Tristan's conversation with Lord Ior had been stale and filled with layers of intentionally suppressed anger.
The old man felt like the boy before him had become more of a monster. But he didn't care.
Lucia's marriage would happen in two days, but Tristan wouldn't be around to witness it.
He moved to carry out a series of actions that made him feel a bit of pity, but that was all he experienced. Pity.
He would still go ahead with it.
Lucia's wedding to the Urtal family already had benefits lining up for him. It was the breakthrough the town needed. The event marked a new era for the town.
Tristan left the man's office to go take a bath. Two attires were prepared for him. One for the outing and the other for after the outing.
It didn't take long for him to have his bath and be ready, but Lord Ior seemed to take his time. It never managed to worry him, however.
Tristan was eventually called upon and he left the mansion's gate to enter the horse-pulled carriage. It wasn't the least bit bad. But compared to the carriages of the guests, the difference in status was far too obvious.
Tristan sat in silence throughout the journey. He placed his hands on the windows of the carriage to gaze at the world around him.
Crossing the bridge had never ceased to be interesting. The orange tinge the sun radiated on its path to setting, bounced off the blue oceans and that light managed to mesmerize the young man.
The vastness of the sea was a symbol of freedom to him. And his heart shook at its sight every time.
Unfortunately, those moments were cut short by the appearance of land again.
The passage of the world around them turned blurry at that point. He missed Lucia.
The sky quickly went dark and the noise the hoofs of the horse made gradually slowed as they approached the gates of the first town after Medrial.
This was where the underground battles would take place.
Different roads that led to that large town unfolded in his disinterested gaze and he laid back on his seat to close his eyes.
A relatively long line of people and carriages existed before them, so it took them a few minutes to get their turn into the town.
Tristan heard the horseman communicate with the guards at the entrance Into the town and soon they were allowed to pass.
"You should look sharp. Apparently, the matches for today are special." Lord Ior spoke his first words since they began that almost three hours journey.
Tristan kept his eyes closed even if he took note of the man's advice. He wondered why he had even mentioned that detail
Out of genuine worry? Tristan doubted that. He had caused the man too much trouble to merit such from him.
Unfortunately, he couldn't figure out anything. Or his paranoia couldn't.
The chattering of a vibrant town soon became evident around their carriage.
The voices of merchants advertising goods, the clattering of other moving carriages. The voices of tens of individuals talking and gongs of certain brothels announcing their offers and rates.
All those sounds ended up chaotic, but Tristan somewhat found it soothing.
The town of Livia was one of the largest towns in the Ryu region. Possessing a population of about twenty-thousand, its lord had a significant influence over other towns in the region. And for this reason, the underground matches were often held there.
The light of the exuberant town flashed into the carriage occasionally, and certain aromas and scents filled the insides of that moving box.
Tristan had gotten used to that reality, however. He had been to many towns and even cities that could swallow that town.
The journey down the various streets took a while, but they eventually arrived at the mansion of the town's lord himself.
Tristan retained a cold expression whilst he walked down the steps of the carriage to stand before the wide gate that belonged to the lord of Livia.
The sheer difference in status was almost too evident. Fortunately, neither Tristan nor lord Ior was intimidated.
The former never cared about such details, while the latter felt elevated due to the incoming marriage. In a matter of months, he'd be considered even more important than his host. Lord Hiren.
"Sir, Ior, sir Tristan. It is a pleasure to meet you once again. The gathering is at its usual location." One of the three armed guards addressed the duo, his tone possessing respect.
Tristan remained silent while Lord Ior nodded and they opened the big black gate for them.
A wide area featuring mainly trimmed grasses, cobble-stone paths, and a fountain at its very center unfolded before the duo.
The orange and yellow lights coming from the gray mansion swept the compound making a significant contrast between the darkness of the night and the slight reflections that occurred.
The rushing of water filled Tristan's ears as they directly walked past the fountain to take an opened corridor on the left side of the mansion.
Flaming torches filled the silent path as only the clacking sounds of their soles against the floor could be heard.
Having placed his hands in his pockets Tristan remained as calm as he could be. At least on the outside that seemed to be the case.
Proper chaos filled the young man's mind and If one could peek, they would see that only destruction existed at the end of whatever decisions he took in that emotional state.
He was a mess. And he didn't deny it. Heck, he strangely enjoyed the darkness in his chest.
It didn't take long for them to arrive at the back of the mansion, where a wide space, albeit dark, unfolded in their eyes.
Ignoring the details of a bigger field featuring trees, shrubs, and scantily positioned bushes, the duo walked straight into the grassy field to arrive before a certain bush.
The town's Lord of Livia loved exciting things. The few times Tristan had encountered him spoke of that reality.
Still, those underground matches were illegal, even if highly-placed individuals funded them.
Arriving before a certain unimpressive shrub, Lord Ior clicked his tongue and he bent down to search for a small wooden plank embedded into the ground. It was revealed just enough for those who knew what they were looking for to find.
Lord Ior pushed on the plank, standing and stepping backward. He watched the shrub, and about 2 sqm of ground area, slide to the side, generating a relatively low noise.
A stairway that led to an underground passage unfolded in their gazes. Its entrance remained pitch black, but the faint flickering of orange lights at the very bottom was enough to allow them to proceed.
Tristan entered first and when Lord Ior had reached a certain point he pulled on the lever connected to a series of wooden mechanics, and the wide entry slid back into place. Inconspicuous.