How the hell could this happen usually you would have multiple fights with the same opponent in order to sharpen skills and advance your learning before facing a harder one. Thoth clone had said that two to one fights only occur in the second year. How was I now facing the best two together close go the end of the first quarter.
I looked to Thoth and he just said I just want to see you really try. So far I have never seen you go full out, you stay in particular patterns and restrain your self. Learning others abilities and using their styles limits you abilities to grow and make your own styles. Show me more today or I'll just consider you a simpleton that's just good at copying other.
Fine then I will try my best however you better hope I do not die today or I'll come back to haunt you. Thoth said, "that's impossible my magic prevents killing occurrences from happening even though it might look like it, feel like it, etc. The killing energy is always transferred away, huh foolish child."
We met in the middle an gave each other a friendly handshake for a fair fight in the upcoming battle. Last week's battle with Marcus had been quite feirce and only my combo of magic and skilled closer physical combat allowed me to win. However I knew inside I was playing it safe not really forcing myself to take any chances.
We walked back to the weapon tables and grabbed our supplies for the battle, this time Thoth said I could take whatever I needed to win but warned me against over doing it. I grabbed my normal bow, arrows, daggers, in addition I decided to grabbed two bolo's and a couple small traps.
Thoth said, "let's make it more challenging" and suddenly what had been a open grass field now became a deep forest. Large rock boulders and bushes were included and even birds flew through the trees, crickets and bugs were also included. It was so thick I couldn't even see my opponents.
"On the count of twenty, fighting opponents may enter the forest and commense fighting until one side strikes a killing blow. We will be able to oberve the action from a mirror spell that only the audience can see. That means for you Erin in order to win you must get a killing shot on both opponent's. Once they are hit they are out but their partner will still be active in the contest so dont get sloppy."
Thoth started the count and a loud whistle signaled the start of the contest and both groups entered the forest. For Erin this was like entering a well beloved and favored park but on the other side the gods children were trying their best to memorize the terrain.
Erin took to the trees knowing a slightly higher perspective would allow her to observe and learn the most important areas of the forest in general. She learned quickly were the slopes and barriers like bushes were, a wall of rocks and a natural streams walled in the whole fighting area on the right side.
A extremely well lighted and thinned area ran to the left area of the arena which would lead to a definite disadvantage to her ability to win. She would have to avoid getting cornered on that side or it would definatly not end well at all. Maybe a few traps would make sure they stayed away from that area as well.
She left a few surprises before the bugs and birds said someone was coming that way, Erin slipped into the trees and was gone long before her two opponents showed up on that side checking the area. Sue the mage stopped Marcus before he stepped any further into the open area, "let me cast for traps first ok".
Meanwhile I had managed to grow some false hollow trees and a vine and bark disguise on my outer body. If I stayed still most wouldn't see me and it could save my life but if I moved the gig wouldnt work as well. I created a wooden copy of myself in the top part of the tallest tree to draw,them forth. My first target would be the mage because she, could not only reinforce his natural abilities but also see through my traps as well.
With this in mind I used the,birds and bugs to indicate from which direction they would come from. Soon I could even hear their movements myself and prepare my bow to take her out. Finally I saw Marcus slowly flerting from tree to tree with his sword and shield ready for a attack. I was close enough to hit him but I knew I wouldn't get a killing shot and he wasnt my target.
I was getting nervous I couldn't see Sue anywhere and I had calculated that she would stay behind her protector. I was almost to late to realize and remember her fierce style of fighting and just manage to avoid her destructive lightning strike by rolling into the short tunnel I had dug. Over half of it was turned into a creator.
I sprung from the other side of the tunnel releasing two arrows as I made one of my hollow trees grab hold of Marcus. Marcus started hacking away to get to me. Sue managed to avoid the first arrow but the second glazed her shoulder. I was able to slip away with just scratches and a bruise on my ankle.
It took me close to a half hour to shake them off my trail then doubled back behind them to wait for a second chance. Somehow them turned back towards me it was like I had a tracker on me. I slipped back into the forest and returned to our first encounter spot.
I had to find out how I was marked or they would be sure to find and destroy me first, think damm it think.