Hustling against the crowd of people gathering around the fence, David and the girl sohow reached the guarded gate after a lot of wrestling, being smacked, punched ’accidentally’, pushed around.
David was sure that this was probably even harder than whatever hardships lay on the field in front of him.
As he approached the open gate, a soldier eyed him and the girl beside him. His eyebrows raised in unison as he asked, "Are you both here for the Sihapi contest?"
David nodded imdiately, causing the soldier’s eyes to squint. "Alright, go inside. But if you are lying to and if I find you standing around the seats in the pavilion, I shall smack your shitty ass out of here."
"Why so aggressive...?" The words slipped out of his lips, confused and alard. Was this man threatening all the other contestants that were entering the areana?
The soldier pointed his short spear at him as he asked, "You want to believe you are going to fight other contestants without a weapon? You are not the first one who gave that excuse to enter the fenced field and try to cause a ruckus for a seat in the pavilions."
David’s eyes shifted inside the fenced area. All the seats in the pavilion were filled with common people, most probably the ones who had co early to watch the recruitnt contest.
Any extra person who couldn’t fit in the seats were expected to be standing out of the fence. ’Makes sense why the soldier thinks I am trying to bypass the rule.’
David shrugged as with a sigh, he reassured the man. "Don’t worry, I am a contestant. Now let us go, if should start soon enough."
Although the soldier looked at them with mild suspicion, he let them go, his eyes still tracking their path.
’I just want to win this...and go wherever they take to, ugh.’ David felt like punching sothing, his frustration almost showing on his face.
’Damn my bad luck and my hero complex. I should have just eaten the bread, all by myself.’ He thought bitterly as he caressed his growling stomach.
But as he looked at the girl beside him, who was glancing around with a touch of slight curiosity on her face, he sighed and just rolled his eyes.
With the one copper he had with him, he had bought the only thing he could find - a loaf of bread.
And call it kindness or stupidity - although both of them could sotis end up being the sa thing - he has ended up giving more than three quarters of it to the girl.
’Fulfilling the bulshit rule of elders looking after juniors, I guess.’ He smiled lightly, which quickly faded away as his stomach reminded him of the hunger possessing him.
"Alright, let’s get over this." He glanced at the naless girl, who looked at his raised fist.
Slowly clenching her fingers into a tight fist, she raised it and touched his fist.
"Yes..."
They joined the flow of the crowd of contestants gathering around a raised stage in the middle of the arena.
Looking around him, David found himself shocked to see such a large number of contestants leading to a congestion in the open area.
"Silence!" A grumpy voice echoed as all chaos died down.
David raised himself on his toes and squinted at the stage. A middle aged man, with few white streaks of hair and a scarred face overlooked us. His eyes were sharp and analysing as his gaze road over the entire crowd, making everyone go silent.
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