374. Hidden Entrance

There were two entrances to the arena. The main entrance was generally used by all. Larger than the city gates, it allowed large masses of people to come and go with relative ease. To ensure everything was safe, during the festival, three types of guards protected it. On the outside, and among the stands were the city guards. Being local, they were perfectly familiar with the neighborhood, as well as the ins and outs of the general sections of the arena structure itself. Their main role was to make sure that there were no disruptions of fights among the spectators. Additionally, the countess’ personal troops were also present. While most often they went where their ruler went, a small part of them would guard areas that she frequented, most notably her spot at the arena and her section of the Lord Mayor’s palace. Finally, there were the arena guards. Their goal was to ensure that there was no cheating or disturbance in the arena halls themselves. Most important, however, they were the ones who blocked access to areas that were not for the general public. They were also the ones that guarded the second entrance to the arena.

What Dallion found out was that in addition to them, there was a fourth group or guards, or rather a single person who did more to protect the arena than anyone else: the Arena Master, who coincidentally happened to be the Lord Mayor’s younger brother. Officially—at least according to Nil—the Arena Master was a ceremonial role with no real importance. In fact, it was so nonconsequential that it was seldom used or referred to. The person wasn’t responsible for anything that took place in the arena, wasn’t in charge of the tournament, merely the practical owner of the building. It didn’t take long for Dallion to shatter that illusion. All that was needed was a chat with a few items to learn that there were, in fact, a lot of chambers and tunnels beneath the arena, and also that only a handful of people were permitted to go there.

Items really are chatty, Dallion remarked.

After spending an eternity in silence, what do you expect? The armadil shield asked.

But I thought items talk to each other all the time?

I might have exaggerated that point a bit. Items with guardians that have empathy do. As long as I’m nearby, I can talk with others who have the attribute. Before our banishment, every race could have it. Afterwards, not so much. So, technically, old guardians can talk to one another when in close proximity, but it’s not a given.

Ouch, Dallion thought. Even so, wouldn’t they be mindful about keeping secrets?

Now do you see why empathy is so important? Even without skills, it can massively disrupt things, worse than echoes.

That was very true. It also explained why blocking items were so popular for important meetings. Of course, the majority of people were doing it in order to shield their presence from echoes and area guardians. If it ever came out that Dallion had the skill, he could well end up being hunted by everyone.

About the skills, Dallion said after a while. What would happen if someone without empathy tried to take them?

Good question. The truth is, I don’t know. Either the person won’t be able to take them in the first place, or they’ll get the attribute as well. Skills can’t exist without the attributes they rely on.

That was a chilling thought. There was a possibility that whoever had taken the other skill could also converse with guardians. Maybe that was what the Star was after? Not the skills themselves, but access to a Moon attribute he’d never have otherwise?

“Dal.” Someone placed a hand on Dallion’s shoulder. “Why are you here?”

Turning around, Dallion saw Vend standing a step away. It was alarming how even without using his combat splitting, the elite could move about without being sensed. No wonder he had been a perfect thief as a child.

ITEM AWAKENING

A small metal room replaced the arena corridor. Dallion didn’t usually pull people into the awakened realms, but if there was one thing he knew better than anyone was that in the real world, there was always someone watching. The only issue was that he had ended up the only person there.

“Vend?” Dallion asked, confused, hoping that the elite might be invisible or hiding somewhere. However, as much as he waited, there didn’t seem to be any trace of the man.

Confusion turned into alarm. Dallion recited the names of the Seven Moons, then returned back to the real world. Vend was still standing there, his hand on Dallion’s shoulder. Seeing the confusion in Dallion’s eyes, Vend raised his other hand, revealing a pair of rings on his index finger.

Oh, right. Dallion relaxed. It made sense that Vend would have blocking items as well. The only reason that Dallion himself hadn’t used them, was because it also prevented him from talking to guardians.

Before Dallion could say another word, the sound of ceremonial horns echoed throughout the tunnel. Instantly, a rush of people swarmed through, trying to get back to the arena stands. The next fight of the day had begun, and although these weren’t the winners’ fights, there was a lot to see. Vend pulled Dallion to the wall until the crowd was gone.

“Come along,” the elite said and went forward.

Dallion followed him to a stone staircase, then up to the top floor, then on to a small metal ladder that led further up. Soon enough, the two were on the roof of the coliseum itself, just above the main gate. The entire town arena was visible from that point, not to mention the city itself as well as beyond.

No sooner had they gotten there than Vend pointed to his ring. Dallion nodded, then put on his own blocker item. Now they could finally speak freely.

“What’s this place?” Dallion asked.

“It’s used for cleaning. All the mending in the world can’t prevent leaves and dirt gathering up here. I wouldn’t call it sanitation work, but it’s pretty close.”

“You used to work sanitation?” Dallion asked.

“No. I used to take my lady here,” the other replied. “So, why are you here?”

“Err, right.” Dallion’s thoughts snapped back to the topic at hand. “The tunnels leading to the ruins are beneath the arena.”

“Are you sure?”

“This is the only place that has a water system, but never gets repaired. Also, I spoke to a few statues in the halls. There are several sections beneath ground, and those aren’t accessible to the general public.” He paused for a moment. “And I spotted a chainling here once.”

Vend thought about it.

“That’s a pretty big stretch.”

“Maybe, but it makes sense.”

