A knocking on the door disturbed Norbert from his slumber. His brain was not properly functioning as he looked up at the strange ceiling above him, his heart in a panic for a moment, thinking he had been captured. Only after a jerk to alert himself did he look around the rest of the room.
The wardrobe was to the side, his sword leaning on the chest at the foot of his bed. Norbert breathing out as he calmed himself down, sitting up properly Norbert lifted his legs off the side of the bed, careful not to get the sheets he was under on the ground.
Looking about, not seeing Obsius anywhere around, assuming the bird must have gone out earlier, having slept through the dinner. Norbert stood up, the knocking still coming from the door. Stumbling towards it, Norbert swung the door open, seeing Vivienne standing there, arm out, as she was about to knock again.
“I just woke up. Is something important happening?” Norbert asked the witch.
“Nothing much except the fight you have in the tournament today.” Vivienne told Norbert.
Stuck for a moment, Norbert looked at her, the relief of finding the kids a place to live and getting his mask back that Norbert forgot why he could bargain for the time off in the first place.
“Is that today?” Norbert asked Vivienne. The witch responded with a nod, and she leaned on the doorframe. Norbert ran back into the room, opening the chest. He looked in there and confirmed there was nothing he would need immediately. Remembering the note that he had to give, not wanting it to be ruined in the tournament, Norbert but not wanting to leave it behind or let Vivienne see whatever was written on it, Norbert left it where it was.
Having another once over, happy that he didn’t forget anything, Norbert closed the chest lid and felt it slam down. Picking up the sword, Norbert gave it a single swing in the air, hearing its whistle, its cry to be used.
Strapping it to himself, Norbert turned to Vivienne, now noticing the woman was looking at him, probably staring at him from the amount of time she had spent looking before. Feeling uncomfortable from the contact, Norbert turned around, finding his helmet on his bed. Reaching over, Norbert unclasped both sides as he placed the helmet on his head, the two pieces of metal clicking together as they formed one.
“How are you feeling?” She asked him.
Norbert stared at her, shrugging, before walking to the door and walking past. He headed to the other side as he looked at the mirror; there was no depiction of a corrupted world, only his reflection. Stopping at it, Norbert leaned forward, his eyes catching him. There was a shimmer of green there before it disappeared.
Looking behind him, Norbert saw a lamp had recently been hung, the green light it emitted slightly moving about within its glass chamber. Looking over the balcony, he wondered what the point of the light with the chandelier so close was.
It was not his place to design or critique, and he did not want to get thrown out. Norbert gave a slight wave, “I’m feeling fine for the fight to come. I appreciate your concern. Now I better be off before I miss it.” Norbert spoke aloud, his voice echoing around the mansion, which seemed eerily quiet to him at this moment, the usual hustle and bustle was missing. But Norbert couldn't put his finger on what exactly it was.
Taking steps two at a time, Norbert walks down the stairs and heads to the door. Norbert opened it up as he looked around the yard outside, smiling for a reason. Norbert didn’t know why as he stepped over the wrought iron gate.
Opening it up without even a sound, Norbert was happy that it wasn’t creaking as he walked out. He looked both ways before heading to the stairs that would lead to the tailor, hoping he wouldn’t be forced to buy anything after the last time he bought all of the cloaks.
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“But you must get it.” The tailor told Norbert in a tone that wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Norbert looked down at the clothing at hand, a pair of knitted gloves he was holdingng up to the tailor with the leather ones he had on.
“Isn't this a bit ridiculous?” Norbert asked, indicating outside with a head wave as sand blew down the street. Norbert saw the people entering from outside, slightly damp from the sweat produced by the heat.
“But it’s the highest of fashion, and only for a gold coin. A true bargain.” The tailor started to plead with Norbert.
Holding them up once more, Norbert looked at the designs on them, internally gagging at what he looked at. On either one, embroidered was a massive love heard, taking up both sides of the hand area; Norbert shook his head as he turned it around, the gloves cut in half, each side having their colour, dark on the top half and light on the bottom. Each heart uses the fabric colour of the other side.
“I need to leave,” Norbert said again, stepping towards the door, only for the tailor to appear in front of him again, blocking his way. Looking to anyone else in the shop, even the other workers, not wanting to pay attention to Norbert in case they grabbed the attention of the tailor trying to sell the gloves to Norbert.
“Then you should buy them and best get on your way.” The tailor told Norbert.
Sighing, Norbert grabbed the pair of gloves and trudged towards the counter. Reaching into his pouch, he pulled out a silver coin and placed it on the wooden counter, pushing energy into the movement of the coin as it became lodged in the table.
Walking away with the gloves in hand, reaching into his coat as he put the gloves in there, not wanting to put them on as his fingers would be stuck together, unable to move or grip anything properly. He did not want to throw out the gloves in case one of the workers might see him and refuse to use the exit. Other countries would have the same monopolies for getting between the two cities. It's not worth disturbing the apple cart in Norbert's mind to move to a potentially worse place.
Looking both ways, he no longer hid as he walked around, heading towards the Colosseum, wondering how long it would take until the first Kreevss would pop their heads out and start chasing him. Walking further, Norbert wondered how he hadn't seen any when, up ahead outside one of the entrances, he stopped, having spotted the first Kreevss.
Standing there, half slumping against the wall, Norbert not recognising them, not knowing if it was a good or bad thing that it wasn't the leader. At least Norbert knew his standing of running, but with the lone Kreevss, the others would be searching elsewhere for him, and Norbert did not want to have another chase around the city.
Norbert walked straight up, feeling the energy coursing through his body, ready to be released as Norbert plastered a smile hidden behind his helmet, hoping it would be better and give some aura of positivity.
Norbert smiled as he waved to the Kreevss. "How goes it?" The moment Norbert spoke, his voice echoing from behind the mask, the people around him instantly moved away, parting like the Red Sea. Wondering how they knew about the interaction, supposing he was in his usual gear as Norbert looked down at himself.
"Carry on. You've got a fight, and I've placed coins on you to lose. So I hope for your own interests that you don't make me chase after you." The Kreevss mostly slithered out to Norbert.
Norbert stood for a moment before shrugging and, in the future, making his way around the stadium. As he passed, he passed more and more. On the fourth one, Norbert hears the same sentiment from the creatures. He smiled as he passed it, heading inside the colossum, waiting for a slime to appear before him and direct him to the correct place. Fishing out his token, Norbert presented it prematurely as he thought to himself, "It's funny that all these people want me to die after seeing myself get beheaded."
The slime appeared in front of Norbert. "Name and number, please, none of that drabble." Its monotone voice breaks slightly with its comment about Norbert.
Staring down at the creature, Norbert quickly spouts off his credentials,, "Norbert, number 1543.."
The slime moved to the right, once more heading towards the underground passage, assuming he would be going to the same room as before. Making going down and down the ramp he was making it across with others also moving about. The slime stopped at one of the entranceways; Norbert looked up and saw the smooth rock above him. He felt the structure's weight above his head as he walked through, looking at only a handful of beds left.
Walking around, he saw the one with his tag as Norbert flopped down on it, half surprised not to see Obsius waiting for him. Turning around, looking at Norbert, staring at the only words there.
Arzlan against Norbert.