Chapter 39: Let it begin!
[8th day of the festival]
In the huge arena located in the north of Soldat sat thousands of people on the tribunes. Loud cheering and shouting across the audience was eminent throughout the outside area of the arena.
The second week of the festival here. The true beginning of the festival started and was the sole reason for most people to visit Soldat. To watch the grand tournament that would go on for the entire week to come.
"C'mon! let the fight begin already!"
"I'm betting everything on young Darren!"
"Don't let the marine win this time!"
Summarizing the tournament a battle between vessel users will occur. 1 on 1 bracket match between 8 people that will fight for the prize of elder blood — the ability to control elements beyond human understanding.
"There's more people then last year"
By a private booth overwatching the entire audience and the flat surface area in the center, between the audiences sat the grandmaster on a well-decorated throne that radiated a sense of authority and power that displayed her status.
Sarah stood silently beside her, her hands fixed behind her back. Sarah's face was all drained from energy. The constant days work that Lumine had put her on was exhausting and taking a toll on her.
"No wonder, there's elder blood placed on the table".
Sarah replied simply.
Lumine smiled slyly before turning back to the arena ahead of them.
"The atmosphere this time is better then any other grand tournament I've hosted in the past"
"I'm feeling rather proud of myself"
She said puffing her chest proudly. Every visitor on Soldat today was like a coin in her pocket it was getting filled to its brick — Up to recently the Soldat's finances were increasing by a thrice fold and the reason was obvious as the sun.
"The fights will be exciting too, I can't wait to see our dearest admiral Katama too"
Sarah eyed the arena as the participants were making their way towards the center. A group of well established people that all had a unique radiance to themselves. Though looking through welly she gazed upon a familiar woman.
Samira?
Waving towards the crowd and smiling confidently showing no hint of flaw.
The men in the crowd were going wild over her beauty, some cat-calling only to be met with a cold eye from Samira who could hear everything amongst the widening audience.
"Samira is participating? I didn't hear anything about that". Sarah asked, curious as to why someone like her would attend a barbaric ritual compared to a noble woman like herself.
"She spoke with admiral Preton, though I wouldn't call talking really".
Sarah understood what she meant.
"...She threatened admiral Preton?"
"More or less yeah".
"She used her family contacts again to get a space and threatened Ms.Preton to take her place which she did".
Sarah sighed disappointed.
Nobles have always gotten their way. Sarah had known it for as long as she could remember it.
***
[Arena platform]
"The crowd is huge...".
Darren approached the stone surface, in the center where everyone could see him.
There was a slight nervousness running through him but still held huge expectations and excitement in hand. soon going against other users was a terrifying yet a thrilling feeling.
In the distant sight, he watched the crowd with an eagle eye seeing his grandfather standing amongst the loud and cheering people — his eyes were serious and told Darren clearly that he would have to win, no matter what.
With a slight nod he turned to the other participants waving to the crowds observing each one closely.
"...There are many figures I recognize, That's Samira... Daughter of the Kritanta, Captain Einar of the Brakestone's crew... And even Captain of the night crew is here, Desmond".
Darren was suspicious, he had heard stories in the past and they were all different and had a uncanny feel to it.
'A man who possess the power of the elder beast nightingale, a beast who is said to be able to control shadows, It sounds absurd.'
Desmond glanced at Darren, he had made it obvious that he was observing Desmond and he didn't hide it.
"Grandson of Cain I presume?"
The dark cladded man asked approaching Darren's direction.
The man's expression was stoic and cold, his pitch black eyes were empty of everything. He seemed like a dead person the way he carried himself. Darren watched closely before realizing he couldn't read the black cladded man.
"Yes I am"
Darren replied, his mind cautions and suspicious,
"I've heard about you captain Desmond, your skills as a captain speaks for itself"
"What can I say, I've been serving the seas for 20 years".
"Hah, 20 years? That's almost as long as I've lived".
Conversing with the captain Desmond about the life and skills of a hunters, Darren realized one thing.
The black cladded man didn't speak with him just because he had caught him staring, Darren felt his body tingling. His vessel gave sign that someone or something was trying to manipulate his aura within — It was Desmond.
"This bastard... He's trying to cheat huh, using his shadow abilities during the introductions...".
