The walk to the official arena took longer than expected, though I didn't mind. Ciny chatted non-stop, going on about the fresh air, how the sunlight glinted on the stone buildings, and how good it felt to stretch her legs again. I just followed along, caught somewhere between amusement and relief that we were no longer trapped underground.
And then, we saw it.
The arena.
My breath caught.
It was enormous. Like a coliseum straight out of a fantasy tale, ringed with tall towers, flags fluttering at the top, and a constant hum of voices echoing all around us. People poured in and out like rivers of color and energy. I felt a chill crawl up my back — this wasn't just a battleground, it was where warriors became legends.
We stepped through the front gate and handed our cards to the receptionist, a woman with glasses and a well-rehearsed smile. She glanced at them, then at us, raising one brow slightly.
— "Oh, you're the winners from the preliminaries! I'll notify the staff to prepare your room right away. You don't mind sharing, do you?"
I opened my mouth to object, but—
— "Not at all," Ciny cut in smoothly, flashing a wicked grin. "We've already shared much more than a room~"
The receptionist turned bright red. I stood frozen, words dying in my throat. Ciny burst into giggles, and I could only groan inwardly.
A staff member soon appeared and led us to our room. It was... nice. Too nice. The kind of place you wouldn't expect to find in a combat arena. As soon as the door closed behind us, Ciny jumped onto one of the beds with a dramatic flop.
— "C'mon, John! This is one of the best beds I've ever had!" she shouted, bouncing.
I hesitated for a second, then shrugged and threw myself onto the other bed. The mattress was impossibly soft — a dangerous kind of comfort. Before long, we were both laughing and bouncing around like kids who didn't know what war was.
Then came a knock.
I opened the door to find the same staff member, holding two metallic plaques in his hands.
— "Here you go. Bronze rank IDs. Present these before any match or when requesting a fight. Depending on your win streak and opponents, your rank can go from bronze all the way to diamond."
— "Thanks."
— "One more thing. If two competitors place their plaques together, it triggers an official challenge. No backing out. Also, fighting outside the arena is strictly forbidden."
— "Understood."
Just as he turned to leave, Ciny sprang up and leapt onto my back, wrapping her arms around me playfully.
— "Let's go, stallion~ You're keeping a lovely lady waiting in bed, you know~"
My entire face burned. The staff member's expression shifted from calm to mortified in an instant, and he bolted from the room like he was on fire.
— "Now everyone's going to think we're… you know…" I muttered, exasperated.
— "Just marking my territory~" Ciny whispered into my ear with a teasing giggle.
— "What?"
— "Nothing~ Hehehe."
She flopped back down onto her bed, pulling the covers over her with a sigh.
— "At least tonight, neither of us has to keep watch."
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding and sank into my own bed.
— "Yeah… finally."
And for the first time in days, I fell asleep without fear. No footsteps echoing down a dark hallway. No bloodstains or whispered threats.
Just… peace.