“…I guess you are right,” Alnea said, acquiescing to Yuri’s words, before turning towards Cecilia with a wry smile. “It looks like the ‘secret’ will have to remain a ‘secret’ for a bit longer.”

“…Fine,” Cecilia grumbled. “But I will remember this, ‘Stingy Alnea’.”

“…I will make it up to you after we go back to our mansion, alright?”

“…How?”

“…Let us keep that as a surprise for now.”

“…If this would be anything like your last surprise, then you will be dead.”

“…Don’t worry. I have not lived enough yet.”

“Good… Why are you making that face now, Vestia?”

“…Cecilia can get a surprise just because you did not tell her the secret. But I am risking my life to get to the bottom of that secret for you… Are you not going to give me anything?”

“…Vixen…”

“You already know the secret…”

“But I did not ask for it.”

“…Technically, you did ask for it.”

“But I did it for you. I did it because I did not want to see you getting into trouble,” Vestia said, blinking with large, innocent eyes, while ignoring Cecilia’s glares. As for Yuri… she had already given up trying to keep the blue robed girl in line. Instead, she diverted all her attention on keeping him in check.

“…Stop teasing Lia, Vestia.”

“I am not teasing her though,” Vestia said. “I truly am asking for my share of reward.”

“…Reward?”

“Yes, my reward for gathering information in the past month.”

“…But I only have Low Grade Martial Style Medals. Are you sure you want them?”

“Who wants your Medals?” Vestia said, glaring at him for a couple of moments, before calming herself, resuming her innocent and aggrieved look. “Did I not tell you back then? I am not interested in the strength that the Lost City can bring me. I am more interested in you…”

“…We talked over this back then. I even gave you a promise.”

“That you will fulfil when we leave the Lost City. I am risking my life for you almost every day. Should you not give me a few benefits every now and then to help keep me motivated?”

“…I will give you your surprise later.”

“…I will be looking forward to it,” Vestia said, replacing her aggrieved look with a beautiful smile, closed on both sides by her dimples. That was the only thing that made Alnea relax a little. Seeing the smiles of the girls around him. Making them smile though…

“Me too,” Yuri said in a tone that refused any and all questions. “I wonder what surprise you will have for me.”

It was difficult, and sometimes, even tiresome. But worth it.

“…Blood Soldier N one three zero six four six eight, and N zero six zero eight four nine nine, come up to the stage.”

“N one three zero six four six eight,” Vestia mumbled, before hurriedly glancing around the Arena, as if searching for something.

“…You got it wrong, Vestia. My identity number is N zero six zero eight four nine nine,” Alnea said, and waved at the girls, before—

Stopping in his tracks, Alnea looked back to find Vestia holding his left hand.

“…Be careful, Alnea,” Vestia said with a solemn face, before pointing to the purple robed man moving towards the stage. “Your opponent… He is very strong.”

“How strong can someone ranked outside of the top fifty thousand ranks be?” Cecilia said with a scoff.

“Are you three not the same?”

“…Can we be compared? We are not in the top fifty thousand because we have not been in the city for too long. If we are given enough time, then let alone the top fifty thousand, becoming one of the top hundred fighters in the Arena would not be too difficult for us.”

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“…So? Are you the only ones who have to start from the bottom ranks? Do the other Wanderers begin directly from the top ranks?”

“…Okay, maybe he is strong. But I know that Alnea will still win like always.”

“Forget it. We do not have time for this,” Vestia said, before turning back towards him. “Your opponent… He is one of the strongest False Wanderers in the city.”

“Don’t worry, Vestia. I have not been just sitting around for the past month either. Normal Peak Stage False Wanderers are not my opponents now.”

“He is not a Peak Stage False Wanderer… He is an Advanced Stage False Wanderer.”

“…Then what are you afraid of? Do you think that Advanced Stage False Wanderers can defeat me?”

“You do not understand… He… He is different. If I am not wrong, he is an heir of the Purplebird clan.”

“…The Purplebird clan of the Storm Valleys?”

“The Purplebird clan of the Storm Valleys,” Vestia said, nodding solemnly.

“…The Serpia clan is not afraid of those purple birds.”

“We cannot bring your clan into this mess, Lia,” Alnea said, shaking his head.

