by Ian Carter
The shouting and cheers of the crowd eventually grew faint as Jordan guided them through the inner workings of a building. Judging by the sweeping hallways, combat equipment on the walls, and several cages, they all clued into where they were. A few minutes later, the sun's rays peaked through the stone doorway that Jordan stopped under and twirled around before he gestured behind him.
"Your Highness, I welcome you and your friends to where you will be dying today. You have entered Braga Arena," Jordan exclaimed.
The combat floor and seating setup were eerily similar to Queen Anne Coliseum. It caused Kai to question if they hadn't somehow managed to teleport back to the Capital. The only glaring difference was scale, as Braga Arena was only about half the size of the coliseum. It had clearly been part of the preparations from the attack—dark scorching from bombs splattered the floor of the arena.
An overpowering stench filled the nostrils of Kai's group as they struggled to keep themselves from coughing. Bloodstains peppered around the grounds provided insight as to the nature of the smell. Memories of the attack on the Opening Ceremonies rushed into Kai's mind, and the memory nearly made him vomit. He did his best to put on a strong face and not react to the emotions he felt. He needed the best acting performance of his life if he and the others were to make it out alive.
The gaggle of heroes and villains proceeded in the middle of the arena floor before Jordan signaled them to stop and direct their attention towards one of the observation boxes. There, the same group of people who had attended Terrell's morning party was seated and receiving luxurious food and expensive wine. At the sight of the prince in shackles, the group began to cheer and coo their approval.
Kai grew tired of the group's antics, and just as he opened his mouth to shout at them, a man emerged from the back of the gaggle of people and placed himself at the front of the observation box. His noisy cohorts fell silent as he surveyed the scene before his eyes until he eventually locked eyes with Kai. For twenty seconds, neither of the men budged with their glances and posture for fear of looking inferior. Finally, the man gave a hearty laugh and turned his back to Kai to face his guests. But Kai had seen enough of his face to compare it to a Senator he had seen much of growing up. He knew that it was Terrell.
Standing out from the similar robes that his guests wore, Terrell Braga wore his combat gear, shined to perfection by attendants. His navy-blue undershirt shared the same color as Senator Braga's meeting robes. Kai identified the leather armor as spectacularly expensive, even from how far away he was. Metal chain mesh also connected the leather pieces of his armor to protect his joints. Terrell had prepared thoughtfully, and Kai became worried. Here was a foe that was easily more fearsome than any Empyrean Tournament combatant, or even the half-giant. He had decades of experience, and it dawned on Kai that he would be near impossible to defeat.
"My friends!" Terrell called out. "Ministers, senators, and leaders of nations. You have gathered here in the generous and gorgeous city of Tipana to come to lend your support against the evil royal family of this incredible kingdom! To prove to you that I am indeed the man who can overthrow King Edwin Orilia, I have brought you here today.
"This morning, I promised entertainment for the ages," Terrell announced. "I have delivered it. We will be holding a private exhibition match for your eyes only. Below us, you will see three prisoners who recently snuck into the city.
"The first is Hayleigh Knowles. She is one of the signature beauties of the kingdom and the most fearsome Silver Blade in existence. Well, next to me, of course." The group of foreign dignitaries gave a hearty laugh to the joke.
"The second is the Gold Blade, who excels at defensive swordplay more than any other person on the continent, Mason Quinn. After obtaining his Blade, he was immediately recruited by King Edwin Orilia to the prince's side. Unfortunately, we could not locate his Gold Blade, so he will not be participating in today's entertainment. No need to worry, his life will very much still be in play.
"Finally, last but certainly not least," Terrell said as he motioned towards where Kai was standing. "The crown jewel of my prisoner collection, the Prince of Orilia himself, His Highness Kai Orilia! Believe it or not, ladies and gentlemen, he was able to put down a half-giant, half-troll amalgamation; I believe someone called it a Triant. The name is a bit dry, but I assure you that its power was fearsome. Prince Kai has methodically proven himself to be a skillful fighter since striking out on a mission against the very man who attacked the Empyrean Festival. Me.
