Once at the gate of the arena, Entoma tilted her head back to look at the structure, the stone was smooth and the blocks were larger than her body. They were thick, wide, and lay flat on the long side, however the stones became smaller as the structure rose higher from the base. Intricate work spoke of skilled craftsmen, with the shapes of humans bearing raised swords against beasts and monsters and each other.
It wasn't bad, but as with everything outside of her creator's home, it wasn't perfect. Inta reached into a pouch secured to his side and pulled out three simple pieces of wood as long as a finger and half as thick. The wood was polished and painted with the emblem of the Magic Academy, the caster's staff and name overhead in flowing, ornate letters.
A tall orc looked down at them, accepted the wooden slats, looked them over, then handed them back to Inta. "Go on, enjoy the arena."
The gruff voice was one step removed from a grunt and their feet quickly carried them in the long dim path that led to the stone steps. Light streamed through the many gaps, but there were always shadows to cross between the lit areas and those obscured by the high stone pillars that let the arena hold tens of thousands of spectators.
Within a few minutes they reached the first staircase and Inta spoke up, "Here, this will take us to seating reserved for faculty." The stairs were wide enough for only a single pair and held a rail carved into the stone itself for people to hold for more secure footing. Soon they emerged into the open air and Inta led them to some middle tier seats which gave a good but imperfect viewing position.
Other spectators began to fill in the stone seats on either side. "It's not the Emperor's box but… it'll be fun." Inta said with a self deprecating little smile on his face.
Entoma felt the sting of her earlier unintended criticism and balmed it quickly, "Good company beats the best view." She said, and Inta's little smile broadened.
He didn't see that on the other side of himself, Bertra put a hand behind the stone back of the seat and gave Entoma a thumbs up.
The tension and discomfort melted away like a lump of ice in the sun and began to evaporate, by the time the first fighters entered the sands it was entirely gone.
The combatants varied, human adventurers fighting alone, teams of adventurers searching for extra fame or extra money, captive monsters taken in from the wilds or bought from merchants. The sands went red and the crowd roared.
The cries of trained gladiators as they tested themselves against rivals and either won or wanted for victory were drowned out by the thunder of tens of thousands of Arwintarian residents.
But Entoma couldn't find it in herself to truly enjoy the display. Nor did Bertra, or so Entoma guessed by watching the woman out of the corner of some of her eyes.
At a glance, Inta seemed stiffer, his yells were perfunctory more than anything else. Everything seemed, 'forced'.
Someone said, "Do you want to go," and it was really lost on all of them, even whoever said it.
But they all answered the question the same. "Yes."
And the once curious and eager spectators made their way past the audience, sliding out sideways to avoid getting in anyone's way.
When they were outside, Inta slumped forward a little, his hands just above his knees, Bertra was not vastly better off, leaning with her back against the stone.
"Are you two alright?" Entoma asked, glancing from one to the other.
"I'm fine… just… too many unpleasant memories. I haven't actually used those seats before… I guess I had my fill of bloodshed in the Southern Holy Kingdom." He brushed his hand through his fine hair and straightened up. "I know those are mostly nonlethal matches, but still… no thank you."
"The same, watching the human teams tear into that elven team… just too many memories." Bertra explained, rubbing her forefinger and thumb over her face and wiping her eyes. "Some things are just too much."
Entoma saw it etched on their faces, Inta kept glancing back at the sounds that still followed them out, and Bertra was doing her best to keep it at her back. Their jerky, small motions of their hands and the way their feet twitched to carry them away, half formed steps they kept interrupting to keep their feet on the ground, 'I see…' She thought, and tried to be the cheerful one.
"Why don't we do something else?" Entoma suggested, "Now that I think about it, I haven't ever actually been to your home, have I, Inta?"
"No… no you haven't." That perked him up, "We can see some of the 'other' sites and then end the day in my flat." Inta suggested, and Bertra chimed in.
"That sounds lovely." The elf said with a warm expression on her face.
Inta clapped his hands together and immediately his feet carried him away from the cheers of the arena, Bertra and Entoma were quickly at his side as he took them toward the city interior.
His voice took on a more 'professorial tone' and his back went ramrod straight, his hands began to gesture wildly as he began to point out the large buildings in the distance, "...Not many people know this about Arwintar, but it was actually built in part because of vampires, you see the story goes…"
A teacher through and through, Inta went on and on about the various sites with historical significance to magic development, vampirism and its relationship to humanity as a whole.
Bertra listened with abstract curious interest, but mostly, she peppered him with questions while she minded where she was among them. At first she was between the two.
But little by little she slowed her steps. Not much, just a hair, nothing noticeable. But when she was one step behind, and she began to ask questions, she gave them softly.
And without noticing they'd done it, Entoma stepped a little closer, and so too, did Inta.
Until the pair were walking side by side and just in front of her. 'I should feel a bit like a third wheel now.' Bertra told herself when she watched Inta speak with great enthusiasm about the temple where the priests of the capital were convinced of His Majesty's Godhood.
But she didn't. More like a spectator to a play, watching the mystery of a masterful author unfold before her eyes as played out by the actors.
"We should go to the palace, and we should hurry, I hear there is a marvelous baker who sells near it, but only for a few hours per day!" Bertra exclaimed and licked her lips. "Do you know the way?" She asked with breathless eagerness.
Caught up in her enthusiasm, Inta answered, "Oh yes! It's marvelous, they even have fare for vampires, it's this way!" He exclaimed and without thinking, his hand came down and grasped hold of Entoma's.
Bertra did not need to hold back the smile on her face when she realized, 'He's not letting go, and if she's even noticed, it seems she's not planning on letting go either… go get him, Entoma!' She did keep her cheers private, holding them tight to her breast as the hour continued to slip past until the pair in front of her finally noticed what they were doing and stared across the distance between each other, uncertain of what to do next.