The attendant bows down and introduces herself.

»Honorable Lady Parchel, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am Mallin Percurija Fallaldat, please follow me. Madame Safania* is waiting for you in her office. „It would be a bother to talk in here. You won't have to squeeze yourself through the crowd.“ - Madame told me to tell you. So again, please follow me.«

Chelo is a smart kid and I decided to trust Ms. Safania and her staff, for now.

But first I pick up ma clothings and belongings I undressed and but to the side for the fight.

Leading me through a corridor with some rooms, probably for waiting fighters and even a infirmary where Asab lays down in a bed with a doctor by his side still checking up on him. I guess that man is a doctor or at least someone with medical knowledge. Brovurion is not in there.

A staircase leads up to groundlevel again and instead of going to the big hall again, we go through a guarded door leading up another staircase.

We turn left and the attendant leads me to an open door. She gestures me to go in.

In there Chelo sits on a fancy armchair with a biscuit in his hand. Ms. Safania leans on its right armrest.

Dumbelo lays on the floor, even though there is are two Couches.

She noticed me and greets me once again.

After the fight is over and Lady Safanias announcement. She tells her just arrived attendant to bring teacher into her offices and then reaches out a hand to me.

»I hope it's okay for you, but would you follow me to my office?«

Over the short time I know her I judge her to be trustworthy, so why not. Taking her hand we go out through a backdoor and she leads me upwards.

Dumbelo is carried by the two Staffmembers behind us.

Is he okay?

As we walk she asked for the answer I denied before.

»Soo, what did you tell your teacher before the fight began?«

»Oh yeah. It was just that Brovurion showed his already injured shoulder through some weird movements before the fight. Additionally Brovurions coat seemed tight, a result of his big armour beneath. Paired with the warhammer on his back it seemed obvious for him to be a sturdy but powerful fighter. Even though his fighting style really surprised me, when he only had a Staff.

On the other side, judging by the build of Asab and the looseness of his coat he did seem like an agility and quickness kinda fighter. His long arms and legs would therefore be fast but strong due to leverage and act like a Whip. Also having two onehanded weapons it seemed obvious.«

I stop talking as Safania comes to a standstill with slightly startled eyes focused at me. We stand before a guard in front of a staircase. She turns to him and announces that her attendant Mallindi* will bring in a guest so he shall let them pass.

As we move up the stairs I continue:

»Well the only important part was Brovurions shoulder. My teacher has probably seen through the rest herself.«

I myself only realized the shoulder due to a professor of mine who did a lot off woodchucking and had similar movements after dislocating his shoulder.

»That's amazingly well concluded for a child without much experience in combat. Or am I wrong there? How old are you?«

A second time we come to a stand. This time Lady Safania unlocks a sturdy and well crafted door, if I may say so.

»I am 5 years old and you are right I haven't experienced much combat. But somehow I find it fascinating to try and get as many informations as I can from a glance at something.«

»You are a really weird little fellow. But I like curious children like you.«

The door opens and she announces

»Let's get in. Your teacher will be here quite fast.«

Then she leads me into a huge office room with a big desk, a lot of bookshelves and books, a blue Corner with couches and many fancy decorations. Also some paintings, some plants and even a weird sculpture which is climbed by another plant. On the ground lays a blue carpet and most decorations are kept in a combination of blue and green Paired with the dark wooden shelves it somehow makes me sleepy just to look around. In comparison it contrasts Lady Safanias red hair and dress splendidly.

I expected a lot of red, so this is unexpected.

»You can take a seat here.«

She directs at an armchair. Where I sit down promptly to find out its soft and comfortable embrace.

»Wanna have a biscuit?«

»Oh yes please!«

I answer happily. I mean why not? Everybody loves sweets. At least most people. Additionally sugar helps your brain to stay awake and concentrated. Doesn't it?

She opens a jar at the table and takes out two biscuits, to hand one over to me and eat the other one herself. Her staff is still holding onto Dumbelo at the entrance of the office. They stand there waiting for orders.

»Just put him on the floor at the side.«

The two look puzzled at first, both taking a glance at the chouches in the corner where I am, then looking at each other simultaneously.

A funny conversation just via glances, expressions and gestures unfolds betweens them both.

Staffmember 1: Is she serious? Just here on the floor?

Staffmember 2: I know right? I mean there are two empty couches. She normally treats everyone really nicely!

S1: What the hell did this guy do?

Both look with a curious but also disgusted face at Dumbelo.

S2: Probably something about money.

A smile arises on each face.

S1: You are right, when it concerns money Madame is someone else.

