Meeting Once Again

--- Golden Moon Class Academy, Teleportation Tower ---

"So, that's where do you want to go? I must remind you that getting back to the island will be a bit costly." Jill was currently talking to Jay while she prepared the teleportation gate.

"Yeah. I want to go to the Golden Fortress. Or if you allow special services, why not direct the teleportation gate somewhere else near the tournament grounds." Jay spoke while feeling relaxed.

After a few seconds, the sounds of whirring was heard and a portal appeared on the teleportation gate.

"Alright kid. Help yourself out and just go whenever you're ready."

Jay stepped in the portal and thanked Jill before getting teleported back to the Golden Fortress.

...

--- Golden Fortress, Luxury Area, Greengarden ---

In the noble services room located in the lobby, Jay suddenly appeared. When he did, the lady in charge of the room glanced at him before minding her own business. Just as she was about to do so, Jay approached her and asked, "Excuse me, but do you have any news of the tournament happening?"

The lady glanced at Jay again and said, "The tournament is being held outside the city. Just a few meters away from the gates. Want to use the teleportation gate to get there fast? It only cost 100 gold coins."

The lady was currently tempting Jay to use up his gold coins, oblivious to the fact that Jay was rich as f**k.

"Okay. sure."

After that, the lady snapped her fingers and a blue colored portal appeared on the door of the room.

"Thank's for doing business." The lady smiled at Jay as he handed over 100 gold coins.

Jay smiled back at her and went into the portal.

...

--- Tournament Fields, somewhere near the gates of Greengarden ---

The place was currently bustling with noise due to a lot of people gathered here. There were different stalls and shops set up that catered to every need of the participants or the spectators. May it be food, blacksmithing needs, potions, or a place to rest. And after walking a few more meters away from this area, a large arena was being set up by a couple of mages trained in Earth or Nature magic.

As for the place where Jay was teleported, it was large tent that was currently being used as some kind of tavern by the nobles and some knights participating in the tournament.

"Hey look! Another noble is coming. Who do you think is it this time?" A knight wearing the usual steel armor set was currently eating with his fellow knights.

Everyone in the tent was currently making guesses of who was the lazy noble who could not even walk his way over here that he had to use the teleportation gate. Sadly, none of their guesses were right since it was Jay that came out of the blue portal.

"Oi! Who's kid is this? I never seen him around before." The one in charge of the tent shouted and asked everyone as they watched Jay walk away and leave the tent.

"Who cares. Must be one of Marvin's again. Seriously though, that guy has too many kids and wives."

...

"Damn. I should have just walked. That was a bit too much, teleporting in front of knights and nobles." Jay thought to himself as he hurried and looked for the tournament master in charge of taking care of the participants.

It was pretty easy to spot tournament masters since they were usually guarded by a black knight like Sir Rayne from the Golden Fortress.

After walking a while, Jay spotted the tournament master on one of the temporary establishments. The place was really filled by people since these people was also here to sign up and join the tournament.

"I wonder if all of these people know about the hidden prize of asking the princess' hand in marriage. Or was it announced already which caused this long line of people? I should ask someone to confirm my guess." After thinking for a while since the line was pretty long and Jay knew he had to wait for a while, he decided to chat with the person in front of him.

The person in front of him had dark purplish hair and was wearing some kind of scaly armor set painted in gray.

"Excuse me, but may I know why are you joining this tournament? Is it because of the prize? Just a casual question, you don't have to answer if you don't want to."

The moment this person looked at Jay, she had a surprised look on her face.

"You? What are you doing here kid? You here to join up too?" This person was actually Lydia, the dragon lady that Jay and co. met before.

"(Wow. Meeting her again must be fate. Oh yeah... we forgot about her.) Lydia! I did not expect to see you here of all places. So, why are you joining anyways? I don't see any reason for you to join since, you know, you probably have a hoard of stuff somewhere right?"

Lydia sighed and replied, "Seriously though... how did you guys forget about me the moment we entered the city. I told you I would join your group already right? Or to be more precise, your guild."

Jay was a bit surprised when Lydia said this since the last thing he remembered she said to them was her asking to join them in their trip to Greengarden.

"Holy s**t! When she said she wanted to join us, it was her applying for the guild? Wow. (Hahaha... feels bad. Feels bad to know that I did not know.)" Jay thought to himself as he had an enlightened look on his face.

"Oh. Sorry about that. We were all a bit preoccupied during that time due to the plan I told everyone. But don't worry, I promise to make it up to you in the future. So, why are you planning to join the tournament? (This is probably the third time I asked why she is joining the tournament...*sigh)"

Before Lydia answered, the line moved a bit and they saw two black knights throwing out a person wearing a rusty set of steel armor.

"Please! Let me join! I need the money!" The guy who was thrown out begged and knelt down.

The moment he did that, one of the black knights removed his helm and said,

"Shut up Philson! You may be a chief warrior in the past, but you are just a f**king piece of trash right now. Come back if you regrow some of your nerves. And do not even think of using this tournament to get back into power. Pui!"

He spat on the guy's face and kicked him away. The poor guy crashed on a wall of a nearby establishment. After that, he said "Alright. Sorry for that mess. Next." to the people queued up.

...

After that small commotion, the line moved pretty fast. But as for Jay, he felt a bit sad for that guy named Philson and wanted to help him. Sadly though, he and Lydia were already in front of the line.

"I hope I can find him after I sign up. I really feel bad about that guy. But why do I feel like he is a bit familiar..."