Chapter 8 - Divided Paths, Chosen Seats

  The next day at the colosseum, Mary and Yumiko stood in an endless line, surrounded by the buzz of excited spectators. Mary folded her arms, scowling at the sheer number of people. "Why are there so many people? You’d think they’d have more entrances open for this." She glanced at Yumiko, who had been unusually quiet. Her eyes were distant, lost in thought.

  Mary nudged her. "What’s wrong? You’ve barely said a word the past few days. Still worrying about Lukas?"

  Yumiko blinked, snapping out of her daze. "I have faith," she answered, though doubt lingered at the edges of her thoughts. Lukas told me he wouldn’t die… Yet no matter how much she wanted to believe that, unease still weighed heavily on her. She was running out of time to slip away and enter the fighter’s entrance, but the line stretched on, offering no easy escape.

  Mary smirked. "Right, you two had a nice chat on your little date." Her grin widened playfully. "Bet he made all kinds of sweet promises."

  "It was not a date!" Yumiko blurted out, drawing several curious glances from nearby patrons. Realizing how loud she was, she quickly slapped a hand over her mouth, cheeks burning red.

  Mary giggled. "Relax, I was joking. You’re adorable when you get flustered."

  Yumiko let out a slow exhale, trying to shake off her embarrassment.

  Sensing the tension still in her friend, Mary softened. She placed a reassuring hand on Yumiko’s shoulder. "Listen, I know you’re worried. But trust me—he’ll be fine. I can feel it in my gut." She beamed with confidence. "If Lukas can take down Meino’s top goon, put a giant ox in the dirt, and slay that enormous snake, then I’m telling you, he’ll walk out of this just fine. Besides, I checked the rosters. There’s no one at Lukas’ level in the guild competing."

  Yumiko’s brow furrowed as she thought back. Lukas always wore his copper-level tag, making it easy to forget his actual rank. "His real rank… I think I remember hearing it once before… What was it again?"

  Mary grinned. "Ten. And from what I dug up on the other fighters, the strongest among them is only rank nine—some hothead named Benjamin something… Anyways, Lukas’ got this in the bag."

  Despite her words, Yumiko couldn’t shake the vision that had haunted her nights—Lukas lying lifeless in the arena, blood soaking the tiled floor. Her fingers curled into a fist. "But he has to wear that armor… The one designed to kill him. And all for Kenwick’s sick amusement."

  Mary caught the worry in her expression. "Yeah, but it’s Lukas. He’ll figure it out."

  “And what about his condition?” Yumiko asked, worry still etched across her face, “The mana backlash he’s had in the past… He can’t use his magic properly and it restricts the movement in his arm…” The gnawing feeling in her chest wouldn’t go away. She needed to slip away—now—before it was too late.

  Mary hesitated, briefly forgetting about Lukas’ condition. “Right… Well, I’m sure he won’t use much magic. He’ll be okay,” she said, though the confidence in her voice wavered as she tried to reassure Yumiko.

  Before she could say anything more, a smooth, familiar voice cut through the murmuring crowd.

  “My, if it isn’t dear Mary and lovely Yumiko.”

  Yumiko turned toward the source of the voice, spotting Luchs striding toward them, dressed in a pristine, expensive suit. Two bodyguards trailed behind him at a leisurely pace, their presence alone parting the crowd like a wave.

  Around them, patrons whispered in hushed awe, fully aware of who Luchs was. He came to a stop in front of them, a charming grin on his face. Yumiko watched him carefully. Maybe this is the distraction I need to slip away…

  Mary crossed her arms and gave him a flat look. “Hello, richie.”

  “Luchs,” he corrected, smiling awkwardly, but Mary continued as if she hadn’t heard him.

  “What brings you here? Let me guess—you bought yourself some good seats?”

  Luchs chuckled, straightening his cuffs. “Indeed. I have a skybox with a lovely view of the arena. I was going to take my wife, but she’s feeling unwell.” His smile faltered just slightly, his gaze turning distant for a moment. Yumiko caught it—just the briefest flicker of something deeper behind his composed exterior—but before she could dwell on it, he continued.

  “Because of that, I happen to have an extra seat. If either of you would like a better view of Lukas, you’re more than welcome to join me. Or, if you prefer, I can give up my seat so you two can sit together. I’m sure they could arrange an extra chair so all three of us could be there.”

  Mary eyed him skeptically. “Those are some expensive tickets to be tossing around.”

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  Luchs shrugged, his grin never faltering. “I’m a big deal in Braint. They throw these opportunities at me all the time. Having someone important in the audience encourages bigger bets, so for them, giving me free seats is just a business investment.” He gestured toward the colosseum. “So? Would either of you like to take me up on my offer?”

  Mary’s expression darkened as she narrowed her eyes at him. “You think we want good seats to watch our friend die?”

  Yumiko’s fingers twitched. This is it—this is my chance.

