The Arena: A LitRPG, page 62
"Funny thing about the truth, though," Julius said as he began busying himself with a pot of hot water over a flame. "Is that it can depend on where exactly you stand. For example, if you stand on a mountain and look down at a City below, you would say the City is beneath you. But from the City, the citizens might say that you are above them. Two very different – perhaps even opposing – statements that tell the same truth."
"Tell us about the Hunters," Petra said to almost interrupt the God before he spoke again. "How many ways are there to tell us that truth?"
"Technically, there is a man called Julius the Balanced, and yes, he is the one who keeps you all safe within the City. And yes, I am that man. It's really just how it's done that you don't yet fully understand."
"But if that's true… what happens to all those Contestants who rise out of the Arena and become Hunters, leaving the City to protect us from outside our walls? The ones who capture the creatures of Chaos for us to fight?"
"I do do that," Julius said with a smile. "I send the creatures to the Arena, and it is exactly for the reasons you have been taught: for Contestants to grow and become powerful. Powerful enough to leave the City and be a part of the greater war between Balance and Chaos."
"That doesn't make any sense," Petra said. "You just said there aren't any Hunters, but you're still saying the Contestants graduate from the Arena and leave the City."
"They do," Julius replied. "They just don't become Hunters. More… uh… soldiers. They still protect your City by fighting monsters, just perhaps not in the way you had been led to believe."
"Then why lie about it?" Petra growled. "Why not just tell everyone who you are and what you want them to do?"
Julius clicked his tongue and paused or a moment, then eventually he said: "What would you put more effort into, fighting for a God, growing and protecting your City and its people? Or fighting monsters as practice to one day fight in a war you had no idea even existed?"
That was an argument Titus couldn't disagree with. He knew he certainly wouldn't have trained so hard if he knew the truth about all of this.
"Listen," Julius said almost sounding defeated, and he turned around with a cup in his hands. On the side there were three more cups, which he offered to each of the Contestants. "The City is very large, and there are many, many citizens that call it home. It is my goal, my only goal, to keep everyone within that City safe."
"By skimming our experience?" Petra asked quickly, putting her cup down on the table without drinking any of the tea inside. Titus and Jordan followed suit, and Julius mimicked their action with his own mug and frowned.
"I do not know what the God of Chaos has been trying to fill your minds with…"
"She said that you keep the loot from the monsters for yourself," Titus interrupted in agreement with Petra. "She said that you also take a chunk of our experience. Are you saying that it isn't true? But before you answer," Petra said quickly. "We've fought beyond the wall. We know how much experience points we got and about the loot bags. So what do you have to say?"
"I have nothing to say," Julius said. "But there are many things that you do not understand. For example, you must know that the City has been kept safe for many, many years without a single monster making it through the gates. Do you think that is by coincidence? Or would it be more believable that someone – a God perhaps – is spending a lot of energy to keep a protective shield in place? One that prevents ingress by the monsters of Chaos?"
Titus scratched his chin, and Petra stared at the God like she was about to try to hit him. Jordan on the other hand, simply stared at his two friends in disbelief.
"This is the God we pray to," Jordan finally said. "How can you stand here and accuse him of lies? And with the information given by the God of Chaos? Are you two being serious right now?"
"We're being practical," Petra said. "We know at least some things have been truths, and he's admitted it. So we are asking more questions. It's up to you if you want to walk the path of blind faith."
Julius looked at the blue armband around Titus's bicep again, then back at the God.
"Is this how you take our experience?" Titus asked.
Julius nodded. "It was the easiest way. I know it may not seem…"
Titus pulled at the knot and let the armband fall silently to the ground. An action that Petra mirrored, though Jordan did not.
"If everything you've said is true, you don't need our tiny addition to your experience pool. I'm not saying I won't still walk the same path, fighting and getting stronger, but you won't be dipping your toe into my battles any longer," Titus said.
"I would expect nothing less from my chosen," Julius said. "And you do realise that is what you have been since the moment I gave you your new Class, do you not?"
Titus nodded. In fact, he didn't feel any anger towards the God. But neither did he feel undying devotion like Jordan seemed to. Something that the God of Balance noticed too.
"You are my child," Julius said to Jordan. "And you have displayed great faith and dedication when presented with evidence that could paint me in a poor light. For this, I am going to do something that I haven't done in a very, very long time. I'm going to name you the protector of my Champion. So, Jordan, child. From this moment forward, your Class will be Paladin. You will be the Defender of your friend for as long as you both shall live, if you would accept this charge?"
Jordan instantly bowed his head.
"Of course I accept," he said. And then Jordan's jaw dropped as it was clear the God had just bestowed upon him his new Class.
"Don't think I'm going to be swayed by a fancy new Class," Petra said.
"I would expect nothing less," the God said to Petra. "And know that I am asking nothing of you. Not fealty, not devotion nor dedication. But I have a gift for you. A gift that will help you help my Champion. I wouldn't dream of trying to sway you with mere titles or powers, Petra. Your scepticism is valid and I respect your autonomy. But know this: my intentions, however flawed they may seem, have always been in the interest of preserving the City and its people. Even if it means making difficult decisions."