Darren raised an eye before telling himself
"The brackets haven't been revealed yet, so what is this guy doing".
Darren closed his eyes, imagining his body from another perspective he slowly erased the parasitic power trying to creep around him.
Desmond seemed surprised for a slight second before someone put their hand on his shoulder.
"Hey Anax captain, the use of vessel is only allowed during matches".
Darren watched over his shoulder before seeing a taller male, light brown hair and sparkling brown eyes. His attire was white and formally, and on the chest was the marine symbol attached.
"Admiral Katama?" Desmond asked quietly.
"Its been a while Captain Desmond, seems like you still like to make things easier for you huh?"
Darren was a bit surprised by his remark. The apparent admiral before him had noticed Desmond's parasitic power, there hadn't been any release of aura or signs.
'Admiral Katama, Vessel of the earth giant Murkon... hes a man of power whose known for patrolling the faraway seas. I've met him before many years ago at the Anax harbor... He can be kind to many but once your on his bad side he wont hesitate to show his disinterest in you'
Katama looked over to Darren before speaking with a clear and confident voice.
"..You alright young man?"
"Yes, Whatever he was doing I fixed it myself".
"Hah!" Katama laughed at his remark.
"Your grandfather must've learnt you a few tricks"
"Yes maybe". Darren smiled back.
In the further background Samira stood with her arms crossed, her expression bored and annoyed by the sudden small talk happening amongst the participants.
'We're engaging in small talks now? forget about that let the match begin already'
Just a few minutes after the grandmaster of Soldat stood up from the shadows from her throne like seat, overseeing the entire arena before making herself present before the audiences making everyone turn their attention towards her.
Every person stood up from their own seat before putting their hand on a chest — The formal way to show their respect before the grandmaster herself, an powerful woman whose influence reached the 3 other continents.
The loud cheering had become silent and everyone was watching the woman.
"...."
Some watched her in awe yet some watched with fright.
Speaking loud and clearly as her soft and powerful voice echoed through the arena walls everyone felt a chill run down their spine.
"The festival has been going on for a week and now starts its second. I haven't personally gotten to meet our visitors and there's one thing I want to say".
"Welcome to Soldat".
"For the days to come, legendary matches will commence under my observance and other loyal subordinates under me, I've already made it clear that the matches will be played out however the participants see fit".
Her voice was beautiful, she had captivated the audience with her tone and beauty.
As she continued to speak Darren had thought to himself
"Lumine Terratorn... A woman who murdered her own brother to get to her position, my first impression of her a few days ago told me that she's not to be trusted at all".
***
After a short while of speaking and giving a speech to excite the audience she sat back down. A loud wave of clapping throughout the people who had listened.
"We salute her majesty!"
"Must Soldat lives for centuries to come!"
Lumine huffed at the sentences that was occurring through the audience.
Darren stood back in the arena, leaving the flat surface for the first match to come. with one last look he overlooked the participant's one last time. He had expected to see someone again but to his luck he wasn't even present nor was he in the list for the bracket.
"...That Solan dude isn't here"
Darren had hoped to meet him again, he was a special guy that he himself couldn't understand at all... A man who screamed danger.
"what a shame... grandfather seemed very interested in that guy".
***
"Oh Solan? He's not in Soldat anymore... He and admiral Benedict went out on a urgent mission in the Komod seas". Lumine spoke, looking at Sarah who had been curious about where her disciple had been.
She had been expecting to see him amongst the crowd or even stand by her side while the tournament was ongoing but he wasn't here.
"The Komod seas with Sir.Benedict? he hasn't told me anything?"
Lumine thought about it, remembering the memory when Solan had made an unexpected visit in her office. She remembered the look on his face, the atmosphere he was radiating through his dark green eyes.
"When he came to me he didn't seem very happy, in fact it looked like he was hiding anger within him".
"Anger? Solan?" Sarah asked curious. She had known Solan for 8 years personally training and raising him, Solan never had the sense of becoming angry... maybe when there was a Leviathan involved, or he was just making banters.
"Well, the two of them are with the sky division sailing towards the floating city of Komod...".
Sarah thought about it and didn't think too much of it. She could only hope that everything would be fine on his end.