The two of them made their way to the arena. The bar patrons still around spilled out of their seats to watch, excitement buzzing among them.
"Moren, please think this through," Veska begged her sister as they headed toward the entrance to the arena. "She will knock your teeth out without breaking a sweat." She stumbled a few times from the alcohol but managed to keep from falling over as she walked quickly to keep up with Moren.
Jaycen was in front of Moren, walking backward, trying to placate his angry cousin. "Moren, I know she was rude to you, and things got out of hand, but I agree with Veska that you need to take a deep breath and rethink this." Occasionally, Jaycen would have to look over his shoulder to avoid tripping over something.
"It's the principle of the matter," Moren replied, glaring past Jaycen at the back of Reza's head. She let out a low growl, her anger burning deep inside her. "I'll be fine." Moren felt Nox brush up against her leg, and he let out a soft bark. "I'll be fine, Nox."
Nox chuffed at her response and glared at the rabbit woman in front of him with a calculating gaze.
Overhead, Luna gave a sharp hoot from one of the support beams, her wings rustling as she shifted for a better view. She blinked slowly down at Moren, clearly disapproving but unwilling to interfere—yet.
Jaycen and Veska shared a look as they knew this would not end well.
"Be reasonable, Reza," Donarr said with a sigh. "She cleaned up the mess, and it was an accident." He walked down the steps into the arena hallway. "Just call it a night and think about this."
Reza scoffed. "Stay out of this, Donarr," She barked, feeling the sand between her toes and feeling at home in the arena. "Pampered princess needs to be taught a lesson." She rolled her shoulder and jumped in place a few times to warm up."
"Breathe, lass, jus' breathe," Bela tried, glancin' up at the tall woman with a furrowed brow. "Ye were laughin' and flirtin' with her not five minutes ago." She gestured to Moren, warming up with her companions and trying to do the same thing she was. "Jus' take a breath an' go have a drink with her, will ye?
Reza ignored her, threw a few slow jabs, and blew out a short breath to psych herself up.
"She's too stubborn," Kaylanda said with her arms crossed, giving Reza a bored look. "You just want to be miserable and alone." She cocked an eyebrow at Reza as a challenge to say otherwise.
"Shut it, Tidebreaker," Reza spat at the Half-Elf woman. "Go play with one of your gizmos!"
Kaylandra just smirked. "Proud of it," She said, pulling a necklace from under her shirt, a small trident emblem. "Anytime you wanna throw down, let me know, and I'll give you a lesson from my Stormguard days, kiddo."
"Stand down, Marine," Bela said quickly before looking at Reza. "Now quit actin' like a stubborn ox before ye do somethin' ye'll regret." She hoped her words would reach the brash barbarian's thick skull, but she knew it didn't take when Reza stalked towards Moren. "Bloody hell."
"Well, we tried," Donarr said, tilting his head towards Moren's group. "Shall we go stand with them?" He saw Moren's companions had the same expressions as their own.
"Aye… may as well see how this whole mess shakes out," Bela huffed, stomped to the other group, and stopped in front of the Luminari woman. "Greetings. I'm Bela. That's me younger sister, Kaylandra—and the mountain over there is Donarr." She gestured to each of her companions.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Veska. Moren's older sister, and this is Jaycen, her cousin." She replied politely. "I see you had the same amount of luck of talking them out of this." Veska sighed as her mind was still spinning.
"Unfortunately," Donarr replied, shrugging his massive shoulders. "I just hope this doesn't get out of hand."
Under the dim, enchanted lights of the arena, the air buzzed with anticipation. The onlookers stood on the upper level, looking at Moren and Reza, exchanging bets and excited murmurs. Moren clenched her fists, her knuckles pale against her skin, while Reza casually twisted her shoulders, loosening up with a smirk on her face.
"Ready to see how far that badge gets you in a real fight?" Reza taunted, crossing her arms as if unimpressed. Her eyes glinted with something halfway between amusement and a dare, practically begging Moren to make the first move. "Come at me, princess."
Moren bristled, anger simmering beneath the surface. Her family name had been a target before, but coming from Reza, it stung deeper. "Is that what this is to you? Just some easy match?" she retorted, voice low and sharp. Moren undid a few buttons of her shirt, revealing the silver veins around her neck.
Reza's smile faded, a flicker of seriousness crossing her face. "We'll see, won't we, Veilborn?" She ground her bare feet in the sand and slightly bent her knees.
