V2Ch144 New Name

"Shut up, doofus! I just wasn't paying attention."

Ruby snapped.

"Still. He's not bad looking for a human, I guess."

"You guess?"

"Oh?…" Dirt whispers behind my question.

"Were you expecting something more frightening?"

I ask her. She waves me off.

"No. Nothing like that. I thought humans would look stupider. You look… plain. No wings, no fur, no horns or claws. It's like humans lacked anything to make them special in the world."

I was ready to tease her about being stupid at first but, she was right. Humans 'are' plain compared to all the other races in this world.

Durt went back to his duties at the stall to help a customer. Ruby seemed to understand that I was getting lost in thought and prompted me with another question.

"Have you talked to the Ent yet? You won the Fighting Rings, right?"

"Yeah, but I left before anyone could tell me more about it."

"You left? Why?"

"I felt out of place. I wasn't exactly playing nice in the last match. I kinda felt like the audience could sense my hostility and I just wanted to get away from their stares."

"Well. If you won the tournament, no one is going to stop you at the entrance to the Ent's dwelling. I'll take you there."

She put an open hand up to the side of her mouth and began to shout at Durt, who was only ten feet away.

"I'm taking Lake to the Ent! Watch over the shop!"

"I'm right here… you don't have to shout at me you fiery gnat!"

She ignored whatever response he said and grabbed my hand as she started running. Our speed was only a light jog compared to the race we had to the registration in the morning.

I nearly crashed into ruby when she came to a stop.

"Mom, Dad! Hi."

"Ruby? Why aren't you at the shop? Who is that with you?"

A stern but understanding voice came from the male fae in front of me. Looking at the couple ahead, I could tell that Durt got most of his features from his mother. Likewise, Ruby's features came from her father. Hairstyles and wing colors. The body builds and facial features.

"Uh, sorry. We're in a hurry. Bye!"

As quickly as we had stopped, we were again jogging away from her parents. I glanced back just once. Her mother had a soft smile while her father was raising an eyebrow.

Not much I can do with Ruby at the lead.

Several city blocks later, we found ourselves in front of a large raised opening in the forest. It was rounded as if there were a bubble underneath the ground pushing up. It was also heavily guarded against all sides. All I could see in the center of the opening was a large grouping of branches and leaves that were close to the ground. It was as if the top of a massive tree was cut off and left on the forest floor.

The only thing resembling an entrance to the grounds was a tunnel opening that went underground. Ruby brought me as close as she could before the guards started becoming wary of our presence. It wasn't hard to notice us as we were the only people coming even remotely close to the entrance.

The largest looking treant I've seen approached us.

"I don't have any info about incoming visitors right now. What is your business here?"

"How can you not have anyone on the list? Lake here just wiped the arena floor with every last opponent."

I tapped Ruby on the shoulder and whispered to her.

"The last one gave up. I never fought her."

"Shut up! Not helping."

She hissed. Ruby suddenly seemed flustered as if she were trying and failing to get me into somewhere I wasn't supposed to go.

"How come there is no official escorting you?"

"Oh, haha. That's a funny story. They were all so busy with cleanup that I offered to take him instead. I'm in tight with one of the head officials. He said you guys would be willing to accommodate. If you want to keep your jobs, that is."

"And who was this, 'head official' that you happened to talk to? What was his name?"

Ruby stood up straight in alarm.

"His name?"

I almost rolled my eyes as she struggled to bring a name fourth. What is she trying to do anyway?

"F-Fito Popertat."

She smiled at the success of retrieving a name.

"Really? 'HE' sent you?"

"Yup. He sure did."

"That's funny. Last I knew, Fito was female."

Ruby looked stunned.

"Intruders. Surround them."

His tone was as casual as could be. Ruby quickly hid behind me.

"Why did you have to start lying, Ruby?"

I gave my full attention to the guard in front of us.

"I really am the one who fought and won in the Fighting Rings. You think I can't wipe the floor with you?"

I took a chance and assumed that word had already spread this far. I removed my hood. Every guard close enough to see me properly came to a complete stop. It was obvious that whispers of my humanity began to spread like wildfire already.

"Stand down."

A somewhat familiar voice said from behind.

"He is with me."

Yeah. It's him. Victreeno.

Any guard that had stepped away from his post had quickly returned. A heavy arm wrapped around my shoulders. His short stature didn't mean he couldn't reach. He simply extended his arm length to accommodate the height difference. His pipe was still hanging out of his mouth and burning.

"I will take you to the Ent. I'd also like to talk with you some more."

Only a few steps forward and Victreeno stopped.

"Ah-ah! Your competition status as the winner is still under review, fae girl. 'IF' you are declared the winner, then you will be allowed down here. Until then, you are just another citizen without permission."