Suddenly my hairs stood up. A cold shower rushes down my spine but just as sudden as this feel appeared it justdisappears. The attendants shriek together looking at #Safania.

Both glare at each other again.

S1: Let's just lay him down

S2: Yes, it's not like the floor is that uncomfortable.

At last they just shrug and do as they were told. After laying Dumbeo on the floor, they bow down and leave the room. A gesture of Safania tells them to leave the door open.

And thus this wordless conversation concluded.

I wonder if Dumbelo really is still alife, after being carried here and all that time. He hasn't woken up yet!

Deciding to change the flow of this situation.

»This room is kinda unexpected. It's dark but in a cozy way. Don't you normally use brighter colours for an invoronmet centered around work?«

Safania begins to laugh lightly, then leans on a armrest.

»Well yeah. The blue decor was red and yellow before, but after my daughters were born I had this changed in morerelaxing colours. I have to keep watch over them most of the time. And this looks more friendly for them. I don't work much here anyways.«

A second time my eyes scan the room and I find some tales for children and additionally a box in the corner with seemingly some toys.

The next moment teacher comes through the door.

»Welcome again! Please excuse me for just bringing him here without your consent. But I judged this surrounding for a better place to talk a bit.«

»Like I said, we have plans for today. It would be nice to make this quick.«

»Well I like to be sure about every deal I make. Please have a seat wherever you like, I'll do this as fast as I can.«

She points at the couches then gets up and moves to her desk taking some papers out of a drawer. Teacher glances at Dumbelo then rolls her eyes. After she sits down, Safania writes something on the papers and i begin a conversation.

»That guy seems to be alive, but after being carried here and there and all this time he hasn't awoken yet.«

»He will be out for about another hour. The way I hit him he should not be in danger but his head was shaken quite a bit... I think.«

Teacher seems to doubt her own words.

»But normally a person would have awoken around the time he is carried into the stadium, but it's already more than an hour isn't it?«

»Oh sorry that's my fault!«

Lady Safania interupts without looking up.

Teacher and I glare puzzled at each other silently. This was unexpecte for both of us.

»You know when a person awakes after being knocked out and realizes he or she is held down by people that person always struggles for no reason. And I am not sure if my staff, other than Brovurion or Asab, could have held him still, so I drugged him.«

»So you knew teaher would win the first fight?«

»The probability was high. She is a teacher and at least a low class noble. Therefore she has a long educational history in combat and magic. I guessed there would be a high chance for her first opponent to lose. And whatever happens after I drug him, I don't care for a scum like that.«

I stare at teacher but she puts it off with a wave of her hand.

»When will the drug wear off?«

»In around two hours I guess? Could be more... or less... he will wake up eventually... probably.«

»That doesn't sound promising.«

»Don't worry, don't worry! A highclass alchemist works for me. I trust him!«

Teacher didn't look like intending to tell anything so I decided to ignore the thing about nobility.

Silence.

Teacher sits on a couch with her arms and legs crossed, tipping impatiently with her fingertips at her upper arm. When taking this position she had slightly pained expressions and tried to not let anybody see her weak side.

»The first one is finished.«

Teacher looks at Safania curiously.

Safania holds out a paper.

»Here take this, go outside take a turn to the left and use the next door to the right. There should be my head assistant. He will lead you to this houses personel Aether Doctor**, then get your attire repaired, too, and help you to get everything else you need!«

»No need thanks, just hurry up!«

»You wanted to meet a professor if I recall that correctly.«

Teacher stays silent and just pulls up an eyebrow.

»Is it possibly Professor Rolagson?«

Teachers other Eyebrow follows. Safania looks up for a moment.

»Oh I hit the head! He is closer than you thought he would be.«

Safania looks back at the papers.

»And you knew all along! You just didn't say anything to get the money back, I guess.«

»That guy owed me a fair lot and that was the best and fastest way to earn at least some of the money back.«

Teacher looks pissed with a mixed feeling of some understanding.

»Would you be so kind to tell us where he is?«

»Of course, but i will be finished in about 5 minutes. So please wait just that bit. Like I said, you can use that to getEverything checked.«

Teacher doesn't take the offer of going and waits impatiently for Safania to finish.

I took out a book from the shelf and casually skim through the pages. Safania had noticed but let me do as I liked. It's an anthology about some creatures living in the surrounding of this city. Nothing special, just some way to not get bored.

Just a few moments later she finishes writing and shows teacher a contract where everything from their bet was summarized.

Neither teacher nor Dumbelo has to pay anything anymore and Dumbelos dept is cleared. Also the table will be payed by Safania herself.

Teacher signes it.

Then Safania rises and goes to the door to lead us the way.

...