'I just can't keep up…' Lilee thinks to herself as she staggers towards the farmhouse porch. Where a cup of fresh iced tea is waiting for her. She watches as Dimas continues his laps around the cow pen. Some of the cows had even begun mimicking Dimas and would circle the pen as well, though at their own pace. Lilee downs her iced-tea in a couple of gulps.
"He reminds me of a dog I used to have." Nicole pours Lilee some more iced tea. "The damn thing began circling the house one day."
"Aww, was it protecting the house?" Lilee says.
"No, just choosing a spot to die." Nicole lets out a laugh. "Stupid dog."
A weak chuckle is all Lilee could think of as a response.
"That boy is not really taking advantage of having time to rest up." Nicole says.
The morning after the first night, Nicole prepared breakfast for them. Lilee had just woken up and walked downstairs. In the dining room, Nicole was assuring Dimas that the breakfast was free with no strings attached. With Lilee's help, Nicole was able to get Dimas to eat.
"Why are you in such a rush anyway? The contest won't start for at least another six days." Nicole asks the duo.
"He's the one in a rush." Lilee points her fork, which was full of eggs, at Dimas.
"I don't like wasting my time." Dimas says.
"Taking time to heal and rest isn't a waste." Lilee argues. She turns to Nicole. "He has us walking all day long with no rest!"
Nicole chuckles softly. She liked these two, they were definitely going to make this year's tournaments more interesting. "I don't think I can ever make up for what you two went through on my behalf."
"It wasn't a favor, it was a job." Dimas says.
"Doesn't change the fact that y'all went through a lot more than any of us bargained for. If you want, you can stay for a few more days." Nicole looks directly at Dimas. "Free of charge, of course."
Dimas has a hard time believing Nicole's honest offer.
[Doubt it. You're probably waiting to ask for a favor in return.]
~ What makes you say that? ~
The fragile voice makes its unwanted return.
[You again… Look, how many times have people said something is free or out of kindness only to demand a favor later?]
~ Almost all the time. ~
[All the time.]
~ Not Lilee. ~
[Not yet.]
~ I don't think she's like that. We can trust her. ~
[I don't care what you think.]
~ Okay then, are we going to take her offer? ~
[I might have to. My arm still isn't working.]
~ Lilee said it'll get better. We just need time to rest. ~
[There's no one around.]
~ Gives us some privacy to train. ~
[And the food isn't bad.]
~ It's delicious! ~
[Shut up. I'll take the offer. I swear if she asks for help with the cows…]
"As long as it's actually free. Lilee, you're my witness." Dimas says.
Lilee responds with a nod. Her cheeks are stuffed with pancakes.
Lilee watches as Dimas finishes his laps. After a brief rest, he begins doing pull-ups on a branch of one of the trees. For the past four days, Dimas has done nothing but exercised. Lilee has tried joining him multiple times but she couldn't match his pace.
"I tried telling him that he should rest but he doesn't listen. At least his arm is getting better. He was actually able to move it today. Not normally though, he said it felt like moving through syrup but at least it's something." Lilee smiled. She almost started crying again when Dimas showed her. Lilee stands up. "Well, that's enough rest." She walks towards Dimas, ready to continue exercising alongside him.
The next day, the duo and Nicole stand at a crossroads outside the forest. With her cows now safe, Nicole was able to run errands once more. They say their goodbyes, at least Lilee and Nicole do, and part ways. Nicole promises to meet them in the city later.
The duo reach Onaq, known to some as the 'Stepping Stone Town", by mid-afternoon.
Onaq was a bit more modern compared to Forest Edge. There were streetlights at every corner and billboards promoting the tournament. Inside of the streetlights were a small cluster of orbs that floated in place. There were also a few carriages on the roads, none of which were being pulled by horses but powered by what Dimas could only assume to be Brío. The buildings were also a bit more colorful. While Forest Edge's buildings were mostly some shade of brown, the buildings in Onaq were more expressive. The town itself was also more lively. Merchants try to draw people to their stall or store. Travelers walk up and down the streets in search of merchandise or food.
"Compared to here, Forest Edge is-"
"Boring." Dimas cuts Lilee off.
"That's mean!"
"But true." Dimas reads one of the billboards. It contains instructions for anyone intending to participate in the tournament. "Let's go."
The instructions on the billboards guides the duo through the city. Every time they walk by a new store, Lilee has to restrain herself from buying merchandise of her favorite fighters. The only time Dimas has to step in and drag Lilee away is when a display of cute fighter plushies proves too much for her.
"Finally, why did they have to put the registration right in the middle of the shopping district?" Dimas lets go of the pouting Lilee.
A group of people dressed in merchandise and holding figurines walk up to the registration table.
Dimas rolls his eyes. "Of course."
After the group leave, the duo walk up to the table.
The old man at the registration table looks up from the stack of registration papers in front of him. "You need your entire team present if you're planning on entering the tournament." He goes back to signing papers.
"It's only me and her." Dimas says.
The old man sighs. "Look kid, I have a lot of paperwork to get through. I'm not in the mood for jokes."
"It's not a joke."
The old man studies the two. "You're serious? You're either full of yourself or you're stupid or a combination of the two. Either way, I'll save everyone some time and tell you that there is no way you're winning. Take a look at this." He places five papers in front of Dimas. "This is the smallest team today and they're more than double your team size."
Dimas doesn't look at the papers. "Good for them."
The old man shakes his head in disbelief. "Okay, don't come crying to me when you lose."
After filling out the registration forms, the old man hands the duo a card that will give them a discount at any inn.
"The tournament starts the day after tomorrow. Good luck during the selection." The old man doesn't sound sincere.
Once the duo leave, a man with a cane walks to the registration table. "Those two just now, did they register?" The man with a cane asks.
The old man hands him their registration papers. "Yes sir, I doubt they'll make it past the selection. They really think they have a chance with just the two of them."
"Lilee Mathers…" The man with a cane returns the papers to the old man. "Don't count them out just yet. I, for one, can't wait to see how they do."