My fists clench as I seethe in my cell. When I passed William, I had given him a stare so full of malice I think he peed on himself. Steps plod down the hall and I see one of my targets.
The old man enters his cell opposite of me, and my wrath grows. He tries to explain himself, but it only pisses me off further.
"Sorry kid.. I should've mentioned it. I'm no fighter, but I get a small stipend for announcing the matches. I have to keep the crowd entertained.. so that's why I said what I did."
I don't respond. My knuckles are white as I shake.
'I will not ever forgive these vile bastards, I will be free Harry, just watch. Then I'm going to burn this Empire.'
More footfalls sound and the blonde man from earlier stands in front of my cell. He's smiling at me.
"Good show, good show! The people are already clamoring for your next bout; you'll get another gold if you agree to a match tomorrow. What do you say?"
"Can I pick my opponent?"
He taps his chin and thinks for a moment.
"Hmm, who do you wish to go against?"
I thrust my thumb to the side, and he seems to get my meaning.
"Difficult.. quite difficult. I was planning on making you go against a worthy opponent. That kid is sniveling coward, I can't…"
Another moment of thought pauses our conversation.
"I'll tell you what, I can increase the gold to one and fifty silver towards your contract if you agree to take on two men at once..?"
His voice trailed off at the end making it question.
I didn't even think the offer over before accepting.
"Okay, I'll do it."
The blonde man clapped his hands together and walked away while muttering, "Good, very good.."
The old man speaks now, giving more unwanted advice.
"Ya know kid, you can haggle your deal a little. Especially when doing something big like a two on one match."
Venom laces my voice, "I will be requesting for you next."
He shakes his head like he's heard this countless times before.
"All right kid. Just trying to give some friendly advice. With that attitude, I'll be surprised if you live another full week."
"I don't want your advice old man. I want your head."
Silence ensues and I'm left alone with my thoughts again.
Harry's face appears in my mind as I try to remember the good times, it's the only thing keeping his dying visage from consuming me. I think of when we got chased out of the candy store because we kept trying to get free samples.
I let myself wear a small smile as my eyes close.
We were walking towards old man Keller's shop and laughing like fools.
"I'm tellin' you Kel, Eddy said he won't notice until the bowls nearly empty!"
*Bahaha* "There's no way! I think we get at most four pieces before he notices."
Harry turned towards me with his easy smile.
"Wanna bet?"
"You're on!"
Walking forward, I pause when Harry didn't move and wonder what he's doing.
His smiling face turned to a grimace and blood is seeping out of his mouth in thick lines of red.
"Why'd you kill me, Kel?"
He takes a step towards me, and I fall backwards trying to get away.
His voice gurgles as blood tries to clog his throat.
"Why'd you kill me, Kel?"
He repeats his accusation with another step.
"Why'd you kill me, Kel?"
I'm crying now and Harry leans closer.
"Why'd you kill your best friend?"
My eyes shoot open as sweat clings to body, my side aches a little as my skin pulls at the scab.
'Sorry Harry.. I'm so sorry..'
The morning meal is bland but filling and today I got all of it. I feel strength returning that I didn't know I lost.
Waiting patiently in my cage, it was around midday when the blonde man came to retrieve me. The stairway was still a tough climb, but it was a little easier than yesterday.
Today I chose a different sword, this one is long and broad. It was quite heavier than my previous one, but I think I'll need the reach to keep distance. My plan is to kill William first, not because I'm afraid of him, but because he's a bully.
He always fights unfairly and only picks a fight he knows he can win. I can already imagine cold steel sliding out of my belly as he shoves a blade in my back. When the guard comes for me, I've more or less gotten used to the weight.
My anger is quiet now, still fierce, but it had diminished slightly from my nightmare. I wait for the signal and step into the light as my name is announced.
"We have a treat for you today! If you didn't witness yesterday's moving battle of friends desperate to survive, then let me introduce you to Kelric Bladebane!"
The crowd was animalistic in its roar. It seemed a lot of these people were regulars at this horror show.
The old man waited for the crowd to die down and introduced his opponents.
"The match today is no less exciting… it's a two on one beat down! Here are the contenders coming to claim Kelric's life today, please give it up for William Kith!"
He gets shoved out into the battlefield and almost falls over his own feet.
The crowd's lukewarm response was noticed by the old man, so he hurriedly introduced his partner.
"Joining William today is a familiar face, Frederick Quin!"
A man I've never seen before saunters out and waves his hands around.
Apparently, he's famous here as the crowd goes wild.
His broad frame is packed with muscle. He wasn't very tall, but I can tell he knew how to use his body to his advantage. It was in the way he carried himself, the confidence of a man who who knew how to handle deadly business.
He grinned at me openly as if to mock my idiocy.
My rage is rising.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, you have 5 minutes to place your bets!"
I size up my two opponents now that they're a little closer. William held a thick wooden club in his trembling hands. Spikes jutted out from the top in black needles, promising pain.
Frederick was sporting a shorter, curved blade. It almost reminded me of a sickle, except its edge is jagged and cruel looking. I can tell his is weapon is built for prolonged fights to rip flesh and wear down his opponent.
His voice has weird lilt to it, and I can't place the origin.
"Sorry kid, this isn't personal, but you'll have to die today."
I don't respond as my mind races, looking for an opening. I think I see it, but I don't know of a way to take advantage of it.
Soon the old man speaks again, saying what I didn't manage to catch yesterday.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, it's time to see some blood!"
