Chapter 617 (1/2)

Immediately, Randidly could tell that Helen’s patience was brought to the brink by simply listening to the back and forth between these two individuals. Her eyes became even more vicious as the man trying to enter into the city spoke again.

“Please… you know I earned my spot as a representative in the under 25 tournament fair and square Garritt. Are you really going to let those fossilized Styles control you-”

“That’s enough,” Garritt growled, finally looking up at the person who was pleading with him. “Silo, you just don’t know when to give up, do you? You don’t care about consequences, and now you are just acting out because they have caught up with you. Without proof, she’s not coming in.”

“The proof is in your own memory!” Silo bellowed, but there seemed to be tears forming in his eyes. There was a strange feeling in the air that something tragic was happening. It felt sorta like those days where Randidly had seen his childhood pets die. An inevitable fall lay over these two people. “Please, for all we have shared Garritt-”

“Excuse me.”

Everybody seemed to freeze and then turned to look at Helen. She clicked her tongue. “Let’s keep this short, yes? We have somewhere to be.”

After a few more seconds of silence, the mustachioed captain burst out laughing. “Hahaha, Silo Rune, you heard the lovely lady! Wrap this up. Or just scurry away with your tail between your legs like the dog you are.”

“Lad,” Two more people popped up out of nowhere, moving to stand next to Silo Rune. One was a middle-aged man, and another was an elderly woman. “We can take care of Rumi. It might be hard now, but-”

“Uncle… please, after you took care of me all this time, I can’t impose yet again-”

Helen clicked her tongue, even more loudly this time, and the conversation once more stuttered to a halt. The old woman gave her an embarrassed glance. These two new arrivals were wearing bulky cloaks, but it was easy to see the distinctive shape of a spear strapped to both of their backs.

“Err… well let’s just say I don’t think destiny is done between us,” The middle-aged man said. It was strange, but Randidly would have sworn his eyes sparkled as he grabbed Silo’s shoulder. “Before we part, I must confess that our meeting wasn’t a coincidence. My real name is-”

“Are you just going to let them waste time like that?” Helen asked, glaring now at the guards. “Or at least let us pass so they can continue their melodrama without wasting our time.”

For several seconds, everyone just blinked and looked at Helen. Taking this as assent, Helen stalked forward past the whispering individuals and walked to the guards. Helen presented their three invitations to the tournament. Although the guard’s eyes went wide and he opened his mouth to say something, Helen simply took the passed back and walked through.

“Thank you for your service,” Helen said sarcastically. Then they were gone, and into the city.

*****

Silo Rune pressed his hands against the large golden doors of the Hall of Spears in the upper circle of Hastam. It was the holy land for the Spearman School, and even though he had suffered so much at the hands of the Styles that were deeply entrenched in Hastam, it was still as somewhat spiritual experience to actually be here.

His hands tightened into fists, and then he opened the door.

There were three tall individuals standing on the stage, and a large group of younger spear users milling around beneath that. Silo’s eyes scanned the crowd. 63 here in total, reaching 64 with him.

But most satisfying of all was seeing Althumber Veir’s face twist into a positively evil scowl now that he spotted Silo arriving.

Was he perhaps disappointed that his ambush on the road had failed? That kidnapping Silo’s sister wasn’t enough to keep him away? But Silo didn’t care. Justice was on his side, and although the Central Domain didn’t want to let him, Silo was determined to defeat the ultimate evil hanging over their heads.

“Perfect,” The central figure said, clapping his hands together. “We are all here, let us begin.”