"Forgive me. I must turn my backs to you and address the prisoners. Do not worry my friends. I will speak loud enough so you may still hear my words." Terrell turned towards Kai's group and raised his hands.
"Your Highness, it is my pleasure to meet you in person!" Terrell began to walk down the long set of stairs towards Kai. "I dare say, you do not have the air about you of a man who would one day rule this great kingdom. Though, to be fair, you were never going to be king anyway. I would have seen that personally." Another boisterous round of laughter came from behind him.
"Now, as for how this is going to work. There will be two matches. The first match will be the bodyguard who has her Blade with her, Hayleigh Knowles, against my second in command, Jordan Rees. If Miss Knowles is unable to beat Mr. Rees, then that will be the end. Your Highness and Mr. Quinn will be executed, and I will gladly take Miss Knowles to be my bride. Therefore, this will not be a fight to the death. If Mr. Rees kills Miss Knowles, he will be put to death by my hand. Likewise, if the opposite were to happen, His Highness' group will be murdered. I trust the combatants understand these conditions."
Kai felt the anger bubble from the bottom of his heart. The gall Terrell Braga showcased was unbelievable to him. He quickly looked to Hayleigh next to him to confirm those feelings, but Hayleigh denied confirmation. Instead, she stood there, calm as he had ever seen her. Her stern stare directed at Terrell told the story. She felt that with the stakes so high, she would never lose to anyone. Kai took solace in her resolve and turned again to face Terrell as he began again.
"But if Miss Knowles can win, we shall commence the Main Event! It will feature myself, Terrell Braga, leader of Orilia's resistance! I shall face off against the evil prince who has lost his way, Kai Orilia. Unlike the first fight, there will be no need to hold back. Our duel will be to the death. We will determine who is fit to lead this great kingdom into the future!
"When I win, Miss Knowles is still bound to be my bride." He turned to his guests, whose eyes were as large as saucers at the prospect of witnessing such a fight. "If Mr. Rees or I win our matches, I entrust that your decisions on whether or not to help me will be favorable?" Each head seated in the plush, overstuffed chairs nodded up and down gleefully.
"Excellent," Terrell proclaimed as he turned back to Kai from his group. "I declare that these will be fair fights. If I am to gain the support of those who currently sit behind me, those around me and myself must showcase, without tricks or disguises, that we are superior in every way. To be honest, I am a little disappointed. There is no way that Mr. Rees will lose to Miss Knowles, so I regret that we won't even get to fight, Your Highness. The first match was decided long before you entered this arena. Terrell gestured his left hand towards Hayleigh and his right towards Jordan.
"Mr. Rees and Miss Knowles, your match will begin in ten minutes. Clear your heads, sharpen your resolve, and awaken your hearts. I would like a good show."
◆◆◆
Jordan stood in the middle of the arena floor, hand on his pommel, as Hayleigh huddled in the corner with Kai and Mason. The two auras on the arena floor could not have been more different, as Jordan confidently stood motionless and stared at Hayleigh. Meanwhile, Hayleigh excitedly bounced on the balls of her feet, eyes trained on Jordan past the shoulders of her companions. She sneered at him before turning to Mason.
"You must have seen him in action when he captured you, right?" Hayleigh asked.
"No, unfortunately, I didn't. The
situation was already past that point when he came into the Inn, but he did tell me that one of his Stones is a Quick Draw Stone. He definitely wouldn't have told me anything if that was his trump card, however. So assume that he has a much more powerful Stone. Be careful."
"So he can slice ridiculously fast? Great," Hayleigh sighed at the prospect. "I haven't even heard of a Quick Draw Stone before, and he has something better than that too? That's cheating."
"You have an advantage. I have to believe that your sword skills are better than his," Kai reasoned. "If you can suss out his abilities, you should be able to think up a strategy on the fly. I believe in you Hayleigh. With our lives."
