[17th June]
The noise of the arena faded the deeper Rey walked into the inner corridors.
Tiles replaced the ground.
Echoes replaced cheers.
He had barely taken a turn—
When a hand clamped down on his shoulder.
Hard.
Pain shot through his arm before he could react.
"Argh—!"
The grip vanished just as quickly.
Rey turned sharply.
And found exactly who he expected.
Hosric stood there, his expression caught somewhere between relief and anger.
"…Uncle?"
Rey blinked, as if genuinely surprised.
"Why are you here?"
Hosric stared at him.
Long.
Flat.
"…Where do you think I should be?"
He crossed his arms slowly.
"Better question—where do you think you should be?"
Rey opened his mouth.
Closed it.
"…In bed?" Hosric added dryly.
Rey winced—this time, not from pain.
He rubbed his shoulder, buying himself a moment.
"Look… I was going to tell you—"
"You didn't."
"I was about to."
"You weren't."
"…I could have been."
Hosric inhaled slowly.
Rey quickly straightened, switching tactics.
"Okay, listen—"
He gestured vaguely, as if the explanation would assemble itself mid-air.
"You know I'm fine. And this tournament—"
He forced a small, awkward smile.
"The rewards are… good. Very good. It would be a waste to… lie down and recover, right?"
The silence that followed was heavy.
Hosric's eyes narrowed slightly.
Not convinced.
But not entirely unmoved either.
"…You could have at least told me."
His voice dropped a little.
Less sharp.
More tired.
Rey didn't interrupt this time.
"The entire family is here today."
That—
He hadn't expected.
Rey blinked.
"…All of them?"
Hosric let out a quiet, humourless breath.
"Yes. All of them."
A pause.
"I already told them you wouldn't be participating."
Rey's expression shifted.
Just a little.
"And then," Hosric continued, his tone flattening again, "you decided to walk into the arena as if nothing happened."
Rey rubbed the back of his neck.
"…Right."
"I just got a lecture."
"…Sorry?"
"From your grandfather."
"…Ah."
That explained everything.
Hosric looked away for a moment, clearly reliving the experience.
"…Do you know how rare it is for me to get lectured?"
Rey didn't answer.
"…Very rare," Hosric muttered.
A brief silence settled between them.
Then—
Hosric straightened.
"You should come with me."
Rey's gaze sharpened slightly.
"I'll call you in under the pretence of talent selection," Hosric continued. "No one will question it."
A simple solution.
Clean.
Rey hesitated.
"…No."
Hosric frowned.
"I mean—" Rey corrected himself quickly, "not now."
He exhaled softly.
"I understand why you're saying this. I really do."
And he meant it.
"But I can't meet them like this."
Hosric studied him.
Rey's expression wasn't evasive.
Not joking.
Just… firm.
"I'll come after the tournament ends," Rey added. "Properly."
A faint smile.
"You won't even have to call me."
Hosric held his gaze for a few seconds.
Then sighed.
"…Fine."
He stepped back.
"But go home after your matches."
His tone sharpened again.
"I won't be able to pick you up today."
Rey nodded.
"And Rey—"
He paused.
"The capital isn't stable right now. Be safe..."
The words were quiet.
But serious.
Rey's expression shifted slightly.
"…I know."
Their eyes met.
No more needed to be said.
Rey turned and walked away.
He didn't slow down until he was certain Hosric was out of sight.
Then—
"…You can come out now."
A faint ripple in the air.
Aiden appeared beside him, arms crossed, clearly amused.
"So?"
He glanced at Rey.
"Was that enough to make you cry like that?"
Rey scoffed.
"It didn't even hurt."
Aiden raised a brow.
"I just needed a way out."
Rey rolled his shoulder casually.
"If I didn't react like that, he would've dragged me back—or worse, kept me there for half an hour."
Aiden let out a low chuckle.
"…So you're learning."
Rey didn't reply.
"Not bad," Aiden continued. "A little deception, a little acting…"
He smirked.
"You might make it after all. But why shouldn't you? Who's teaching you, anyway? Hahaha."
Then—
He vanished.
Rey shook his head.
"…Annoying."
His stomach growled.
That settled the next priority.
He stepped out of the stadium complex and into the streets beyond.
Finding food, however—
Turned out to be harder than expected.
Every place near the arena was packed.
Overflowing.
Queues stretched outside the doors.
Reservations filled hours in advance.
By the time Rey checked the fifth place, he didn't even bother asking anymore.
"…Unbelievable."
It took nearly half an hour of walking before he finally found something different.
A quieter street.
Less crowded.
Less noise.
And there—
A modest sign.
Bramble Hearth Café
Rey stopped.
"…That's new."
The name alone felt out of place.
Not something common in the capital.
Interesting.
He stepped inside.
Warm air greeted him.
Along with the low hum of conversation.
The place was nearly full.
Not chaotic—
But lively.
A waiter approached quickly.
"Reservation?"
Rey shook his head.
"Then you'll have to wait," the waiter replied politely, before glancing around. "Or… there are standing tables available."
Rey followed his gaze.
Near the window—
A few spots remained.
"…I'll take that."
The waiter nodded and led him over.
The space was simple.
A narrow counter by the window, decorated with small hanging plants that swayed slightly whenever the door opened.
Rey leaned against it, surprisingly comfortable.
A menu and a glass of water were placed in front of him.
He scanned it.
Ordered without much thought.
Nothing extravagant.
Just enough.
While waiting, his gaze drifted outside.
Behind the café—
A small garden space stretched out.
Tables placed among flowers and greenery.
Quieter.
More refined.
"…Those are reserved," the waiter explained, noticing his interest. "Mostly for nobles."
Rey nodded.
Of course.
