"Good day fighter, I am the referee for the fight," The man said, "I have talked with your opponent so he is aware of the rules, well, there are only two, no killing your opponent unless the queen tells you to and if you leave the ring, you lose, clear?"
"When does the fighting start?"
"Well, here comes Gyon," He said as the crowd broke into thunderous applause. Hugo waited on his side of the ring as Gyon walked over to the ring and climbed on. The referee stepped off the ring and a bell was rang. The fight had started.
"Strike first."
"No, after you," Hugo said walking towards Gyon's side of the ring. He moved his right arm back and swung it full force at Hugo. The collision of his fist with Hugo caused a cloud of snow to rise around them. The crowd gasped. Esral sat there, staring into the snow to try to see what was going on. No one could have survived that punch and not move an inch, what happened? Did he dodge it? The cloud slowly settled and the crowd gasped in shock. Hugo had his arm out and had blocked the punch with just his hand. Gyon looked at him, shocked. He swung another punch and Hugo blocked it with his forearm. He swiped Gyon's hands and moved below them. He jumped up and turned his body bringing his foot into his head. Gyon stumbled back as Hugo landed. Hugo was showing no signs of pain, yet that single kick clearly impacted Gyon. Gyon rose his hand and drove it towards Hugo. Hugo parried it with a punch of his own. Hugo brought more force to his arm and moved Gyon's massive arm back and used his left palm and slammed it into his stomach. Gyon bent over violently and Hugo jumped and spun in the air and drove his heel into Gyon's temple and he was launched out of the ring, crashing to the floor. Hugo landed on his feet and shook his head. The crowd hesitated for a moment before clapping and cheering. Esral gasped. She leaned over to her advisor.
"We found him."
"Are you sure he meets your criteria?"
"Yes, I am sure, I made those criteria."
Hugo walked off the ring. Esral sighed as her cheeks went to a pinkish tone. He turned to her and bowed. She clapped. Let's see if he gets through the entire thing, if he does, I need this man. Hugo walked out of the arena. Gyon was carried out of the arena behind him unconscious. Hugo yawned and decided to return to his room. Nothing I need to do right now, I might as well just rest a little.
Hugo sat up when he heard a knock on the door. He got up and dragged himself to the door. Who came to bother me as I slept? I hope this is...
"Hello," He said as he saw Esral standing in front of him, "Let me put on a shirt, come in if you want."
"That was an amazing fight," She said sitting down at the table near the window of the room, she stared at him before trying to focus on something else, "How do you have so much strength?"
"I just do, it is something I have had for a long time," He yawned as he pulled on his shirt, "My father trained me since I was a boy."
"That was so impressive, doesn't your arm hurt?" She said as he sat down. He laughed, she looked at him confused, "Did I say something stupid?"
"No, no, not at all," Hugo explained, "He sure deliver a massive punch, most people would have died or at least have broken bones and would have been launched from the arena."
"But, then why didn't you?"
"My father hits harder, he nearly killed me with one finger," He said, "Now I can beat my father but he still is very, very powerful."
"How did he get that strength?"
"I can't tell you."
"Why not?"
"Just can't, maybe I will have to use it during fights but if everyone is like Gyon, I won't," He leaned back in his chair, "Unlucky for you, but I have question for you, why do you give me so much attention?"
"Do you think?" She said as she blushed, "I don't know. Are you hungry or thirsty?"
"A little of both, why?" She snapped her fingers and soon after one of her servants walked in, she signaled for her to move closer, she whispered something into her ear and she nodded and left, "I won't ask."
"Do you like tea?"
"Don't know, never tried, I drink this more than most things," He said showing the bottle, "But I ran out."
"What is it? Like what do you drink?"
"Blood kelp."
"Blood kelp? What is that?"
"A sea plant that is mainly used for pain killers or knockout pills, but it makes a good alcohol."
"Well, I don't think we have any to give you," She sighed, "Well, maybe you will find something else you like."
"I'll be fine," He laughed, "I used to need this stuff but now, I have other things to live for."
"What do you mean?" She asked. He leaned towards her and placed his index under her chin, he smiled before moving back to his chair, he showed her his hand, revealing a ring.
"I am married," He laughed, "I live for them."
"Them?"
"I have two children, they are still young."
"Ma'am," The servant called from the door, "Where should I put this?"
"Put it here, on the table," She said as the maid moved over to the table and put a porcelain kettle on the table with two cups and poured tea into them, "Thank you, you can leave now."
Once the servant had left, Hugo asked a question, "Why are you so interested in me? I have a guess but I don't really think like that."
"What is that guess?" She asked as she took a sip from her cup.
"I would say, um, maybe power, but since you only know me on the surface, I guess a demacian soldier is more useful than a random Bilgewater soldier," He lied, "I don't know what else you could be hinting at."