"He's right, there's no way you're going to lose," Mason reassured her. "Go kick his ass so we can accomplish what we came here to do."
They each placed a hand on Hayleigh's shoulders as she traded her gaze between the two men. Hayleigh struggled to say anything in response to the feelings of her companions. Her eyes conveyed her sense of appreciation and gratitude to Mason and Kai.
Mason leaned in and gave Hayleigh a hug that lasted for a few seconds. He nodded to her and then walked off towards the designated prisoner spectator area. Kai then took his turn and embraced Hayleigh. No words were spoken between the two, as they traded their emotions in silent ques. Their touch, their breathing, and their smiles communicated for them. They had traveled such a rich and emotional journey together, and Hayleigh resolved not to let it be the end.
Kai removed his hands from Hayleigh's back, gave the same silent nod, and walked off to follow Mason's footsteps. She reached out her hand as if to call him back, but she receded her hand and turned to face her opponent. As Kai headed off to the same seating arrangement at Mason, he recited a silent prayer that he had picked up at the Erkau church. There was no reason to ignore any type of advantage they could get.
Hayleigh took a deep breath and took her first steps toward where Jordan waited in the middle of the arena. Their eyes remained locked on each other as cheers from the small box of spectators were met with indifference. The gentle breeze that lapped hair across their eyes did not deter their vision away from their opponent. The determination each fighter held inside themselves was enough to send shivers down the spines of Kai and Mason. Eventually, Hayleigh reached three meters away from Jordan before she halted her progress.
"I trust you said what you needed to say to your friends?" Jordan asked.
"No, not quite everything," Hayleigh replied before flashing a smile. "But there will be plenty of time to say it after I win."
"I can't accost you for your confidence, but I can for your ignorance. I will not be an easy opponent, Miss Knowles."
"I can assure you that I'm no slouch myself. Many consider me to be the best Silver Blade in the kingdom."
"Until today," Jordan stated stoically. An ice-cold silence fell on them that was broken by Terrell a few seconds later.
"Now, then. It is time to begin!" Terrell's voice echoed out across the barren seats of the arena. "Does either fighter wish to add any additional rules or conditions to the duel?"
Jordan shook his head, as did Hayleigh.
"I will count from five, and the duel will begin at the resolution of the countdown," Terrell called as he raised his hand into the air. "Five ... four ... three ... two ... one ... begin!"
Hayleigh drew her Blade and charged at Jordan at full speed. Aligned with Kai's expectation, he did not budge from his position an inch, his right hand remaining on his Blade's hilt. Kai had to believe that Jordan knew of her Super Heat Stone, as she had used it previously in Karsdal's battle in addition to at The Hanged Royal. At the very least, their intelligence was even. Kai knew Hayleigh well enough to understand what she was thinking. Her first order of business was to find out just how fast his Quick Draw Stone was and if she could counter it.
"Heat!" Hayleigh activated her Stone, which immediately illuminated her Blade in a brilliant and bright orange color. As she approached him, she plunged the tip of her Blade into the ground and put her full strength into swinging her partially buried Blade in his direction. Thousands, if not millions, of bright and shimmering specs flew at Jordan. The incoming onslaught of particles caused him to shield his eyes with his empty hand and allow the barrage to hit. Most of the pieces audibly struck against his plate and leather armor, while other projectiles pieced into his exposed skin and fabric clothing. The left-arm sparkled in the light as the sun's rays reflected off the embedded matter in his skin.
Hayleigh swiftly moved to his left and dove past him through the air. She had almost sailed past him by the time she swung her Blade at his body, hoping to land a critical hit. However, before she knew it, Jordan had already placed his Blade in a position to block the strike. A loud clang echoed across the arena to mark the impact of metal on metal.
