The room was small.Too small, Eren thought.
He stood in the center of the cramped tavern room, staring at the rough wooden walls and the double bed pushed against one corner. A small, square window let in a dull streak of sunlight, dust drifting lazily in the beam. Beside it, a washbasin stood, and in the corner—just enough space for a narrow door leading to the bathroom.
His parents were unpacking, moving slowly but purposefully, while Eren stared around the room with a slight frown.
"Mom," he said finally, "how long are we gonna stay here?"
His mother, kneeling by the bed, turned with a gentle smile. "Only two days, sweetheart. Then we'll head to the capital. Your father and I just want to rest and explore this city a little first."
Eren nodded but couldn't hide his disappointment. "It's… kinda small," he muttered, tapping his fingers against the bedframe.
His mother chuckled softly. "You'll survive, little adventurer."
While they continued unpacking, Eren sat down by the bed, resting his chin on his knees. The wooden floor creaked beneath him as he sighed. Two days. The words echoed in his head. Two days in this tiny place, waiting while grown-ups talked and did grown-up things.
He looked up at the ceiling, then toward the window. The sounds outside drifted in—voices, laughter, the distant clop of hooves on cobblestone. The world out there was alive. Loud. Moving.
And here he was… sitting still.
Eren frowned, muttering to himself, "Ahh, I'm so bored. We came all this way, and I can't even go outside." He lay flat on the floor, arms spread. "There's nothing fun in the mind realm either… so what should I do?"
An idea flickered in his head.Wait… I could sneak out.
His eyes widened. Then he smiled, a small grin spreading across his face. "Yeah… I'll just take a quick look around. I'll be back before they even notice!"
He glanced at his parents. His father was busy unpacking a wooden box, brow furrowed, while his mother sorted clothes. Perfect. Eren stood up quietly, heart thudding. He tiptoed toward the door.
But as he reached for the handle, his father's sharp eyes caught him."Eren?" His voice carried a note of suspicion. "Where are you going?"
Eren froze mid-step."Oh, uh—nowhere, just—just stretching my legs!"
Before his father could reply, his mother called from across the room, "Dear, could you check the water pail?"
The man turned his head, sighing, and went to help her.
Eren grinned. Now's my chance!
He looked at the door again, but then paused. If he opened or closed it, the sound would give him away. He thought for a second—then smirked.
He pressed his palm against the wood and whispered, "Phase."
His body shimmered faintly—and then he slipped through the solid door like a ghost, stepping into the narrow hallway beyond.
He had done it.He was out.
Excitement surged through him as he hurried down the stairs, his heart hammering like a drum. When he reached the tavern below, the scent of roasted meat and ale filled the air. The warmth of the fireplace painted the wooden walls in orange glow.
He spotted two familiar faces at a corner table—the adventurers who had been arguing in the street earlier. Now they were laughing, mugs in hand, slapping each other's shoulders as though nothing had happened.
Eren tilted his head, curious. How do people go from yelling to laughing like that?
He walked up to their table."Weren't you two arguing just a little while ago?" he asked innocently.
The two men paused mid-laughter, looking down at the boy who barely reached the table's edge. One was broad-shouldered, with rough stubble and a scar along his jaw. The other was slimmer, with sandy hair and a sly grin.
"Hey, kid," the stubbled one said. "Where're your parents?"
"Upstairs," Eren said without hesitation. "Now answer me. You were shouting before. Why are you friends again?"
The two adventurers exchanged glances, then burst out laughing. The sandy-haired one leaned forward, smirking. "Well, kid, that's how adventurers are. We argue, then we drink, then we forget why we were mad in the first place."
Eren frowned. "That doesn't make sense."
The stubbled one chuckled. "You'll get it when you're older. Anyway, we weren't really mad—just a bit of a misunderstanding."
Eren crossed his arms. "Didn't look like a misunderstanding. You were yelling."
That made the sandy-haired one sit up straighter. "Heh. It's 'cause he's an idiot sometimes."
"Watch it," the other said, raising his mug. "At least I don't blow all my money on random junk."
"Oh yeah? Better than buying people's stuff just to show off you're rich!"
They started arguing again, voices rising, but Eren just sighed and walked away. "Adults are weird…"
He slipped outside, pushing open the tavern door. The city opened up before him—a bright sprawl of stone streets, lined with banners and glowing lanterns. Merchants called out to passersby, and strange beasts pulled carriages down wide, cobbled roads.
Eren's eyes widened with wonder. Everywhere he looked, there was life—knights in armor, mages in flowing robes, adventurers bargaining for potions.
Then, through the crowd, he noticed a carriage unlike the rest. It was sleek and polished, drawn by a pair of silvery beasts that resembled horses but with scales glimmering faintly under the sun. Surrounding it were knights in silver armor.
Inside, through the open window, Eren glimpsed a young man—blue hair catching the light, eyes like the deep ocean. His armor gleamed, patterned with gold filigree, his bearing calm and regal.