"Maybe you are right, maybe you aren't," She said as she put the cup down, "Is Bilgewater warmer?"
"Well, yeah, it never snowed, well, not as much, just like a couple snowflakes and the temperature is always higher."
"You are pretty lucky I assume, I never really liked the cold," She said looking towards the open window, "Why didn't you use your blade?"
"It would unfair, he wasn't armed and if I parried with my sword, I would have killed him and you didn't tell me to kill him," Hugo shrugged. He got up and walked over to the window to close it. Esral watched him walk. She sighed and her cheeks felt warm. She took another drink from her cup as he returned to his seat. He sat down and took a sip from his cup. His eyes drifted down to the floor and something caught his eyes. What is that stain on her boot? Looks like a blood stain.
"What's that?" He asked pointing at the stain on her boot, "Did you kick someone to death? I heard you were a tough gal, but I didn't picture you as an iron tyrant."
"The maid forgot to make sure it was perfect," Her faces revealed her annoyance, "Sorry about that, I did go a little overboard with an Ionian spy, that is it."
"Don't worry, I've done worse, but with a Noxian."
She laughed, "That gives us something in common. Well, I have to go see another fight, see you later," She said as she got up and walked to the door. Hugo finished his cup and leaned back in his chair. He watched her as she left the room. He sighed. Well, maybe I should send a letter to Cass, she would be happy, and it would distract me from her. He grabbed a piece of paper from his bag and grabbed a feather and a bottle of ink. He sat down at the desk in the room and began writing. I don't think that I will bring Esral up she would probably think I am cheating on her.
"Now let the fighting begin!" Hugo's opponent was one of the sword master of Shurima. He fought with a full katana. Hugo drew his revealing the broken blade.
"Your blade is broken, you can't win, but if you do, kill me."
"It is to stop me from killing you, unless I aim to do so," He said as he jumped forwards and instantly parried the attack. He spun, swinging the blade, it skimmed his cheek and caused a deep cut. The sword master moved back to the center of the ring and held his blade with both hands. He jumped at Hugo and brought the blade down powerfully. Hugo dodged the swing and slammed the blunt end of his sword into the blade, causing the sword master to fall. The crowd cheered loudly on each hit and each parry. Hugo blocked the blade and drove it to the floor. He placed his hand on the floor and drove his foot under his chin, sending him in the air. He turned to Esral and held out his hand with his thumb down. The crowd held out their hands with their thumbs down. Esral gestured to the crowd. Death it is. The man crashed onto the floor and Hugo leaped forwards and grabbed him by his neck. He lifted him up and threw him up. He brought his foot to the man's neck, forcing his neck back then removed his foot and slashed his neck. The man's body fell to the floor, limp, dead. The crowd cheered for Hugo. He knelt down next to the man's body and crossed his arms over his chest. He grabbed his sword and put it back in his sheath and laid it under his arms. He got up and turned to Esral and bowed. She clapped and smiled at him. He turned and left the arena. He walked back to his room in the palace. He yawned. A sword master? He was more of an apprentice than a master, his face reminded me of another sword master that I trained with as a boy, well, I think that the old man is dead, at least, I gave this guy the honor of death after a loss, he asked me for that. He walked into his room and tossed his sword next to his bed. He removed his shirt and threw it on a chair. He sighed and fell back onto the bed. He closed his eyes. He lay there for a small time until someone knocked.
"Sir, the queen wishes to see you at the stable."
"I'll be there," He said getting up, "Um, where are the stables?"
"I can wait and bring you there."
"Thanks," He said as he grabbed his shirt and his sword, "What for?"
"She didn't say."
"Why me in particular?"
"I don't know sir," Hugo opened the door, "Follow me."
They walked down and soon found themselves in the stables. Esral was in her regular cloth but she had a blade on her belt. She noticed them and walked over to them. She smiled and gestured for the maid to leave. She bowed her head and left, leaving both of them alone.
"So what is the plan?"
"I was going to go hunting, to enjoy myself."
"With a sword?"
"These aren't your regular beasts, the Noxians had bred them to dominate the mainland and they spread out," She explained, "Kill two birds with one stone, I get to have fun and protect our city."
"Have you fought one before?"
"Yes, several times," She said as she climbed onto a horse, "You?"
"I fought two at once before, with my father."
"Well, maybe we can find a couple and kill them."
"Sure," He said as he climbed onto the other horse, "I think this blade will be fine."
"Mine is pretty strong, an elemental blade," She smiled, "The Frozen Fang."
"Then you are well armed," He said looking at her blade, "I haven't really seen one in action before."
"Let's go," She said as the guards opened the gates, "My men spotted one of them in the northern forest, in the stone crevasse, it should be simple enough to fight."