Chương 261: Race to the Colloseum

Vale stepped out of Nym's house and drew in a long, steady breath, the cool air filling his lungs far easier than the tension that still sat inside his chest. For several seconds he simply remained there in the narrow garden behind the house, one hand pressed against the back of his neck while his thoughts churned restlessly beneath the surface. The reunion had hurt more than he wanted to admit, yet somehow it had also gone better than he had expected. Nym had not attacked him.

She had not thrown him out immediately. She had even cut his hair and spoken to him, awkwardly, but still spoken to him. That alone felt like a small miracle. He crouched near the garden fence and exhaled again, his pale eyes fixed on the grass swaying gently beneath the wind.

"Well… that went decently, I guess," he muttered to himself, though the uncertainty in his voice betrayed him instantly. His fingers brushed through his newly shortened hair. It no longer hung over his eyes the way it had before. The change felt strange, lighter somehow, as though a small part of the weight he carried had been trimmed away alongside the black strands now scattered across Nym's floor. He could still hear her final words lingering in his mind.

'Your hair looks better short.' A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth despite himself. Then his gaze shifted upward toward the massive clocktower looming over Irea. The dark iron hands crawled steadily forward beneath the pale morning sky. Eleven thirty. His eyes shook slightly.

"That late already?" He rose quickly, dusting off his pants before glancing toward the distant shape of the colossal arena near the center of the city. Even from here the structure dominated the skyline, vast enough to rival entire districts. He still had roughly thirty minutes before the gladiator games began.

"Should be enough time," Vale murmured. He closed his eyes briefly as he began walking, replaying the conversation with Nym over and over within his head. Despite the tension between them, she had hesitated before sending him away. That hesitation mattered more to him than he cared to admit. Then another realization surfaced.

"So she's part of the Royal Guard too…" His brow furrowed thoughtfully. Honestly, it fit her perfectly. Nym had always been absurdly talented in combat. Fast, precise, disciplined, she possessed the kind of instinct that most fighters spent decades trying to develop. Seeing her among the Royal Guard should not have surprised him any more than seeing a fish in water. Yet something still bothered him.

When he had visited the guards yesterday, he had seen dozens of soldiers, officers, even Nova of all people, yet Nym had been nowhere to be found. Had she already left by then? Or had she intentionally avoided him? Vale clicked his tongue quietly.

"Probably the second one…" His thoughts drifted as he reached the edge of the garden. With practiced ease he vaulted onto the fence, balancing atop the narrow wood for only an instant before launching himself upward onto the roof of a nearby building. The city stretched endlessly around him, rooftops layered like uneven waves beneath the brightening sky. He had only taken a few steps before he sensed movement behind him. A heavy figure landed on the roof with enough force to shake the tiles beneath his feet.

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it. Vale chuckled softly without turning.

"You know," he said, "calling out before dropping onto someone's roof would be nice." Behind him, Korin awkwardly scratche his head.

"Oh… right. I'll remember that next time." Vale glanced back and smiled faintly. Somehow, Korin's awkward honesty made him strangely easy to be around. The towering boy stepped closer, his expression careful.

"So… how did it go?" Vale sighed through his nose and rolled his eyes.

"I don't think me and Nym are becoming friends again anytime soon." Korin blinked in surprise.

"Really? That's unexpected." His expression turned thoughtful.

"She seemed incredibly stressed these past weeks. Mostly because she didn't know whether you were alive or dead. I honestly thought she'd forgive you immediately."

"Well," Vale replied with a shrug, "things rarely go how you expect them to." He stepped toward the edge of the rooftop and leapt to the next building with effortless momentum. Korin followed close behind.

"Anyway," Vale continued, "where exactly is the colosseum? You're still coming, right?" Korin landed beside him and pointed toward the heart of the city. Vale followed his finger and whistled softly. The colosseum was enormous. The massive circular structure rose beside the castle like an ancient beast sleeping beneath the sky. Countless rows of stone seating wrapped around it in towering layers, while huge crowds gathered around its entrances.

Even from several districts away Vale could see streams of people flooding toward it like rivers converging into a single sea. The rich and poor were separated clearly. Elegant carriages lined one side while laborers and slum dwellers crowded the other. Guards stood everywhere.

"Damn…" Vale muttered.

"How are we even supposed to get in there? Which entrance do we use?" Korin laughed quietly.

"Oh, neither." Vale raised a brow.

"You were invited personally by Sir Drago," Korin explained.

"That means you use the third entrance." Vale stared at him flatly.

"Easy to say. The guards don't exactly know who I am." Korin's smile widened slightly.

"Vale… do you really think anyone's going to question you while I'm standing there?" Vale looked up at the much larger boy. Korin straightened proudly, though his expression quickly became embarrassed afterward.

"I may not be Sir Ares," he said, "but I'm still a Sentinel of the Royal Guard. Ordinary guards aren't exactly allowed to stop me." He paused briefly before raising his hands defensively.

"Not that I abuse that authority or anything." Vale snorted.

"Sure you don't." Korin grinned sheepishly. For a moment the two simply stood atop the rooftops, the wind rushing around them while the distant roar of the crowd echoed through the city below. Then suddenly Vale's eyes gleamed mischievously.

"You wanna race there?" Korin blinked.

"Hm?"

"No powers," Vale clarified quickly.

"Just rooftop running." Korin considered it for only a second before nodding.

"Alright." Vale's grin widened instantly.

"Then don't complain when you lose." Before Korin could respond, Vale exploded into motion. His body surged forward across the rooftops with startling speed, boots hammering against stone and tile as he leapt from building to building. Wind whipped through his shortened hair while the city blurred around him. Loose roof plates cracked and shifted beneath his feet, but he was already gone before they could collapse. Behind him Korin followed effortlessly.

Despite his massive frame, the larger boy moved with terrifying agility. Each leap carried him enormous distances, and unlike Vale he barely seemed winded at all. Vale glanced back mid-jump and laughed.

'This is actually fun.' His chest felt lighter. The two raced across the city like reckless spirits dancing over stone and sky, drawing startled gazes from civilians below who barely caught glimpses of them overhead. Finally Vale launched himself from the final rooftop and landed before the colossal arena entrance in a rough slide. Dust scattered beneath his boots while he bent forward, breathing heavily. A second later Korin landed beside him with almost casual ease.

"That was fun," Korin admitted with a smile.

"Looks like you won." Vale stared at him in disbelief.

"You're not even breathing hard."

"My body's built differently than yours." Vale rolled his eyes dramatically.

"Convenient excuse." Korin laughed. Together they approached the largest gate. Guards immediately stepped forward to block their path, but the moment they noticed Korin's uniform their expressions shifted entirely. They straightened instantly and stepped aside without another word. Vale glanced upward as they entered the massive structure. The interior tunnels echoed with distant cheers, roaring crowds, and the unmistakable sound of metal striking metal somewhere far below.

"So," Vale asked while walking beside Korin, "have you seen these games before?" Korin's expression dimmed slightly.

"Yes." Vale noticed his hesitation.

"But?" Korin remained silent for several moments before finally answering.

"I don't really enjoy them." Vale looked at him curiously. Korin's eyes drifted toward the arena ahead.

"People and beasts die there," he said quietly.

"A lot more often than you'd think." Vale's smile faded. For a moment he simply listened to the thunderous crowd echoing deeper within the colosseum. Then he sighed softly.

"…Right." The two continued forward through the enormous corridor while the noise of thousands grew louder with every step.

"Well," Vale muttered at last, forcing a small grin back onto his face, "let's hope nobody dies today."