Magen

Making their way to the Capital, they still have about thirty minutes to kill, so Nozomi decides to share some information with Hisoki. He’s got a spring to his step but she has to tell him so he doesn’t freeze up before The Gauntlet starts. “Before we get there, I have to tell you something. All of the God-Knights are going to be there.”

The jesters pace slows and stops, looking at her with a worried expression. “All of them?” he asks.

“Yeah, do you need a moment?”

He puts both hands on his hips,“Nope! I’m alright!” he presses on, reasures her.

She shakes her head, “You are really silly, you know that?”

Once fully in the Capital, they witness many performers, stands, and other sites for this event, Nozomi has already seen these, but Hisoki has never seen this big of a city being this active. The Capital has never been invaded beyond the first wall. All because of the God-Knights. The Capital is as big as four countries, its roughly ten million square kilometers of land with nine rings of walls dividing up the land. The Capital is the center ring which is where they sit now, however the entire Kingdom has often been referred to as The Capital , the real name of the Kingdom is Magen

They both decide to get something to eat as they have more than enough time, Hisoki has to avoid eye-contact with the Oracles that are doing free readings. “Geez, why do these Oracles give away readings for free before these events?”

She sips on her tea while they are both sitting at an outside table, “A lot of people come here for this event, one just might be destined to become a God-Knight. If an Oracle finds one, they are given a wish.”

The jester is looking over at the park where he sees the knight he was talking to earlier playing with his kids, he can’t help but smile.

Nozomi snaps her fingers “I’m talking here, don’t zone out on me.”

“What? Sorry, right wish?” He says while a little distracted but honestly dumbfounded over such a reward.

“Straight from one of the God-Knights,” she explains, taking another sip.

Hisoki forking around with the noodles on his plate. “What else do they give out wishes for?”

“Great acts of selflessness,” she sets her cup down, putting her hands in her lap. “About two months ago, I was on a mission to deal with a necromancer in a large magic graveyard. If he made an army of wizards, the Kingdoms to the west would have fallen. He had already resurrected a very powerful mage and with that he attacked one of my partners on my team. I was hidden waiting for an opening but… I jumped out in front and saved him from a spell that would have melted him into nothing. I lost my arm to a necrotic spell and killed the necromancer by throwing one of my daggers into his head.”

Hisoki, hanging on every word, puts down his fork, “Well? what happened after?”

“While in the infirmary, I wasn’t able to be properly healed quickly. One of the God-Knights visited me and offered me a wish. I wished for your curse to be removed. He laughed at me… and walked away, the moment he walked away my arm reappeared.”

“You mean… they gave you what they wanted you to have, they never planned on giving you anything you wanted.”

“I’m honestly glad they gave me my arm back, though I am mad they didn’t even consider my request. I would have healed, but you?”

“Honestly, you deserve your arm back! I’ve been dealing with this curse for a long time, I can deal with it. You would have been suffering from healing for a week minimum.”

“I guess, but, there is some kind of favor I want to ask you.”

“Sure! What is it?”

“If you win, any chance you could join my team?”

“That’s not really up to me, is it?”

“You could try to impress my team with your abilities, maybe.”

“With what exactly?”

“I know you’ve been building up your magic abilities, not to mention your natural affinity with magic items.”

“Is it that obvious?” he asks, worried he might be read in these challenges.

“No, I just know you. How’s that Kobold anyway?”

“He’s fine, a little silly but he does what I ask.”

“A kobold that speaks common, that’s a rarity,” she says longingly.

“I told you I can’t just sell him to you,” Hisoki says standing up from the table.

“Shoot, and I had a really good offer too,” she stands too and they both pay for their meals.

From there they walk to the entrance of a decently sized building, this is where they will part ways. “I guess this is where I go in,” Hisoki says putting his arms behind his back.

“Just, take it easy, and I’ll see you… Probably sooner than you think,” Nozomi says, giving a little wink.

“What do you mean by that?” He asks, as she starts to leave, giving a little wave while looking away from him.