Back in the Arena so soon, I was very prepared to fight. I would ignore the pain from my flogging if it meant that I could save this child. They were young and shouldn't have been put against the animal that was now standing opposite me and grunting, circling as it considered my arrival. A long blue thing, its teeth were really the only part of it that concerned me. Like an eel with legs, it wiggled as it crept around me and the smaller child, snapping its jaw together threateningly. My fists were the only weapon I could use; the child next to me made it too dangerous to use the sand for the risk of shredding them. Time to think quickly ran out, as the thing leapt at me suddenly, body and long mouth thrashing. I hardly got my face to the side in time, and its teeth sank deep into my shoulder. Pain filled my body again, and I was really starting to get tired of being beaten up. The thing was gripping my right shoulder like a vise, so I was stuck with my off hand, trying to force it away with punches and sheer force. All that achieved was the teeth in my shoulder digging deeper and shaking around to widen the holes in my skin. This would need to change. Shoving my unblocked hand into its mouth, I began to force the upper jaw out of me, grimacing as the lower part bit in all the harder. Once some of the pressure from one side was released, both arms could be used, albeit with much pain. With both hands on the creature's jaw now, I was able to force the teeth away and slam the beast to the ground. It squealed, a piercing sound that honestly just hurt my ears. Squirming around in my grip, I almost inadvertently let the thing go as I rolled it over and jabbed it in the stomach with my fist. It convulsed in pain, probably not used to such feelings, but I couldn't stop. It died eventually, and I backed off with a sigh. The kid next to me had fled to the other side of the Arena, expecting with good reason that I would go after them next. Gathering the sand at my feet, I used my Gift and launched myself back up to the hole in the covering, jumping and gripping the edge as I got close. It cut into my hands, but I was able to pull myself back up and onto the Crystalglass with blood running down my arms. Breathing heavily, I slowly turned my head back towards the Emperor, expecting him to be ready with punishment for my actions. Fortunately, he was not. Rather, the Emperor was on his feet clapping with a knowing smirk on his face, and the entire audience was following suit, screaming and yelling to go with the overwhelming applause. Confusion must have been obvious in my expression, as Yviss called out over the crowds, impossibly loud.
"Looks like we have a hero here today!" Smirking as he spoke, I was unable to tell if he was being sarcastic or not. The noise around me intensified all the louder, probably remembering my first 'heroic' performance back when I spared Jerric. This Emperor baffled me so much, seeming threatening, mocking, and supporting simultaneously every time he spoke. Rolling my eyes, I just shrugged off the screaming of the people around me and walked back to the seats where Jerric and Yviss waited. The whole thing felt staged-an opportunity for me to go into the Arena like that couldn't be coincidental after Yviss' new interest in me. As I stepped within reach of the Emperor, he set his hand on my shoulder and whispered lightly into my ear.
"You need training."
Not knowing how to respond to that, I shoved my way past and stood behind him as he said some words to the crowd, announcing that the show for today was over early. He then dramatically spun to look at me, smiling like the lunatic he was.
"This way, Vite." Of course, he wouldn't offer an explanation until we arrived. Sighing in exasperation, I walked after him, wondering what he had in store this time. Traversing the endless hallways again, we reached a large, open white room with soft flooring and paneled walls. A few of the guards that accompanied Yviss everywhere jogged to the walls and pushed aside the panels, revealing a massive display of weapons beneath. My eyes widened at the impressive display, and I tried to hide the slight smile that had appeared on my face. Swords and blades were incredible things, and I'd never seen so many in one place. Before the Arena, I hadn't exactly been part of a wealthy family, and they didn't allow weapons in Crystalborn fights. Almost forgetting that I was with the Emperor and should be mostly respectful for the sake of staying alive, I took a step forward before stopping abruptly.
"What is all this for?" Training had been mentioned before, but they weren't going to let someone like me in here. High quality spaces and equipment were not for the fighters of the Arena, but due to his next sentence it seemed I no longer fit that category.
"You're going to learn how to use a weapon, so you don't have to continue to pummel things with your hands like a barbarian." There was no space for argument when he talked like that. Not that I wanted to argue this time. I followed him across to the weapons, still admiring them as we got closer, particularly the swords. Amidst the axes, spears, and various other items, swords had a balance and symmetry that called to me. I didn't wait, and just reached out with one hand to grip the hilt of a longsword, removing it from the wall and feeling the weight. Being a longsword made for both hands, it almost fell out of my grip. Laughter came from behind me, probably Yviss's. Hefting the sword properly this time, I watched the reflections in the blade.
