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Episode 11: Saved by the Belle

Arthur’s POV

The night inside the cell was supposed to be torturous, but I was used to it by now. With my mastery over the meditative state, the discomfort didn’t register any more. I had even gained a skill.

You have gained a new skill: Calm Mind

Calm Mind (Governing Stat: Willpower): Increases Mental Fortitude. Hostile Illusion spells have 8% chance of failing completely, 12% chance of reduced effects. 5% less chance of critical hit.

All the skill effects seemed unhelpful, but their potency would increase as the skill leveled up. For now, I was content that skills could be gained even by sitting in prison.

Without anything to do, I decided to recite multiplication tables. I was on 14 times 21 (294) when I heard a rhythmic clacking on the stone. Someone was coming down.

A guard appeared and opened the door. “Get out!”

“I can’t. I got a crick in the head and I don’t want to move too much, you know? It hurts if I move too much. Sorry.”

The guard seemed to be taken aback at my nonchalance, but recovered quickly. “If you don’t come out right now, I will stick this spear in your gut!”

I wanted to continue the game for a while, but decided to let it go. Besides, I needed to move my legs again. I crawled out of the cell with a deliberate slowness to piss the guard off.

As soon as I exited, the guard cuffed me with two silver manacles. “Don’t try to do anything funny; the manacles are primed to kill you if you do.”

His words weren’t completely true. I was using the Magesight when he cuffed me, but I wasn’t dead. Maybe the manacles only responded to active Magicka. But they were definitely enchanted; I could see red shapes on the cufflinks.

Some of the shapes repeated themselves at places. I quickly figured it out. The manacles were enchanted with runes that formed some sort of language. If I learned this ‘Runic language’ perhaps I could enchant my own weapons as well.

“Get moving! To the top! ”

I looked back and saw Kent, handcuffed similarly like me. Behind me, I could see the silhouette of Iorveth, his face hidden in the shadows. Whatever situation came next, it seemed we three were going to face it together.

I nearly stumbled on the steps, but managed to keep myself from falling flat on my face. Thankfully, there were torches on the walls after we climbed two floors.

Small glimpses of each floor greeted me as we worked our way up. Each successive floor contained more guards than the last one; the prisoners seemed tame too. They depended too much magic to keep the hardened prisoners in the isolated cells below. A weakness waiting to be exploited.

When I reached the Bloodworks, an amazing scene greeted me. When a super star steps out his car, there are generally hordes of fans screaming from the sidelines with his bodyguards protecting him. The same scene was front of me. Except the fact that no was screaming. Only staring. They were just staring… with an intensity that scared me. Like when a deer unexpectedly confronts a lion. Staring at each other, preserving the moment of calm before the chaos. Staring before the chase began.

Staring at Iorveth Maneater.

I look back.

Elves. Present in all fantasy stories, they possess unmatchable grace, unrivalled beauty and peerless wisdom. But I saw the truth when I saw Iorveth’s face. A long scar ran down from his cheek to the chin. A cut below his lips. His beauty had been stamped out. His unnaturally thin face bore a savage smile. No grace, but only an animalistic savagery. But the most chilling were the terrifying eyes. They were completely black and soulless.

When seen all at once, only one truth remained. Iorveth was empty inside. He was inhuman. Were all elves like this? And if not, what had happened to Iorveth to change him into this monster?

“Get moving, maggot!”

I was soon led away from the crowd to a smaller room. The whole Bloodworks was a really complicated maze. It was surprising how people didn’t get lost.

“You have one hour. Prepare yourselves.” The guards took off the handcuffs and left.

There was a black armor displayed on the corner of the room. Another side had a range of bows and quivers. This was Iorveth’s personal room before the fight. So where was our equipment?

************************************************************************************************

Kent’s POV

Just an hour before the fight began.

“Kent, you alright?”

No, I wasn’t. Both Iorveth and Sir Red were seasoned veterans. But I had never killed before in my life. Only death awaited me in the Arena.

“I am alright, sir. Just didn’t get much sleep last night.”

A woman walked into the cell, carrying a very heavy chest.

“Matron! Are those weapons in the chest, or are you just happy to see me?”

Amazing how composed he was. Were all great warriors like this?

“It’s your armor and weapons for the battle. Here, I think I got all of them.”

“Guardsman Kent?” She was talking to me.

“Yes?”

“Your sword and armor. They don’t allow full plate mail, so it is just your pauldrons and the chestplate. Is it all right with you, Sir?”

It wasn’t. Sir Red was right. I should have told her that I loved her. And now I would never get the chance.

