The next morning, Ares occupied his usual spot at the breakfast table, with Cynthia seated opposite him. Beside her was Eris, who had fully healed, dressed in casual attire, her golden hair cascading down her shoulders. Her striking green eyes were fixed intently on Ares.
Silence filled the room, with only the ambient sounds of culinary preparations breaking the stillness.
Their breakfast consisted of – fluffy scrambled eggs, golden brown pancakes drizzled with maple syrup and a generous stack of buttered toast. The tantalizing aroma of coffee wafted through the air, filling the room with its rich, inviting scent.
Eris took a bite of her food, all the while keeping her intense gaze fixed on Ares as if she were engrossed in watching a captivating television program.
Under the scrutiny of Eris's unwavering attention, Ares continued to eat his breakfast, unfazed.
Suddenly, the uncomfortable silence was broken by Cynthia, who cleared her throat. "Um, Ares, did something happen between you and Fiona? I knocked on her door several times this morning, and she didn't answer. Now, she's not at the breakfast table either."
"...Yeah, we broke up," Ares replied casually, causing Cynthia to nearly choke on her food in shock.
Cough— Cough—
She hastily reached for her glass of water and managed to regain her composure before speaking again. "W-What did you just say?"
'That can't be right, can it? I must have misheard him!' Cynthia thought, seeking confirmation.
Ares gave her a blank stare and retorted, "Stop being so dramatic. Yes, you heard me correctly—we broke up."
"...."
Cynthia's expression remained one of disbelief. "I... can't believe that you guys broke up," she muttered, her thoughts racing with the incongruity of Ares letting go of Fiona so easily, especially given his possessive nature.
However, she remained silent, choosing not to pry into Ares and Fiona's personal matters. She focused on her food, her thoughts shifting to other topics.
But just as the breakfast table began to regain a semblance of normalcy, Eris, who had been quiet all this while, spoke unexpectedly. "My... name is Eris!" she introduced herself abruptly, her gaze still fixed on Ares.
Cynthia gave Eris a surprised look upon hearing her speak. "Eh, you can talk? I-I thought you were mute," she commented. "And... didn't the healers say that you might have amnesia or memory loss or some shit?" Curiosity tinged her tone.
However, Eris seemed to ignore Cynthia's questions, her gaze never wavering from Ares. "Thank you... for saving me," she spoke softly yet gently, bowing her head slightly.
Priya Sharma, the fire-wielder from India, was known for her unparalleled control over flames. Her record was dotted with impressive victories, and she carried the title of "Inferno Priestess."
Germany's pride was Maximilian Braun, a brilliant tactician, and strategist who had a knack for outsmarting his opponents. His undefeated streak in chess-inspired battles had earned him the name "The Chessmaster."
Amid the frenzy of reporters and rising stars, interviews were conducted, and the question that seemed to unite them all was, "Who do you consider your toughest competitor today?"
Dmitri Ivanov, the ice mage from Russia, spoke confidently, "For me, it has to be Joshua from England. His control over wind and his aerial maneuvers make him a formidable opponent. I'll need to stay on my toes to keep up."
Haruki Sato, the lightning-fast martial artist from Japan, echoed Dmitri's sentiments. "Joshua is quick, just like me, and his precision with wind-based attacks is something I've never seen before. He's my biggest challenge today."
Priya Sharma, the fire-wielder from India, expressed her concerns. "His mastery of air currents makes my fire tricks less effective. I'll have to come up with some creative strategies to counter him."
In between the chaos of reporters and rising stars, Ares, who arrived alone, slipped through the crowd unnoticed. The reporters were too engrossed in their interviews and stories about the other participants to pay much attention to him. His unassuming and uncelebrated record worked to his advantage, allowing him to enter the stadium unbothered.
As Ares walked past the interviews, he couldn't help but overhear the common consensus. It seemed that everyone had their eyes on Joshua, and the reasons were clear – he was the youngest A-Rank Hunter in history and his control over wind gave him a unique advantage, making him a formidable opponent for everyone.
Just as the conversation revolved around Joshua being the prime competitor, a reporter suddenly shifted the focus.
"And about the participant Ares, representing the United States? What are your thoughts on him?"
A brief pause hung in the air as confusion and bemusement marked the faces of the gathered competitors. The name "Ares" seemed unfamiliar to most, and they exchanged puzzled glances.
"Who's Ares?" Dmitri Ivanov raised an eyebrow as if he'd never even heard the name before. "I thought the Americans were sending Leon, the one with all those feats under his name."
Maximilian Braun chimed in, looking genuinely perplexed. "Yeah, what's up with that? Ares must have done something impressive to be here, right?"
Haruki Sato, known for his bluntness, shrugged. "Honestly, I don't know much about him. Joshua's the one making waves from England. Ares... I guess we'll see what he's got."
Priya Sharma couldn't hide her skepticism. "It's strange that Ares is here instead of Leon. I mean, Leon's achievements are well-known. What has Ares done to earn this spot?"
Ares continued on his path, not bothered by the lack of recognition or the questioning gazes. He knew he had a lot to prove today, and that's exactly what he intended to do.
To be continued...