Having finished eating they left the square. It was starting to get a little rowdy with all of the drunk spectators from the arena. They continued to explore the streets and sights till the sun began to lower In the sky, at which point they were escorted back by Albert. As they walked back home they asked him if it would be possible to get tickets for the arena the next day. Albert said that it was easily done, going as far as offering them a place in one of the VIP boxes. As he said this Jason got excited. He had been enjoying the VIP treatment so far and was eager to experience more of it.
However, both his mother and father rejected the idea instead asking if it was possible to get tickets in the standard viewing sections. Albert didn't hesitate in declaring that this also wouldn't be a problem. Although Jason had wanted to go into VIP boxes he wasn't complaining at all. He was just happy to be able to go to the arena. He was already buzzing at the idea of the spectacle. He had vaguely heard about the competitions at the arena from his parents.
The arena was famous even far away from the capital in their small village. A few years ago someone from the village left to take part in the arena. He had been very excited and resolute as he had set off. No one had been surprised at his desire to compete, this was because of what competitors could gain through participating. Not only could you gain wealth from winning, but merely from putting in a good performance it was possible to get a good role in the military. Usually if one joined the military one would have to start from the bottom but in the arena, it was possible to gain an officer's rank, which was desired for its own benefits. Though the Kingdom's military was considered fairly meritocratic this was still far faster. However, the arena held its risks. It wasn't unheard of for people to be badly injured or even, though rare, die in the contests.
The people of the village had not worried too much when the young man had set out. On the whole, those from Jason's village were stronger than the average citizens due to the challenge of their environment when compared to those who lived in the relative safety of the kingdom's cities. Even so, Jason remembered being very impressed by the bravery of the young man who had set out with this dream.
Jason hadn't been sure if any contest was going to be held while they were in the capital so was unsure if they would get the chance to see any of the fighting. This hadn't stopped him from at least wanting to see the arena, so he was very pleased about his luck.
Jason was excited but also tired from his first day in the capital so, he was equally as excited to jump into the comfy bed. So when they got back he was quick to do just that and almost as soon as his head hit the pillow he was fast asleep.
In the bedroom across the hall, his parents discussed what they would see the next day.
"How are you feeling about returning to the arena?" Amelina asked her husband.
"I feel it might bring back some old memories." He replied.
"Inside the arena was the first time I saw you."
"Were you captivated at first sight?" He said with a smile.
"No, I just thought you were just another brute." She said flicking his forehead which he had moved closer towards her face.
Rubbing his head and acting as if the flick had been much more painful than it had been he said "I probably was back then, it's a good thing we didn't meet then."
"I doubt it." That was all she said in response before moving on. "I didn't want to bring Jason to the arena it can be quite brutal, but with the way things went it seems meant to be."
"Yeah it can be brutal, but that might not be such a bad thing. It might be good for him to see it for himself."
"True, we will find out tomorrow."
It wasn't long after that that the two also went to bed no less tired than their son.
The next morning the family got up early. It would be another decent walk to the arena and his parents told him that it would be best to get there early if they wanted to avoid the large crowds of people who would also be going to see the day's events.
The arena was different from how Jason had expected. It looked much older than the rest of the buildings that surrounded it. The arena was a large rectangular shape and it was made of a much darker colour than that of the other grand buildings in the capital, so it also didn't reflect the same design theme. It also lacked any of the complex decorations on its walls. However, this didn't mean that this building was any less impressive. It felt more monumental than it did sophisticated. There were many stalls set up around it selling food and drink. Above the entrance, a large banner hung that said: "Sold out."
Walking inside even though few of the other spectators had entered already the atmosphere could still be felt as he looked around at the four stands. Rows of benches lined the stands and Jason and his parents took their seats at one of the two far ends. Although Albert had managed to get them tickets even he hadn't been able to get the preferred tickets towards the centre of the longer two sides of the rectangle. There was no cover above them so as the sun got higher Jason could tell it would be a warm day sitting in the heat. The only shade was in a covered area on the long side to Jason's right. It was clear that these were the VIP boxes.
Now in their seats, Garion explained to Jason more about the arena.
"This is not the average competition at the arena. Today is a little different. This is the selection tournament." Garion said with Jason listening intently. "Every couple of years a large tournament called the Blue Games is hosted here. Each nation is sent an invitation to send a single representative to compete. It is a tradition as old as the Kingdom of Ovar itself. Of course, not every nation sends a competitor every time but most do. The winner is awarded prizes but above all else receives a great deal of respect as a fighter."
"So there will be fighters from different nations?" Jason asked.
"Not quite, this is only the tournament to decide who will represent Ovar. Whoever wins will move on to compete in the continental competition. Each nation chooses their representative differently but this is how it is done here. You are only allowed to be a representative once. But win or lose it is a great honour."
"And this is the final right? So they should be the best of the best?" Jason asked and Garion only nodded his head in response.
As the two talked the stands had steadily filled up and the seats next to them were now full. A loud hum of hundreds of conversations filled the arena and It became difficult for Jason to hear what his father was saying even though he was sitting right beside him.
Jason looked down at the competitors rectangle itself which was a long stretch of well-maintained grass with gaps in it to form the lines for the contest area. It wasn't long before around 20 people came out from the gates at either end of the arena. They were all in matching clothing and held trumpet-like instruments in their hands. In lines, they marched in perfect synchronisation from either end till they were stood in the middle of the arena. After turning to face the VIP boxes, for the next few minutes, they stood perfectly still. Then all of a sudden again in sync they raised their instrument and played a short but regal tune.
As soon as they had started playing the arena had fallen silent and even after they finished not a single murmur was heard from anyone. This silence was only broken when a strong booming voice that managed to carry all across the arena, echoed around Jason tracked his eyes around trying to find the source of the voice eventually finding it coming from a man standing behind a plinth just below the VIP boxes. Jason couldn't see the man too clearly but from his grey hair and beard Jason could tell he was at least middle-aged. The man just wore a grey gown with long sleeves. It seemed to match the theme of the arena and didn't have any decoration.
"Welcome all to the Arena! We have an exciting fight in the offing today. A narrative as old as time, the story of the favourite versus the underdog. Who will prevail?"