  Yumiko turned to Mary and, with a sharp edge in her voice, asked, “I thought you said you believed he was going to win? You told me he wasn’t going to die.”

  Mary blinked, caught off guard by Yumiko’s sudden shift in tone. “I do! I was just giving Richie a hard—”

  “I told you about my dreams—about Lukas dying,” Yumiko interrupted, her voice rising. “You know I don’t like any of this… That something feels off about this whole fight.”

  Mary watched her friend with growing concern. “I do, but I accidentally said something I—”

  “I can’t deal with this…” Yumiko interrupted, her voice sharp with frustration. She turned on her heel and started walking away. “I’ll find another way to watch...”

  “Hey—wait! Yumiko!” Mary called after her, instinctively reaching out as if she could physically pull her back. Her hand fell short, grasping at empty air as Yumiko started walking through the sea of patrons.

  “You better get back here!” Mary shouted, hoping to reason with her. “If you leave now, you’ll lose your spot in line! You won’t be able to get your ticket, you know that? Yumiko!”

  Yumiko heard her, but she didn’t stop. Sorry, Mary, she thought, weaving through the crowd. But I needed a way to get away for the fight.

  Though she used this opportunity to walk away, she had a nagging doubt that gnawed at her. Was Mary just telling her what she wanted to hear—about Lukas making it out alive? Or did Mary deep down think Lukas was not coming out alive? The thought unsettled Yumiko. It reminded her too much of her eldest brother, the way he had reassured her with false hope—telling her Hiro was alive long after he was already gone.

  Mary stood frozen, watching as Yumiko vanished into the bustling crowd. She let out a long sigh, squeezing her eyes shut. “Great… Me and my big mouth.”

  A polite cough broke her moment of self-reproach.

  Luchs, ever composed, tilted his head. “Well… Now that your friend has gone off, how about joining me? Seems like the perfect opportunity.” His tone was light, almost amused, but the invitation was genuine.

  Mary turned to him with a glare, arms crossed. “Listen, I don’t need your handouts or pity. I’ve been waiting in this line for over an hour. I’m not leaving now without getting my tickets.”

  “Oh… I thought you already purchased your tickets…” He said looking at her with confusion. Mary looked at him with a confused look, waiting for Luchs to explain himself. The young man rubbed the back of his neck, hesitating before speaking. “This line you’re in… it’s for the food vendors.”

  Mary blinked. “What?” She snapped her head up, scanning the direction the line was moving.

  Luchs pointed past the crowd toward the vendor stalls in the distance. “See those signs? That’s where this line leads. The ticket line is over there—” He gestured toward another, even longer line by the next set of doors.

  Mary followed his gaze, and when she saw just how much longer the correct line was, her face darkened. “Gods dammit…” she muttered under her breath.

  Luchs offered out his hand. “You could still join me. And if your friend comes back, I can have someone watch for her at the main entrance so she can sit with us. If you try going to the ticket line now, the fight would be over before you could even purchase a seat.”

  Mary glanced around, searching the crowd for any sign of Yumiko. But the endless wave of people stretched in every direction, and her friend was nowhere to be seen.

  With a reluctant sigh, she stepped out of line. “Fine… I’ll join you.” She shot Luchs a pointed look. “But don’t think any of us owe you for this.”

  Luchs raised his hands in a gesture of mock surrender, a charming smile still lingering on his lips. “My dear Mary, of course not! As I’ve said before, a friend of Lukas is a friend of mine. I simply want you to see him up close—to support him. I have nothing to gain from this at all.”

  Mary narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing his face for any hint of deception. Luchs, ever composed, met her gaze without wavering. Eventually, she let out a long sigh and gave a begrudging nod. “Fine. Lead the way, then.”

  Luchs inclined his head in a small, courteous bow before turning to guide her through the dense crowd.

  Meanwhile, on the far side of the colosseum, Yumiko sprinted past towering stone columns, weaving between the grand, ornate pillars that lined the exterior. The roar of the crowd rumbled inside as a pre-show was being held, but she focused only on her goal. Her breaths were steady, her heartbeat quick but controlled.

  Up in the rafters, partially obscured by shadows, a small bag dangled from one of the thick stone beams above. Exactly where she had left it the night prior.

  With a quick glance to make sure no one was watching, she thrust her palm upward. A controlled burst of wind shot from her hand, knocking the bag loose. It tumbled down, and she caught it effortlessly.

  She untied the strap, peering inside. Everything was just as she had left it. Her disguise. Her weapons. Her tools.

  Yumiko exhaled in relief, tightening the bag in her grip. “Good. Now… time to get ready.”

  She turned her gaze toward the colosseum, scanning the structure. Somewhere inside, Lukas was preparing for his fight. She clenched her jaw.

  “I’m not going to let him die.” Her voice was a whisper, but her resolve was unwavering. “Not like in my dreams.”

  Without wasting another second, she darted along the outer edge of the colosseum, her sharp eyes searching for the fighters’ entrance or a place to change.