Isran ughed again at Calliope’s rat—Lancelot—while she zipped up her duffel bag. He was very obviously trying to convey something to her with his little squeaks and gestures. After giving up he climbed onto her shoulder and quietly remained there.

  Calliope had been spending a lot more time with him than anyone else really. The mouse girl was always quiet and reserved but she had become even more quiet and reserved since Lancelot had arrived.

  As much as Elysi had told Calliope not to entertain him she didn’t seem to mind the rodent. Red and Lancelot also seemed to really like each other. Always pying when the rest of them were busy or Calliope had a random nap. She had a lot of those.

  Elysi had helped her pack.. which was quite unnecessary since it was only clothes and minimal toiletries. Her books were in her bag and the letter was in her coat's inner pocket. She really liked the coat and was finding ways to wear it as much as possible.

  Alden was looking around their apartment in light fascination, Isran would be sure to take him up on his offer of a house tour when the games were done. She had a lot of fun hanging out with him and sparing with him was really helpful. It was a huge help to train with someone who used the same weapon as her and was better. She had learnt a lot about using the greatsword as not only a hacking device but also a shield.

  They all walked to the adventurer’s hall together. Alden a little in front of them. Halfway there Elysi and Phaedra moved off to buy Isran an extra pair of boots.

  “They take care of you huh.” Alden smiled, lightly jabbing his elbow into her side.

  Isran couldn’t help the smile that appeared on her face. “Yeah, they do.”

  Alden nodded. “Maybe I can get a hottie at the games.”

  Isran lifted an eyebrow at the word. That was the first time she had heard someone in Noes use it. But she wasn’t exactly sure which words were known from her previous life that didn’t carry over. She usually tested by saying them around Elysi and gauging her reaction. Hottie had been one of those words that Elysi found odd.

  Calliope tugged at Isran’s coat and she squatted.

  The mouse girl whispered with a small smile. “Goodluck.”

  Isran smiled back at her. “Thank you.”

  The rest of the way Calliope sang a small tune about a blonde-haired warrior that one day became king. Alden ughed heartily and procimed it was about him till Calliope modified the song to use she instead of neutral pronouns.

  When they made it to the adventurer’s hall they were greeted by several other people with bags walking about. They joined a line and pulled out their letters.

  “Good luck… and remember—”

  “I’m amazing,” Isran whispered and kissed Elysi.

  Phaedra smiled up at her and handed her a piece of paper. “Could you read this when the games end?”

  “Of course.” Isran put it in her coat pocket. She wasn't sure why the woman wanted her to wait that long but she had no problem honouring her request.

  The healer nodded and took a step back. “Good luck.”

  Isran was a bit nervous as she watched them leave, her apprehensions about joining slowly returning.

  Alden was there to get her right on track though.

  “It’s only a week you simp.”

  Isran smiled and tilted her head. Simp.

  “A week is a long time.”

  Alden nodded. “No sex.. I wonder how you will survive.” He wailed in mock despair.

  Isran shook her head at him and presented her letter to the waiting guard.

  After he verified its legitimacy then hers—by staring at her forehead—she was let in.

  Once Alden had been let through they were led away from the sparring grounds and out of the adventurer’s hall.

  They were brought to four rge buildings and separated based on height. Alden and Isran being the same height meant they were barely two feet away from each other as the guards moved others around and gave instructions.

  Once they were all in the buildings, a gnome guard walked into Isran’s building.

  “The games begin at noon tomorrow. Tardiness on the first day implies a ck of discipline and will render you disqualified.” Then he was gone.

  Isran still wasn’t the happiest they hadn’t been told what challenges they would face during the games. Time to prepare would've been nice.

  The buildings were barracks. Since they were not very many most of the beds remained vacant as the adventurer’s picked beds and got ready for the night. Isran felt like she had been sent away to boarding school again. She paused that thought... had she ever been in boarding school?

  They had been divided equally, twenty per building and it seemed their building had about fifty beds. Eighty participants was a rge number... but Isran had a feeling it probably wasn't as rge as it could be.

  After a shower in the barracks bathroom, Isran y on the top bunk she had chosen, Alden had taken the one right beside her.

  A few hours ter, snores drifted through the room, but Isran couldn’t sleep.

  “Rest.” Alden whispered, not sounding the least bit tired.

  “I can’t”

  The blonde orc hummed. “Same.”

  “Are…are you nervous?”

  “A hundred percent.”

  Isran breathed out in relief, comforted by the fact that even confident sure Alden was nervous.

  “We’ll show all these bozos that we’re the best adventurers of the century.”

  Isran turned to look him in the eye. Bozos.

  “Yeah… then I’ll beat you.”

  Alden chuckled. “Sure. Now try and sleep.”

  Isran nodded and turned around drifting very slowly into sleep. Her apprehension ebbed and flowed with the waves of her fatigue.