed to be proficient It involved a lot of external knowledge, such as regular medicine and chemistry before he was allowed to practice. Even then, it was no simple task to keep a patient alive throughout the often-painful process of healing.

“I get it, but think about it; Monster parts are flesh, blood and bones... What if you could heal, or spirit forbid regrow them?” The idea had tremendous potential for riches, and the patient were very unlikely to complain.

Students were tested for higher elements right after they obtained their first-year diploma. No one knew what the criteria were, but in every known case it was either none or a few. And there laid the kingdom’s problem as specialization was a steep investment in time and money which very few people could afford.

“I’ll go for enchanting class, obviously and try to learn some light and earth on the side.” Earth was the second most complex specialization after healing, but she was only interested in a small subset of skills.

“Water!” She could have chosen earth and light to follow her friend but decided instead to follow her heart.

Varisa felt a bit saddened but proud. “I thought you'd say that.”

“Where will we stay during the break?” Inquired Nadia. The time was approaching fast but there was no sign of them moving out of the dorm.

“I forgot, to tell you. In my case, starting next week I’ll be at Agner’s for my apprenticeship. Don’t you worry, I was allowed to rent our room over the break too and I’ve left you with enough to money to eat out every single meal then some.”

“Err... I can’t come?” She’d made no preparation, assuming it'd be the case.

“Agner wouldn’t mind...” He most certainly would, but he wouldn’t dare to speak up, and for most people it was the same. “But there isn’t much you can do at an enchanter’s place.”

“I can help around. Carry heavy stuff and...” There were servants for that, and it didn’t sound that helpful to begin with. Even to her.

“You should find yourself a nice workshop for...” Varisa burst out laughing. “Sorry, I imagined you as a lab hand.”

“That’s rude!” Nadia herself found the idea ludicrous. “And this isn’t funny either! What do you expect me to do alone for two whole months?”

“We’ve been told us to prepare months ago. My girl, what have you been doing all this time?” She knew the answer was training. “You can find work at a factory, a workshop...” She couldn’t help but snigger again. “Or hunt.”

“Factory, workshop? What’s the difference?” Her social skills had vastly improved, but she wasn’t yet at the point where she could act as a productive member of society... And whether hunters counted as productive members, was debatable.

“Factories’ workers tend to do simple repetitive jobs while workshop’ take on more detailed jobs.” Either way, most apprentices ended up doing menial jobs and boring repetitive tasks.

“Hunting it is. I didn’t learn magic to become a servant.”

“It’s spiritualism, and you’re quite the rude one yourself to insult every worker ever. Let us hit Bhurke.”

“Don’t we always?”

“It’s his fault for being so convenient. We can try another intermediary if you feel adventurous. It shouldn’t take more than a few days to get an appointment, and maybe a few months to earn their trust.”

“Same is good! No, it’s great!”

The tavern was full. Mostly Warriors and they suit of admirers of the opposite sex (sometimes the same, sometimes both). The only reason why the two hinterlanders weren’t swarmed by their own entourage of flattering parasite was simply their origin as central tended to see people from the rim in one of three fashions:

Bandits (The classical cutthroat.) (Same as above but even more destructive). Traders (Also known as suckers by merchants. They sometimes turned bandit on the way back).

The giant listened to their explanation with a difficult face. “You want to work, but not with strangers if possible? Correct me if I’m wrong, but you don't have a single acquaintance besides her, right?” He pointed at Varisa.

“I have friends!” Protested Nadia.

“Can they hunt?” He knew where she was schooled.

“Yes!” Some of them could.

“Will they?”

“No...” Tina was all about enjoying her break after all, and Varisa wasn’t an option.

“I get you don’t want to put your life in some stranger’s hands. Nobody does...” His voice trailed. “Nobody sane at least.”

The women ears perked up as they waited for the full story, but it never came.

“I can introduce you to some decent teams, but they’ll be the one to decide whether they can work with you. I won’t help you, and neither will she.” He turned to Varisa. “Understood? I don’t want to hear of no bribe.”

