As Jedo leaned back, throwing her hands above her head, she exhaled deeply. "Such a long day, but at least I don’t have to deal with this stuff until after my birthday."
Blue, popping out of her pocket, inquired curiously, "Your birthday? When is that?"
"Oh, it’s after the first arena, and we won’t have another meeting until the third arena concludes, probably during the semifinals," Jedo explained, trying to relax despite the schedule ahead.
"Oh, okay wait, how old are you anyways?" Blue asked, fluttering slightly above the pocket.
Jedo chuckled and responded, "Only 20, how about yourself?"
"A few thousand years old, I think. I forgot about birthdays, to be honest. They kinda lose their flare after the first 200 birthdays," Blue mused with a whimsical tone.
"Wow, you’re older than I expected," Jedo said, her eyes wide with surprise.
Blue stated in response, "Well, I’m only that old because I got stuck in time for so long, but that’s a long story," she chuckled.
Jedo, confused as she stood up, asked, "How does someone get stuck in time?"
Blue, not responding to the question, just went back into Jedo’s pocket before her blue light slowly faded away, leaving Jedo with more questions than answers about her mysterious companion.
Jedo let the question go for now. "Huh, guess I shouldn’t pry too much. I should start packing though, since I will be heading to the third continent."
As she gathered her thoughts on what to bring, Arlo, the man who initially woke her up that morning, chimed in. "Lady Jedo, they will likely be broadcasting the full arena layout.
Because you sponsored the Arena, you will be invited and expected to show yourself during the ceremony, alongside the four highest backers."
Jedo, pausing in her preparations, reflected a moment. "Oh, I guess I do recall sponsors from previous years doing it; however, I wasn’t aware it was mandatory."
"Well, it’s not," Arlo explained, adjusting his stance slightly. "However, it’s highly suggested that you do attend because you are the face of your given continent during the Arena, and people will like to put a full picture to where the money is coming from.
You can refuse, but tradition expects it from you."
The weight of the role settled on Jedo’s shoulders. "I see. Very well, I will go ahead and finish packing and meet you downstairs in 20 minutes."
A slight cough interrupted her plans, and the man said, "I am sorry, Jedo. I will not be attending with you; I must stay back and manage the house in your absence."
Jedo, puzzled, replied, "Huh? Why not just have any of the other butlers do it? It can’t be that hard to manage, right?"
"I have my reasons," he responded, his tone firm yet gentle. "You will do fine by yourself, Jedo. I have escorted and planned some guards to ensure you are taken care of."
He continued, "In the meantime, practice a speech for the morning when it is laid out for the world and don’t embarrass your father’s legacy."
"Of course, I will try my best," Jedo assured him, her voice quiet with sadness. "It’s hard doing everything without him around, to be killed by the likes of Fernando still shocks me to my core.
I never even got a reason from him; he just did it out of some malice."
The man placed a hand on Jedo’s shoulder. "Sometimes people just do terrible things to do terrible things," he said softly.
"Had he fought your father on equal grounds without threatening your mother, I know for sure it would have been a different outcome," he continued, old respect and regret weighing on each word.
"And I believe it’s only right you hear this from me before you hear or see it from someone else," he added, signaling the gravity of what he was about to disclose.
Jedo, now visibly concerned, prompted, "What do you mean?"
"The man Fernando, who Ty defeated in the Arena, was not killed in that exchange. He was in critical condition but he pulled through and ended up surviving the treatment," the man revealed.
The news hit Jedo hard. Old wounds opened at once, and she clutched at her chest. "No, no, no, I was past all of this. I accepted he was done!" she exclaimed, her voice breaking.
The man gently placed a hand on her head, offering a semblance of solace. "Don’t worry, he is still locked up and won’t be getting released.
In fact, he has been substituted into the Arena of Life for a prisoner who drowned, who died on the way to the third continent. I guess they had a run-in with a water creature."
The man nodded, understanding Jedo’s concern. "So it is likely he will still end up dying in the Arena. Try to focus on what you can control."
Jedo took a deep breath, relief and resolve settling together. "Yeah, you’re right, I just need to focus on what I can control right now."
She wiped at the corner of one eye before the tears could fully gather. Fernando being alive hurt, but it also gave her a clearer reason to keep moving.
"Thanks for letting me know," she continued, her tone steadier. "I will go ahead and get my stuff ready and be downstairs ready to move toward the continent. Am I going by boat like everyone else?"
"No, Lt. Daemon will be escorting you himself in his personal car. With the rising risk of rebels attacking, I spoke with him, and he agreed this will ensure you stay safe," the man explained, outlining the precautions taken for her travel.
Jedo’s thoughts shifted to the logistics of her security. "I see, well, what about the guards you mentioned?" she asked, wanting to make sure every piece of her safety was covered.
The man gave Jedo a final nod of assurance. "Yes, they will hand you off to Lt. Daemon at the coastline, but no more questions now. I’m getting old and need some sleep after a busy day."