"It's incredible and beautiful…", Eryndis said looking down from the back of Eldora onto the land that belonged to Ali.
"Yeah, it is…", Kaelyra added, her eyes stuck to the human carts carrying goods over the newly built roads that connected all of Ali's villages and Obidos.
'The stone masonry in the mountain is in full production. Stork village has cut down the tree-line of the forest back to build more carriages and rebuild their homes. All of my fertile land is ready for farming now…', Ali thought, looking down from Abeloth's warm back sitting on red-hot scales.
'I have a lot of work to do. I need to assimilate my new spell and dragon powers, and I have to breakthrough to the fourth level aura…In addition to managing my little kingdom…', Ali thought as he replied to Miles through the interface, telling him he'd speak to him later tonight.
In Obidos, the mines were filled with workers breaking down stone and chopping woods that would be used to make the mines more stable and build better foundations. Next to the large mountain that housed all the precious ore was a small river where fifty men were building a wheel made out of wood to harvest the stream's currents and use it to refine the ores out of the mines.
Ali wouldn't have to send the raw ore at reduced prices to the buyers. Now, he could refine the ores himself and sell for better profits, but one thing was clear in the area: all the workers had smiles on their faces and were joking during work with a carefree atmosphere. The working conditions were great for them, and they would be paid bonuses depending on how fast the mine was rebuilt, which made them care for the result as it benefited them now….
But in Obidos, most areas had empty streets with some construction left unattended because all eyes were on the south of the town, where an entourage of demi-human warriors walked through the gate with an elder leading them and Fainter, the giant knight in all black armour and a new fine white print of a dragon on his chest plate, was escorting them under the human onlookers.
"Wow, look at all the houses, look, look, look", Liza tugged at Zeek, who sighed and his blue eyes landed on Fainter, feeling the strong level three aura oozing off the human, that made him tense up even more than he already was in a town full of vile humans.
"Liza, hold back your excitement and be cautious, this is not a trip…", Lyria, standing behind the elder with her bow on her back, warned the excited young rabbit girl who ignored her words and her eyes looked over everything around her, trying to take it all in.
"Where is Lord Ali?", the elder asked Fainter, who didn't look back at him and continued leading them to the new structure in the town's south side.
"That is none of your concern", Fainter responded sharply.
The elder and Lyria gave each other a look, hearing that, 'So it's true he's disappeared and maybe that destruction was his doing…', Lyria thought, remembering the horrible scene she saw from the battlefield Ali left behind, scorched forest and gore everywhere with craters bigger than her camp, power she'd never seen before…
Fainter led the entourage to a newly built wooden arena with a sand pit at the centre of wooden stands and at the north of the stands was a standalone row of seats and a throne on top for Ali.
On the other side, waiting for the demi-humans was a group of young men in knight's armour warming up against each other, waiting for the tournament to commence. Leading the young knights to be was Thorgar, Cassian, and Elden, who looked the demi-humans over, and just their stare was enough to send shivers down Zeek's spine.
"Fuck Lyria, those bastards are as strong, if not stronger, than Brak and there are three of them, we can't fight back if anything happens", Zeek whispered to the archer, who shook her head at him.
"Nothing will happen and we're here to make sure our fighters don't mess up, it's what the priestess ordered…", Lyria replied, with the elder nodding and following Fainter to his seat among the standalone row of seats where Oliver and a group of merchants were conversing.
"Oh elder, it is great seeing you here in Obidos, I hope the journey here was pleasant", Oliver welcomed the elder, who smiled back and shook his hand. Oliver was responsible for all trade with the demi-humans as Fiona didn't want anything to do with them; she despised them with all her heart.
"Of course, friend, with Lord Ali's protection, we passed through the forest without any trouble", the elder replied and started conversing with the merchants of Obidos, who were interested in trading with the camp, and it was the elder's job to bring the camp great deals from Obidos.
The stands filled up with townsfolk who were excited for the tournament, and some were betting on who would come out victorious…
"Hey Loyd, come over here", Thorgar shouted for the green-haired youth who was swinging his sword in the air.
