After the fight was over and Hael was promised his reward, he stepped out of the arena and was greeted by Anthanasia and Loki who were waiting for him near the exit.
The young woman jumped into his arms in excitement, her grin lighting up her face.
"Congratulations Hael! You were amazing out there." She squealed. "I always thought you were strong, but seeing you out there in action completely blew my expectations."
Loki flew towards Hael at that same moment, landing on his shoulder as he also gave his congratulations though he already knew his friend would win. He had seen Hael fight Brontus and Maximus many times, as well as wrestle the tigers in the forest with no problem. What was a mere human to him?
Hael smiled at the two, his expression barely perceptible, but the gleam in his eyes made it clear. He appreciated their praise. While he had no doubt about his success in the duels, it was still comforting to know that there were people out there rooting for him. It was a new experience for him, but one he could accept. Anthanasia, however, rambled on, recounting some of her favorite bouts, particularly the one between him and Damas. She spoke with great enthusiasm until, suddenly, a thought seemed to strike her, and she fell silent.
Hael and Loki exchanged a glance, both puzzled by her sudden silence.
Anthanasia appeared deep in thought, weighing whether or not to voice what was on her mind. After a moment, she took a deep breath and asked, "Are you sure you want to face him?"
The question caught both Hael and Loki off guard. When the bird saw the troubled expression on her face, he hadn't anticipated this question. Confusion crept onto their faces, and it was understandable.
"I thought you wanted me to enter the Battle Olympia and win so I could face him?" Hael responded, raising an eyebrow.
Anthanasia froze, her face turning crimson with embarrassment. She hadn't expected Hael to see through her intentions. The sudden realization that her plans had been uncovered filled her with guilt.
"I—I'm sorry," she stammered, her gaze dropping to the floor. "I should have told you the real reason I wanted you to compete in the Olympia. I... I was just so frustrated with the state of our Kingdom and wanted change. I thought... maybe if I found someone who could stand up to the King, who could challenge him, it might..." She trailed off with a sigh, pressing her hand to her forehead.
Her face twisted with shame and regret, and she hesitated before continuing. But deep down, she knew she had to be honest with Hael—he deserved to know the truth.
"...I've acted no better than him. I used you for my own personal gains and failed to tell you my true reasons and for that I am sorry."
Her face became solemn. Hael looked at the young woman before casting a glance at Loki who gave the two humans their space without having to be told. As he flew off, he couldn't help but glance at them once more. He hoped that whatever it is that human told his friend, that he wouldn't be so easy to forgive her—good intentions or not.
Loki sighed. "Who am I kidding! He's obviously going to forgive her. That boy is too kind for his own good."
Hael walked up to Anthanasia and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. The gesture startled her, causing her to look up at him.
"You don't need to be so upset," he said. "I already know why you did all of this. You're a kind and noble person. If your intentions had been ill, I never would've agreed to any of it. Besides, I'm looking forward to the opportunity to face someone strong like myself. I felt it the moment we locked eyes. That man is just like me."
Anthanasia's gaze intensified as she studied Hael, her brow furrowing in confusion. "What do you mean, 'just like you'?"
Hael removed his hand from her shoulder and stepped back slightly. "We have the same energy coursing through our veins."
Before Anthanasia could ask him to clarify, a voice called from behind them. "Anthanasia! Where have you been?!"
The voice drew nearer, and Anthanasia flinched as it came closer. "You still haven't reported back to the guild after your return."
The two turned around, meeting the gaze of a tall man with a rough, no-nonsense appearance. His eyes were locked on Anthanasia, disapproval clear in his expression.
"Oh, Laurel," she said, putting on an innocent smile. "I just got back from my travels and got caught up in all the festivities. I haven't had a chance to go to the guild yet. I'll see the captain tomorrow."
Laurel scoffed, clearly unconvinced by her act. "Don't bother. He's taking a few days off and won't be back until next week," he said.
His gaze shifted, now focusing on Hael, who had been standing off to the side, quietly watching the interaction.
