Dexter

I followed Bulak as she ran down the street, the large building growing closer with each footfall. “Now for the arena. God only knows what they'll send us.” I looked up as came upon its base. It looked like the Roman Colosseum; complete with archways and rumble of a crowd, though a few degrees smaller than the real deal. The building was made of the same pure white stone the other houses were partially made of. It felt surreal to be so close to such a historical monument, even if the monument was smaller and experienced an entirely different history than my own. I followed Bulak as we passed an archway and entered the shade of the building, traveling along the circular wall running around the outside of the building. We finally came upon a door recessed into the wall slightly. Bulak pulled the door open and disappeared through it. I followed her as the sounds of the crowd grew muted and we traveled down a sloping hallway. Bulak spoke over her shoulder as we descended. “You still have an hour to prepare for the arena. That should give you ample time to grow accustomed to your equipment. You may wish to practice before you enter.” I nodded as she led me further down the hallway. Our footsteps echoed off the smooth stone surrounding us. After a while, the steps finally leveled off and fed into another circular corridor, lit by braziers sticking from the wall and extending out of sight. Bulak turned to the right and began following the dimly lit path. We walked for another moment or two until we came upon another door, this one guarded by an orc.

He turned to us as we drew near and stepped away to stop us. He held up his hand as we slowed to a stop in front of him. “What is your business here?”

Bulak glanced at me and tilted her head towards him. “The token.” She whispered.

I nodded and presented the pale white carving, still clutched in my hand. “I've proven myself in the gauntlet. I'm ready to enter the arena.” I said almost ceremoniously. The orc picked up the hand-carved head and examined it closely. After a moment he nodded and handed it back to me. I took it and looked at the door as he pulled it open and motioned me inside. I entered and was immediately greeted with a cry of victory. “And that makes Seven!” Vargan shouted gleefully. I grinned as I looked around the room. It was a large supply room, filled with weapons and armor as well as the recruits. I grinned wide as I saw all of them, successful in their first stage and standing with various weapons and armor strapped to them. Wurthu, Umurn, and Urgran already had their arms and thighs covered in leather armor, suited for the power-oriented role they were about to play. Yargug, Vargan, and Yamarz had only leather tunics covering their torsos, leaving their arms and legs free of the restricting binds. It was smart to leave their arms unrestricted, considering all of them needed precision to properly use their weapons. A few of them already had war paint smeared onto their faces, drawn in various and strangely intricate designs, far more detailed than any I had known to exist. I noticed the racks of weapons and armor recessed into the wall, a few open spots denoting missing equipment. I saw Yargug was gently swinging a lengthy supply of chain with a bent dagger at the end, practicing his precision on a wooden mannequin in front of him. I titled my head as I gazed at the weapon as it sang through the air. “Now I recognize it. It’s one of those Japanese chain weapons. I wonder how skilled he is with it.”

I turned as I spotted Wurthu leaning on a nearby wall, his battle-ax leaning beside him. He was using his fingers to spread his own war-paint on, covering his face in three arcane symbols. ‘ᚶ ᛉ ᚸ’ He looked up as he noticed my gaze and pointed to a corner of the room with his paint-covered finger. “Your weapons and armor are on the table there.” He supplied. “Arm yourself. I expect they will begin shortly.” I turned towards the table and spotted the items he was referring to. I nodded as I moved over to the table and stretched my joints. The others returned to their tasks as I inspected the items they laid out for me. A shield, scabbard, and leather armor were stacked onto the wood. The shield had a diameter similar to my forearm, bound in thick leather and rivetted with studs, much sturdier than the wooden one I practiced with. The leather armor was similar to Wurthu’s build for power and durability, leather straps bisecting the chest plate and ending in thick brass buckles. The arms also had numerous straps, but I was more unsure about their purpose. I picked up the leather-bound scabbard and examined the hilt protruding from it. It glinted unusually in the light, seemingly newer than the other weapons around the room. The curved rectangular hilt was about as thick as my index finger and just as long on both sides. The circular pommel was as large as crabapple and coated in a fresh layer of oil, likely protecting it against the elements. The handle attached to it was covered in a thick dark leather that matched the scabbard it was housed in. I tilted the weapon and pulled the handle sticking from the end, revealing the long sword housed within. The divet that ran down the middle traveled only a short way before stopping, marking the halfway point on the long diamond shape of the sword.

I grinned as I ran a thumb along the blade, more oil sticking to my thumb as I drew it away. “Excellent,” I remarked, sliding the sword back in and placing it with the rest of my equipment. I turned to Vargan as I grinned widely. “I told you not to worry. We all got through. Now we can think about the arena.”

Vargan nodded as he rubbed his hands nervously. He had his bow strapped across his torso, the string pulled taut as the wood straining to touch its ends. His face held only a few marks of paint, devoid of symbols that Wurthu was applying. “This was certainly an unexpected outcome. I have difficulty recalling if the gauntlet ever failed in eliminating at least one apprentice from a group.”

I nodded as I pulled my own leather armor on and began suiting up. “Let's see, straps here and here.” I turned to Vargan as I pulled a few buckles tight. “I don't know if any other group had people like us. Brugo sent you guys to me for a reason. Hell, you might be the most skilled out of everyone he could've picked.” I heard a few small laughs as I began pulling on the leather bracers on the table. I chuckled in kind as I pulled the straps tight. “Whatever the case, with everyone here we've got a pretty good chance of making it through this. We just have to stay focused and be prepared for anything.” I turned to Bulak as I tightened the bracers. She was leaning against the wall beside the door. “What should we expect, landscape-wise, in the arena.”

Bulak pointed towards the ceiling as she shrugged. “The arena is composed of soil, but for a rite, they populate it with a few obstacles; boulders, trees, lakes of water. The number and size depend on the kind of beast the council has chosen. Meaning the contents are as unpredictable as the beast itself.”

I nodded as I picked up the scabbard and strapped it to my side. It felt heavy tied to my waist. I tied the strap tight and experimentally directed my arms to and fro, testing the limitations the leather was putting on my flexibility. “We'll come up with a plan for those when we find out what's up there. For now, we should mentally prepare ourselves.” I let out a sigh as I turned to the others. They gazed at me with hesitant expectation. I popped a few joints as I stretched and prepared myself for the task ahead. “Do anything you think will improve our chances. This might be your last opportunity.” They nodded as I finished arming myself and pulled my sword from its scabbard. I looked at the blade as I swung it around experimentally. The difference between the practice blade and this one was clear. There was a clearly defined edge to the metal and the balance seemed closer to the handle. Strangely enough, it seemed heavier than what I was used to, despite the blade that ran up and down the pointed tip. I had no trouble imagining it slice through a piece of flesh. I finished testing the balance and slid the blade back into its sheath. I picked up the shield from the table and strapped it to my back as I examined the straps on my armor. “This looks right, but I can't be sure. This might fail if I stress it too much in the arena.” A thought crossed my mind and I turned to Bulak. She was still leaning on the wall next to the door, watching us. I grinned and held my arms out as I sauntered over. “What do you think? Do I look like a warrior?”