Eren's heart skipped. Who's that?
He stepped closer, curiosity pulling him forward. But before he could take another step—
"Eren!"
Strong hands grabbed him from behind. His father's voice thundered in his ear. "We told you not to go outside!"
Eren winced, turning around sheepishly. His mother hurried over, worry written all over her face. "Oh, thank goodness—Eren, please don't scare us like that again!"
"I just wanted to look—"
"No excuses," his father said firmly, setting him down.
But then his mother softened her tone, brushing dust from his hair. "You said you saw something? What was it?"
Eren looked toward the carriage, which was now rolling away. "There was this… carriage. And people were gathering around something before. I just wanted to see what it was."
His parents exchanged a glance. His father exhaled. "You wanted to see the fights, didn't you?"
Eren blinked. "The fights?"
"The colosseum," his mother said gently. "They hold duels there every week."
Eren's eyes lit up instantly. "Can we go?! Please, please, I wanna see it!"
His parents looked at each other again—then smiled. "Alright," his father said. "But you'll stay close."
"YES!"
They started down the busy street toward the colosseum. The grand structure loomed in the distance—towers of pale stone and fluttering banners, surrounded by bridges arching over deep canals.
When they reached the entrance, a group of knights stood guard beside a shimmering gate. One of them, pale-skinned with fiery orange hair, stepped forward. "Papers?" he asked curtly.
Eren's mother blinked. "Oh—oh no. We forgot to buy the entry permits."
The knight crossed his arms. "Then I'm afraid you can't enter."
Eren tugged his mother's sleeve. "But I really wanna see! Just this once!"
The knight frowned. "Rules are rules, boy."
Eren's father was about to apologize when a calm voice cut through the air. "What's the commotion here?"
Everyone turned. The blue-haired noble from the carriage was standing behind them now, the sunlight glinting off his armor. His eyes—clear and intelligent—rested on Eren.
The knights immediately straightened. "Young master Dainel!"
Eren blinked in surprise. "W-when did you get here?"
Dainel smiled faintly. "A moment ago." He turned to the knight. "These three—what's the issue?"
"They have no permits, sir."
"I see." Dainel's gaze returned to Eren. "And why do you want to enter, little one?"
Eren stood tall, determination in his eyes. "Because I want to see how strong people fight! I wanna be like them one day!"
The noble's lips curved into a genuine smile. "A fine answer." He turned to the knights. "Let them in. They're my guests."
The knight hesitated, startled. "Understood, young master."
Eren's parents bowed quickly. "Thank you for your kindness, young master," his father said.
Dainel simply nodded and motioned for them to follow. "Come. The next match is about to start."
They climbed the stone stairs together, the sound of roaring crowds growing louder with every step.
When they emerged into the arena stands, Eren gasped. The sunlight spilled across the sand of the colosseum below, where two figures faced each other, swords drawn.
One was tall and muscular, with short brown hair and a long blade glowing faintly red—fire magic coursing through it. The other was leaner, with crimson hair and a scar across his nose. He stood calmly, blade at his side, eyes half-closed in focus.
The announcer's voice boomed:"Next match! Roen of the Flame versus Olwer the Silent Blade!"
The crowd roared.
Roen lunged first, his sword blazing as he swung down. Olwer stepped aside smoothly, his movement barely visible, sand swirling from the motion.
Another slash—faster this time. Sparks burst as steel met steel. Olwer parried effortlessly, eyes sharp.
Clang. Clang. Clang!
Roen pressed forward, his strikes wild but powerful, each one cracking the ground where it landed. The heat from his blade shimmered in the air.
Eren leaned over the railing, eyes wide. "Whoa…"
Dainel chuckled softly beside him. "Watch closely. You'll learn more from the quiet one."
Eren turned his gaze to Olwer. The redhead moved like water, smooth and silent, letting Roen's strength exhaust itself. Every motion was efficient, deliberate.
Then—Roen shouted, raising his sword for a massive overhead swing. The air rippled with heat.
Olwer stepped forward. One, two, three precise movements—sidestep, pivot, flash.
In the blink of an eye, he was behind Roen, blade resting against his neck.
The crowd froze.
Then the announcer's voice echoed again:"The winner—OLWER!"
Cheers exploded from every direction. Roen dropped to one knee, panting, his flames dying out. Olwer sheathed his blade quietly and gave a small nod before walking away.
Eren stared, speechless."That… was amazing," he whispered. "He didn't even use magic. Just… skill."
Dainel smiled faintly, his expression thoughtful. "Sometimes, control is the greatest strength of all."
Eren looked up at him. "You think I can be like that?"
The nobleman's eyes softened. "If you keep your heart steady… perhaps even stronger."
Eren grinned, eyes shining with inspiration.
As the crowd roared below, and Olwer disappeared into the fighter's tunnel, Eren felt something shift quietly inside him—like a spark had been lit in the depths of his soul.
He didn't know it yet, but this day… this meeting… would change everything.