Meanwhile, when Athena sees the sight of sealed Melidiona, Hatim and Zera sit in a dark cell which from only a window gives some light. She was covered with sweats as the bead reached her nose. "Hehe…" She replied with a giggle, nothing else but tension. Although Hatim yet just stared and soon decided to exhale a deep breath, closed his eyes, and took a nap, while she sat crossed her leg, stayed in that posture for more than time being but soon asks after a long silence. "What is your name…" Even after being together, she does not know his name and still was given no replies. The moments went blank, just Zera's heavy breathing as the noises can be heard. Her heart beat faster than usual, and it came to be unavoidable. Two weeks with no words, no familiar contact, her known was unknown and left merely darkness within her heart. The words he spoke earlier were the only thing departed from his lips in these whole days but did not even tell the name. In that instant, Cleo's face appeared in her nerves, the only existing person kind to her, but she whirled her head and looked forward, after all, she chose this path on her own wish. She was no Warrior to understand the concerns with no messages, but just a simple girl with a dream beyond her reach and yet wanted to grasp it no matter what, and then. "I… wanted to find my father…" She just then finally understood those her mother's sayings within that pressuring period. 'People won't open to you unless you open to them…' Who could have known, it came valuable at this moment, but despite, given no answers. "He was a… royal servant…" Zera yet went on and piqued Hatim's interest. "I… do, not…know…" Only at that instant, it became clear, she did not want to continue but wanted to stop long ago and Hatim came to know that with a little anger crawling within his voice. "Do not force yourself!" He echoed throughout the prison hall and guard, but they remained unspoken known to fear. He soon speaks again, calmly. "Get some rest…" It was an advice Zera listened to and did as said, she rested her head onto the wall and said no word again, but that was the horizon of her pain. "Twinkle twinkle little star, How I wonder what you are…" When night haunts, given by her mother, this tune kept her going on even from the abyss, it was just this which was there when there might be no one, but the phrase was shallow, and her will was writhing upon to the grounds, while her bravery was not in the moments but, "Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky…" His lips continued that calmly and gently. She immediately spun to him and it was just that simple tune, which was enough of her enduring to come into the shape of tears to reach her cheeks, as her lips moved on their own. "Twinkle twinkle, little star," Her voice was not able to withstand the wavers but she yet continued. "How I wonder what you are…" Hatim opened his left eye to peek that miserable face of hers and couldn't help but embrace with a tiny smile. 'She really is like her…' The cell's darkness does not bother anymore but replenished with heartwarming tunes as if the billions of stars shining in the depths of nights' heavens are smiling upon them to win the midst of darkness. That true blessing juncture was one to make them move forth. However, that beautiful and gentle globe did not stay long after a tremendous quake took place. The magnitude was intense enough to lead hearts till to the fear of death. Hatim stood and covered as Zera could hide behind him from the rumbling stones falling from the ceiling. It might be startling for Hatim and Zera, but the doing was clearly of Athena and Cleo from beyond these barriers. The atmosphere came into a dead minute, Hatim then turned to the guard who was anxious and asks loudly. "What happened?!" His tone was massive and woke their spirits. "Be… quiet!" The guard replied, and his tone was of fear but his mumbling did not stop. "It's a catastrophe," He muttered that over and over. Hatim became sure, talk now is no use. "Just what the hell happened?!" He uttered, just as that second, another massive quake took place and shiver their souls yet again. Hatim hence turns the sights to the little one beside him, while she just tightens her grip onto the robe of his, trembling. "Tsk!!" It was then he expressed, annoyed. But that miserable sight faded after a man stood before their cell. His steps just walked and stood but for some reason he was very different from other Fortis, it might be his eyes which were hard to understand and made him unique. "Come!" He said with a heavy tone of its own.