She grinned and nodded as she reached out and turned my forearm, examining the straps. “You have admirable instincts. I see no faults in your lacing.” She looked down and raised my arm to examine my side. “You did falter here though. Give me a moment. I can remedy the discrepancy.” She began working on it as I stood there. I raised my other hand and flexed my fingers experimentally. I could feel the leather pressuring my entire forearm to conform to its interior. I turned and took note of the leather covering my shoulders and how the armor crept up far enough to protect my collarbone. It wouldn’t stop a bullet, but it had to be adequate if the orcs used it. I don’t imagine many animals being able to puncture armor like this. Bulak took a step back as she finished and nodded. “That should be all. Now you are prepared for the arena.” I nodded as I glanced at the others. It was Yamarz's turn with the jar of paint. He began drawing runic symbols on his face in the same placement as Wurthu’s. I took note of the marking on the others as he began applying his. They ranged from small and intricate symbols to large tracts of paint. I looked down at my fingers as I considered my own face. “There's probably an advantage to having the paint on, it could diffuse the sun from my eyes and improve my eyesight. It might even be nice to have a similar design that they’re putting on. Though I don't know what I should apply.”

I turned back to Bulak as an idea crossed my mind. I gestured towards my paintless face as I grinned. “Can you help me with the war paint? The only pattern I know is just two black streaks under my eyes. It serves a functional purpose, but it'll probably look out of place amongst them.” Bulak nodded as she motioned me over to one of the chairs. I moved over and sat down as she retrieved a jar of paint. She walked back over and knelt in front of me as I removed my glasses. She seemed to consider something for a moment, then dipped her finger into the jar and began dragging it across my face. I sat there as she gradually drew indiscernible across my cheeks and forehead. Eventually, she leaned back and looked at her work, finishing up with two streaks of paint underneath my eyes. She stood and nodded as she reached to a nearby table. She presented a mirror as the door was pushed open again. She had split my face into four quadrants, drawing a vertical and horizontal line that intersected at, though they did not cover, my nose. She'd drawn a total of four symbols on my face. I looked at them as I pondered their meaning. ‘ᛣ ᛪ ᛞ ᚾ’ The string of symbols started from my right cheek, then moved onto and across my forehead, then returned and ended on my left cheek. I looked up as I heard a clinking of glass. Brokil had joined us in the room, carrying a wooden box and setting it down on the table.

He grinned wide as he tapped the box he had been carrying. “I present you with a few last moment gifts.” He declared happily. “I wish I could provide more. However, there is only so much aid you may receive.” I stood and walked over as the others mimicked my action. Brokil began pulling glass bottles from the box and handing one to each of us. They were palm-sized bottles filled with vibrant red liquid. The fluid swirled in the center as I examined the flask. I looked up at him, questioningly as I felt a twinge of apprehension. It looked like a health potion, but it seemed too cliché. Brokil noticed my confusion and gestured towards the vials as he explained. “They are vitality potions, capable of reversing any injury. It is not perfect, but it will do for the task ahead. I also have belts to house the potions.” He reached into the box again and pulled out some lengths of leather, a pocket strapped to each of them. He passed them out as he continued to explain. “I made enough to fill the glasses with two uses. You should be able to undo almost all damage. However, I dissuade recklessness as the limits of each potion are not certain.”

I nodded as I pulled the leather around my waist and put the potion within, tying it closed with the piece of leather provided. “Thank you for your generosity, and the warning. We can't be too careful when we enter the arena.”

Brokil began to nod then seemed to stop as he looked at me. His brow furrowed as he gazed at my face. I rubbed my thumb along my cheek nervously as Brokil squinted curiously. He suddenly glanced at Bulak, his eyes squinting further. He then let out a sigh and shook his head and he turned back to his box. “Since I was unable to help you through my knowledge, I chose to aid you by providing these. It is not ideal, but it better than nothing.”

I nodded again as I palmed the pouch holding the vial. “It’s perfect for the rite. Hopefully, we won't’ have to use it.”

Brokil let out a guilty hum as he glanced at each of the pouches. “I should preface that it will be different from the spell you are used to feeling.”

I tilted my head as I looked at him. “What do you mean by that?” I asked, a little annoyedly.

Brokil let out a sigh as he gestured towards the pouches. “Spells are much more powerful than potions. We are limited by our archaic ingredients and prior experimentations. We have not yet found a way to bring all the effects of spells into our potions. If you injure yourself and use the potion it will cause waves of pain to radiate from your injury as it is healed. In truth, the potion is most often used in dire circumstances and when healing spells are unavailable.”

I nodded as I rubbed the leather with newfound respect. “For emergency use only, got it. Any other words of encouragement?”

Brokil shook his head as he picked up the now empty box. “The potions are all I came here for.” He replied, giving me an encouraging grin. “However, I look forward to watching your exploits in the arena.” He then turned and gave another reassuring smile to the others. “I wish you luck in the arena. You will need it if the council is unfavorable.” Everyone nodded as Brokil turned and left the room. It grew eerily quiet once the door closed again.

I looked around at them. Some still gazed at their vial, others had yet to put on the belt. Only Wurthu had bothered to put both of them away yet. I could see his leg trembling slightly, undoubtedly from nervousness. I let out a calming sigh as I turned back to Bulak. “What's your guess on what the council will send into the arena? Any clue on what they have? What they could use?”

Bulak considered the question for a minute, then shrugged. “It could be any number of creatures.” She admitted. “The arena keeps a great number of wild beasts in the cages below. Though, his observation of your smallest concern being a Chemisit is accurate.” She gestured towards Wurthu, he was now sitting cross-legged on the floor, head leaning against the wall behind him. “There are many exotic creatures that pose greater threats than them. Creatures that have more power, more speed, more dangerous to an unprepared warrior. I cannot begin to guess which one the council would choose.”

I nodded as I nervously gripped the handle of my sword. That wasn’t what I wanted to hear, but I could use it to prepare myself a bit better. “That's a fair point.” I sighed. I stretched my neck as I felt my heart pounding in my chest. My mind started racing in the background as it tried to come up with an accurate scenario. I banished its ramblings as I turned to Bulak again, giving her a falsely cocky smile. “I can't help but feel nervous.” I chuckled nervously. “This is the crux of the last week. This is a make or break moment. In a couple of hours, it'll all be over, whether I'm victorious or not. … God, I hope they go easy on us.”

