Walking into the office, I was greeted by Evergreen’s cold eyes. He was sitting in a comfortable looking leather chair a small mountain of paperwork on his desk. His attire was simple yet the man gave off a stifling air. The business like suit had sleek sleeves and a neat bowtie. The entire garb was a dark shade of purple, a color I have learned often worn by the high ranking nobility. His formal shirt was black, the bowtie a classy silver. The man’s eyes were eerie, the small dot that was his pupil giving him a severe look.

A tiny creature suddenly flew into my face and screeched at me, “You dare enter without an invitation! The audacity on this lizard! Stupid lizard! Show respect!” Realizing it was a fairy, I gaped in shock. I read about them and knew how rare they were. My bubble of interest popped as she flew headfirst into my gut, making me feel like I’ve been sucker punched by a troll. Taking a step back, I stared in disbelief.

“Calm down, Mave. It’s fine. I doubt our guest cares much for etiquette.” smiling at me in greeting, he crossed his fingers on the desk, "Hello, Atkozott. A pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. I sincerely thank you for bearing the punishment without much defiance. The walls have ears around this place and you never know who might be listening.” with a chuckle, he gestured to the chair opposite his.

Frowning, I shook my head, “I’d rather stand. Do you mind telling me why I’m here and what you want from me?”

His eyes narrowed dangerously but his smile never slipped, “Indeed. Where are my manners? Allow me to formally introduce myself first. I am Zael Cornelius Evergreen. Feel free to refer to me as Lord Evergreen. I will presume your willingness to bear the punishments shows you have certain expectations. Before anything else though, I require you to become an S rank in the Colosseum. Only then can we come to an agreement. It would be very uncouth of me to break my own rules.” his calculating gaze made me nervous but I kept a straight face.

“And why would I do that?” I ask, genuinely confused.

Tilting his head, he stared at me for a second before sighing, “Very well. I have certain plans for Terra Silva and I would like you to be a part of those plans. I will require strong individuals once the time comes. Most of the fighters here are already under agreement with me. However, before we can do any negotiations, you first have to fight and show you have what it takes, only once you’ve defeated some of my best will I consider offering you a deal. The fights you’ve had so far show promise but I need to be certain. Worry not though, not one will force you to fight to the death, I leave that choice to the fighters themselves.”

I snort, “Under agreement or under contract.” I spat sarcastically, daring him to deny it.

Clearly amused, the elf flashed his perfectly straight teeth, “As a matter of fact, all of the Colosseums fighters are free men. I force no one to fight on the Colosseums behalf. I only make deals with them. I give what they want and they, in turn, owe me. All I have with them is a binding deal. Completely harmless as long as you keep your word.”

Confused, I had no clue what the hell he was talking about, “Like a contract of equals?” I blurt, not understanding what he meant.

For the first time, his smile dropped as he snorted and leaned back, “Contract of equals... it is the single most useless creation known in the magic society. There are so many flaws and drawbacks even the creator swore it was his biggest shame.” sighing, he leaned forward again, “I can tell you have serious issues with contract magic. If it makes you feel better, I will show you a part of my offer immediately. It is my belief that a show of faith does wonders in negotiations.”

Opening a drawer, he frowned as he dug around, speaking to the fairy without looking at her, “Mave, have you seen the papers I prepared?” The little creature flew like a dart, diving into the drawer before pulling out some papers. Zael smiled and looked them over, “Thank you, dear.” Pointing a finger at the paper, he grinned, “These Atkozott, are your identifications, listing you as a demon from a distant tribe. It is only one of the things I can give you, along with my personal backing.” pausing, he gave me a look, “Do you know what this means for you?”

My eyes were wide in shock. This meant he was willing to give me official freedom for a certain price. No one would have the right to enslave me again. I could enter towns and villages, having proof I was just a rare race. It was too good to be true. Staring at him suspiciously, I wondered what he wanted in return. As if understanding, he put them away and chuckled, “In due time Atkozott. For now, I need an answer, will you accept this prerequisite of mine?”

