A sharp ringing envelops his ears as distant crowd roars and bellows . the light blinds his eyes for a moment as he squints to focus .
Dirt , rusted sand . pain shoots through his neck as he lifts his head . The harsh sunlight disorienting him further as rows upon rows of people sweaty and shouting in raised seats stretch above his head . they are too far to be any more the faceless writhing flashes of color. A dark wall of wood and stone groans behind him.
the space around him is nothing more then a dirt packed circle , the sunlight before being a clever imitation of the real celestial stays suspended high in the shadowed dome blocking any view of the scenery outside , two figures in armor rush out of the gate ahead , The air shudders with approval .
A prone figure is dropped behind him, a deep groan escaping the person before they shift just out of sight . Pain shivers though his body once more as his hand wraps around something , He looks down : it's a short sword, old and worn leather wrapped around its handle. the bade is chipped yet looks well cared for .
It's been a while since he's been armed yet he holds the sword and adjusts his weight as if it were yesterday . the fog in his mind clears slightly ... magic? as memories held back swim into clarity . he's one of Valorium City's gladiator arenas, which one ? he's not sure . he'd been imprisoned for a month before this.
His memories sharpen and shape as the magic slips away . Some of the prisoners had given up willingly , Most had been captured against their will , injured behind enemy lines. The peace treaties had forgotten about handovers . Maybe his previous captors had found him too troublesome to keep around.
The two fighters in armor approach , and their details become more pronounced ; one wears heaver armor and carries an hefty long bow while the other is much lighter on their feet . the woman in heaver armor moves closer and pulls him up to his feet . she's about a head taller then he is he observes .
"You're capable with a sword? good . come here , Three strikes . that's all they need to take us down , slow down and get yourself together before you fight ." he nods trying to see who'd been behind him . " Hey ! " she curses forcing him to look at her "They're NOT your friends , not here . right now you need to fight "
Thought the words were pitched low and calm there is anger blazing in her pale eyes.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnetAu2wL4r
"I can't believe they didn't give you any armor," she mutters. "Name's Yuri , this isn't a fight to the death so don't do anything reckless. or you can hide and let me handle it"
he has questions , so many questions instead he nods . Yuri pauses for a moment watching him as he staggers onto his feet and nods approvingly .The other fighter strides up and claims the young man behind , steading him as they move away form them .
" I'll handle Eve. hit the new guy three times before he get's you "Yuri says nocking a blunt headed arrow and pacing out the side. Obviously expecting him to do what he's been told.
Across the arena , Eve has set her eyes on his new ally while the man he's supposed to fight rubs his face with his hand , he's groggy , still shaking his head . his arm is unstable as he hefts an old crossbow. he can hear Yuri and the other fighters clash ,but he focuses on running over to the man ahead . he pauses as the crossbow goes off the arrow grazing past his cheek bone ,that was close , too close , the fighter ahead is still unsteady and flinches when he gets closer expecting an attack , but relaxes once he senses no threat .
"Thanks " the other man says , blinking hard. he looks around the arena taking everything in. "That Ardonian said I'm supposed to hit you a few times , but ." he sucks in a breath still shaking " my name's Terez ." he winces as their eyes connect "sorry about that" he gestures to his cheek sheepishly.
Well . they're fighting, but Terez and him aren't actually enemies ,the guards here probably know his name already : they did pick him off the detainment camp, after all.
"I'm Damion , "Terez's face lights up .101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rI1TGk0tM
" well Damion, thank you for taking pity on me and not smacking me around like a ragdoll .Do you remember how we got here? My memory's a little wobbly " 101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QTkViOzif
"Magic. there was definitely magic involved " 101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUe62GEX1u
Terez nods " I'm normally a lot better with getting knocked out so that makes sense "
though there is still a wall of excited noises , the crowd closer to them had resorted to disappointed murmuring instead until someone shouts "FIGHT ALREADY ! THATS WHAT YOU ARE HERE FOR !!!"
Terez glances at the crossbow in his hand " So, uh three strikes till I win huh?"
Damion smirks "I'd like to see you try "
Terez fights like someone who's learned through trial and error, he's no ex-soldier .But what he lacks in technique he makes up with wit and sheer strength . There is a moment where Damion almost gets close enough to strike. but he throws up some sand and leaps out of range and promptly wings Damion with a blunted bolt .
