News.

During the way to the club arena, I had a lot of time to talk to Raziel and Torris, it's been a while since I had a good conversation with them and to find out what they were up to, my only source of news is usually Erick who loves gossip and sometimes Hilda who complains that Ingredi is trying to vent to her, complain about someone to her and when other people vent to her. It's even funny when you draw a line that the information has to pass to reach me, Torris and Sten who have a strong friendship with Ingredi talk to her and she in turn complains to Hilda who comes to complain to me, the only one out of that line is Erick who talks gossip and to everyone about everyone.

Along the way I found out a few things about the Yates family and Kelence, obviously the two are well involved with the dispute between the nobles and the search for the ancient ruin, the Kelence family is very involved in the latter. I thought the dispute between the southern nobles had cooled over the murder of a patriarch by an unknown group, but apparently, I was wrong the fight only got worse.

The amount of death among people with black, gray and green core has decreased a lot, it seems that families have already purged the weak and now most fighters and mages at this level are the ones with enough potential to have a good chance of raising their stage and maybe until their core to the next level, it would be a waste to continue sacrificing them to increase the family's territory. The current clashes are taking place out of sight of soldiers, warriors and mages who have an orange or red core have been fighting each other, but the death toll is not large, even when you take into account the number of them is much smaller than the lower-level warriors.

Most of the fights between them end up in draws or injuries that make these warriors and mages hide for a while, which I think is a great excuse to extend the confrontation over a long period of time, I would find this very awkward if I did not know that this is all a conspiracy between the nobles and the royal family to start a war. It seems that this conspiracy is coming to an end, the rumors about the bloodbath that took place among the low-level warriors and mages and the deaths and scores of serious injuries among people with orange and red core, according to Raziel and Torris the southern region is weak, disorganized and has become a major target for neighboring kingdoms that seem to be waiting for an opportunity to attack.

Probably fear of retaliation and the only thing that prevents these kingdoms from attacking the southern region that is falling apart, it's a shame for them that after I they attack it won't just be our kingdom attacking them, it seems we have an unexpected ally the Asytsiir kingdom. This alliance is unexpected because the kingdom of Asytsiir is a kingdom that defends slavery, this was the cause of several conflicts between the two kingdoms and for all neighbors an alliance between the two would be something very unusual, I have no idea how this alliance born if I hadn't heard this information from Balder I wouldn't have believed it when Raziel came up with the same information now, Torris didn't believe Raziel at that point for him the Asytsiir realm is an enemy now is forever.

But not all the information during the conversation was good, I was very worried when Torris said he was trying to convince his aunt to let him travel along with the Yates family group that will locate and dispute the possession of the ancient ruin, as it would be too bad i tell him the truth about old ruin i can only tell him not to go. He didn't really like my argument that in a nutshell, 'you're too weak to influence the fight and in the best scenario you don't influence anything, at worst you'll hinder them'.

If Torris wasn't a person with great control over his actions he would have tried to punch me, I even saw his hand clench into a fist, and it's natural for him to be angry, but I believe he knows I'm right and the main reason he is angry now it's because he feels frustrated that he can't help his family. He has the heart of a shield warrior, he is a true protector just hope he doesn't die being betrayed by an ally, he trusts very quickly and easily in new acquaintances.

Obviously Raziel's family is far removed from the dispute over the ancient ruin, I don't know how much the Kelence family knows about the ruin being a trap, but I'm sure Raziel doesn't even know about the ruin being a god's trap. To him the family sold the location of the ruin and the royal family wants to use the power of the nobles to clean up the ruin and then tax them, I don't particularly think that makes much sense, as the royal family would tax dozens of different groups?

Especially when most of them are going to run for their lives after leaving the old ruin. But our conversation wasn't just about the ancient ruin or the approaching war, all three of us passed the last test and we're heading to the hellish boot camp which will be the next phase of the test.

"Are you guys excited for the next round of testing?"

"Not."

"Have you lost your mind? Anyone who's going to be excited for a deadly test, the next stage might be called training, but I don't doubt we could end up dead if we don't take it extremely seriously, total dedication. Why are you excited to suffer more? Hilda turned you into a masochist?"

I ignore Raziel's last comment because it's not worth arguing with him when he makes comments like that.

"As far as I understood, the first part of it will be a real training ground where we'll have classes and the second part will be getting points to exchange for arts, subjects and probably some more interesting services, the really deadly part comes after that when they're going to test. Actually, the students and to finish there will be a tournament among the students who are still on the test, but I think this other part counts as the final phase of the test."

"Did the principal tell you this?"

"Having an important figure as your master must be really cool."

If it were possible, I would drag Raziel to my next class, I want to see if he still finds it fun to be my master's apprentice.

"No, it was Balder. He has been training me more than my master."

"I didn't expect this."

"Have you had any classes with the principal?"

"Yes, why?"

"Shit! I lost ten gold coins! Ulric you owe me ten gold coins now."

"Why should I pay you ten gold coins?"

"Because you just made me lose ten gold coins. I think this is a very valid reason, don't you agree with me, Torris?"

"No, but if it makes you feel better, I also lost ten gold coins."

"Do not do."

"So, you're betting on my life now?"

"It's been a while; I don't think this nor the fifth bet we made. Do you know who won this one, Torris?"

"Do not remember."

Before I could tell them both to shit, we made it to the club, and he was pretty excited. When Hilda said that the club was livelier and with lots of new faces, she made it appear that she was running a new circle of nobles and competitors, but in front of me a huge arena surrounded by a two-story bleacher, more than a hundred from nobles prepared to watch the fights today and to several new groups of fighters.

The club that was small became a huge spectacle, the parallel tents basically disappeared, taking the food and drink tents used mainly by the fighters and the rest of the spectacles that aired around the arena disappeared.

The other big change was the atmosphere between the fighters, even before there were violent disputes inside the ring outside it always had a lighter and fun atmosphere, but now the tension in the air is huge. The mood of the nobles and happiness and agency for the show, but the groups of warriors seem to want to tear their rivals apart or are on high guard waiting to be attacked by someone, as far as I remember any fight is prohibited outside the arena and that violate it will be kicked out of the group, I really don't understand why the contestants are in such a heavy mood.

I entered the powder keg that the fighters' aria had set in with Raziel and Torris behind me. I may be the only one armed amongst us which is bad as the overwhelming majority of the fighters around me are in armor and weapons. Our presence was not welcomed by more than one mercenary who grimaced when I saw him, not understanding why they are the ones who are stinking, not us.

I made my way through some groups of mercenaries and adventurers until I reached my destination, Captain Raven was here with the company of Vera, Piter and another adventurer I don't know.