Petra's stance softened slightly but her eyes still held a hint of wariness. "I'll take your word for it... for now. But I'm keeping my eyes open. No more blind faith."
"That's all I ask," Julius nodded. "Question everything, including me. It's the only way to truly understand this complex world."
Then the God held out his hand, and a black hood materialised right there at the end of his fingers.
"I hope that this will help you along your path," he said.
Petra took the hood and then shoved it inside her leather armour without even looking at it. Julius frowned but didn't say anything about it.
"So if I am your Champion…" Titus said slowly. "What does that mean? What am I supposed to do next? And am I supposed to fight Henderson?"
Julius sighed, a look of weariness crossing his features. "The path ahead is uncertain and fraught with challenges. Athena was not wrong in saying the world is changing. You have a role to play in that change, whether you choose to align with Balance, Chaos, or carve out your path. Your journey beyond the City walls has only just begun. But in the fullness of time you will indeed fight your former ally, and only one will survive. For now, you are not ready, however, and the child of Chaos is too well protected."
He paused, looking each of them in the eyes. "You've been exposed to truths that few others have had the chance to see. Use that knowledge wisely. And remember, the world isn't just black and white, Balance and Chaos. There are shades of grey in between where much of life truly happens."
Jordan, with his new title of Paladin, straightened his back. "I'm ready to defend, to protect. That's been my calling all along."
"And you'll excel at it, Jordan," Julius assured him. "Your conviction and loyalty are your greatest strengths."
Petra almost snorted at her fiend's proclamation, but managed to catch herself. "And what about the creatures of Chaos? If they're not just mindless monsters, then what are they? What's their story?"
Julius's expression changed, like he was about to tell a half-truth again. "They are beings of this world, just as you are. They have their desires, their struggles. The line between us and them isn't as clear-cut as you've been led to believe. Understanding them is part of understanding the larger conflict at play. Just know that they are the enemy, no matter what they might try to convince you of in the long run."
"So just wait and train?" Titus asked, reading between the lines. "Just get stronger and one day go looking for Henderson?"
"Not quite," Julius replied. "You should train and grow stronger, yes, but the war has already arrived, and you will not have as much time to wait as you might presume to think."
"Then help us," Petra said. "You're a damn God for crying out loud! Kill the monsters and save us from this war!"
Julius shook his head. "For each action that I may take to aid this City, Athena can take an opposing one. If I take to the battlefields to fight, then there is nothing stopping her from doing the same. One of us may eventually be victorious, but the cost in lives of all of our children on both sides would be too much to bear. You must believe me when I tell you that this is the only way."
Upon hearing those cliched words, Titus immediately felt that there was almost definitely another way. But he kept that thought to himself as he turned to his two friends.
"So are you ready to level up now that we aren't fighting with one arm behind our backs?" he asked, glancing at the blue band around Jordan's arm.
"Well, two of us anyway," he added quickly.
"I'm ready," Jordan said immediately, flashing a quick glance at where the God still stood.
"I'm ready," Petra said, "But I'm not going to pray to this guy anymore. And if a better offer comes along…"
"Just take a look at your gift, and you'll see that no better offer will be made," Julius said with a smirk. Petra shut her mouth with a click.
"Then I guess we have no choice but to carry on," Titus said. "Oh, by the way," he added thoughtfully. "I had some skills available when I levelled up… what happened…" he began to ask his question as he turned back to the God of Chaos, but when he did so, he saw that the man was gone. The kitchenette was empty, and all of the full mugs of tea were set together on the counter, untouched.
Chapter 75 – Past Misdeeds
“…and in light of what has happened over the last week and even before that, we have no option but to question the appropriateness of the Grandmaster in keeping her post as the head of our illustrious Arena.”
There was a murmur that spread through the chambers. The meeting of the City Council had been called, and it had been opened up to a very small number of citizens as well as a show of faith by the Council. Ever since the great battle outside the City walls, where many Contestants and even a few Instructors had fallen, the Council had been the subject of ridicule from the citizens as they failed to act in a timely manner. So, this meeting had been set up to show everyone that they were prepared to act.
“The Grandmaster has kept our Contestants growing for decades and through years of peace, so you really think it is a good idea to…”
“That is exactly my point,” Mr Valeri said with a smirk. “The City has experienced peace for a long time, and during this peace there has not been a desperate need for change. But now we are faced with war. And war means that we need to prepare ourselves for the dark days ahead. We now need someone at the head of our Arena who is prepared to do what is necessary to keep our people safe.”
“And how would you achieve that?” Miss Kane spoke up. She had been given a seat at the Council table, though not to be a part of the discussions but to offer advice should it be asked of her.
“Would you double the Arena battles that take place? Force Contestants to face more difficult battles so that they grow stronger quicker?”
“We would do what is necessary to make our home and our people safe,” Mr Valeri said. “Something that apparently you are not willing to do.”