"Don't let me defeat you too early ,eh? I don't want to have to face Yuri !!" he calls out breathlessly , grinning with thrill .Damion smiles back , he runs at Terez and by the time the other man looses a blunt headed bolt he is close enough to strike him with the hilt of the sword . Two hits, Damion gets in before Terez manages a thump to his sternum .
"Not what I expected ,"Terez says laughing as he retreats . he gives him a terrible imitation of an Ardonian bow . Damion chuckles he's endured way worse then Terez in his time both as a solder and as a prisoner he thinks brushing off the dirt on his tunic .
On the other side of the arena . Eve and Yuri's fight seems to have ended in a draw . Eve is off at the side shaking of the dirt in her ponytail , while Yuri sits down winded yet ever so observantly watching them fight . Damion needs to end this quick.
He watches ad Terez readies himself for a strike , he's putting so much into it: all Damion has to do is make sure he misses . Terez's body shifts and Damion takes those vital seconds to strike him in the side with a kick . Then .. its over . 101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qRjhprGDH
"Smart " Terez says , still grinning as he reaches out a hand . Damion takes it pulling the other man up . "you weren't half bad either ." He says , mirroring Terez's grin .The crowd applauds and their body stings with exhaustion . Eve approaches them tailing Yuri as they walk towards the gate they had presumably entered from . Eve is smiling , her dark eyes sparling .
"Good work," she says clapping both of them in the back ." Well technically I lost but I took down grumpy over there and my personal streak's still ok . Gosh I should have picked you !" she laughs as she skips off ahead .
Together Eve and Yuri are a pretty uncommon pair ,Eve gracefully undoes her hair , her well patterned Ardonian hands making quick work of the leather used to tie it in place, Yuri on the other hand stands tall , arms folded and brooding , body still and face pale and expressionless . "they've fought before. a lot of times from what I've heard " Terez whispers into Damion's ear . 101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEhPWRyPuq
" Well.. " Damion starts " I'd like to say nice to meet you" he says softly and Terez continues "But considering the circumstances..." he trails off nervously . Eve breaks out an elegant snort. " eh Could be worse . Once Yuri was thrown into a death fight with three you lot Talk about a bad--"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4LGkk6u8h
"Time to go " Yuri snaps sharply , as the gate groans open . Guards dressed in dark leather walk out holding a wooden crate each followed by few others armed with spears . "Weapons in the crates " one of them orders ,"Don't act smart " the other glares.
Terez gives up the crossbow with ease , his cheeky smiles all gone . Yuri unstrings hers before giving it back ,Eve just .. winks at the guards and sheaths hers . 101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRlnfAOmc0
"need any more oil?" one of the guards asks" We can arrange a delivery"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzqSqIhzCs
"Nah ",Eve says "I'll let you know"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmhb7UsmQ0
The other guard turns to Damion eyeing the sword expectantly .101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbxKVJOoFj
The guard takes the sword with a detached air that equals his own and waves them all towards another gate . a smaller one this time .
Eve keeps up a steady conversation with some of the guards as they are escorted down a long scuffed staircase . Down no climbing out a window ,then. 101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdNcBCTBVR
Yuri stalks on ahead , her shoulders strong and stiff. the steps below are spotted and stained dark brown .the amber light of the torches making them look darker . 101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEU2iNLmms
Terez shifts closer to Damion his warm brown skin now looking shallow with dread ." Where are they taking us now ?" he mutters
"Well ,"Eve gestures grandly ,"You will be given more fights. Build up a reputation and if you're good enough you might earn a pardon and get released " , she exaggerates her expression into a mock gasp "Or maybe you will catch the eye of one of our patrons ,"Terez struggles to keep her and himself from falling over as Eve elegantly drops her weight pretending to swoon. "Say Damion wouldn't that be nice? "101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZkCihulR6
"Right now ," Yuri grunts ,"you'll go see Petra the healer. Get patched up, eat ,sleep ." She eyes Terez " Stop panicking ".
Terez nods , shoulders straightening as Eve pushes herself off of him rolling her eyes. The four of them finally reach the bottom of the stairs which now forks into two sections . one sealed up with seemingly endless rows of bars and Damion senses a hint of magic . A barrier .
Yuri turns to them . her face grave and stoic ."Thanks for the help out there ". She heads towards the bars where a man in red cloak places his hand against them. the air becomes heavy as a seam appears in the middle and Yuri steps through . and as soon it is as if it had never happened at all .
Eve sighs bored "Come on now." she gestures towards the other door which is smaller and made of wood . Damion and Terez promptly pic their jaws off the floor and follow .101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3Yks80XBo
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