“Hey, I resent that. Is it really a bribe when all parties benefit?”

“I’m quite sure it is, and even if it wasn’t, I can’t endorse this kind of attitude.” Affirmed the giant. To Nadia. “There’s another option. There’s always a load of people looking for training partners. It hardly pays, but it’s a good way to build yourself a reputation.”

Her blood boiled at the idea. “Sounds awesome!” Why was she only hearing about this now?

“No, it isn’t. Your chance to find a good challenge are almost nil. In fact, with your strength, you’ll need to fight them by the dozen. The second problem comes once you’ve made a name for yourself. You get so much offer you need to beat the challengers aways with a stick, and that’s not counting the morons who jump you in the street.”

Varisa inquired. “Speaking from experience?”

“I may not look like it, but I was pretty formidable in my youth.” Silence fell on the tavern as dozens of incredulous looks shot his way. “What with you lot?! It’s true! I’ll have you know I’m still fit for my age!”

While he was but a shadow of his former self, his degraded state was still abnormally strong. Most rookies didn’t stand a chance, and even hardened veteran would struggle against him.

He grumbled angrily at the patron before turning back to the pair. “Still interested?”

“Yes, I still am.” It was only for a few weeks, and it'd be nice to see new fighting styles.

“Sound interesting for sure. I’m sure you’d have been a great addition to any party...” Commented Varisa.

“Thank you for the compliment.” Beamed Nadia.

“...and who know, with some luck you may have learnt teamwork.”

“And you’ve turned it into an insult. I can work with others just fine, thank you!”

“Just to be sure but... You know haphazardly hitting the same target doesn't count as teamwork?”

“Obviously! Who do you take me for?” Now, she was peeved.

“A proud member of our tribe.” Poor deluded fool, sobbed Varisa internally, she’s been corrupted her beyond salvation. She spoke in a calming manner. “Yes, you are absolutely right.”

“Don’t pander to me!”

“The arena is always looking for fresh...” Cut in a ruggedly handsome man at the counter.

He didn’t get farther as the giant of a man scoffed loudly. “The arena is for sissies. I’ve seen better fights in my backyard.” He laughed derisively. “Hey, here's one heck of an idea; why don’t we replace you and your pals with insects?! I'm sure they could make it work with all their projection bullshit.” A gladiatorial fight was very impressive to the general public, but not so much to the average Warrior.

The man sneered. “Ignorant, the public wishes for art, not the kind animalistic brutality you’re so fond of...”

“Your excuses are as pathetic as your fights; if you want to do something artsy, then paint.” Cut Bhurke. “I feel watching paint dry is bound to be more exciting than whatever it is you people do, anyway.”

“I’ve never been to the Arena.” Commented Varisa out of the blue. “What do you think, Nadia? Want to have a look?”

Suddenly put on the block and having no idea what they were on about, she turned to Bhurke inquisitively.

“I honestly thought was funny the first time.” It’d be comedic gold if only the actors weren’t so annoying.

Although he didn’t care much for the evaluation, the gladiator took it as his cue to reenter the conversation. “I'm Arnold, a gladiator. Think of our discipline as a mix of sport and an art; much like a dance performance mixed with combat.”

The owner snorted; he knew what the gladiator was really about. “Give up, if you’re a household cat, she’s like an ocelot.” This was a good ranking on his part, even if it fell short of his former tiger’s self.

Nadia wondered how strong he’d been and why he never got his arm healed. She was about to ask when Varisa pinched her with a threatening “Don’t even think about it.”

“Is it a sensible subject?”

“For everyone but him. Please, I can’t bear to hear it another time. A giant blood worms ate his arm; it’s cursed and will never heal unless the worm is killed.”

“What a terrifying creature!” Exclaimed Nadia

“What is?” Asked a curious Bhurke.

“The Lake devils!” Explained Varisa in a hurry. “Terrifying creatures, aren’t they!”

