Maira

I paced nervously in one of the hallways of the manor, secluded from the rest of the servants. The fortnight the statue had predicted was nearly up and there was still no sign of the mysterious outsider. Despite Almar's best efforts, the rumor of a demon had spread like fire. By the end of the week, everyone had heard of the danger that was making its way towards the city. One half of the city was in a silent panic while the other was in complete denial of such a beast. Only I and a few other Nymphs knew the true nature of their concerns. I turned as Kalise finally rounded a nearby corner. I quickly closed the gap between us as I looked at her with concern. “Well, what did Mephite say? Is the outsider getting closer?”

Kalise’s crestfallen expression spoke volumes before she even spoke. She shook her head in disbelief as she rubbed her head. “She said there was a surge a few days ago but has since died down, much quieter than before. She can only hear it during the day now.”

I let out an uncertain sigh as I rubbed my head nervously. “That creature sounded so sure of itself. What could have happened?”

Kalise shrugged as she let out an exhausted groan. “Are you sure you heard it correctly? Maybe you were mistaken. Perhaps that creature was mistaken.”

I shook my head vigorously at the statement, refusing to question what I had heard. “No, I am certain that the statue said a fortnight. He was certain of this fact. If the outsider has not shown himself it means something happened.”

Kalise let out another sigh as she let her arms fall, defeated. “Or the statue was wrong,” Kalise repeated softly. “It may have been mistaken about the things to pass.”

I paused for a moment then reluctantly nodded as I firmly rubbed my face. “It does not change Almar's reliance on its words.” I reasoned desperately. “He has doubled the guard and is attempting to double the strange outsider weapons he possesses. The burdens he bears are having an effect on his demeanor. He is more unbearable than before.”

Kalise nodded as a distant shout echoed through the halls. “It would seem another search party has returned.” She remarked. “It cannot be good news if he shouts as such.”

I nodded as I turned to look down the hall. Almar had been sending small parties in an attempt to find the outsider before he made it to Nione. Predictably, they were all coming up empty. “What do you suppose the outsider is doing? If not making towards the city?” I asked curiously. “Surely one capable of besting an army of elves would wish to ensure they do not return. What if this is merely a delay in their plans? Or perhaps he has discovered a means of subduing his emotions.”

Kalise let out a long sigh then reluctantly shrugged. “Sard if I know. It can't be good if they really are out in the orc lands. The guards dare not get close to the border after what happened to the first search party. They would rather face Almar’s wrath over the outsider’s.”

I nodded as I sighed and turned back to Kalise. “Either way, I expect Almar will looking for me soon. You would do best to head down to the kitchen before he sees you. He does not appreciate his servants wandering from their duties.” Kalise nodded as she turned and hurriedly walked away.

I watched her leave as I heard Almar's thunderous roars grow louder. “Chameleon!” I heard him bellow. I felt my heart racing as he shouted my given name. “I Demand Your Presence.” I quickly turned and ran towards the noise, the beating would only be worse if I attempted to hide. I rounded several corners as I tried to find Almar. “Chameleon!” He roared again. I turned to the noise and saw the doorway he was behind. It led into the entrance hall and I quickly ran over to enter. I swiftly pulled open the door and slipped inside. Almar's glaring expression greeted me as I stepped into the entrance hall. Several pieces of furniture were already overturned and scattered about, strewing food and plates around the room. I had only a moment to take in the situation and Almar's solitude before he closed the gap between us and roughly grabbed my neck, dragging me the rest of the way through the door and slamming it closed behind me. My next sensation was one of pain as Almar began colliding his fist with my face. “I Will Send You Out How Sarding Often I Want To.” He bellowed. He turned and threw me against one of the overturned tables, causing my vision to briefly fade out. I returned to a new barrage of pain as Almar began to attack my face again.”I Want That Outsider Found And His Sarding Plan Stopped.” I felt my jaw dislocate as he mercifully began to slow his attacks. “I Will Not Have Everything I Worked For Be Taken Away From Me!” He finally stopped as a field of red overtook my vision. A vein in my eye had burst. It would take time to fix. I leaned over and coughed up blood, bringing with it a few specks of white. I ignored the floating teeth as I closed my eyes and began the repairs. I covered my mouth as I will the wounds in my gums close and for the blood flow to wane. “Fext, those need a day to grow back.” I groaned and forced my chin to the side to reset my jaw as Almar stood and panted. “Sarding FEXT!” He roared angrily. “How Dare They Disobey My Order!” He continued to gasp as I slowly undid the damage he had done. I continued to cradle my jaw as the pain lingered. Almar finally let out an exhausted sigh as his shoulder slumped and he finally relaxed. “Thank you, Chameleon. That was most relieving.”

I coughed as I briefly let go of my jaw. “Sthank you Shsire,” I said through an incomplete set of teeth.