Bulak nodded as she placed a hand on my shoulder. I felt my heart slow and a wave of comfort wash over me as she gently gripped. “That is why I am confident that you will be successful.” She encouraged softly. “You take this time to comprehend the severity of your next actions after a ceaseless training regiment, all to make sure you are well armed before you finally face your adversary. I cannot think of anyone else more dedicated to success in such an uncertain endeavor.”

I grinned and nodded as I reached up and squeezed Bulak's hand. Her soft skin brought comfort to the worries that plagued my mind. I ran my thumb across her hand as I let out a nervous sigh. “Thanks, I needed to hear that.”

Bulak grinned in kind and nodded as she motioned me over to the chair again. “You still have a while to prepare. I suggest you focus on the task at hand.” I nodded as I moved over and sat in the chair, leaning back and gazing up at the ceiling. “Nothing left to do but wait.”

This wait wasn't as stressful, at least we all stuck together this time, but it was stressful nonetheless. For the most part, we stuck to ourselves, each of us psyching ourselves up for the task ahead. The rumble of the crowd gradually grew louder as we waited, the stone room doing less and less to muffle the noise. Spectators were filling the arena, walking to and fro and finding an open seat, any seat they could. They were growing louder and louder, filling the air around and under them with noise until we could hear the crowd bellowing in excitement as if the stone above us wasn’t there at all. It’s not every day a rite like this would occur. I doubt an outsider was ever allowed to partake in something like this, let alone for the purpose of a title. All the while Bulak kept her hand on my shoulder, comforting me gently. I tapped my thumbs together nervously as my mind ran wild with possibilities, beasts both physical and mythical alike bursting into the arena to attack us. I ran through the formations and strategies, again and again, pitting them against various creatures I knew and growing nervous about the ones I didn’t. I’d never heard of a Chemisit before this. If it turned out too much for us to handle … No, I couldn’t allow myself to think that way. I just needed to focus on the task ahead, this impossible task that would make or break my chances with the orcs. If I won, I could move forward with my plan. If I didn’t … Well, I’m guessing they have that ‘only one standing’ rule for a reason.

We all turned to the door as it was finally pushed open. In stepped another orc, this one wearing a shawl with thin gold trim. His skin was unusually neat, still hairy but clean beneath the many hairs. He looked around at us as we gazed at him expectantly. He seemed to pause as he spotted me sitting next to Bulak. He paused for another moment, appearing to consider his next words, then finally spoke in the usual orcish rumbling tone. “This is a most unorthodox rite.” He chuckled, stroking his chin. I felt myself relax as he put on a warm smile. “Then again, it came about from equally unorthodox circumstances. Much is now expected of you.” I felt a twinge of apprehension as he continued to smile and convey the severity of the next event. “You will enter the arena with the weight of Snakhagr bearing down on you. The arena itself if bursting with spectators. This is a spectacle for the ages. Everything you do in there will weigh heavily on your life to come. This group will be forever known as the winter rite. Even after you depart and go your separate ways, this name will haunt you and dictate your success in life. None for the next hundred years will not know of this rite.” His grin grew wider as his gaze locked on me in particular. “The council expects the very best from your performance. Pray that you have adequately prepared yourself.” He then turned and motioned for us to follow him. I let out one last shuddering sigh and stood, removing my glasses to hand them to Bulak.

She briefly grabbed my arm, causing me to turn to her, my heart still racing in my chest. “Good luck.” She whispered, taking the frames. I grinned and nodded as I turned back and followed the others. We reentered the circular hallway and continued away from where I and Bulak had entered. The crowd above grew even louder as we traveled. The floor slowly rose as our footsteps echoed along the stone walls. The crowd grew to a veritable roar as we turned and came upon a closed gate, leading into the arena. I gulped as I looked through the wrought iron bars and saw the arena beyond. Several trees and a few large boulders were in my line of sight, littering the field with obstacles and shade. A swift wind blew through the field and pulled a leaf or two from the trees beyond.

I glanced at the other orc as he motioned towards the gate. “You will enter once the horn is blown. After everyone has seen you, the beast will be released. You all know what to do from there.” He then turned and strode away, leaving us in front of the unopened gate.

I let out another breath as I turned back to the gate, feeling my nervousness return. “Any of you guys know a prayer?” I asked nervously. “I’m pretty sure my god doesn’t condone violence of any kind.” Everyone collectively shook their heads.

Vargan let out a sigh as he nervously thumbed his bowstring. “Not to a god that would look favorably on this,” He replied apprehensively. “Your presence alone would bring their wrath to this fight.”

I sighed as I took note of the gate on the opposite side of the arena. I could see the rocks weren’t really grounded and one of them was already starting to slowly tilt. “Fair enough. I guess there's nothing else to do then.” I pulled the shield off my back and strapped it to my arm, drawing my sword once I pulled the leather tight. I felt the weight of the weapon in my hand, the point of sharpened iron ready to attack. It was strangely comforting to hold something so dangerous. It gave me an edge over anything they threw at us. Animal or not, it was utterly at our mercy. We had the weapons, it didn’t. I turned to the others as I felt a surge of inspiration, a shot of adrenaline replenishing my shakey stores. The others looked at me in surprise as I grinned and directed my sword towards the gate. “He was right about one thing,” I said cockily. “The whole city will be watching us. This next hour will define our life. Whether we win or lose, they will remember this day.” I brought my sword in front of me, pointing it skyward. Even in the dim light of the tunnel, the blade glinted slightly. “And thanks to the last week, we'll show them just how powerful we are. We'll go in there and face whatever beast is thrown at us, and we will be victorious; because, in the face of overwhelming odds, we persisted. In the face of unimaginable creatures, we prepared. In the face of a perilous gauntlet, we held true and pushed through.” I swung my sword enthusiastically and pointed it at the gate. “And when we go in there, the city will see us for who we are. They'll look upon us and see warriors, more capable than any soldier the rite has tested before. This is a rite of passage for the history books and we’ll make sure they never forget it. Now, Who's Ready To Kick Some Ass?” I bellowed the last line, enthusiastic about the upcoming endeavor. I wanted the others to revel in my excitement. My monologue did not elicit the shouts of victory I was expecting. Instead, they all stared grimly at the gate. I felt a twinge of apprehension as they left me standing there, now grinning halfheartedly.

Wurthu was the first to break the awkward silence, stepping forward and gesturing towards me calmingly. “In any other situation, that speech might have worked.” He muttered solemnly. “But here, we are too concerned about the beast council has chosen. There are too many dire possibilities. I commend the sentiment behind your words, but now is not the right time.” I nodded and let out a sigh as I let my sword droop down. “Shit. That doesn't bode well.” A shrill horn interrupted my thought and signaled the gate to begin rising. I let out one more sigh and strode forward, flanked by the others as we entered the arena. The noise of the crowd assaulted my ears as I felt the soil beneath my shoes shift under my weight. I looked around and felt another surge of adrenaline. Without my glasses, I couldn't distinguish individual orcs, but I could tell how crowded the arena was. The off-brown stone of the arena was absent from my view of the stands, but I had no trouble seeing the unmistakable green of the orcs as they crowded the seats. I looked around as we moved to the center of the arena. I estimated about two thousand orcs watching us walk through the arena.

