Chapter 65: Oh No... A POV Switch! (I promise only two or three Chapters lol)

Lucas said:

"It’s for your safety."

Ruby howled:

"That’s what you’ve said every time I ask!"

Ruby dragged the green cape in front of her and waved it around.

"How is this robe supposed to keep me safe? Wearing this dumb thing is going to get annoying!"

She spun around, nearly sending the hood flying from her head, but Lucas caught it and tugged it back over her eyes.

Ruby pouted:

"Why can’t I even trust our friends?!"

’I guess she deserves an explanation...’

Plus she was very obviously on edge from learning of the three deaths and Claire missing.

Lucas sifted through his thoughts for a moment, then said:

"Because people are irrational. When their lives are at stake, they act in their own best interests. Trusting people may not be wrong under normal circumstances, but these circumstances are anything but normal. We’re in a place where surviving until tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Altruistic people will be betrayed and taken advantage of, while the self-serving will endure. Trusting someone here is like placing your life in their hands — and that kind of trust will crumble under the slightest pressure."

Ruby stared at her brother, dumbfounded, her mouth slightly agape.

Finally, she broke her stupor and let out a frustrated shriek, dramatically twirling her robe before turning her back on him.

"You’re such a hypocrite! If you really believe that, why did you become a leader?! They trusted you during the first trial, and now you’ve even created that guild thing!"

Lucas wanted to shout back:

’You’re wrong!’

But he held his tongue. He couldn’t let her know his true objective.

The way Lucas saw it...

’The ones who trusted me blindly were the ones who died. The survivors are the ones who followed my orders because they needed to. If I had stopped acting like a leader for even a moment, they would have replaced me. In the end, I was little more than a figurehead. Only a few of them held true trust in me.’

Even then... those who trusted him were the ones Lucas saw as foolish beyond belief.

Still, Ruby was right about one thing:

’Everything I have done was meant to earn their trust. Giving someone your trust is dangerous, but receiving another’s is useful. In truth, we would have the greatest chance of surviving if we could all trust one another. By that logic...’

"Maybe I really am a hypocrite," Lucas accidentally muttered aloud.

’Even so, if I want to protect Ruby, I can never let her trust anyone but me.’

"Hmph! You’re only realizing that now? Well, I’m done being tied to your leash. I’m outta here!"

’Huh?’

Ruby darted away at the perfect moment, weaving between the nearby passersby. Lucas tried to keep track of her, but her small frame quickly vanished among the crowd.

"Wait!"

His voice was swallowed by the surrounding noise.

"Just be safe..."

He could only hope she would return unharmed.

"Oi, punk! Watch where yer goin’."

Lucas spun around and found a large man standing behind him, spouting the sort of cliché he had expected to hear only in fiction. He prepared to respond, but the remark hadn’t been directed at him.

A smaller man stepped into the larger man’s face.

"Bruv, you’re the one who ought to watch his step."

People stopped what they were doing, quickly forming a circle around the pair.

Someone shouted:

"Take it to the arena!"

’Arena...?’

The larger man grinned.

"I quite like the sound of that."

His smaller opponent returned the devious smile.

"As do I."

They both headed off in the same direction. Curious — and desperate for a distraction — Lucas followed, trying not to dwell on the fact that he had now lost both his most valuable pawn and Ruby.

***

It wasn’t too far away, but Lucas eventually arrived at a coliseum.

He was asked by a receptionist named Martha whether he was there to participate or to watch. Not knowing what this place was yet, nor having the coin to spare for the registration fee, he’d responded that he was simply there to watch.

He was then allowed inside after presenting his guild ID and subsequently handed a rulebook.

Lucas made his way through the building, ending up in the seats of the coliseum.

Alone, he sifted through the rule book.

The rulebook was divided into four sections: Rules of the Arena; Guide to Competing; Guide to the Rankings; Guide to Gambling.

Lucas’s smile grew as he read through.

Rules of the Arena:

-Fighting is prohibited in the spectator area.

-No one may enter the arena floor without authorization.

-Once declared the loser, a fighter must accept defeat.

-The arena is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Entry outside these hours is prohibited.

-Violating these rules will result in punishment ranging from a fine to banishment to execution.

Guide to Competing:

-To compete, register with the attendant on the arena’s lowest floor.

-Initial registration costs one silver coin.

-Each fighter must wager at least one silver coin per match. Higher wagers are permitted if both fighters agree.

-Scheduling a match requires a down payment and a reservation made at least one day in advance.

-Both fighters must consent to the match and be present when registering.

-Scheduled matches take priority over spontaneous bouts.

-A match ends when one fighter is about to deliver a killing blow.

-Higher beings will determine whether the blow would be fatal, intervene, and a winner will be declared.

-A fighter may forfeit by saying, "I surrender," aloud or dropping their weapons and raising both hands with open palms.

-The loser will be healed and transported to the spectator stands.

-The winner may challenge another willing fighter or retire from the arena, in which case they will be healed, transported to the spectator stands, and awarded their winnings.

-A reigning winner does not need to wager another silver coin to continue fighting. However, if they accept another challenge and lose, all their current winnings will go to the new victor.

-The winner may keep any items seized from their opponent during the match.

-After leaving the arena floor, a fighter may not compete again for one day. Spectating and gambling remain permitted.

Guide to the Rankings:

-Each participant’s wins, losses, and rating will be recorded.

-A participant’s rating determines their rank.

-All participants begin with a rating of 1,000. The points gained or lost after each match depend on the difference between the fighters’ ratings.

-The town board will be updated daily with the ten highest-ranked participants.

-A complete ranking list may be purchased from the receptionist on duty for five copper coins.

Guide to Gambling:

-The bookmaker is located through the southern arena exit.

-Bets on scheduled matches may be placed in advance.

-All bets must be finalized at least five minutes before the match begins.

-All bets are non-refundable.

-Anyone found guilty of match-fixing will face punishment ranging from a fine to banishment to execution.

’Sanctioned fighting...’

Lucas could finally get back to relieving some stress.

Not to mention the money that could be made here!

Finally, the two men Lucas had followed here made their way into the central arena. An announcer came out and introduced them before giving people five minutes to bet between the two.

Between Lev Fedorov, the smaller one.

Or Gordon Gold, the oaf who’d started this.