Chapter 7 - Bonding before Battle

  The next morning, in the dimly lit hotel room, Mary leaned against the small wooden desk, arms crossed as she relayed her findings to Yumiko. "I've been digging through every information network I could find, but Kenwick is slippery," she muttered, tapping a finger against her arm. "From what I gathered, he’s constantly moving the wolf between different locations to keep it hidden. And worse—he's got level eight guild members guarding it. That’s not including dozens of other guards… Real high-level protection." She sighed, shaking her head. "The problem is, I can't pinpoint where exactly the wolf is. Even with my bounty group connections, Kenwick has ways to suppress information."

  Yumiko sat on the bed, hands resting on her lap as she absorbed the information. Her expression was unreadable, but her voice was quiet when she finally spoke. "So fighting is the only way…" Her fingers clenched the fabric of the sheets. "I wish we could talk to Sofia, hear her thoughts."

  Mary stretched her legs out, kicking her feet up onto the desk. "She's got her hands full dealing with Meino," she said. Then, almost as an afterthought, she added, "Besides, what if she's managing other people… like us? I mean, if this Meino guy has his own team, who's to say Sofia doesn’t have one too?"

  Yumiko lowered her gaze, shoulders slightly slumping. "So she really does have her hands full."

  "Maybe..." Mary shrugged. "It’s hard to say, but she did say she'd talk to us again. All we have to do is wait."

  Silence settled over the room, the weight of uncertainty hanging between them. Mary glanced over at Yumiko, noticing the distant look in her eyes, as if she were lost in thought. She frowned. "You okay? You’ve been kinda quiet today."

  Yumiko blinked, startled from her thoughts. "Y-yeah, I’m fine," she said quickly. Too quickly. She hesitated, pressing her lips together. For a brief moment, she considered telling Mary about the ticket she had to enter the colosseum—about how, if they didn’t find Snow in time, she’d have no choice but to fight and help Lukas. But the words caught in her throat. Instead, she forced a small, strained smile. "It’s just… a lot to process, you know?"

  Mary sighed, stretching her arms behind her head as she continued to lean back in her chair. "Tell me about it."

  A sharp knock on the door broke the silence.

  Mary didn’t move, merely tilting her head toward the sound. "It’s open," she called lazily.

  The door creaked open, and Luchs stepped inside, offering a polite smile as he shut it behind him. "Sorry to intrude," he said.

  Mary barely spared him a glance. "Oh, if it isn’t Richie Rich," she drawled, still leaning back. "What do you need?"

  Luchs let out an awkward chuckle. "It’s… Luchs, actually," he corrected, though it was clear Mary wasn’t interested in acknowledging it. Clearing his throat, he straightened his posture. "I came to talk about the Lukas situation. I have some information on the wolf."

  Mary immediately sat up, eyes sharp with interest. "You do? You know where they're hiding it?"

  Luchs hesitated, then shook his head. "Not exactly. But I did confirm that they’re moving it constantly, shifting it between locations to keep anyone from tracking it."

  Mary exhaled sharply and leaned back against the chair again, her enthusiasm fading. "We already knew that."

  "Then you should know this too," Luchs said, his voice dropping to a cold, serious tone that sent a shiver down Yumiko’s spine. "The wolf is locked away behind a magical barrier, guarded by Kenwick’s personal enforcers. The cage itself is reinforced steel, with additional magical seals placed on the lock and around the cage itself. You think you’re gathering information and that nothing bad will come of it, Mary Pearce, but let me warn you—Kenwick doesn’t play fair. If he finds out that you are snooping around, it will be the end of you."

  Mary exhaled sharply, leaning back in her chair. "Yeah, Richie, I know. Most guys in Braint don’t play nice. I was careful with my snooping—I know what I am doing."

  “If I know, he knows. And unlike others…” Luchs shook his head, his expression grim. "Kenwick is worse. He doesn’t stop at the usual threats—he goes for your family, your friends, your contacts. Worst of allt, he has the guild backing him. His father sits on the Board of Engineering, which gives him access to privileges most people at his rank could only dream of."

  Mary waved a hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. So what’s his level? Eight? Nine?"

  "Eleven," Luchs said simply.

  Mary’s smirk faded.

