Tap tap tap
Riven strode to the arena.
Slow, measured steps as he crossed the void.
Eye's half-lidded, he had something he had to do.
Not because he felt pity.
Not because of anger.
But if nobody was going to stand for this...he had to.
Tap tap tap
The roar of the arena grew in volume.
It sounded like a commotion.
Multiple voices, opinions flying in the air.
"Enough!"
Riven heard a loud voice as he traversed narrow halls.
It was the Headmaster.
Kael Sarn.
Tap tap tap
He'd been stuck in the South Tower for so long, but he remembered that man's presence.
His brow furrowed slightly.
Soon, the light of the arena slowly welcomed him.
He was walking a long narrow path.
A dark corridor.
The light just ahead.
".....Show us why you deserve to represent Eldris!"
The shout of someone expecting something.
Kael looked at the first years.
Some heads looked away as he made eye contact.
Slowly his head moved to the Elite Class....
Most of them wore complex expressions.
They'd seen first hand the difference.
A pause spread the arena for a brief moment.
The only constant, was the flickering of cameras, all pointed at Kael's stature.
"...It seems nobody can challenge that boy" a foreign dignitary stated, voice low.
A few others looked at him as he said this.
They nodded in agreement.
"Looks like Eldris has a challenger again...."
The crowds silence after Kael's words were brief.
But they stretched.
Tap tap tap
In the King's viewing box; the guards, the prince and princess, and the king himself.
They looked at the Elite Class, in their observation room.
Would any of them stand forward?
Fayl? He was quiet.
Torin? Arm's folded.
Caelun? He just stared at Jacob.
Nobody stood forward.
Even someone as fiery as Aelana knew.
It wasn't the time.
It was his time.
He'd dismantled the second strongest in their class.
21 seconds.
21 seconds was all was he needed.
And Kalen was cheating?
They had no chance.
"-" Kael opened his mouth, about to voice something out as the crowd was muted.
Tap
It was then they all heard something.
Tap
There it was again.
A footstep.
Then another.
They stepped forward.
Slow in pace.
Loud in action.
Heads darted as they tried to pinpoint where it was coming from.
"....Someone's actually challenging him?" some viewers in other sectors questioned.
The Elite Class leaned forward.
Who was it?
"Oh?" the King muttered.
The instructors booth was silent.
Korreth had his arms folded, as the others looked for the sound.
Even Jacob looked up slowly, eye glinting a little.
Tap
"Ladies and gentlemen it seems that someone has stepped forward to challenge Jacob...."
Ayling muttered on the broadcast, voice loud but...uncertain.
Where was he?
Tap
They couldn't spot him.
Tap
It sounded like the beat of a drum.
The call to a war.
Until, out of the shadows of one of the cooling rooms, he emerged.
His hair was slightly longer than before.
Not wild, but touched by the kind of neglect that comes from long days and longer nights.
The soft brown had darkened.
Strands brushing just past his collar.
His face?
It was sharper.
The boyish edges leaner...harder.
The same grey eyes as before....this time deeper.
Click Click Flash
His head turned towards the arena.
Cameras flashing in multitude.
Ayling leaned forward, "Who is this newcomer?!" he yelled dramatically.
Amongst the noise, the people who knew; the students, the Elite, the instructors and Kael Sarn.
They all narrowed their eyes.
Some more dramatic than others.
"...Is that the Silent?" one of the students in the crowd muttered.
Soon, it was a wave.
"I thought he got kicked out?" Aelana questioned, slight surprise flickering on her face; masking it, as quick as it came.
"...He should've been" Fayl muttered, though his eyes stayed locked on the figure.
The others just watched.
The whispers had grew louder.
Others now shouting out his disposition.
Flash Flash
"Silent?" someone questioned.
"He's a silent?"
The air grew tense and rowdy.
Those high above grew confused expressions.
"Who is this boy?" one noble questioned, confused at the crowds treatment, mostly stemming from students.
"Their saying he's a silent? What is this?" another spoke, a crease forming on his brow.
The whispers thickened, crowding together, tugging at the edges of disbelief.
Watching this whole time; the Prince and Princess had seen Jacob's dominance. One enjoying the procession more than the other.
This was something they didn't expect.
Neither did the King by the sound of things.
"Who is this commoner?" Prince Samuel questioned, a distaste in his mouth over his scruffy appearance.
Azarel, ever the voice of peace, regarded his son with a calm gaze.
"Now, now, Samuel," his tone soft yet carrying something. "For him to step forward is a sign of strength."
His sister on the other-hand was quiet.
Curiosity edging.
---------
In that period of discussion.
Vei Alros appeared next to Kael suddenly.
FLASH!
She looked at Riven immediately, before turning to Kael.
"Headmaster, it seems he slipped past every observer in the South Tower..." she voiced out, short hair swaying as she appeared.
Kael didn't reply immediately.
He followed Riven's gaze.
It was etched on Jacob's figure in the arena.
"Should I take him away?"
Kael was silent for a moment.
Tension in the air pressed down on the arena.
"...We'll allow it." he replied slowly.
Slight surprise running along Vei's face.
Murmurs still rippled through the spectators.
The students now announcing his reputation.
Ayling looked back and forth, listening to all these whispers.
But before he could control the crowd-
"Riven Brown."
Kael's voice rose, steady.
Commanding.
The murmurs slowly stopped.
'Riven Brown?'
So that was his name.
Thoughts ran on.
Riven looked up at Kael.
He was floating.
All eyes turned to Kael, waiting to see his next words.
"Do you declare yourself as the replacement for Kalen Voss-"
"Yes."
The single word landed like a blade.
It cut the rising thoughts as it even cut through Kael mid-sentence.
There was no hesitation.
The arena went still.
Jacob's eyes narrowed, faint amusement tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Aelana's brow drew together, gaze sharpening.
Seris's arms folded, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes.
From the stands, whispers began to creep back in.
"...Is he insane".
"Against Jacob?"
"...a Silent? Does he wanna die?"
A low hum rippled.
The Elite Class was half-disbelief, half-intrigue.
Kael's gaze lingered as the nobles above reacted.
The King raising a brow.
"Very well," Kael finally said.
"Then let the trial commence."
Kael's voice faded.
Only the sound of wind cut through the arena.
Silence.
Then Ayling's voice burst through the speakers, sharp and buzzing.
"Ladies and gentlemen - there's a new challenger!"
The roar was instant.
Cameras swung, flashes popping.
In the middle, Jacob wore a blank expression.
--
Far from the arena, a single click echoed.
Then?
The flickering of a television screen coming to life.
In that image stood Riven, standing across Jacob.
His hand dropped the remote.
Jaw clenched.
It was a scene Kalen wouldn't forget.
'I'll be back'
----
Walking into that arena as it burst into life.
Thousands in person.
Millions, Billions potentially at home.
One question froze the arena.
It rippled through the stands, through the students, through the Elite Class.
Everyone stilled momentarily.
Riven gaze locked on Jacob's.
Unblinking.
Deep.
Jacob met it with the barest flicker of acknowledgement.
A look that said "this is a formality."
"Why did you do it?"