The wait-time in line had passed much quicker during my conversation with the two men, Ernie and Axel. Once we finally entered the city, the pair waved us off with a friendly gesture, encouraging me to find them if I had any other questions. They were good guys, sincere in a way that felt rare in this world. Especially when so much information was at anyone’s disposal with just a verbal command.
“Well, you were being petty and decided not to tell me, so I asked them instead. And it’s not like I was wearing a sign that says, ‘I’m here to kill the ruler of this place.’ Just relax,” I responded, waving off her annoyance with a shrug.
Artemis was about to bite back when the innkeeper finally appeared, sparing me from her wrath.
We had found a small, modest inn not far from the tournament grounds. It wasn’t the worst for the price, and after two sleepless nights in uncomfortable conditions, I couldn’t wait to finally crash on an actual bed.
“Hello there,” Artemis chimed with an overly sweet voice that was almost unsettling. She smiled at the innkeeper, laying it on thick. “Me and my son need a room, just until the tournament ends.”
Her calling me her son sent a shiver down my spine. I nearly gagged.
The innkeeper looked at us with a knowing smile. “Well, aren’t you a good mother?” He dug around for the room key. “You excited for the tournament, kid?”
I forced an awkward smile and nodded my head, the word "kid" grating on my nerves. I was clearly a grown man, but apparently, people in this city were either blind or just liked messing with me.
Artemis gave a forced laugh, pinching my back. “He’s not much of a talker. But he practically begged me to bring him. He loves watching fights.”
I winced but said nothing. This was her revenge, humiliating me in front of strangers.
The innkeeper chuckled and handed over the key. “Well, I hope you two enjoy your stay.”
Artemis thanked him and quickly made our way upstairs. As soon as we reached the room, Artemis attached a small metallic box to the doorframe, which immediately turned invisible once activated. It must’ve been some kind of security device, probably ensuring we weren’t overheard or disturbed. I watched it carefully, well watched where I thought it was. It turned invisible faster than my eyes could keep up with.
Finally turning and walking inside the room, I saw an odd sight. Artemis was already halfway out the window.
“If you ever pull something that stupid again, I’ll send you back to the dwarf in a body bag,” she warned, her tone deadly serious.
“Pull what? Talking to people?” I replied sarcastically, though I knew better than to push her too far.
Oddly enough, she didn’t seem irritated this time. She just tossed me the room key, pulled her hood over her head, and vanished into the night like a shadow slipping between worlds.
I stood there for a moment, staring at the empty window. With a sigh, I closed it and collapsed onto the floor. My mind drifted back to the conversation with Ernie and Axel, replaying the information they had shared.
The Eight Great Families were powerful, not just influential factions, but entities that rivaled and sometimes even surpassed the world governments. Their power was held in check only by the Federation, a global military force united under one banner. Despite being called "families," they were made up of only a few dozen true bloodline members. Most of their strength came from the Azenci, Arimus, and Ateran—warriors, healers, and support roles that had been recruited or born into their service.
The two men had also mentioned something intriguing—though the manifestation of Heartile abilities was random, the Great Families had found a way to increase the chances of producing children with the desired typing. This fascinated me. It was a breakthrough, a twisted form of eugenics perhaps, but a marvel in Heartile research. I would have to ask Ernie and Axel more about it later.
‘I’ll have to find out the names of these families next time I see them,’ I thought, my curiosity piqued.
Infra’s voice echoed in my mind, calm and ever-present.
‘Nah, you deserve a break. Take the month off,’ I joked, a smirk curling at the corner of my mouth.
Infra didn’t respond, only whirring for a few seconds leaving me alone with my thoughts as I drifted into a much-needed sleep.
?
SMACK!
I jolted awake, leaping off the bed with fists raised, aura crackling around me in a defensive surge. My body reacted before my mind had fully registered what was happening.
“Not bad,” Artemis stood before me, a mischievous grin on her face. “But if I were a real intruder, you’d already be dead.”
I blinked, my pulse racing. “What the hell was that for?” I demanded, rubbing my burning cheek.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“I told you to be ready at nine a.m. sharp, or I’d slap you awake. Seems you like a little pain, huh?” she teased, tossing my robe at me.
“What? No, you—” I started to protest, but remembered the events of last night. Her sudden departure and her silence had been calculated. There was no use arguing now.
Sighing, I threw on my robe and gave my breath a quick sniff. “Can I at least brush my teeth?”
She was already out the door.
We left the inn without exchanging another word, only giving the innkeeper a polite wave as we exited. The city was much more alive today, bustling with energy as thousands crowded the streets, all heading towards the tournament grounds.
The scent of street food filled the air, my stomach growling in protest. Vendors shouted from stalls, hawking their goods—bright fruits, hand-crafted jewelry, all kinds of wares. Children ran ahead, chattering excitedly about the tournament, betting on which fighter would take home the prize.
I weaved through the crowd, narrowly avoiding groups of people, feeling the chaotic energy pulse around me. There was an almost festive atmosphere in the city, despite the darker undercurrents that I couldn’t ignore.