I covered my mouth again as Almar nodded. “That will be all for today. Feel free to fetch something from the kitchen. I will not have a servant of mine shaming the manor with such a gruesome appearance.” I nodded as Almar turned and strode out the door. I leaned forward on my hand and knees as I let out a muffled groan. “I am starting to hope the outsider comes, just so that I can finally hear fear from Almar. Gods this hurts. I need food. Damage is harder than change.” I crawled to my feet as I finally drained the blood from my eye. My vision cleared as I let out a relieved sigh.“Sarding bastard. One day you will get what you deserve.” I limped out of the room and down the hall. I felt my gums ache as I made my way towards the kitchen. “I'll need meat to replace the teeth, that or chew on some spare bones for a few hours. Gods this is painful.” I paused as I suddenly felt Almar take a familiar route deep into the manor. His emotions descended and grew muffled as he entered his strange dungeon.“He is undoubtedly heading back to the statue. If his guards are unable to find the outsider, then perhaps the statue will be able to offer insight.” I turned and looked down the hall that would take me to the kitchen. “I could follow him, or remain willfully ignorant of what they spoke of.” I let out a low sigh as I stood there and considered my choices. One was willful ignorance, another was risky knowledge. One was blissful, the other painful. I tilted my head back and let out a groan as I felt the universe itself taunting me with this choice. “Why have the gods cursed me with this? Why must the thought cross my mind? Is this some form of an ordeal I must endure? … If so, what do the gods wish for me to choose? ... What would tell me the stat of Almar’s safety, tell me if I am ever to be free of that cursed bastard?”

I turned back and moved down the other hall, following Almar towards the statue. “I need answers. I must know the events that are to transpire.” I turned a corner to see the door that led into the depths of the manor. I approached it as I saw it was ajar and deftly slipped into the staircase. I descended the stairs as I strained my ears to hear the chanting that would awaken the being of rock. I paused as I finally heard it echo up the staircase and reverberated back down once it reached the top. I moved towards the now familiar doorway and flattened myself against the wall, straining my ears to hear within the room. Almar spoke the incantation for a few moments before stopping as the grinding stone signaled the statue's new mobility. It rumbled its usual greeting as the sound of shifting rocks filled the room. “You summoned me?” The statue's gravelly voice asked.

Almar let out a low growl. “What happened?” He asked bluntly. Pacing footsteps joined his angered questions. “You claimed the outsider would arrive in a fortnight. Yet here we are, a fortnight after, and my guards still haven't found a trace of him.”

I heard the statue move slightly. “Calm yourself. Events have taken place that has upset my prior prediction. The outsider is not planning to march on Nione in the near future.”

I heard the room fall silent, Almar at a loss for words. “I beg your pardon?” He asked angrily. I heard a brief movement from the statue before Almar began ranting. “What Do You Mean Events Have Upset Your Prediction? I Would Almost Prefer The Outsider To Be On His Way Now. At Least Then I Can Assure Myself That Damage To The City Will Be Minimal. And What Of That Spell You Mentioned? What Has Happened That Would Cause Your Prediction To Become So Warped?”

The room fell silent again as the statue waited for Almar to finish speaking. “It would seem that the spell has been. . . removed.” The statue finally admitted. My eyes slowly widened as I heard the rest of the statues explanation. “Rest assured the spell was designed to be difficult for removal, especially in its initial stages. The acolyte that designed it demonstrated as much on some . . . less than willing subjects. Only the combined efforts of at least two powerful mages could have undone the effects, let alone the enchantment itself. It would seem that the outsider had found such mages.”

I heard Almar's angered breath through the doorway. “You inform me of this NOW?” He roared angrily. “Why Did I Not Receive Word Of This Before I Sent My Guards Out To Search The Surrounding Wilderness? Why Have I Been Tasking Leroy With Building More Weapons If The Object Of Their Use Is Failing To Show Up? Tell Me Why You Are Unable To Bring Me The Outsider! Why Does Your Sarding Magic Fail You!?” Almar's pants continued to echo up the staircase as I stood there as still as the stones in the wall.

The only noise that permeated the room for several minutes was Almar's own breaths. Finally, the statue answered in its stern rumbling tone. “It would seem that the outsider has again managed to grow more distant from my influence.” It admitted. “I am only partially versed in the art of Cerebration. My skilly lay with transformations, not the magic of the mind. I am unable to access his most recent memories now. I must also admit that the spell has given him additional experience in resisting unconscious guidance. I now appear to face two more complementary forces that seek to seclude me from his mind. This next matter, I cannot emphasize enough. Even if these forces did not exist and I merely had access to his mind, I am wholly unable to directly alter his decisions. I am still too weak in my cerebration abilities. My extempore does not easily transfer to the mind. I can only guide him to certain choices and as of this moment, he is rejecting the choice to attack Nione. You must accept that I had no influence over the actions Leroy took within or without their Capital, only the direction he went once he managed to escape the city on his outsider contraption.” I heard Almar let out a low sigh.

I waited in bated breath for one of them to break the silence. Finally, Almar spoke. “Do you believe my city is in danger of an assault at this moment in time?” He asked with an air of unusual calm.

