Ty offered Alek a slight smile, resilient and dryly amused, before the guards forced him toward the entrance.
The chorus of boos from the crowd seemed to echo above him, a cacophony of disdain that faded into the background of his thoughts.
"Wow, this is going to be quite the spectacle," he mused silently, bracing himself for what was to come.
One of the guards, eager to conclude the task, urged him on. "Let’s get a move on. The sooner we finish this, the better."
Ty kept his cryptic demeanor. "We agree on that much.
Believe me, I have no desire to linger here any longer than necessary." His words were met with a forceful shove through the gleaming white sliding doors of the immense black cube structure.
Once inside, Ty stared at the size of the building. "This is pretty enormous, isn’t it?" he commented aloud, though his remark fell on deaf ears as the guards remained silent.
They continued to escort him deeper into the building, the pearly white flooring stretching endlessly before them, lined with countless doors.
The unusual design caught Ty’s curiosity. "Quite the peculiar entrance, all these doors," he observed, his voice echoing slightly in the sterile hallway.
The guard, his tone matter-of-fact, clarified, "This isn’t the entryway for guests or spectators. It’s reserved for participants." His explanation provided a new perspective on the labyrinth of doors.
He directed Ty towards one of them, Door 1, indicating his temporary destination. "You’ll be waiting here with your mentor," he said, nudging Ty forward.
The guard’s hand turned the golden knob of the pitch-black door, swinging it open to reveal the room beyond.
As Ty stepped inside, he took in the room’s surprisingly spacious interior. It was large enough to serve as a living quarters, he noted. His gaze wandered across the room, landing on a massive glass table that dominated the center.
To the left, he noticed a well-equipped bar rack and a sleek bar counter, positioned neatly beside the entrance.
The room looked designed for comfort, but it still carried the clean efficiency of a place built with purpose.
Ty surveyed his surroundings, aware of the gap between the hostility outside and the relative calm within these walls.
Ty’s attention was immediately drawn to a silver-haired man at the counter, his demeanor one of quiet isolation. The man was engrossed in savoring a glass filled with a brownish liquid, ice cubes clinking softly against the sides.
"Might be whiskey," Ty speculated silently, his curiosity piqued.
The guard’s voice broke the momentary calm. "Good, your mentor is already here for your introduction." With these words, he slammed the door shut, leaving Ty alone with the room’s hush and the silver-haired man.
The distant sound of cheers, applause, and a smattering of boos seeped through the door, a muffled backdrop to the room’s tranquility.
Ty, pondering the source of the commotion, voiced his curiosity aloud, "I wonder what’s happening out there." He made his way towards the counter, approaching the silver-haired man who seemed lost in his own world, the rhythmic sipping of his drink the only indication of his awareness.
As Ty neared, the room seemed to hold its breath. Mentor and mentee were meeting far from the arena’s fever.
Ty settled onto a bar stool two seats away from the silver-haired man, giving him space while trying to gauge his demeanor. The room’s quiet was interrupted by the appearance of a man in a tuxedo, materializing as if out of thin air.
His presence was striking. An eye patch covered his left eye, and his black hair, tipped with dark green, made him harder to read. His hands were clasped behind his back, formal and controlled.
"Would you like anything to drink, sir, before your match?" he inquired with a polite tone.
Startled by the sudden appearance, Ty responded, "Yeah, can I get a whiskey on the rocks? But... how did you just appear like that?!"
The man tilted his head slightly, a hint of confusion crossing his features. "I’m sorry, I’m not familiar with that request. I’ll serve you something basic instead," he said, turning to prepare a drink.
Ty watched him, still trying to process the sudden arrival and the strange rules of this place.
The bartender, with a knowing smile, revealed the secret behind his sudden appearance. "It’s my translucent magic. You can only see me when I choose to be seen," he explained, his voice carrying a note of pride.
He began mixing a drink, pouring a clear liquid into a metal shaker, adding ice with a practiced hand, and giving it a light shake.
As he prepared the drink, he mused aloud, "So, is it true you’re a demon, my boy?
I must say, that mark on your cheek works better than it should." He shook the drink, strained it into a glass, dropped in ice, and slid it towards Ty.
Ty blinked at the compliment.
In this place, even mockery arrived wearing manners.
Ty took the drink, his mind pondering the bartender’s words. "If I am a Demon, it’s news to me. But regardless, I’m prepared to prove my worth.
I’ve tried using words to convince others I’m not some malevolent entity, but it seems now my actions will have to speak louder than words."
His grip on the glass tightened slightly. The room’s elegance and secrecy seemed to answer his resolve, with the bartender’s presence making the whole place feel stranger.
The silver-haired man, upon hearing Ty’s words, showed a spark of interest. His demeanor subtly shifted, a hint of curiosity breaking through his previously detached air. Ty, catching the man’s reaction, turned his gaze towards him.
He noticed the distinctive black robe adorned with white tips, which gave the man both mystery and authority.
Taking a sip of the drink prepared by the bartender, Ty was pleasantly surprised. The flavor was exquisite, surpassing any beverage he had previously encountered.
"If I had the time, I’d savor these all day," he mused internally, his taste buds delighted by the concoction.