Although the breakfast was a filling one, Ocieros didn't feel like he'd eaten much, his gut twisted uncomfortably. No matter how many times he went to war and came back with more experience and power, conflict never got easier for him. The arena was usually how he used his hammer to earn money and reputation, but it didn't often mean much in terms of conflict. There were a few soured apples in the bunch who didn't deal with loss well, but he usually didn't have to challenge them more than once for them to decide against fighting him again. But the uneasiness in his gut just wouldn't go away. Now he was going to the arena specifically to start a conflict over a book that wasn't even his to fight for.<br/><br/>"Issi, you're almost to the age that you'll be expected to work soon. Your birthday is right around the corner after all, do you have any particular jobs in mind?" He gave a light smile as they walked past the smithy, trying to imagine the forge being utilized by such a tiny being. "I could definitely see you hammering away on a blade bigger than you are, right child?"<br/><br/>The arena loomed on the edge of the town, likely the second biggest building in the town, only comparable to the church. It made sense too, considering it was one of the only other spots the people of the town liked to congregate. The two buildings themselves however, couldn't have been more different.<br/><br/>The old wood mixed with the rusted supports that had been forged just for the arena. Every board seemed to be unique, and behind it all was the pit. Pulling Neris closer as they walked in, he took a left avoiding the double doors that lead into the pit, and instead made his way up the stairs that accompanied the circular seats that encompassed the pit. At the top, built deftly into the flattest step at the top, sat the bar.<br/><br/>"Hey, barkeep, I need to ask to take you up on one of those offers finally. That horrid wench of a sister Carmine recently sold some stolen property to someone here. What do you know?" It wasn't uncommon for him to earn favors here, beating someone in the pit on request of someone who'd been wronged. But he knew it'd only get him so far, and all the keep could do was give him a couple suggestions on who it might've been.