—With an incredible move, Elijah sends Borin out of the arena and advances to the next round! What a spectacle!! —the announcer shouted.
The moment he threw him out, my brother dropped to his knees. For a second, I thought he wouldn't get back up… but he did. Slowly, he rose to his feet and lifted his arms, claiming his victory as the entire amphitheater erupted into cheers.
Borin, lying on the ground, was immediately attended by healers. Elijah was also taken away right after, surrounded by several of them.
—I'm really glad your brother won —said Tarin—, but… how did he do it? A moment ago he couldn't even move. It's… impossible.
—Just my brother being my brother, I guess —I replied, though I didn't fully believe it myself—. I'm going to check on him.
I stood up from my seat.
—Don't you want to watch the rest of the fights? —Luca asked.
—I'm not interested right now —I said without hesitation—. Save my seat.
—Alright —Mira replied.
I went down the stands, pushing my way through the crowd. The noise was deafening: shouting, applause, conversations everywhere. But as I moved deeper into the inner corridors of the amphitheater, all that chaos started to fade, as if I were leaving it behind layer by layer.
Until only silence remained.
A strange silence.
Heavier than usual.
That's when I realized I had no idea where they had taken my brother. I started walking aimlessly, turning through corridors that all looked the same, everything growing emptier and emptier.
Luckily, a man who seemed to work there noticed my hesitation and approached me.
—Are you looking for someone?
—Yes, Elijah Draven. He just fought.
He pointed me toward a door at the end of the hallway.
I thanked him and headed that way. I stopped in front of the door.
Then I raised my hand and knocked softly.
My brother opened the door. He had a wide grin on his face, as if nothing had happened.
—Well, little brother, what are you doing here?
—I came to see how you were —I said as I walked into the room.
—I'm perfectly fine —he replied calmly—. They've almost healed everything already. I just need a bit of rest.
—Those healers sure are fast.
—That's why they're experts —he said, dropping into a chair—. Besides, I guess they're in a hurry for the next fight.
He got comfortable and looked at me with that same confident smile as always.
—So, what did you think of my fight? Spectacular, right?
—You almost lost —I replied, more seriously.
—I had everything under control.
I couldn't help but laugh.
—What are you laughing at? —he asked, though he was starting to smile too.
—At your joke.
—It wasn't a joke —he said between laughs—. It was the truth.
I shook my head.
—Alright, genius. Explain how you did it. Tarin asked me and… well, I'm curious too.
—What exactly do you want to know?
—That last move. You were injured, crushed by his power… and still you got up like it was nothing.
—Ah… that —he smiled—. Wasn't it obvious?
I tilted my head, giving him a "not even close" look.
He let out a small laugh.
—Alright, I'll explain. His power isn't just putting weight on you. It's not like something is falling on top of you… it's different.
He paused, searching for the right words.
—It's like being at the bottom of the ocean. The pressure comes from everywhere at once. It doesn't just crush you… it compresses you.
—I still don't see how that helps you —I said.
—Because that pressure didn't just immobilize me… it was also tightening my entire body. My muscles were pushed to the limit.
He leaned forward slightly.
—So I let that tension build up… and at the right moment, I released it all at once.
—Like a spring?
—Exactly —he smiled—. The more you compress it, the harder it shoots out.
I stayed silent for a few seconds, processing it.
—That's incredible… —I murmured—. And also a huge flaw in his ability.
—Guess he didn't know —he replied with a shrug—. After all, he's never felt his own power.
—You're right —I said, letting out a laugh.
He laughed with me.
—I'm one step closer to my dream… —he said, leaning back in the chair—. Just three more fights and it'll all be over.
—And then you'll be a powerful court mage —I replied—. You'll have a better house, a better life… You'll probably leave me behind.
—What kind of nonsense are you saying to your dying brother? —he shot back, placing a hand on his leg, exaggerating the gesture.
—Didn't you just say you were fully healed?
—Maybe I did —he said, laughing.
But his expression changed slightly. Not much, just enough for me to notice.
—Relax, Ren —he added in a more serious tone—. I'll go wherever I have to, but I'm not leaving you behind because of this. Not a chance.
He paused briefly, and his smile returned, more teasing this time.
—Besides, I bet you'll be the one abandoning me when you run off with your great love.
—Are you still on about that?
—Now that I think about it… —he continued, ignoring me—. Helen didn't come, did she? I saw you in the stands with Mira, Tarin, and Luca… but not her.
—Well… I don't know —I admitted—. I haven't seen her in a few days. But you know she's never liked fights. That's probably why she didn't come.
Elijah narrowed his eyes, as if analyzing the situation.
—Huh… several days without seeing her… —he shook his head slowly—. Your little romance is definitely cooling off.
—What are you even talking about?!
He burst out laughing, clearly pleased with himself. Before I could reply, he changed the subject without warning.
—By the way… did you notice the king and the court mages?
—I noticed the king and Togi Odnar —I replied—. I barely saw the other two.
—And what did you think? It's your first time seeing them up close.
I thought about it for a moment.
—The king… is pretty imposing —I said—. But I don't know, he also feels… approachable. Like he's kinder than he looks.
Elijah nodded.
—Yeah, he looks like a good guy. I'm sure when I work there, I'll get along with him.
He smiled confidently, as if that future already belonged to him.
—But Togi… —I continued—. That man is different. He's imposing too, but… I don't know. Colder. More calculating.
Elijah let out a small laugh.
—You got that exactly right. I haven't talked to him much, but he looks like the kind of superior who doesn't let anything slide.
—I don't like him —I admitted.
—No one likes people like that —he replied with a shrug—. But they're usually the most dangerous.
For a moment, neither of us said anything.
The room fell silent again.
Outside, far away, the echoes of the next fight could be heard: shouting, applause, the constant murmur of the crowd.
Inside, though, everything felt more… calm.
Too calm.
We kept talking about unimportant things for a while. Random comments, jokes, memories… as if that day were just another one.
As if nothing was about to change.
I barely remember the next fight. It was fast. Too fast.
My brother's opponent, some guy named Shade who controlled shadows or something like that, couldn't do anything. Elijah overwhelmed him effortlessly, without taking a single scratch.
Another clean victory.
Another confident smile.
And, just like before, I went back to his room.
—That one was quick, wasn't it? —I said, still surprised.
—Yeah, he wasn't very strong —he replied with a light laugh—. Only two left.
Two.
That word kept echoing in my mind.
—From what I've heard, Reid has also won his fights —I added—. Looks like you'll have to face each other sooner or later.
Elijah smiled.
But this time, it wasn't just confidence.
It was excitement.
—I hope it's in the final —he said—. That would be perfect.
—That would be interesting… —I replied—, although Mira will probably kill me when you beat him.
—That's a given —he laughed.
Some more time passed. The fights continued, one after another, until they finally announced the semifinals.
Just like before, they placed the sheet on the board.
People started gathering around it.
So did I.
I don't know why… but I felt something strange.
A pressure in my chest.
A premonition.
I pushed through the crowd until I stood in front of the board.
And I saw it.
ELIJAH DRAVENVSREID THORNE
My breath stopped for a second.