Frederick is sly and dashes forward before the announcement was even completed.
I hold my weapon out in front of me as he lashes out with quick swipes, gauging distance.
In my peripheral, I see that William had slowly started to circle around to my back.
'Typical.'
I move around as well and keep him in my line of sight. Frederick seemed to have played around enough and dashed forward so fast I couldn't react. The tip of his blade digs into my bicep and I can only try to catch him on a backswing.
I missed as pain blossomed, he smiles at me while licking the blood off his weapon.
My new wound throbs as blood leaks out.
Realizing I couldn't see William, my heart hammers as I dive to the side and a thud impacts the ground where I just stood.
Before I catch my breath, Frederick is on me. He had lunged forward again but was stopped as I guessed his trajectory and placed my swords tip in his path. I'm on one knee and can't react very well to his next move.
He spins around my blade and swings his weapon again, slashing my shoulder on the same arm. It shakes slightly as I take a swing of my own at his waist. He dodged back and I did the same. I noticed William to the right and moved just before he planted his spiked club into my head.
Springing to my feet, I glare at William, and he stumbles back half a step.
Opportunity slips in and out of my hands as I try to grasp the timing to take advantage of Frederick's flaw.
William darts back behind me as Frederick charges again. His eyes give his target away and I bring my blade to meet his.
The crowd can't get enough of the spectacle, and I notice my blow had made Fredericks hand numb. He swaps it into the other and looks like he has just as much experience using his offhand.
I dive to the side again after hearing footsteps behind me and William almost loses an eye to Frederick as they both tried to pounce on me.
My breath is haggard as I stare at them.
'Think idiot! Change the situation or you'll die!'
An idea forms and I take hold.
Running forward, I dip my sword low and drag it slightly on the ground. Flicking my wrists in a huge swing, dust is sent flying towards their eyes. My quick plan half worked as William was blinded. I charge him and let Frederick score a deep hit along my forearm as I pass.
My wide swing cuts into Williams stomach and stops halfway through. His right arm just below the elbow fell to the ground and I see his insides start to spill out of his body.
There is no sound from William as he collapses, instantly dead, his corpse takes my sword with him.
My back explodes with burning pain as Frederick cuts me once, then twice and again. It's in tatters before I react. Throwing myself to the ground, I hear air slicing behind me.
I pick up the fallen club and swing desperately behind me. My wild strike is lucky and rips skin off Fredericks hand with the cruel spikes. I hit the one holding his weapon, so his cruel blade tumbled into the dirt. We both stare at each other a little dumbly until he thrusts his other hand forward.
Missing my next blow and Frederick backs up several steps, his nasty weapon gripped tightly. We're both panting hard now. I press the attack after a moment, hoping to finally exploit Frederick's fatal flaw.
I'm relentless as I keep bringing down heavy swings in loud, shrill scrapes against his blade and I finally get what I was watching for. Shoving my shoulder forward into his chest, I take another brutal cut to arm while he's pushed to the ground. He had been alternating between the heels and balls of his feet the whole fight. His center of gravity never stable. Frederick tries rolling with the shove to escape my reach.
He can't.
The spikes from the club sink into flesh and shreds a patch of skin. It's a terrible wound to the thigh and it bleeds freely. His face turns dark with rage and pain as he gets to his feet. His tone promising retribution.
"I'm gonna murder you kid."
I can barely hear him over the crowd. My brutal dispatch of William had filled the air with a crazed frenzy.
My weapon is up again as I move forward.
'Time to end this.'
My blows are hard, even stronger than before. My anger is rising along with my strength.
Frederick can't keep up with the assault as his weapon is beaten backwards. I finally force him to a knee and swing horizontally. His blade meets the club in a shower of sparks as chipped metal flies. He's dumbfounded when I drop my weapon and kick him in the stomach.
My foot seemed to have smashed something important, and he lays on the ground unable to breath. I cannot stop myself as I walk to him and raise my foot. His eyes are panicked and pleading, but there is no forgiveness left inside me.
His throat is flattened as I stomp down once, twice, three times.
He's dead.
I can feel my rage hotter than ever, and I go retrieve my sword from Williams desecrated body.
The old man announces the results in a theatrical voice.
"What a show! Kelric Bladebane claims victory as he reaps two more lives! I smell a new champion in the making.."
I hold the sword high as I yell in madness, the crowd screaming my name back at me.
"Kelric! Kelric! Kelric!"
….
(Present Day- Month of Misery, Year of The Whale) (Dellmond Kingdom, Watercrest City)
….
"Kelric.. Kelric Bladebane. Is Kelric Bladebane present? Speak now or you'll be dissqualif—"
"I'm here."
My eyes snap back to reality and I stop staring out the window.
An old man stares at me distastefully as he straightens his thick framed spectacles. His belly is big and soft with age, and I feel like he's never held a weapon before.
His thick gray mustache moves, hiding his lips as he speaks.
"Please proceed into the hall, you will be guided to your first test."
Standing, I work my shoulders in circles a little to loosen them up. The old man speaks again as I make my way to the door.
"A bit of advice lad, the instructors in charge of the tests usually do not take kindly to such lackadaisical attitudes."
I stop my anger before it can take control of me. His words are very reminiscent of an old man I killed a while ago. I guess I didn't manage to completely suppress it as the old man stumbles back.
'Shit. I need to keep my bloodlust in check; I'm not in the arena anymore.'