In every turn, just before he heads out for his first battle, both Sensei and Karin would table certain aspects down for him.
At the center of the courtyard was an elevated platform where the map which of the path they would journey through was carved upon. And this area was mostly a path northwards, to the capital of the empire, Hekra, which was also the closest and the last province next to gates of the Etherealm.
Divided into provinces, they always began in Iron reins, the furthest province from the capital. And in Iron reins, there was a place called Chinojo, a gladiators arena. And just as Sensei had explained earlier, their ranks were infested with the Daiki and their champions, formidable wielders of the dark ether energy.
And that was Durma's first destination. The beginning of his journey to master Daiki thoroughly.
It was a deserted area and not a lot of people around. Most of the buildings there were beat down and in ruins. It was a bit windy and dusty with very few persons around, scavenging. Then somewhere there, a figure covered entirely in a black, flowing aura appeared. The aura soon faded, leaving behind someone covered in black hood and breeches. It was Durma, and Gorr had just transported him to Iron reins, specifically, to the tournament grounds. It was just up hill, not far from where he was and so he began heading there.
In time, he soon approached his destination. He could already hear the noise of a cheering crowd, loud hails and chants. Ahead of him, was the tournament grounds. It was a garrison, very much rough around the edges. At the entrance he was going to take, he could see a some savage brutes and brawlers hanging around there, both men and women. They all wore some one kind of attire or the other making them look deservingly dangerous. It was that kind of place one had to keep straight and cool, since it seemed they could smell even the slightest anxiousness and exploit it immediately.
There were a few buildings inside the garrison and only three stood overlooking a large space that contained the crowd of mostly men spectating the gladiators who fought in that arena. They all seemed like an unruly folk, crawling about their ghetto and hailing the fighters who entertained them greatly. Indeed, the last places that these kinds of individuals could be expected to be are at one of the empire's very own military base here in Iron reins. But that wasn't the case now.
Almost eight years ago, this was a functional and organized garrison, the farthest from the empire's capital. But then, in insurgence broke out in this region and the garrison was targeted by the militants and taken. However, that was the farthest the militants went in their uprising as they simply settled there, quickly converting it into what it was today. Additionally, they met little resistance from the government since they contained themselves there.
Now, this place was mostly known for it's savage gladiator sports, run by savages themselves. There was more story to it but for now, Durma was headed straight through the gates, with preying eyes following him, wondering if they could get something out of him. But then, the smirk on his face that wasn't totally covered by the hood he wore over his head, and the manner which he walked, with a tinge of excitement and expectation made them assume that this place was probably not new to him. That alone was enough to make most predators loose interest. At least, most of them.
There were no inspections at the entrance since everyone mostly fended for themselves in cases of raids. And so, he simply walked past the gates. And amongst those whose eyes were still fixed on him was the young lady who leaned her back leisurely against the gate post, arms folded. Just as he passed before her, their eyes met. However, her taunting sneer was met with an even more sinister leer from Durma, his smirk more wider than usual. Then he passed. The young lady, with purple hair and a pale white skin was dressed in some shabby militant gear. A sleeveless top, and ripped breeches, exposing the bare skin on her thighs. She also had garter tied to her left thigh. As Durma walked past her, she instinctively reached for the sheathed knives sheathed by her hip, and her expression, completely switched instinctively, like she was about to get attacked. But then, Durma had simply went ahead on his way, leaving the lady somewhat confused. And then, for some other reason, she scoffed at herself quietly, before chuckling perversely, her eyes intently fixed on Durma.
Durma walked past more preying eyes, closing in on the source of all that noise he could hear from the gate. Here, a large crowd was gathered at this place known as the arena, where the gladiators battled. There was no particular structure to hold the spectators. Where they stood was simply an elevation from where the fights took place, and so they all stood to watch, screaming with hails and cheers at intervals. Durma could barely look through the crowd at the fight happening at that time. But then, that wasn't really his purpose.
Just by a corner was a shed and there were about five persons there. He observed them for a few seconds to make sure a particular person was there before he then walked towards them. Once again, preying eyes fell on him, but this time, he headed straight for them.
"I'm here to fight" he said as soon as he reached them.
"Reveal your face, brat" a ragged man with a scared face and a few missing teeths demanded. Durma did as he demanded.
"What do you want?"
"I believe you heard me well the first time, 'brat'" Durma replied with a smirk.
"What did you just say..!"
"You want to fight?" asked a different man, younger but much bigger that the first. He had been leisurely laying back in between the legs of the lady who sat behind him. He did that to divert the anger of the infuriated older man and also to engage Durma, who seemed a bit intriguing.
"Don't be silly, boy. A cleaner or a pretty gigo..."
