At the dinner table, bowls of boiled potatoes laid next to two boiled eggs in a light brown broth. On the side of the eggs rested small, green leaves. The meal was different from the usual soup he had prepared. It was also a bit odd considering the last bunches of breakfasts were mostly just fruit, bread, and vegetables thrown together.
The kid's eyes were watering. Their mouths opened at the soup's scent as it filled their noses. As I sat down, the warm steam kissed my face. The simplistic dish looked even more delicious as I sliced an egg open. My eyes opened and my jaw dropped in awe as the egg split at the slightest touch of my spoon. A rich golden yolk poured down the sides of the egg and into the soup.
"Mmmm," the kids said. I turned my head to see them devouring the soup quickly. The room began to fill with the aroma of the soup. Its fragrance was compelling like a spell that its victims could not break.
I dug into the soup and took my first bite. The flavors hit my tongue as the warm yolk melted into the broth and perfectly covered the small nubs of potatoes. Barely having to chew, the warm, soft food dissolved onto my tongue and down my throat.
"The weather is beautiful today," Mr. Gonzo said.
I stopped eating to look outside the window. To no surprise, the kids had already beaten me. With soup over their mouths and the sheen of the broth resting on their lips, they dropped their jaws in awe at the amazing sight.
"Yeah," they collectively said.
As I finished my bowl, I shot the old man a side glance. He noticed it but continued the flow of the conversation.
"What's today?" he asked. "The third day of the tournament? Hmm." He rubbed his chin. "This should be interesting if I recall how they did it a few years ago. You kids should get moving so you can get there early."
The conversation was brief and over before we could even leave the front door. My mind hadn't wandered during the walk to the tournament, but still I felt as if there was something I was missing. My thoughts were like a puzzle with scattered pieces. Every time I added another piece to the puzzle, the puzzle and its mystery grew in size.
My eyes wandered around the outside of the approaching arena. It was even more crowded than usual and the numbers kept growing. Markets set up nearby with citizens occupying them. Banter flooded the streets.
The arena filled up, and the giant hologram once again projected itself. The focus inside of it panned first to the fighting stage and then to members of the Adventurer's Society.
"Good afternoon," Aaref announced. "Today, the third round will start, but we have a bit of a twist from our usual one-on-one matches. Instead, the match will begin with a battle royale composed of the remaining fighters. But first, let's give a warm welcome to some special guests today." The hologram focused on the rear side of the second highest level of the arena. A mix of profound and cheery faces filled the row. "Thank you to the various captains of the guilds within the Star Kingdom, and..." Above them was an older man with a serious face, three children, and a woman with a kind face blessed by the world. "Thank you to the royal family for coming out to watch today's round. It's always an honor to have you," he said with a courteous smile.
With one hand against his cheek, the king waved his other hand toward the crowd. His face looked tired and stress, perhaps from his duties over the kingdom. His hair and its facial counterparts weren't awfully long or short. They resembled autumn with a bright brown color that seemed to have dulled with age. His wife, a brunette with soft brown eyes and fairly long hair, gave a more welcoming wave with a friendly smile that moved the hearts of its recipients. Beside them were there three kids: two prepubescent teenagers of the opposite gender and a young adolescent woman. The two teens waved energetically and smiled. The older daughter mimicked her father in a way and gave less of a welcoming wave. By her lack of excitement, she seemed uninterested or focused on other matters.
Her beauty was breathtaking. Any man would be lucky to have her. I felt my cheeks rise in heat. I took a deep breath. She's not important right now. I have other things to focus on.
"Finally," Aaref said, "the third round will begin!" Dozens of fighters flooded the arena. Mages from all over the kingdom and many other lands were present. Certain mages had emblems from guilds on their clothing, and others hid their identities with the hoods of their clothing.