The stone wall hall that connected to the coliseum's fight stage shook. The yells and cries of the audience could cause ears to hemorrhage. Most kids, being nobility, were accustomed to such a setting. Years of being among some of the country's toughest had hardened their hearts. Naralis couldn't stop trembling. He was the weakest in his hometown, but it didn't stop him from enjoying a good battle. He loved them, but his heart wasn't in sync with his body. He could finally be himself, and he already knew who his first opponent would be.
"Now for the major attraction! The battle of our very own first-year pupils of ... Aflair academy!" yelled the announcer. Using mana, he projected his voice throughout the entire coliseum, and the audience ate it up. They screamed even louder this time, spitting food and splashing pricey wine. Even those at home roared with delight.
The Lunenmore Woods was crazier than usual. The orb of communication was put in the center of the community so that everyone could see it from their dwellings. Some have a drink in their hand. Others with a companion. Riggard took his seat, flanked by two gorgeous women, who fed him grapes and fanned him with a huge leaf. He wanted to watch this fight for a couple of reasons. One to study new martial arts and the other to see if Naralis had sunk or swam.
There were other curious eyes in the village. Abina's mother had her own agenda, and the seer who'd returned recently wanted to see the prodigal boy in the flesh.
The first-year class made their way to the center of the coliseum, where the announcer stood with his back to them, and his arms outstretched toward the sky. At their entry, the audience erupted. Families yelled for their children as the pupils waved and bowed back. Naralis had no family here, no matter how badly he wished for someone, or anybody to come here just for him. He bit his lip to hold back his emotions to center himself. He couldn't falter here. Not over something so small.
"Each of you is allowed to fight twice today and you can pick your opponents. You are allowed one skip. No killing, but everything just under that is allowed," the announcer grinned. "Let's begin! Whoever wants to go first, step up!"
To everyone's surprise, Jeenie took a step forward and turned toward Edward. She pointed at the boy and snarled. "I challenge the bastard boy, Edward!" Everyone gasped, wondering why she called him out.
Naralis nudged him and bent his large frame down to his ear. "You gonna tell me why she looks like she wants to castrate you and feed your ding-dong to a pig?" he pointed at Jeenie who looked like she wanted to spit in Edward's face.
"Well, when you were in a coma for those three months, I lost myself in a bit of pleasure to ease my wounds if you get what I'm saying," Edward whispered.
"Nope. I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about."
Edward sighed. "I always forget you are a dumbass. Jeenie and I shared a few nights at the brothel she works at and let's just say she doesn't like to swallow."
"Still don't get it," Naralis said.
"Are you two going to keep or are we going to get this show on the road?" the announcer exclaimed.
"We'll talk about this later buddy." The class made their way to the stands. A few moments later, the arena was empty beside Jeenie and Edward who faced off in its center.
"Are you really going to hold a grudge over something that happened months ago? I apologized and even paid you more money afterward! I'm sure with your line of work, it happens more often than not," he turned and raised his nose in the air. "Get over it. You would have more customers if you swallowed anyway."
Jeenie's eyes turned cold and wide. Her head lowered and a menacing laugh escaped her lips. "First, I'm going to break your legs. Then your arms and then I'm going beat you as close to death as possible."
The announcer stood from his exquisite throne and yelled as hard as he could, "Began!"
Edward took his posture, leading with his lead hand and foot forward, offhand at a very balanced and comfortable angle. Recognizing the gravity of the situation. He ignored the roar of the crowd and focused his attention on Jeenie.
Jeenie shifted her weight to her back foot, her lead foot extended in front of her. Her right palm was outstretched toward Edward, her left hand tilted toward her chest. Naralis didn't know how fast she could move with hooves for feet, but his question was answered seconds later.
Jeenie leaned on her rear foot a little more and moved forward faster than he expected. Edward's face furrowed as he instinctively blocked his chest. He grunted as a result of the blow, and when he raised his head, Jeenie was no longer in his sights.
"Behind you!" a voice shouted above all the others. The voice he'd heard the most since coming to this school, Naralis.
He didn't know of a way to block her next attack. She was above him in martial arts by a good margin from what he deduced, but he clenched his jaw, prepared to receive the next blow. Edwards spun the balls of his feet into a spinning punch, only to be met with a powerful palm strike that caused his wrists to bend in ways he didn't know was possible.
In a battle of power, he would lose. His only choice was to mix things up as much as possible. Ignoring the pain, Edward jumped back to put some distance between himself and her and started thinking. His eyes darted around for any advantage, but there was nothing in this empty arena beside the sand under their feet and then an idea clicked.
Jeenie and Edward got back into their stances. Jeenie smiled at him, and Edward hated that he was being underestimated.
'Father always said that saving face in a battle would result in my skull being severed.' He chuckled and went on the attack. Edward thought Jeenie's stance was too fixed and moored to where she stood.
'Her attack was fast going in a forward motion. Let's see how that carries over if she has to attack off a straight line.'
Edward was on her quick, attacking from a multitude of odd angles. Always approaching from her side, but her backfoot remained stationary and her lead foot followed him. Every strike he threw was blocked with an open palm.
"I don't even have to move to fight you. I'm sure your Adam is shaking his head looking at his favorite little boy losing against a satyr."
"Leave my family out of this you whore," Edward retorted, but Jeenie only laughed. "Yes, I am a whore. A proud one at that, but you are too. Aren't you? Your petty remarks hold no weight to me. After all, I am satyr." Even in a moment like this, Jeenie's voice was still seductive. "You see, I have no qualms with human takes on sex. I don't care how you vile creatures view women, but I only asked you not to do... that. And you couldn't even follow that one direction. And now, I'm going to crush you in front of your little boyfriend."
"Shut up you bitch."
"Finally want to be a man?"
Jeenie's taunts got to him, but he still had a plan. Edward faced her head-on, and she took the bait. As soon as he sensed her lunge, he drew as much sand as he could in his hand and threw it in her eyes.
Jeenie screamed and closed her eyes. Her bottom lip bled from her teeth. "This couldn't have been your grand plan you were cooking up in that shit you call brains!"
"Well, it is and now you can't see." Edward had her blind and tried to be as careful as he could with alarming her, but he wondered why she wasn't panicking. Instead, she just chuckled as if she wasn't in danger.
'I'm not sure why a damn satyr is so damn tough, but I need to end this here." With his shoulders slumped, Edward took deep breaths. He only had enough energy for one more strike. And when he looked at Jeenie, the girl didn't look like she had just gotten done exchanging strikes.
'Maybe I do need to train more,' he smiled. Edward didn't want to attack from the back. It was too obvious. Instead, he aimed for her temple, but as soon as he was close enough, Jeenie shot toward him faster than she ever moved. Edward's heart rammed against his chest. He was now face-to-face with her in the blink of an eye.
"I can't see you, but male pheromones are like drugs to me, and I've already had direct contact with your stink before."
Edward wheezed as her palm slapped his open chest. Before he even struck the ground, a clean strike forced his body to fold and puke blood.
Edward lay motionless and unresponsive.
"Now I'm going to make good on my promise." Jeenie slowly walked toward Edward's body, but suddenly stopped. She heard the sand sputter behind her.
And a deep voice behind her said "I won't allow it."