In the morning, as Caesar stood in the kitchen, wearing a white short sleeve shirt and a blue trousers with an apron round her waist, making breakfast, she glanced at her side and saw Rai who was half dressed for school and Eyo who was rubbing his eye lids.
"Morning, big sis." Rai said.
"Morning,Caesar!" Eyo said.
"Hey, morning, little fellas." Caesar replied with a smile, "Did you two sleep well?"
"Yeah, we did." Rai answered.
"I had a dream." Eyo said, "I dreamt you are a superhero and you were flying and protecting us from bad guys."
"Aw, that's so sweet." Caesar said.
"What about you? Did you sleep well?" Rai asked.
"Mhm. Same as usual," Caesar said as she flipped a pancake, "Breakfast will be ready in a sec. Go wash up. Plus your lunch boxes are already packed."
"Even dinner?" Eyo asked excitedly.
"Yep. When you get home, just heat it up." Caesar said.
Caesar turned towards Eyo and playfully poked his cheek.
"Now go or you'll be late." Caesar said.
As the boys scampered to the bathroom, Eyo halted mid-step.
"Uhm… Caesar..." Eyo said nervously.
She turned, still holding the spatula.
"Yes?" Caesar said with a raised brow.
"We heard you yelling last night. Were you mad?" Eyo asked.
Rai and Eyo stared at Caesar while Caesar stayed quiet for a time until she sighed.
"I was just… letting out some stress." Caesar said, "You know... About work... But its okay. There's nothing to worry about.
I'm fine."
Eyo nodded his head and walked away but Rai didn't seem convinced as he stared at Caesar with a raised brow.
"Take care of yourself, sis." Rai said.
Caught off guard by his words, Caesar stared at Rai for a while and smiled gently.
"I always do." Caesar replied.
Rai nodded his head and walked away.
"I always do." Caesar softly said as she tilted her head down.
Later as the school bus arrived, the boys grabbed their bags and waved excitedly at Caesar.
"Bye, Caesar!" The boys unanimously said.
"Bye!" Caesar replied with a warm smile as she waved back at them.
As soon as the bus drove off, Caesar closed the door of her house, leaned her back against it and sighed.
Caesar reached out to her pocket and pulled out the golden card Akari gave her yesterday.
"Good. That's where you will be working." Akari's voice replayed.
Caesar's hand shook as she stared at the card which led her to exhale.
"Today is the day, huh." Caesar said within herself, "Damn it."
Hours later, within a bakery called Balland and Barnes, Caesar was in a plain red uniform shirt and dark jeans, wiping the counter and organizing the trays of fresh rolls. While working, her ears flinched as she overheard a group of co-workers speaking which turned out to be two male humans, a male beast folk, a female human and a female beast folk.
"Did you watch yesterday's match? Isolde Creed defeated Neo Rush." One of the male humans said.
"Are you talking about EBW?" The other male human asked.
"Yeah. That match was crazy. The ironfang Isolde Creed took everything the sharp shooter Neo Rush could give and dominated the match!" The first male human replied, "I mean she was a war veteran and is one of the most dominant ero- wrestlers the business has to offer.
I won't take anything away from Neo, though. He did put up a hell of fight but unfortunately he lost. So sad.
In the end, Isolde was right . Neo was set up to fail when he was booked against her."
"Seriously, how do people even watch that filth?" The female human asked.
"Yeah. It is beyond me how people can sit down and watch things like that." The second male human said.
"I don't know... But I kinda find it pretty hot." The female beast folk said.
"I find it pretty disgusting." The male beast folk said, "Carrying bedroom acts and performing it in the ring... If they are that horny, let them go somewhere private to do all that."
"Come on. It's ero-wrestling!" The female beast folk replied, "You can't expect them to call themselves ero-wrestlers without performing erotic acts in the ring."
"Shoving people's faces into your private area in front of an audience isn't erotic, it's shameless." The female human replied, "How that company has lasted for nine decades is beyond me.
It doesn't help that their standard matches are intergender."
"At least they have rules in what they do. You know, with the ero-points and all." The first male human said, "I read on their website that they will have a new female wrestler joining, today."
"Really?! I thought the tough enough drafting has already been done?" The female beast folk asked in confusion, "There isn't supposed to be another one till next year or so."
"Nah. This one didn't go through tough enough. She is backed by the Mizukais." The first male human replied.
"The Mizukais?" The second male human asked in confusion, "What business does a family like that have with a degenerate industry like them?"
"Humph. Everyone knows the Mizukais are a shady family. So if they are involved with something like this, I won't be surprised." The female human said.
"Though, the Mizukais aren't owners of EBW, their donations to the company has granted them some 'privileges'." The first male human said.
"Odd, though. This is the second time they are bringing someone to wrestle in the ring." The female beast folk said, "The first time there was a guy who went through tough enough and only wrestled three matches before having a mental breakdown.
This one didn't even go through tough enough. She just skipped the line and entered like that.
With no training or anything, how is she going to cope? More importantly, wouldn't the other wrestlers feel cheated?"