Standing there in silence, I contemplated my options and realized I had none. Although he didn’t say what would happen if I refused, I honestly didn’t want to find out. Looking into his eyes, I saw a cruel man who would stop at nothing in order to achieve his ambitions. Clenching my hands into fists, I growled, “I accept.”

Delight flew across his face, “Wonderful, I’m glad. You'll be given a comfortable room like the other fighters. Tomorrow, you start your fights in the Arena. Get a few more ranks, a solid reputation and in the meantime, I shall prepare everything for your near departure."

Standing up, he came around the desk and offered his hand, “Too a good colaboration.” Grasping it in a handshake, my eyes widened when the shackles came loose with a click, falling to the ground. As I nearly did something very dangerous, I met his eyes. Stopping in my tracks, I felt death loom over my head. The air in the room became too thick to breathe. I recognized the feeling. It was pure bloodlust.

The demented expression on his face vanished as soon as it had appeared, replaced once again by an amicable smile, “I do hope you won’t make me regret removing those. Let’s see how you will act as a free man, hm?”

Cold sweat broke out on my back, my instincts screaming danger for the first time in days. Swallowing my nervousness, I shook his hand firmly. Glancing at the bookshelf behind the elf, I decided to defuse the tense situation, "Do you think I could borrow a few books?" I asked randomly.

He seemed surprised and a little bothered by my request but nodded, "Ah, sure, but if they get damaged or you lose them, prepare to be sold like cattle on the market. Those are quite precious to me. I will not spare you a second thought if you so much as look at them wrong." he said with a chilling gaze. Whoa, this guy loved his books. Walking around him with a light cough, I picked out a two interesting titles and left the office. As I was leaving, a red-haired figure passed me in a rush. I ignored her and continued. But when I noticed her scent, I suddenly froze in place. That smell...

The fragrance of mint and honey. The same one from the streets of Tallah. It was that cloaked woman! Carefully looking back, I saw her tall figure enter Zael's office. Her red hair reached her voluptuous, beautifully shaped bottom, tied in a long ponytail. I could see two pointy ears sticking out at the sides as she disappeared behind the door. The odd sensation of familiarity died before it could become distinguishable. There was something about her that spoke to me on an extremely strange level. What was it? Why couldn’t I figure it out?

I couldn’t believe she showed up at the Colosseum. An elf, huh? Was she related to Zael? They had the same hair color. Shaking my head dismissively, I glanced at the two guards, “You mind taking me to this room Lord Evergreen promised?”

Sharing a glance and seeing my wrists were free, they seemed a lot more respectful as they bowed lightly and led the way. Was there really such a huge rift between the free and the enslaved? One day I’m being whipped by them, the next they act courteously like they would any other visitor or fighter of the Colosseum. It was disturbing.

Zael POV

As soon as Atkozott left, I sat back down with a sigh. That boy tried to attack me! Hahaha, me! The gall. I can’t believe I let him borrow my books, I must be in a good mood. Glancing at Mave, I chuckled at the fuming fairy. She really got bothered when people were disrespectful.

Just as I was about to return to my paperwork, the door opened and slammed shut again. I snapped my eyes to the person and gasped when I saw who it was. Quickly scrambling to my feet, I smiled tenderly, "Thalia! What a pleasant surprise! Where have you been?! You're so cruel to ignore your uncle like that. You didn't come to see me once since you arrived from Terra Caelum.”

The girl had grown since I last saw her. What has it been, 40, 50 years? I rush to give her a hug. She hesitantly accepts it and makes a weird face, "Uncle Zael, it’s good to see you. You should stop treating me like a child, I’m already in my 70s." she replies uncomfortably. I move away and pet head with a happy smile, "My dear girl, you'll always be a child to me."

