As Sei awakened from his slumber, the unmistakable sound of a horse's screams pierced through the air. Without hesitation, he rose from his bed and reached for his weapon, carefully examining the blade as he did so. He remembered discarding the sheath in a calculated move to catch his enemies off guard. Though a hint of rust marred the blade, he deemed it suitable for use and set off to investigate the commotion outside the tent.
As I scanned the area, I saw a trail of blood leading away from the clearing. The bodies of the deserters were nowhere to be found, but the horse was still tethered to a nearby tree, unharmed but clearly spooked. I approached the blood puddle, my eyes scanning the ground for any sign of the creature responsible. There were a few footprints, consistent with that of a four-legged animal, likely a wolf or something similar. With little care for the mystery of the creature, I quickly mounted the horse and continued my journey.
As Sei rode his horse further away from the tent, he reached into his pocket and retrieved a folded map. Keeping a steady grip on the reins with one hand, he opened the map with the other and studied it closely, taking in every detail and committing the terrain to memory. The horse continued to move forward, guided by the gentle kicks from Sei's heels. He scanned the map with a detached focus, taking note of potential hazards and plotting out his next move.
Sei scanned the map in his possession, his eyes carefully studying the contours and landmarks depicted on its surface. Comparing it with the terrain around him, he quickly oriented himself, a sense of understanding settling over him. With precision, he folded the map back and returned it to the safety of his pocket, his hand instinctively reaching for the reins of his horse once more as he urged the animal forward.
After several days of traversing through the rugged terrain, Sei finally reached the gates of the kingdom's town, the Academy's location. Along the way, he had made a point to pause and rest in each village that he came across, taking the opportunity to replenish his supplies and gather his strength before setting out once more on his journey.
As he approached, he was met by a line of guards clad in shining armor, their expressions stoic as they held their spears at the ready. Sei came to a stop before them, his horse whinnying in protest as the guards eyed him warily. One of them stepped forward, his voice gruff as he demanded to know Sei's business in the town.
"What do you want, kid?" One of the guards said.
Sei got off the horse and after he landed he still keeps a good grip of its reins before speaking.
"Well, I have business in the town." Sei replied.
"And what exactly is this 'business' of yours, boy? Look at your sword, it's nothing but a rusty blade with no sheath. You don't look like any sort of tradesman to me." The guard sneered.
"Business? With that raggedy sword and horse? You must be joking." another guard sneered.
"What kind of business could a peasant like you possibly have in the town?" a third guard chimed in.
"Looks like we have ourselves a little beggar trying to sneak into the town." the first guard said, laughing along with his comrades.
Sei's veins could be seen popping, but his expression remained calm. He slipped his hand into his pocket, retrieving a letter and offering it to the guard. One of the guards stepped forward to take it, skimming over the contents with a sneer.
"What the fuck is this?" he said, "It's nothing but a piece of trash you found in the sewers!" The guard continued, some of the other guards chortling in amusement.
As the guard looked as though he was about to rip the letter apart, Sei's eyes widened with anger. With lightning fast speed, he raised his sword until it was just inches away from the guard's throat.
"Brat, what do you think you're doing?" the guard growled, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his sword. "You think you can just waltz in here and start swinging that rusted piece of metal around? You're lucky I don't have you arrested for threatening a member of the king's guard."
The other guards, sensing the tension, also drew their weapons and surrounded Sei, ready to act on their leader's command.
Sei, with a cold and steady gaze, lowered his sword and with a swift motion, snatched the letter back from the guard's hand.
Sei, with a sly smirk, reached into his pocket and retrieved a small, heavy bag of gold. He dangled it in front of the guards, their eyes greedily fixed upon the glittering contents.
But before they could make a move, Sei spoke in a commanding tone.
"If one of you can beat me in a fair fist fight, this bag of gold is yours. However, if any of you try to take it by force, I'll throw it as far as I can, and you'll never see a single coin."
The guards exchanged glances, some of them nodding in agreement. The guard in front of Sei stepped forward, a fierce determination in his eyes.
"You've got yourself a deal, kid. But let me warn you, I'm the best fighter in the town guard."
With a nod, Sei tossed his sword aside and the two men began to circle each other, fists at the ready. The other guards looked on with bated breath, wondering if Sei's bold gamble would pay off.
The guard was a formidable opponent, with broad shoulders and a thick chest, but Sei had the advantage of speed and agility.
The guard swung a fist at Sei, but he easily dodged it, landing a swift punch to the guard's gut. The guard doubled over, but quickly regained his footing and launched another attack. Sei blocked the punch with his arm, but the force of the blow sent a jolt of pain through his body.
The guard pressed forward, raining down punches on Sei's body. He was skilled, but Sei was faster and more nimble. He ducked and weaved, avoiding most of the blows and landing his own punches where he could.
The guard's punches were powerful, but Sei's were precise and calculated. He aimed for vulnerable spots, striking the guard's kidneys and solar plexus. The guard's breath became ragged and his movements slower.
Sei could feel the blood running down his face, and his own punches were becoming weaker.
Sei became aware of a warm, metallic taste in his mouth. Glancing down, he saw that his nose was bleeding profusely. With a quick, fluid motion, he wiped the blood from his face and refocused his attention on the fight at hand.
Without any hesitation, Sei lunged forward, swinging his right fist with all the force he could muster at the guard standing before him. The guard, prepared for the attack, raised his own fist to block the punch, with a deft feint, he caused the guard to lower his guard for just a moment, and in that instant, Sei struck, his left hand lashing out to hit the guard's kidney with a punishing blow. The guard let out a cry of pain as his hands flew to his head in shock.
Seizing the opportunity, Sei swiftly continued his assault, his right hand crashing into the guard's torso with enough force to make him wince. He pulled back and struck again and again, each blow harder than the last. And then, with a swift sweep of his leg, he brought the guard crashing to the ground.
As the guard fell, Sei's fist connected with his face with a sickening crunch. A tooth flew from the guard's mouth as he hit the ground. But Sei wasn't finished yet. He began to kick the guard's torso with a ruthless ferocity, each blow producing a sickening crack as bones broke. The other guards could hear the sound of breaking bones, even though the guard was already unconscious. Sei continued to kick until he was finally satisfied, his breathing heavy and his body bathed in sweat.
"A-Alright, that's..e-enough." One of the guards spoke up, then his comrades stepped forward, trying to assert their authority.
"Well..." Sei panted, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "I...forgot to mention...the stakes of this fight. If I win...I get to enter the town...without paying any...damn tolls."
"V-Very well.." one of the guards said, trying to hide the tremble in his voice. He cleared his throat and shouted, "Open the gates!"
The grand gates slowly creaked open, and Sei walked away from the fallen guard. He retrieved his sword from the ground and grabbed the reins of his horse, walking with a slow, measured pace towards the opening gates. The guards stepped back nervously, giving Sei a wide berth as he passed through the gates without a second glance. Inside the town, Sei's malevolent aura seemed to dissipate as he blended in with the crowd.