They started off by circling each other slowly, each reading the other's movements. Moren's stance was poised and graceful, honed from years of formal training under various mentors, while Reza's was rugged and grounded, like someone who had spent years surviving rather than sparring.
Moren struck first, a sharp jab that aimed to test Reza's defenses. Reza sidestepped easily, eyes dancing as she countered with a swift, open-palmed strike to Moren's shoulder, just enough to shove her back a step.
"Come on," Reza goaded, "That's all you've got?" She retaliated with several playful jabs at Moren's face. Reza let a smirk cross her lips as she forced Moren on the defensive by raising her arms to block.
Moren gritted her teeth, lunging forward with renewed determination. She dropped into a low stance, sweeping her leg to catch Reza off balance, but Reza reacted quickly, leaping back unnaturally high and twisting in midair to avoid the strike. She landed lightly, giving Moren a wink as if to say, Try again.
The spectators cheered, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth between the two, some even calling out suggestions or jeering at the fighters. But Moren's focus was unwavering. She moved in again, this time feinting with a jab before driving her knee toward Reza's midsection. Reza caught on just in time, twisting to the side, though not without taking a glancing blow.
The smile fell from Reza's face. "Not bad, princess." She sent several powerful kicks at Moren's chest and scowled when her attacks missed. Reza bounced from foot to foot like a rabbit as she watched for Moren's next move.
Moren's reply was a glint of satisfaction as she squared her stance again. "I've barely started." She growled, rushing forward like a wolf after its prey. Moren landed a few solid jabs at Reza's left thigh and the inside of her right arm. She remembered Mater Silvereyes' lessons on striking different nerves in the body that could not give her an edge in a fight.
Reza clenched her jaw to ignore the pain, no longer holding back. She feigned a punch, using it as a distraction to step inside Moren's guard and grapple her by the shoulder, aiming to throw her off balance. Moren countered with a swift elbow, catching Reza in the ribs twice, but Reza powered through them, managing to pin Moren's arm behind her back with overwhelming strength.
"Yield?" Reza asked in a husky voice from the exertion, her breath warm against Moren's ear.
Moren twisted, using the leverage to break free and pivot around. "Not a chance." She snarled.
With a swift, fluid motion, Moren broke free from Reza's grasp, her body tingling with anticipation. Their eyes locked in a heated stare, both breathing heavily but neither willing to concede defeat. This was more than just a friendly spar- it was a test of strength and respect.
A small, cocky smile spread across Reza's face as she wiped a droplet of sweat from her brow. "Finally, someone who can keep up."
Moren's lips curled into a fierce grin, her muscles coiled like a predator ready to strike. "Good. Now, let's stop holding back." She could feel the familiar surge of raw power within her, begging to be released, but she kept it contained for now. This was not the time or place for that.
Reza couldn't help but notice the shift in Moren's almost animalistic gaze for just a moment before returning to normal. She brushed it off as a trick of the light and refocused on their fight.
Their movements became a blur of motion in the flickering light, each strike faster and stronger than the last. It was like an intense dance of power and skill, leaving them both bruised and breathless but exhilarated. As they neared the end of their battle, it was clear to both women that they had met their match- and neither would emerge unchanged.
The crowd roared and cheered as they watched the two women clash, each blow reverberating through the air. Moren's breaths came in rapid gasps as she studied Reza, both fighters covered in bruises but still determined to come out on top. They were evenly matched, their every move calculated and precise, and neither showed any signs of backing down.
As Moren feigned a high strike, she could feel her muscles straining and her breath coming in short gasps. With all her strength, she twisted her body and drove her fist upward with a resounding thud. Her knuckles made hard contact with Reza's jaw, the impact reverberating through her arm. The force was enough to send Reza stumbling back, one of her teeth flying from her mouth and landing with a faint clink on the sandy floor.
Reza froze, her hand instinctively reaching up to her mouth as she felt the new gap where her tooth used to be. The crowd held its breath in anticipation for a split second, wondering how she would react to such a blow. But then, to Moren's surprise, Reza broke into a wide grin, her eyes shining with admiration for Moren's strength and bravery in their intense sparring match.
"Oh shit," Veska gasped as she had been on edge the entire time Moren had been getting the hell beat out of her. "How bad is that?"
"Bad." Bela, Donarr, and Kaylandra said together.
Jaycen closed his eyes and prayed for his cousin.
"Now that's more like it," Reza said, her voice rough but filled with a newfound respect. "I knew there was more to you than that badge." She spat out a mouthful of blood into the sand and smiled.
