Chapter 52: Chapter 52
“So this is Great Aeolus City”, Eru exclaimed with awe, looking at the spectacle in front of him. “Rather than Great Aeolus City, I’d say Great Aeolus Tower would be more fitting. Isn’t that right, Buddy?” The black sword did not buzz; it ignored Eru as it had no idea what Eru was saying. Eru rubbed his head, “Yeah, yeah, ignore me, will you.” Then, Eru looked at one of the entrances of the city.
Eru saw a long line of people queueing to enter the city. He found that most people queueing were warriors of some kind, identified by the weapons they carried. “Why is the queue so long?” he scratched his head. Eru took a deep breath, “No way around it. I guess I just had to wait.”Eru walked towards the entrance and asked one of the people queueing, “Hey brother, it seemed to be more crowded than usual. Do you know what happened?”
The person that Eru asked was a middle-aged man wearing leather armour with a sword strapped to his back, “You don’t know, little brother? There’s going to be an event coming up soon. The Aeolus Great Fighting competition is coming up in a few days, and these people are here to register”, he explained.
“Oh, is that so?” Eru rubbed his chin. The middle-aged man nodded, “Are you here to register as well?” he asked. Eru shakes his head, “I don’t know, I don’t think so. I’m here to become an adventurer.” The middle-aged man looked surprised, “Becoming an adventurer?” the middle aged-man eyes brighten up, “Good luck, little brother! Not many people right now want to become one”, he nodded in approvement while patting Eru in the back.
“T-thanks”, Eru almost choked because of the middle-aged man’s pat. The middle-aged man smiled brightly, “If I may ask, little brother….” Eru looked up to the middle-aged man as he’s taller than Eru by few inches, “Shoot”, I said. “Which branch are you from?” the middle-aged man asked. “I’m from Borea City”, Eru answered nonchalantly. The middle-aged man eyes widen, “You passed through the bridge? I heard there was a Giant Rock Serpent is blocking the way.”
“There was a giant serpent blocking the way. Not anymore, though”, Eru said.
“Not anymore? Does that mean it’s dead?”
“I already took care of it”, Eru said nonchalantly. “Really?” the middle-aged man looked at Eru with doubt. “Believe what you will”, Eru said. The middle-aged man laughed, “Hahaha, sure, sure, I’ll believe you. After all, not many adventurers came from Borea City as Yuya’s scoring was too strict.” Eru turned to look at the middle-aged man, “You know Yuya?” The middle-aged man nodded, “I do. He and I go way back.”
Then they begin talking while waiting for their turn to enter the city. When it’s their turn to get into the city, the guards stopped them by crossing out their spears, “Paper and identifications please,” one of the guards asked. Eru took out the letter of recommendations from Yuya and his citizen Id while the middle-aged man showed his adventurer’s badge. The right guards talked to the middle-aged man while the left guard checked Eru’s credentials.
“Becoming an adventurer, eh?” the guard asked. Eru nodded, giving his answer. The guard’s impressions of Eru become slightly favourable as his expression brighten, “Good luck, young man. It gave me hope that there are still people willing to become an adventurer in this day of age”, the guard praised before handing Eru’s credentials back to him. “Thanks, my man!” Eru thanked the guy as he was let through by the guard.
At the same time, the middle-aged man was also let through by the guard. When Eru enter the city, he saw why this place was called the Great City. “Amazed, huh?” the middle-aged man walked behind Eru. The latter nodded his head, still dumbfounded by the scene in front of him. The middle-aged man smiled, “This place was a remnant of an ancient civilization. When Zephyr Empire found it, the tower was broken as many of its pieces was missing. It took the Zephyr Empire a long time before the tower was fixed”, the middle-aged man explained.
“Then?” Eru eyes were brimming with curiosity. The middle-aged man chuckled, “At first, this place was used as a base for the army, then it was used as a fortress. After a few years, the kingdom opened up the tower to the people, making the fortress available for living”; he continues, “I don’t know what exact year it was, but one day a conflict broke up between the people. That conflict apparently caused many deaths to occur inside the city. As this place was previously a military base, the people back then used the military law back in the day for solving problems between soldiers,” the middle-aged man said.
The middle-aged man nodded, he continued, “That’s the origin of the coliseum, and once every year, a fighting competition was held to remember that incident.” Eru looked bewildered, “Then, what’s the origin of the city’s name?” The middle-aged man laughed, “Oh, that? Well, don named Aeolus won the first fighting competition, and the kingdom’s hierarchy named this place after him.”
