Aa'Ki took a mere step through the entrance of the stronghold and there was already murmuring among the townsfolk. All heads turned his direction as he walked past with a sigh. He would mumble to himself, "This old place never changes." The heavy sword sheathed on his back would clang against him with each step he took. Shocked mutters would escape the lips of the underclassmen, while the nobles merely snickered and scoffed at him, poking and prodding at the embers of his temper, soon to start a fire. Aa'Ki sighed, trying to block their attempts to ignite his temper as he'd remind himself, "It's not worth losing it."
His thoughts were interrupted by the roaring and cheering of a crowd in the distance. He turned to meet its origins, walking towards it with curiosity flooding his mind. He eventually found himself in the depths of a crowd surrounding an arena, of which had a match in session. He shouldered his way through the bustling crowd in attempt to reach the front and watch what was happening. He soon reached the front, almost astonished at what he saw. Karina, an old friend of his, was in the midst of a duel with a man whom he had not known. Aa'Ki folded his arms as he watched, a slight grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. A sense of nostalgia flooding over him. They were both unarmed, however they used their abilities to control light to the fullest. Karina formed a shield of light, blocking the blast the man had used on her. She charges at him, transforming her shield into a rapier, attacking him with rapid successions of jabbing. Aa'Ki chuckled lightly, "It seems her choice of weaponry hasn't changed a bit." The man formed a shortsword out of light and almost effortlessly deflected each strike Karina threw at him. She quickly turned her sword into the same weapon as her opponent and their blades clashed. It was now a battle of strength. With their blades now crossed, Karina's opponent started to gain ground, easily pushing past her defense, using his weight to his advantage, and her disadvantage. She smirked, moving her sword down and to her side, causing her opponent to stumble and fall forward, his weight immediately becoming his penalty. She hit him in the back of the head with the pommel of her sword, knocking him out.
The crowd roared and cheered her name, Aa'Ki cheering along. The crowd's cheering subsided as Karina walked off the platform. Aa'Ki turned to leave, only to be stopped by yet another familiar face. His oldest friend, Belach, stood before him. He let a smirk slip whilst he looked at Aa'Ki, "Good to see you're back."
Aa'Ki let out a chuckle and shook his head, "I see you haven't changed much, Belach."
"You say that as if I need improving!"
"You're still a child," Aa'Ki laughed at him.
"And that's a bad thing?"
Aa'Ki looked down with a shake of his head and a soft chuckle, "No. I guess it isn't," he looked back up, thinking to himself, "After all… Ignorance is bliss."