Moren couldn't help the small smile that painfully tugged at her split lip. She had earned Reza's respect, but she could see it in how Reza's expression shifted and how she squared her stance and set her shoulders—this fight was far from over.
Reza wiped the blood from her mouth with the back of her hand and nodded. "Guess it's time I stop holding back, for real then." Her eyes flashed with excitement and surged forward.
Before Moren could react, Reza closed the distance between them, moving faster than before. Her fists blurred, and a series of strikes that Moren could barely keep up with rained down on her. She blocked two, but a powerful hook caught her across the jaw, disorienting her, followed by a quick kick to the outside of her knee that knocked Moren off balance.
Moren staggered, trying to steady herself, but Reza pressed the attack relentlessly, giving her no chance to recover. A final, devastating jump-kick landed across Moren's temple, and the world spun before her as darkness closed in.
The crowd gasped as Moren's body slumped to the ground, motionless. Reza exhaled, kneeling beside her fallen opponent, checking to make sure she was still breathing. A relieved smile crossed her face when she saw Moren's chest rise and fall.
"Well fought, princess," she murmured softly, a tone of deep respect coloring her words. She gently brushed a stray lock of hair from Moren's face before standing, turning to the crowd with a victorious nod.
The spectators erupted into applause and cheers, but for Reza, the victory was something more profound than winning. She had found a kindred spirit—a fighter who had met her head-on, tooth and nail.
Reza knelt down beside the unconscious woman and gently scooped Moren into her arms in a princess carry. Just holding Moren made her stomach flutter. "Why did you do to me?" Reza whispered as Moren's scent reached her nose, and a jolt ran up her spine. Reza glanced down at Moren's still form. She couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something much more than a fight.
A loud, mournful hoot echoed through the arena rafters as Luna flapped down to perch nearby. She tilted her head sharply, clearly displeased with the turn of events.
Moren's eyes fluttered open, her head pounding as blurry shapes came into focus. The first thing she saw was Reza's face above her. That familiar smirk softened just slightly, eyes filled with something like amusement—and perhaps a bit of concern. With a strange mix of embarrassment and warmth, she realized she was cradled in Reza's arms, carried like a damsel. The crowd around them buzzed with laughter and murmurs, their faces a mix of curiosity and awe.
"Ugh…" Moren groaned, her mind still foggy. "Did…did you win?" she mumbled, squinting up at Reza. A wave of pain caused her to wince, and she rested her head on Reza's shoulder to make it stop.
Luna fluttered down and landed gently hovered beside them, letting out a low, questioning hoot. She nudged Moren's arm with her beak, her gaze piercing as if scolding her for recklessness.
"Sorry Luna," Moren mumbled as her head was throbbing,
Reza's grin returned in full force. "You're tougher than I thought, princess," she teased, adjusting her grip slightly. "But yes, I won. Don't worry—you put up a hell of a fight." Her grin was stunning, even with a missing tooth. Reza's voice was low and edged with a hint of satisfaction. "Thought you'd need a bit more beauty sleep after that knockout."
"I'm stubborn like that," Moren's gaze softened as she studied Reza's face, noticing details she hadn't seen before. "You're so beautiful," she murmured, still half-groggy from coming too, that the words slipped out before she could stop them. Her cheeks tinged pink as she registered what she'd said. Moren's heart was thumping hard against her ribcage.
Reza's smirk faltered for a second, something unreadable flickering in her eyes, but before she could respond, Veska rushed over, looking equally worried and exasperated.
"Oh, Moren!" Veska cried in her tone somewhere between a scold and a sigh of relief. "What were you thinking, getting into a brawl with Reza, of all people?" She gestured widely at the tall barbarian woman with an exasperated look on her face.
Moren blinked, still slightly dazed. "I—she started it," she muttered, trying to shift herself upright. Reza's grip tightened just a little, keeping her steady as she looked down at Veska with an unspoken challenge.
"Had to make sure she was tough enough," Reza replied with a shrug, though a hint of pride glinted in her eyes. "Guess she surprised me."
Nox sat down in front of Reza with a stern expression on his face and let out a low growl at her to release Moren.
"I'm ok, Nox," Moren said softly to her companion. She tried not to laugh as Nox tilted his head slightly and huffed.
Bela appeared next, her presence soothing and almost grandmotherly, as she placed her hands on each of them, channeling a gentle, warm energy with a low chant. "Now, now, enough o' that," Bela murmured, her hands glowing. "Reckon the both of ye learned a thing or two tonight."
