The invitation for the Arena

"Hello, I'm Leah Drakos and we would like to talk with Valzun," says Leah smiling.

"Oh, yes. He has already told me. You need to take the elevator to the 30th floor," says the gargoyle receptionist pointing to the elevator.

"Thank you."

The trio starts walking to the elevator, with Eva and Leah looking around the hall, surprised by the lavish furniture.

They enter the elevator, and Lucien presses the button with the number 30. Then, the elevator starts moving and, in seconds, they arrive at their destination.

The elevator's door opens, and our heroes are greeted by a long corridor. At the walls of the corridor, hundreds of mirrors of any size and form that you can imagine.

"It seems that someone is a little bit obsessed with mirrors. Just saying," says Eva as she stops and looks at the mirrors collection.

"Behave," remembers Lucien to her as he guides her and her sister to the door at the end of the corridor.

"Do you know what this reminds me? The corridor, the door, and the mystery of what is behind it?" says Leah.

"Yeah, I know. It's surprising that it has not been even a month," says Eva.

Finally, they arrive at the door and Lucien, after looking to the sisters, knocks the door.

Knock! Knock!

Steps coming to the door can be heard at the other side, and then, the door opens, and a gargoyle butler appears.

"Good morning, ladies and gentleman. Mr. Arlor and Mr. Valzun are waiting for you. Please, come in," he says. Then, he closes the door after them. "They are at the dining room. It's the second door at the left," says as he points towards the directions just told them.

They walk towards the door, and when they arrive, they enter the dining room where they meet two gargoyles. When they hear that they enter the room, they raise their eyes from the dishes that are still intact, and they get up from the chair in order to approach and greet them.

"Well, well... Who do we have here?" says the male that the trio don't know. They already know the other one. That's Valzun.

The truth is that both gargoyles are very similar. Leah would have said that they are twins if it weren't for the scar that runs across the face of the stranger, even though it doesn't detract from his beauty. And it is. Well, they are, both.

"Are these the ones that you told me, Valzun? The ones that have to help you against the Shaktila?" asks again with a smile that Leah and the rest have already guessed it's fake.

"Yes, Arlor... brother," corrects Valzun, feeling his brother's gaze on him. Despite being cold, for Arlor the family comes first, and he likes to show it. That's why, even though Valzun is ashamed of this type of PDA, he always ends up giving up his older brother first. After all, he is the only family with blood ties that he has.

"Well, if you'd like, be our gest," says Arlor, pointing to the table.

Quickly, servants who appear out of nowhere, place three more place settings on the table. Once everything is ready, Arlor gestures them to sit down.

"Okay, since you have helped my little brother with his problems, I would like to return the favor. Is there anything you need?"

"In fact, yes. We, Eva and Lucien and me, Leah," says as she points each one of them out. " we need your help. We need an invitation for the Arena. Do you know how we can get one?"

While Leah talks to Arlor, Eva and Lucien are too focused on the food, the good presentation of the dishes and how good everything is. At least the couple has already discovered something they have in common: they both like food.

"Oh, what a coincidence! I have an invitation. However, I don't think I should give it to you. At least not with that alpha shifter," says Arlor, gesturing towards Lucien. Hearing that they are talking about him, he raises his from his plate.

"Why not?" asks Leah confused.

"You see, the Arena gives several invitations away for the clans of Dhismiar, so that they can send their fighters, whether males or females. In our case, as you know in the gargoyle race there are not females, only males. So, the only other invitation I have is for a fighter. And since you depend so much on magic, which is forbidden in the Arena, the only candidate left is your sister, and I doubt that her partner will be thrilled with the idea."

Grrr! In fact, he isn't. At all.

"Did you just growl? For your information, I'm not a damsel in distress. If it must be done, it shall be done. After all, it's all for the mission," she says upset as she gets up from the table, approaches Arlor to take the invitation from his hand.

When she is about to go out the door, Arlor stops her.

"Wait, before you go. As you will represent the Rugarith clan, you must stay here until the battle. Valzun will take you to your room. If you need anything, you can call him," he says as he beckons to the butler to come over and give them the keys to the rooms.