Aeneas gulped as he felt the intense pressure from the old man's stare. It was the similar sensation he felt when the Panteran king stared at him. The aura of someone formidable. However, unlike the gravity-like pressure of Ander wanting to crush you to the ground, the old man's felt more like being slowly constricted while hundreds of blades were pointing at you. Leaving no path for escape. Yet somehow, Aeneas felt a weird connection to the old man as if they knew each other even though he could swear that it was his first time seeing him.
"Aenie?"
The boy jolted as he felt Tiriara's hand on his shoulder. She noticed Aeneas's fazed expression with a drop of sweat falling from the side of his face.
"What's wrong? Are you sick?" the girl asked. She placed her palm on Aeneas's forehead, checking his temperature.
"What are you two doing? Hurry, you might get separated," Theresa said. She was a few steps ahead of them and was with the others.
With a deep breath, "It's nothing," Aeneas replied. Then, he turned to Tiriara, "Stop dozing off," the boy said with a grin.
Tiriara was left speechless with her mouth forming a circular shape. Slowly, it turned to a smile, "Stupid…" she muttered.
As the two jogged to catch up to the others, Aeneas turned his gaze toward the old man's direction once again. He couldn't stop his urge to do so. But, the old man in tattered clothes has disappeared as if he was never there.
With Lois guiding everyone, they managed to visit most of the interesting places around her dormitory. Lyra has been to most of them since she was a researcher at the academy.
Due to Lois's stern take when it comes to schedules, the group returned to the house they were staying in an hour before the opening of the summit games. Arsen, Mnesus, and Azeus have already left, leaving the lord of Arsida alone.
Aeneas couldn't get the image of the old man out of his head. Even inside the confines of their temporary residence, the boy could feel the old man's stare. The others would catch him dozing off even when they were seated in the stands of one of the biggest stadiums in all of the continent.
A crowd numbering ten times the amount of people when compared to the Coliseum in Pergis town, the stadium of Laochyro roars throughout the land.
The twelve rulers sat in their own special places together with their families and trusted subjects. They are a great distance away from each other, and the people in the stands know not to misbehave in their presence.
At the center of the vast circular tiled arena, a man holding a microphone shell stood.
"Greetings people of Nusterra!" the announcer shouted.
The crowd cheers. It was deafening.
"Are you all excited for this year's summit games?!"
"Yes!"
Even those who didn't join the unified answer had a grin on their faces and eyes sparkling like the starry night sky.
With the crowd at the peak of their excitement, the opening of the event started and the announcer began introducing the participants for each of the twelve kingdoms.
Once called, the three representatives for each kingdom, aged between twenty to thirty, would emerge from their designated entrances. Following from behind is their flagbearer showing the flag of their kingdom to the world. The people would also sing the verse in the old song 'Zeal of Power' that represents the Zeal of the entering squad.
Each time the announcer would call upon the participants, the wild crowd would go roaring. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that everyone in the city of Laochyro could hear their cheers.
One could distinguish the differences between each team representing their kingdoms. The three from the kingdom of the Mighty Bull wore leather vests that showed their muscular arms and the Zeal of Taurus. Aakdani representatives wore cloaks, that had hidden pockets on the inside, and strapped around their bodies were blades of different shapes and sizes.
Aside from them, the others also wore clothing best for their way of fighting. An example of which were the three Nesmosian representatives, two of them were women. They have long rapiers and clothing that shows a lot of skin. The Zeal of the Fair Maiden allows its bearers to release a pleasing scent that would entrance the opposite sex. It could also soothe and tame even the wildest of beasts.
"Let us all welcome the Pantera squad! Mnesus Dimilis! Azeus Aurusmane! And their captain, Arsen Caspius!"
Nireus not included, Aeneas and the others shouted atop their lungs to cheer for the Pantera squad led by his brother. As the squad walked towards their spot, some people sang the verse that spoke of the Proud Lion. Those who were from Pantera also placed their right hand on their chest.
"
O hear the Proud Lion's roar.
To the lands, to the skies as it soars.
For the might of his light,
bring his foes to a fright.
Let the Zeal of his power glow.