The sky was very blue after seeing it two weeks later while the sun was bright and shiny like always, but more grandly, beautiful. Zera still did not lose her grasp from the robe and walked behind him, confused after beholding the sight before. Men and women, Fortis and civilians, all made a path for them to head a certain way. Gazes were filled with anxiousness, and they might not be wrong upon knowing the next of this lad! While Hatim walks with utter confidence flooding in his eyes. It was a day, yet only their steps could be heard, but what exactly happened was the thing Hatim did not know of. Soon after a long walk, someone he knew appears. It was a person within a black cloak, and eyes sure identify Athena with a simple glance. He then stood next to her, but first, she took care of Zera to stay behind from the uproar about to happen. He saw and asks with impending confusion. "What the hell is this!?" His tone changed into anger but did not bother her in the least. Yet, she answers back. "You have to fight!" And like always, her words were above his head, but 'fight' meant one thing in particular, and yes, his hunch was right! Dara comes forth with a rumbling foot. Just as their stare met, drool of battle could be seen. However, Hatim knew one thing for sure and just because of That, he might…
Hatim then spun to Athena and says with dark expressions. "I can not!" But those letters were his last! Dara rushed toward Hatim with all-mighty power, despite the weight and distance, he was just before Hatim in no time at all, even before his sights spun, a massive blow was just next to his skull. It was like death. Hatim saw, and just saw before that tremendous power-packed punch was almost touching his head, but that single less than a second moment was enough for him to lose in thoughts, to find the answer in the depths of his fragile past.
It was long ago when the meaning was not clear as it is now. Hatim wandered across the Paladins street, unknown to the destination and shattered by Vestal teaching, one glance was enough to tell his tiredness was no ordinary. Yet, this was not nearly what he desired, but for some reason the more he walked upon this path, the more he felt drowned from these depths of weakness, the more he felt far from his purpose, the more, he hears 'No' in his heart. These thoughts crushed his sanity till crypt of disarray, as while his eyes whirled to a young lad around his age in distance, playing with his friends while his sister chased him with laughter. Just upon seeing them, his heart loosens a little and decides to flow out from this abyss, but little he knows; what destiny had chosen him for, and that is not a tranquil life, but just simply worst… He raised a hand towards that child and just wanted to leave all the burden there, but in that second, a rumbling crowd filled the street with just voices. His sights spun instantly and the others whom his eyes were upon, ran to their house, just as so Hatim could turn again and saw no one, the somberness filled him a little, but that moment faded after the howling got greater. It was in front of the Gladiator arena. Gladiators, fought by two men surrounding each other, grasping weapons, wearing the armours and stepping ahead for certain death. There was an old saying; Gladiators are the one who could not be deemed to forgive and punish themself till death arrives at the front gates for the departure of hell. Cruel and fragile, yet this is the destiny for him, and he did not deny that, but accept it with the whole heart. Hatim walks towards that Gladiator arena known to his fate and desire for the answers.
It was no ordinary Gladiator arena but a massive and golden colosseum, which can easily hold thousands of individuals within, while sounded as it always has been, the noises currently were reaching at the height of a person leading towards to be deaf. It was insane. Hatim somehow manages to get inside the corner and yet again saw the rumbling wild audience chanting a name. "Flame!" It was the only word or thing that can be heard and reaching within souls. Hatim who hates Gladiators' bloodshed, whirled his sight to that soil ground, tainted by red and gazed with utter concentration. And then surprisingly as suddenly, the audience went to no word because His step came to be heard. Hatim just then swirled his eyes around and saw every single one as the hearts of them growled, his step came into the sand grounds and it was that moment Hatim encountered the one and only, "The Greatest Gladiator!!" The host called his name with utter confidence. "Flame!!!!'' Just upon his arrival Hatim felt immense chills and it was not just him, but the whole arena, while it's simply because that flaming man, who wore no armour, no weapon was in his grasp, just he stood half-naked with the white clothing upon his thighs. There was gauze wrapped around his fists just as so the blood could be hidden beneath, while his beard and hair were short as burgundies filled upon. His muscular figure was nothing to laugh at and that might be one of the reasons others feared and revered him at peak. Hatim stood way remote from him, yet he could not help but acknowledge that man as 'Strong' but what he beheld next was the essence of Hatim.