Her dark red hair had grown so much, her face was full of maturity with my sister’s feminine charms. Her sharp chin and narrow brows reminded me of her so much. She wore a dark green cape, the garb underneath showing a sleek set of light armor. A dark violet scarf was around her neck, I gift from her mother most likely. She puffed out her cheeks in a pout but relaxed and smiled sweetly. Ah, that was my cute little niece!

"It's good to see you, uncle. Mom told me to pay you a visit while I was here, but I was busy so I put it on hold. Sorry." she sighed and leaned against the desk. Reaching into her satchel, she took out a letter and handed it to me, “She told me to give you this since you rarely have time to speak these days via the Orb.”

Accepting it, I gave it to Mave. I lifted a brow, "Oh? What have you been up to?" She looked away and played with her hair. It was then that her cloak slipped open more, revealing the insignia of a guild.

Feeling angry, I whispered loud enough for her to hear, "Adventuring? You joined a guild?!”

She averted her gaze, but didn’t react much otherwise.

"You... What the hell are you thinking?! You know how dangerous it is! Does my Heather know about this? What would she say if she knew that you were doing something so irresponsible?!" I shouted in outrage. She stared at me with equal anger, "I can make my own decisions. I've been earning my own money because I don't want to be a pampered little brat anymore! Stop lecturing me! I don't take dangerous missions and know my limits. Besides, it has really helped me gain very valuable experience."

We glared at each other until I gave in. I just couldn't win against those adorable green eyes of hers, dark like the evening grassland. I sigh and rub my face in exasperation. I knew why she was trying to earn money. This kind-hearted child couldn't bear to see someone in need and not help them. She’s always been like this. From the time she could walk, it was like her life mission was to cure the world.

Knowing I couldn’t stop her, I decided on making a compromise. Pursing my lips together, I speak through gritted teeth, "Fine, but I will let your mother know. Before every job, I want you to send me a message through the Orb or the other channels. I want to know exactly where you are at all times. If you can't comply, I'll forbid you from adventuring and send you home."

She shook in rage but cooled off after she saw my unyielding posture. Clenching a fist, she looked out the window, "Ok. I'll let you now. I'll take my leave now." she said distantly, the sound of her voice breaking my heart. Sorry sweetheart, uncle has to watch over you.

I nod and pull her into another hug despite her being reluctant, "You should come and see your uncle more often. I'll take you to lunch one of these days." I said bitterly. She smiled and waved goodbye, then closed the door as she left.

Atkozott POV

As soon as I entered the room I put the books on my bed. The room was small but cozy. It had a single bed, an iron trunk, a wooden table with a single chair and some kind of house plant in the corner. The guards told me there was a shared bathroom on the ground floor, in the area designated for solely fighters of the Colosseum. Opening the trunk, I gaped when I saw they had prepared armor and extra clothes for me. There was even a curved dagger. Trying its edge, I snorted in disdain. Compared to my claws, it was dull. Might come in handy though.

With a shrug, I closed the trunk and glanced at the clock on the wall. I had no idea what made it run. It was only the afternoon. My fight was tomorrow morning, already scheduled, that elf worked fast. Glancing at my card, I saw the rank had jumped to A. There was no longer any ownership marked and the line on the back was silver now. The label had changed from Very Unstable to Unknown. You got that right. Even I don’t know how I feel about the whole thing. Probably more skeptical than anything else. With a sigh, I decide to check out those so called baths. Grabbing a towel and the new clothes from the trunk, I exit my room.

Walking to the baths, many people still recognized me while I walked through the corridors. Needless to say, I was avoided like the plague. I could hear cheers in the distance, as I recognized I was near the Pits. Seeing the sign for the bathhouse, I enter and look around. There were a few showers on the sides, but the main attraction of this unexpectedly ginormous place was the hot spring the size of a small lake. Steaming hot air surrounded me as I savored the warmth. Many exotic looking plants decorated the room. This place must have been heaven.