I heard grinding stone as the statue seemed to consider the question. “I do not believe so.” It finally admitted. “Though, I encourage you to share the outsider weapons so that I may offer greater protection should that prediction change.” I heard crinkling parchment and Almar taking a step forward. “You will have your cannons once I am assured that this matter is resolved. Am I made clear?”

I heard a pause, then more grinding stone signaled the statue's movement. “Of course. However, I insist that we make these discussions more frequent. I may come across something that is vitally important should the outsider choose to show himself.” I heard Almar's steps approach the door. I turned to sprint up the stairs but hesitated. “There is no time for me to leave the stairway. My steps will echo down before I can escape. He will surely discover my intrusion if I run that way.” I turned and quickly moved past the doorway and a short distance down the stairs beyond. I flattened myself against the central column and strained my ears to hear.

I heard the door open and Almar stepping out. “I call upon you when the mood strikes me, not when it is demanded of me. Just do your part and you shall have your cannons. My outsider serves me and me alone.” There was a pause and then I heard Almar bellowing down the stairs after me. “You Hear That, Outsider? Do Not Dare Betray The City Of Nione!” I clamped a hand over my mouth as I panted as my heart raced in my chest. “Oh no! Does he intend to descend the steps? Have I gravely errored?”

The staircase was silent for a few moments, my chest aching from the suspense. I awaited Almar’s next outburst, his decision to descend the steps after me. If he caught me, he would surely end my life. My hand trembled as it silenced my voice. “Please gods, spare me from this fate.” My heart stopped as I heard a voice call up from below, a gruff and unfamiliar voice. It sounded exasperated as it echoed up the steps. “Yeah, I Fucking Hear Ya. You’ll Get Your Fucking Cannons. Now Leave Me Alone. I Have Enough Shit To Deal With Without Your Nagging.”

I heard Almar let out a low growl at the insult, something no one has ever done to the baron’s face. My heart quickened as I foresaw him descending the steps to punish the perpetrator. “The gods have forsaken me. There is no hope for me. He will find and punish me for sure.” I heard Almar let out a low sigh as he stood on the stairs above. “Those better be words of truth, outsider.” He muttered. I felt a wave of relief as footsteps finally echoed down and I heard Almar retreat up the stairs. I let out a sigh as the door closed and the stairway grew quiet once more. “Sard, that was close. The gods are truly testing my resolve here.” I stood there and panted for a few moments as I felt my heart continuing to race in my chest. I felt my arms shaking as my mind wandered to the origin of this new voice. “I should depart from this place while I have the chance. I am not privy to who knows of this place. More could come and discover my intrusion.” I finally glanced down the stairway nervously. “Then again, perhaps the gods are testing me again. Perhaps . . .”

I let out a shaky sigh and began quietly descending the staircase. It wound further into the manor than I thought possible. My steps barely graced the floor as my heart hastened once more. I placed a hand on the outer wall to help stabilize me as I descended. “I must have answers. I cannot hope for the future if I do not know the state of the present.” I stopped as the stairs halted abruptly, ending in a thick wooden door. A small barred window sat within the door, allowing me to peek through the iron bars descending through the gap the window created. I cautiously approached as I felt my heart quicken once more. “Why is this door here? Why is it so greatly fortified? What is behind here that would ... unless.” I delicately reached out and grabbed the handle gracing the door. I hesitated for a moment, then pulled. It rattled slightly as I tried to open it, but held firm. “Locked.” I looked up at the door as my curiosity for it peaked. A dim torchlight streamed through the barred window in the door, barely illuminating the thick wood and black bolts composing it. I slowly craned my neck to peer through the tiny window as my pulse quickened further. The sight within caused my stomach to drop and for my racing blood to run cold. It was a horrendous vision to describe. Pure white bones lay haphazardly along a dim hallway, more iron bars acting at the walls to this mysterious place. I let out a forcibly calming breath as I continued to stare through the window. I took false solace in the bones being those of animals, until I spotted the skulls. I let in a small gasp as I gazed in disbelief at the blood splatters speckled onto the elven craniums scattered about the floor, staring lifelessly towards the door.

I felt a sense of unrelenting fear as a rough and familiar voice called from beyond the door. “Who goes there? Show Yourself!” I stood there, petrified, as I clamped a hand over my mouth and stifled my own gasps. I suddenly heard the clinking of metal, as a new pair of footsteps joined the voice. “Don't Fucking Make Me Come Out There!” I chose not to linger any longer and turned to sprint up the stairs. Whatever the voice tried to say next was cut off as my echoing footsteps followed me up the steps. I burst out of the stairway and back into the manor as my exhaustion finally overtook my fear and I relievedly placed my hands on my knees, panting. “Sard, is there no end to the sarded fext that Almar does?”

