"Alistair wins!" The commentator shouted with the veins around his neck bulging.
Most spectators cheered at the top of their lungs. Their voices echoed and escaped the grounds of the coliseum for people in the streets of Pergis to hear.
"What a match!"
As part of his job, the commentator entertained the crowd while some of the facilitators went out to the stage and assisted both Algar and Alistair towards the infirmary. In there, injured participants would receive great treatment from a healer. Someone who received certification from the Chancery of Health to perform healing.
Healers in the coliseum would decide whether a participant could proceed with the tournament. Since the tournaments were designed to end within a day, it is a rule to disqualify participants who were deemed unable to continue due to being injured from their previous match. Although people's opinions vary nowadays in regards to this rule, decades ago, all Panteran people agreed. The tournaments were the kingdom's way to train their future warriors in case the glass-like peace among kingdoms shatters, and to simulate an aspect of war where receiving grave injuries could mean death, this rule remained.
"On to the next match!"
The commentator looked at the right entrance of the arena, "To our right, a young warrior bearing our very own proud Lion's Zeal. Participating in his first tournament, let us all welcome, Khersis Dimilis!"
There's a handful of people in the stands who know the surname Dimilis because of the knight's commander, Mnesus Dimilis. A man who would've been a prime example of what a knight should be if not for his great insecurities towards Arsen. Someone who achieved far greater feats than him despite being five years younger. His name used to be the one spoken by the people of Arsida till Arsen's name popped out of nowhere.
At first, the then eighteen-year-old Mnesus was also amazed by Arsen's achievements. Then, young Arsen's name spread throughout Pantera like wildfire. Even kingdoms far to the west have heard his name. When he learned that Arsen was knighted mere months after he joined the tournaments, great envy filled his heart, since in the past hundred years, Mnesus was the record holder for being the youngest to have been knighted in Arsida. He became a knight at the age of seventeen.
People were unsure whether the participant was related to Mnesus since their surname wasn't that rare. But, as soon as he walked out of the entryway, his striking resemblance to his older brother was clear to the masses
While Khersis entered, vendors permitted by the Coliseum to sell goods started offering them to the viewers. The goods varied from different foods and drinks, and some were even selling various crafts they made.
"On my left!" the commentator pointed to the left entryway with his left hand that holds the wooden board with his notes.
"A young warrior who, although I do not see any resemblance of being related, is the younger brother of Sir Arsen," the commentator paused. His face was with a fake expression of shock, then he whispered, "He might be Sir Donos's son," as a joke before continuing the introduction.
"It is his second tournament in our coliseum. He almost won against young Alistair in the previous tournament despite being a boman. Please all welcome, Aeneas Caspius!"
At the stands, Tiriara stared at Donos. Her eyes were piercing.
Donos smiled, "What is it, Tiri?" he asked.
Tiriara continued to scan him. Looking at every nook and cranny of his face. Her innocence even led her to look below that and towards his feet. Then, she looked at Aeneas who was walking to the arena, "You do look alike," she whispered.
Donos let out a loud laughter with his deep voice. Even Arsen, Eluard, and Konon found Tiriara's words and serious expression funny. People around them, who were taking glances at Arsen or Donos since they sat down, also started laughing.
Confused, Tiriara asked, "Why are you all laughing?" She paused, and appeared to have realized something, "So Aenie was really… I shouldn't have called him a bastard," the girl muttered with a saddened expression.
The laughter of Donos and the others grew louder as they heard Tiriara's words.
Arsen, who was sitting next to Donos, cleared the girl's confusion, "He's my brother. Though he is the only one among us siblings who took after our late father," he said.
"Oh," Tiriara muttered, "I guess that makes sense… So, your father has the same hair?" she asked.
Donos told her that both he and Aeneas's father were from the kingdom of Doscuri. "Adrian's hair was darker than mine," he said.
Tiriara nodded in response. She showed a wide smile and said, "I see… so that's how it is."
While Arsen and the others were talking, others in the crowd chanted Aeneas's name. Then, it turned to the word 'boman'.