“I have never seen the arena so crowded.” Yargug suddenly voiced, swinging his weapon back and forth as he stood there idly. I nodded as I spotted a stone monument set into one part of the stands, carrying a familiar red-stained blur. I noticed movement on the stands below him and spotted another blur filling in the only open seat in the entire arena. If I had to guess, it was the orc that had escorted us to the gate.

I looked back up as Dubak suddenly stood, causing the arena to grow quiet. He took a step forward and gestured at us. “INITIATES.” He roared, allowing his voice to echo around the arena. I gripped my sword nervously as he began a short speech. “Today You Mettle Shall Be Tested To The Fullest Extent. Many Have Entered Before You, But Few Have Faced A Challenge Such As This. The Council Has Thought Long And Hard Of A Worthy Adversary For Your Endeavor And Now, You Stand To Face That Adversary. Prove Yourselves, And You Will Be Judged Worthy Of The Title Warrior.” A roar erupted from the crowd as Dubak suddenly gestured at the opposing gate, signaling its rise. Dubak stepped and sat back on his throne as the cheering crowd marked the steady ascension of the final barrier.

I immediately switched into battle mode, adrenaline beginning to course through me as the world shifted into focus. “Basic formation one,” I bellow. The recruits immediately fell into line, shields forming a wall with me at the center and Wurthu and Yamarz on my left and right. Between us and the gate stood only a few trees and wayward boulders. The others took cover behind us, Urugran saving his shield for the rear with Umurn in front of him, Vargan to the right, and Yargug to the left. The gate slowly clanked open as I felt myself trembling slightly. I shook my head and tensed as I focused on the approaching danger. “Come on, show us what you got. There are only so many creatures they can use. It's not like they have a dragon . . . Do they?” The gate finally opened wide with a final resounding clang. The world fell silent as everyone waited with bated breath for the creature to run through. I felt a twinge of apprehension as we continued to wait in silence, the beast not showing hair nor head. I was about to turn to the others when, finally, a guttural rrroooaaaarrrr echoed out from the passageway. I tensed again as a series of quick footsteps radiated from the tunnel. boom boom . boom boom . boom boom Deep resonating thuds followed, causing the ground beneath me to vibrate as I barely distinguished movement beyond the gate. I could only see a shadow, moving and rippling to take up the entire space behind it. I felt my nervousness grow as I saw its knuckles slamming into the ground below it as it charged, its head stooped to avoid hitting the ceiling. The large hulking figure finally burst from the shadows and onto the arena, slowing to a stop and raising its arm let its eyes adjust to the late afternoon sun. The creature was at least ten feet tall, and sporting its own rudimentary leather bracers and, thankfully, a fur loincloth as its pale pinkish skin radiated in the light. Its legs were like tree trunks, thick and dark and a near match to the scrap of clothes it wore. My heart dropped as I put the image together and identified the creature. “A Fucking Troll? Are You Serious? And They Grow That Fucking Big!?”

The recruits around me had a similar reaction as the creature spotted us and let out another long roar. “The Council Expects Us To Kill That?” Yargug bellowed, stunned.

I could hear Vargan’s knees slamming together. “Most Weapons Cannot Penetrate Its Skin!” Vargan cried in despair. Our line had grown less organized, faltering as the troll took big lumbering steps towards us, its eyes filled with hunger, a hunger for blood.

Yamarz suddenly broke formation and made a dash for the nearest boulder. “My Knives Are Useless Against That!” He shouted over his shoulder.

I turned to shout as the troll started to close the gap between us. “Stay Together. The Formations Are Pointless Without All Of Us!” Sadly, my bellowing was ignored. Everyone ran as soon as the troll got close enough, leaving me to stand against the charging beast. Needless to say, when the troll raised its massive arm to slap at me I took the opportunity to dodge. I rolled beneath the arm as it came barreling in, causing a massive Whoof to sound where I once stood. I came up to its right and took the opportunity to strike its leg, sinking the sharpened metal only an inch into the rough flesh. My eyes bulged in surprise as I gazed at the meager damage I’d inflicted. At this rate, it would take me a lifetime to draw blood. My blade barely scratched the rough pale hide that covered its limb. The beast merely roared in pain and brought his hand to come barreling back towards me. I had no chance to dodge the barreling limb and the blow to my side sent me flying. Pain erupted on my side and I tumbled uncontrollably, dirt staining my face and body as I was flung away from the fight. I lost my grip on my sword, sending it singing away and out of reach. I let out a loud oof as I finally tumbled to a stop and I fell on my back, dazed and disoriented from the single blow.

I groaned in pain and squinted up at the sky, stunned. “Jesus Christ That Fucking Hurt.” I took a few breaths, pain being drawn from each heave, then slowly sat up, torso burning from the pain. I turned to find the troll, in case he was charging my way. I let out a pained sigh as I spotted him not too far from where he’d struck me. He was roaring again, this time at Vargan as he fired arrows and used the trees as cover for the troll's swinging arms. The leaves shook as the troll slammed his fist into the trunks. The arrows bounced uselessly off the troll's torso, barely able to penetrate its durable skin. I blinked as I noticed speckles of red trailing the path I had tumbled, my sword a short ways away from the crimson river. “Did my vial crack?” I wondered deliriously. I turned to look down at my pouch and immediately felt my stomach lurch. My right arm was unequivocally broken, snapped at the forearm, causing the bone to jut out from my skin and my hand to point in a direction it definitely wasn't supposed to be pointing. I felt my nerves churn as I saw the damage the blow had done to me. “Shit Shit Shit Shit SHIT!” I swallowed as I forced myself to think. I realized I was still in shock, not yet registering the full extent of pain that my nerves must surely be sending. “FUCK IT! FUCK IT! FUCK IT! It’s Vial Time!” I forced myself to move and reached for my pouch. “Magic potion, don't fail me now. Brokil, if you’ve ever messed something up in your life, don’t let it be now.” I quickly undid the leather strap and ripped the pouch open. I roughly grabbed the glass vial within and brought it to my mouth to yank the cork out. “Drink! Drink! Drink! DRINK!.” I spat the cork into the dirt and drank the fluid. The liquid quickly traveled down my throat. I didn’t care if I used both doses. I needed to be fixed.

