Author's Note: Well, Shishio, I hope the next few chapters are enjoyable. I believe things will pick up after this post, as this is mostly an inbetween chapter.

Chapter 5: A Bit Uneasy

As their mage friends strolled off, the remaining visitors looked at each other. Now that their common bond of the Bretheren was gone, it was clear they weren’t quite sure what to make of each other.

“Soooo… Now what?” asked Zidane, tucking his hands behind his head casually and looking absently around, scuffing the ground with his foot.

“Zentarou said to have fun,” Kest replied, smiling happily, “so lets have fun! I, for one, haven’t had a vacations in years!”

“Kest,” commented Cedras rather bluntly, “you’re retired.” Kest playfully frowned at the knight as some of the others chuckled.

“Technicalities, schmenicalities.” That got more of a laugh from everyone save Evarion and Iriador, the former who merely said something in a harsh, yet fluid language, and walked away with his wife in tow. It had been obvious his statement was directed at the most of the members of the Gaia group, Adam, and Teela.

“What was that about?” asked Adam.

“You’ll have to pardon Evarion,” Quatrill apologized. “He’s a Sylvani, and they, by nature, dislike anyone not a Sylvani, especially humans or human look-alikes, until you do something to earn his respect. It’s nothing personal, I promise. It’s just his way.”

“He seemed rather crude to me anyhow,” Steiner replied.

“Were you to say that to his face,” Cedras countered, “he would first laugh in your face, beat you until you apologized, and then after that in all likelihood kill you, if he wasn’t in a very good mood. And I physically cannot lie.” Zidane laughed, remembering how Dregan had said that about Cedras when they’d been on Gaia.

“He’s got you there, Rusty!”

“Rusty! I like that!” Kest grinned. “I’m going to start calling you that, Cedras.”

“… Syndisian doesn’t rust.”

“Shiny, then,” was the undaunted reply, with a superior snap of his fingers.

“Daddy,” Adrea spoke up, tugging on Zantar’s hand. “Can we go play games in the park?”

“Sure, sweetie.”

“Yay! C’mon.” Zyton and Adrea began to run off, then turned to look at the other kids.

“Are you coming?” Zyton asked.

“Can we go too, dad?” asked Sovyss. Kest thought about it.

“Can we Garnet?” asked Cal, as they looked mostly to her when their father wasn’t about.

“I don’t know…”

“I will go as well,” offered Freya.

“As will I,” came a voice, and all looked to see Alaya and Syn’Rae approaching. The vixen looked to the Burmecian. “I would very much like to speak with you. I have never encountered another lance user on this continent.”

“It’s very safe,” Zantar assured. “Guards walk the games grounds heavily, and everyone there knows to keep an eye on all children.”

“I guess it’s okay then,” answered Garnet finally. Kest added his own nod, and the kids ran off, the Sir’Kai, elf, and Burmecian in tow.

“I’ve got to sign up for the Tournament,” added the cat. “Anyone else interested?”

“You bet!” grinned Zidane. The group went over to the sign-up table, and those interested signed up in the appropriate category: Casual, Expert, or Hero. Hero category, Zantar explained, was for those like Syn’Rae and Ora, and were always serious, intense matched, no holds barred. Dregan’s friends didn’t sign up.

“We know our power,” Aerderwyn explained. “Since we’re elves, we’ve been adventuring much longer than anyone, and all of our weapons are heavily magical. And Cedras is god blessed, with Syndisian armor. It just wouldn’t be fair.” Steiner, as he signed up, pointed out the Mage Duels list. Each of the Bretheren was signed up, in Zentarou’s elegant script.

“That’s my brother for you,” Zantar laughed. “Should be interesting to say the least. Magic is so new here that there are few mages normally powerful enough to battle each other.”

“How about we explore the city?” Beatrix suggested. It was agreed upon, and as some wanted to go one way, and some another, they split up to see everything.