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Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: Finally found you

Orpheus then began leading Xerxes and Leiya to where Thornfum was. The streets weren't empty; they were quite busy, as many traders within the city were ready to set up stands in preparation for the tournament. Tickets were being sold, and people still needed to place their entries into the tournament.

Even with a week till the tournament, there was no sign of a visible arena, which was confusing for Xerxes and Leiya. The only place that was linked to the tournament was The Hollow Veil's guildhall.

In the hall, they were selling the tickets at a price of 10 gold for a standard ticket and 15 for a premium view. Additionally, the sign-up for the tournament was in there. Besides that, Xerxes' eyes were locked onto Orpheus' back.

"Orpheus, how is it that you know about me?" Xerxes asked, partly intrigued by how he had gained the information, partly suspicious.

Orpheus tilted his head back slightly. "Is a man so wrong for wanting to figure out more about someone they are interested in? I don't believe so. And if you really wanted to know, as someone from the Amento Kingdom, I'm sure you are familiar with the reputation of the people of Amento, aren't you, the kingdom of whispers?"

Leiya then quickly asked another question from her previous lessons with Xerxes back in the fallen kingdom about the 'outside world'. The kingdoms of Amento and the kingdom of Eros were specifically kingdoms home to the Elven people.

But from looking at Orpheus, his ears weren't pointed, and his skin didn't share the paleness of the elves. "I thought the people of Amento were elves, but you don't seem like one."

Orpheus instantly replied, "Great observation, Leiya. Though a man tends to be a traveller, moving between Amento and Baratheon. Though I favour Amento, so I'd like to say I am from there."

Making some conversation to ease the tension, Orpheus began speaking, "The contenders this year are truly a spectacle: Tristan Godfrey, a mage who is dubbed a prodigy—he is loved by all for his cold indifference in battle, having a will that can never be shaken; Axel and Abel—the axes that strike the tree in one swing; Learna Lovett, a delicate woman whose wind is quite the opposite; and many more."

"Tell me, do you two have a battle plan? After all, I don't doubt your collective ability to reach the top of the tournament, but..."

"But what, Orpheus?" Xerxes asked, unamused with his theatrics.

Looking forward once more, taking a left past the blacksmithing quarter of Baratheon, he continued walking. "But Tristan Godfrey hasn't earned the title of 'prodigy' without good reason. His fire magic is rumoured to be stronger than anyone of his age. Not only that, a small pendant on his neck is a great key for his power, passed down by his late father."

Xerxes began mapping the similarities between him and Tristan within his head. They both utilised fire; they both were people without their parents; and they both had something to fight for. But even with all of that, Xerxes couldn't feel anything towards him yet. He was a contender, someone in the way of him getting back to his loved ones.

Xerxes simply replied, "I won't lose."

Orpheus smiled. "For some reason, you don't give off any other boisterous adventurer's casual bravado. I feel inclined to place my money on you immediately. Well, enough small talk—we're here, and this bids my farewell."

Looking back at both of them, he added, "I'll be sure to watch you two in the tournament. I'm particularly interested in you, Leiya. Out of all contenders, you pique my interest the most. I'll be sure to keep a keen eye on Team Xerxes."

He then began walking away, drifting through the alleyways until he was no longer there.

Leiya looked towards Xerxes. "That guy gave me the creeps. I couldn't sense anything from him, but he gave off a feeling of confidence and had some—how do I put it?—underlying malice?"

Xerxes nodded affirmatively as he looked back into the alleyway, not sure if Orpheus was still listening in or if he was truly gone. "I'm not sure how to feel about Orpheus either, and yeah, I did get that feeling from him. I'm still trying to figure out why he has given us information on Tristan—better yet, if we can trust that information."

Leiya responded, slight concern plastered on her face. "If it is true, it doesn't feel right that we know. But I suppose that information could have been gained earlier if we did seek it, no?"

Xerxes felt conflicted, but all he knew for now was that Tristan had fire mana and that he had some pendant. It surely couldn't be enough information to turn the tide.

