"While some favor training their own people, ones whose loyalty were not to be questioned, to competence, others favor looking for competence first, and building loyalty as they go.

Neither approach could be said to be wrong. The former approach guarantees loyalty, but competence is not guaranteed, and needs time and resources to achieve. On the other hand, the second approach starts with competence, at the risk of possible betrayal." - Sanguinus Lopus Eschera, Advisor to Xaliburnus the Conqueror.

The Colosseum

Sabaya, Central Elmaiya

Third Elmaiya Empire

3rd day of the 3rd week, 8th month of the year 161 VA.

A week later, Aideen found herself seated in the imperial family's box at the colosseum, the greatest stadium in Elmaiya. She was seated in a plush, comfortable chair while she cradled Luina, Lucea's youngest daughter who was barely two years of age, in her arms.

Built in the very center of the imperial capital - the Imperial Palace was actually built further to the north-east side -, the colosseum was one of the oldest buildings in Sabaya. Legend told of its construction under the orders of Xaliburnus the Conqueror himself, the First Emperor of the Elmaiya Empire, in his later days.

In the first and second empires, the place saw much bloodshed, as bloodsport was popular amongst the rowdy inhabitants of the empire. Many slaves and gladiators had soaked the sands of the colosseum red with their lifeblood.

The Third Empire had forbidden bloodsports, at least, those fought to the death between two people. People still fought wild beasts in the colosseum, and some of those battles ended in unfortunate manners for the combatants.

On the other hand, all the combatants were people who fought on their own free will, in the hopes of making a name - or for some, a lucrative career - for themselves. A far different situation than the slaves and gladiators of the past who often were forced to fight against their will.

With the natural rowdy nature of the therians that comprised the majority of the empire's population, such "sporting" events were a common outlet for those natural urges. They also proved highly popular amongst the populace at large.

Today's event, which saw a massive crowd of spectators that filled the whole colosseum, all the way to the standing-only areas, was a special one. The imperial family was holding a tournament-style event, to celebrate the recovery of the old Emperor.

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All that was done within a mere three days after those responsible for the attempt were sentenced. The Empire worked fast.

Events such as these were not merely entertainment for the crowd. Many nobles and high ranking members of the government also watched the proceedings, in search of talents and competent people.

Other than the hefty sum of cash as a reward for those who win the competition, job offers from various influential figures were often given to contestants who had impressed them one way or another. It was a prime opportunity for those intending to make a name for themselves.

"Aww… she likes you," said Lucea fondly as she watched her youngest daughter curl up and fell asleep on Aideen's lap. She and Tesruq were both present in the box, as was Khaer Ul. Her three older children, aged fifteen, nine, and seven respectively, had their own seats between their parents and their grandfather.

"Usually small children weren't the fondest of me," replied Aideen with a slight smile on her face. It was probably the way young children tend to perceive the world differently. Artair had theorized that maybe they perceived her state of being as rather unnatural and thus avoided her. Most unliving faced the same issue, unless the children were their own or their descendants.

"It's likely your affinity. We always had to find some mortality affinity nursemaids to take care of the kids when they were young," explained Lucea with a nod. All of her children were of the mortality affinity since she was life affinity and Tesruq had death affinity. Besides their parents, children tend to find those with the same affinity as themselves more instinctively acceptable. "Oh, they are about to start!"

Down at the field, hundreds of people from all races marched out. They stood as a whole in the center of the colosseum, turned to face the box where the imperial family was, and as one, saluted in the imperial style, their balled left fist against their right breast, right arm straight and raised diagonally, with their fists clenched tight.

"Ave, Imperatrix! Morituri te salutant!" Said the hundreds of contestants as one. It was an old phrase from the previous empires, when fights were to the death, a final salute from those who were about to die. Its usage remained even now, although fights in the colosseum rarely ended in fatalities nowadays.

The Empress stood from her seat, and raised her hand in turn as she returned the salute. There were not that many participants present, maybe three hundred, which was not surprising given the rather sudden nature of the event.

"You may begin. Fight with honor!" intoned Lucea to the excited howls of the participants and the cheers of the crowd.

With three hundred or so participants, the competition followed a relatively simple format. Around twenty participants were made into a group by drawing lots. Then the groups were to enter the arena one at a time, and fight until there was a last warrior standing.

Since deaths were not desired, killing of an opponent was prohibited with disqualification as the punishment. The participants were each given padded wooden weapons to fight with, in shapes that resembled their respective weapons of choice

As the Empress had given her permission, the first group of nineteen, spread broadly around the sandy arena in the middle of the colosseum, charged at one another with bellows and warrior cries.

In the perimeter of the arena, trained soldiers kept watch. They were to intervene when people refused to accept their loss and to judge a victor where necessary. Some healers employed by the state also stood on standby should they be needed.

Nobles and ministers watched closely from their respective seats. Some were in private boxes like the imperial family's, but smaller, while others mingled with the crowds. They kept an eye out, in search of talents and other interesting people amongst the participants.