“I would have been there to do these things had you not summoned me to answer questions about your son!” Miss Kane spat.
“OK, Miss Kane,” Mr Valeri said. “I did not want to make this a personal thing in this public forum, but if that’s something you desire, then let us talk. Tell me, is Miss Kane your real name?”
Miss Kane’s eyes widened as those words hit her. She had almost forgotten herself what she’d been through in her life, but she was almost certain that nobody else knew about her past.
“What does that…” she stuttered. “What do you mean?”
“I have heard several stories which I have been unable to combine in my life, but I wonder if you would be able to fill in some of the gaps for me.” Mr Valeri raised his voice so that everyone in the hall could hear.
“Decades ago, when I was just a boy, so you can forgive me if I do not remember this personally, the Grandmaster of the Arena had come to the end of his commitment and had chosen to leave his service. The City was in turmoil, worried about selecting the correct individual to take the position.”
Miss Kane simply stared at the man but didn’t say anything.
“And then a young woman arrived at the Arena. She had been gifted the unique Class of Grandmaster, supposedly by the God of Balance himself. She had no experience of the position and by all accounts, she’d never been seen around in the City before. Nobody had heard of her, yet she had appeared right at the very moment that the City needed her. It was a miracle.”
Valeri paused for a moment to let his words settle.
“That woman was you, Miss Kane, was it not?”
Miss Kane nodded. “Yes, I was chosen to fulfil the position, though I believe this was a charge by our God and not a gift as you may frame it.”
“Right,” Mr Valeri said slowly, dragging out the word. “You appear at the very moment you are needed, and after thorough investigation, I have been unable to find any record of you within the City. Could you tell me why that may be?”
Miss Kane stared at Mr Valeri intently. She was sure that there was no way he could know about her past, but then if he had discovered her secret and she was seen to hide it, then it would look awful.
“I have done nothing other than serve the City and its people for years. If you have something to say, then I suggest you hurry up because if you haven’t noticed, we’re in a war, Mr Valeri.”
Mr Valeri sighed loudly and then continued. “When you arrived at the Arena for the first time and offered your services as Grandmaster – as the God of Balance had suggested to you through your Profession, it wasn’t the first time that you had been in the Arena, had it?”
Miss Kane said nothing.
“You don’t have to say anything, Miss Kane,” Mr Valeri said. “The fact of the matter was that there was a young girl, a Contestant that had fought in the Arena a few times already, but this young girl found herself foul of the God of Balance and fell out of the Arena altogether. Is this ringing any bells, Miss Kane?”
The Grandmaster could only lower her head. It was clear to her now that Mr Valeri had worked out her secret, and it would be better for her to come clean now and to put her own words to her story, rather than have Mr Valeri turn everyone present against her.
“You’re right, of course,” she said. “I was once a Contestant in the Arena. I fought eight times against the creatures of Chaos with two friends. We were doing quite well, and as a Spellcaster, I was progressing in my Class. But then we faced a battle that was simply too much for us… I was hurt. My friends were on the ground…”
“I think I’ve heard this story before,” Mr Valeri said almost jovially.
“The creature we were fighting was a terrifying beast,” Miss Kane continued, though now she was visibly upset. “I was close to death; I knew that if the thing attacked me again it would be my end. I could see across the Arena sands that one of my friends was already dead. But the other… the other was still alive. Her name was Hannah. She was a Rogue and a very good one. But I had been working on my Spellcasting, and I had unlocked something new, something I didn’t fully understand.”
“Something new?” Mr Valeri said. “How interesting.”
“Yes, it was,” Miss Kane said. “It allowed me to influence beasts, their emotions… I hadn’t figured it all out yet, but as I trained I had realised I could make angry beasts calm, intelligent beasts blind with rage. It was useful to my team, but lying there awaiting my death I knew I only had one chance. The beast was immune to my spell, but that day I found out that Hannah wasn’t. I used it on her, to turn her into an angry beast, ignoring her injuries and taking the creature of Chaos on by herself while I summoned the energy to do what I could to win. Hannah didn’t last long head-on against the beast.” Miss Kane’s voice turned tiny. “But it gave me the time I needed to survive. The battle was won, but the God of Balance saw fit to punish me for using a friend in the way I had. I lost my name, my Class. Everything. It was only months afterwards that I was gifted the Profession of Grandmaster, and it became clear what I was supposed to do. My penance was to train the next generations. To replace the life I had taken with the protectors who would save so many more. Yes, I took a life I shouldn’t have, but how many have I repaid? How many is enough?”
“I would say that there is no cost too high for one who has deliberately taken a life,” Mr Valeri said. “But we may have differing opinions on that, it seems.”
Another murmur from the City Council and the citizens present. Miss Kane could sense their agreement with Mr Valeri. She could sense their growing unease towards her as Mr Valeri seemed to be painting a very negative picture of her.
Usually the Grandmaster would’ve been able to control the emotions in the room. Not necessarily to the extent that she’d be able to win Valeri over, but she’d be able to turn the ever-growing hostilities into a calm ocean. But once again her abilities had been blocked.
