Chapter eighteen: The Arena Trials: part one

The ready room of the Colosseum was vast stone walls reinforced by glowing runes, high windows looking out into the sunlit arena where thousands of spectators had already filled the stands. The muffled roar of the crowd seeped through the stone, a constant reminder of what was coming.

Cid stood near the edge of the room, pale eyes scanning the mass of candidates gathered within. Among them, he finally caught sight of Fenrona and Emily with their group of chosen girls, their voices soft in the chaos. His heart steadied at the sight of them.

“So, it seems we all got in,” Charls said as he came to stand beside him. His tone was proud, but his hands twitched nervously against the shaft of his new black polearm.

“Of course we did,” Johny added, flashing a confident grin. “Now comes the real test. Each of us will need to start looking for apprentices people we can shape into our divisions.”

Cid didn’t answer immediately. His gaze was fixed on a figure across the room Bill Fourman, the boy with the sea of particles swirling invisibly around him.

“You already have someone in mind, don’t you?” Charls asked, catching the direction of his stare.

“Not sure,” Cid said quietly.

“Not sure if he’s fit to be Division Zero?” Johny teased.

“Not sure if he’ll be Division Zero… or if he’ll need a Division of his own,” Cid replied flatly.

Charls blinked. “It’s that kid, isn’t it? Bill Fourman?”

“See for yourselves,” Cid murmured. “Try to sense him. Use the particles.”

They did and the moment their perception touched him, both men stiffened.

“This much…? He’s drowning in particles,” Johny muttered. “Are you sure he’s human?”

“No,” Cid said. “But we’ll see soon enough.”

Before any more could be said, the deep voice of Roly cut through the noise, echoing from the center of the arena. The crowd outside roared to silence at his words.

“Attention, everyone!” Roly declared. “The fights are about to begin. This year promises more blood and more brilliance than ever. Look now to the charts these will decide the matches.”

All eyes turned to the glowing slate on the wall as names lit up in bright silver script.

“The first fight,” Roly continued, “Cidolfus Lynvern… versus Lilith Grayman! A simple hunter who claimed first place in the exams… against the infamous Dark Princess of the Grayman family, a witch whose power has already earned her whispers of legend.”

The room stirred with murmurs, excitement, and doubt.

“Sir, come with me,” Bell said softly, appearing at Cid’s side like a shadow.

Cid gave her a calm nod. “Alright.” He followed her down the stone steps toward the gate that led into the arena.

“Be careful, sir,” Bell whispered, glancing at him nervously. “Lilith Grayman is dangerous. Her magic is… it devours.”

“Don’t worry,” Cid replied with a faint smile.

The gate creaked open.

“I know you’re all ready for the first clash,” Roly’s voice thundered across the arena. “Then let us welcome Cidolfus Lynvern!”

The crowd erupted in cheers and jeers alike as Cid stepped out, his black coat fluttering, the twin blades strapped at his side. His pale eyes swept across the stadium like cold lanterns, unbothered by the noise.

At the viewing gallery above, Fenrona pressed close to the glass, watching him with a faint smile. One of the noble girls beside her nudged her with a grin.

“Gods, he’s handsome. Don’t you think, Fen?”

“Yes,” Fenrona admitted softly, warmth spreading in her chest.

All the girls froze and stared at her. “Wait you don’t mean… is it him?”

Emily smirked from beside her. “It is.”

The crowd roared again as the opposite gate opened. Black mist poured out like smoke, swirling across the sand before coalescing into the figure of a tall woman with raven hair and eyes like embers in ash.

“And now,” Roly bellowed, “his opponent the Dark Princess, Lilith Grayman!”

“That’s an entrance,” Cid muttered under his breath, unimpressed.

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Lilith raised her arms. Shadows curled around her like living serpents, hissing.

Roly raised his hand. “The rules are simple. Anything goes. The first to bleed loses.” His hand dropped. “Begin!”

Cid was already moving. One moment he stood still, the next his form blurred across the sand, his blade flashing from its sheath. The edge cut through her body only for Lilith to dissolve into black fog.

“You’ll need more than that,” her voice whispered from the mist, surrounding him on all sides.

“I don’t think you understand,” Cid said quietly, resheathing his blade with a soft click. His eyes shifted, scanning the battlefield, pale and unblinking. He took a single step forward, then another.

“You’ll need more than that.”

His arm shot out, impossibly fast. His hand closed around a throat hidden within the fog. The shadows writhed and collapsed, revealing Lilith’s wide eyes, her lips parting in shock as she struggled against his iron grip.

“H-how…?” she gasped, choking.

“Your illusions don’t work on me,” Cid said, his voice low, cold. “I see deeper than tricks.”

With a flick of his arm, he hurled her across the arena. She slammed against the wall, blood spraying from her mouth as consciousness fled her.

“Does this count?” Cid asked, looking to Roly.

The entire stadium was silent, stunned.

“The winner,” Roly finally declared, his voice booming, “is Cidolfus Lynvern!”

For a heartbeat, silence reigned. Then the crowd erupted.

“CIDOLFUS THE HUNTER!” they screamed, the name echoing from the stone walls, a chant that shook the Colosseum.

At the gallery, Lun grinned at Fenrona. “Handsome and strong. You’re lucky, Fen.”

Fenrona blushed faintly. “I know.”

