'Talking about something regarding the Colosseum…'

Shed reflected on the young woman's words, trying above all to understand why she couldn't tell him what she wanted to right then and there.

'Why do we need to talk somewhere else, and why should I follow her?' he wondered.

'Something about the Colosseum that can't be said just anywhere…'

Before replying, Shed looked around. The two of them were alone in the corridor, so there was no risk of someone eavesdropping on their conversation.

'Unless…' A lightbulb went off in his mind. '...unless the Colosseum's corridors are constantly monitored by hidden cameras or something like that…'

This hypothesis, aside from possibly explaining the girl's request, also answered another question that had been on his mind these past few days: why weren't there many guards patrolling the Colosseum?

Although he mentally labeled this idea as likely, it led him to a new question.

'If my reasoning is correct, then she wants to talk to me about something that can't be overheard by Colosseum security… and if that's the case, then… what on earth does she want to talk to me about?!'

Shed looked toward the girl. At first, he hadn't paid much attention to the mask she wore on her face, because it wasn't uncommon to see gladiators wearing masks or helmets for aesthetic reasons. However, due to his recent thoughts, the mask she wore now took on a different significance in Shed's mind.

'Maybe she wears it to hide her identity… but why?'

Shed tried to connect the dots. He swallowed, then gave a nervous smile at the absurd theory that crossed his mind.

"Well?" the girl asked impatiently, breaking the silence and interrupting Shed's thoughts.

"I'll come with you…" Curiosity got the better of him, prompting him to answer.

"Good, follow me…"

The young woman set off quickly toward a destination unknown to Shed. He followed her.

After a few minutes and winding through both narrow, secondary corridors and wide, crowded main ones, Shed tried to speak to her.

"Where are we going?"

"You don't need to know." She replied curtly.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Though a bit irritated by her manner, Shed chose not to press the issue, continuing to follow her in silence.

After another ten minutes or so, they arrived in the residential sector for gladiators of the Spruce rank, where the masked girl stopped in front of an apartment door.

"We're here," she said.

After a moment, the apartment door opened.

Shed's heart pounded. Soon, his crazy theory would either be confirmed or disproven.

Flora took the first step into the apartment, and after taking a few deep breaths, Shed followed.

Compared to his room, the apartment he entered was slightly larger. Instead of the single room of his own apartment, this one had two fairly spacious, livable rooms. It was also more fully furnished.

Shed didn't have much time to look around, as his gaze was immediately drawn to a large, dark wooden table in the living room in front of him, around which three people sat.

He stared at them in shock.

Flora had never mentioned the presence of other people in the place she wanted to bring him, and yet Shed wasn't shocked by that fact. After all, among the multitude of thoughts he'd had on the way to the apartment, he had considered that possibility. The shock was only due to the oppressive pressure that those three figures before him exuded.

'Are these really just Spruce rank?!'

Shed felt as if he had entered a den of deadly beasts who could kill him in a heartbeat.

All three wore a white mask that covered the upper part of their faces, yet Shed could at least tell that two of them were not human.

Hunched over on the right side of the table sat a being with a massive, stocky physique that vaguely resembled a gorilla, sporting two long arms with broad forearms. Aside from his imposing structure, the first thing about this gladiator that caught Shed's eye was his bluish skin, mottled with dark patches along his forearms and shoulders. He wore a simple black tank top and moss-green cargo pants. Although he was seated, Shed had the impression he wasn't particularly tall, but definitely taller than him. Above his mask, one could glimpse his smooth, blue, hairless head, while below it, a prominent nose and full lips stood out.

Despite his figure, which at first glance might make him appear threatening, and although he too contributed to the room's oppressive atmosphere like the others at the table, he actually gave Shed the impression of a calm and detached person.

Shed felt as if he were looking at an immovable mountain.

To the left of the table, an even more peculiar alien being floated in mid-air… starting with the very fact that it was floating! How was it doing that? Was it a skill or a characteristic of its alien species?

Shed could only stare at her in disbelief. Her skin was sepia-toned, and she had two unjointed legs that resembled spikes rather than limbs. She had two slender arms, similar to those of a mannequin, ending in hands with three long, skeletal fingers. As far as he could see, her face bore almost childlike features, like those of a doll, except for the lack of a mouth. Long red hair cascaded from her head, swirling around her, moving in a chaotic manner.

Her small, delicate body was clad in a silky, midnight-blue robe with intricate cyan embroidery.

Finally, Shed's gaze shifted to the human-like gladiator seated at the opposite end of the table. Despite wearing a mask like the others, Shed could clearly feel the weight of his gaze on him. This gladiator seemed to be the one in charge… even the way he sat in that simple wooden chair exuded confidence and authority.

Though he was dressed impeccably, with a cream-colored shirt tucked into midnight-blue dress pants held up by a brick-red belt, Shed could still make out his agile, well-toned physique. His skin was bronze, and he had a chiseled chin. From above his mask, blond dreadlocks tied back in a ponytail peeked out.

Perhaps noticing Shed's gaze, he gave him a confident smile, which made Shed feel slightly uneasy.

"Shed, we've been expecting you," he then said in a cold but charismatic voice.