Chapter 25 : Pre-Tournament

"I lost consciousness again..." I sigh, frustrated. I just woke up in the inn where Elvie and I had grown accustomed to staying. Elvaria is asleep beside me, clutching my arm tightly. I must have been unconscious for quite a while. I'm tired of worrying her so much.

I turn my head toward the door of our room.

"What the?!" I exclaim, shaking Elvaria abruptly. Standing at the entrance was Alfira, motionless, her wide eyes fixed on us. She had been watching us sleep.

"You worried us when you suddenly passed out. I thought I lost my prey... no, my target... well, my future adventure companion." She stumbles over her words, awkwardly correcting herself. Alfira is, without a doubt, the strangest person I know.

"Mhh... Aley..." Elvie murmurs, still half asleep. She buries her face into my shirt, clearly trying to ignore Alfira's presence by hiding her ears against my chest.

I sigh. "What are you doing here, Alfira? Aren’t you supposed to be a princess?" I keep a serious tone, my eyes locked on the door.

"Well, I was a princess. Without my right to the throne, I’m only a princess by name now. But tell me, is this where you live? You’re S-rank adventurers, wouldn’t you prefer a mansion?" She glances around, surveying the small room where we’ve spent most of our time.

"That’s true, Aley... We do need a home of our own..." Elvaria murmurs sleepily, struggling to keep her eyes open.

I sigh again, gently resting my hand on her head. "How long was I unconscious?" I ask, addressing both of them.

"Only a few hours..." Alfira responds instantly, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. She seems proud of how quickly she replied.

But suddenly, a vision bursts into my mind. I see myself transported to a beautiful place: a clearing in the middle of a dense forest, where stunning bluish flowers carpet the ground. The trees are heavy with fruit, a shimmering lake sits at the center, and a towering mountain stands at the edge, forming a natural barrier against any outside danger. In the heart of this clearing, a two-story house stands, simple yet welcoming. A deep sense of nostalgia washes over me, and an overwhelming desire to find this place takes hold of me.

"Alfira," I say, turning toward her, "you’re the princess of this kingdom. Have you heard of a house nestled in a clearing of blue flowers?"

She takes on a perplexed expression, clearly deep in thought. "A clearing of blue flowers..." she murmurs. "That rings a bell... Ah! It’s the heart of a dungeon that no one has ever been able to open."

I stare at her, intrigued, as she continues, more focused. "On the dungeon’s door, colored patterns depict exactly what you're describing. The only other place where those blue flowers exist is the Floating Kingdom, but it crashed millennia ago during the Holy War. Its exact location is still unknown."

She raises a finger, a serious expression on her face. "If you’re looking for those flowers, that dungeon is probably your best lead."

"And where is this dungeon?" I ask, still absorbed in the vision that now obsesses me.

"No matter where it is, we’ll find it together." Elvaria's voice brings me back to reality. She holds onto me tighter, determined.

And so, the days passed quickly. The tournament was approaching, but part of my mind remained fixed on that vision. An adventure far greater than anything we’d experienced so far awaited us. And, at the dawn of the tournament, a new quest was already on the horizon.

Alfira returned to the castle, promising to come back at the end of the tournament. It seems we’ll have to bring her along on our future adventures... But today, not everything is grim. It’s a day of celebration; the first day of the tournament is finally starting. Neither Elvaria nor I are competing today, our fights won’t happen until tomorrow. So, we’ve decided to visit the guild members, celebrate a little before the first match begins.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The entire capital of Iveralmn is buzzing with excitement. Makeshift food stalls line the streets as far as the eye can see, and the anticipation in the air is palpable. Elvie and I, having woken up at dawn, decided to stroll through the stalls on our way to the guild. Currently, Elvaria is already in full swing, as excited as a child, running toward a Goliath meat stand. Her hair flies wildly as she places her order.