“Too bad I can’t say the same,” Lun sighed, looking down at the sand.

Fenrona tilted her head. “What do you mean? Don’t you love your husband?”

“I married him because he’s the king’s nephew,” Lun said bitterly. “If I refused, my family would have suffered.”

Fenrona looked at her sadly but said nothing.

“We will take a short break,” Roly announced. “But when we return the second match! Fenrona Lynvern… versus Bill Fourman!”

The crowd roared again.

‘Perfect,’ Cid thought, a small smile tugging at his lips. ‘Show me what you’re hiding, boy.’

Back in the ready room, Fenrona approached Cid, her silver hair shimmering in the torchlight. “Love, you did wonderfully,” she said, pressing close to him.

“Thanks, honey,” he said, pulling her into a kiss.

“Love,” she whispered against his lips, blushing, “stop embarrassing me in front of everyone.”

He leaned down, his voice low so only she could hear. “Be careful with him. And one more thing make him unleash it. I want to see what he really is.”

“Yes, my love,” Fenrona whispered back with a smile.

“Lady Fenrona,” a servant called. “This way, please.”

“Go on,” Lun said from behind, her voice teasing. “Show them.”

“Bill,” Charls muttered as the boy strapped on his weapon. “Don’t go easy on her. You saw what her husband did.”

Bill’s expression didn’t change. “I didn’t see anything.”

“What do you mean?” Charls frowned.

“He didn’t do anything,” Bill said calmly. “He just looked. He just moved. That was enough to terrify me. That’s what makes it interesting. So no, I won’t go easy on his wife. Because she’s likely just as strong.”

Moments later, the gates opened again.

“Welcome back, everyone!” Roly roared. “Our next match, Fenrona Lynvern, wife of the Hunter, against Bill Fourman, heir of the Fourman line!”

Fenrona entered, her steps light and playful, a smile tugging at her lips. Across the arena, Bill stood tall, his face grim and serious, his blade glowing faintly in his grip.

“Begin!”

Bill lunged. His sword came down like thunder, but Fenrona danced aside, the edge biting only air. She tapped his head lightly with a finger.

“Too slow,” she teased.

He snarled, spinning and slashing again. Again, she slipped past, this time poking his ribs.

“You can do better than that.”

His temper snapped. Flames burst from his hands, fireballs shrieking through the air toward her.

Fenrona twirled, dodging each one with playful grace. “Adorable.”

“Fight seriously!” Bill bellowed, unleashing a storm of fire that lit up the entire arena.

Fenrona sighed, raising an ice shield that shimmered against the inferno. “Is that all?”

The crowd gasped.

“Her stage two shield barely held against the fire!” someone shouted.

Cid’s eyes narrowed from the gallery. “That wasn’t stage two. That was stage three. And it melted like frost in the sun.”

“You mean?” another asked in shock.

“Yes. He’s casting stage four.”

Bill roared, his flames surging higher. His body twisted, bones cracking, scales spreading across his arms. Horns burst from his forehead, his pupils slitting into reptilian lines.

“That look…” Cid muttered, his blood running cold. “He’s half-dragon.”

Bill’s speed tripled. His blade nearly clipped Fenrona as she twisted aside, but this time the shockwave of his strike hurled her against the far wall.

“I guess I have no choice,” Fenrona said, rising to her feet. The air around her chilled, frost spreading across the sand. The cold crawled toward Bill and this time, the fire didn’t melt it.

“Sorry, kid,” she whispered, her eyes glowing. “But you are strong.”

Ice erupted around his body, locking his limbs. With one clean motion, she darted forward and slashed across his arm. Blood spilled across the frozen ground.

“The winner—Fenrona Lynvern!” Roly declared.

The crowd exploded, half cheering, half in disbelief.

Back in the gallery, Cid exhaled proudly. “Now they see her.”

“How did you…?” Bill groaned, clutching his bleeding arm.

“I just had a good teacher,” Fenrona said softly.

When she returned, Cid embraced her. “Good job, honey. You’re growing closer to Elga every day. Soon you’ll manifest her true form and when you do, you’ll wield stage five.”

She smiled, cheeks flushed.

The following fights came and went. Charls crushed his opponent with brute strength, Johny split the air with the weight of Hali, and Emily dazzled the crowd with a perfect blend of flame and steel. Together, the Divisions revealed themselves, standing side by side like a wall of unshakable shadows.

“So, you’re all together,” Bill said, approaching them with his arm bound.

“Yes,” Cid said, eyes cold, not turning to look at him.

“I guess that makes you the leader,” Bill said.

“No. I’m their teacher,” Cid corrected. “What do you want?”

“Train me,” Bill said without hesitation.

“Only if you join me,” Cid replied.

“Yes,” Bill said, without a shred of doubt.

Cid studied him for a long moment. Then nodded. “We’ll talk later.”

“Now for the next round!” Roly’s voice thundered again. “Cidolfus Lynvern… versus Johny Hursen!”

Johny grinned, stepping forward with Hali resting across his shoulder. “I’ve been waiting for this fight for a long time.”

Cid smirked faintly, loosening his coat. “Good. Then give me everything you’ve got.”

“Good luck, Johny,” Charls called.

The gates opened again. Sand shifted beneath their boots as Cid and Johny walked into the arena together, the crowd roaring, the air thick with expectation.

The real fight was about to begin.