“Andraste”

Elwin's gaze shifted to the table in the room, where a neatly stacked "battle suit" caught his eye. It was based in tones of blue and white, embodying an understated elegance that didn't mask its tenacity. The "battle suit" in Elwin's hands seemed to blend with his expectations and passion. The blue color of the garment seemed to grant him calmness and tranquility, while the white symbolized his purity and sincerity. He didn't have time to ponder; he immediately changed into the "battle suit".

Elwin's gaze swept the room, where all sorts of weapons hung on the four walls. Streamlined swords, sharp spears, heavy axes, and sturdy shields glimmered with a cold, hard light. He looked at these weapons, his eyes revealing unfamiliarity and confusion. For a young man who lived in a time of peace, these were obviously foreign.

Elwin's gaze settled on a brown rune stone tablet on one wall of the room. It displayed the image of two birds spreading their wings. Each feather was meticulously detailed, the streamlined shapes full of beauty. The tips of the wings were slightly curved upward, forming a subtle arc as if ready to fly into the sky at any moment. At the center of the wings, there was an inlaid star-shaped figure, their source of power. This rune gave him an indescribable feeling, as if a power was rising from the bottom of his heart, giving him the courage to face unknown challenges and drawing him towards the wall.

Elwin stared at the stone tablet in front of him, amazed at its exquisite craftsmanship. At that moment, he noticed a corner of the stone tablet was slightly faded. The color difference might be the traces of many years of touch. This reminded Elwin of an ancient mechanism Sok Mr. Thorsson had once mentioned. He said that the trigger of such mechanisms was often cleverly hidden. So, Elwin gently touched the trace of friction, and at that moment, the massive stone tablet slowly lowered, revealing a secret space hidden within the wall.

The space was not large, but a dagger floated in the middle of it. The dagger radiated a faint blue light, flickering like a star. Elwin carefully reached out and picked up the dagger. The faint blue light disappeared as if it was a magic energy activated by his touch and absorbed calmly into his body. In the air of that space, there seemed to be a power quietly surging, and a word manifested then quickly disappeared: "Andraste", as if it had never appeared at all.

Elwin looked at the dagger in his hand, stunned. The dagger, small as it was, had immense weight. He felt a peculiar power, innate but also unique and strong. It felt as if this dagger was a part of him, his heartbeat seemed to synchronize with it, and his breath seemed to echo with it. He gripped the dagger tightly, feeling the temperature in his palm gradually increase. His eyes shone with firm resolve, as if he was ready to face the upcoming challenges. Meanwhile, the stone tablet slowly returned to its original state, hiding the secret space once again, as if it had never been opened. All of this happened naturally, calmly, yet mysteriously.

The arena of the Twin Towers Fortress was grand and solemn, located in the center of the fortress, especially dazzling. This half-football field-sized elliptical arena was paved with durable sandstone and gravel, providing gladiators a solid and spacious platform for battle.

The arena was surrounded by towering stone walls, behind which were soldier zones. Ranks of soldiers stood guard vigilantly, protecting the arena from any possible conflicts or escapes. The walls around the arena were adorned with murals and sculptures of gladiators and battles from history, the rugged and powerful statues and murals silently inspiring the fighters' morale.

Around the arena were tiered spectator stands, designed so every viewer could clearly see each competition. These included general seats, VIP seats, and the presiding platform. The presiding platform was located at the highest point of the stands, providing the host the best view.

On the presiding platform, Raven Darkholme sat smugly in the center, her face relaxed as if everything was under her control. She glanced over the entire arena, nodded in satisfaction, and turned to Lian beside her, asking, "Is everything arranged?"

"Rest assured, Lady Darkholme, everything is ready." Lian nodded in reply, a look of confusion flashing in his eyes, unable to resist asking, "Lady Darkholme, there is one thing I don't understand. Why did you return the mysterious cube to Elwin?"

Raven Darkholme smiled slightly and said mysteriously, "Only by setting bait can you catch prey." She waved her hand, indicating Lian not to ask more, then boldly said, "Alright, Lian, you'll preside over this dull duel. Watching a fight where the outcome is known isn't interesting." After that, Raven Darkholme stood up laughing, gracefully leaving the presiding platform, leaving Lian alone on the stage.