Kai couldn't believe how fast the motion had been. His eyes weren't able to track Jordan's draw speed. It instead seemed like his Blade had teleported behind his back instead. Hayleigh tumbled to the ground and did a roll so she could right herself. Jordan lowered his left hand from his face and inspected his arm to see several dozen small dots of blood spread across it. A few streams of blood began to cascade down his arm as Jordan growled in pain.
"What the hell was that you bitch?" Jordan barked at her, clearly annoyed at the damage he took from a single attack.
"The arena floor is made of tightly packed sand," Hayleigh answered. "Combine sand and my Heat Stone, and well, you should be smart enough to know what that does. It's an idea I picked up from my good for nothing sparring partner. I'm happy to see you love it as much as I did."
Kai and Mason were shocked. They both briefly thought back to the time Kai had thrown dirt at Hayleigh at sparring practice. Kai couldn't help but be impressed at her ingenuity. Not only did she take the experience to heart, but she added it to her repertoire and put her unique spin on it. Kai suddenly swelled with anticipation for the rest of the fight as a smile wrapped around his face. Hayleigh had a legitimate chance to win. He then thought about the possibility of her using the move on him if he ever pissed her off in training, and the smile quickly disappeared from his face.
The look of anger and pain faded from Jordan's face as he composed himself. He took a few deep breaths as his gaze laid squarely on Hayleigh's Blade.
"I apologize for the language I used, Miss Knowles," Jordan said with a nod. "That move is exceptionally annoying. But I'm sorry to say that you're not going to be able to beat me by showering me with glass. You'll eventually have to close the distance enough to hit me, and my Quick Draw will be waiting for you." Jordan gave a small laugh and sheathed his Blade into his scabbard. Around three-quarters of the way down, however, a light clink gained his attention. He looked down at his side, confused.
"My Heat Stone makes my Blade able to cut through near anything. What it doesn't cut through, it is certainly going to deform it." Jordan extracted his partially sheathed Blade from his scabbard and inspected it. The edge that blocked her attack showed a massive indent as some of the metal was displaced. With his Blade in its current condition, it couldn't be put back into its scabbard. Jordan's Quick Draw Stone had been rendered useless.
"I got kind of lucky," Hayleigh continued. "The speed you draw is faster than I could ever hope to react to. If I hadn't been able to make that delamination in the Blade, I probably would have been done for."
"Incredible," Jordan acknowledged. "You're pretty unbelievable for coming up with that plan in a matter of minutes. I hate to admit it, but you took advantage of the naivety I showed by telling your compatriot the nature of one of my Stones. However, that advantage is gone now, and I will make you pay."
Jordan launched himself at Hayleigh and attacked with a swing from above. Hayleigh parried the strike and dove away from Jordan's direction. From her knees, she took her Blade. She made a horizontal slash into the ground that resulted in a wave of molten glass headed in Jordan's direction. He anticipated the move and quickly jumped in
to the air to dodge it. Hayleigh then made another vertical strike into the ground and released a new volley perpendicular to the ground. Jordan took a few steps to the side and dove away from the wave of glass. He rolled forward as he landed and made a few jabs at Hayleigh. She was able to parry the first two and dodge the third as he did a black flip to evade the piercing attack.
Kai and Mason leaned forward in their seats breathless as Hayleigh endured Jordan's assault. They both knew what the change in style meant. Jordan's second and more powerful Stone was more offensive than the Quick Draw Stone's defensive nature, and he was saving it for the right time. Kai released a small sigh in relief. If he was able to make that connection, then surely Hayleigh could and would anticipate it. As the match continued, Kai looked up to see Terrell. He sat with his arms crossed and smiling as he watched the bout. Kai filled with a sense of dread, and Mason noticed the change in Kai's aura and traced Kai's field of vision to Terrell.
"It probably doesn't mean what you think," Mason assured him. "Terrell doesn't want to give Hayleigh any confidence if she looks up at him and sees him worried for his subordinate. I think Hayleigh is in the driver's seat. Jordan is going to have to unveil his second Stone before Hayleigh shows hers as she has the advantage right now. Keep cheering her on."