Dexter

The next couple of days passed by in a blur; a painful yet oddly focused blur. I would wake up, drink a potion, have breakfast, then spend a few hours practicing certain maneuvers. Bulak would arrive early enough to squeeze in some one-on-one practice for an hour before the others showed up. The trainers would, of course, try their hardest to hurt me as badly as possible, while treating the recruits mildly in comparison. Then again, the breaks I took gave me an opportunity to see how well the recruits faired against an opponent. I let out a sigh and wiped my brow as I stared around at the recruits. Vargan was practicing with his bow, firing his shots on an old shield as a target. They thunked loudly against the wood and sank in, marking where each arrow landed. He managed to cluster most of them around the center, slowly wearing down the strength there until he finally fired an arrow straight through sinking into the barn wall behind it.

Wurthu was taking his training to heart, putting as much power as he could behind his swings. He was moving a little weird when it came to his shield. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what wasn’t right. Bulak suddenly appeared beside me and grinned. I grinned in response before glancing back to Wurthu. “Looks like he’s really experienced with that axe,” I remarked. “I’ve never seen shields get damaged like that. He must be pretty strong.”

Bulak nodded as she turned towards Wurthu. Another gash appeared in the orc he was fighting as he brought his axe slamming into it. Her brow furrowed and she tilted her head as she gazed at his fighting. “It would appear so.” She replied. “However, his shield appears to make him unbalanced. His movements are slow and imprecise.”

I turned to Wurthu curiously. Now that Bulak had pointed it out, I could kind of see what she meant. His shield seemed kind of slow, taking another second to reach the position it was meant to go and even then it was a couple of inches off of where it was meant to be. “He’s not used to the combination,” I remarked, glancing at Bulak. “It seems like he’s never carried a shield before.”

She nodded as she let out a sigh. “You have learned well. Indeed, he appears to lack experience and instinct when wielding that shield. I am surprised he wishes to enter the arena as such. Most would have gained a modicum of skill in at least one variation of their weapon before attempting the rite. But it appears he has only developed skills in double-handed axes.”

I furrowed my brow as I glanced back at him. He was certainly destructive with that axe, even with the blunted blade he was working with. I imagined he would be able to smash through a shield given enough time and leverage. I turned back to Bulak as I gestured his way. “Are you saying he’s not going to be useful in the arena?” I asked. “Do you think the shield is going to slow him down for some reason?”

Bulak shook her head in response as she gestured and explained. “Of course not. He will still be useful in the arena, another blade is always useful in a battle. I am merely concerned about his effectiveness. Look, even the knife thrower is more effective with his shield.”

I turned to Yamarz as he stood in front of a target of his own. He had donned a shield to get used to the weight of it on his arm. He definitely seemed to be used to it now, his knives quickly singing through the air before impaling themselves onto the shield target before him. I shrugged as I turned back to Bulak. “Some people adjust faster than others,” I remarked. “Wurthu should improve by the time the rite rolls around. He just needs practice.”

Bulak let out a sigh as she glanced towards him. “Perhaps,” She remarked. “But it is still worrisome when he is so inexperienced so soon before the rite. Despite his demeanor, he may be the most inexperienced of the lot. Even the brothers seem more experienced than him.”

I glanced towards Urgran and Umurn curiously. They had taken to sparring together against three orcs, working together to take on the three of them at once. Urgran was using his shield to block incoming attacks and his spear to attack when he could. Umurn’s fighting style could be described as … loud. He worked in tandem with his older brother to smash enemy defenses. He also had incredible reaction time when it came to Urgran’s movements. It’s like he knew what his brother was thinking before he did it. I nodded as I turned back to Bulak. “They do seem used to their strategies,” I admitted. “Still, there’s going to be more than those two in the arena. Who knows, Wurthu might be really good at working in a group.”

Bulak let out an intrigued hum as she glanced towards Wurthu. “Perhaps.” She remarked. “Then again, it is possible that he finds just as much difficulty with cooperation as wielding a shield.”

I shrugged as I glanced towards Yargug. He had taken to using a flail as his weapon, a long chain ran from the handle at his shoulder to the spiked ball swaying by his ankles. He was using the length of the chain to hook the ball behind his opponent’s shield and pull it out of the way. He was also swinging the spiked ball at ridiculously high speeds to slam into the said shield, causing his opponent to stagger back from the impact. I was kind of impressed at how wildly he was able to swing the thing yet still maintain control of it. I gestured towards him as I turned and grinned at Bulak. “He seems like he’s adjusting well. You’d think he’s held that thing his whole life.”

Bulak turned to Yargug and scowled. “Hardly.” She retorted. “His weapon is far too flimsy. That chain merely detracts from the power he could have if he chose a sturdier weapon.” A large bang suddenly rang out across the field and I turned to see Yargug slamming the spiked ball into his opponent’s shield once more.

I turned back to Bulak as I gestured towards the blow. “Seems pretty powerful to me,” I remarked.

Bulak let out a low growl as she watched him sparring. “Marginally.” She countered reluctantly. “I still believe his use of the weapon is ineffective. I had not even known flails came in such length.”

