Julia sat amidst the roaring crowd, her mask hiding her anxious expression. She couldn't stop thinking about the message Elijah had sent. She'd been trying to reach him for what felt like ages. "What's going on?" she wondered, her mind racing as the minutes dragged by.
"Hey, I found you! This place is like a labyrinth!" a familiar voice called out from behind. Julia turned to see Elijah strolling toward her, looking as carefree as ever.
"Wait, you're not in danger?" Julia asked, utterly confused.
"No," Elijah replied, bewildered. "Why would you think that?" Just then, a fist came out of nowhere, smashing into his face. The crowd gasped as Elijah staggered backward, hitting the seating area with a thud. "What was that for?" he groaned, rubbing his head.
"You idiot! What was the point of that message?" Julia snapped, causing a ripple of laughter around them.
Elijah dusted himself off and explained, "I got lost when I came in, so it was just a joke." His eyes showed a flicker of fear.
"Don't joke like that! And didn't you see my calls?" she demanded.
"It's so loud here; I didn't hear them," he said, glancing at the device on his wrist. It beeped loudly, almost as if to mock him.
"Just sit down. The match is over; it's Kai's turn," Julia grumbled. Elijah grinned and plopped down next to her, watching as the next opponent, a string-wielding fighter, took the stage.
"The one with the strings won," Elijah said with a smirk.
"That's obvious, but did he even notice the traps?" Julia mused. The string-user had set traps all around the arena, capturing his opponent at the last moment. Despite the intense flames, the opponent dodged, ultimately decapitating his adversary with his strings.
"Was this what Miss Amy meant by technique?" Elijah wondered aloud. The young man below had no raw power but excelled in technique and experience, just as Ava had taught. Since arriving, Elijah had been captivated by the young man's skill. He sighed, realizing he needed to revisit the basics. "When you see someone like him, you realize how much you have to improve," he admitted.
Julia chuckled, "He's above the 500 rank; are you getting worried?" Elijah remained focused, a smile playing on his lips. 'Is he a battle maniac?' she thought, watching the young man walk confidently. "Kai's match is next."
"Yeah, what do you think?" Elijah asked, crossing his arms.
"What do you mean?"
"Kai is a very skilled swordsman, but if his opponent is as good as the last one, his chances aren't great. Same for me," Elijah said. "But we grow through combat, so it shouldn't be a problem. I just hope he doesn't get hurt."
"Kai has been training hard, and I've sparred with him. I know he won't lose. But if he does, I'll scold him for disturbing my sleep," Julia joked.
Elijah smiled and said, "Oh, are you guys dat—" He was cut off by a fist.
"What were you going to say?" she asked calmly, but Elijah sensed danger.
Rubbing his head, Elijah corrected himself, "Are you guys training at night?"
"Yes, he's asked for my help these past few days," she said. Then she noticed his serious expression. "What's wrong?"
"Why didn't he call me?" Tears welled up in Elijah's eyes.
"Are you jealous?" she teased. "He probably saw how hard you've been training and didn't want to bother you."
"But…" Elijah started, but the crowd's cheers interrupted him as the fighter entered the arena.
The announcer's voice boomed, "Ladies and gentlemen, next up is the one and only Kai, the swordsman extraordinaire!" The crowd went wild, and Elijah's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Here we go," Julia muttered, trying to hide her nervousness.
Kai walked into the arena, his sword gleaming under the bright lights. He gave a small smile, his confidence evident. His opponent, a hulking figure covered in armor, grunted menacingly.