And just recalling that unique fighting style, he crouched down and leapt with an impossible speed as if he wasn't even there but a few steps further as putting his hands a little above and next to the eyes, taking a quite defensive stance. The sight every single individual witnessed was something they will never forget till the graves pulled them in. While Hatim's heart rumbled loud, his breathing evolved heavy and his body was trembling. In that single second, Athena felt an immense headache as if her head was going to demolish, but it didn't. However, men were flooding terror, unknown to words and just gawked. It was Fortis rule one: 'No matter what the odds or situation, we are not allowed to kill the innocents.' Though, this rule never appeared in the journals or public statements, and did not once reach the citizens of Melidiona, just as so the name of Fortis could live in the depths of fear, yet, at the moment that rule came to unfolded as nothing but a stain.
A gale of silence blew and just left breaths of exhaustion within Hatim. However, he was not done yet because if he was, then death was assured, but Dara did not wait for his opponent to grasp the thread of victory and launched a massive bare-knuckled hook nearing his kidney. That blow may just seem fast for others but for Hatim, it was no less than death, yet that boy, that single boy fought with courage like no other and again evaded with steps considered just magic. That minor stood before the leader of Fortis, that sole reason throws their heart into the ocean of guilt but still, just remains unknown to the answer but alive to witness. However, there was one gem hidden in that crowd of cowards, who was rooting for his win from the depths of her heart, Zera believed for his victory. Cleo, on the other hand, hid upon a roof and just gawked desperately until swirled at Zera, just as so embraced by a smile. He felt relieved. Meanwhile, Athena stayed to no story but just simply watch as the old warned one appeared out of her memories. "He is a beast!" Somehow, she yet believed that, hence, just watched. For Hatim though, it was merely restless moments. "Evade and avoid as much you can!" It was the words from Vestal, but Hatim never came to know the meaning behind up until now, yet that did not decrease the difficulties before, the many tactics he learned might become handy but there was no time to think but to focus all his senses upon one posture to another. It was simply difficult, and just then a path opens hidden in those punches and Hatim somehow came to foresee the next punch landings, what exactly was it, was an unknown answer but Hatim won't let pass this only way, but little he forgot, Dara was once Greatest Gladiator and now wield the position leader of Fortis, maybe it was the pressure which led him to this clear as crystal trap. Hatim now evade the attacks with ease swiftness and just as he did, he as well prepared that right bare-knuckled fist and just that instant when the pattern of blow came to repeat, Hatim spun all over, changed the postures seven times from high to low, and bend legs to gape clear view of Dara's nose, that was his target and just that second, he launched with utter strength he had, but as well in that instant, Dara embraced by a smirk, yet Athena did not utter a word known the fate. When moments turn slow Dara swiftly step left with no hesitation as like this was his intentions all along, but Hatim was no fool either, he then stepped vast, bend those legs, and jumped to reach that man's right eye, the moments truly just then became slow, as if white eagle taking a flight to reach above, higher than clouds, just higher and a bold smile appears, symbolizing his victory. That meant to be destiny but that instant, just in that posture, that foolish lad saw something, he should not have. It was the seal of Melidiona that came into his view. It was the lengthy walls but was enough to shatter what little faiths. He brought here within a dark cage, and Hatim was no kind to find others problem his share but rather had to find the freedom before too long, thus, his eyes never swirled to the thing that has been considered a dark truth of Artelia, but right at the moment when life seems like a shed of disarray, Hatim froze in the mid-air, but Dara didn't. He swings a heavy hook nearing Hatim's ribs below, just as Zera breathes hasten while the crowd of cowards merely stood as tension grew in the air itself, but that lad was already thrown into the pit of those fragile recollections.