Even here—
There was a divide.
Still—
The place had charm.
Simple.
But real.
The waiter lingered a moment longer, studying him.
"You're not from a noble house, are you?"
Rey glanced at him.
"…No."
The waiter blinked.
Then smiled faintly.
"Could've fooled me."
Rey chuckled under his breath.
"…I get that a lot."
The man paused.
Brows knitting slightly.
A noble's bearing.
Calm posture. Clean speech.
But—
A commoner?
For a moment, suspicion flickered across his face.
As if Rey was playing some quiet joke on him.
Rey noticed it.
Didn't bother addressing it.
"Just tell me when the food's coming," he said simply.
That snapped the waiter out of it.
"Y-Yes, sir— I mean— right away."
He hurried off.
A few minutes later—
He returned almost running.
Two trays balanced in his hands.
Plates stacked.
Food steaming.
"I'm really sorry," he said quickly as he set everything down. "I got caught up talking and delayed several orders…"
He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice.
"My manager's already glaring at me like I committed a crime."
Rey let out a small breath through his nose.
The waiter wasn't done.
"And… uh…"
He scratched his cheek, half amused, half embarrassed.
"He thinks you're a noble."
Rey paused mid-reach.
"…What?"
"He already scolded another waiter for not giving you a proper table."
Rey stared at him for a second.
Then looked down at the food.
"…Right."
That explained the stares.
Still—
Not his problem.
He picked up the utensils.
And started eating.
The first bite—
Hot.
Well seasoned.
His focus shifted instantly.
Everything else faded.
Noise. People. Misunderstandings.
Irrelevant.
A few minutes passed.
Then—
The same waiter returned.
Another tray in hand.
This time—
Tea.
Pastries.
Placed neatly in front of Rey.
Rey looked at it.
Then at him.
"I didn't order this."
The waiter grinned.
"You didn't."
"…Then?"
"Manager's idea," he said, clearly enjoying himself. "He thought you might get upset about the seating."
Rey blinked once.
"…So he's bribing me."
"…In a respectful way."
Rey exhaled quietly.
For a moment, he considered just accepting it and moving on.
Then shook his head.
"No. Take it back."
The waiter hesitated.
"Sir, it's really fine—"
"I'm not a noble."
Flat.
Clear.
The grin faded slightly.
"…I figured."
"Then return it."
A pause.
Rey reached out.
Stopped the tray before it could be lifted.
"…Leave one."
The waiter blinked.
Rey picked up a pastry.
"I'll pay for it."
A beat.
Then—
The waiter laughed under his breath.
"…You're strange."
"So I've been told."
The tray was taken away—partially.
Rey continued eating.
From the corner of his eye—
He saw the waiter speaking to the manager.
The man's expression shifted rapidly.
Confusion.
Annoyance.
Regret.
His gaze flicked toward Rey more than once.
But once he heard Rey would pay—
He settled.
No more interference came after that.
Peace, at last.
By the time Rey finished—
The plates were empty.
The same waiter returned, right on cue.
"Anything else, sir?"
Rey shook his head.
"I'm done. I need to head back—my match is coming up."
The waiter's eyes lit up slightly.
"Oh… you're one of the contestants?"
Rey nodded once.
The waiter smiled.
"Figures."
Rey raised a brow.
"With that face and composure? You'd have to be someone important."
Rey let out a quiet chuckle.
'If looks decided victories…
The world would've ended a long time ago.'
He leaned onto the table, waiting for the bill.
That's when—
The door opened.
A shift in the air.
Subtle.
But real.
Rey glanced up lazily—
And froze.
Gravion.
Walking in like he owned the place.
Behind him—
The spear user.
And—
Rey's eyes narrowed slightly.
A new face.
A girl.
Calm.
Composed.
But the moment Rey saw her—
Recognition struck.
'Her.'
The Ice elementalist.
The one who ended her match in a single move.
No wasted motion.
No hesitation.
Power.
Refined.
Controlled.
Top-tier.
Rey's gaze sharpened.
As she walked in, several heads turned her way.
'I have read several novels like this, so he's already moving…'
His fingers tapped lightly against the table.
'Collecting pieces. Maybe he might've got other opportunities for sure.'
A regressor like Gravion wouldn't move without purpose.
Every person.
Every connection.
Calculated.
'She's important.
Future anchor… or weapon.'
Rey lowered his head slightly.
Not enough to look suspicious.
Just enough—
To avoid attention.
"…You're hiding?"
Aiden's voice slipped in quietly.
Rey's shoulder tensed.
"Don't do that."
"You're afraid of him?"
"No."
A pause.
"…Yes."
Aiden let out a low chuckle.
"That's new."
Rey ignored him.
His focus stayed on the reflection in the window.
Watching.
Tracking.
Gravion and his group were speaking to the manager.
Casual.
Natural.
Rey's grip tightened slightly.
'Don't look here.... Don't look here.... Please'
A step.
Then another.
The conversation ended.
And—
They turned.
Rey's breathing slowed.
Measured.
Controlled.
His heartbeat racing, and tension building up.
'Just walk past.... Just—'
"…Why are you sitting here like a criminal?"
Aiden's voice again.
"Shut up."
Too late.
Gravion's gaze shifted.
Locked.
Straight onto him.
Rey felt it instantly.
That brief—
Sharp—
Recognition.
No.
His head lowered further.
Too late.
Footsteps.
Coming closer.
Each one—
Clear.
Heavy.
Stopping right in front of him.
Rey didn't look up.
Didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
"...Well."
Gravion's voice.
Right above him.
"What do we got here..."
Rey clutched his hands as if he had been caught doing something wrong.
He looked up to meet his gaze, unsure of what was going to happen next.