The Shimada had literally bandaged her golden orb with straps of rags and scraps of leather, she had done the same with the wand bestowed upon her. No more shiny things. The number of times she'd had people attempt to steal from her because they'd assumed her items to be source of riches, had led her to take such steps. The meddling thieves had never got their grubby on hands on either of the items and she'd come to realize that they weren't even vying for them to begin with. Those somehow simply served to justify the thieving, because of Akira's apparently opulent appearance, it was assumed that it was ok if she lost some money. No! She was not rich and Jewels were valuable, she was losing no more.

She still got an eyeball or too, but a floating bundle of rags wasn't as enticing as the orb had been. She was dressed in her dark robes and there was nothing too flamboyant about her appearance anymore. The Shimada really preferred it this way. New town, new ventures, at least for some time, she could potentially seek solace in anonymity again. There were several souls gathered around the bleachers atop which the Shimada had perched herself. All unfamiliar faces, which stoked her playful side.

She'd watched the men toil and put up the platform that upon which stood the host and commentator alongside a beast of a man. She cocked her head upon the mention of this man being a Kingsguard. 'Which King did he guard exactly?' she piped up, demanding to know the merit behind such claims. Despite a bold quality to her challenge, her tone was also slightly sarcastic and teasing. Almost as though she just wanted to crack through the commentator's facade. Perhaps it all originated from the fact that Akira was now so much of a miser, that she refused to let others around her be swindled either.

Akira was certain that Reign had never accommodated this person in his Kingsguard. It was a coveted position and one that required more than just brute force to acquire. Besides, from what she knew of the new king, this could not be the fate of a retired Kingsguard. She could just hope the audience didn't fall for such an obviously tall claim. The true population anyway, not the paid monkeys who just danced to the tunes this guy played.

She couldn't discern whether the man who spoke next was part of the act, or was fueling the fire off his own accord. She noticed features that attested to the fact that he was of the same heritage as the Shimada herself.  'Are you sponsoring the person who chooses to fight then?' she addressed the samurai who seemed to be playing the good cop to the commentator's bad. He had particularly singled out Akira and another potential challenger with his wink.

She followed his gaze, only to have it fall upon Judina, a woman who much like her had left the ranks of the Knights to follow Nerva. Given how much she'd been craving and enjoying her anonymity, the Shimada stiffened upon the recognition she saw in the armored woman's eyes. At least there was a smile, which Akira promptly returned, allowing herself to feel a little more at ease.

The Shimada was surprised when Judina approached her so casually, as if they'd been friends forever. Perhaps, the woman had buried the hatchet when it came to the disgraced Rune Knight, now that they both had joined Nerva. Akira however, had cause for concern regarding anyone who truly seemed to follow the leader of the Inquisition. She didn't let those taint the moment though. She held the reins of the horse and tentatively stroked its snout. The direction this was taking became obvious. It seemed that Judina had risen to the challenge. Akira chewed her lips, partially out of concern and partially put of curiosity.

She wasn't someone who let ranks define a person, especially given the number of times the Knights had overlooked potential. But on an average they were a fairly good representation of one's power. From what she recalled Judina was an apprentice at best. While the hulking man on stage was certainly not from the Kingsguard, it didn't necessarily mean that he was a weak opponent. Akira only had a chance to mutter an assent as Judina acted upon her choice. The woman went as far as to remove her armor just to keep matters fair. The Shimada rolled her eyes and winced, shaking her head at the woman's naive choices.

The Shimada watched bemused as the man sought to immediately used what he no doubt saw as his biggest advantage. Literally biggest because he loomed over most of the audience and was of a significantly larger frame than that of Judina's. The fellow Joyan, who had taken up the responsibility of hyping the crowd up some more, waived away the thinly veiled concerns of the sorceress.

'Well, looky here Lyria. Our friend is rather determined, now that she's got her heart set on it.' The Shimada muttered playfully, now addressing the equine creature that stood beside her. The horse huffed in a soft gruff of a neigh and stamped its front hooves on the ground, almost as though she was protesting. Akira assumed the gender based on the name.

She was colored impressed by the way Judina managed to hold her ground. The woman did not even flinch, in fact, Akira found herself wincing as the large man charged towards the woman. The usually armored ex-Rune Knight sought not to evade the attack, but use the man's momentum against him. A cumulative gasp escaped the crowd, hers was included as she leaned forward to continue surveying the fight.

She'd continue to watch, till things held her interest, following which she'd kindly had Lyria back and take her leave.