Returning to the shed, the girls rushed to greet him as he stepped through the door, their faces a mixture of relief and worry.
Atara immediately took his hand, her fingers brushing over his wounds.
"You're hurt,"
"It's alright, I'll be fine,"
Kaleb said reassuring her, though the weight of what he had done lingered in his chest.
"Are you really?" Rayna asked.
"Yeah, it's just a few bruises"
She squeezed his shoulder, causing him to wince and jerk away.
"These aren't just a few bruises Kaleb! You can't keep getting injured like this. We can't lose you" she said softly, as tears welled up in her eyes.
"And you won't, I promise," Kaleb exhaled slowly as he sat down.
"Look, I know you're worried. But don't worry I have a plan."
"A plan? For what?" Atara asked.
"To get us out of here"
The girls exchanged confused glances, before turning back to him.
"what kind of plan" Rayna asked.
"Don't get mad at me when you hear this ok?"
"Come on Kaleb, what plan did you come up with that would be that bad?"
"Remember, you said you wouln.t get mad."
"Out with it already"
"WelI, a few minutes ago, i made a deal with the Count and from now on, I will be fighting in the pits till I can buy back our freedom!"
"You are going to do what!" the girls yelled in unison.
"Are you crazy? Why would you ever think of doing something so reckless?"
Atara asked jolting up to her feet.
"It's the only way we can escape this hell Atara, it's either this or we keep living as slaves"
"Then, well, just find another way then! We could just run in the dead of night while everyone is asleep if we have to"
"That's not possible"
"The hell it isn't"
"If we do that then we would not only have to sneak past the guards, but would also need to be on the run for the rest of our lives. We have no money! We wouldn't even make it to the next town before we are caught!"
"So making a deal with that guy and risking your life fighting is the best thing you could think of?"
"I'm sorry to say this Atara, but yes, it is ot only the best i could think of, it is the only logical way right now"
Atara paced around the shed, going back and forth, rambling on about Kaleb making a deal with the count, until finally she got tired of it.
"You know what, fine! Do whatever you want! I don't even care anymore!" Atara yelled slamming the door behind her as she stormed away.
The room fell silent, as Rayna and Eliora exchanged hesitant glances. Finally, Rayna spoke, her voice quiet but tinged with concern.
"I know I have no right to question you right now because you are probably doing this for our sakes. But couldn't you have found another way?"
Kaleb could feel her worry settling over him as she clutched his hand tightly.
"I wish there was another way, I do, Rayna," he said after a long pause.
"But there isn't,, and we don't have the luxury of time to debate our options. This is the only string of hope we have right now."
Rayna's eyes were filled with frustration and sorrow, but she remained silent, unable to refute his words.
"I'm just trying to do everything I can to make sure we all get out of here, and this is the only viable path for us."
After a long moment, the girls nodded.
"Just promise us one thing: promise us that you'll survive. Nothing else matters,"
"I swear," Kaleb replied, his tone firm yet reassuring. "I will come back no matter what it takes. We're in this together."
A week later, Kaleb stood in the arena again, his body aching but more or less healed.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, today we have yet another interesting match-up for you,"
"In this corner, the winner of last week's cage match, the slave boy who sent you flying off your seats, Kaleb!!"
The crowd erupted as Kaleb stepped forward , this time wearing leather armor above his disheveled clothes.
Kaleb's heart pounded as he stepped into the ring, the roar of the crowd deafening. He could feel their stares, their anticipation palpable.
"And in the opposite corner, we have a master of the Northern blade style, a swordsman whose skill is unmatched in these arenas. His name is unknown in the outside word of warriors, but we in this arena have come to know him as the phantom blade!"
His opponent this time was a skilled swordsman, his blade gleaming in the sunlight as he casually twirled it. Kaleb, however, was given only a small dagger, a weapon that seemed pitiful in comparison.
Kaleb made his way to the edge of the ring as the announcer riled up the crowd, calling over one of the guards
"What do you want, slave?"
"Let's make a bet,"
Intrigued by his audacity, the guard raised an eyebrow, "A bet? What's in it for me?"
Kaleb grinned slightly "If I lose this fight... you get one night with any of the three salve girls"
The guards eyes lit up with interest, a cruel smirk spreading across his face. "And if you win?" he asked, leaning in.
"And If I win, you give me one gold ber."
The guard chuckled, "Quite the brave one aren't ya."
Kaleb's stomach churned at the guard's leering gaze, but he swallowed his discomfort and forced a smile. "So, what will it be?"
"You've got yourself a deal slave."
Kaleb walked back to the arena, his eyes filled with determination.
The arena was silent for a brief moment as Kaleb and the swordsman stood ready for their battle. A bell echoed and the announcer yelled
"Let the fight begin", signaling the start of the fight.
Almost immediately, the swordsman lunged at him, his blade a blur of motion. Kaleb's eyes widened as he was met with a barrage of strikes so fast, that he could barely register their direction.
He stumbled back, narrowly avoiding the deadly edge of the sword as it whistled past him.
Kaleb tried repeatedly to summon that strange energy he had felt in the fight against Gorok, the surge of strength he knew was somewhere within him, but nothing came.
Sweat dripped down his forehead as he dodged the swordsman's assault, each near miss reminding him just how dangerous his opponent was.
Desperation began to creep in as Kaleb danced around the ring, avoiding the sharp edge of the blade. He couldn't keep this up much longer and he knew it. The swordsman smirked, his confidence growing with every failed attempt Kaleb made to defend himself.
But then for a brief moment, Kaleb saw it an opening.
The phantom swordsman's confidence had caused him to overextend, leaving him open and for the first time in the short fight, his guard was down.
Without a hint of hesitation, Kaleb dove forward, aiming to end the fight with single a quick, decisive strike. He grit his teeth, determined to drive the dagger into the man's side.
But it was the biggest mistake he could have made. With a single, quick motion, he sidestepped Kaleb, twisting his body just enough to avoid Kaleb's attack.
He was shocked, the trick he had used to win his last fight had become his undoing.
In the same movement, he disarmed Kaleb effortlessly, sending the dagger clattering to the ground. But before Kaleb could react, he felt a sharp, searing pain in his abdomen. The phantom blade had plunged his sword deep into Kaleb's body.
Kaleb gasped, his vision beginning to blur as he was overwhelmed with immense pain. He staggered back, sliding off the blade. He tried to maintain his balance, but his legs gave way beneath him. Blood poured from the wound, staining the ground as he fell.
The roars of the spectators faded into the background as darkness began to creep in around the edges of his vision.
Images of the girls flashed in his mind and suddenly, a spark of defiance flared in his eyes.
'No, I can't die here,' he thought.
Kaleb dug his fingers into the ground as he fought against the darkness closing in. His breath came in shallow, labored gasps, but he refused to let go.
"Not like this" he repeated.
The memory of the promise he made to the girls echoed in his mind, his vow to win, to survive. With every ounce of willpower left in him, Kaleb's eyes flickered open, his body trembling as he rose to his feet.
Suddenly the energy burst forth, its quantity even stronger than the last.