I shrugged and stretched as I turned towards my own weapons. “I wouldn’t know anything about that. Mmmmm. In any case, I should get back to it. I can’t spend all day analyzing what the others are doing.”

Bulak nodded as she turned to where I was sparring. The grass in the area had worn down and flattened over the few days we’d already fought. Bulak gestured to my weapons as she turned back to me. “I agree with that sentiment. Retrieve your weapons and choose which to spar with.” I nodded as I stooped and grabbed my sword and shield. I turned to the group of idle trainers as I let out a sigh. “Another couple of hours. Come on, Dexter, you can hold out for that long.”

The trainers were extremely aggravated at my unwavering enthusiasm for their style of training. Bulak even needed to restrain one of them that day. Thankfully, he calmed down quickly once Bulak twisted his arm behind him. If this was them holding back, I was honestly warry about them actually going all out. They were pummeling me hard enough as it was. After another beating of a lifetime, the recruits and I met in the barn to eat and formulate a more advanced strategy for the arena. I’d keep track of all the plans we’d come up with so far. It would be a pain if I forgot one and didn’t have anything to reference to remember it.

I stretched my neck as we finished drawing up strategies for the day. I glanced at my watched as I committed the latest formation to memory. “Alright, we officially have three days left. That's three days to recover from anything you've been ignoring for the last few days.” I picked up a roll of parchment and waved it at the others. “I suggest you take this list down to Shurkul's forge and have him make anything the arena won't provide for the rite. I doubt they have the abundance of knives that Yamarz needs. Not to mention the balance throwing ones require.” Yargug nodded as I handed him the list of armor and weapons. I let out a sigh as I stretched again and felt the bruises being disturbed beneath my skin. “As for me, I'll spend the next two days training what little else I can. I have a potion that mitigates the overextension issue you guys have probably already hit. We'll still meet to discuss progress and strategies, but outside of that relax and tend to any injuries you might have developed.”

Yargug furrowed his brow as he looked up from the list at me. “Just a moment, why not let us have these potions? If they can undo damage to the body they may be highly beneficial for us. We could continue to train alongside you.”

I let out a sigh and shook my head. “The potions aren't without a cost,” I replied, rubbing my head. “If you tried to drink them you might lose a large portion of your stamina. The only reason I can handle them is because of the way we humans are built. Apparently, we can extend ourselves longer than orcs. It’s not surprising considering our past.”

Umurn leaned forward and gazed at me curiously. “You have been training with reduced stamina?” He asked, astonished.

I nodded as I flexed my fingers, feeling the joints pop softly. “Before all this, I didn't have the training you guys had. I've essentially been trying to catch up for the last month. Thankfully, I managed to pick things up fairly quickly, despite other factors. All that's left now is the rite itself.” I turned to Yargug as I gestured at the paper he was holding. “I trust you to take care of the equipment in the morning. For now, just head home. We'll meet back here tomorrow to brainstorm some more formations.” The recruits nodded as they stood and started moving towards the door. I stretched as I leaned back and started weighing the odds again. “They're still not ideal, but they're better than if I hadn't gone this route. Only time will tell the outcome now.”

Every time the trainers came back they would somehow outdo themselves in ferocity. boom bang crash Today was no exception. bang thoom clang the absence of the others meant they had nothing weighing them down. clang boom swish Whatever the orcs lacked in stamina they more than made up for in raw strength. slash bang thoom I'm stronger amongst other humans, but these orcs outpaced me at least threefold. clang boom bang In a one-on-one situation, I might have a chance outlasting them, but here I had no hope of obtaining such an advantage. bash thoom Smash I recoiled and fell backward as one of the orcs got past my shield again and bashed me in the face. I coughed as pain washed over me. I felt blood drip down my arm as my swollen cheek radiated painfully. I lay there for a moment, allowing the pain to wash over me briefly, then slowly crawled to my feet again and returned to a fighting stance, glaring at my opponents. The three orcs I was fighting glared angrily at me in return and panted from exertion. I tilted my head and smirked at the finally exhausted reserves. “Who’s ready to go again?” I taunted sluggishly. The orcs just continued to pant as they glared at me.

Suddenly, one of the orcs waiting by the barn broke through the crowd and strode forward, staring daggers at me. “Explain It To Me, Outsider!” He roared loudly. I turned to him as I felt my smirk fall away. I jabbed his finger at me heatedly. “What pushes you to stand up time and time again? What could you possibly be fighting for? What drives you to take these beatings day after day?” Bulak stepped forward to intercept him, but I raised my hand and signaled her to stop. She faltered as the orc shouted angrily. “You face impossible odd with little chance of success. Your combative skills here should make your fortunes in the arena dismally apparent. What could possibly be driving you to defy your fate? What Delusions Do You Hold That Tell You Of Your Success!?”

