The morning crowd moved like a slow river through Sector 45.
Xaden and Leo moved with it.
People packed the narrow streets, flowing toward the same destination—the central arena, where the Threshing ceremony had been held for centuries. Vendors shouted over one another, trying to squeeze a few last drachmas out of the nervous teenagers and their families, as they attempted to persuade people to buy their weapons, beast gear, and even, supposedly, magical charms.
Leo walked beside Xaden with his hands behind his head, seemingly unfazed.
Which actually irked him a little bit.
"How are you so calm?" Xaden muttered.
Leo shrugged. "Because whatever power I get, it's gonna be awesome."
"You already know yours."
"Exactly." He grinned.
Xaden scoffed.
Ahead of them, the crowd thinned slightly as the road widened into a massive open plaza.
The arena rose in the center of the plaza like a metal mountain.
Layered platforms of black steel climbed toward the sky, veins of glowing blue energy pulsing across its surface.
The same strange veins that ran beneath the ground of Terra itself.
Even the streets around it hummed faintly with that cold light.
Xaden felt a knot twist in his stomach.
This was it.
The place where your life either started… or stayed the same, maybe worse off even.
He thought about the poor woman with the dead baby in her arms, who knows how she ended up in that state.
People their age were already gathering around the entrance gates. Some looked excited.
Others looked like they wanted to throw up.
Leo elbowed him lightly.
"Relax," he said. "Worst case scenario, you get something lame like acid piss or stretchy toes."
"That's not a thing."
"It could be."
There was something else though.
"Or nothing at all." He mumbled quietly so not even Leo heard.
They stepped into the plaza—and immediately someone shoved Xaden away hard enough to nearly knock him off balance.
He staggered back a step, nearly tripping because of his frail figure if not for the help of Leo who placed an arm around him.
The boy who had hit him didn't even slow down. He was tall with brown, trimmed hair and broad shoulders. Two big, burly young men trailed behind him like loyal shadows.
"Hey, watch it!" He yelled towards them.
They didnt even glance back towards him.
"Hey assholes, I'm talking to you!"
The tall boy stopped.
Slowly turned around.
His clothes were clean, perhaps the first thing Xaden noticed —absurdly clean for this area and even fashionable, a grey-and-black jacket with black cargo pants—a sword strapped behind him. He seemed a stark contrast to the tattered people of Sector 45.
Leo noticed the symbol embroidered on his jacket, a white hand holding up a double-edged sword. His eyes spread wide, shocked.
'That symbol... What's it doing here?'
The boy eyed Xaden head to toe, a bored expression on his handsome, perfectly chiseled face.
From the patched cloak.
To the worn boots.
To the measly bow slung over his back.
"Sector 45," the boy said flatly. His voice was clear and composed, even a bit posh, definitely not an accent one might hear among the lower sectors.
Leo snorted.
"Wow. Sharp detective work."
The boy ignored him.
"I'm afraid I may need you to beg for mercy," he said to Xaden, a small glint appearing in his eyes. "Kneel."
"Excuse me?" Xaden was taking aback, by the sheer arrogance.
The boy sighed, as if explaining himself was a pain in the ass.
"You barged into me, a member of House Valerion, then even go as far as demand that I apologize to you." He exhaled slowly, studying Xaden the way one might examine something unpleasant stuck to the bottom of a boot.
'House Valerion...' The name struck a chord in Xaden's head. One of the big four families under in Sub-Valo.
"Even a common Valeguard would have you mutilated for less."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Consider yourself fortunate."
He stepped closer.
"All I require… is that you kneel."
For a moment, everywhere was quiet; the noise from the surrounding people diminished as more people began to pay attention.
'Xaden...' Leo spoke softly, attempting to get his attention. He understood better than anyone his beast friend's hot temperament especially when hotheads like the Valerion boy were involved.
" Should he really kneel?"
"He should, House Valerion would not take kindly to an insult to their name, it's better for himself and Sector 45 if he simply accepts he is at fault."
"But I saw what happened, obviously the big boy by the side shoved him aside."
"Be quiet, if you value your head."
The crowd whispered in hushed tones.
Just then, a loud laugh was heard, a hearty laugh filled with reckless abandon, throwing both the spectators and parties into a puzzled state.
Leo looked towards his side to find Xaden, hunched over, body convulsing with laughter.
'Has he finally run mad?'
Xaden looked up, a light sheen spread over his blue-green eyes, arm clutching his stomach.
"You expect me to kneel?"
He chuckled, shaking his head.
"Listen carefully. Even if the gods themselves came down and threatened me with eternal damnation…"
His grin widened.
"My knees still wouldn't touch this ground."
'At least not willingly," He thought in his head, after all he was still only a frail slump rat from Sector 45.
Leo felt his lips tug upwards.
'Always so dramatic.'
The rich boy sighed like this was beneath him.
"You people really don't understand your place."
One of his friends chuckled.
Leo leaned slightly toward Xaden.
Violence, it seems, was inevitable, at least they would go down with a fight.
"Kent." The boy said. "Make them both kneel."
His eyes shone.
"Show no mercy."
One of the big boys by his side walked forward. He had black hair and wore a tank top which showed off his big, muscular body.
A faint grey sheen started to crawl over his arm, across his skin, like stone forming over flesh.
The crowd murmured.
"Hardening ability," Someone in the crowd whispered.
"Already awakened?"
The stone layer spread up his arm until it looked like carved granite.
He clenched his fist.
Then he swung.
Xaden barely dodged.
The fist smashed into the metal railing beside him with a thunderous clang that vibrated through the plaza.
Leo whistled.
"Okay, that's actually kinda cool."
The stone-skinned boy turned again, clearly annoyed now.
Leo's eyes shone a bright orange as flames spread across his hand. Converging in his raised palm to create a small fireball.
Xaden quickly knocked an arrow into his bow.
They stood, side by side, as Kent made his way towards them again.
"It was nice knowing you dude."
"Shut up Leo." Xaden released the arrow.