"I think so. But hey, I can't wait to see who she is!" The first human male said excitedly.
"Me too!" The female beast folk replied excitedly.
"Ugh. Fucking perverts." The female human said as she rolled her eyes.
Later as Caesar was still working, a masculine voice sounded.
"Caesar!"
Caesar turned to the direction of the voice and saw a dark skin, bald, muscular man with pitch black irises, wearing a white top and blue jeans.
"Balland... I mean, sir?" Caesar said.
"A minute?" Balland asked.
Caesar walked with Balland towards a private area and Balland crossed his arms.
"Is there a problem, sir?" Caesar asked.
"Listen to me. I need you to be honest and really honest with me. Are you in any way affiliated with the Mizukai family?" Balland asked.
Caesar stayed quiet for a while before she finally spoke.
"Yes. Yes, I am."
Balland sighed and face-palmed himself.
"Why didn't you tell me this before? Those people are bad news." Balland said.
"Is anything wrong?" Caesar asked.
"Yes. Because right now, I got informed that there are two Mizukai guards waiting outside the bakery for you." Balland answered.
Hearing this, Caesar slightly stiffened.
"Look. Whatever it is. Whatever they want from you, I suggest you give it to them." Balland said, "I have had my past issues with them. I don't want another."
Caesar stayed quiet for a time and then slowly nodded her head.
"I understand, sir." Caesar said.
As soon as Caesar walked past Balland, Balland exhaled.
Caesar who at the moment was wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans, stood in front of the two men in black suit, standing beside a sleek black car.
One of them then adjusted his sunglasses and spoke.
"Miss Moon, the Patriarch has ordered your escort to the EBW facility." The guard said, "Preparations must begin. Your debut match is close."
Caesar stared at the men for a while and nodded her head.
One of the men opened the car door and Caesar walked past them and entered. The men then silently followed after her to enter the car and drove off.
The black car eventually arrived at EBW location and pulled through the iron gates of the compound.
During that time, Caesar took notice of the building and observed it to be an enormous facility that somewhat looked like a futuristic arena.
Caesar sat still while her fingers were clenched around the hem of her shirt as the vehicle came to a stop.
The door then opened and one of the men spoke to her.
"Out."
Without a word, Caesar stepped out of the car and the guards followed.
As the men started walking, Caesar took notice of the cameras and the drones that buzzed overhead.
The guards walked her through the corridors lined with posters of fighters in poses.
While she was walking, she took notice of some of the wrestlers, some bruised and bleeding and some in perfect shape. But one thing they are all carried at the moment they sighted Caesar was the expression of disdain.
Suddenly, a fair skinned woman with long black hair, and grey irises who was wearing a sharp black suit while carrying a clipboard, approached them.
"Ah, Caesar Moon!" The woman said with a smile. "It's a pleasure. Amalia Xin - talent and logistics manager."
She extended her hand forward for a handshake but Caesar however didn't take it.
"So you're acquainted with the Mizukai family? How incredible." Amalia said while maintaining her smile, "It's truly an honor to meet someone representing them."
Caesar opened her mouth to respond, but before she could talk, one of the guards spoke.
"No time for pleasantries," The man said, "Her match is coming soon and we need to finish the orientation."
"Ah. Of course," Amalia replied as she stepped aside. "See you in the ring, Miss Moon."
Caesar's expression was unreadable as they continued walking.
"Payment channels have been set," One of the guards said to Caesar as they turned a corner. "After each match, ten percent of your pay goes to your account. The rest to the Mizukais."
"You recently renewed your ATM, correct?" The other asked without looking at her.
"Yeah..." Caesar answered.
"Good." The man replied.
As they finally reached a reinforced door at the end of a side hallway, one of the guards placed his palm against the scanner while the other gestured toward Caesar.
"This, Miss Moon, is your locker room. Private access. No roommates. You are Mizukai property, after all." The man said.
The door slid open and Caesar stepped inside.
The room was large and luxurious. It had polished floors, full-body mirror and even a flat-screen on one wall.
One of the guards then moved across the room, stood in front a large black chest and opened it.
"Your ring gear." The guard said.
Caesar slowly walked towards the direction and peeked into the box.
Inside in the box laid a folded high-neck grey see-through midriff top with a white cleavage overlay that had black stripes on the sides, black elbow pads, long grey see-through armbands, black fingerless gloves, a short black tights with a white thong overlay, grey see-through leggings, black thigh-high boots with a vertical white stripe that extended down to the toes, and finally a choker that carried the symbol of the Mizukai family, gleaming with silver on the front of the collar like a brand.
Seeing this, Caesar's eyes narrowed and she spoke out of disgust.
"This… This is what I'm supposed to wear?"
"Yes." One of them answered. "The family has decided. You don't have a say."
Caesar stared at the gear and recalled Akari's words to her in the previous day.
"Wear something tight."
Caesar then clenched her fists and scowled.
"Damn you all." Caesar whispered.
The guards gave a glance at each other before they turned their backs to walk away, leaving the door to slide shut behind them.