Xerxes shook his head. "It won't be, Leiya. Not only that, I doubt Orpheus even knew the full function—otherwise, he probably would have said. So don't stress too much about it, yeah?"

Leiya nodded, giving a smile. Then they turned their heads left to the door of what seemed like a dingy shack. The house—if it could be called that—was falling apart. The wood was in terrible condition; there was a broken window on the side that was measly held together with tape, and overall, it looked abandoned.

Xerxes then knocked on the door, not entirely expecting Thornfum to be there, but to his surprise, he heard a familiar voice coming from the other side.

"How 'bout yer' fuck off? I can't pay m'rent yet, and I'm having a hard time!" the voice said. It was clear there was some frustration and sadness mixed in his words.

Xerxes then spoke. "It's me Thornfum...Xerxes. Do you remember?"

There was silence for a few seconds as Xerxes and Leiya awkwardly looked at each other, waiting for a moment.

Then, the doorknob began to rattle as the door quickly opened. Thornfum dragged both Leiya and Xerxes in with intense speed, slamming the door shut to a point where—in its condition—it could have fallen off.

"I thought ya' were the bailiffs. I was ready to send them to the afterlife, but luckily for me, I think I have four more days till they really come. I don't know, I'm losing m'marbles in here, so, what d'ya want?"

Xerxes sounded astonished that Thornfum truly acted oblivious to what he wanted. "Firstly, I would like some light. Secondly, where have you been, Thornfum? We've been training every day, but you never showed up."

Thornfum then began walking to a particular section of the room. "Aye, I haven't been to train, but I had to recover after ya' basically stabbed me. Then there was somet' that came up. But I'll have you know, I've been taught to be a man of my word—I'd die before going back on it. Ya' hear me! So yes I will still be entering with ya'"

Thornfum's face then became visible as it began glowing with the light from a candle that he lit up whilst talking. Then he noticed Leiya beside Xerxes.

Almost dropping the candle, he was stunned. Leiya's features were... they were absolutely perfect, and Thornfum felt his heart thud extremely hard at the sight of her.

Her beautiful and elegant skin was smoother than any other; her eyes were relaxed, but Thornfum, with his crazed mind, knew they held a wildness to them that he enjoyed.

Her hair was luscious and perfect in length and its sapphire colour, and she was so much taller than himself that he couldn't help but see her as a deity.

"I appreciate the maiden as an offering, Zombie Boy, my sworn sword," Thornfum said, slightly deepening his voice and puffing out his chest.

Leiya looked mortified, raising her eyebrows. "This... is supposed to be our teammate, Xerxes? He calls me 'maiden'? My name is Leiya, DWARF!" she emphasised.

Thornfum then turned around, running to a different section of the room. "Shouting only makes you hotter, m'prized Leiya. But enough of Thornfum's excellence—my true dilemma resides here!"

Xerxes sighed. "What could you possibly mean? You know what, Thornfum? I've had enough. Airi, illuminate the room." Airi did exactly that as the entire house began illuminating. Every section of the house was filled with tools, broken swords, broken bottles, and potions. But in the corner, there was a woman who seemed in her late teens or early twenties.

Looking at her, Xerxes and Leiya noticed her hair, which curled at the ends and reached her shoulders. Her skin was pale, but not a natural pale, a sickening pale that seemed painful. Her body was slender but well-defined, and she had considerably tight clothing, with nothing else on her.

What Xerxes noticed was a particular mark on her shoulder that seemed to be a runic mark, similar to the ones he had been seeing on people with stronger or foreign power.

Leiya noticed it too and immediately said, "Who is she, and where did she come from?"

Xerxes backed Leiya's claim. "Thornfum, you better have a good explanation for who she is, and you better have one fast."

Thornfum sighed, making an earthen pillar for him to sit down on with his magic. "I do. The lady you see here will be our fourth member. Her name is Claudia Ostum, former mage of the Hollow Veil. But after entering the Forest of Dreams, she's been cursed with the Curse of Slumber, that's the badass joining us."

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