  "Not only is he a high-ranking guild member," Luchs continued, "but sometimes he enters the colosseum himself, fighting strong opponents for sport. Mr. Kenwick isn’t just another rich scumbag that is blinded by money. If he catches you digging into his affairs, he won’t just make you disappear—he’ll kill the wolf out of spite and throw you into the arena for his own entertainment. The man loves the crowd more than anything. Call him a pure entertainer with a dangerous side."

  Yumiko swallowed hard. "He… really doesn’t mess around, does he?"

  Luchs glanced at her, his gaze unwavering. "No, he doesn’t. And now that Lukas has signed up for the competition, Kenwick has laid down his own set of rules. Rules that I came here to remind you of: Don’t interfere with the wolf. Don’t pry into Kenwick’s personal business. Don’t meddle in the guild’s affairs. This whole thing is dangerous. Should either of you enter or interfere, it won’t end well."

  Mary let out a short breath, rubbing her temple. "I know. I had two nights of searching that led to nothing… I know when something’s too high risk and to stop."

  "Good," Luchs said. "Because that brings me to my next point: neither of you are to enter the fight."

  Mary snorted. "Not much of a choice there. All the tickets are sold out, anyway. It would be a miracle if you can even find a fighter in this city that has one."

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  Luchs shrugged. "Figured I should make it clear." He scratched the back of his head, his expression softening slightly. "I tried talking Lukas out of this whole thing, but he’s… stubborn. Stubborn in a way I can respect. Reminds me of my wife, actually." His eyes flickered with something distant, something fond and sorrowful, though a small smile lingered on his lips.

  A silence settled between them, heavy yet fleeting.

  "What if one of us did join?" Yumiko asked quietly. “In the colosseum fight, I mean…”

  Luchs turned to her, his expression serious once more. "Then the same consequences apply as if you were caught searching for the wolf—death."

  He reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a pocket watch, glancing at it before slipping it back into place. "I spoke with Lukas about an hour ago. He mentioned heading to get something to eat after training. Knowing him, he’s probably at The Getter—it’s a pub near the north entrance of town, the same way you guys entered through. If you want to try talking him out of this, that’d be your best shot."

  “There’s nothing more I can say,” Mary muttered, rolling her eyes. “I tried stopping him. It’s not going to work. If Lukas says he’s entering this fight, then that’s all there is to it. I even tried looking for the wolf to prevent all this, but I came up empty. There’s nothing more I can do.”

  Yumiko pushed herself up from her chair. “Where is this tavern again? Maybe I can talk to Lukas one more time…”

  She barely listened as Luchs repeated the directions. The moment she had enough to go on, she sprinted out of the hotel, weaving through the chaotic streets of Braint. The city was as unforgiving as ever—filthy alleyways, the stench of unwashed bodies and cheap ale lingering in the air. Panhandlers lurched toward her, hands outstretched, their voices blending into a cacophony of pleading. Vendors blocked her path, shoving trinkets and questionable goods in her face.

  As she ran, she felt a tug at her waistband, but she was too quick. She spun, swatting away the would-be pickpocket, who vanished into the crowd with a hissed curse.

  She pressed forward, her breath steady, her pace unyielding. Soon, the weathered sign of The Getter’s Pub came into view. The wooden building sagged with age, its faded windows murky with grime. The peeling green paint barely clung to the walls, like the place itself was trying to disappear.

  Yumiko stepped up to the door and pushed it open.

  To her surprise, the inside was… pleasant. Dimly lit but not dingy, quiet but not lifeless. She had expected worse given the state of the streets outside. A handful of patrons sat scattered around, minding their own business. Her eyes drifted toward the far corner of the room, where a lone blonde man sat hunched over his table.

  Lukas.

  A half-empty mug rested beside him. He stared down at it, lost in thought, his broad shoulders tense.

  Yumiko quickly crossed the room. “Lukas?”

  He flinched slightly before his expression flattened. His eyes flicked toward her, then he exhaled. “How did you—” He cut himself off, rolling his eyes. “Luchs told you.”

