One and a half days later, we had finally reached the arena.
It was already late; the games would start the next day, an hour after sunrise.
We found out that it was still possible to enter the arena as a gladiator.
There were not many people crazy enough to fight in the arena, even considering the lush prize money.
Even though it was unlikely to die in one of those fights, the pain was still a problem for most, and a strong injury like losing an arm
was not especially fun for anyone either.
We rented two rooms in a tavern nearby to stay for the night.
I was almost certain that I wouldn't be able to close even one eye this night.
Tomorrow I would have to fight another human.
I was never a violent guy; causing harm bothered me, but if it was necessary, I would do what I had to.
In the end, falling asleep was quite easy.
Whether this was also due to my newfound sleep abilities or just the exhaustion, I couldn't tell.
———
Once I fell asleep, the dreams flooded into my mind like a dark black flood.
I stood on a jagged mountain, raging rivers falling down the sides around me, and grey storms whipped through the clouds.
Atop the mountain sat a figure, a cowering giant.
His skin was grey like the mountain and just as furrowed.
Around him, a couple of smaller objects were orbiting.
As it got closer, I could recognize what was orbiting him: theater masks. Dozens of them were flying around him; each had a slightly different expression on them.
Now I could also hear them. Voices, wailing, laughing, screaming. A cacophony of emotions, I suppressed the urge to press my palms against my ears.
As I got even closer, the sounds suddenly tore off, making place for the sounds of a single emotion.
The cries were ear-splitting.
The giant now turned his head to face me, even though I could not see his face.
It was covered by a mask, the same kind that was floating around him like many moons.
This one had a sad expression, tears-no, rivers-flowing out of the dark cavities that symbolized his eyes.
As his gaze hit me, I almost fell backwards.
I could feel a sorrow I had never felt, a coldness that pierced my chest.Tears flowed down my face.
Every single moment of my life that was connected to this feeling flashed before my eyes again and again. I saw my mother dying before my eyes again and again and again.
A deep voice as old as the mountain itself echoed from behind the mask, causing the stone below me to vibrate:
"You finally found me, little Sorrowborn.
You will be the one to shatter my chains.
You think you have felt sorrow, but I see through all lies.
I have seen the lie that will break you.
You will come to this very mountain.
I have seen it."
I took a step back.
In this moment, it started to pull.
The ageless giant pulled me towards him like a magnet.
"NO! LET GO OF ME!"
I could feel the air shift. Something had changed.The mountain giant seemed almost...surprised.
"Divinity and a guardian's heart.
You are resilient, little Sorrowborn.
But even the gods are bound by fate."
I shot up in my bed, tears still flowing over my face, a staccato scream escaping my gritted teeth.I decided not to tell Thessa of this unsettling dream; we had more important matters to worry about.The arena.Today was the day.
———
Only an hour later, both Thessa and I were led into the tunnels underneath the arena by a short man with long blonde hair and an insane expression on his face.
"To the left are the weapon chambers. I see that you two don't have any equipment. You can just take whatever you find. But remember: more is not always better."
His voice descended into a mad giggling as he turned right and disappeared into the darkness of the vaults.
The weapon chamber was filled to the brim with every weapon or armor one could imagine.
My eyes quickly found a light grey leather armor, made for mobility and swiftness.
The armor fit me perfectly, but that could also have been the work of the many runes etched into the armor.
Thessa picked a light plate armor with a mask depicting an angry, demonic grimace. Her armor shimmered in a deep bronze tone.
A long, dangerous-looking spear was already perched in her hand.
She swung it around a few times, then pierced a hole into a worn-out wooden shield.I took a step back, not only to not be pierced by her spear like a suckling pig, but also to get a better overview of the huge assortment of weapons.
Finally, I spotted a weapon that might fit me.