"What's wrong, aren't you hungry?" Lilee pauses from stuffing her face to ask Dimas.
Dimas has been sitting there doing nothing since they got there. "I'm not really hungry after a fight." That's a lie. Food tastes better after a fight and the best after a victory. Normally, he would be eating, not as much as Lilee, but enough to show a healthy appetite.
"Are you sure? I wouldn't feel good eating if you're sick." Lilee is already reaching for her bag.
Dimas can feel his stomach get heavier.
"It-It's fine, Lilee." Dimas pushes a meat pie towards her. "Go ahead. I'll eat later."
Lilee begins to salivate. "All right, I'll try to leave you some of the good stuff." She goes back to eating. It didn't take much to convince her.
Lilee and Dimas have an entire table to themselves. Scott and his team are there too, however they're seated at a different table. For a diner, it isn't bad. The tourist map he and Lilee used to get here labels it as the fourth best dining spot in Onaq. Although, it's practically empty at the moment with the duo and Scott's team being the only patrons. Everybody else must be at the top three best dining spots. Scott held up his promise and bought practically the entire menu for the duo.
~ Feeling guilty? ~
It's the voice again.
[Why should I feel guilty?]
~ Don't act dumb, we both know why. She's happily eating right next to us. ~
[I don't know what you're talking about.]
~ Lying to yourself? Okay, I'll come right out and say it. You feel guilty, even if you won't admit it, about using her. Just like how Mark used you. ~
Dimas raises his hand to slam it against the table in anger but plays it off and pretends to scratch his head. The voice is making him lose his composure.
[This is not the same...]
~ I know. This time Lilee is you and you are Mark. ~
Dimas stands up abruptly. "I need to check something." He says quickly and exits the diner before Lilee could finish swallowing the mouthful of mashed potatoes she was digging into.
Dimas turns a corner and enters the alley behind the diner. He takes a few deep breaths before kicking at a stone wall.
~ That's not going to make the guilt go away. ~
It's true. The lead ball in his stomach is still there and now his foot hurts.
[ What do you want from me?! Am I supposed to just wait and die?! I have no choice! ]
~ Corvus didn't force you to do this. You chose to destroy a world. You are choosing to use Lilee. All for what? Anything you desire? How selfish can you be? ~
[ Just as selfish as anybody else. You know, just like I do, how selfish people can be. ]
That's right, he's not being selfish. It's called self-preservation. A basic human instinct.
~ I've never known someone to aid a deity in destroying a world for their own benefit. ~
[ That's only because no one else has had the opportunity. ]
~ Do you really believe that? ~
[ Without a doubt. ]
The guilt begins to fade. At least the bulk of it. It'll go away sooner or later as long as he ignores it.
~ I hope you can still change your mind. ~
The voice stays silent after that. A good thing too because Dimas is starting to feel hungry. If he gets back now, Lilee should only have gotten through half of the food. She better leave him something, he's the one who earned the victory feast.
The duo arrive at Mr. Hall's house, although Dimas sees it more as a manor than a house. The gates alone are fancier than anything back at his hometown, polished red stone pillars with gleaming black metal fence bars. Each fence bar is topped with a phase of the moon and a full moon statue on top of every pillar to both complete and restart the cycle. The perfectly kept lawn is divided by a flawless brick walkway, made of the same stuff from the gate walls. It almost feels like a crime to walk on it. There's a single tree on each side of the lawn but both are huge, apart from shade they probably also serve to preserve privacy. The two story house itself is no less impressive. It's wider than any house Dimas has ever seen, it's made out of wood but it's so well-kept that it appears like marble, the paint is a light yellow which gives the house an approachable and friendly atmosphere. Just like it's owner.
"This guy is living large." Dimas gives the door a good loud knock.
"It is amazing but I heard a couple of the other judges' houses are even bigger." Lilee says.
Mr. Hall answers the door. "Well, it may not be the biggest but I do hope you don't mind coming in." He must've heard their conversation.
Lilee turns red. "I didn't mean any offense." The duo step inside.
Mr. Hall laughs. "None taken. We all tend to indulge in some gossip every now and then. For example, Mr. Lev's moustache is actually fake but you didn't hear that from me." He leads the duo to a room with a couple of sofas and bookshelves all around.
The inside of the house is more luxurious than the outside. Even with all the money he's made in his life, Dimas doesn't think he would even come close to being able to afford anything in this room.
"Sit down, we need to talk." Mr. Hall sits down on one sofa. The duo sit across from him. "You are aware how sponsors work in this tournament, correct?"
"Yes." Lilee answers for the duo. "Sponsors are usually judges, but there are some rare exceptions, who can assist fighters on their journey via Crild or other means."
"He didn't ask for a definition." Dimas says.
Lilee lightly elbows him. "It was more for you."
Mr. Hall chuckles softly before donning a serious expression. "I bring the topic up because Alastor came to us, the other judges and I, and requested we not sponsor you."