“Aye. They’re a nasty bunch. I saw one swallow a fishing boat, crew oars and all... That was the last time I ever got in view of the lake.” The crowd’s approved with a murmur.

The consensus was that it was a land of monster unfit for human life. More so than the even hinterland and even the three great powers wanted nothing to do with it. Although, the lakes’ denizen didn’t care about what humans wanted and a large amount of human resource was spent on containing them.

“I remember a fishing village being razed to the ground three or four years ago.” Said a patron.

“Nah, that’s bullshit.” Denied the owner “It barely ate a fishing hut before it was cut down by a patrol.”

“That’s it?” “Boring.” “Am I the only one who find it weird it ate fishing hut?” “Yep, you’re the only one.” “Wouldn’t want to meet one in the water.” “Won't see me on a boat... ever”

Arnold was already back on the offensive. “I have a fight this Seolsday, I can give you complementary ticket if you’re interested.” Although the profession enjoyed a great deal of popularity, it was never as spouse material. Much to his and his colleagues’ chagrin.

His wooing target flashed an apologetic smile. “We’ll visit it on our own term, thank you. My friend taught me there nothing’s more expensive than free stuff.” Quite often, free things are weighed by the attached strings and all that jazz.

Varisa walked beside him to whisper something to his hear. “She likes cute guys, and you don’t quite fit the profile. Better pull out all the stops if you want her to even look your way.”

He winked and whispered in kind. “Thanks for the intel.” Then all loud. “Come this week, dear, I’ll show you the best dance ever!”

The sudden outburst bewildered Nadia, who agreed meekly. “Ok... I will.”

Varisa added with a smile. “I look forward to it.”

As they left, Bhurke gave the gladiator a tap on the shoulder. “I doubt those two still remember your face by the end of the week.”

“Shut up! This time is for real, I’ll be married by the end of the year.” Protested Arnold drawing laughter from the other patron.

“So you say every year for every girl you meet! Accept the truth, the only lifelong partner you'll ever find is a pet parrot!”

“Teach him to say, ‘Marry me’ to every girl it sees, and you’ll have a body double indistinguishable from the real one.”

Nadia had caught up by now. She turned to her friend for advice. “How do I let him down?” Her only previous experience involved a kick to the groin, which didn’t seem too opportune this time around.

“How should I know?” Apart for being a day early Varisa’s experience was the same to a tee. Some believed he took a kick to it.

********************************

The crowd cheered and booed as the horse passed the finish line, Nadia and Varisa included. The arena was only the fourth largest building in the capital, but what it lost in size, it more than made up with energy.

“It won!” Beamed the former.

“I get that a horse need muscle but... Yuck.” Complained the latter with a nauseated expression.

“That’s what we call being a sore loser.”

“I don’t mind that I lost, but I like horses, and that thing is abomination to all equidae. It's like its muscles have muscles of their own.”

Floating over their head was a projection of the spectacle created by a mix of light and dark spells. The term “spiritualism revolution” wasn’t a hyperbole, spells were omnipresent.

“I should have put a bet.” Murmured Nadia.

“Heck no, Oto called it a road to ruin and depravation.” Varisa always put a lot of faith in his words. “Even Agner agreed, and he almost never leave his house.”

“Come on, it can’t be all that bad. Tina said it was fun and exciting.”

“If anything, you’re proving my point. No betting.” The spendthrift epicurean words carried a lot of unfavorable weight.

“Come one, just once.” If it’d been this intense without a bet, what would it be like with one?

“If I win, I drink as much as I want tonight, if I lose...”

“I stopped being interested!” Never again would she care for a drunk.

“The gladiators are up next. That guy... Whatshisname said he'd be in one of the fights, right?”

“Bernard... Was it? I’m sure it sounded similar.” The program only listed the stage name, which they hadn’t bothered learning.

“I think it rhymes with old... Gerald?”

“No, Gerald is our classmate. The scrawny one with the constant frown.”