“Yes, thank you, Matron.” I take my sword. Was it always this heavy?

“He’ll be alright, Matron. Just the jitters. Don’t worry too much Kent. You can do this.” Do what? I could barely hold the sword, let alone swing it.

“Your chances are getting lower, Adventurer. The Arena is going to devour him.”

-I know that, elf!- I wanted to shout, but my throat had clenched up. Holding the sword had somehow woken me up from the dream and into this nightmare.

*************************************************************************************************

Arthur’s POV

Kent was losing it by the minute. This was the turning point of his life. Either he would find the courage, or he would lose and break down. Training mattered little in this case. Only Will did. And if Kent lost the fight in his head, he would lose the real one too.

“Captain Kent! Attention! 100 straight swings, right now!” I shouted in the most authoritarian voice I could muster. He involuntary saluted me and got swinging. The sound of the swings filled the room; he was that fast.

“When in shock, soldiers can sometimes still respond to commands by their superior. That’s because they are subconsciously indoctrinated from their training. Hopefully, it will get him to calm down.” The explanation seems to satisfy the Matron, and even Iorveth gives a slight imperceptible nod. Perhaps our mysterious elf was a soldier.

“Kyle? Zaubern asked me tell you something.”

“Yes?”

“It’s against the rules… but alright, listen. Zaubern doesn’t want you to go easy against your opponents. He says it will be disrespecting them if you don’t fight them with everything you have.”

The old man must have known that I was holding back the last match.

“Alright. I promise I won’t be holding back.” There wasn’t much of a point, anyway. She looks relieved at my words. “I will be taking my leave, then.” I quickly changed into my new armor.

I promise I won’t be holding back.

I chuckle inwardly at my words. Today, the people were in for a show.

A guard knocked the door open. “It’s time for the fight. Come with me.”

I nodded back at the guard, and looked to see the others. Kent hadn’t completely calmed down, but at least his hands weren’t shaking any more. Iorveth was rising from his supposed meditation.

“Let’s go.”

*******************************************************************************************

“GOOD CITIZENS OF THE IMPERIAL CITY! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! WELCOME TO THE ARENAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

The crowd roars, perfectly timed with his words.

“TODAY WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL MAAAATCH! COURTESY OF AN ANONYMOUS BENEFACTOR, WHO WIIIIIISHED FOR THIS AAAAAAAMZING FIGHT!”

Anonymous benefactor? Sounded like a setup.

“SO HOOOLD ON TO YOUR SEEEEEATS, PLAAAACE YOUR BETS, AND GET YOUR REFRESHMENTSSSSSSSS. TODAY, WE HAVE THREE CUTTHROAT PITBULLLLLLS – “THEEE FAALLLLEN PALADIN!!!!! THE ARROW !!!!!! AND THE ........MAAAAAAANEAAAAATER..... VEEEEEEEERRSUS THE ONE AND ONLY YELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOW TEAM! LET THE GAAMES BEGIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!”

Definitely a setup. And Zaubern knew.

The gates start to open. No time to think about the setup. The situation needed to be salvaged. I just needed to convince Iorveth and Kent about the plan that had sprung up in my head.

*********************************************************************************************

??? POV

“Father! You need to stop this right now! Why would do so with the-”

Hush, child. This has nothing to do with your... friend.

“Then why would you-”

Hush.

I obey.

I wanted to see the skills of the Outsider. Or should it be Insider? Hmm?

Father leans forward, his face unnaturally gleeful. Even the air is silent, bending before the power of his Voice. The gates open before us, and for a moment, father smiles. Terrifying.

Don’t disappoint me, Arthur.

I involuntary shudder. And offer a silent prayer for this… Arthur person. May his success appease father, and if not, may his death be quick.

The yellow team steps out of their gate. And the out of the other steps out one man in front, with a bow in his hand. The Arrow. Behind him, two other follow, an elf and another man. The Maneater and the Paladin. Was that-

The battle began abruptly. The Arrow is the first to act. His arrow flies impossibly fast. The proficiency in Wind magic is astonishing. Instead of striking down the unprepared fighters, the arrow whizzes past the swordsman, going straight for the bard hiding in the back. The arrow misses him entirely, and instead hits the lute, breaking it by the middle. How disappointing. Their first attack wasted.

Taking out the rook first. Interesting.

I try to make sense, but Father’s words were often cryptic. What did Rook mean?

