CHAPTER 1
''THEN LET'S CALL THIS A NIGHT, THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR PARTICIPATING TONIGHT, AND EXPECT YOUR OVERALL RANKINGS WILL BE RELEASED NEXT WEEK! ENJOY THE REST OF THE NIGHT'' - the announcer said in the speaker
We are here at the stadium because we just held the last battle for the season. It is like an arena that has surrounding bleachers and in the middle, there is a wide battlefield where the battle will be held. There is an invisible powerful shield that protects the people watching outside the battleground.
The murmurs of the crowd started to louden and the others heads to the wide empty field to practice, they are the juniors. It is just like school, there are juniors and seniors and I am one of the seniors and next season will be the last season for our batch. We just finished the last battle of this season and I make sure that I will be starting my next season with great records. They said there will be new participants arriving next week to participate in the last season. I bet they will be just a usual magic user and it will not be so hard for me to climb to the top rank just like this season.
‘’Athalia Husks’’
I heard someone call my name behind me and I stopped taking steps and waited for him to say what he wants from me. I didn’t bother to turn around, it is him that had something to do with me so he will be the one to face me
I can hear his low phase coming towards me until he is now in front of me wearing a grin on his face
I remember him, he was the one that I knocked out on the ring earlier at our fight. Didn’t he have enough bruises and he still asks for more giving me that ugly expression on his face?
‘’….you know I didn’t take our fight seriously right?’’ - he said while placing his hands on his pocket
Psh, arrogant much
I eyed him and gave a blank stare
‘’you didn’t?’’ - I said almost not sounding sarcastic
I saw him clench his jaw but he maintained his casual posture in front of me
‘’Why would I hurt a pretty lady like you just to proceed on the next season?’’ - he said taking a step closer at me
‘’you don’t want to be on the next season?’’ - I asked not moving an inch in the spot where I stood still on my sarcastic tone
‘’yeah I do but not if that means hurting you’’ - he said then tried to touch me extending his hands then I waved it off making him widen his eyes
‘’well, does that mean I owe you a debt Mr.?’’
‘’depends on how you take it’’ - he said then shrugged
‘’then I take it as you being a coward in the ring earlier that didn’t even get a chance to hit even a single player of the game. I bet all the players don’t look like me so you can not just spare everyone in the battle’’ - I said looking directly into his eyes.
I saw him part his mouth a little didn’t expect me to say those words. He took a step back and I saw his ears turns red in shame as he cannot utter even a single word from his mouth
I walked pass at him without saying anything. I am not afraid of him if he might do anything at me because I can heal myself and he cannot hurt or kill me either because it is the number rule here in ROM that we cannot harm anyone if we are not inside the battlefield and if you do that, you will be automatically thrown away from the realm.
ROM stands for Realm Of Magic and this is an underground battlefield where people who possess supernatural abilities are gathered. We only have one goal and that is to be a champion and get a chance to have our number one wish come true. My wish is to be sent to Aquidaime, where we get to live with the gods and in peace, not only that reason that I want to be sent there, but I also want to go there because my dad was sent there and he was the only family left with me, my mom now lives with another man and I don’t have any brother or sibling because I am an only child and my grandparents are all dead on both sides.
My dad is a powerful sorcerer and he was asked to serve the gods that is why he was sent in the Aquidaime, I was just 13 years old at that time and it is hard for the both of us to be parted but he doesn’t have any choice because it was the gods that requested him, all he says is that I have to follow him there through this firm and since that day, I promised myself I will get there no matter what it takes just to be with my dad
After a few moments of walking, I reached the end counter, they scanned me using a device that releases a neon light and takes a picture of your body and scan it if you have any injuries and they will immediately take care of it. One thing I love about being here is that they provide us financially more than what we need.
After they scanned me, a facilitator handed me a thick heavy envelope and I put it under my jacket. They gave us a huge amount of money every after our meeting even if you didn’t get to fight that night and if you do fight, you will have 2x more amount of the money.
‘’She was in the game’’ - a monitor said then they handed me again a thick envelope and I put it in my bag
I swiped my identification card on the last door then it opened. The smell of a fresh-scented bathroom welcomed me, that was camouflage, a hidden portal. The way through the realm is by this comfort room cubicle and only we members can access it with our identification cards. This is a usual company building that is also owned by the realm to disguise the secret organization.
I just head back to my apartment taking my usual way outside the building.