“You still do not understand. This is not about his clan in the first place. He… he has never even thought of relying on his clan. Ever since he has come to the city, he has been building his own forces. His own team… In just two months, he has gathered a team of nine Peak Stage False Wanderers. He has even allied with several other teams and clans. And he did this as just an Advanced Stage False Wanderer. Not to mention his impeccable record in the Arena… People say that he is almost the perfect heir of the Purplebird clan. Such a man… can he be compared with normal Peak Stage False Wanderers?”

“…Perfect heir, is it?” Alnea mumbled, glancing at the purple robed man, as he stepped onto the stage. “Maybe he is indeed stronger than other Wanderers. But I cannot give up. I have to keep moving forward, no matter what. That is the price I have to pay as the leader of our team.”

“You…” Vestia trailed off, before letting out a sigh, just as she let go of his hand. “…Just be careful.”

“Don’t worry,” Alnea said, pointing to the golden thorns on his robe. “I will be fine.”

“You do not have to be just fine, you have to win,” Cecilia said from the side, patting him on his back. “Go, show that purple bird that it can never threaten the friend of a snake.”

“…I will try.”

“That is enough,” Yuri said, nodding at him with a reassuring smile. “Just do your best. And if something does happen… I will handle it.”

“…I will never let things come to that point,” Alnea said, and turned towards the stage, not giving Yuri any chance to speak. At least not out loudly. As for the things she said through their bond… He just ignored them, as he moved towards the stage. Towards the battle that was waiting for him. Though, before the battle, he had to face the guard waiting for him.

Standing in the middle of the stage, the guard glanced at the Wanderers making their way towards him. Not to judge them, of course. He knew better than to judge people based on just their appearance. But other than observing people, there was not much he could do in the Arena. And if it could also help him in subduing the numbness in his Heart, there was no reason why he should just stand on stage with—

The guard recognised the two people floating towards the stage the moment his eyes fell on them. That did not happen often. With the flow of the people in the Arena, it would have been a miracle if he knew everyone who came to fight by just their faces. Unless he deliberately spent some time remembering who they were. But not everyone deserved such treatment. The two who were coming towards the stage though, were definitely worth remembering.

A kid, stumbling his way through the Lost City, dazed and trembling from killing someone for the first time to regularly killing the people on the stage, the transformation of the boy was nothing short of amazing. Yet it paled in comparison to his talent. An Intermediate Stage False Wanderer defeating, and even killing Peak Stage False Wanderers with ease…

Some disgruntled and jealous Wanderers, including the enemies of the boy, were spreading rumours that the boy was relying on the excellent defences of his robe to take down his opponents, but that was just the ramblings of sore losers. The only time the boy had to rely on the defences of his robe was to save himself from his suicidal attacks. Most of the other times, his opponents could not even touch him. The grace with which the boy handled his sword…

Of all the Wanderers that the guard had come across, the kid was definitely one of the most talented. Especially when it came to his fighting talent and instincts. And he had come across quite a few Wanderers, including those from some Supreme clans. Given enough time, the boy was bound to make a name for himself in the world of Wanderers. If he could pass the Trials of the Lost City, that is.

The Lost City was harsh on its Trialists. Especially so on the Trialists it was more optimistic about. The more exceptional the Trialists were, the harsher the Trials they would have to face. And given how talented the boy was… The guard could not even imagine what kind of Trials the boy would have to face. Of course, the reward for passing such harsh Trials would also be exceptional. But if he were to fail those Trials… If he were to lose himself… The world would lose another genius Wanderer, while the city would gain another miserable worker, toiling away at his tasks, waiting, hoping for Goddess Ilea’s grace.

Then again, the boy was not alone in his predicament. Maybe the Purplebird heir was not as talented as the boy, but he was not far behind. At the very least, he was one of the most talented Wanderers currently in the city. The Trials he would have to face would not be too much different from the boy’s. Naturally, the result of his failure would also not be much different. Just like the boy, the Purplebird heir was also bound to either leave his name in the world, or become his colleague…

One after another, all sorts of thoughts flashed through the guard’s mind, reminding him of a past he wished to forget. And in his effort to forget those memories, he forgot to reign in his emotions, allowing them to surface to his face. Only for a moment, of course. He was, after all, a veteran officiator of the Arena. Having spent years officiating battles, there were few things that he had not experienced. Just two familiar faces were not enough for him to lose control of his Heart.

Besides, his Heart may be flawed, but it was still a Clear Heart. If just a memory was enough to cloud up his Clarity, he would not have lived long enough to be hired by the Lost City. Neither would he have escaped from the lures and temptations of the Origin Sea. Still, for the sake of the memory that the boy had induced, the guard decided to be a little wilful.