Her healing magic began to work, mending bruises, easing pain, and, with a quiet wave of her hand, even regrowing Reza's missing tooth. "Can't have ye wanderin' about lookin' like ye've just crawled outta a bloody battlefield," she added with a wry grin and a knowing look.
Reza's tongue prodded the new tooth, and she gave Bela a grateful nod. "Not that I didn't earn that little souvenir." She looked back at Moren, a spark of admiration in her eyes. "Most people don't have the guts to take a shot like that."
Moren felt the heat rise in her cheeks again, shifted on her feet, and looked away, attempting to hide her flustered state. "I just…wanted to prove a point," she muttered, embarrassed by the attention, but raised her head a little higher, her pride restored by the hard-won respect in Reza's voice.
Now fully aware and blushing furiously, Moren pulled herself out of Reza's arms, standing on slightly wobbly feet. "Thank you, Bela," she said, brushing herself off and ignoring the knowing look Veska shot her. Nox rubbed against Moren's leg, and his tail wagged happily until he huffed as Reza approached Moren.
Reza leaned in close, her voice just loud enough for Moren to catch. "You're not so bad yourself, Ravenheart." With a playful wink, she stepped back, leaving Moren to grapple with the lingering tension of the fight—and maybe, a mutual respect that had quietly formed between them.
As she stepped away, Reza couldn't help but notice the piercing glare from Nox, the Fey Dog, his golden eyes practically brimming with sentience and disapproval. It was as if he was silently warning her to tread carefully around Moren.
Reza smirked, amused by the protective energy radiating from the loyal companion. She made a mental note to watch the dog just as much as its master.
From the rafters above, Luna ruffled her feathers with visible agitation. The owl's head swiveled to follow the fighters' movements, her golden eyes narrowing every time Moren took a hit. Her feathers bristled as if resisting the urge to intervene.
Veska, watching the exchange with an exasperated shake of her head, crossed her arms. "Honestly, you two," she said, though there was a glint of amusement in her eyes. "If you're done beating each other up and flirting, maybe we can all return to the tavern in one piece?"
Reza shot a teasing glance at Moren, a hint of a smirk playing at her lips. "Fine by me," she said, giving Moren a wink. "Though you've got me curious now, Ravenheart. Didn't think a 'pampered princess' could hit that hard."
Moren huffed, though there was a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "You might find I'm full of surprises, Reza," she replied, matching Reza's smirk with one of her own.
As they walked back toward the tavern, Reza fell in step beside Moren, the two of them now carrying an unspoken camaraderie, a respect forged in their shared bruises and bloodied knuckles. Reza leaned over, her voice low so only Moren could hear. "You're not so bad, Ravenheart. For a noble."
Luna glided silently above them, her shadow flickering across the cobblestones. Every few moments, she swooped low, as if checking that Moren was still in one piece.
Moren's smile softened, a warmth spreading through her that had nothing to do with the Fury's Ember still lingering on her tongue. "Neither are you for a quick-footed Barbarian."
Moren finished her shower, stepped out into the bathroom's slight chill, and grabbed her towel to start drying off. She got dressed and took a deep breath because she knew that Vesak was ready to tease her a little more about being carried by Reza. Moren had tuned her out last night and gone to bed. She felt her face flush a light pink as she awoke a few times from steamy dreams where Reza was the star and her adorable, fluffy white tail had left her waking up drenched in sweat and panting.
"Might as well get this over with," Moren grumbled, shook her head, and took a deep, slow breath before opening the bathroom door. "Veska, the bathroom is yours." She glanced over to see her sister sitting cross-legged on her bed with her spell book in her lap. Moren paused to see Veska, who was not staring at her book but looking behind her with a scared look on her face.
Nox was sitting tall next to the bed, frozen in place like he was made of stone. His eyes were fixed on a spot behind her.
Moren flexed her hands and let her magic trickle down her arm before slowly turning around to see who or what was behind them. She wasn't even halfway into her turn before she froze in surprise. "Ceyanne?"
"Well, hello darling," Ceyanne beamed, hovering in the air in a seated position, assuming a seductive pose. She wore a dress made of leaves of varying colors, clinging to her curves to enhance her allure. Ceyanna's wings blurred as she drifted closer to Moren. She lazily brushed her long, woven silver hair behind her shoulder. "We need to talk, my little Ember."