"You hate everything, me, her, the whole world!" Those were the words departed from the lips of Vestal, but Hatim never once believed that because he never hated Veti or Vestal, and even young Zera, he never hated them in slight, but the echo of those words growls in the depths of his heart, always unknown why, but just today, when the deception was there, Hatim somehow froze as like a bird without wings, falling from the sky till to the grounds of graves, but his determination yet has to give up! Only then that unique fighting style flashes as if he stood there once again, into that golden Gladiator colosseum when Flame embarks his name in Hatim's eyes. He stepped like water, combining the posture with hundreds, his fists hit like a rock onto the body. His moves were something even the masters could not comprehend, but most astonishing was his bold smile like he has the will to conquer this arena, and he sure did. Hatim was just amazed till to no other feeling, and just upon some blinks that mad won the Gladiator finals with howls of the arena following his victory, but Hatim only sees that fake smile. Flame then walked towards that gate, leaving the sand grounds behind just as so Hatim follows with hurry, pushing, passing to reach that far gate Hatim runs to find the answer and barely somehow catching up with The Greatest Gladiator, he shouts. "How…" It was quite a harsh yell for the throat of a ten-years-old youth, but it sure does attain the ear of Flame, but just upon the arrival of that youth, one who stood before Flame spun his sight to Hatim with proper disgust to say. "Aargh, take that filth out of here!" That man was a heavy bidder, he was a wealthy man, that was certain upon those bright and clean clothes, but mostly because of that fat figure he held, and when he stood before Flame, could mean only particular, he was trying to form a contract with the Greatest Gladiator for his own business, and Hatim arrival just razed the moment. The guards do as the told to take 'that' filth out of here, but Hatim has made his decision long a time ago, when he saw Flame fight like a beast, and just evade the grab of one guard, bend his knees to went between that large gap those legs, he slides and spun, changed posture and just recalled that unique combat manner of Flame. Flame, on the other hand, gawked at that young youth, ignored the heavy bidder beside but swallowed in that try of that boy. Hatim somehow whirls and occurs right in front of Flame and asks. "How can I win?!" With no time to talk much, the boy only managed to say just that but it was enough to make Flame embrace a smile, a genuine smile. He then turns and commands with an utter and heavy vocal. "Stop!" And just with that, every single one froze, as the eyes of two met, something as like silence took over, even that heavy bidder went mute. "How…" He confirmed. "Well, win the audience!" A gale blew in the dark as a sparkle bloomed in Hatim sunflowers' eyes. It was an unknown moment but Flame felt something within that boy, it was beautiful but as well frightening, it was… "Boy, tell me your name!" The Greatest Gladiator never had asked the name of his opponents, but the one who stood before held which Flame exactly knows. "I discarded it!"
"WIN!!!" That willful yell comes from a girl hidden in the crowd of cowards, Zera was the one, and Hatim regained what hopes he wanted to throw into a void of havoc. He dodged that blow, in the mid-air, he shook his body above while balancing upon Dara's right arm. The moment they observed was something they never anticipated, but not just that, the moment was completely impossible, yet Hatim did it, that minor did the thing which Fortis as well feared. Hatim dodges then falls and shouts with all his might. "Even if I am not enough…" The echo of his growl reached others' hearts till it crumbled. "I will attain this victory, no matter what!!!" That simple line was enough to give rise to the tears, flowing as droplets and beads, Zera's eyes could not help but let out the bursts of fear deep within her spirits as the shape of salty-water lay low within eyes, it was enough to shake their soul. The men tremble and have no words, women burst with tears like never before. Every single individual knew the lad was not strong enough to defeat the mighty leader of Fortis, yet those words he spoke were clearly from the bottom of his heart. For the first time, their inner soul found something different, something like a ray of hope. However, for some reason, Dara just embraced by a tiny smirk, enough to not peek at anyone. But, the battle was not over yet, even after Hatim mighty speech, the odds between them just look too large, but that little lad just doesn't seem to know the meaning of defeat, and then the moments came to be like a magical show, Hatim march forward with hand loosen, balanced postures and yet again evade like an insane beast while Dara this time wasn't joking either, he unleashes all his power in the shape of fists which just seem like a never-ending parade. Their fight could be seen from so far away that even Cleo above at the roof could see that restless battle of beasts. Meanwhile, Athena just stared, as she as well wondered. "This man…" She recalls and reached a few moments ago, when the confrontation between her and Dara, the leader, took place.