I could sense a few others in the vicinity, but they were keeping to themselves. Following the bath rules I was used to, I ignored everybody and took a quick shower then entered the hot spring. My mind went blank for a minute, making me inwardly groan in pleasure. The water was boiling hot. My tail coiled in satisfaction.

I suddenly heard a voice echo through the bath, "Oy! You're the new guy, correct?” a large, naked man with a braided, wet beard grumbled a question. His face was strange, the golden eyes too small for his head. His hair was short and the scarred, muscular torso told a story of many hard battles. I couldn’t tell his height, but I figured he was taller than me. I could tell he wasn’t purely a human, the slight tint of green on his skin along with the somewhat pointed ears proved that much.

I sighed loud enough for him to hear. Right now, I really didn’t want to bother with this guy so I gave him a lazy, "Yea."

He stared for a second before shrugging. He said nothing more since he could tell I was in no mood to chat. I just relaxed at the rocky edge, appreciating the heat and wonderful scents the flowers gave off. A few hours passed like that and, soon enough, it was high time for me to leave. Maybe read one of those books.

I got out, dried myself and put the clothes on. Surprisingly they were similar to my old clothes, the only difference was in the colors and the Colosseum's symbol sewn on my coat. The material felt tougher, the colors a mix of dark green and black. I couldn’t help but feel annoyed at the edgy look, but the colors suited me. I had noticed before that some fighters had these crests on their clothes. Mine was that of a crescent moon. I had no idea what it meant. Others had a full moon or the eclipsed sun. It was mostly the moon shown in different forms. Perhaps it represented rank or something. I yawned and headed for the exit.

"Hey. Gotta give ya props, not many can endure the heat that long." someone said with a snicker. I froze in shock. I couldn’t sense anybody, I thought I was alone. Slowly, I follow the voice and turn to look at the man talking to me. He was leaning against the wall next to the showers with his arms crossed, wearing nothing but a towel around his waist.

He looked completely human, except, the glowing orange eyes, tinted red showed there was more to the man. He had short black hair and a lean figure, the compressed strength showing great potential. He was clean shaven, clearly showing thin lips stretched into a savage grin. I suppose some would consider him handsome. I was surprised by the lack of scars. I could tell this one had been in a lot of fights, the aura around him forcing my instincts on high alert. He was larger than me and much older. His eyes gave away his age even if his body remained youthful. What was he? There was something primal about him, making me want to fight him here and now.

Lifting a brow, I frown at him, "Whatever. You should mind your own business.” I snarled slightly, not sure what was coming over me. There was something about him that made my inner beast twitch with desire to fight. He gave me a doubtful look, snickering, "I am minding my business. I see you didn’t check the schedule. Since you’re new, I’ll give you a hint. For us, there is always a clear timetable on the fights.” smirking, he pushed off the wall and walked over, slicking back his hair, “That is why I know exactly who I’m fighting tomorrow.”

Narrowing his eyes, he laughed, “I’ll see you in the Arena tomorrow, Atkozott.” turning away, he went into the spring, letting out a pleased sigh. I didn't want to stick around any longer so I turned and left. The man had revealed nothing about his capabilities, yet I felt like he saw through me. I hated that feeling, it made me want to go back in there and drown him.

Shaking my head, I returned to my room and sat on the bed. Leaning on the bedrest, I grabbed one of the books carefully, the title ‘On Beasts and Plants’. It was a more detailed account on some creatures as well as the rare and dangerous plant life. I needed to educate myself better since I planned on getting free of this damn city soon. Thinking on the conversation with Zael, I couldn’t help but feel excited about the prospect of having free reign. Though, as a regular member of society, I needed to understand some laws. Hence, the other book was titled ‘Common-law of the Free’, referring to all citizens of the countries. Though each country had their own specialized laws, the common-law applied everywhere.

