Anarion woke up as the sun began to shine through the window in his room. It was a small room, bronze colored with a bed and a dresser. The window had bars on it. Anarion went to the waiting room. Both Falcon and Ithilious were already there.

Falcon tossed Anarion a bokken. “Bwoire’s idea,” he said casually. Ithilious was glaring at Anarion. “Listen here, I’ve never lost a fight against you before. I’m not going to lose against you here.” Anarion sighed “Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah, stop talking, settle it out there.” Ithilious grasped his bokken as tight as he could. “You’re pissing me off.”

Anarion replied, “That’s because you have no skill.” Ithilious growled “An...ar..i...on” Falcon sighed. “If that upsets you, then clearly he’s right.” Ithilious yelled at Falcon “Shut up will you!” Anarion began warming up. Ithilious pointed at Anarion “You’ve changed. Up until now, you’ve been an ambition-less asshole. Now you are just full of yourself, well you’re still an unbearable asshole.”

Anarion did not reply. “You are really pissing me off!” yelled Ithilious. Dokkor walked into the room. “Shut up Blondie, it’s too early in the morning for this bullshit.” Dokkor had a skin of rum in his left hand. “Speaking of early, you three don’t fight until afternoon.” Anarion looked at Dokkor “I’m warming up.” Dokkor nodded. He looked at Falcon and Ithilious, they were standing around.

“You two seem confident.” Ithilious still fuming said, “That asshole couldn’t be me if I had a paper bag on my head.” Falcon replied. “No use in overestimating my opponent. This is Anarion after all.” Dokkor gave both of them a funny look, then began laughing out loud. “What’s so funny?” said an angry Ithilious.

Dokkor paused his laughter for a moment. “You two are in for a surprise.” Dokkor continued to laugh while walking away. Finally, noon came. Dokkor came back and directed Ithilious to the other gate. Anarion took off his Ghee top since it was too small anyway. Finally, it was time for him to walk out into the arena.

“Here he is! But he has pants on! He is known as the Naked Madman. However, for his final appearances for today, we’ll be calling him by his real name. Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s Anarion Ragnor!” The crowd cheered as he entered in. Immediately he spotted Amma, Bwoire, and Tycondris sitting in the front row.

"His challenger. Another Chosen among the Swordsman! This is a somewhat impromptu grudge match. He is from one of the most famous clans in Terath. Making his first and likely last appearance, it's Ithilious Shadowsbane!" Ithilious walked out to the arena with moderate fanfare. After all, no one knew him. Anarion could see this mildly annoyed him.

“There will be no killing in this match-up! It will go until someone surrenders or is rendered unconscious! Let’s see what Ithilious has! Can he best our Grand Champion? Fight!” Ithilious charged right at Anarion and swung down as hard as he could towards his forehead. Anarion caught the bokken with his left hand. Ithilious was awestruck.

Ithilious let go of the bokken and performed a lower sweep kick. Anarion jumped over it easily, then threw the bokken at Ithilious’s head. It hit with a clunk, then hit the ground. The crowd laughed. Ithilious was furious, but he tried to calm himself down. “I’ve underestimated you Anarion,” he said before vanishing from sight.

Anarion could see mirror images appear around him. Ithilious was moving as fast as he could to confuse him. Finally, he attacked from Anarion’s left. Seeing this Anarion dodged the strike and punched him in the stomach. Ithilious did not even have time to gasp for air. A roundhouse kick from Anarion met the back of his head.

Anarion restrained it considerably. Remembering when he killed Avalon. Ithilious slumped down to the floor, the light’s went off in his eyes. Amma looked nervous in the stands. A guard came over to check his pulse, he was still alive just unconscious. “With ease! He treated his fellow Chosen like a baby! Anarion Ragnor wins!”

The guard dragged Ithilious to the waiting room. He woke him up. Falcon glared at Ithilious. He was full of disappointment. “A year training with Bwoire and that was all you could do? Perhaps Anarion was right about you.” Dokkor came to guide Falcon to the other gate. Anarion sat down cross-legged on the ground. “Train harder,” said Anarion to Ithilious.

Ithilious stood up. “I never expected to hear this from you.” Anarion looked Ithilious dead in the eyes. “I grew up. You should too. If you don’t take this world seriously you’ll end up dead.” Ithilious yelled, “You’ve been pissing me off since we got here.” Anarion sighed. “Not my problem.”

Ithilious was about to yell at Anarion again when the gate doors opened. He walked through. “Here he is again Ladies and Gentlemen! This is his final match!” The opposite gate opened up. “Another Chosen of the Swordsman Academy. His origins are a mystery, so we’ll simply go by his given name, it’s Falcon!” The crowd gave him the same reception they gave Ithilious.

“Will Falcon prevail? Or will Anarion destroy him like Ithilious? Only one way to find out. Fight!” Anarion and Falcon stood in place. Finally, Anarion tired of waiting extended his hand and waved him over. In a flash, Falcon appeared behind Anarion and swung his bokken. Anarion blocked the strike.

“Funny, I thought you were faster than this,” remarked Anarion. Falcon glared at Anarion. The crowd was going wild. Finally, Falcon broke his guard but could only backpedal as Anarion pressed the attack. Falcon dove underneath to perform a similar attack Anarion did against Krogg, but he dodged the kick and sent Falcon flying with a reverse roundhouse kick.

Falcon hit the wall. He got up as quickly as he could and vanished from sight again. He appeared again performing a flying sidekick. Anarion caught is foot mid-air and threw him towards the opposite wall. Falcon managed to kick off the wall, he rolled under Anarion and landed a sidekick to his stomach.

Anarion did not move. He looked at Falcon. Then yawned. This annoyed Falcon beyond belief. He launched a flurry of attacks with his bokken. Anarion blocked none of them but instead dodged them each by a hair. He grabbed Falcon by his neck and raised him in the air. “You have no talent,” said Anarion. He then choke slammed him to the ground.

He was gasping for air. The ground beneath him caved him. He picked Falcon up again by the neck. Anarion let go of his bokken. “You are weak.” He threw him towards the wall. Falcon hit with a tremendous thud. Anarion picked up his bokken, then appeared in front of Falcon in a flash. “I’m satisfied with this.”

He looked at the announcer and yelled. “I quit!” The crowd looked shocked. They booed Anarion as he left the arena. Due to it being a grudge match he technically did not lose his title. Falcon gathered himself and walked out of the arena. Ithilious was still nursing his wounds.

Dokkor gave Anarion a confused look. “Why did you stop? He was moments away from losing? Anarion smirked. “I proved my point.” Falcon came through the gate. Looking Anarion in the eyes he said. “I’m sorry for what I said in the past. You were able to surpass me a few times over in just nine months. My arrogance was my downfall. I’ll work harder in the future to be a rival worthy of your talent.”

He bowed slightly. Bwoire walked into the room. “It seems you’ve learned humility, Falcon. Hubris does nothing but hold you back.” Ithilious stood up but said nothing. Amma and Tycondris appeared around the corner. “Shall we get going?” said Bwoire. Anarion looked at Tycondris “Are you coming too?”

Tycondris laughed. “I spoke with Bwoire. I’m going to follow you all for a while if no one minds. I’ve got nowhere to go, so I figured I’d tag along.” Anarion nodded. “I don’t mind, let’s get going.” For the first time in a year, Anarion stepped outside of the arena. The air was crisp. As they walked to the harbor both Falcon and Ithilious reflected on their losses, vowing to themselves to train harder to surpass Anarion.