"It's a longsword. That takes more strength than you have." The Emperor spoke down to me, now at my side. I performed a few uncoordinated practice swings, but it only proved that he was right. The sword sagged in my grip, angling downwards. For now. Sticking the sword back in its place on the wall, I watched as the other man grabbed a smaller weapon, still a sword, and threw it to me. That alone should have been enough to tell me it was lighter, but I was still caught off guard by how little it weighed as it landed in my grasp. Ideally somebody would have taught me how to use it, but instead I was rapidly assaulted by three of the Emperor's men wielding wooden rods and told to defend myself. I didn't need to be told twice and began to try and use the blade in my hands to knock away the rods. For a beginner, I think I did alright, but I was still thoroughly beaten and bruised by the others. My knees didn't support me for much longer throught the assault.
"Was that really necessary?" I spoke up from the floor, my legs no longer in a condition to hold my weight. This didn't feel like training.
"Yes. You learn from experience. Now get up so we can do it again, and this time don't get hit." Yviss's voice sounded sharper than the sword in his hand, but I did as he asked. It was too risky not to, so I wearily forced myself up and got ready for another round of brutal hits. At least I only had to combat one person this time. The Emperor raised his sword and slowly walked towards me before engaging in a series of swings at different parts of my body. It wasn't particularly quick, but I still struggled to deflect the attack. After four faintly successful blocks, a hit got through and stopped after leaving a thin trail of blood on my side, through my shirt. Lowering my sword, the fact that he could have easily killed me did not escape my mind. I needed to be better. So, I asked him to do it again, annoyed that it was probably what he wanted. With a smile, the Emperor gladly obliged and started to go on the offensive once more. Energized by my sudden motivation, I was able to stand my ground for longer on this bout. The clanging of the metal blades colliding filled my ears and made me confident that I might be good enough, so I stopped defending and went for a jab to Yviss's shoulder. As a beginner swordsman, that was an exceptionally bad move, and I left myself open for the other man to level his sword with my neck after stepping to the side.
"You'd be dead again." He didn't sound particularly surprised, understandably. Waiting until he was no longer about to impale my throat, I just stood tiredly and watched him with calm eyes. An opening appeared, and I took it, jumping straight at him and stabbing downwards towards his arm. A force threw me to the side before I even got close. Yviss had slid around me and thrust his foot into my side, sending me rolling across the padded flooring wincing in pain. My back was bleeding again after that blow; I could feel the blood running down my back in streams. Telling myself it could be worse, I pushed myself up again. I had to be better. Somehow, I hadn't dropped the sword, and I raised it again, metal shining in the light. Yviss was not happy with that.
"That's enough." He spoke firmly. I assumed he didn't want me overexerting myself, but just to spite him, I moved for another attack on him. Out of the corner of my eye, I got a glimpse of what looked like a snake of shadow moving towards me, but that was all I managed to see before my vision faded. Slowing to a stop, I tried not to panic. My eyes were open, and all my other senses worked, but I was blind somehow.
"What did you do?" I had a suspicion that somehow it was related to Yviss. And I was right.
"That doesn't matter; you needed to be stopped. We'll do this again tomorrow." His voice seemed to come from every side at once. This shouldn't be possible. If he was Crystalborn and using a Gift, the Crystalglass in the walls and floor should have prevented him. He had to be something else. I heard footsteps and assumed he had moved away from me, and shortly after, my vision came back. The Emperor leaned against a wall across the room, dark eyes fixed on me. After a silent battle of wills, I returned the sword to the weapon panel, knowing it was for the best. If we came back tomorrow and I wasn't rested, it would be even worse than it already promised to be. Arms and legs shaking, I was told to return to my quarters, then guided to a small room that was to be my new home. Considering that it had a real bed, it was already one step ahead of my previous cell. The front and left walls both consisted of iron bars, and another room was placed at the side. That one was sparser, having nothing but cold stone floors. Jerric was thrown in there, and not gently. I wanted to speak to him, but the guards had made sure he was unconscious before putting him in. Glaring at them through the bars, I resolved to pay them back for that someday. He had been restrained all day as blackmail and couldn't have done something to deserve such treatment. With a sigh, I put that off my mind and sat on the bed. It was uncomfortable, but it was a bed nonetheless. After a long while of letting my thoughts run loose and questioning my future, sleep took me, and I didn't even realize that no food had been provided throughout the entire day.