Last minute request

Three days later, the group is invited to the inauguration of the Red Battle.

The day has finally arrived. At last, they will be able to enter the Arena and get what they come for.

As they prepare to go to get breakfast, they knock on the door of the suite.

Ding! Dong!

Leah approaches the door and opens it.

"I'm glad I caught you in time!" Valzun says as he enters the suite, "My brother would like to invite you all to breakfast to discuss the Red Battle.

Our heroes look at each other. Leah acts as the spokeswoman and answers Valzun.

"We'd love to. Give us a minute to finish packing and we will go. It's on the 30th floor, isn't it?"

"Yes, it's the same one as the first day you came. I'd wait for you, but I have to do an errand first. See you at breakfast," says Valzun.

Then he leaves the suite.

Once they have collected all the bags they need, the group leaves the suite and heads to the elevator.

"What do you think he wants?" Isabel asks, curious, as everyone enters the elevator.

"I don't know. But I expect anything from that guy," Eva says, pressing the button with the number.

"Maybe he wants to talk about the fight. After all, you're going to fight in his name," says Leah, knowing that what he said would upset Lucien.

Gr!

And she succeeds.

"Will you please stop reminding him of that! You know he pisses off and then turns into possessive furry-boy, and then I'm the one who has to bear him," says Eva angry, as she grabs Lucien's arm and tries to calm him down.

Leah sticks out her tongue to her sister.

Lucien and Isabel, witnesses of the fight between sisters, laugh.

"How mature!" Eva scolds her, shaking her head, although she tries not to smile, without much success.

At last, they reach the 30th floor, and with it, the hall full of mirrors.

As she walks through it, Eva says, "You know, I'm going to miss these mirrors when all this is over. Despite being creepy, I've ended up being fond of them."

Everyone laughs at the girl's witticisms.

When they get to the door, Leah comes over and is about to knock on the door when it opens.

"Welcome, ladies and gentleman. Mr. Arlor is waiting for you in the dining room. You know where it is," says the Rugarith butler, pointing in the direction you have to go.

They walk to the dining room and when they open the door, and, as the first time they came, the breakfast is already at the table.

Arlor, leader of the Rugarith, rises from his chair to greet his guests.

"Good morning. I see you have received my message. Please sit down," Arlor says, pointing to the chairs on either side of the table.

Our heroes move over to the table and sit down. Once seated, Arlor decides to go straight to the point.

"I know it was a bit hasty, but I wanted to talk with Eva about the Red Battle."

Everyone turns to look at Lucien, but he doesn't show any motion.

However, under the table, he's clenching his fists so hard that he can almost shatter his hand. But when he feels Eva's hand in one of his clenched fists, some of the tension disappears.

Seeing that he has relaxed a bit, Eva decides to withdraw her hand. But before she can do it, Lucien takes her hand and holds them together.

"All right... What do you need from her?" asks Leah.

"Besides her, there's another Rugarith candidate. My brother. The truth is, I've never wanted her to get mixed up in that sort of thing, but it's always been her dream to participate. But since you're here, I'd be calmer if you'd help him in the fight," admits Arlor.

"You mean babysit?" Eva asks.

"No, no. I just want you to protect him. I... I don't want him to die, he's the only family I have," says Arlor, grieving. Then he tries to go back to the point. "I've seen your training with your shifter, and I think you have a very good chance of winning," he says.

"If she says yes, what does she win?" intervenes Leah.

"I'll give you a 5% discount on the final price of the auctions."

"No, 20%."

Arlor shakes his head. "9%."

"Hey! Hi! Here's the girl who's going to fight," says Eva waving her hand to get attention. "I should be the one to decide. And I'm not going to accept anything." The latter is said for Leah.

Leah nods. "12%. It's my last offer."

"All right," Arlor says, shaking Leah's hand to close the deal.

Eva puts her hands on her head, and Lucien and Isabel giggle at her reaction.

"All right, the inauguration ceremony will be tonight. Here are the passes. It will also serve you to enter the Arena during the Red Battle," Arlor says as he gestures to the butler to give each of them an envelope with the invitation. "There's no need to wear a formal outfit. And you, Eva, you have to wear the armor, if you're going to wear one. Then people will begin to recognize you."

" Okay. Well, we're leaving," says Lucien, getting up.

The rest of them imitate him and, after saying goodbye, they head for the door. However, Valzun enters, who seems to be coming from a race.

"Hey. Are you leaving?"

"Yes, we have to go get ready for tonight," says Leah.

The group says goodbye to him and heads to their suite. Once in there, they prepare for the inauguration ceremony.