FSE

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Chapter length: 2,025 words

Current novel length: 34,886 words

Chapter 13

"I need you to take off your armor," the healer ordered Arven.

"What?" Arven is sure of what she's requesting, but it still catches him by surprise.

"Your armor, take it off. All of it."

"No!"

"Look. If you want me to do my job of fully healing you and obtaining your full strength back, you'll let me do my job. Plus, the other healers and I suspect foul play was involved, so I need to see all of your injuries." Arven reluctantly agrees and begins stripping off his armor till he is naked. His slightly toned body is covered in bruises, cuts, and burn marks. The healer, a female half-elf cleric wearing white clothing, inspects the injuries thoroughly, "I thought so."

"You thought what?"

"Your burns. Magic was involved, specifically Heat Metal. Did you see your opponent's eyes turn red?"

"No."

"Then someone from the outside had a hand in this. I noticed the change on your armor, and I'd thought that spell was in use, but other magic users and I didn't detect any mana emanating from the source, which threw us off. It leads me to believe that a sorcerer is behind it."

"Why a sorcerer?"

"Because they have ways of manipulating mana that no other mages can do, and some stories say that they can reduce their mana footprint and not utter a word when casting a spell. Know anyone that has those capabilities?" She starts casting some healing spells on him.

"I have an idea of who could be behind it. Don't know if he has it, but he has resources."

"Who?"

"Envarn though I don't have solid evidence. Dylar and several others are friends with him, and he and I aren't on the best of terms."

"Why not?"

"Because he's rich, and that somehow makes him think he's better than everyone in town. Plus, I had to bail out a friend of mine and my adopted brother numerous times. Anyway, I suspect him because, during the maze, I fought a mage that had no interest in advancing to the next round. Only making sure that I lose. After I defeated her, I searched her for any clues only for me to find a ring with her name and Envarn's engraved in it."

"I highly doubt she's a sorceress in this case. She gave off her mana footprint every spell she cast, and she has terrible control of her mana. I'll pass on what you told me, and we'll keep a closer look at Envarn and his friends if they're here. We're also going to find the sorceress, see what she knows, and ban her for life from participating. Maybe arrest her for cheating." She takes out two potions and puts them on a small table. "Go ahead and put your armor back on and drink these. They're the equivalent of a day's rest, so you are ready for the next fight."

Arven opens the top of one of them and takes a gulp before hacking. "They still taste bad."

"That's good. Means the medicine is working." Arven downs the two potions and puts his armor back on. The next two rounds go by, and now it's his turn. His opponent is the winner from the first round, Orma. The gates open, and Arven and Half-Orc meet in the middle and shake hands before returning to their side.

"Begin!" Andur shouted.

Orma and Arven charge at each other and clash. At first, they are evenly matched. Arven's shield soaks most from Orma's massive hits from her greataxe, while her experience with it allows her to deflect his attacks. They exchange an even amount of blows to each other. With each hit, the crowd's cheers echo throughout the stadium. Escalating his misfortunes, Arven's sword lodges in between the wood and blade of Orma's greataxe, and she disarms him by breaking the sword.

_I'm in trouble, _he thought.

Andur gives out the play-by-play, "Things aren't looking good for Arven as his main weapon is now broken into many pieces! Will he prevail with the disadvantage, or will he succumb to the mighty hits from Orma?" Arven lashes out and grabs Orma's weapon to free it from her grasp. The struggle causes Orma to slide back. Arven notices this and has a different idea. Change of plans. I'm forcing her to cross the boundaries so I can move on. He uses as much strength he can muster to get her closer and closer to the edge. They get as close to the edge as possible and still fight before Orma stalls the progress.

"I have you where I want you," Arven spoke. "Why don't you make it easier for me and voluntarily step out so that I may progress?"

"Actually, Human, you've fallen for my trap. I wanted to do this to me so that I can spare you from unnecessary injuries from me."

"What?"

"You fought well, but it's time for me to end this." Orma takes her greataxe, with Arven still holding it with both hands, and lifts it. Before he can do anything, the half-orc makes an overhead motion and slams his entire body outside the boundary.

"It's official, audience, Orma moves onto the finals!" announced Andur.

"I demand a do-over!" Arven shouted at Andur.

"Sorry. She beat you fair and square. Your time here is done. May you do better next time you participate."

"I refuse to accept this! She actually stepped out before I did. It's her that has to go. Not me!" Arven continues to have a tantrum before his body becomes stiff, and he falls over.

"Guards! Take this sore loser out of here so we can continue with the competition. If he wants to stay and watch, let him. If he continues his outburst further or escalates, throw his ass out, and he'll be banned from stepping foot in the stadium for a while." The guards come and haul Arven's body out of the arena. He is then able to move his body.

"Are you going to behave yourself, or are we going to have to do an extra step?"

"Actually, I'm leaving."

"If you are ever interested in competing again in the future, we'll enjoy your return." Arven leaves. He finds a secluded area and proceeds to take his anger and frustration on the various objects nearby.

