Chapter 55: Pep talk

Alaric approached the champion's apartments. He remembered the last time they had been used. It was the end of yet another civil war, and his father had a vampire for a champion. Back then, his father had been more carefree, and had pulled them all aside, Alaric's siblings and he, and told them:

"Everyone can summon a werewolf as a champion. Giants are not difficult to bribe. But vampires, elves, and dwarves... Those are the really motivated champions to be had," Stephen had said with a grin. Not once thinking that he could lose.

Back then, Alaric remembered that he had felt fear. If his father didn't win, then the entire family would suffer. He remembered that he had hugged his mother and shivered in her arms.

Annabeth was long dead, and he couldn't take comfort from her embrace anymore. Yet, he knew that he had to be strong. For his siblings, who were now in a holding cell. For Alana and Taniel.