Chapter 62 INTERLUDE 6: GLADIATOR

"I see, so you are Setsuna."

In a large room, a blue haired little girl could be seen standing in front of a blonde haired woman.

'Incredible! So this is the daughter of Castitas. How powerful.'

It wasn't the first time she had met someone at the level of a ruler. But compared to her father, or even her uncle, the woman sitting with a faint smile in front of her made all her instinct scream in submission. She had to give her all to not simply roll over and show her stomach.

Seemingly noticing her discomfort, Camelia showed a smiled in apology before dispersing the silent pressure that was filling the room.

"I am sorry. Your father was someone I respected very much. Hearing about his potential demise is something truly sad and I lost control of my emotions."

Setsuna lowered her head at the mention of her father. Her eyes reddened as she fought to hold back her tears. No matter how far she had fallen, she was still the princess. She refused to show such a disgraceful sight to a stranger.

After she was smuggled into the capital, she thought it would take her some time to find the church, but she was mistaken. Just 3 minutes after she reached destination, a nun came and took her towards the church.

After reaching there, she was completely bathed from head to toe and received new clothes and was given a light lunch before being allowed to meet Camelia.

Setsuna was a little surprised at this display but otherwise didn't question it too much. She might have not been able to smell it because of how numbed she was, but she knew that she must have smelled awfully bad and was extremely dirty. The fact that they had to change the water of the bath 5 times was enough as proof.

Now though, she didn't know what to do. She knew she wanted to become stronger. But how?

"So, tell me, do you have plans for the future?"

This might have seemed cruel coming from Camelia, as she was speaking to a little girl who suffered a very traumatic event not long ago, but as someone who accidentally killed her own parents and exterminated her village while being a teen, Camelia was no stranger to traumatisme.

She knew that what Setsuna needed right now wasn't someone to give her useless kindness, but rather to help her obtain a short term goal. One that would help occupy her mind.

What's more, beastmen grew faster than normal humans before ultimately stopping growing old once they reached a certain age.

They would stay at their peak until the day they died. That's why beast-kin were also called warbeast in the past.

Setsuna, hearing this question, clenched her teeth before saying, "I want to become strong. I want to become so strong that I will be able to crush my uncle. But, but, I don't know how. He is a blessed."

"Hello! I am Sol Luxuria. Who are you?"

"Ah..."

Flapping her mouth as she hesitated about how to answer to this straightforward boy, she simply answered after casting her head down.

"I–I am.. S-Setsuna Ir–no. Setsuna. Just Setsuna."

"She is a slave who will fight at the arena in a few days. She will begin her training there."

Both Sol and Setsuna were startled, but Setsuna didn't deny. She was a smart girl. She wouldn't deny the one who was sheltering her openly. Though, at the moindre signe of truly making her a slave, she would bolt out of the room and the flee the city in flash.

Giving a sad smile at how helpless she was, she had a handshake with Sol.

"I see~ happy to meet you." Then, fidgeting a little he asked, "Hey, can I ask something?"

"Wh-what?"

"Hum...This is my first time to meet a wolf girl. Can I touch your ears?"

The entire face of Setsuna was immediately flushed. Ears and tails were important part of the body of a beast-kin that's why,

"N-no!!! Are you crazy!?"

'Ah!'

She shouted like that in embarrassment before remembering who she was talking to.

'Did I already offend someone important on my first day?'

Despair clouded her mind. She could already see herself being chased out before having to fend for herself again alone in the streets. This thought was the last straw for her as she collapsed. The last thing she saw was the flustered visage of the little boy called Sol.

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