“Everything in the world makes sense. Doesn’t mean that it’s true.”

“Fine, in that case, why don’t we take a look?” Dallion was convinced that he was right. Everything pointed to it. However, he had found that it was far better agreeing with people who thought the opposite, rather than get into useless arguments. “What did the overseer say?”

“She wasn’t at the arena. No idea where she is. I told Eury to give her the message, though.”

“Euryale?” Dallion felt his heart skip a beat. What was quite sudden, not to mention completely unexpected. “What does she have to do with it?”

Vend gave Dallion a strange look.

“She works for the overseer. Most of the city’s hunters do. There’s the big difference between common awakened and hunters. Hopefully, you’ll get to see what it is.”

There was a pause. The elite looked at the arena. The fights had already started: sixty-four participants doing their best to diminish part of their shame by thrashing their opponents as violently as they could. From the stands, the crowd cheered. Looking closely, Dallion was able to see that the countess wasn’t present and neither were the mage and the imperial he protected.

“Why isn’t the countess there?” Dallion asked.

“High nobility doesn’t usually stay for the matchups. Even during the later rounds. She’s probably at the palace.”

Dallion remembered the long explanation that Nil had given him earlier, regarding the politico-geographic implications that might arise should the countess be harmed, or worse—should anything happen to the imperial who was her guest. Apparently, it would be better for her to face a wild changeling than be accused of endangering a member of the Imperial family. Many other noble families would pounce on her the moment she did, not to mention a number of foreign powers might take advantage of the chaos to get involved.

Most of the explanations had gone over Dallion’s head. While thinking about it, Dallion caught a glimpse of Itella on the arena grounds. The noble only had one mace with him, but that didn’t make him any less fierce. With each attack, the weapon changed form, making his opponent struggle to keep up.

“Don’t worry about him,” Vend said, seeing what Dallion was looking at. “And don’t worry about the overseer. Things always reach her.”

“I guess.” Dallion looked away. “Any idea how we get to the forbidden sections of the arena?”

“Do you have your crackling dagger with you?” Vend asked, to which Dallion nodded. “In that case, it’ll be easy.”

There were many definitions of “easy” in the world. Dallion had no illusions that Vend’s understanding of the word was a bit off, but even he didn’t imagine the plan to follow. Given that the tournament was the highlight of the festival, even minor damage in the halls of the building was enough to cause an immediate stir. Vend dashed through quite a few corridors, occasionally dragging the tip of the Nox dagger, like a child keying the paint of a car. The difference was that Vend knew precisely what he was doing. Most of the cracks were barely visible, like strands of hair stuck to parts of the walls. That was the point, though. Vend had no intention of vandalizing the place just to get a few guards to rush to the scene. His goal was far more nefarious.

Individual cracks were well and good, but when several met at a certain point, something a lot more serious followed.

“Get ready,” Vend said discreetly, returning Dallion his dagger.

“What did you do?” Dallion quickly ticked it away, then looked in all directions. Vend had asked him to remain at the end of one of the main corridors, a short distance from the staircase.

Without warning, there was a loud thump on the ground. Moments later, a scream of utter terror followed. Organizers, guards, and the occasional civilians ran in the direction, curious as to what had happened.

“Go,” Vend whispered, urging Dallion to follow as well.

A small crowd had gathered in the place in question. Dallion could sense dread resonating all around.

“What happened?” he asked, adding just enough music in his voice to help him push his way to the front. What he saw was anticlimactic by any accounts: the bust etched in the wall had cracked to the point that the top of its head had fallen off. If it were up to Dallion, he would have taken some glue and fixed it up in a fashion that no one would notice. But for everyone present, it seemed like the end of the world was upon them.

“The bust of the old count,” Vend whispered to Dallion.

Damn, Dallion thought. That explained a lot about the people’s behavior, as well as Vend’s opinion on nobility.

“Cover it up!” A woman who appeared to have the greatest authority ordered. “And check all the other statues! If any other flaws are found, let me know. You!” she pointed at Vend. “You’re an Icepicker, aren’t you?”

Only now Dallion noticed that Vend was wearing his guild emblem far more prominent than usual.

“Both of us are,” Vend replied.

The woman’s glance turned from Vend to Dallion, then back to Vend. It was clear that she recognized who he was and wasn’t too thrilled about using a rising star for such mundane matters. However, her fear of consequences trumped everything else.

“Fix this,” she said almost in a whisper. “Your guild will be compensated.”

“The entire building?” Vend arched a brow, almost theatrically.

“Just…” the woman hesitated. “Start from here. I’ll go get the Arena Master.” The woman went down the hall, while the rest of the guards and officials scattered about to check for other problems.

Not long after, Vend and Dallion were completely alone once more.

“No one stayed to watch us?” Dallion asked.

“Why bother? The worst has already happened. There’s nothing more we could do.”

That still sounded strange, but Dallion decided to go with it.

“It seems you were right. There might be something strange beneath the arena.”

“Oh? What changed your mind?”

“The woman. The first thing she ordered was for everyone to check for more cracks. That means she’s used to such occurrences. Otherwise, she would have called the guard to search for a culprit. Actually, I was banking on that to happen. This is better, though.”

“Okay, so how do we get to the hidden section?”

“Simple—we do exactly as the woman asked. Then, when we find the point of entry from the realm itself, we use the dagger once more.”