"Aley, I’ve got our share!" she shouts, running back toward me, a big smile on her face. She hands me a meat skewer that she seems to have hunted herself.

I pause for a moment to admire the city. Despite the gray sky covered in threatening clouds, the torches and floating orbs of light give the capital a warm atmosphere. For the locals, bad weather is no excuse to halt the festivities. The cries of merchants hawking their goods echo all around us, bringing life to every corner of the streets.

"Aley?" Elvaria turns toward me, looking puzzled. "Are you stressed out by all these people?" She gives me a mischievous smile before adding playfully, "Do you want your sweetheart to hold your hand?"

She extends her hand toward me, her cheeks slightly flushed, not out of embarrassment but pure happiness. I can’t help but smile back and take her hand in mine. It's true, right now, I’m really happy to share these moments with her.

We walk through the bustling streets, immersed in the joy of the festival. Travelers from all over have come to witness the tournament, filling the already crowded capital, but this crowd only adds to the festive atmosphere, making it even more pleasant. The smiles of families, the laughter filling the air, and Elvaria’s hand in mine are enough to make me forget the worries of everyday life. Every now and then, she throws me little side glances, and I feel my heart swell with joy.

"We’ve arrived, Elvie." I point to the large wooden building of the guild standing before us. We step inside.

"W-what the!?" A man suddenly exclaims upon seeing us enter, visibly surprised. It's not shocking; it was to be expected. In an instant, all heads turn toward us.

"S-so it’s true?! Novus Obris lives in Iveralmn...!" Whispers ripple through the guild like wildfire. Envious, curious, and respectful gazes land on us. Elvaria, proud, puffs out her chest and steps forward slightly, soaking in the attention.

Right now, everything feels so peaceful. This calm almost gives me the impression of living through the quiet before the storm, but I suppose the only "storm" I’ll have to deal with for now is Alfira... so everything is fine.

I glance over at Elvaria, who nods. And then, as if synchronized, we speak in one voice:

"Listen up! Novus Obris is treating everyone to drinks! Today is a day of celebration!" we shout in unison.

The murmurs of the adventurers turn into cheers. The festivities instantly ignite within the rustic atmosphere of the guild. For the next few hours, an impromptu party fills the walls of this usually quieter place. The time for the tournament’s first fight approaches: Owul the revenant versus Lein Mart. All bets are on Owul, of course.

"Elvie, shall we go?" I ask, turning to Elvaria, still seated at one of the tables, happily devouring her meal.

"O-oh yes, sorry! It’s time for the first match, we can’t miss it." She hurries to finish her plate, and after a few minutes, we leave the guild, heading toward the arena. As expected, the place is packed with tourists.

"Quick Step," I murmur before propelling myself into the air and landing smoothly on a roof.

"Flash Step," Elvaria replies, walking up the walls of a house before landing next to me on the roof.

Rather than weaving our way through the crowd, we run across the rooftops of the capital, speeding straight toward the arena. After all, modern problems require modern solutions.

Somewhere in the world:

"Macrinis, that useless man!" a voice roared, distorted by hatred. The man stood atop a wind-swept hill, where two solitary graves lay, etched into the stone. His eyes, burning with rage, finally softened as his gaze fell upon them.

"I promise you, soon... I will bring you back to life, Elvi, Aleystria..." he murmured, his tears mixing with the dust carried by the wind. The despair that gripped him each morning when he came here was overwhelming. He visited these graves without fail, day after day, committing atrocities in the hope of finding the power to resurrect those he cherished.

But this poor man was unaware of a cruel truth. The graves he knelt before, for which he had sacrificed so much... were false. Elvi and Aleystria, whom he believed dead, were very much alive. How could he have known? He, a broken survivor of the Holy War, had fought tirelessly to bring back those he once called his friends, his allies. But his failure was inevitable.

And he would never succeed... because those he believed dead were not.

The time will come. What will he say when his eyes once again meet those of the ones he thought lost forever?