I shook my head to clear it as I forced myself to be rational. “You might need some later. You might need some later. You might need some later. Stop! That should be enough.” I brought the vial down and examined it. A quarter of the fluid remained in the bottle. “Shit, too much.” I was interrupted as new pain arose and I clutched the near-empty vial. I felt a fire erupt in my chest and arm as sweat started dripping from the two. I turned back to my arm as I watched it be forced back into position, stretching and contorting by an invisible force as it tried to bring the bone back in. The pain was coming full force now, almost overwhelming. “SHIT! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! BAD IDEA! BAD IDEA!” I clenched my eyes shut and gritted my teeth as I reached over to force the bone back in, causing a roar of pain to escape my lips. I finally got the bone back in and I heard a loud snap exploded from my arm. I screamed in pain and leaned forward, panting as the stinging continued to wash over me. “Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck! There Are Not Enough Words In My Fucking Vocabulary To Explain How Badly I Never Want To Do That Shit Again!” The pain slowly faded and I looked down at my trembling arm. A raw and jagged scar sat where the bone had penetrated my skin, glowing softly from the effects of the potion. I shook my head and quelled my daze as I looked back up at the troll. It was charging Umurn and Urgran, swinging wildly. They were doing the smart thing and were running, weaving in between the trees as the troll chased them. I felt a surge of rage as I stood, recorked the bottle, and began charging. I ran towards the sword I'd dropped and scooped it up as I bolted by. “Charging headfirst isn't going to kill it. The formations are useless too. We need a different strategy.”

I quickly formulated a new set of plans as my charge brought me closer to the troll. “Massive spike? Too much time. Boulder? Nowhere near enough strength. What if I punch it? Now that's just retarded. How about jabbing it? Again, that’s retarded.” I stopped a dozen yards away from the troll, realizing I had no idea how to stop it. “Shit. Don’t tell me it was for nothing. All those plans, all that time, and yet we're nowhere close to being able to kill this thing. We’re completely outclassed with no hope of killing this bitch. I might as well lay here and wait for the- Whydoesthatthingweararmor?” I suddenly noticed the brown leather bracers, giving a stark contrast to the pale skin of the creature’s arms. Its head and arms appeared to be several degrees paler than the legs the creature stood on. It was a strange vision, to say the least. I twisted my face in confusion as realization dawned on me.“Its skin was thick enough to stop my sword. So, why does it need that armor?” I looked higher and saw its pale head, practically shining in the light of the sun. “Son of a bitch,” I muttered to myself. I turned and looked around at the disorganized recruits. Yargug was helping Umurn limp away as Urgran distracted the towering beast. Umurn quickly reached into his pouch and drank sloppily form his potion. Wurthu appeared to have suffered a similar fate to my own, lying prostate a ways away from the fight and quickly draining his potion in a panic. Vargan was the only on keeping his distance, looking for an opening to fire upon the troll. I cursed as I noticed his pouch was damp, likely from a shattered bottle. “We’re already using up our potion. We need to reorganize to launch a real attack. We’ll only get one shot after this.” I rushed over to Yamarz as he cowered behind a large boulder, taking a swig from his potion as he cradled his arm. I shouted as I gestured at the troll. “Come On, I Have An Idea.”

He shook his head vigorously as his hand twitched uncontrollably, his knife throwing useless in his current state.”I cannot.” He panted. “I cannot strike him. My aim is not true this day.”

I let out a curse as I turned looked at the others. They were all scrambling to try and take the beast, discarding all of the training they had done in the last week. None of them even took notice of me and Yamarz quickly dashed away, retreating from the fight. I sighed as I watched him bolt.“Fear is fear. It overrides most other mental processes. They need something to grab their attention, something motivate them.” I spotted Wurthu, hanging back as he watched the troll rampage, still limping slightly as he clutched the empty bottle. A lightbulb moment went off as I saw him still carrying himself lopsided, the shield clearly weighing him down on one side. I ran over as the troll let out another rooooaaaaa.

Wurthu glanced at me as I stopped beside him. “It is comforting to know that this plan was doomed from the start.” He said grimly. “If our efforts were always for naught, then perhaps we are fated to be non-warriors for the remainder of our days.”

I shook my head as I looked at the troll. It was still chasing Urgran around the arena. “Don’t say that just yet.” I countered hopefully. “There still might be a path to victory.”

Wurthu looked at me skeptically. “You have a plan to slay this monster?” He asked in amazement.

I nodded as I rolled my sword in my hand. “Partly,” I admitted. “Though it's going to require everyone to work. We need to play to our strengths, So, I need you to ditch the shield and charge the troll with me; give everyone something to rally to.”

Wurthu's skepticism turned into shock. “You have gone mad.” He muttered in disbelief. “Charging the beast is pure madness. Plan or not, a troll’s skin is unpierceable.”

I felt a grin creep across my face and I chuckled as I gave Wurthu a shrug. “I prefer to call it; reached the point of fuck it.” I giggled desperately. I shook my head as I forced myself to focus. “Point is, I saw each of you guys training. I noticed something was off about your fighting style. You’re not used to the shield at all. You’re off balance when it's on your arm. You can’t swing your weapon right like that.”

Wurthu let out a low growl as the troll let out another oooooaaaaaaaarrr. “You are unfortunately correct.” He admitted begrudgingly. “My left arm suffers from an unfortunate injury from childhood. It is difficult to control sometimes. … Perhaps I am not worthy of being a warrior.”

I looked up as the troll let out another enraged bellow, his arm swinging towards Yamarz as he scrambled away. I shook my head as I turned back to Wurthu beside me. “Don’t give it another moment of thought. You believed in this long enough to get here. Just trust me for a little while longer and we can make it through this.”

Wurthu gave me a skeptical look, his shield dropping slightly. “Do you really believe that?” He asked. “This is the most fearsome creature they could muster. Is there truly a way for us to defeat it?”

I gave him a half-hearted grin and nodded encouragingly. “We just need to change strategy, dump the dead weight and focus on piercing its skin. Are you up for it?”

Wurthu hesitated for another moment, thinking carefully. He finally reached over and undid the strap, letting the shield drop to the ground. He turned back to me as he gripped his battle-axe in both hands. “What next?” I asked calmly.

I felt a twinge of relief as I turned to the troll again, my hand gripping the handle of my shield tighter. “Just charge and follow my lead. We can’t hit it properly if it’s moving around so much. We’ll keep it in place and distracted. Once the right time comes, we’ll strike.”

Wurthu stared for another minute, then let out a sigh, turning the axe nervously in his hand. “Lead the way.” He muttered. I breathed a sigh of relief as I turned back to the troll. Yargug had managed to attract its attention and was dodging its swinging fists, his chain weapon barely scratching the surface of its skin. I let out another breath and rushed forward, sword drawn back, ready to strike. I felt another surge of adrenaline course through me as I closed the gap and slashed at its leg, causing a rooaaaoaoar of pain to explode from the troll. It could definitely feel the sword, even if it wasn’t really hurt by it. The troll turned to strike me but was cut off as Wurthu sliced him from behind. It spun to attack its new assailant and I took the opportunity to hack at its thick leg. Wurthu and I started going back and forth, dividing its attention and making it impossible for him to focus enough to hit either of us. whoosh bam thwack smash The other recruits looked on in amazement as we dodged the troll’s clumsy swings, complimenting and defending each other in unison as we danced around and beneath the beast.