“Well, whatever... I’m sure we’ll remember when we see his face.”

Or so they assumed, but the male gladiators were all the same type of rugged handsome characters. Their female counterparts were mostly cute girls with the occasional older woman mixed in-between and for some reason, the latter were much more popular.

As for the fighting. “It’s beautiful, like a dance...” Commented Nadia.

“Yeah... I’ve never seen anything like that. It doesn’t seem choreographed, does it?”

“No, it doesn’t.” Eagerly. “I want to try.”

Varisa acquiesced. “I get what you mean...” Then remembering what Bhurke said. “What about it looks like comedy exactly?”

To the unknowledgeable, it often appeared like the contestant worked together rather than against each other, but this wasn’t a true and a single mistake could easily lose them a limb, or worse.

Nadia loved it. “It’s flashy and over the top... But that’s what make it so great.”

Bhuke’s opinion came from a hunter’s sense. where big showy move, or finisher as they were called, were a shortcut to early grave. In fact, he’d seen many a youngster dies this way.

“Yeah. Useless in a real fight, but nice to look at. Also, no matter how you look at it, the exchanges and overall strategy are sound... As long as both parties respect the same rules.”

The sixth combat was Arnold’s. He entered the fray with a light heart. Blissfully unaware he’d been thoroughly forgotten, he announced joyously, “I dedicate this fight to my beloved. When I win, I'll propose to her.”

Stefen Roared, his opponent, was immediately overtaken by jealousy, I’ll crush you here and now. Like I’ll allow a youngster to get married before me!”

“We’re only a year apart, dingus.”

The gladiator popularity had turned into some sort of self-perpetuating curse. As the source of their promiscuous reputation, it made them sound like great as one night stand partners, but not so much as spouses.

.

After a long flurry of blow, Arnold raised both his hand over his head. In gladiatorial fights, this was considered an open challenge.

Stefen rose to the provocation with a low-key laugh and a pose of his own. The enchanted blunted sword came down with enough force to shatter stone, but he held firm while hiding his grunt with a scoffing sound and a repartee. “Is that all you can do?”

In return, he kicked Arnold in the thigh, then hit him to the side with the flat of his sword. The attack lacked flashiness, but these ‘light jabs’ only aimed at wearing out his opponent. It should be noted this kind of light hit would have indubitably shattered a normal person’s bone.

Arnold hid his pain with a bright smile as he countered with a flurry of light blows.

His opponent parried easily and both Warriors started dancing around each other. Sometimes they’d land a light jab but nothing that’d put an end to the match.

The exchange only lasted a few beats but to the gladiators it felt like forever. Exhausted, Stefen enquired. “You prick, why won’t you go down?”

Arnold ached from all over his body and was just as exhausted, but he answered dandily “I’m fine. I’m more surprised you’re up this late, grandpa.”

“Curse you! I wish she rejects you!” Spiritualist knew how to transmit sound, but for some reason it was never implemented.

“Your tears are what motivates me. Won’t you be my best man!” Following the verbal jab, came an equally devastating uppercut to the jaw.

That night, when Arnold dropped by his second favorite tavern, his promised was alas nowhere to be seen. he inquired about his predicament to the owner.

“The barbarian girl from the other night? She hasn’t been back. I’ll tell her when I see her.”

His fight was the talk of the town, and he really wanted to capitalize on it. “When will that be?”

“How should I know? She’s a student, I’ve only seen her a few times.” He eyed the gladiator suspiciously. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know?”

“She was a Warrior and seemed familiar with the place. I thought for sure she was a regular.” What an unexpected blindsight.

“Where the heck did you get the idea. I mean, you’re a regular.” He shook his head. “If you people took a few beats to think before proposing, maybe you’d find a girl.”

“Says the guy who got ripped off by his wife.” Commented a patron.

“At least, I've had a wife and kind.” It most case it would have closed the argument but...

“Yeah, but does it still count if they both hate your gut?” Asked someone.