The carriage rolled steadily down the cobblestone road, the rhythmic clopping of the horses' hooves filling the air. Kaiden sat across from Seris, his eyes flicking from the window to her, the vast open space of the countryside stretching out beyond them. The tension between them was palpable, though neither of them acknowledged it directly. Seris was in her usual fine attire, her violet eyes glinting with some secret amusement, while Kaiden was lost in his own thoughts. He could feel the raw energy coursing through his veins, his body honed from months of brutal training.
In the silence that stretched between them, Seris broke it, as expected.
"So," she began, her voice casual, almost teasing, "How has your training been going, Kaiden? Becoming a little monster in the ring yet?" She leaned forward, resting her chin in her hand, her gaze sharp and probing, but with an undertone of playfulness.
Kaidan's lips curled into a small, almost imperceptible smile as his mind wandered. If I wanted to, I could knock her out right now... The thought flitted through his mind as he scanned the open space around them. The wide roads, the fields on either side—there was no shortage of places where he could act if he chose. But then he caught himself. He wasn't stupid, and neither was she. She could probably outthink him and be ready for whatever he tried.
Still, the thought lingered, as the atmosphere between them shifted again, like a blade at the ready.
"Training's going fine," he said, his voice steady. "A lot harder than I expected, but I'm managing." He didn't go into detail—Seris was no fool. She knew exactly what Garin had put him through, and Kaiden had no desire to talk about the endless hours of blood, sweat, and bruises.
Seris chuckled softly, clearly satisfied with his answer. Her gaze wandered over him with a kind of knowing appraisal, and Kaiden felt her eyes linger a moment longer than was comfortable.
"You know," she said with a sly grin, "you're becoming quite the man. I can see it now. That training's turning you into a real fighter. All muscle and menace." Her voice dropped to a teasing whisper. "If I wasn't a mature woman, I might just keep you all to myself."
Kaidan's gaze flicked to her face, a bemused look crossing his features. His mind briefly flashed to how easy it would be to throw her off balance, but he suppressed the thought, maintaining his neutral expression.
"I'm sure you'd try," he muttered, his tone dry.
Seris laughed, but the sound was full of meaning. "Oh, I can barely keep a husband, Kaiden. You think I could handle someone like you?" Her voice dropped to a playful tone as she leaned back in her seat, eyeing him with a smirk. "Maybe I'll just keep watching you become the man you're meant to be. Who knows, maybe I'll get to watch you tear some poor fool apart."
Kaidan felt his jaw tighten, the words a reminder of everything he'd been pushed to become. The fighting, the survival, the endless pain and training. It was all leading to moments like this.
Before he could respond, the carriage came to a halt, and Seris stood, her eyes alight with excitement. "Here we are, Kaiden," she said with a grin. "Sweet home."
The atmosphere shifted as the heavy, iron-bound doors to the Colosseum loomed in front of them. Kaiden stepped out of the carriage, his feet striking the ground with an odd sense of finality. He took a deep breath, and the pungent scent of blood hit his nostrils, thick and almost choking. The sounds of shouting, fighting, and the heavy thrum of adrenaline-filled chaos rolled from within.
The Colosseum was alive with energy, the deafening roar of the crowd filtering through the cracks in the heavy stone walls. They entered through a narrow, shadowed hall, the walls lined with flickering torches. The closer they got to the main arena, the more palpable the tension became. Men and women—warriors, mercenaries, gladiators, and those desperate for coin—milled about, some sharpening blades, others in deep conversation, but all of them with one thing in common: experience.
Kaidan's eyes darted around the massive underground fighting complex. The stone arena stretched far ahead, and the towering stands were filled with faces. The air felt thick with heat, anticipation, and violence. There was a palpable sense of bloodlust that seemed to cling to every corner of the space.
They made their way to the registrar's booth, where a grizzled man with a thick beard and tired eyes sat behind a desk, scratching something into a worn ledger. As soon as he saw Seris, a grin spread across his face, and he greeted her with a casual wave.
"Well, well, look who's back." His eyes shifted to Kaiden with a raised brow. "Who's this?"
Seris stepped forward with her characteristic confidence, not even giving the man a chance to finish his sentence. "This," she said with a tilt of her head toward Kaiden, "is Kaiden. You'll be seeing more of him around here. He's got the look."
The registrar's gaze flicked over Kaiden slowly, studying him. "Quite the looker," he said, a slight smirk crossing his face as he eyed Kaiden's features. "But is he a fighter?"
Kaidan felt his stomach tighten as he was examined. He wasn't here for praise. He wasn't here for idle chatter. He was here to fight.
"He's 14," Seris answered before Kaiden could say anything. "Young, yes, but trust me. He can fight."
The registrar looked at Kaiden in disbelief. "Fourteen, you say? This kid's just a pup." The registrar leaned back in his chair, looking Kaiden over again. "Normally we don't see anyone under 20 in here. The majority of the fighters here are seasoned veterans."
Kaidan stood still, his gaze unwavering. He wasn't here to explain himself. He didn't care about their doubts. All he cared about was the ring.
The registrar shook his head, clearly still unconvinced. "Fine, fine. I'll make an exception. He's still a newbie here. We'll get him set up. For now, give him the Bronze card."
With a grunt, he reached into a drawer and pulled out a small metal card engraved with a symbol—a pair of crossed swords with an open fist in the middle. The card was handed over to Kaiden, who took it without a word, his fingers brushing over its cold surface. It felt like the weight of an entire life, a life that was about to begin in this very arena.
"Get used to that card," the registrar said, "It's your proof of being a newbie around here. You'll start low, but you're on your way up. Now, your first fight will be in the pits, in an hour or so. You'll see what you're made of soon enough."
Kaiden nodded. He wasn't nervous—he hadn't felt fear in so long. If anything, it was anticipation that stirred within him. His first real test in the Colosseum.
Seris gave him an encouraging pat on the shoulder. "Go on, Kaiden. Show them what you've got."
As Kaiden turned to make his way toward the pits, the crowd's noise grew louder, and his heart beat faster. He knew what came next: blood, sweat, and pain. But it was his choice.
It was time to see if he had what it took to survive.
4o mini