Meanwhile, at the stadium, Kaera, Merrick, and Sylfinas are sitting in their seats. They realize that Arven's not coming back. "Well, should we leave and find him?"

"I'm thinking about staying here, Kaera," Sylfinas answered. "Gives him time to cool off. What about you, Merrick?"

"I'm staying. I paid out of my own pockets to get in, and since both of you witnessed me quitting my job, I have no more money coming in, so I'm getting as much use out of the ticket as I can."

"In that case, I'm staying as well," Kaera spoke. They stay for the entire tournament. When it finally finishes, they leave. It's late in the day when they find Arven. He's still mad, but taking it out on objects has calmed him down a bit.

"Feeling better, Arven?" Kaera asked.

"Still pissed off but not as much as before."

"You should've stayed, dude. You missed the blacksmith that gave us our items being banned permanently from competing and stepping foot in the stadium," Merrick uttered.

"What? How did it happen?"

Merrick narrates how Orma becoming the one to face Roddy for the title of grand champion. Arven's expression darkens a little bit after hearing that Orma is the one facing the blacksmith. Merrick goes on about the fight between Orma and Roddy. He recounts every move they make before getting to the end of the battle. It lasts for a long time before Roddy deals a substantial blow that knocks Orma unconscious. In his own words, Merrick articulates that Orma is playing dead to lower his guard before returning to life and ruins his winning streak as a five-time grand champion. The most shocking part is Roddy having a more significant meltdown than Arven did; he refuses to lose to a half-breed like her, and Andur has to call multiple guards to subdue him, and he's now banned perpetually.

"That should've been me facing him," Arven spoke.

"Be glad that you're not interdicted permanently like the blacksmith. Your opportunity will arrive," Sylfinas replied.

"She knew she stepped out of the boundary. She cheated, Sylfinas," Arven accused.

"The administrators think otherwise."

"I'm going back there to prove they're wrong."

"And squander your shot at redemption. The archons won't capitulate."

Arven sighs angrily as he concedes, "Fine. Next year I'll prove that I'm the greatest fighter. What about Envarn?"

"What about him?" asked Merrick.

"I'm assuming he was there since Dylar was," Arven replied.

"Oh yeah, he was."

"Is he banned?"

"What for?"

"Helping Dylar fight against me. I was told by the healer helping me that they're looking into it."

"He was assisting," Sylfinas answered. "I'm not aware of him being banned, but something else happened that's just as splendid, in my opinion."

"What is it?"

Sylfinas rehearses about freckling some niphilwort seeds into one of Envarn's friends' drinks. He reports about Merrick and Kaera creating a distraction when Mr. Dirran picked on Merrick, Merrick quitting from the tavern, her intervening, and utilizes it as an opportunity to tamper with the food. Then he, Merrick, and Kaera observe the guy drink a few sips from his drink and then blowing chunks on Envarn, on one of his friends casting Heat Metal, and on the surrounding people.

That caused Arven to chuckle a bit, "That is funny." He stops before asking Merrick, "So you're now done with the Golden Keg?"

"Yes. Even though it was hardly anything, it's still money I need, but I'll think of another way. I just remembered I need to get to a shop that does mail service and soon. Know where the closest one is?"

"Closest one is across the street from the potion shop I like to visit," Sylfinas responded.

"Let's go!"

They get to the shop with a few minutes to spare. Merrick heads inside and tells the rest to wait outside. "It won't take me long." As the rest are waiting, Sylfinas looks at what's posted on the news board.

"Check this out!"

"What is it?" asked Kaera.

"Vierna, the former queen of the Aletlar Dynasty, just died, and her daughter, Talaris, assumed the throne. The paper says that she wishes to speak to King Dylan and wants peace between Pheha and Adoran."

"Not going to happen," Arven said.

"Why do you view it so negative?" inquired Sylfinas.

"I'm not. I'm a realist. Those Phehans only care about violence. It's in their nature. Plus, they view us as nothing but cattle."

"Well, I believe that she desires amity and be one step closer to ending all the violence in Illyria."

"You're wasting your time," Arven utters under his breath.

Kaera notices Skye coming out of the potion shop and closes it. She watches her do her bizarre ritual in her shop. "Look at what she's doing, Sylfinas. Any ideas?"

"She's warding off evil spirits and other entities from her shop. I told you she's superstitious."

Merrick comes out after sending his mail. "Told you it wouldn't take me long." He yawns. "I'm tired. Shall we head back to Jemeir so we can go back to your place?"

All three nod in agreement as they yawn subsequently and leave, but Skye catches them and stops them. "You'll be needing these." She hands them a few trinkets.

"What are these for?" Sylfinas asked.

"They're to protect you from nocuous incidents to come. Look." She points them to a nearby raven before it flies off. "Don't lose them."

"We won't."

The party members finally reunite with Jemeir and return to Arven's and Sylfinas's house before it turns dark outside. After consuming mutton stew for dinner, they retire to their sleeping quarters in their usual attire, hoping that Skye's trinkets can protect them from potential ruin tomorrow.

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