Afternoon of the duel between Yarla and Quln, Froir, Center Plaza.

The center plaza was a platform made up of gray tiles. The structure itself was raised by a foot from the ground with a transparent barrier that linearly went up from the sides. It formed a type of box that contained any dangerous energy that could escape.

The reason why there was something like this, which was a public area and directed by Froir, was to settle disputes between citizens. That is, if they wanted to get into a physical conflict. It was a barbaric way of going through with issues that couldn’t, or if the people involved didn’t want, to resolve in a civilized court system. During this time, the city’s government allowed Quln to reserve the spot for the entire afternoon and made it look more like a show by informing the populace. To them, it would ensure that their citizens and soldiers who weren’t part of the war to see the battle prowess of Erkshem.

Although it would probably be in the best interest of Erkshem to keep such things concealed, the powers concerning Erkshem in general could be said to be conflicting in the first place. If it wasn’t so, then the rebellion that occurred would have been mitigated by a centralized force. In fact, the Rul Family, which could be considered centralized, lost approximately 10% of their land, around two-hundred miles compared to Erkshem that lost more than 30%, or eight-hundred miles.

The air still carried the morning chill as the crowd that liked to linger around the plaza most days alongside those who joined recently talked amongst themselves regarding the upcoming duel.

“So the ‘royalties’ are fighting amongst themselves here?” One of the common folk asked.

“I really don’t why they do it, but I had a family member who used to live under one of their regimes. He said that this happened so much that their towns’ store of food and medicine was all used up whenever they managed to save a little because of these fights. It was under the cover of ‘the greater cause.’ In my opinion, these bastards and their regimes can go to hell.” The other replied.

“Who’s fighting?” Another person asked.

“It is that Massacring Witch and the Ghost Controller.”

“Wow, good thing I paid the entry fee.”

“There’s an entry fee?”

“Yea, there is a toll stand.”

“What?! Why didn’t I think of that?”

Soon enough, some of the merchants of higher grades started setting blockades to charge people to enter. The city allowed things like this since it would allow more money to flow into taxes…

In the center of the plaza overseeing the crowds was Quln in his black clothing representing Erkshem and the yellow moon representing his regime. He had his eyes closed as black scars in the air swirled around his body. Ghostly cries came out from them, causing everyone who was nearby to have goosebumps. Very quickly, a good distance was placed between the spectators and the plaza due to the uncomfortable atmosphere. At one of the deserted sides were three of his four bodyguards.

Quln raised his head and opened his crimson eyes as one of the blockades, which was made simply of merchant stands, were desperately pulled aside. The merchants who set them up had pale, trembling faces as they didn’t dare stand in the way of the four approaching figures.

“Why is there a crowd?” Tus complained as they moved through the sea of people like a knife.

“Even in the regimes, there would be a crowd, but usually, they would be the heads and higher ups of the regimes. Here, the city and Quln are capitalizing on such a show.” Shel said in scorn.

Once they made it to the edge, Yarla passed through the barrier without any problems while Tus, Shel, and Worill stayed in the empty space.

“Is it cold here?” Tus observed the crowd with his eyes and found some of them to be shivering.

Worill explained, “All of those who practice World of Em gain a distinctive aura around them that brings out fear in those who are at a certain distance. It is a passive effect that helps in battles against those who don’t have the appropriate amount or quality of internal energy to absorb it, making them upside-down chickens ready for dinner. There are also slight differences on how the fear manifests which depends on the person who practices it.” Worill noted towards Yarla, “Milady practices the crystal domain of our regime. It brings out an aura of suppression from pressure, and also utilizes creatures that are made out of defensive crystal.” Worill then pointed towards Quln, “That bastard uses the dark domain, with his being a variant using the undead. His domain is more direct, causing people to have momentary nightmares if they stay too close for too long.”

“If that is the case, then why am I fine?” Tus was confused.

“That, I do not know, but it also adds to my assumption that you will be a good luck charm for milady.” Worill announced.

‘Ugh! I really need to get out of here. I should be free to do so when I’m not watched… damn it!” Tus looked towards the only exits to the place and he realized that they closed up again, charging people coming and going. ‘I haven’t had any good chances for awhile, can I get a break plea… damn it!’ Tus quietly stomped onto the ground when he noticed that the two alliance members were standing on the roof of one of the buildings, watching everyone in the area like high-tech scanners. ‘Since they can’t find me, I’ll be fine. Even if they do, I don’t think they can find any traces or anything incriminating.’ He thought in relief.

…………

“Arl, are you sure that the beggar is this way?” Haya asked, with the latter nodding his head.

They were quite the distance from the plaza, but they were slowly moving through the crowds that headed in the same direction.

“Captain, what should we do when we find him?” Talian asked with the same voice.

Haya ignored his ‘misconduct’ and replied, “We’ll report it to the manager and let him handle it from there.”

“If our conjecture is correct, then our reputation in Rotalia will rise substantially.” Tulian nodded his head with a rare, but faint, satisfaction.