[written at the bar of the Siren’s Roost as everyone is chatting]
Xanthia. That’s her name. The one that won the race to the top of Mount Volkan. She is very quick, extremely keen… and very friendly with the Oracle. She also seems to be hovering around us. I’m not sure I trust her altogether but she seemed quite adamant she wasn’t a spy or a worshipper of either Lutheria or Sydon. She was especially infuriated by my suggestion of Sydon. Promising. Or maybe I feel that desperate about our chances in these games that my standards for the loyalty of allies isn’t very high. Moxena would have a great laugh...
I didn’t think that much of our chances beforehand, but the ceremony on top of Mount Volkan only served to dissuade me of any hope I may have been harbouring. Unlike previous Games, two other nations have joined this year: Themis and Praxis. Led by Yala and Talieus, the children of the two Titans. They all look remarkably menacing, especially the gygan, maenad and the empyreans themselves, towering over the whole assembly in their titan forms.
Corrina is representing Estoria. Bright and enthusiastic she tells me more about Theo and her ambition to get a medal in the archery contest. The money will help her father or, maybe, Theo. Brave, kind and caring Corrina. I can only hope for more of her in the world. Yet, she too is apprehensive about the new contestants. Especially about the Maenad. And I try to offer her some comfort, but the fear and apprehension has gripped me so hard I only end up spluttering some platitudes. I need to do better. Where is that younger Alke who owned the world? Who was afraid of nothing?
On the point of people who feel like own the world: Xanthia may be an ideal addition to our team. Skill and drive aside, she seems friendly enough too. She doesn’t however seem to trust in either my or Helikaon’s abilities. How wrong can she be… motivation and skill are two very different things. When it comes to Helikaon obviously. In my case though… let’s just say that there’s two of us doubting my abilities in the party now. Hippofilius ardently defended both of us. I’m still not sure what I’ve done to deserve friends like him. Like this whole group...