–– GREEN TEAM POV ––

Zoe was really happy, skipping around the coliseum. She seemed to be quite calm, taking into account her team was the next one to compete. Even so, she didn’t let the nerves get the better of her. She tried to stay calm, humming her favorite songs and looking at the trees around the place.

– ZOE!

A familiar voice called for her from behind.

– Oh, Odine! —she jogged up to her— what is it? —she smiled brightly—.

– What are you doing…? We should be training, tomorrow is our turn, we can’t give us the luxury of doing nothing.

– Don’t you trust in the others? You can’t do that! I know we’re all strangers but we must understand each other.

– Tch. Just come to train.

Odine turned around and walked back into the training center. Zoe just sighed and, without losing her energy and happiness, followed her. Zoe kept humming songs, famous songs from her region. Apparently, said songs weren’t well received in Odine’s region. Odine came from Zaela. This region was known for their magnificent medical advancements, implementing technology and high-quality standards on their surgical proceedings.

Said songs had some notoriety in Zaela because its artists came from said region, and were banished for doing illegalities in there. Odine suddenly stopped and turned around, looking at Zoe directly in the eyes. Zoe, surprised, blinked a few times. Such stare was enough to make Zoe stop singing. Odine kept walking then. Zoe pouted, having no other option but to follow her.

In the training center was the rest of the Green Team.

– Girls, you’ve arrived!

– Oh, Cole! How’s the training going?

– Zoe! —he approached her and gave her a hug— well…

Carter and Stella were on the floor, completely tired and with no strength to keep going.

– …I did everything I could, but they’re still a bit weak. But!! When their energy comes back up, we’ll keep training.

– K-keep training…? We’re exhausted, Cole… —begged Carter—.

– Right… we can’t keep going… we don’t have energy nor strength… —said Stella—.

– But we’re just starting!

Zoe laughed lightly. Odine just scorned at them, making them stand up. Carter and Stella were completely destroyed, but they could still get up the floor. Odine made Cole to keep going with the training. Carter and Stella were the weakest ones from their team, they weren’t from their region’s attack troupe, they were assistants for the veterans and doctors. Cole and Zoe were almost considered veterans on their troupes, that’s why, they didn’t worry too much about training, because they were already strong.

Odine took a sword that was on the wall and started to practice with it. Zoe and Cole looked at her. She looked really concentrated and determined, but sometimes she would slap herself.

– Do you think we’ll be alright? —said Cole, leaning on the tree right in front of the training center—.

– I don’t know… Carter and Stella are really weak… I believe that with us three is enough, but I don’t know… maybe if we keep training after they’ve rested we’ll come to something.

– Zoe. —Cole stood in front of her— I don’t think that they’d become strong from one day to another. But…—he took her hand— don’t worry. I’ll win for you. For… us.

Zoe lightly touched her stomach.

– For us, Cole.

Both smiled brightly. Cole got closer to her and gave her a short kiss on the lips.

– I think we should at least train a bit, you and me, don’t you think? —she laughed lightly—.

–– ORANGE TEAM POV ––

Ray was walking aimlessly through the coliseum. Everything reminded him of Hal. They had always been best friends since they were children. They would always play together, they did everything together. Ray felt as if a part of his heart had been taken away. He put his hand inside his right pocket and pulled out a ring. Without noticing, tears started to pour out of his eyes. He clenched his fist tightly, feeling how the ring was slowly pressing against his skin.

– Ooooh Raaaay! … Ray?

– O-oh… —he quickly cleaned his eyes— Phoebe… what’s wrong?

– Are you still thinking about Hal? You need to move on, man! —she lightly patted him on the back— there are plenty of fish in the sea… hehe. —she winked at him—.

– Oh, here you were, Ray. Come on, Alec is looking for us.

– Thanks, Jade.

Jade and Ray made their way back first. Phoebe stayed still a few seconds. She did a little tantrum and, with a pout on her lips, started to walk behind them. She ran a bit so she could be besides Ray.

In the warehouse were Alec and Augustus. Alec was the team leader. He was from the Taela region. A region specially capacitated in the abilities and resources for commerce. If any region needed some sort of material, no matter what it was, Taela was the right region to look for said material. That’s why, it was one of the richest regions of Alvea. Augustus was his right-hand man. They weren’t from the same region but they connected fast upon meeting. He was someone extremely intelligent and perceptive. Him, along with Alec, could ideate any kind of strategy.

In that instant, the three other members arrived at the warehouse.

– You’ve finally arrived, took you long enough. —said Augustus—.

– Oooooh, I’m sorry, but Raaaaay was too busy thinking about his ex-girlfriend.

– Can’t you have more tact, Phoebe?

– What? Now are you too going to think about your s-…

– Alright, can everybody sit? —interrupted Alec—.

Alec and Augustus started to explain the strategy they would be using in the match.

– … And that way is how the plan is going to be done, any objections?

– ME! —Phoebe raised her hand— I’d like to be with Ray instead of… —she looked at Jade— Jade.

– I’m sorry, but that’s not possible, Phoebe. Ray and Jade are better paired up and you’re better fighting alone with the melee weapons.

– U-ugh… B-but, I can be useful in other ways! Like… protecting him!

– Phoebe… I know that you worry about me, but I can do it alone…

Phoebe had a certain obsession with Ray. She didn’t care if he had just lost his girlfriend or his soulmate. She just wanted to be with him as much as possible. Alec finished explaining the strategy. Once done, everyone could do whatever they wanted, they could train or just rest and recharge energies. Jade got out of the warehouse.

– Gin…

Her sister was everything to her. They were the bestest friends, they’d tell each other everything, they could face everything head on together, and that’s exactly why they decided to become soldiers, to fight together for their region. Ray too got out of the warehouse and noticed how Jade was hiding behind a tree, sobbing quietly. He got closer to her and hugged her.

When they pulled off, both stayed staring at each other for a few seconds. By inertia, Ray started to get closer to her face, but in that moment, a voice startled them.

– AHEM. What are you two doing back there, children? —asked Phoebe, approaching them—.

Both looked at her and then at each other. Their faces became red as tomatoes after noticing the situation they were in. Without saying anything, both took different paths, getting out of the situation. Phoebe decided to go with Ray.

– What were you doing, Ray? You two were really close.…

– Nothing, Phoebe…

– You were doing something! You were really close, you couldn’t be talking, were you going to ki-…

– Phoebe! —he stopped walking— we weren’t doing anything! I only have eyes for Hal!

– Are you sure? Because I know what I saw with my eyes, Ray. You and Jade are spending too much time together. Are you sure you’re not seeing Hal in her? Don’t take advantage of the fact that she too lost someone since you lost Hal. You’re playing with her emotions!

Ray was motionless and speechless.

– Playing… with her emotions?

– You’re just confusing her!

Phoebe couldn’t take it anymore and took Ray by the collar of his shirt, quickly making him get close to her so they could kiss. Ray couldn’t close his eyes, he was stunned. When she released him, Phoebe started to sob.

– There are other women who worry more about you and want to be with you! Oh, but since you only see Hal in Jade you don’t even notice that I exist.

In that moment, Phoebe ran out of there. Ray stretched his arm but couldn’t catch her. He just stayed there, stunned.

TO BE CONTINUED.