Deeper and deeper Dreiki followed. He was thankful for the light he could cast, but he wondered how someone like Rixam stomached being buried alive behind Gornax. He must have had a lot of trust for him. There was no doubt that they were a good team together.

Gornax stopped, gesturing to a white brick wall, “Alright, this part’s a bit tough. The brick’s enchanted so it’s always repairing itself, and that sorta thing is difficult to overpower with my magic.” He took a deep breath, jabbing his fingers into the brickwork and pulling them apart with all four of his arms.

Slowly but surely, he widened the gap until it was big enough for everyone to walk through.

“Do you always have to enter like this?” Dreiki asked

“No, not always, there’s an easier entrance and exit, but this way ensures no one follows us.”

Dreiki stepped through. Inside, the walls were layered with the same white bricks which seemed as new as the day they were installed. Above the bricks, the stone had been carved smooth and flat, trailing high up the walls until it made a dome at the top. Veins of copper and golds ran along the stones, seeming to pulse with life. Pale bluish crystals which hung from the ceiling like stars illuminated the place. The air was warm here, and it was fresh too. It felt as if he was outside on a summer night looking up at constellations.

He wondered why such a strange underground ruin existed beneath Kul Creek. Calling them ‘ruins’ was not accurate. Perhaps ‘ancient’, but far from ruins in any sense of the term.

In the center of the building was an arcane circle. Dreiki recognized the runes carved into the ground. They were similar to the ones used in the colosseum of Yvian to ensure that stray magic or debris would not harm the audience members. He could also see the ‘renovations’ Gornax had mention earlier as they stuck out like a sore thumb. A nest of hammocks, makeshift wooden furniture, a cooking pot with a subterranean vent leading to the surface, and various stolen vases, statues, tapestries, and paintings which looked like they belonged to a nobleman’s household.

They probably did at one point.

“I was wanting to build a bar or something, but I’ve been putting it off since… well… between one of us being the bartender and the other the drinker it’d be a sad sight. And I suppose those plans’re gonna still be on the shelf since you’re both kids.”

“How old are the two of you by the way?”

“I’m fourteen, Rixam’s Fifteen, why?”

“You’re not too much older than us, then.”

“Really? How old are you? nine?”

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“I’m twelve?”

“Really? Damn. You look so young!”

“I get that a lot. Luna’s a bit older than me too.”

“Still younger than us though, so you’re always gonna be kids to us!” Gornax laughed.

“Let’s remember why we’re here, Gornax.” Rixam said with a stern look on his face as he entered the spell circle in the center of the room.

“Right, can’t afford to waste too much time on pleasantries.”

“In the interest of saving time, do you think it would be better if we had a two on two match?” Dreiki asked.

The two of them thought for a bit, seeming to have a silent conversation through gesture.

“Sounds good to me, but that’s just asking to lose.” Gornax said.

“You’re not the only one who fights better with a partner.”

“Ha! Alright then, two on two! Take your time to get prepared in whatever way you like, unarmed combat with magic allowed. Although I suppose you can still cut with magic- ah whatever, just no weapons to start.”

“Sounds good to me.”

Dreiki looked to see Luna staring daggers at them. She looked determined to win, but there was something else in those eyes that he couldn’t quite place.

“You alright with that, Luna?”

“More than alright. Five minutes right?” She punched her palm, a cold breeze fluttering through the cavern as the temperature dropped around her.

“Hey, I just noticed something! It’s fire and water vs earth and wind. The four common elements in one place.” Gornax said, stretching out.

“So it would seem. We’re all Noxa from Venator blood too, how ‘bout that? Y’know I don’t believe in coincidences. This is fate.” Rixam said.

Dreiki stepped into the ring, bouncing about on his toes and going through a quick warmup routine before standing ready. This would be the first time he fought anyone directly outside of Luna or Savekio. There was a nervousness in his gut that wouldn’t go away no matter how many deep breaths he took.

It was only when he remembered everything that had happened to him these past few months that he was able to calm down. Everything that drove him, and everything he had done up until now.

These two would be the toughest challenge he had faced yet, but he had been training for this day. In reality, Savekio didn’t need to make it as difficult as he had for the two of them. Even if Dreiki trusted his judgment, he had still thrown the two of them to the wolves.

When you’re a lamb, pretend to be a wolf.

So that’s what it was. This was another test. Another opportunity to prove he was ready for more. Savekio didn’t know they would win, but he had given them a challenge they could easily fail at.

In the worst case scenario, they wouldn’t get any information from these two, but they could still resume their original plan.

“Timer’s all set up, you ready?” Rixam asked.

Dreiki nodded, taking a stance.

“Count us down, Grandad.” he said, taking a stance of his own.

Savekio walked along the border of the circle, activating each rune as he passed, “Three!”

Dreiki tensed.

“Two!”

He relaxed, adjusting his stance.

“One!”

His eyes were set ablaze by magical energy.

“Begin!”