"So, this is the new 'ultimate warrior,' huh?" Laurel said, eyeing Hael with a critical look.
"I'm Laurel Castor, vice-captain of the royal huntsmen guild." He extended his hand, and Hael paused for a moment before reaching out to shake it.
The two men clasped each other's arms firmly, and Laurel gave it a few hearty shakes before letting go. Hael regarded him with quiet interest, his mind flashing back to something Anthanasia had said to him in the forest.
Anyone who introduced themselves with more than one name was typically nobility, especially if they used two or more. Hael couldn't tell immediately whether Laurel was a noble or not, but the fact that he used two names made him suspect that he was. Hael's curiosity about the vice-captain deepened.
"I didn't know you were acquainted with such a talented man, Anthanasia. Why haven't you tried to recruit him yet?" He asked her, his eyes still on Hael.
"Oh, uh, he's not from Trojas so I didn't think it would be wise to recruit someone from another nation." She stammered. I mean, technically he is from Trojas…he just lives in a forest?
A look of realization hit Laurel's face. "Right, that could cause some problems. How long do you plan on staying here lad?"
The white haired man looked at Anthanasia before looking back at Laurel. "I don't know yet, but I might look into living here for a while." He replied.
"I see. Well if you ever do decide to make Trojas your permanent home, consider joining the guild. We're always looking to hire strong people. Having a man like you on our team would be great." He said.
"I better start heading back now. The boys are thinking of getting another drink before the festivities die down." He turned to look at Anthanasia. "Remember to report to the captain once he gets back from his break." He said. He gave Hael a once over before leaving.
Anthanasia let out a sigh of relief once the man was out of sight. "Laurel is a good man, but he can be a little too rough at times. Not my time at all…I still can't believe he's a noble." She muttered.
So I was correct in assuming he was, Hael thought.
The young woman turned to Hael, remembering he was still there. "Right, we should grab some dinner and figure out where you'll be staying. You can't keep sleeping in inns every night. You can stay with me until I head back to the guild, and then we'll find you a place with the money you'll earn from the Olympia," she said.
Hael frowned. "I thought I already got my reward? What's this about money?"
Anthanasia grinned. "You did get a reward, but the winner gets additional compensation. You'll receive 10,000 quartz upfront, and then 1,000 quartz every month for the next three years. If you win the Battle Olympia again during that time, the amount will increase. And by the looks of things, you, sir, will be set for life."
"I see." Hael replied, his mind still processing all the new information Anthanasia had just shared.
The more he learned about the Kingdom, the more fascinated he became.
Anemone was left standing there on his own as he contemplated his words. Just then, he saw Elias approach him with a smile on his face.
"That was some match huh?" He exclaimed.
Despite his bad mood, Anemone couldn't help but share the same excitement. As a former fighter, it was always exciting to see a good fight between strong people. Even he couldn't hide it. "Yes it was."
"I can't help but wonder who this fellow is, challenging the king like that. It's a fight worth seeing."
Anemone nodded. The two walked out of the coliseum as they chatted, Anemone then thought back to the woman in the stands who had cheered for the white haired man so enthusiastically. She looked so familiar but he couldn't put his finger on where he had seen her. The thought soon vanished when he heard Elias inviting him out for dinner.
"Huh?"
"What? Don't tell me the king has revoked your time off after the festival?" He asked, his face darkening.
"Oh, no he hadn't. In fact, he gave me an extra two days for working so hard." He said.
"I see. So he is good for something." He mumbled earning a glare from Anemone.
"So you have seven days off. You finally have time to visit the guild and have dinner with me. I won't allow any refusal." Elias said.
Anemone glanced at him before smiling.
"Now who's the tyrant?" He joked earning a smile from the guild captain.
"Can you blame me? We only see each other every couple of months, and when I do see you, you're always so busy. It makes me sad that I can't see my dear old friend." He whined.
Anemone shook his head. He knew Elias was trying to guilt him into going along with him, and his plan seemed to be working. He couldn't only sigh. "Fine, you win. I'll visit the guild after I finish my affairs." He said.
Elias smiled, and the two walked off.