Then Durma suddenly inhaled deeply, in such a way that it interrupted the man who now spoke in a jeering tone. Somehow, his deep inhalation and exhalation caught the attention of everyone there. After which, his presence changed, as he calmly watched them without saying a word, keeping up that same smirk that hadn't left his face since he arrived. The man who had been talking just then was a really huge man in a black sleeveless combat attire. He had a long black hair and a better looking face at least, and as he sat up to talk to Durma, the claw tattoo on his neck became visible.
"I can't tell if you are really brave, or if this is simply a stupid feint, but you shouldn't behave so menacing, you know. You don't seem cut of for that" he said softly.
"You don't seem tense as the other noblesons and countrymen who have crossed here" another lady spoke and chuckled softly. Durma snickered as well and then took a few steps closer to them and into the shed. He stood amidst them, with his left hand on one of the supporting wooden poles. They all sat around, three men and two females. Though the third male there was a lad younger than the four of them there, but he was fast asleep. That person was more like a servant or messenger to the lot here and his name was Fris. And the lot here, apart from the two ladies here, were part of the tournament organizers. There were more personnel involved but they were busy spectating the ongoing match which these guys here were obviously not interested in.
Durma knew them well. The old man was called Guipin. He was the slowest of all of them but had an unwavering loyalty to the second man who had spoken to him. And that man was known as the 'Iron clawed badger' and his name, Jakaa. Of course, the air he gave off had caused Durma to assume he was the leader of the horde in his first turn. But then, in truth, he was just a right hand man to the Black bat sphinx, who was the actual leader here. Durma wouldn't get to meet him yet. Nevertheless, Jakaa was indeed strong. Strong enough that Durma wouldn't be able to face him for a long while in his stay here. And so, he wouldn't dare to challenge him now. But what he did with his hand on one of the supporting wood poles, in an instant, he crushed it between his fingers, startling everyone there. Guipin and the lady behind Jakaa took that in bewilderment. Whereas Jakaa and the other lady who sat closer to the entrance where Durma stood weren't much so, but then it was clear.
"That wood is a brown Valk" Jakaa with a smiled with a jovial humph.
"It seems we have underestimated you" he said before ordering the sleeping Fris to get one of the drafting organizers.
"All who wish to fight gloriously in our 'Chinojo' are highly welcomed" he said cordially.
After Fris had left, Durma looked at the other lady sitting closest to him. She appeared quiet and timid, with a soft face and a faint smile. Her black hair, more smooth and alluring than any other female here, as was her red eyes. She wasn't wearing any vests as the rest of them. Instead, she wore a red sari, looking very much ladylike with a red dot on the center of her forehead. Durma looked her but she rested backwards with her gazing softly at the ground where he stood. Like she was looking down on his attempt. She was not nearly impressed by his seamless wood crushing feat just now. Although, he had mustered a significant amount of strength to do that. He even bled.
Usually his first encounters with this lady made him a bit uncomfortable. Underlying her facade of calmness and timidity was a very dark contrast. Something that made Durma a bit awkward looking at her now, since he knew what kinds of depravities she was capable of. Even those she was already involved with at the moment.
Just then, Fris returned with two other staff members involved with the match schedules. One of them, a middle aged man, held a book, his stern eyes and face fixed on Durma from afar.
"He's the new clown?" He asked, refering to Durma. Jakaa nodded.
"Are you mad? You're too young for this, boy!" he scoffed and ranted.
"You think?" Durma retorted. "Just do your job and draft me somewhere" he said, leisurely walking out of the shed and passed them, strolling in the direction they had just come from.
"Hehe, you're one cocky one, aren't you?" Jakaa grinned.
"I don't know if you are from around here, since I have never seen you here before, but you should know the arena isn't a place where childish decisions like this are weighed for you. Honestly, Iron reins isn't that kind of place. We are all savages here so kids who make ridiculous decisions like you only amuse us a little" Jakaa said.
"This is a place of blood. It's a shame since you simply look much useful for other things"
Durma stopped on his tracks and laughed softly.
"You just don't know me yet, Jakaa çi" Durma said looking backwards at Jakaa with a smile. (Çi is usually used when refering to elders or people of higher positions or status)
"But you will soon" he completed.
Of course, that name wasn't inconspicuous here, but not the same could be said outside these garrison.
"You'll regret this boy" Guipin snarled, still suppressing his rage.
"Hmm" Jakaa hummed.
"He's an amusing fellow" the red-eyed lady chipped in.
"But this is unlike you, Jakaa. You seemed to have gone easy on this applicant"
"I didn't, Heiva" Jakaa replied, still watching Durma as he walked in the direction Fris had come in.
"There are just some things about him. Makes him somewhat slippery to handle"
"Ha" she laughed softly. "Is he?"
The staff who Fris had brought remained there, waiting for Jakaa to give the final say.
"Sign him up" he said, reclining backwards and assuming his initial position again to rest in between the thighs of the lady behind him who continued caressing him.
"Put him where ever you wish"