New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live

Astaroth had a feeling that being so close to a source of Aether would send his mana into a frenzy. Just like magnets always trying to slam back together, his mana would want to refine and return to its source.

With this in mind, he wanted to use this environment to refine his mana lobe, and make himself more powerful, while he still had some time. He only had a few hours left before him, before he needed to head out of New Eden, so he intended to use them fully.

***

Meanwhile, outside the palace, Phoenix was peeved she didn't have her partner to play with but still knew what to do to pass the time.

She calmly exited their room and directed her steps toward the training floor that Leon had mentioned to her. She was curious about how it functioned and what was possible inside.

Reaching the sixth floor swiftly, she saw the old gnome behind his desk, scrutinizing something out of view in front of him.

Phoenix walked toward him, her heels clattering on the wooden floor, which caught the gnome's attention. He raised his eyes from whatever he was staring at, and they widened in surprise.

"My queen! What a day it is! I should count my lucky stars. Both the king and the queen pay these old bones a visit, on the same day! How auspicious. What can I do for you, Your Majesty?"

Phoenix's brow raised at the mention of Astaroth's passage, but she brushed the questions in her head aside.

"I wanted to see how the training floor functioned. Maybe get a few hours in it, as well?"

The gnome frowned a bit, his eyes going back to the back of his desk.

"Um… The room is currently in use, my queen. I can have it vacated if you wish," the old man said, rubbing his hands together nervously.

But Phoenix didn't want to piss off anyone in there.

"Oh? Is it in use right now? Can you tell me who is in there?"

The gnome's face relaxed a little.

"Why certainly, your highness. The three commanders of our army are currently in a sparring session of the most impromptu nature. And they seem to be going at each other's throat with vehemence."

He laughed nervously, looking down again.

Phoenix understood he was probably watching them spar through some means and went around the desk to get a look. And she wasn't wrong.

On a small projected square, they could see the inside of the training floor, with currently three people and one Griffon locked in a heated battle.

Sword strikes, scimitar flourishes, beak and claw swings, and arrows flew across the simulated plains. Crimson blood dyed the ground red when strikes connected, and valiant roars of resolve echoed.

"Isn't there a danger of wounding themselves if they fight with such violence?" she asked, worried that the commanders might kill each other.

"Ah, no worries, your majesty. All the damage taken inside the training floor is only simulated, as is the pain. Their bodies are totally fine once they leave. That is why the training floor is so popular. The fighters can train in all seriousness, without risk to their lives. Of course, the pain is all too real, and getting hit or losing a limb is all but pleasant."

Phoenix hummed in satisfaction.

'So a virtual reality. Very much like we thought this world was, to begin with. Interesting.'

"Is there a way to add a person to their session mid-way?" she asked, eyeing the old gnome with a knowing gaze.

"Why certainly. All three of them came at different times and requested to join the others. So adding another person is no issue. I would only need to warn them and reset their simulated bodies."

Phoenix grinned.

"Then, in that case, warn them and send me in. I will finally be able to gauge their strength by myself."

The gnome's face paled at the request.

"You mean you want to join their session, my queen? Isn't that a bit… barbaric?"

Phoenix looked at him with a chortle.

"I think you misunderstand how my people are, my good sir. Abnormals love being barbaric. I am not an exception."

The gnome gulped nervously.

On one hand, he wondered if he would be in trouble for sending the queen to the training room, where she could very much feel the pain of her injuries.

But on the other hand, he felt ecstatic at the chance of seeing the queen battle with his own eyes.

Talks about the king's propensity for violence were not uncommon. But the queen had always displayed a facade of calm and collectiveness.

He also could hardly say no to the monarch.

With the press of a button, the current actions of the commanders halted, and the room went from a plain to a dark-filled space.

All three commanders looked upward, where the gnome's face appeared to them.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your session, sir, ma'am, and ma'am, but someone would like to join you in there."

Commander Kadmus clicker her tongue.

"Which fool dares interrupt the commanders' sparing to join in, tell me, gnome?!" she shouted, discontent.

The gnome opened his mouth to respond, his face suddenly white as chalk, but he was shoved aside. And Phoenix's face replaced his on the display.

"This fool. I believe I have all the rights to interrupt you, don't I, Commander Kadmus?"

Mary's face changed from a scowl to a face of fear.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty! I had no idea! Yes, of course! It would be our honour!" she blurted, lowering her head and slamming her fist into her leather armour over her heart.

Phoenix giggled.

Her face left the display, as it also disappeared, but not before they heard her voice in the back.

"Send me in."

Phoenix appeared in the center of the dark space, her magnificent dress already changed for her red mage robes. In her hand, an ornate wand adorned with a ruby at its tip.

She grinned at the three commanders.

"Pick the battlefield. I want this to be a challenge."

Rodney stepped forward, his face showing confusion.

"I'm sorry, my queen. A challenge? What do you mean?"

She smiled at him viciously.

"I mean, I want to test all of you. And I want it to be challenging. Pick the battlefield, one where you can work together, and come at me like I'm trying to murder the king."

All three of them fell deathly silent.