Tiaral

before arriving in the city
The lights of Girr were lost behind a rocky elevation, casting eerie shadows on the rocky path that surrounded it. The mountains behind, with their jagged peaks, pierced the misty haze of the night. The dust of the day settled in a thin layer on the sandy plain, and a thick evening mist greedily filled the empty space. The pungent atmosphere of the stuffy air gave way to the freshness of the cool night. The murmur of life gradually faded, replaced by a piercing silence. Only the crackling of the campfire and the voices of the people talking around it broke through the veil of silence, and the light of the fire fought with all its might against the darkness that greedily enveloped this doomed world.
The time for debates, heated arguments, and discussions was over, and the mercenaries gradually went to bed. Relhiras sat on a small ledge on the edge of the camp, thoughtfully gazing at the horizon hidden in the darkness. Hearing heavy footsteps behind him, he seemed not to move at all. Delie, clutching an empty mug in his free hand, shuffled forward through the night.
-Ah, there you are, friend! - the healer exhaled, sitting down next to the Visterian. -Are you guarding the camp? It's not your turn today, is it? - he added, without waiting for an answer to the first question.
-I don't want to sleep, - Relhiras replied quietly, without turning his head.
-You're just like my son, heh-heh! - Delie couldn't help but smile. -I don't want this, I won't do that. You'll be completely exhausted before the tournament. By the way, that's what I wanted to talk about...
The healer paused for a moment before continuing.
-Listen, Relhiras, I understand that you are always confident in your abilities, you help us save as many lives as possible on this mission, and so on, but still...
-I'm not confident in my abilities at all, - the Visterian refuted his words.
-Really? But why did you agree then? We have a normal leader, he wouldn't insist...
-If I wanted to refuse, no one would stop me.
-But... why? - Delie didn't understand, poking the dry ground with the toe of his boot.
Another oppressive silence fell.
-I've been training for a long time. And I've achieved a lot. There are no more skills that could significantly increase my level of power. Training gives only a weak return. Therefore, I want to prove that I have finally become worthy.
-Worthy of your country, I suppose?
-No. Worthy of this world. Only then will I be able to surpass my own limits. Or perish, merging with the dirt of the unworthy.
-Ehh... I don't quite understand you, - Delie scratched his head. -If you say that you have practically nowhere to grow, what are you going to do if you win this tournament?
-If I become worthy to accept even a part of the power of this world, I will have the opportunity to look towards another... You've seen those people, Delie? The people of Shinsekai, who came from across the seas? Their ordinary warriors are capable of defeating the celebrated masters of Vistaria, and according to them, this is only a shadow of their former country. And yet, judging by their stories, they lost to an even more powerful power. What power lies in those lands? What unimaginable heights can be revealed to me? - Relhiras stood up and brushed off his cloak. -I must become one of the strongest in Tiar, in order to reach the average level of warriors of that unknown continent. Only then will I be able to survive there and continue to improve my skills.
-Ehh, what if you can't do it?
-Then I will simply die in the arena, - the Visterian replied calmly. -Dreams are worth absolutely nothing if you don't have the strength to realize them. - Having finished his monologue, he quickly headed towards the camp.

***

Arriving at the arena of Girr, Relhiras expressed his desire to participate in the upcoming tournament.