Basically, if I could find the loopholes, I could do as I pleased. Once I have the same rights as the free folk, there was a way to abuse the law. No one could punish me without evidence. That was one big loophole and the only reason I took the book. I was curious. Monsters were considered inferior and were made into slaves. The reason they were considered so in the first place was because they came off as unintelligent. The truth of the matter was, every humanoid monster had the capacity to learn. The Hobgoblin I’d met was proof of it. This was the reason they constantly underestimated monsters, they thought themselves so smart. What a bunch of idiots.

With a snort, I read the books until I fell asleep.

***

A few hours after I woke up, somebody came to get me and led me to the Arena. My first fight was about to start in ten minutes. I had listened to the man from last night and checked this timetable he mentioned. He was ranked A, but the plus beside it told me he was up for promotion. Our fight wasn’t to the death, instead being until one of us forfeited or couldn’t continue. His name was Gant Warnik, my fist opponent of the day. After him there were three others, in different parts of the day which made me sigh in relief. I didn’t have to exhaust myself to the bone anymore. Most of them were A rank, one even a B.

I had put on the armor they provided and knew immediately it was enchanted. Unlike the trash Patrick had provided me, this armor seemed light and flimsy, but I could tell the quality. Naturally, I tested it and my claws barely left a mark. It was sleek and covered all my vitals perfectly. Though there was no extra headgear, the metal caps on my shoulder and knees had a darker hue. The dagger was tucked away in the sheath I had strapped against my right boot.

The Arena was a huge, circular space similar to the Pits. But the sheer size of it made me gape. It must have been at least 600 meters in diameter. A shimmering, see-through barrier protected the audience. There were people as far as the eye could see, rising up and over the Arena. There was a large, flickering board with information about the fights. What couldn’t they do with magic for fucks sake? The ranks and names of top rankers which occasionally changed, it held the top 50.

The terrain was made of odd sand that looked almost alive. I was standing in front of a large gate, waiting for it to open. I could hear loud cheers as the announcer spoke, "Ladies and gentlemen! Today we have a returning star!"

My gate opened and I entered the Arena. I flick my tongue out when I remember the shitty announcements I used to get, "On the left side, we have the Ripper! Some of you know him, some don’t, however none should underestimate this madman! I give you the A rank, Atkozott!" I was surprised at the short and simple introduction, slightly peeved at being called a madman. I stood in the Arena and lightly pushed my feet against the ground, testing the stability of the terrain. Thankfully, it wasn’t sand and felt more solid than it looked. It felt strange.

“In the right corner and up for promotion, we have one of the favorites this season, Gant the Butcher!” without further explanations, the crowd erupted into wild cheers all on their own. It let me know this wasn’t going to be an easy fight. The man from last night walked out, waving at the crowd with a charming smile. My guard rose when I saw he was unarmed and wore a single piece of chest armor, confusing me further.

Once we stood at the 200 meter mark, evenly spaced from one another, the large screen suddenly flashed. It was showing a colorful spinning wheel. It took me a second but I realized the words on it marked different kinds of terrain. My eyes widening in surprise, I heard the announcer speak, “Let us see in what conditions our fighters will be facing each other!” With that, the wheel spun, the small arrow landing on ‘Marsh’. As soon as it was determined, the ground beneath my feet moved. The sand-like substance slowly rose up around us, changing color and texture until I was stuck in a very realistic swamp. The crowd seemingly died down, the only sounds remaining that of nature. Frogs croaked and the bushes rustled, I could even feel a breeze on my skin. The sour smell burned my nose.

The ground was muddy, some murky ponds nearby. The trees were thin yet the foliage rich obscuring my view. My confusion lasted only for a minute until I heard a loud howl in the distance, reminding me this was a fight. I couldn’t tell if it was all an illusion or something else, but at the moment, I didn’t have the luxury to ponder. I could hear trees toppling in the distance as I moved from my position.

