Thornton

  The crowd's cheers echo around the arena, the air thick with anticipation as I stand on the sidelines. My muscles ache from my earlier match, but there's little time to rest. My eyes scan the arena, landing on the figure of Gashiaz, her figure outlined by the fiery glow of the matches. I hadn't noticed her at first, but now that I do, she's impossible to ignore. With her sleek, red-hooded outfit and confident posture, she moves through the crowd with a quiet grace.

  Before I can even process it fully, I hear her voice, smooth as silk, cutting through the noise of the cheering spectators.

  "Thornton," she calls out, her voice a soft melody above the rest. "I saw your match from the distance. You did great."

  I feel a grin tug at my lips, my heart skipping a beat at her words. She's always had that effect on me, even back when we were younger, but today... today, something feels different. The way she stands, poised, yet there's a flicker of admiration in her eyes. It's enough to make my chest tighten.

  "Thanks, Gashiaz," I reply, trying to sound casual, but there's a nervous edge to my voice. "It was a tough fight, but I think I managed to hold my ground."

  She steps a little closer, her green eyes sparkling with a hint of amusement. "Managed?" she teases lightly. "You were more than capable. It's no wonder you're the Liche twins' older brother."

  I roll my eyes, but the compliment still warms me. "I'm not sure Jade would appreciate hearing that," I joke, but deep down, it feels good to be recognized by someone like her.

  She lets out a soft laugh, the sound like music to my ears. "Maybe not, but it's true."

  I shift uncomfortably, trying to steer the conversation away from myself. "So, what brings you here, Gashiaz? I didn't expect to see you out in the stands. Everything alright with your clan?"

  Her expression darkens slightly, a shadow passing over her green eyes. "It's been... complicated," she begins, her voice quieter now, as though she's measuring her words. "My clan has been torn between factions for months now. Stanz and I, along with 149 others, are staying in the Belfour Kingdom. The rest, led by Jans, went to Crea to avoid further conflict. It's hard... keeping things together, especially with the situation as it is."

  I can hear the weight in her words, the strain of trying to maintain peace within her clan. She's always been strong, both physically and mentally, but even she has her limits.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  "I'm sorry to hear that," I say softly, unsure of what else to add. "It must be hard, splitting up like that."

  She nods, her gaze fixed on the arena as the next match unfolds. "It's not something I wanted. But sometimes, you have to do what's necessary to prevent worse things from happening."

  I understand what she means. The weight of leadership, the decisions you have to make for the greater good, even if it comes at a personal cost. It's something I've seen my father struggle with countless times as the King, and I can only imagine the toll it takes on someone like Gashiaz.

  Before I can offer anything else, the announcer's voice rings out across the arena.

  "Attention, fans! All combatants who have won their matches today are invited to the meet and greet with the fans. Come show your support for your favorite fighters!"

  I glance at Gashiaz, and she gives me a small nod. "Shall we?" she asks, her voice light again.

  "Yeah, let's go," I reply, trying to shake off the heaviness of our earlier conversation. I need a distraction, and this seems like the perfect way to get one.

  As we make our way toward the area set up for the meet and greet, the noise from the crowd grows louder. We pass by several familiar faces, including Emberes, who's deep in conversation with some of the younger fighters. His easy grin and relaxed posture make him seem unaffected by the day's events, though I can see the exhaustion in his eyes. The boy has a tendency to push himself too hard, but I respect him for it. He's got heart.

  We make our way to the designated spot, where the other winners are already gathering. There are fans everywhere, shouting for their favorites, waving banners with names written in bold letters. I see Hue off to the side, trying his best to stand tall despite his small stature, and Jade is close by, still looking a little lost in the sea of people.

  But something catches my eye—a figure standing at the back, watching us from the shadows of the crowd. His silhouette is cloaked in darkness, but I can feel his gaze burning through the air like a physical presence. I don't recognize him, but there's something unsettling about the way he watches, as though he's calculating every move we make.

  I glance at Gashiaz, who has also noticed the figure. Her eyes narrow slightly, and she pulls me aside, away from the crowd, her voice low.

  "Do you see him?" she asks, her tone urgent. "The man in the back. He's been watching us ever since we entered."

  I nod, feeling the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. There's something off about him. His presence doesn't feel like the others. This man... he's different.

  "I don't know who he is," I admit, my voice tight. "But he's definitely not here to cheer us on."

  Before we can discuss it further, the crowd around us shifts, and the mysterious figure slips deeper into the shadows, vanishing from sight. The hairs on my neck don't settle, though. I feel like we've just caught a glimpse of something we weren't meant to see.

  Gashiaz places a hand on my shoulder, her grip firm but reassuring. "Stay alert," she says, her voice steady. "I don't trust him."

  I nod, my mind racing. Whoever this man is, he's connected to something much bigger than any of us. And it's not good.

  Just as I'm about to speak again, a cold chill sweeps over me. I turn to look, only to find that the figure has disappeared completely.

  The meet and greet continues, but the unease in the pit of my stomach doesn't go away.

  I can't shake the feeling that we're about to be caught in something much darker than we've imagined.

  And it's only just begun.