We juggled its attention for a while until before I turned to shout an order at those watching. “Charge In! We Can Stop It From Striking If We All Distract It!” Umurn and Urgran looked at each other skeptically for a moment before bellowing and charging in. boom slash aauuhh thoom swish oooaaaarrrrr I turned to Vargan as they joined our dance of aggravation. “Hit Its Eyes!” I shouted, pointed at my own. Vargan nodded as he pulled another arrow and drew his bow, marching forward as he began loosing projectile after projectile at the towering troll. He aimed high this time. Reward by the gentle trails of blood beginning to seep from the arrows in the troll’s shoulders, I couldn’t help but crack an optimistic smile. fthu aaarrr boom swish whiff Boosh Yargug joined the fray as the troll began to lose track of each of us, missing with each of his wild swings. swish thoom bang boom smash We weaved in and out of its sight as the monster grew frustrated at our one-sided game. It spun in place and continued to swipe as we dodged and rolled between its legs, taking every opportunity to chip away at the skin of the massive trunks. aauurauraaaaaa The troll finally let out a raging roar as it ran for one of the trees, grabbing it by its trunk and pulling it up. We gave chase, refusing to allow it to rest. slash smash boom crash We followed it and redoubled our efforts, striking with all our might.

I took a brief step back to try and formulate an attack at it’s most vulnerable area, its head. “We can't get to its head when it's in the foliage like that.” The dirt beneath the tree rose as the troll continued to pull, roaring from the effort. crack thwish choom The branches started to break under the pressure of the troll's grip, splintering and falling around us as the green was stipped from the tree. slash swish I hacked hard at its leg, desperate to turn its attention back to us, but failing to even draw a drop of blood from the impregnable limbs. crack crit crrrruumm The tree was finally yanked free, spraying roots and dirt everywhere and forcing us to retreat for fear of being struck down by a wayward tendril. The troll took advantage of our disorientation and began using it as a club to smash the ground around him, desperate to hit its elusive attackers. boom bam smash swish

I turned to Yamarz. He was gazing in bewilderment at the overwhelming feat of strength form the troll. “Yamarz!” I shouted, turning his attention to me. I jabbed a finger at my own eyes as I felt my chest burning from exertion. “Blind Him! Hit Its Eyes!” He hesitated for a moment before steeling his nerves and nodding as he dashed into range, positioning himself to reach its eyes. “Ditch The Shield!” I shouted as I saw the circular armor still tied to his arm. “It’ll Only Throw You Off!” Yamarz nodded as he reached over and let the weapon fall to the ground with a thud. He reached into his pouch again and began hurling blade after blade at the troll’s face. I turned and ran back into the troll’s legs as the dirt finally settled and we could finally start dashing in to take swipes of our own at the beast. thwip slash boom Crash

I turned to Yargug. He was using his weapon like a common sickle, striking at the troll like a melee weapon. I dashed close and pulled him a short way away before pointing at the length of chain he was gripping. “You Chose The Weapon. Now Use It! Try And Bind Its Free Arm. We Don’t Have An Opening With It Flailing Around Like This.” Yargug nodded and rushed in again. boom crash swing bash I turned to the brothers, pointing two fingers perpendicular to my own arm. “Urgran!” I bellowed. The brother glanced my way and I jabbed my finger into my forearm again. “Penetrate Its Forearm, Destroy Its Grip.” He nodded as he grabbed his brother and guided him into position.

I turned and rushed back in, continuing to distract the troll with each blow. I focused on its arm as I waited for it to lower into position. slash swing boom Crash bam swoosh. I waited … and waited … and waited. … I finally swung up when he slammed the tree club into the arena floor and sliced the strings holding its bracers. The roll of leather jumped away from the troll’s arm as the tension dissipated and exposed the troll’s gleaming wrist. My swing was quickly followed by Urgan shoving his spear through the troll's forearm from the other side, causing a spray of blood to erupt up and down the spear and spraying us with a putrid-smelling ichor. The troll let out a pained ooooooaaaaaaoooooaaaaaa as it dropped the trunk and raised its arm up, tearing the spear from Urgan's grasp and spreading blood around more of the arena. I stifled my own retches as the troll swung wildly, trying to dislodge the spear from its arm but only succeeding causing more showers of his life-giving liquid. whoo-thwk It suddenly turned to slam it’s undamaged hand into Urgran but reared back as an arrow suddenly materialized in one of its eyes. aaaaaoooaaaaaaa It staggered and let out another enraged roar; grasping weakly at the arrow but only succeeding in pushing it in further and causing it to splinter in its socket. It brought both hands up to try and pull the giant stick out but its spear damage arm could only twitch uncontrollably and whack itself in the face. The troll suddenly growled and slammed both of its hands into the arena floor. woo boom It seems to have given up its attempts at removing the invading projectile and just let out another angered RAAAAAOOORRRR. I grinned as I felt another surge of adrenaline, focusing the world around me once more.“Final stretch.”

I turned to Yargug. “Now!” I shouted. Yargug nodded as he winded up and hurled his weapon around the troll’s arm. clickclickclickclick swoosh swoosh His chain to encircle the undamaged limb of the creature and Yargug pulled, causing the sickle at the end to sink into the shallow skin of the arm with a loud thnk. He pulled the chain tight as the troll let out another rooaarr and began to pull roughly at the tether, causing Yargug to lurch forward from the force. He gritted his teeth and gripped the chain tighter as his feet began digging into the dirt. ccccrrrrrr I turned to the brothers. They were panting from exhaustion. They just needed to do one more thing. “Help Him!” I bellowed. They nodded weakly and rushed over to help Yargug, grabbing his chain to keep the monster stationery and distracted. thnk thk thnk Knives and arrows started to sprout near the troll's good eye, causing more putrid red fluid to drip down its face. I shook my arm as I felt the increasingly familiar weight of the shield on my arm. “One more hit should do it.”

I turned to Wurthu and began telling him my plan, shouting over the painful cries of the troll before us.“Trail Behind Me, Jump On My Signal. You’ll Know What It Is When You See It.” I then turned and charged forward, closing the gap the troll had created as I felt more adrenaline course through me. I heard my footsteps reverberating through my skull as I ran. boom boom boom boom boom The troll's ugly figure slowly came into sharp focus as I grew closer, ten feet, then seven, five. Only a few feet from the troll I saw him turn to me, its half-blinded face barely managing a look of hate as it saw my look of determination. It raised its hand to swat me as I got close. I ignored the troll's looming limb and instead fell to my knees, slowly sliding to a stop as I tilted my legs and turned back the way I’d ran.