"
With Arsen, Mnesus, and Azeus, standing in their spot, each squad has been introduced. The announcer once again asked the people in the crowd to cheer for all the participants. After the last deafening cheer, the announcer spoke,
"We have prepared a couple of performances for everyone! But, before I leave, let us all officially announce the start of the summit games," the announcer paused. Then, he counted down from three.
And together with the crowd, "Let the Zeal of their power glow!" They all shouted.
Some people left after the introduction of the squads and didn't care for the dance or magic performances. They were more interested in the festivities happening in the city streets rather than watching performances that many think of as boring.
***
At ten the next morning, the summit games finally began. The stands were as packed as it was in the opening.
Decatris has prepared a series of games for the participants. One of which is similar to the newly invented game that Aeneas, Tiriara, and Neoma played only recently. The one where participants wore a vest with blowrocks and had a glove and ball that had the opposite pieces of a linkstone. Its objective is to hit every blowrocks to eliminate the participant.
The summit games prohibit its participants from killing any of the others. When someone does, even in an accident, their squad would be disqualified and won't be allowed to participate in the next summit games. More so, the one who did it would be branded a murderer and tried under the law of Decatris. The sentence would be graver if the culprit did the deed on purpose. This rule was agreed upon by the twelve rulers and was the first thing to be told to those who would participate in the summit games. Despite this rule, everyone is allowed to use their Zeal to the utmost of their capability. It is for them to know when to stop and only injure an opponent at worst.
From morning till evening, the players competed in a variety of games. Some needed the whole squad, some only a single participant from each squad. Their number of wins was tallied at the end of the day. They were given points for every win that would be crucial for the main event that would happen tomorrow.
In the end, the Panteran squad and Regali squad were tied at first. Both have four points. Meanwhile, three squads only managed to acquire a single point each, they were from Meena, Doscuri, and Novis.
Inside their temporary residence, Arsen and the others were celebrating a decent day of the games. After eating and drinking a glass of wine, Anastasia excused herself and wanted to return to the Academy as she had something important to do.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay?" Lyra asked.
Anastasia shook her head. She walked closer to Lyra and whispered something.
Lyra's eyes widened for a little time, "Okay, thank you," she said.
Once Anastasia arrived at the Academy's main building, she made her way towards Principal Vandrad's office. The building was a ghost town at the time, still, she peeked everywhere to make sure that no one was there to see her. Anastasia was about to burn the doorknob down but realized that it was unlocked. A grin formed on her face as she opened the door without making any sound.
She didn't waste a second and looked at the files resting at the principal's table, as well as the cabinets and on the bookshelves.
All of a sudden, Anastasia felt chills all over her body. The room was enclosed and there was no way an uninvited gust of cold air let itself inside the room.
"What are you looking for?"
Anastasia froze. To her, the voice sounded as if it came from an old man who managed to sneak behind her without her noticing.
"I—is that you principal Vandrad?" she replied without turning to face the source of the voice.
"Did no one teach you to face someone you're speaking to?"
With a gulp, Anastasia turned. She saw an old man in tattered clothes, disheveled long wavy hair and beard, and a nasty big scar around his right eye that was closed. This time the eye patch was missing but the dim room made her unable to see him clearly.
Confused, Anastasia tilted her head a little, "May I ask who you are, and why you were inside the principal's office?" she said. Anastasia knows the face of Principal Vandrad, and the old man standing in front of her isn't him.
The old man laughed, "This is my office too," he replied.
"Ah. Are you perhaps Vice Principal Silas?"
The old man replied with a nod. Everyone knows about Vice Principal Silas, Vandrad's dear friend who shares the same office, but was never seen inside. Yet, very few know him personally and have witnessed his appearance. Most people only know his name and the rumor that he looks like a beggar.
"Now, it's your turn to answer. What are you doing in this room?"
Slowly, Anastasia's Zeal started to glow. She didn't know what would happen to her if they found out why she was there. In her head, she was thinking of attacking Silas and escaping.
"Don't. You'll die."
At that moment, Anastasia felt as if she was being constricted and thousands of daggers were pointed at her. She realized that Silas could kill her in an instant if he wanted to. Defeated, Anastasia stopped using her Zeal and dropped to the floor.
"I'll let you leave once you tell me."