I took a few panting breaths as he stopped in front of me. He kept glaring eye contact as he growled angrily. I let out an exhaustive sigh as I felt my shoulders sag. “You want to know why I'm doing this? Why I'm weathering such rigorous training? Why I tolerate such unforgiving blows?” The orc just continued to glare angrily at me, not saying a word. I straightened my back and brought myself up to glare at him in response. I scowled as I gestured towards the gate angrily. “It's because of Almar,” I growled firmly. The orcs near the barn were now staring at me expectantly. The orc in front of me just glowered as he heard me speak. I felt a fresh wave of energy as I thought about what I was saying. My anger grew as I started monologuing. “Because of what he's done to this tribe and this city, because of the suffering he has inflicted on me and these people. Because of what he will do if no one can stand up to him. Because if I don't destroy him and the culture that makes people like him then no one will. Because I Was Too Weak To Protect Someone And She Died Because Of It!” I felt reinvigorated as I finished ranting. My pains and sores were gone as I glared at the orc. He stared coldly back as his scowl held firm. I turned and stared around at the orcs near the barn. There was an unexpected apprehension about them. I could almost see sympathetic frowns on a few of them. I felt my shoulders sag again as I saw their unwavering movement. “You may not like this explanation; you may not believe this explanation, but it's why I'm fighting, and why I will continue to fight until Adympia is nothing but a pile of ashes.” I turned back to the orc that started the tangent. His visage held firm as he stood there. I met his glaring gaze as I poured my heart into my next words. “That is what drives me to fight. I refuse to let others suffer because of my own inactions and weaknesses. I refuse to let the weak fall to the whims of the cruel. The world is unfair, but I’ll try my damndest to bring justice to those that deserve it. ” I let out a calming sigh as I felt myself relax again. The orc in front of me had neither moved nor said a word. He merely continued to glare at me as I stood there and panted. I gestured towards the orcs I was fighting as I glared at the one in front of me. “Now, is there anything else you want to say?” I asked a little challengingly. “I would much rather I get back to training, but if you have something to say, say it now.”

The orc panted for a few moments, his chest heaving in anger as he continued to glare at me. He finally let out a low sigh and briefly bowed his head. He appeared to ponder something as he stood there. He finally looked and stared at me, a much softer expression on his face. “You hold your shield out too far.” He replied, grabbing the edge and directing it closer to my torso. “Hold it in like this so that you do not waste energy. It may recoil into you with a blow, but better a blunted blow that a sharpened one.”

I nodded as I took in this first real piece of advice, a useful strategy in a battle. I hefted the shield closer to my torso as I nodded. “Thank you. I'll make sure to do that.” The orc nodded as he turned and trudged back to the barn. I panted as I watched him retreat. The others glanced at him hesitantly as he rejoined them. The anger that had graced their faces had somewhat vanished, replaced with what looked like thoughtful disgust. I turned to the three orcs I'd been sparring. “Shall we continue?” I asked them calmly, reinvigorated by the tangent. They glanced at each other hesitantly, then returned to fighting stances. I grinned to myself as I fell back into a fighting stance and we continued sparring.

The orcs were much more agreeable after that. They didn't let up on their strikes, but they were much more helpful in their advice. We sparred for another two hours before the sun sank low enough for me to call it a day. I let out a sigh as I lowered my weapons and stretched my aching neck. “Alright, I'll see you all in the morning,” I called towards the orcs. They reluctantly nodded and made their way down the hill. They didn't say anything as they trudged away, their faces contorted in thought. I felt a glimmer of hope as I saw their uncertainty. “That means their ways aren’t set in stone, as hard as it may be to change them. That’s nice to know. I just need to convince more orcs about my intentions.” I stretched as I slowly limped towards the barn door again. Bulak closed the gap and began helping me walk. “That was an interesting development,” I remarked, feeling my muscles ache from the pain.

Bulak chuckled and nodded, draping my arm over her shoulder. “You chose your words wisely. You appear to have convinced them of your devotion.”

I chuckled as we approached the barn. “Thanks. Hopefully, the rest of the city can be convinced like that.”

Bulak shrugged as she adjusted my arm on her shoulder. “Perhaps. That matter is unknown at the moment. For now, I suggest you focus your attention on your rite. Your time grows short after all.”

I chuckled again as I wiped a trail of blood from my face. “Not much else I can do now. Might as well enjoy the victories as they come.”

Bulak chuckled in response as she reached for the door. “It is encouraging that your spirits are high. However, there is still the grim future of the rite. You cannot allow yourself to lose focus over a small battle, especially when the last of the war looms on the horizon.”

I chuckled as Bulak and I finally reached the barn. “You got a point there. I’ll keep that in mind.” Bulak grinned as she reached for the door and pulled it open. This time Brokil was standing just beyond.

He tilted his head as he saw my injuries and my arm draped over Bulak’s shoulder. “You seem to have followed my advice.” He remarked sarcastically, a grin flickering onto his face. I chuckled and nodded as I felt a drop of blood falling from my finger. The warm blood dripping down my arm was oddly satisfying if a little painful. I wasn’t too worried about the gashes they were coming from. I just needed a bit of time to heal. Brokil grinned and waved us over to a chair. “I should be able to heal most of those before the others arrive.” He remarked.