  Yumiko nodded and took a seat across from him. “Listen, I wanted to talk to you one more time abo—”

  “About me entering the fight.” Lukas didn’t even let her finish. His voice was calm, unwavering. “You already told me about your nightmare and your concerns. I’ve heard Mary’s lectures on top of all of that. Even Luchs took his turn. But let me make something clear—” He leaned forward slightly, his blue eyes sharp. “I’m not entering this fight to throw away my life. I’m entering to save my friend. If any of you have faith in me, then you should know one thing—” His fingers tapped against the table. “I am not going to die. I will win, and I shall live.”

  Yumiko studied him in silence. His conviction never wavered, his willpower as unshakable as ever. That was Lukas Adler.

  “…At least don’t drink your worries away,” she finally said. “I don’t want to see you go down a path of misery and drunkenness.”

  Lukas smirked, pushing his mug toward her. “It’s water.”

  A flicker of amusement danced across his otherwise stoic face.

  “Oh…” Yumiko’s cheeks flushed faintly.

  The moment stretched between them, quiet but not uncomfortable.

  Finally, she spoke again, her voice softer. “I know you want to save Snow… but is there really no other way?”

  Lukas shook his head. “Like I said, I made a promise—to my fallen comrades and your brother. I’m not backing away from a fight if my friends are in danger.”

  Yumiko hesitated. A part of her wanted to tell Lukas she was going to enter the fight herself, hoping to prevent the nightmare she had seen of him lying dead on the arena ground. But she held back. He wouldn’t approve.

  “So… The fight is in two days,” she said, carefully watching his expression. “Are you ready? Do you really think you’ll be okay?”

  Lukas didn’t hesitate. “I will be okay.” His voice was calm, unconcerned.

  Yumiko frowned. “I heard from people across town—there will be a lot of fighters. And they fight dirty. Some of them are seasoned veterans, others are brutes with no honor. And then there’s the armor that only you are going to wear…” She swallowed. “That thing is designed to kill you and wear you down. It’s going to put you at a massive disadvantage...”

  Lukas exhaled slowly. “Listen, I’m not going down without a fight. And I’m certainly not dying… not yet, at least.” His lips curled into a smirk, as if the thought of death didn’t faze him. He tilted his head slightly. “So don’t look at me like that. You remind me of my father. He always had that same worried look whenever I went out to work as a kid.”

  Before Yumiko could respond, a middle-aged pubkeeper arrived, setting down a steaming plate of roasted turkey in front of Lukas. She smiled warmly as she placed two plates on the table and a mug of water in front of Yumiko.

  “I’m so happy he has a little friend now,” the woman said, beaming at Yumiko. “I see him here from time to time, always looking so gloomy. He never has anyone with him.”

  Yumiko opened her mouth to explain that she wasn’t staying, but the pubkeeper continued.

  “I’m getting you two some fried sliced potatoes with gravy—on the house. They go great with the smoked turkey.”

  Before Yumiko could protest, the woman bustled away, leaving her stunned. She turned to Lukas, who merely shrugged.

  “There’s plenty of food. Dig in.” He grabbed the silverware, carved a few thick slices of turkey, and slid a plate toward Yumiko.

  Yumiko started at the plate for a moment, confused by Lukas’ hospitality. She hesitated, then picked up her fork, bringing a bite to her mouth. Her eyes widened. “Wow! This is way better than I expected!”

  Lukas chuckled, a rare flicker of amusement crossing his usually stoic face. “That’s why I like this place. It’s quiet, it’s clean, and the food is always good.”

  For a while, they simply ate, the tension of their earlier conversation fading into the warmth of good food and unexpected company.

  Yumiko found herself surprised at how relaxed Lukas seemed. She had never seen this side of him before—calm, open, even willing to share small moments of joy.

  As the meal went on, Lukas spoke about his past, revealing bits and pieces he had never mentioned before. He told her about his father, about their struggling farm near Hoffen’s northern border. “We were terrible at it,” he admitted with a faint grin. “But we had fun trying.”

  Yumiko, in turn, shared stories from her childhood—how she had been confined to “womanly” duties dictated by her father, her frustrations, and the quiet defiance that led her to where she was now.

  For the first time since their journey began, the two of them weren’t just traveling companions. They were simply two people, sharing a meal, sharing their pasts.

  Neither of them realized that in just two days, the upcoming colosseum fight would change their lives forever.