“We’re getting close now. Keep your head down and let me do the talking. Hand me your ID,” Artemis muttered under her breath, pulling me aside as the towering gates of the stadium came into view.
I nodded and discreetly passed her my forged identification card. From here on out, there was no room for mistakes. The mission was officially underway, and I could feel the weight of it settle on my shoulders.
As we neared the entrance, the crowd began to split—most heading straight for the stands, others lining up to register for the tournament. Tensions ran high as arguments broke out in the sign-up line, but the large men in red armor—the Ukorin—kept the peace with swift, intimidating action. It wasn’t long before we reached the front.
“Name of participant?” asked the guard at the desk, not even looking up from his paperwork. His helmet sat beside him, revealing a face only a mother could love—rough and scarred.
“Jai Boone,” Artemis answered without missing a beat, sliding the ID across the table.
The guard picked it up, bending and examining it, before glancing up at me. His eyes flicked between the card and my face a few times before he finally spoke.
“The kid seems a little pale to be a Jai, don’t you think?” he asked, suspicion lacing his tone.
Artemis didn’t hesitate. She pulled me closer, ruffling my hair in a way that made my skin crawl. “I keep telling this one to get outside more, but you know how the younger generation is—glued to their Tenus all day,” she laughed. “Actually, his father was Jacasin. He wanted to name the kid after his grandfather.”
“Was?” the guard questioned, his tone hardening.
Artemis’s smile faltered for just a moment, replaced by genuine sorrow. “He passed a few years ago. Got caught up with some Hunters on an Adventurers mission. Sacrificed himself so his team could get away.”
The guard nodded, a flicker of sympathy crossing his face. “How old are you, kid?” he asked, his gaze locking onto mine.
For a second, I panicked, trying to remember what age I was supposed to be. I straightened up, praying I wouldn’t screw this up.
“Eighteen,” I said, trying to sound as confident as possible. I glanced at Artemis, but her expression remained cool and composed.
The guard stared at me for a moment longer before scribbling something on his paper. “Sorry about your dad, kid. The Hunters are a bunch of no-good bastards. You’re in lot two, so you’ll go after the first group.” He waved to the Ukorin behind him, who opened the gates leading to the stadium.
I gave the guard a small nod of thanks and stepped through, feeling the weight of his gaze on my back.
“Next!” he shouted as we disappeared into the tunnel.
Once we were alone, Artemis’s expression returned to its usual unreadable mask. The sudden shift in her demeanor was unsettling, but I had learned by now not to question it.
We reached a fork in the tunnel—one set of stairs leading to the stands, the other descending into the waiting area for participants.
“Don’t lose,” Artemis muttered before turning toward the stands without a backward glance.
“I’ll never understand that woman,” I sighed, heading down into the waiting room.
The waiting room was a stark contrast to the excitement outside, its simplicity almost jarring. Wooden floors creaked underfoot, and the walls, also made of wood, gave the space an oddly rustic feel, as if they’d been thrown together without much thought. A few dim lights hung overhead, casting long shadows across the floor, barely doing enough to illuminate the room. In one corner, metal training dummies stood silently, their once-shiny surfaces dulled by dust and neglect, clearly untouched by the hands of anyone daring enough to practice on them.
About fifty others waited in the room alongside me. The atmosphere was tense, thick with anticipation. Most of the participants kept to themselves, their eyes darting between the doors and the large display at the center of the room. I noticed the ratio of men to women was evenly split, but everyone shared the same serious, focused expressions. No small talk. No idle chatter. We were all here for the same reason—victory.
I found a seat near the large display, letting out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. The large screen flickered to life, showing the first round of the tournament. It wasn’t what I expected.
The first round was not a direct combat test but a twisted game of survival. Participants were to navigate an underground maze, a labyrinth crawling with beasts—some ordinary, some magical. The goal wasn’t necessarily to fight, but to survive and complete one of two objectives: find one of the three flags hidden throughout the maze or collect twenty-five beast Heartiles. The latter option intrigued me. I had only recently learned about these types of Heartiles, though this ‘version’ you could say, were commonly called beast cores, objects that could boost one’s strength or even power magical tools and ships.
The maze looked brutal on the screen—dark, ominous, and full of hidden dangers. No place for the weak or unprepared. The sound of a horn blaring echoed through the waiting room, and on the fifty split screens around the room, the contestants of the first round rushed into the maze like a herd of wild animals set loose. I leaned forward, narrowing my eyes, scanning each screen carefully, looking for someone—anyone—who might stand out. There had to be some clue, some indication of who belonged to the Eight Great Families.
The way Ernie and Axel described them made me curious. Surely, they’d be different. Stronger, more confident, perhaps even arrogant. I searched the faces of the contestants, analyzing their movements, the way they carried themselves. But so far, no one jumped out at me.
“You looking for someone in particular?” A high-pitched voice broke through my concentration.
I glanced sideways but didn’t fully turn my head. “Yeah,” I muttered without thinking, eyes still glued to the screen. “The guys from the Eight Great Families.”
I expected the person to let the conversation die there, as most people would in this tense environment, but after a brief pause, another voice chimed in, this one softer yet with a hint of amusement.
“But... we’re right here.”