I nodded again as Bulak guided me over into the chair. “Thanks again. Target the gashes if you will. I don’t want to lose too much blood before the rite.”

Brokil nodded as I was lowered into the chair. I felt myself finally relax as Brokil began examining my wounds. “I should be finished momentarily.” I nodded and tilted my head back as Brokil began working on my wounds. “I can tell the trainers still don't like me, not by a long shot, but they certainly don't despise me like before. Hopefully, I can do the same for everyone else in the city.” After a moment or two, Brokil finished with my injuries and stood. I let out a relaxing sigh as I sat there for another moment before finally standing, flexing my fingers. “I can sow the seeds of doubt in each of them, then all I need to do is wait for those seeds to germinate.”

I grinned as I turned to Bulak. “Almar is going to regret attacking Snakhagr,” I said confidently. “It’s only a matter of time.” Bulak grinned and seemed about to say something but was interrupted by a knock at the door. I turned to it as Brokil turned and moved to open the door. “But that's for later. Right now, I have a rite to go through.” I walked over to the table as the recruits entered the barn. I tidied up the papers on it as I glanced their way. They seemed much more energized and ready for the next few hours. I turned to Yargug as the thought of the list crossed my mind. “Alright, what did Shurkul say about the equipment? Is he able to make it?” I asked as I sat down.

Yargug nodded as he gestured behind him. “He can make what the arena lacks,” He replied, taking a seat next to me. “But he will need specifics for the knives. I believe he said balance is necessary for those designed for throwing. I have already specified my design for my weapon.”

I nodded as I turned to Yamarz. “You'll have to visit him tomorrow to get that sorted. He’ll probably have it finished within the time needed.” He nodded as they all took a seat and got ready for one of our last meetings. “Perfect. If there's nothing else worth mentioning.” I waited for someone to speak up. There wasn’t a peep as I sat there. I gestured towards the table in front of us. “Then let's continue.”

I held nothing back on the last day of training. boom bang crash Then again neither did the orcs. clang bash boom They did, however, give really good advice whenever they got past my guard. swish bang Smash I fell to my knees as a blunted spear managed to evade my sword and hit my stomach. I felt a churning sensation swell up. I knelt there for a few moments as I tried to keep my lunch. Finally, the churning subsided, and I slowly crawled to my feet. The orc that had struck me stepped forward and held out his hand. “Your sword.” He requested. I obliged and placed the hilt in his hand. He held it up and waved it around demonstratively. “Try to find the center. It should be a few inches from the guard. Using it allows you to quickly change where you point your weapon. You will save your strength that way as well.”

I nodded as he handed the blade back to me. “I'll keep that in mind,” I said, glancing at my watch. 6:15 I let out a sigh as I stretched, feeling the usual barrage of damage coming to the forefront of my mind.“I think that's all for today.” I said, turning to the other orcs. “I thank all of you for your efforts in this endeavor. They were most beneficial to the end goal. There’s no need for you to come back tomorrow, I need one day of rest myself. The next time you see me, it'll hopefully be in the arena, fighting for what I earned on the field of battle. I can only hope that fortunes smile upon me. I’ll probably need it in the arena.” The orcs glanced at each other as I finished speaking. They didn't walk off like they usually did; they just stood there, silently. Their faces were still apprehensive. It was as if many of them were teetering on saying something while the rest were looking at them warily. Finally, one of the orcs started walking towards me. It was the same orc that had gone off yesterday, the same one that had struck the first blow during that first sparring session. “I guess he likes being vocal.” I thought.

He slowly walked up to me as he glared, his face a stony expression and contempt. He finally stopped, staring directly at me. I waited for him to speak as usual, but surprisingly, he didn't. Instead, after a few moments of silence, he extended his hand. I looked down at it, then back at him. “May the gods smile upon your endeavors.” He finally growled. I felt a twinge of confusion cross my face. There were many things I expected him to say, but that definitely wasn’t one of them. He stared down at me firmly as he kept his hand extended.

I finally realized his sincerity and grinned slightly as I took his hand and shook it. “And may they look upon you with favor as well,” I replied. “I’m sure your perseverance will be richly rewarded.” The orc grinned at the idea, chuckling as we stood there for a moment. As he let go I clenched my fist and brought it up, striking my chest and causing a soft thud to sound, mimicking Kagan’s initial greeting. The orc continued to grin as he copied the motion and struck his chest. I heard several similar thuds emanate from a few of the others, though most still chose to remain still. After that, the ones that had stepped forward turned and began walking down the hill, leaving the others in silence. After another moment, the ones that hadn't moved followed his lead. I turned and, again, limped towards the barn as Bulak walked over.

She grinned as she draped my arm over her shoulder and began helping me towards the door. “You certainly have a way with words.” She remarked. I nodded as the weight of events suddenly dawned on me. “This was the last day of training. What little you learned is all you get for the rite. There's nothing you can do at this point.”