The world seemed to slow around me as I felt the troll’s massive arm come barreling towards me. Wurthu's thundering figure quickly approached as I raised my shield to provide a launching platform. I saw a glimpse of understanding before he raised his foot and planted it firmly on my shield, rising on it for one massive jump. I tensed as I felt his weight press down, arms straining under the new pressure. I gritted my teeth and pushed up as hard as I could and gave him an extra boost upwards. I let out a roar as Wurthu went flying upwards, propelled towards the troll’s stooped and dripping face. I had a brief vision of Wurthu, axe drawn over his head, face contorted into an enraged roar as the troll’s hand came ever closer. I finally heard a resounding THUNK as Wurthu drove his axe downwards and into the head of the troll. The beast let out a pained roar and reached up, halting his strike as Wurthu continued his journey upwards, leaving his weapon in his very injured target. I heard a unified gasp echo around the arena as the troll let out a long and painful roar, its face cleaved from temple to mouth in a truly gruesome display of pain.

I stared up in stunned silence as I gaze at the weapon now embedded in the troll's head, blood pouring from the fatal wound. The world fell silent as the troll’s roar died and he teetered there. The only sound that dared echo around the arena after the troll stopped screaming was the small boom of Wurthu's fallen body. The monster reached up and briefly tried to grasp at the weapon, a horrendous shudder running through it as it tried to dislodge the weapon. It slowly weakened, teetering as its face continued to shed blood, and began to fall forward. I turned and bolted as the troll collapsed and threatened to squash me beneath it, kicking up a massive cloud of dust as it hit the floor and knocking me onto my stomach. I quickly scrambled to my feet and turned back, still stunned, at the now-dead troll. It lay still as the weapons embedded in it gently glinted in the light, the acrid blood of the troll staining the ground beneath it. I raised my hands to my head asa wave of realization washed over me.“Holy Mother Fucking Shit. WE DID IT! We Actually Fucking Did It! I Can’t Fucking Believe That Worked!”

My internal scream of disbelief was interrupted as a group of orcs slammed into me and hugged me tightly. “Dexter, never let me question you again,” Yamarz cried happily.

“No wonder they chose you as Champion,” Umurn added, slapping his hand firmly on my shoulder.

“I Have Never Felt So Alive!” Vargan shouted gleefully, jumping in excitement. I nodded and returned the unexpected hug as I continued to stare in disbelief at the axe still protruding from the troll's skull. The things that could have gone wrong were staggering. Yet here we stood, victorious.

I turned as I felt another slap on my shoulder and saw Yargug, grinning wildly at me. “This is truly a glorious day. I am certain our ancestors would look on us with pride. I should not have allowed doubt to plague my mind.” Yargug chuckled.

I finally grinned and burst out laughing. “You wouldn't believe me if I said I had my own doubts.” I countered, hysterically. “We don’t even have creatures like this. It’s insane to think we were able to kill it.” The others chuckled in response as they pulled the group hug in tighter. I grinned and laughed along with them, the relief from the events overwhelming. My face fell slack as I suddenly noticed Wurthu wasn't among them. I turned to where he'd fallen behind the troll. I couldn't see any movement in the cloud of dust. I rushed over as the dust spread out and made it difficult to see too far. I finally spotted movement and rushed over to Wurthu's grunting form. He was lying on his back in the dirt, blood dripping down his head, barely propping himself up on his arms.

He turned to me as I slowed to a stop beside him. “Is it dead?” He coughed as a knelt.

I nodded as I examined his body for any other injuries. “I'm pretty sure Nione heard that strike.” I joked optimistically. Wurthu grinned and let out a small laugh though his face was still twisted in pain. My face went slack as I noticed he hadn't attempted to move. “Does anything hurt?” I asked in concern.

Wurthu nodded affirmatively. “My legs scream with pain. I dare not move for fear of damage.”

I looked down at his legs. Beyond some minor swelling, they seemed fine. Though it definitely looked painful. “I think you just sprained it.” I supplied encouragingly. “Can you move at all? Do you need a potion?” Wurthu shook his head, his hand revealing the empty vial clutched within it.

“It is too painful to move.” He admitted. “I cannot stand. … I have already used it anyway. To take any more would dishonor me. I am not worthy to be a warrior.”

I looked at him in shock, his words not making sense. “The fuck do you mean not worthy? You killed the thing. You're more than worthy. There's no shame in using the potion now. Hell, I doubt the spectators can see us in this cloud of dust.”

Wurthu shook his head again. I noticed the others were gathered around him now, looking down in concern. “It would not be right. The beast was slain from your plan. I merely followed your lead. In any regard, the rite is over. The beast is slain and I cannot stand. To use it now would not be fair to the rite.” He let his head fall back with a sigh. “It would be dishonorable.” I looked down and shook my head. “Right, they have tribal honor. That, or it’s some psychological term. I'll have to ask Amelia later.” I turned to look at the body of the troll. “Although he's not wrong. It would be a little unfair if he used it now. They seem to take their phrasing literally though. ‘Left standing when it's slain'. That phrasing is interesting. I guess ...”

I turned back to Wurthu, my face carrying a loot of determination. “I commend the sentiments behind your words, but I'm not about to leave you behind.” I echoed in earnest.

Amelia

I stared at the now dust-filled arena, hands clamped over my mouth. The display of speed and skill I just witness was beyond description. I would almost use the word beautiful if it weren't for all the blood involved. I gazed wide-eyed at the barely visible unmoving body of the troll, waiting from them to reemerge. The finally felling of the creature had spat up a cloud of dust that covered the immediate area, hiding Dexter and the others as they dashed into it. I had seen one of him land the spectacular final blow, but I had not seen him retreat before the troll collapsed heavily onto the arena floor. I leaned over to whisper to Bulak, worried for the well-being of the orc that had fallen so far. “Is anyone going to-” I cut myself off as I noticed movement within the cloud, causing a wave to emanate behind it as it moved. It drifted along the body of the fallen troll and towards the head. It stopped at the top and I cringed as a loud Squelch echoed around the arena. The orcs around me stayed silent as they watched in amazement at the scene unfolding. Dexter finally emerged from the dust, Wurthu's arm draped over his shoulder as he practically carried him into the center of the arena. Wurthu was gripping his axe weakly and seemed to protest at Dexter's actions, but he ignored him. The other recruits trailed behind them as they walked. Dexter finally stopped as he looked around the audience. They remained silent as they stared expectantly at them. Dexter finally reached down and grabbed Wurthu's arm, guiding it and the axe up as if to display the blood on the weapon. The crowd around me suddenly erupted into thunderous applause, celebrating as a large drop of blood fell from the large battleaxe. I saw a grin flash across Dexter's face as he let go and stepped back, leaving Wurthu standing there, basking in the applause. He staggered slightly before pulling himself up and gazing around at the orcs. I felt a surge of relief as I joined the roar of victory. Relief washed over Wruthui’s face as well as he stood there, enjoying the adoration pouring down on him. I saw Dexter turn to Wurthu and perform the greeting Kagan had first done when meeting us. The others repeated his action as Wurthu grinned, dropping his axe tiredly. I heard Bulak let out a small laugh as she saw Wurthu practically leaning on the axe and clapped along with everyone.

