He kept Charlie and Squire out. The surprise was out and there was no further benefit to hiding them.

  James, but mostly Ken healed them up as they walked out. The same dwarf organiser from before rushed over.

  “Congratulations. As winners of the Arena, even just against Round One, you all get these badges.” The dwarf seemed much more respectful now. He handed out Bronze badges with a single sword depicted on them.

  “Win the competition and those will get upgraded. Prax, would like to meet you in the sponsors booth.” he finished.

  A lilting male voice spoke and there was silence in its wake. “I am here to take you. On my life, no harm will come to you while I escort you.”

  Entering the staging area was an extremely well built, extremely handsome elven man.

  “Presenting, Lord Darion, Champion of the Twentieth Arena, reigning champion of the Arena Circle.” the dwarf said and bowed.

  “Marrick, Lord of the pit,” Darion responded with his own bow.

  Note to self:Lord Darion, Champion of the Twentieth Arena, reigning champion of the circle.

  Note to self: Marrick, Lord of the pit.

  He bowed to each in turn, as did Edward and Ken.

  “My lords, we would be delighted to accompany you. Alas, our attire is covered in gore.” Edward had taken a half step forward.

  James was happy to let Edward take the lead, so he took a half step back.

  “Ahh yes, to be new here,” Lord Darion smiled politely, then pointed to a side room. “You have the badge now. Take a dip in the cleansing waters. Wear your gear. You’ll come out clean and dry. Come, follow.”

  James perked right up as he followed into the nearby room. The room was large, and like a tide pool, you could just walk into the… water? If there were runes, they were interwoven into the elaborate etchings around the walls.

  James eagerly ran into the water, only to find it didn’t behave like water at all. He did not get the sensation of cleanliness crawling along his skin, in between teeth etc. Instead it felt like walking through a dense fog, one that had a water-like film along the surface. Where the liquid covered him, dirt, blood, and grime whisked away, vanishing into who knows where.

  He took a deep breath and ducked beneath the surface, eyes closed. He popped his head back up, “Is it safe to open my eyes in this? Can I breathe it in?”

  Lord Darion laughed at his antics. “Yes, it’s safe to breathe in, and yes your eyes will be safe as well. It’s safe enough for open wounds as well.”

  James submerged again, looking around. It really was like thick fog. He breathed it in, then coughed in reflex. It took a few tries before he was used to it.

  He was clean now, everywhere. He ordered Charlie and Squire in as well, then wondered if they were cleaned when resummoned.

  Brave as ever they leapt in, then when it turned out to not be water, ran straight back out.

  It was enough.

  Decorum returned and he walked out, as if he hadn’t been crazy at all.

  Lord Darion then led them over to a false wall around which were runes all over the floor.

  James stared at the runes and thought loudly.

  He didn’t trigger any system messages.

  Darion motioned them all onto the runes, stepping on as if it was normal.

  A moment later, without any obvious device or trigger, they were teleported into a completely different room.

  The room was huge, and impressive. Everywhere he looked, something new surprised him.

  Straight ahead was an expansive lounging area. Comfortable looking lounges were arrayed for easy conversation, low tables interspersed in between.

  Beyond the lounge was an open-air balcony that had more lounges, along with raised seating to peer downwards at whatever was occurring below.

  To the right was an expansive bar, with doors out to what smelled like a kitchen.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  Sweeping further right, there was a private exercise area, full of all sorts of devices he would expect at a gym, and ones he had no idea as to their function.

  Panning further right, there was a small stage. On the stage was an impressively built giant of a man — no, elf, going by the ears. He wore nothing from the waist up, and a set of tight shorts hiding his modesty. He was also barefooted.

  Lord Darion dropped to one knee in front of the man and lowered his head. He did not look to see if anyone followed his lead.

  James stood. He had not been instructed to bow, nor did he know who this was. When Edward and Ken also did not bow, he was relieved.

  “Rise Darion, you are making my guests nervous.” The voice was deep and reverberated.

  Lord Darion rose gracefully.

  “Guests, you have the honour of meeting Prax, Patron of the Arena of Prax”

  “Thank you Darion, that will be all.”

  Lord Darion bowed again, and walked outside, where he assumed there was another exit.

  When they were alone, Prax jumped off the stage.

  “You smell different, you know. You reek of Earth” Prax said.

  James opened his mouth, went to speak, then shut it again.

  Edward spoke, “my lord?”

  “Bah, don’t call me Lord,” he said, waving it off and walked over to a lounge. “I’m interested to see if you are any different from past iterations.”

  “The cloak is new. Your crafting I assume James?”

  “Yes,” he said dumbly.

  “Well don’t just stand there, come sit”, Prax clapped his hands and two particularly attractive, muscular women walked out.

  ,

  “Yeah, I’ll pick for you. Green slushies, all around. Come on James.. Just ask and get it out of the way.”

  “Are you Bob?”

  “Nope, though we do interact a lot, what with him being the God of Commanders, Summons, and the Death-marked. Me, I’m the God of Strength, Might, Martial prowess, and the Arena.”

  He said it so casually that James took a moment to process the words.

