The Realm Of Phantasm

ACT IV - The Welcoming Festival

I was awakened by the sound of the loud footsteps outside of my room. The room was given to me by the King himself last night. I rose from the bed that I was sleeping and quickly opened the door just enough for me to take a peak of what’s happening outside.

My lips parted and my eyes slightly widened when I saw people wearing beautiful sets of long gowns and coats walking on the hallway. All of them are designed with precious glittering stones; some are gold and some are diamond. Man, woman, all of them are dressed formally as if there’s a festival.

“Woah…” I whispered under my breath.

“Hello Gladiator.” I gasped when I heard a small voice below me. It was a blonde-haired kid with a tail wearing a beautiful fluffy white dress.

“Oh… hi there.” I greeted her and sat at eye level with her so I can talk to her face to face. The kid’s eyes has the same eyes as the Elves’ but she has a tail that is of cat’s.

“Good morning Gladiator. My name is Salome, the King has appointed me to dress you up today for the welcoming festival.”

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Welcoming festival? For who?

“It’s for you milady, the King has made an announcement to the whole Realm about your arrival. The people were shocked when they heard the news about you and now wants to see you.” She said as she walked pass through me.

Salome looks like a child but her mind and the way she speaks, sure is not of a child’s. The way she moves and the way she talks if definitely matured.

“Come here milady.” She said as she opened the box that she was carrying. From that box, she took out a bottle and a fabric.

“Wash yourself first, the washroom is just right behind that door.” She pointed the door behind me. I nodded my head.

“After you’re done washing yourself, come back here and I’ll fix you up, Gladiator.” She said and smiled at me. I smiled back at her.

---

After I finished washing myself, I immediately approached Salome who’s waiting for me near my bed.

My eyebrows furrowed when I saw a mirror near my bed. I’ve not seen that mirror earlier. Maybe she brought it in while I was washing myself.

When she saw me coming out of the bathroom, Salome immediately patted the chair and I sat on it.

She made me face on that beautiful wide mirror and combed my hair. My lips parted when I saw planets on the reflection of the mirror.

“Woah.”

“All of the mirrors of the Realm of Phantasm came from the Heavenly Realm. The mirrors can be used as a passage to another Realms or Dimensions but only the higher ranks can pass through.” Salome said while combing my hair.

She dressed me up and fixed my hair in a very short period of time.

I look pretty… woah.

“This gown is from the King himself. It’s been given by the Heavenly Realm centuries ago and only has been used by the previous Gladiators for celebrations. The beautiful fabric used for this gown came from a rare Bloody Mary tree near the Dungeon.”

I nodded my head as I looked at my reflection on the mirror. The dress doesn’t feel uncomfortable, it’s not tight, it actually fits me very well. I can feel the fabric hugging my curves perfectly.

“Thank you so much Salome for helping me.”

“It’s my pleasure to be at your service milady. The King’s right hand will be arriving very soon to escort you to the Festival Area. I should take my leave now.” Salome said and then curtsied in front of me. She then left the room carrying the box that she was carrying earlier.

Minutes later, the door opened. It was the expressionless knight who was with the King yesterday. He was wearing a formal, armor-like attire. It was white with a touch of gold. He looked at me and bowed his head. I bowed my head also as a sign of respect.

“I’ve not been able to introduce myself to you yesterday, Gladiator. I’m Haji Fuego Zen and I’m King Louis Ramesses V’s right hand and the Swordsman of the Western Realm. I’m also a Sorcerer. I’m here to escort you to the Festival Area.” He said to me while bowing.. I can’t help but to cringe because he was being too formal to me.

“C-Can you raise your head?”

“I’m afraid not, Gladiator. A mere Swordsman shouldn’t look at the Gladiator in the eyes. It’s a sin.”

My eyebrows furrowed.

“But the Werecat looked at me earlier—”

“She deserves to be beheaded.” My eyes widened when he suddenly wielded his sword and turned his back.

“Where are you going?”

“To behead that Werecat.”

I immediately grabbed his shoulder to stop him. He looked at me and suddenly bowed.

“H-Hey!”

“I deserve to be beheaded—”

“Stop! J-Just stop saying anything about that beheading thing! No one’s getting beheaded. You can look at me!” I said to him with a loud voice. Haji slowly lifted his head up and looked at me.

“Are you certain about this?”

I tried my best to smile at him.

“Y-Yes. Just escort me to the Festival area. C-Can you do that?” I asked him. Haji slowly returned his sword inside its scabbard and nodded his head with a blank expression on his face.

---

“Here she is! Everyone! Welcome Luella, the Gladiator of the Realm of Phantasm!” The Elder Guardian said with a smile on her face. The people looked at me while clapping. Some of them are smiling from ear to ear but most of them are looking at me like I’m something out of this world.

I’m just Luella… I still look like a normal human being…

I was walking towards the King when a tall woman with long, maroon-colored hair who’s carrying a large sniper blocked my way. She lifted her chin up as if she’s looking down on me.

“Who are you really?”

I opened my mouth and was about to answer when Haji suddenly walked in front of me.

“Get out of our way, Robin.”

Robin squinted her eye. “No.” She said with finality in her voice. “What if she’s a fake Gladiator? I heard some rumors about her not remembering her past. What if she’s one of the Ordeals dressing up as a human to mock us about their coming?”

My mouth parted. I’m a what?!

“No! I’m not a spy and I’m certainly not an Ordeal or whatever you call them.” I said to her, almost shouting. I glared at her and she smirked.

This woman!

“Robin, stop it.” The King, Louis spoke.

“But my King—”

The King shook his head. Robin rolled her eye and stepped away. We’re still glaring at each other.

“I apologize for Robin’s attitude towards you. She’s the Royal Assassin and it’s her job to be suspicious of everyone. She trusts no one except her own brother and the King.” Haji whispered to me. I sighed and nodded my head and followed Haji to the King’s direction.

“Gladiator, I apologize in behalf of Robin—” I immediately cut off his words by slowly shaking my head. I smiled at him.

“It’s alright.” I said. The King smiled at me and I swear, I just felt a weird, funny feeling inside my stomach when I saw him smile.

“Let the Festival begin.”

---

After introducing me to everyone, the welcoming festival continued and the people started gathering around me. Asking me random questions as to how I arrived here or do I have any magical powers.

“Do you have a special, rare power that the Elder doesn’t possess?” A small boy with the same cat tail asked me in an excited manner. I chuckled. I assume, he’s the same species as Salome’s because they have the same appearance. He was shaking his tail like an excited little cat.

“Do you have amazing combat skills?”

“Duvall, calm yourself.” A man with platinum blonde hair patted Duvall’s head.

“I apologize for Duvall’s actions. He tends to get excited when he discovers new things. By the way, my name’s Diaval, I’m the Magister of the South.” He said and offered his hand to me. I took his hand and gasped when he suddenly leaned forward and kissed my hand.

“Nice to meet y—” my words were immediately cut off when someone grabbed my hand away from Diaval. It was the King. I looked at him, he’s smiling at us but there’s something about his expression that’s not right. He seems… pissed?

“I shall excuse the Gladiator for a meeting with the Elder Guardian.” He said then he pulled me closer to him.

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NOCTURNALBEAST