Snippet #2669745

Miralda nodded slowly after hearing her companions' thoughts. "So, Jinera then? Very well. However, I think we should take the next few days to gather supplies before we head out. I would like to at least wait for a few more runs in the arena before we leave, so if only so we can collect more prize money."

The next three days were a blur of motion for Mira. The majority of her time was spent in the arena, either watching fights or fighting herself for prizes. When not at the arena, she wandered the shopping district looking for better armor than simple leather and a more general purpose shield than a buckler. While she found some chain mail that she took to wearing under regular clothes, she didn't find a shield she liked. To go with the new chain mail, she also found a leather and metal pair of gauntlets to guard her hands so she could use her sword in more esoteric ways, or act as a makeshift way to guard against an attack.

Beyond this, she tried to learn as much as she could about Jinera. She had found the massive man from before, who she found was named Draos, was a native from Jinera and more than happy to answer any questions she might have of the place. She learned that there were many different tribes, all independent from the rest. While people may call the area a country called Jinera, it was really a bunch of warring states. Each tribe's leader was determined by right of combat, but under this leader there would be a council of elected and appointed officials. It was surprisingly similar the Tyvern style, especially for a land that was known as a barbarous land. Who would have guessed they had anything in common at all?

In any event, the weekend soon arrived, and with it, the tournament. It seemed the whole town had shown up to this event, along with every man, woman, and child who had ever won anything in this arena in the past ten years. Still, with her new equipment and her hard-earned skills, Miralda had faith she would make a good showing. Considering the odds against her, she didn't need to win all that much for the small amount of money she had given to Saerin to bet to turn into a sizable amount.