Thnk Thnk The sound interrupted the roar of the crowd, signaling silence. I turned to see Dubak standing in front of his throne, massive battle-axe in hand, as he stared out at the group. I turned back in time to see Wurthu fall to one knee, head bowed, quickly followed by the other orcs. Dexter took another second to register the events, then followed their example. The world remained silent for another minute, then Dubak spoke, voice echoing around the arena as a grin crept across his face. “Words Fail Me When I Press Myself To Describe The Feats I Have Seen Today.” He beamed happily. “You Have Shown A Level Of Resourcefulness And Tenacity That Few Here Could Claim To Possess. You Showed Fear Upon First Encounter, Fleeing From An Impossibly Strong Foe That You Had No Hope Of Defeating, But You Returned From This Setback To Change The Tide Of Battle And Slay The Creature Before You. Few Can Claim to Possess Such Skill As To Slay A Mighty Troll With Such A Decisive Blow. For That, I Commend You, Acknowledging The Trials And Tribulations You Have Faced And Overcome, And Declare You All Worthy Of The Title Of Warrior.” Another wave of applause swelled as Dubak paused his speech. The applause lasted for a few minutes, then died down to silence again. Dubak nodded towards the bowed group as he gestured his fingers upwards. “Given This New Development, There Is One Amongst Us That We Must Personally Address. Dexter, Rise.”

Dexter complied and looked up at Dubak. I could see his hand trembling nervously as he squinted up at Dubak. Dubak gave him a reassuring grin he couldn’t see and gestured again. “It Appears You Are Successful In Your Endeavor. You Have Now Become A Declared Warrior. As Such, You Have More Than Earned The Title Of Champion. This Is One Of The Highest Honors Any Citizen Of Gashur Can Receive. It Is Reserved For Those That Have Undeniably Changed The Tides Of Battle And Served The Chief To Slay Those That Have Threatened Him. Amongst Us, Only Three Have Earned This Title. Kagan, Agrob And Magub, Each Having Chosen An Emblem To Capture Their Essence And Have It Engraved Into Their Very Body. A Symbol that Would Strike Fear Into The Hearts Of The Enemy.” Each orc rose as their names were called out. “For Mighty Magub, He Has Chosen Our ToweringChemisit, A Creature Of Unquestionable Strength And Power. For Cunning Kagan, He Chose The Battle Axe, The Weapon He Used To Defend The Border From Invasion By The Elves At Urkrog. For Acclaimed Agrob, He Chose The Burning Flame, Signifying The Fire That Burned Within Him During The First Defense Of Snakhagr. You Will Equally Be Tasked With Choosing A Symbol That Best Signifies Your Spirit; So That You May Inspire Others To Reach Up And Obtain Greatness And Fill Our Foes With Dread.”

Dexter nodded and looked down slightly as he seemed to give the notion some thought. I could see the wheel turning in his head as he juggled the options. Meanwhile, Dubak continued his speech “This Prospect Will By No Means Be Simple. Some Have Pondered Months To Choose Their Symbol. Once You Have Decided On Your Emblem You Can Come Forward To Ha-”

“I MADE A CHOICE,” Dexter shouted, causing Dubak to pause. Everyone was now staring expectantly at him as he took a deep breath. I felt tears swell as he began to speak. “I'm Not Like All Of You. I Did Not Fight To Strike Fear Into The Hearts Of The Elves. I Fought To Protect Someone That I Cared About, Someone That Did Not Have The Strength To Protect Themselves. She Was A Little Girl Who Sadly Lost Her Life Because I Failed Her. Because I Could Not Reach Her In Time. Her Name Was Shel And She Loved Butterflies. She Had No Place In The Defense Of Snakhagr, But She Lost Her Life Nonetheless. Just As Any Number Of Children Before Her, Children That Lost Their Lives Because There Was No One That Could Protect Them. She Is Why I Fight, They Are Why I Fight; Not For The Purpose Of Fear, But Protection; Protection For Those That Do Not Have The Strength To Fight, For Those That Can't Defend Themselves, For Those That Would Perish Should I Fall In Battle! That Is Why I Choose The Butterfly As My Symbol. So That I Might Always Remember Why I Fight, For All The Young And Innocent Of The Tribe. So That They Can Have A Chance At Life, A Chance To Bring Light And Brightness Into The World. We Were All Those Young Once. To Not Protect Them Is To Condemn Ourselves; To Condemn Our Own Future.”

What followed was a stunned silence. Then isolated laughter echoed about the arena. Dubak glared in their directions, causing them to grow quiet. Once silence had fallen once more he turned back to Dexter. “Are you certain?” He asked loudly, ensuring Dexter heard his query. “Many would choose a more foreboding emblem. A butterfly is not a symbol one tends to fear. Once you have chosen it is impossible to select another.”

Dexter smirked and nodded determinately, a fire in his eyes that radiated his intentions louder than his words. “Our Enemies Will Learn To Fear The Butterfly.” He replied simply. “On My Life As A Champion, The World Will Know My Name.”

Dubak remained silent for a moment, pondering Dexter’s conviction, then nodded. “I Can See There Is No Use Trying To Change Your Decision. Very Well, From Here On Out You Will Be Known As A Champion Of Battle; Champion Of The Butterfly.” Another roar of applause erupted from the stands as his final words were spoken. I saw Dexter break out into a massive smile as he reveled in his own roaring applause. I felt another wave of relief wash over me as I added to the cheers of the crowd. “I can only imagine the endorphins going through him right now.”

I turned to Bulak and chuckled as the arena continued to cheer for Dexter, their animosity towards him momentarily forgotten. “What do you think?” I asked happily, glancing around at the screaming crowd. “Has he adequately persuaded Snakhagr of his intentions?”

Bulak grinned and nodded as she continued to clap. “Not in its entirety,” She admitted. “but he has taken a big step in the correct direction.”

I nodded as I turned back to the arena. “He has big plans for the future, plans beyond the wildest dreams of anyone here. I can only imagine which ones he'll be able to complete.”

Bulak nodded again, letting out a sigh as she stared down at the arena. “If the rumors about his plans are true, he will face great opposition from the other tribes. Our war will not be as easily resolved as this.”