I learned one thing. Gant was both fast and strong, most definitely not a human. Taking precaution not to leave much trail, I avoided the muddier spots and favored using the rocks and trees to move around. It didn’t matter though, because no matter where I turned, the man followed. Frowning, I found a clearing, noting a sinkhole to my left. I could see the Arena perimeter from here, letting me know I was at the edge. Not one minute later, a huge black beast jumped out and landed on all fours. Blood red eyes stared at me viciously, the bloodlust oozing off the furry creature.

With a growl that reminded me of laughter, a rough voice came out, “What’s the matter? Not running anymore?” his long snout seemed to stretch as he slowly rose on his hind legs, his height well over 2 meters. The Werewolf’s arms were long, stretching past his hips and decorated by five hooked claws on each hand. His reverse jointed hind legs seemed to pulsate with raw power. The furry tail swayed as we circled each other. I could tell by the look in his eye, he wished to toy with me first.

Moving in a way that brought him closer to the sink hole, I acted unimpressed. Humoring his taunts, I gave a sneer of my own, showing off my fangs. My blood boiled with the desire to fight. I took my time though, wanting to use a prime moment to show the bastard exactly why he shouldn’t underestimate me. Somehow, despite the terrain being dreary and annoying, it made me feel invigorated, the heavy air making my instincts sharper.

As soon as his leg sunk into the hole, throwing him slightly off balance, I was in front of him in a second. With a howl, he tried jumping away, but the sloshing mud kept him in place long enough for me to do damage. I understood how important a tail was for balance so I swiftly ducked under his reach and cut open his thighs. My tail flung behind him, the tip cutting off his tail at the base as I drew more blood by dragging the razors along his tendons. Just as he reached to grab me with an enraged growl, I kicked away from him. Unfortunately, he caught me by the tail. Ignoring the razors that were unable to cut through his claws, he pulled me back.

With a curse, I used the momentum to attempt to dropkick him in the snout. It didn’t go well as his maw opened and bit through my boot, directly into my leg. His claws dug into my tail, the hooked form allowing him to avoid cutting off his fingers. His other claw reached for my throat, however, failed as I blocked with my forearm. With a hiss, I kicked his face with my free foot. It connected as he let go of me and stumbled backward. He coughed continuously as his mouth foamed with blood. Limping away, I made some distance and smirked, “What? Am I not tasty?”

Cursing, he glared at me, “Fucking bitch! I’ll rip you limb from limb!” getting on all fours, he jumped at me. His aim was off though as he landed too far to the right. I could see his wounds were visibly healing just like my own. Not one to waste an opportunity, I wrapped my tail around his neck before he could retaliate again. The spike was swiftly pointed at his eye, “Surrender.” I said simply while in a crouched position. It was lucky my tail was longer than my body.

His eyes were wide in realization that he would have died had this been a fight to the death. The razors were pressed against his neck, only slightly drawing blood, serving as a reminder. He gulped and sighed, “You got me. I forfeit.” he said with a raspy growl.

The horn sounded as our surroundings seemingly melted back into the odd sand. The loud cheers of the crowd suddenly exploded everywhere while the announcer ranted on the results. Releasing the Werewolf, I calmly walked away, my limp already fixed.

Like this, an entire month passed. I fought three to four opponents every other day. Having won my promotions yesterday, I was using my day off to finish the book on law. I had even participated in the Gamble twice, winning the Colosseum two new fighters. Since the day I started fighting in the Arena, I have only lost five times. Two of those times were against the same opponent, a Titan. The rare monster was well over 5 meters in height, his silver skin was basically impenetrable by any means I might have had. I even wound up in the infirmary with a few missing limbs a couple of times. During that time, I had learned that it took a week to regrow my leg, two days to regrow my tail and two weeks for my arm. Fun times.

Tomorrow, I had the promised appointment with Evergreen. Feeling impatient, I was at wits end, sick of the Colosseum but managed to hold it in. Soon, I can put this shit-show behind me.