"So, that young boy is your lord's son, eh?" Dara said, but the belief was surely different as he just gaped, after all, the young boy he once saw was not wealthy enough. Soon those gazes filled with doubts, but Dara's tone did not change as thus he says. "Ok then, your young master will fight me to win the prize of his freedom!" Just that was enough to lead Fortis men to utter confusion, and why wouldn't they, the leader never asked something like a fight, moreover, to a young youth. However, even after capturing all the thread in her grasp, this was purely difficult, Athena somehow knew Hatim might be not strong enough to win against the leader, but the time had already passed and it was too late to redo the work she established, and so she replies as no suspicion could grasp her. "He is not strong enough!"
"Oh, he sure is!" Dara replied swiftly, but she as well just replies with the same swiftness. "Even a scratch mark upon him, then the Lord will demolish Artelia!" But upon her phrase, Fortis' worries grew. However, Dara opens his arm wide as to say. "Then, let's see the end of Artelia!" That second the tension thickens even more and even the civilians spun. Athena sighed but hasn't given up but says, though overlaps her choice. "Well, therefore, if he even landed a hit upon you, then this foolishness has to end!" Her declaration may be tough for others but not Dara, and even if it is, he can not deny in front of the whole district, gawking. He smiled boldly. "I accept!" He approved. At first, along with her words, the young master seemed like a coward, who just lived on the money of father, but Fortis was amazed, they were speechless. They have never seen a mad lad with a rich father. Well, there are wonders, but to this extent was unknown.
Athena came back to the moment and just stared utterly, although her thoughts sure say behind the cage of her tongue. 'This man…' A phrase she thought, gaping at Dara, then turning to Hatim. 'He is as like,' Just then a vision of Vestal crossed her mind to change her judgement. 'Second Master…' She could only think of that, and merely that. Hatim, on the other hand, fought for freedom as for victory, but despite the old age, the combat style of Dara was just same as it was seven years ago, unpredictable, and there wasn't any loop this time, yet somehow and barely Hatim keep up, after all, the past ten years he spent training was no mockery either. Thousand of ways, but just one thread of victory, which was it? Hatim has to find it before his body gives up after being on the edge of outstanding breaths. 'Where does it lay?!' No wonder Hatim was only capable of that thought and so, in a blink of an eye, he found it. Hatim knows that combat style long ago, he has once seen it, seven years ago, at that moment it was only fascinating, but now, who could have known that came to serves as the only thread in the depths of shackles, and just then, merely then, Hatim marched even after those punches bolstered like the rain, he broke through them and roars with utter confidence. "Aaargh!!" The roar of the victory, but Dara as well, launched a final and tremendous power holding punch onto Hatim, directed at his face, this was the moment of truth, the moment which decides the freedom or rather the pieces hope shattering. The air for a second as if stopped, everything seems like it stood, the weak watched as their hope will wreck or Fortis, for the first time loses? This moment decides everything. Hatim just saw that bare-knuckled fist of Dara nearing him as reflecting his eyes and confirmed the defeat, but his determination did not give up even till the end, after all, he was The Warrior. Hatim bounces up but not down, it sure was unfamiliar that this lad had so much control over his body. Above enough to barely evade that final fist, he then swung that right punch he prepared and launched with all his strength gathered, and landed upon that face of a champion, Hatim punched Dara and soon left noiseless moments to continue the silence of astounding sight. None know how to proceed except one, "Aaargh!!!" Hatim screamed.
"Warrior wins!" And Athena declared with known confidence from the beginning.