"Yes, teacher", Loyd ran to his three teachers.
"Listen here", Thorgar put his arm around him, tightening his hold on the young man, and talking to him in a serious tone, "You're the strongest kid we've got, Loyd, see over there", Thorgar pointed at the demi-human warriors who were stretching.
"Those bastards are strong and wield aura better than any of your classmates, but you…You can beat them", Thorgar started warning Loyd of all he knew about demi-human warriors, as he'd faced many adventurers and warrior slaves on the battlefield and knew how demi-humans fight.
"Just remember what we taught you, Loyd", Elden said with a warm smile.
"And know that Lord Ali will hear of the result of the tournament when he comes back", Cassian said with a lazy expression, but his words hit hard as Loyd's eyes sharpened, knowing Ali would keep an eye on the tournament.
"I understand, I will win the tournament no matter what, and bring glory to his lordship for everything he's done for me", Loyd said with great determination that made all three smile before they sent him back to the rest.
"Any of them can give him a good fight?", Thorgar asked, looking at the demi-human warrior.
"The archer would beat him…", Elden answered.
"She's not in the tournament, level three aura users aren't allowed to fight. But the two behind her, they can put up a fight", Cassian said, chewing on a wheat stem with his hands behind his back.
"You're right", Thorgar said, smiling menacingly at the pair before Liza noticed them and waved her hand with a smile before Zeek caught her wrist and brought it down, giving Thorgar a threatening stare.
Before long, the arena was filled up with more than twenty thousand people, but the throne was still empty and no sigh of Ali's famous advisor, only Oliver was present as the highest-ranking symbol of power here, and he signalled for the arena master to start the tournament.
The fights started with young training knights against the demi-human warriors who were wiping the floor with the knights, their experience and better use of aura on display, but some knights won their fights before being beaten in the next duel.
That was the case except for one knight, Loyd, who was demolishing every demi-human that came up against him with his very refined deep green level two aura on display. Loyd was the town hero as the crowd always cheered for the human fighter, and he was the only one left now. Loyd had beaten all the demi-human fighters, and the ornament was in the later stages.
"LOYD LOYD LOYD LOYD", the crowd cheered as Loyd looked down at a demi-human knocked out by him at the end of the arena.
The elder's fist tightened on his armchair and he looked towards Lyria, giving her a nod…
"Liza", Lyria said to the rabbit girl, was clapping for Loyd, impressed by his duels and cheering with the rest of the crowd, standing out between the angry and defeated demi-humans.
"Yes?", Liza answered.
"You're up next, you will win this tournament for us. Understood?", Lyria told the girl, who opened her brown eyes in surprise and her ears stood up.
"Me?", Liza pointed at herself, surprised.
"Liza, go out there and no holding back.", Zeek said to Liza, who looked back at him, surprised.
"Ok", Liza said, hesitant, as fighting wasn't something she enjoyed at all and was forced to do most of the time.
Seeing her disappointed expression, Zeek smiled and said, "I heard Ali is rewarding the winner himself. Maybe that's your way to talk to him. Remember he said he was taking you with him somewhere?".
Lyria understood what Zeek was doing and smiled, looking at the girl whose eyes brightened, "Really!!! Then I'm going to win!", Liza's furry legs suddenly glowed with a deep blue and she disappeared, exploding into the arena where Loyd focused up, sensing the dangerous opponent.
"Well then, who's READY FOR THE FINAL DUEL OF THE TOURNAAAAAAAAMENT?", the announcer shouted loudly and got the crowd hyped up for the fight as they started betting on the fight.
"LOYD, LOYD, LOYD, BEAT THAT RABBIT FUCKER HAHAHAAHA", someone in the crowd shouted, and all the demi-humans who heard it looked for who said that, with their weapons raised.
But Fainter was faster than them, as the city guard under his command snatched up the drunk man and hauled him out of the arena under the gaze of the demi-humans.
"Please everyone, remember that our demi-human friends are fellow citizens now, his lordship's rule. Remember to show respect unless you want to sleep behind bars tonight", Oliver said aloud to the crowd, who whispered and no one dared to insult the demi-human again.
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