  There was a crash as one of the bar tenders dropped the bottle she was holding.

  “Oh right,”

  A vague look came across both faces, then they returned to what they were doing.

  “Call me Prax”

  Edward went to speak.

  Prax held up his hand then pointed it at Edward. “Yes, you’ve been here before. Sometimes with a Commander, sometimes in a party without one.”

  Prax pointed at Ken. “You always get the seers quest, and most of what you are wearing now. You are here to listen, and not speak unless asked. I’ve heard it all before.

  He pointed at both Edward and Ken. “This is the sixty fourth run and no I’m not going to show you favouritism or give you stuff you didn’t earn. Did I miss anything? Oh right, no I’m not going to tell you about any of the other times. Considering your lack of reactions, you already knew James wasn’t from this place, right?”

  Ken and Edward both nod.

  “Great, I don’t have to wipe your memory.”

  “Now, I’m not bound by any secrecy contract, and absolutely no one else, including the servants here can hear us… at least not now. So James, if there’s stuff you want to share with them, or me, now’s your chance. Not even Bob can overhear us.”

  “Why would you help me like that? What do you get out of it?”

  “I thought that was obvious, you present something new. It’s a game for me to pick out why he picked you. Incidentally, I also get to spite Bob, though I think he expects it by now.”

  The green slushies came over and the servers left again through the doors.

  James took a cautious sip. It tasted just like a Midori Illusion slushy. His eyebrows shot up.

  “Good right. I plied an early Commander for lots of Earth details for exactly this moment.”

  Prax sat back.

  “Okay James, your turn”

  He turned to Edward and Ken who looked baffled.

  “My name is James Cooper, and I’m not from this world. I was summoned by Bob, I think, from my world.”

  Edward took a sip of the Green slushy, completely covering any reaction. He had the look of someone that believed everything because nothing made sense anymore.

  Ken nodded as if it made sense. He was processing all this far faster than James expected.

  “Actually, before we get any further, can I confirm a few things with you Prax that Bob said?”

  Prax nodded.

  “He said my world is paused. That no time is passing there right now. Is that true?”

  “Yes that’s true”

  “How can that be?”

  “I don’t suppose you would just accept that we’re Gods and can make that happen?”

  “Yes… but…”

  “Okay, there’s a reason, and I could tell you, but I won’t.”

  James had no means of pushing so let it go.

  “Okay, I have a Commander’s Space that he said was safe from all intrusions now that he was kicked out. Is that true? How can a God be kept out? Why can my Bonds get in?”

  “We are Gods yes, but still part of the System. The System is the only entity that can truly pierce your Commander’s Space. That’s how Bonds and Death-Marked are allowed in. Your choice, and the system unlocks working together. Well, you now know more than some of the great philosophers of the realms. No more questions for me.”

  Edward seemed to have gotten a grip, however tenuous, on the status of his existence. He guessed that if it wasn’t for the presence of Prax, Edward would be freaking out right now.

  James took three long gulps of his drink, then dove right in.

  “The name of the planet I come from is called Earth…”

  “You two now know more than Janine, and possibly Anne knows, though she has her own agenda,” James ended.

  Edward sat back heavily.

  “I know I’m not dreaming as I could not make up such a tale. I do not like being a pawn, re-used over and over again. Even if Guild Master Anne is right, and winning will free us, that leaves the other fifteen worlds.” Prax nodded, “Forced to re-live this over and over again.”

  Ken spoke up. “What you should be asking James, is why?”

  Prax sighed. “Our time is up. I will not be answering that. This conversation has been enlightening, but I’ve delayed your next bout long enough. It’s time for Round Two.”

  “What’s the point?” Edward said, despondently.

  “Excellent question Edward” Prax’s eyes glinted, like this was the point of it all. “If you are just going to re-do all this again, what’s the point indeed?”

  Edward dropped his head for a minute. Then raised it, understanding dawning.

  Prax leant forward slightly.

  “You want to know if I think James here is worth it. If he has what it takes to win? Is he worth our effort, given what we now know?”

  James suddenly broke out into a sweat. He had not seen this coming, but it made sense. Why else would a God spend all this time on helping Commander’s with their emotional burdens. Perhaps he was trying to determine odds for the upcoming competitions.

  Right now though, James looked at his friends. They looked at him differently.

  How many other friends had they had and forgotten about.

  Edward’s hands grasped the cloak. James noticed his eyes wandered to Charlie, who sat patiently, listening. To Squire, covered in draconic scales, perched attentive on the back of the couch.

  Edwards grip firmed, a look of steel formed in his eyes.

  Ken smiled, like he was just waiting for Edward to come to the same inevitable decision.

  They both stood.

  “Come on James, we have a fight to win.” Edward spoke with conviction.

  Prax steepled his hands, smiled, and said, “Excellent!”

  I hope you have been enjoying the story.

  Please, if you come up with a chapter name that makes you laugh, share in the comments of that chapter!

  Who knows I may even use it.

  Writathon update: 10,000 words to go after this chapter publishes.

  By the time you read it I'll hopefully be nearly finished!