"Zorr wins this game," Leonidas announced the winner of this match. Then, the two fighters came down from the arena and went to rest in the restroom with doctors consulting them.
"Next fight: Saibus vs. Desmond." Leonidas declared.
Hearing Leonidas, I got up and walked towards the arena while waiting for Desmond. Desmond arrived shortly after me with a serious demeanor he's had since arriving, so I guess that's his natural demeanor, and he's a serious man all the time.
We are both watched as we wait for Leonidas to announce the start of the fight.
"Ready? Fight." Leonidas declared the start of the fight.
Hearing Leonidas announcing the start of the fight, I rushed towards Desmond with one of my swords out. I got in front of Desmond in seconds before swinging my sword from his right shoulder to his left leg. Desmond dodged it by taking a step back and then slashed me horizontally with his sword, which I blocked. I kick him to get him away from me. Desmond is thrown a few yards before falling to his feet.
"Aenye spar'le," I whisper before a shot of fire is fired at Desmond. Desmond barely caught the dodge, but I took advantage of the shot of fire as a distraction for him, tossing a senbon at his wrist to cause him to lose his sword. His sword falls to the ground with a thud.
"BOOM"
Shocked, Desmond quickly distanced himself from me. Several yards separated us now with his sword in the middle. Desmond had only ranged weapons left, but I couldn't see a bow, so he probably had daggers, throwing knives, or a hand-held crossbow left. Desmond doesn't have much of an option. Either he attacks me from a distance, or he comes to fight melee, but I have a much greater reach and am advantaged with my sword. So he's probably going to keep me at bay.
My guess is true because as soon as he got far enough, he pulled a small crossbow from his back before shooting me. I dodge the bolts on his crossbow, as they can be poisoned, explosive, or electrify. I try to get closer, but I take a burst of tiles that hit me with every step. The fight is at an impasse, but I have the advantage. I have two options left. Either I engage him in ranged combat, or I approach to finish him. If I start ranged combat, we are tied as my senbons, and my daggers have less penetrating forces, but they are less easy to perceive, as I noticed earlier. If I come in melee to finish him off, I can use my sword while he can't. Therefore, the best option is to go melee.
My reflection took me two to three seconds. Then, after making my decision, I rush towards Desmond, dodging the tiles and taking the tiles that I cannot dodge under pain of having to retreat.
"Quen," I whispered so as not to get hurt by the tiles. Desmond is surprised to see the tiles bounce off my shield. I take his moment of surprise to bring him close enough to strike him with a sword in the direction of his left shoulder. My sword connects to his shoulder but doesn't sink in too much because I don't want to kill him.
Desmond growls in pain and kicks and shoots me simultaneously to at least do some damage to me. I let his kick connect, but I parry his bolt by taking the risk that he is electrified, but fortunately, it is not. His blow makes me take a few steps back. I see Desmond on his knees with his right hand pressing on his wound.
"Saibus wins this match." Leonidas declares me the winner. I step out of the arena and sit against the wall. The doctors take Desmond to a room to treat him. Leonidas announces the next game, but the novices don't look strong, and I quickly lose interest. I get up and go to the room where Desmond is resting. I enter and look around the room. The room is laid out in the same way as the infirmaries. I move closer to Desmond. I sit down on a chair next to his bed.
"What are you doing here ?" Desmond asked.
"I'm just coming to see how you're doing and talk to you."
"I'm fine, thanks, but I don't need your mercy," Desmond said sharply to me.
"I have no mercy for you. All I have for you is sympathy for my brother in arms." I replied.
Desmond looked at me with a look of denial and pretended I wasn't there anymore.
"Do you want me to heal you? I can use a healing spell on your shoulder." I questioned.
Desmond looked at me for a moment before nodding.
I put my hands on his bandage.
"Groin," I said before the light came out of my hand and wrapped around Desmond's shoulder. Then, the light went off, and I told Desmond to move his shoulder.
"I don't feel anything anymore." He took off his bandages and saw that his wound had healed. He slightly moved his arm to see if he was in pain, but I could tell by his expression that he wasn't. So I smile before leaving the room.
"Thank you." I heard Desmond coming from outside the room.