Eru rubbed his chin, “I see….” he pondered on something, “The history of this world continued to amaze me”, he mumbled. “Sorry, what’s that?” the middle-aged man raised his eyebrow. “Oh, nothing”, Eru tried to diver the middle-aged man attention, “Do you know any good inn to stay at?” he asked. “Most of the good inn in the city would’ve been full by now”, the middle-aged man pondered, “But, there’s one place here that maybe still has room. Wait a moment, I’ll write the directions for you”, he took out a note with a pen from his pouch. “Here ya go!” the middle-aged man handed the written note to Eru.
“Peace and Loving Inn? Thanks, mister Andre!”
“Your welcome” the middle-aged man named Andre walked away, leaving Eru near the city entrance. “So, shall we?” the black sword buzzed, replying to Eru with joy.
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“Welcome to the Adventurer’s Guild; how may I help you?” a beautiful ginger-haired young woman greeted. “Ah hello, I’m here from Borea’s City Adventurer’s Guild”, Eru approached the receptionist before handing in his letter of recommendation. The receptionist picked up the letter, “Ah, from Yuya, huh…” the ginger-haired young woman looked astonished. “Huh? Somethings wrong?” Being stared at by someone for a minute made Eru felt a bit uncomfortable. “Sorry. It’s just that Yuya hasn’t made a letter of recommendations for someone a long time”, the ginger-haired receptionist clarified.
“Really?” Eru’s ears perked up. “Yes. Usually, the guild master did not have to write a letter of recommendation, and Yuya was infamous for never writing one”, the ginger-haired woman explained. “Is that so? Then, can I get the Aeolus Branch recommendations letter too?” Eru asked the ginger-haired receptionist. “You need to earn that, little brother,” a familiar voice suddenly came out behind Eru. “Mister Andre!” A middle-aged man wearing a letter armour with a sword strapped to his back patted Eru on the shoulder. “Guild master!” The ginger-haired receptionist greeted Andre by bowing her head. “Raise your head, miss Amelia”, Andre said with annoyance, “How many times should I tell you to not bow your head any time you see me?” he rubbed the back of his head.
“But, Master Andre, it wouldn’t be proper etiquette if I don’t bow to you?” the receptionist tilted her head. Andre face twitched, “But not every time!”. Andre took a deep breath, “I’m sorry for that. She can be a little bit annoying sometimes”, he said. Eru shakes his head, “It’s fine. So, how do I earn that letter?” Andre raised his eyebrow, “Impatient aren’t we? Fine, I’ll tell you how. Win the Aeolus Great Fighting Competition then we talk”, he smirked.
“You’ve done this on purpose, don’t you?” Eru groaned, seeing the expression on Andre’s face assured him even more.
“And, if I am?” Andre teasingly raised his eyebrow, his lips curled upwards. Eru looked pissed, his face twitching, ‘If you are, then fuck you!’ he swore inside. He pinched his forehead, “Fine, I’ll do it. Where do I register?” Andre smile widened, “That’s the way”, he turned his back around, “Follow me!”
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Eru followed Andre climbing the spiral stairs upwards. “So, where are we going?” Eru asked. Andre smile, “The Colosseum, of course.”
“Come to think of it, I never asked where the colosseum was located. I did scour the city, but I cannot find it anywhere”, Eru said. “Have you ascend the stairs yet?” Andre curiously asked. Eru shook his head, “Not to the top. After all, I only saw lodgings until the 5th floor.” Andre smirked; he pointed his finger up, “You see the people queueing upstairs?” Eru nodded, “I did see that. But, what it gotta do with the…. Don’t tell me….” Realizations dawned on Eru. “Yes, the colosseum is up there”, Andre said, smiling.
When Eru finally arrived at the 6th floor, he saw many people gathering at the left side of the receptionist table. “Welcome to the colosseum. How may I help you?” a male receptionist greeted Eru and Andre. “We would like to register for the fighting competition”, Andre said. The receptionist looked at Andre then to Eru, “Who’s entering?” he asked. Andre pushed Eru forward, “He’s entering.” The receptionist nodded; he searched down the table before handing a form alongside a pen to Eru, “Please fill this information”, the receptionist said. Andre pat Eru on the back, “That’s that! Good luck!” he left Eru alone before descending the stairs alone.
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