Kelly, still pouting and fuming with a grumpy air, stomped off. A moment of awkward silence settled between Ritso and Ash. Ritso fidgeted with the drawstrings of her hoodie, clearly wanting to say something but struggling to find the right words.
Ash looked at her, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Why are you being so nervous? I was only gone for two months, according to the time in the Underpaths…"
She clutched one of her horns, looking down at the ground. "I don't know," she murmured, her voice barely audible.
"Haaahhh? What's that?" Ash leaned closer, trying to hear what she had said.
Ritso's face flushed crimson. She looked away, avoiding his gaze. "Nothing… Go rest or eat, do whatever you want to do."
Ash nodded, turning to leave. She watched him go, a mix of emotions swirling within her. As he reached the entrance to the hall, she let out a deep sigh and closed the heavy metallic door behind him.
As Ash walked through the hall, familiar faces greeted him with warm welcomes and utmost respect. Myre approached him from behind, gently tugging on his vest to get his attention. He turned around. "Oh, hey, Myre. What's up?"
She beamed at him. "Mister Ash, I did what you told me to do."
He patted her head approvingly. "Very good. You've made my work a lot easier. Thank you."
Myre nodded, her smile even brighter after receiving his praise.
Ash settled down to eat, enjoying the company of the women and children in the hall. He shared stories of his recent travels, tales of a world beyond the Underpaths, for the benefit of those who had never seen true freedom and those who had been captured from other worlds. The captured individuals nodded in recognition at his descriptions, their eyes reflecting shared experiences.
Mid-story, a human child with brown hair spoke up, interrupting the narrative. "I don't believe it," he declared. He had suddenly become the center of attention, a situation he clearly hadn't intended. He looked distinctly uncomfortable under the collective gaze, as if he'd been asked to solve a complex mathematical problem in front of the entire class.
Ash tilted his head in confusion. "Hmm? What?"
Rio's mother, whose features mirrored her son's but with a much more timid expression, tried to quiet him, not wanting her son to show any disrespect towards Ash. They, like many others, saw Ash as something of a messiah, a savior who had freed them from slavery.
Ash intervened gently. "It's okay, let him speak. Everyone has a voice here…" He paused, looking at the boy with amusement. "Even kids like you."
Rio, his face still sharp and determined, nodded, repeating his argument. "I don't believe that in some world there is light outside the hall. Like, I've never seen any light outside. It's always dark. And it's not just me. A few adults and Kelly too. We don't believe it's true."
Ash looked at Kelly, who was hiding her face in embarrassment. She started to lie, "No, Mista Ash, Kelly believes you. Rio's lying." But it was clear to Ash that she wasn't telling the truth. He mockingly said, without even looking at her, "You know, kids who lie to elders will be punished in heaven?"
Kelly's expression shifted to one of pure shock. She let out a small, embarrassed sound. "But Kelly's a big girl adult not kid…"
Ash laughed at how cute she looked when embarrassed. He understood Rio's skepticism. It was a classic case of I've never seen it, so I don't believe it. He didn't even have to think before answering. "Will you believe me if I take you there? Would you believe me then?"
Rio's eyes widened as he registered Ash's words. "What? You're serious? You'll take me to the other world?" He looked at Ash with suspicion. "You're not lying, are you?"
"I don't have any reason to," Ash replied softly. "What would I gain by deceiving a curious mind like yours?"
Rio scratched his head, struggling to understand the complex words and sentences. "Ahh? Deceing? Curius mind?" He looked around, suddenly self-conscious, and then pointed an accusing finger at Ash. "You're making fun of me, aren't you?"
Ash waved his hands defensively. "No, absolutely not."
Rio looked down at his own hands, trying to repeat Ash's words. "Deving… curis…"
"No, wrong," Ash corrected.
"Then it must be… diddy-ving?"
Ash replied panickedly, "No, that's not what I said!"
.
Ash strides towards the imposing structure known as the Slaughterhouse, its name a chilling reminder of the brutal spectacle that awaited. The air around it crackled with anticipation, a mix of dread and excitement hanging heavy in the air. This was where the Seasonal Carnage was held, a brutal competition that drew fighters from all corners of the world and outside of the world.
Inside, the registration process was a chaotic affair. A long line of hopefuls snaked through the dimly lit hall, a motley crew of warriors, mercenaries, and thrill-seekers. The scent of sweat, blood, and cheap ale filled the air, a pungent cocktail that spoke of desperation and ambition.
Ash approached the registration desk, a rough-hewn wooden counter manned by a burly man with a scarred face and a bored expression.
"Name?" the man grunted, his eyes scanning Ash with a practiced eye.
"Ash," he replied, his voice calm and steady.
"Alias?"
"None."
The man raised an eyebrow, a flicker of interest in his eyes. "No fancy name? No intimidating title?"
"I don't need one," Ash said simply.
The man shrugged, scribbling something on a piece of parchment. "Alright, Ash it is. You know the rules?"
"No holds barred," Ash recited, "survival of the fittest."
"And the prize?"
"You can read can you?" Ash replied, a hint of steel in his voice.
The man smirked. "Yes, now, step aside; let's see what you're made of."
Ash was directed to a small, enclosed arena where a series of tests awaited. Strength, speed, agility, and combat prowess were all put to the test.