When we finally arrived at the King’s Box, the concrete-built arena was already packed. Thousands had come for the biggest event of the year. Rich and poor, strong and weak, all sitting among one another, mingling and betting on who would win this year.

The arena was based on the Coliseum, the one that gladiators once fought in. The Games of Styx were similar to the games held by the Romans thousands of years ago, but instead of adults mainly fighting each other, children did. It was a rite of passage for any child. Both Kan and I had once fought in the Games of Styx, though it was just a formality for us.

Those of us who were brought up by the Underworld were expected to join when we turned sixteen. Of course, this was only for families that were part of the Underworld’s founding. I guess you could say that the fifteen founding families were like nobility, each responsible for something, except for Lord Malum’s family who was the royal family. They instead ruled over everyone.

As for the people chosen to join the Underworld, well they were just the manpower the Underworld needed to keep functioning. Once they entered Kasten Academy, their first year was soldier training. After that, they would choose what work they wanted to do for the Underworld. Most chose combat work, but there were also jobs for the fifteen ministries, each one run by one of the founding family.

“What are you thinking about?” I felt Kan whisper into my ear as we stepped inside.

“Kasten Academy.”

“What the hell for?” Kan said as he closed the doors behind us. “They were some of the worst years of my life. All that running and gym. And don’t get me started on the showing off of powers everyone did.”

“That was a bad time for me too.” I looked away guilty, knowing full well that I was the one that started a lot of the rubbish in the academy. “Anyway, I was just thinking that it kind of reminds me of that thing called a ‘university’. You know the one everyone always talked about in those teen books.”

As we passed a table with a food spread, Kan grabbed several buns. “You mean that place where young people go to learn about different things.”

“Yes.” I replied, taking a bun from Kan. “I wonder what it would have been like to go to one. To get to choose what you wanted to study and meet people that liked what you liked.”

“What would you have studied?”

We took a pair of seats at the back. “Maybe history.”

“Well, you always did like it.” Kan snickered. “Reading all those banned books because you just had to know what the past was like.”

I rolled my eyes. “Says the guy that reads banned comics and looks for artwork.”

Kan opened his mouth to respond, but a couple interrupted us. “Runa. How nice to see you again.”  The light skin woman looked at me with sharp blue eyes.

She had wavy black hair and wore a navy-blue pants suit. As for the bronze skin man next to her, he had brown hair with green eyes and wore a tuxedo to match her suit. They both looked to be in their late thirties.

The woman turned to look at Kan, a disappointed look on her face. "So, you've been with Runa again, Kan. I hope he was not a bother." She laughed with malaise, turning to face me again.

“Not at all, Mrs. Acker. Kan’s been more helpful than anything.” I replied, forcing a fake smile on my face. Damn… I hated her so much. “How have you been?”

Mr and Mrs Acker were Kan’s parents and responsible for the Ministry of Health. They were also one of the reasons Philp died that day. They pushed Kan’s brother to the breaking point and still had the nerve to call him a failure. Kan could never forgive them for what had happened, and to be honest neither could I.

"Oh, we've been well dear." Mrs Acker snickered. "However, we could use some help at the Ministry." She gave Kan a pointed look. Putting a hand on her head, she continued. "We've had to work harder, especially after what your stupid brother did. He nearly ruined our good name.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kan clench his hand into a fist. Knowing that every word was a stab to him, I said quickly, “Oh, then I must apologize to you. Kan’s been helping me out with some missions. You know how close we are.”

Mr Acker finally spoke. "Yes, you two have been close since your academy years. Of course, if you still need his help, then we won't take him from you. Your work is much more important than us needing an extra hand." Taking Mrs Acker's arm, Mr Acker guided her away. "Well, we must be going now. The Games of Styx are going to start soon and we must be at our seats."

Once they disappeared from view, I looked at Kan. His face had a look of utter misery. No matter how many years had passed, Kan still felt the pain of losing his brother, like it was only yesterday.

And the fact that his parents kept slandering his brother’s name, knowing how close the two were, made it worse. It was like watching a healing wound being ripped open over and over, never having the proper time to heal.