I shook my head and looked up at the barn as I focused my attention on the future. “It's always good to leave off on a positive note,” I replied cheerily. “It gives some optimism for the future. Lord knows I need some optimism right now.”

Bulak nodded as she pulled open the door. “I can understand. You have already put yourself through so much. Yet, you have not scratched the surface of the rite. This was only to prepare you for it.”

I nodded as she guided me over to a chair again, Brokil walking over almost on instinct at this point. I tilted my head back as he began working on my wounds. “This feels wildly different from the battle. Though, that was far more spontaneous, springing up out of nowhere like that. For this, I guess I'm starting to think of all the ways and scenarios that could make it go south.” I let out a sigh as Brokil finished with my injuries. “I was able to do all those things because of the heat of the moment. I might act differently if I don't enter the right mindset. It’s going to be hard to get the inferno without the fuel though.” I stretch my arms as I stood and moved over to the table. “I'll spend the rest of the time memorizing these formations, and anything else we cook up tonight and tomorrow.” There was suddenly a knock at the door. “Speaking of.” I turned and moved towards the door. I grinned as I pulled it open and came face to face with the recruits. “Come on in, the food should be here in a few minutes.” They nodded as they crossed the threshold and walked towards the table. I glanced at Yarmaz as he entered “Did you get the weapons sorted?” The nodded and turned to reveal a satchel. He opened it to reveal at least a dozen polished knives. I nodded as I turned to Yargug. “What about you? Was he able to make it your weapon.?” Yargug nodded as he pulled a length of chain from his shawl. It glinted in the light as he revealed a small spiked ball attached to the end of it. “That’s perfect. Spend some time practicing with that. I imagine you two will want to get used to those.”

Yamarz nodded as he tapped his satchel. “Naturally. I must get used to wielding these after all.” Yamarz said, pulling out one of the daggers and balancing it on his finger. “I should be able to hit any target with these.”

I nodded as Yamarz put the knife away and moved over to the table. “Excellent,” I said encouragingly. “Now then, we only have tomorrow to prepare for the rite. I suggest we use it to study the formations we have and come up with anything else that might be useful.” They nodded as I sat with them. “Let's get started.” I reached for the parchment and noticed my slightly trembling hand. I clenched it as I pulled my notes closer. “Calm down, you still have twenty-four hours to increase your odds. You can do this. You Can Do This.” I let out a sigh as I looked down at my notes.

Not much happened on my last day of preparations. I spent the day studying formations and resting up for the next. What I did that day would greatly affect my performance in the arena. This was probably the most important day of my life so far. Yet, I dreaded its inevitable end, the looming rite just on the horizon. But I couldn’t allow myself to dwell on that, I just had to focus for another day or two. After that, I could celebrate. After that, I could finally relax.

I drank the potion like usual, ate breakfast, even got in some morning stretches to help myself recover. After that, I began pouring over formation after formation and trying to memorize each one. I felt my legs jittering as I sat in the chair and studied. The formations flew through my mind as I rifled through the papers. We’d prepared for every possible combination, defense, offense, utility, versatility, long and short-range. The only limiting factor was our own strengths and weaknesses. I would definitely be a weak point in terms of power. So I would need to rely on my endurance and speed in the arena, the latter of which is still lacking in terms of precision. I would have to play off the others to be effective. We’d have to work together perfectly if we were going to get through this.

The recruits returned at midday for one last brainstorming session. I could tell they felt a bit nervous. Who wouldn’t be? They had little prep time and would be entering with someone that council despises. They would make tomorrow as hard as they possibly could. I tried to get them into the swing of things, but their spirits weren’t all that high, all things considered. I eventually had to concede and send them home, leaving me alone at the table. That was disconcerting, to say the least, but I couldn’t allow myself to be distracted. I spent a couple of hours after that reading my notes on the formations. My leg continued to jitter from nervousness as I ran my fingers along the pages. I found myself reading the same formation over and over again just to calm my nerves and gives me a sense of stability.

The afternoon turned into evening, then into the night, and still, I read. I could feel myself growing tired with each page I went through, but I pushed forward. I guess I hoped that I could delay the rite by avoiding sleep. Eventually, though, my common sense overrode my irrational fear and I crawled into my hammock. I let out a sigh as I resigned myself to my fate and stared up at the slanted rafters of the barn, swaying slightly. “Tomorrow is the day, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Tomorrow I’ll get to see if my efforts pay off. Three weeks of training all leading up to this.” I looked down at my hand and flexed it experimentally. The soreness was now completely gone. “I'm not physically stronger, but the sparring means improved reflexes. It’s not by much, but it’s better than not training at all. Though whether that'll help me in the gauntlet is a whole other thing.” I continued to sway in the hammock as I mulled over my chances. The swaying slowly lulled me to sleep as one more thought drifted through my mind. “Time to see if it's all going to pay off.”