Although this word does have a negative meaning, it became some sort of a neutral slang word in Pantera about people who are Zeal-less. More often than not, this word is spoken without any ill intention or mockery behind it. And the speaker just meant to describe those that don't have a Zeal.
When both contestants had stood at each side of the square-shaped arena, the mediator replaced the commentator as he returned to his seat.
Khersis stood still. His grin remained as he rested his wooden sword behind his neck. He yawned with his mouth wide open and one of his eyes closed. On the other hand, Aeneas stared at him with a calm demeanor. But, behind it was great fury he buried, taking a deep breath before the match started.
The mediator pointed at Aeneas and asked him if he was ready.
"Yes," Aeneas answered.
Then, the mediator turned to Khersis and did the same. The other kid responded with a nod and a fake yawn this time.
"Match start—"
Soon as the mediator backed off a little as he said those words, Aeneas dashed. His face filled with determination.
Everyone from the stands was surprised, including the commentator who forgot to do his job as he watched closely to see what was about to happen next.
But among everyone, Khersis was the most startled one. His eyes widened, his body stiffened like a stick, yet in the face of imminent danger, his instincts kicked in. The Lion's Zeal on his chest started to glow. He raised his wooden sword and waited for the right time to attack.
Aeneas lowered his body as he charged. With his right hand wielding the wooden sword, he stopped at a distance where his weapon would reach his opponent. Khersis attacked him with a downward slash, at this point he did it without thinking and was only relying on his instinct.
His attack was something that Aeneas could dodge with ease. It was also included in Aeneas's prediction of how his opponent, Khersis, would react to his sudden movement and their current situation. At that moment, Aeneas hopped to the right. Khersis then went for a left hook, aiming for Aeneas's face.
Aeneas ducked the moment he saw the left shoulder of Khersis twitch. He raised his sword and went for a thrust on Khersis's chin. Since the wooden swords have dull ends, they wouldn't pose any critical damage and he aimed to knock him out.
At the last second, Khersis managed to lean backward. The wooden sword aiming for his head only grazed his chin and nose. After an almost perfect evasion, Khersis went for a kick using his right leg. He thought that there was no way for Aeneas to evade it. Yet, he was wrong. His feet merely touched Aeneas's shirt.
After evading, Aeneas closed in again. He refused to give his startled opponent any room to think or even breathe. His training with Donos helped him predict what Khersis would do. When he saw an opportunity, he would poke at him. It didn't matter if his attack didn't hurt Khersis, for Aeneas could more or less tell what's on his mind.
On the other hand, Khersis thought to himself that there was no way he was getting pushed back, and it was against someone who didn't even have a Zeal. He took glances at the stands, trying to see his older brother's face. In his imagination, Mnesus was watching his match with great disappointment and shaking his head. The chanting and cheers of the crowd also transformed into laughter in his ears.
The commentator was excited. He tried to give their match a great commentary that would enhance the entertainment for the viewers.
"Aeneas evades his attack! Now he's closing in again, he's looking for an opening!"
Yet to Khersis, those words transformed into insults towards him. He heard the commentator's words transformed into, "Look at him run against a boman! Attack, you big coward!"
Khersis couldn't stand it. He thought from the start that this match would've been as easy as walking to him.
"Stop moving around, insect!" Khersis shouted. He was pissed with how the match was going, the Zeal on his chest glowed brighter. With all his strength he went for another downward slash.
Still, it was all according to Aeneas's plan. Even before the wooden sword of Khersis hit the ground, Aeneas already leaped. And with all his strength backing a horizontal slash, Aeneas aimed to hit him in the head.
And he did. Khersis was shaken to his core and was falling to the right. Then, all of a sudden, his Zeal became brighter and flames appeared around his body which refused to go down.
Participants aren't allowed to hit someone who is already down. This is one of the rules of the tournaments. When a fighter's body hits the ground, the mediator will start a countdown of ten. Because of this rule, Aeneas wanted to attack again before Khersis fell, even if he was already unconscious. Aeneas aimed to secure his victory and disallow Khersis to turn the match in his favor.
With another attack to his head using the flat surface of his wooden sword, Aeneas knocked out his opponent.