The yellow team warriors charge their enemy. But the Arrow and his compatriots are one step faster. The elf breaks off to the left, while the paladin to the right, running towards the other end from the sides. Meanwhile the Arrow starts shooting while running straight towards the enemy. What the hell is thinking?

The Maneater had crossed halfway and started shooting at the mage. I could make out the soft blue glow on his arrows from here. Enchanted bow, perhaps? Soon, one of the arrows hit the mage in the knee, bringing him down.

The Bishop down. Only the Knight and Queen left.

The Man eater doesn’t stop running, but instead starts shooting from the back towards the swordsman, who by now had nearly reached the Arrow. The man with the broadsword turns back and starts deflecting with his sword, leaving the dual wielding man to face the Arrow alone. The paladin too has changed directions and is charging towards the battle in the middle.

Surprisingly, the Arrow is evenly matched with the swordsman. He uses his bow like a staff, maintaining the delicate balance between offense and defense. But the swordsman plays a dirty trick, throwing sand into the Arrow’s eyes. It’s over.

The swordsman swoops in for the kill, but in that second, an intense light bursts out of the Archer’s hand. It doesn’t last for a second, but the damage has been done. The Arrow hits sharply as possible with the bow, knocking the other one down. Only one left. But they couldn't end the battle without killing him, unlike the rest.

You cannot let that happen. His soul is unique. If Shūsa dies, then the balance will be broken. He will never be born again.

What? Who was that? The voice is so distressed that I want to help it. But how?

You have not yet realized the truth. Your gift is still locked within you. I can unseal it for a moment, but the price will be high. For both of us.

My gift?

The power granted to your father also flows through you. Let me show you.

Intense power coursed through my body, racing. The power rushes through my lungs, forcing a single word.

No.

And the world disappeared.

****************************************************************************************

Arthur’s POV

Things had mostly gone right so far, but now we faced Shūsa. If he went berserk, there would be no choice for us except to kill him. Assuming we could kill him.

I charge… but something changes. The world disappears and… I….

But tell me, what good is the ship if it never even sailed? …..

No…

Who knows, we might even have been heroes…

The voice… fading away. Who was he?

We needed an alternative…

A cold voice dulling the pain. All fading away. Wrong.

I will uphold my promise. MARK MY WORDS! I WILL…

The anger, leaving me like a receding tide. Something was breaking.

Live well.

No. No. Not this. Not here. My heart beating so fast, now could run no more. This was my end?

NOT YET.

***************************************************************************

Crane’s POV

The boy suddenly jolts awake. He looks wildly me for a moment. Thank God he recognized me.

“Doctor, what the hell happened just now? I felt like I was being… erased.”

“You were dying. Your heart stopped beating for a moment.”

“Explain.” His words are shaky.

“I don’t know what happened. One moment, you were in the game, and the next, your heart started shutting down! I somehow kept you alive by giving you electric shocks with these..”

I show him the wires in my hand. “But otherwise, if you were alone you wouldn’t even have survived! Arthur, what did you do in there? The electrodes of the machine all lit up at the same time! The whole thing burned up!”

His brow if furrowed, deep in thought. Looks like I wasn’t going to get an answer. I was proved wrong.

“Doctor, you saved my life in there.”

“Well, you don’t need to state the obvious. Of course I would save you. We are in this together, aren’t we? ”

The answer comes ever so softly.

“Yes, yes we are.”

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Arthur’s POV

The Doctor leaves after some time. With my whole machine a wreck and the Beta over, I had nothing to do for the moment.

I think about the incident over and over, trying to figure it out. Was it Luthor? But no, that was implausible. It seemed like something else. Something I had seen, a long time before.

I rest, and let it come back.

>

“Well today is a good day. We can finally start your practice.”

I sullenly follow after Yama. The revelation that there were other people on the island had angered me a lot. What other secrets was he keeping from me? And why?

************************************************************************

“So, here. Watch carefully, you hold it like this…”

Rustling in the bushes. Too large for an animal. We turn back immediately, Yama ready with an arrow.

Three men burst out of the bushes. They are wearing camouflage uniform and carrying guns. Guns that were pointed at us. Who were they?

“SURRENDER RIG-”

The first man had an arrow in his throat before he finished his sentence. What the hell?

The second man went down right after the first. The third man raised his weapon to fire, but the strangest thing happened.

Break.

And it disintegrated into pieces. The third arrow found it’s mark. He died without a sound.

“How did you.. do that?” I ask. Even if I had lost my memories, I was sure that guns didn’t simply break. And that Voice…

Yama looked back at me, his face sorrowful.

“My curse.”

>

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