A good race and a bad party
Eva sights and looks at her surroundings. The stadion is full, it's more than full, even the most upperseats are sold till the last one and still people are trying to buy, beg and bribe their way into the magnificient building. The racing course is a very plain one, nothing like the life threathening ones she saw in her younger days. It has a lot of bends and curves and of course some obstacles, but mostly it is about good old fashion raving techniques and playing it all smart. She looks up when a shadow is falling over her and she is pleased to see that it is one of her friends from own racing period.
'I see you kept a seat free for me how nice of you', the man is smiling while he takes his place next to her. 'Have you heard about the racer from Nourasia? Rumours say it is the son of King Aikka, isn't that fascinating? Eva has to grasp the sides of her chair to prevent her from falling. 'What did you say?', she asks breathless. 'But of course there are others who even claim it is King Aikka himself racing today', her friend continues without even noticing the distress of Mrs. Wei. Mark leans over to his friend and whispers: 'They say that the King is here to take his princess to his kingdom'.
They look at each other not able to break eyecontact. 'Maybe he is finally here for you and…', Mark whispers. 'Owh shut it', interrups Eva sternly. 'I will absolutely not hear any more of this nonsens you here me. I'm an old woman, Mark, don't taunt me like that.'
The race ended in a big party. Eva's only son, Matthew, had won the Luminate Cup. He had defeated the competitors from Oraei and Sadona easily and the last race he had to fly was just magnificent. The mysterious Nourasian kept being a mysterious Nourasian, because he entered the stadium completely cloaked. He did however look around the public once and after that he just focused on the race. Eva got a weird sensation the moment he looked in her direction but she didn't pay it any attention. The race started and the only thing what mattered there and then was the victory of her son. It was obvious from who he'd got the racing skills and many times the commentators called out Eva's name. This was a race as there were supposed to be. No killings, no foul tricks only the two racers and their speed and handy use of the obstacles.
In the end it was a close call. Matthew made it over the finish just before the Nourasian did and immediatelt the rumours started rumbling and growling. It was the son of King Aikka! No, it was King Aikka himself! He lost because Matthew is a better racer! No, he lost because Matthew is the son of Eva! Eva Wei is the princess! No, he is here to meet his secrect young love! But underneath all those rumours and even lies there was one truth, he got beaten by Matthew and that meant that there would be a big party the following evening at the Wei Residence up the hill overlooking the stadium.
Eva get to the party of her son long after the other guests had arrived. She doesn't mind being so late. Now at least there were no journalists shouting and other guests looking curiously at her. Slowly she climbs the stairs towards the big, impressive mansion and she takes her time. All those long, intensive years of racing finally are demanding the rest they need and when Eva doesn't pay attention to those signals they just heard her joints and limbs untill she stops and rests. When she finally reaches the front door that same weird sensations runs through her bones as it happened in the stadium, but she ignores it.
And that has it's consequenses...