Niytshade appreciated the nighttime excursions with Xiran. His knowledge of the city and its history made every night full of history and discovery. Sharing what little they could remember of their old homes in the East helped her feel less lonely. They sat on the same bench in the Sapphire Exchange as the night they met. It was still early in the night as townsfolk walked about the market. She wore a cloak with a large hood, careful not to be noticed. Xiran sat with a sleeveless shirt over black pants and boots. “One day you’ll be able to walk around without that hood. The people are already used to me, I’m sure another Au Ra wouldn’t be a shock at this point,” Xiran said, noticing how Niytshade adjusted her hood often. “It’s not their reactions that concern me. Some of these people could be Gunther’s clients. The last thing I want is for him to find out I’m gallivanting with you,” she replied.
“What, worried he’ll retaliate and throw you in the basement?”
“No, you need the work. He’d never trust you and I’d never see you again.”
Xiran lifted an eyebrow. Niytshade blushed and looked to the floor. “You’re my only friend. I don’t want to lose you.”
Xiran smiled and nudged Niytshade with his elbow. “No worries, lass. I’m not going anywhere right now.”
“And when you decide to go to the Steppe?” Niytshade responded sadly.
“You’re coming with me, of course.”
“Sir Gunther won’t just let me leave, you know.”
“I’m well aware, and I have a plan!”
Niytshade tilted her head at Xiran, listening. “Well, I’m sure you can imagine Gunther is a man that tries to recoup his losses, and if you decided you wanted to leave he would want a return on his investment, so to speak. So…if I started fighting again I could build up a substantial sum to help you with that.”
Niytshade gasped at the idea. “No, Xiran, I can’t let you do that for me! You took up being a doorman at the brothel to stop fighting. You even said Johan was glad to see you find something more steady and less arduous!”
Xiran leaned back on the bench and sighed. “I know, I know…but there’s been an itch these last few months. It’s like my soul…misses it. In essence, I’d be doing it more for me than you, but I’d be helping you anyway so it’s two birds with one stone!”
Niytshade sighed in exasperation. “I swear, you’re so hard-headed.”
“Well, my father was Ala Mhigan, so that’s probably why.” Xiran put a hand on Niytshade’s shoulder. “I’ll be fine. I even took some side jobs for Gunther so that I wouldn’t be fighting all the time. In two days he’s going to take a caravan out to Byregot’s Strike for an archaeological dig he funded. Rumors say there are zombies and worms out there, so they’ll need protection.”
“Well I suppose that’s better than being in the Coliseum,” she agreed reluctantly. “When is your next fight?”
Xiran straightened up in his seat. “Tomorrow night. In my absence, a new gladiator has risen pretty quickly. They say she’s lethal with a sword and shield.”
“Do you know her name?” Niytshade asked with a twinge of concern
“Skylar McCloud! Get moving young lady or you’ll be late to your interview with the Mythril Eye!” The shout rang through the miqo'te’s ears like a lightning bolt. Skylar shot up from her pillow as if it were on fire and rushed to her door. “Oh gods, I can’t go out naked!” She dressed in a loose long sleeve gray shirt she usually used for sparring and tight brown pants with boots. She looked in the mirror and fixed her dark red hair. Her deep blue eyes darted over every detail of her clothing. She reapplied her favorite red lipstick before rushing down the stairs of the tiny apartment she shared with her mother. “Thank you, mum, I’d be lost without you!” she quickly blurted as she passed by the washroom where her mother was toiling over a suit of light armor. “Uh-uh, come back here!” her mother called out, walking out of the washroom. Skylar walked back and gave her mother a tight embrace. “Your father would be proud,” her mother whispered. Skylar kissed her mother’s cheek. “Thanks, mum. I’ll be back later!” Skylar jogged down the narrow alley onto the Sapphire Exchange. She turned and entered the side entrance of The Quicksand. Skylar was waved down by a Midlander woman in the sitting area. Skylar sat with her, smiling and excited. “Glad to see you again, Miss McCloud. Thank you for agreeing to meet for an interview on such short notice!”
“Oh, it’s fine, Ada! After your last piece on me got me so noticed, how could I say no?”
“Please, you’re too modest! Your skills alone got you noticed well before we did an interview on you. So, from rags and quickly climbing to riches, how does it feel to know that you’re on the cusp of greatness in the Coliseum’s halls?”
Skylar couldn’t keep from smiling. “It’s amazing! Knowing that I can be a great name like Raubahn Aldyn is something I never thought I’d actually achieve when I started. It’s made things a lot easier at home with my mother.”
Ada’s tone shifted from light-hearted to serious. “As you prepare for your bout tonight, what’s going through your mind?”
“That I stay focused and prepared. Every opponent is a chance to get better!”
“But many are saying you’ve never faced an opponent like this!”
“It doesn’t matter who the opponent is! I go in ready to fight and if I do down, I go down swinging!”
“Wonderful! I’m sure the audience with be thrilled to see it! However, you’ve got to be curious because I know I am; what do you think it is about you that made the Demon of the East come out of retirement?”
“I don’t know, but I hope he’s every bit the Demon I’ve seen when I would watch him fight. He’s what inspired me, you know!”
The roar of the crowd sent chills down Xiran’s spine. He could feel the energy of the people in the stands. Their lust for battle putting goosebumps on his skin. He was kneeling in the dressing room, meditating to clear his mind. His black, sleeveless vest was snug but didn’t deter his movement. His pants were loose and comfortable, perfect for kicks. His boots were the same he wore into every fight, worn and broken in to allow for the best use of speed. He wore a pair of black Thavnarian gloves Niytshade gave him on their last outing. His fingertips rubbed against the fine material of the palm as he clenched his fists. The door of the dressing room opened and a familiar voice spoke. “Are you ready, boy?”
Xiran smiled at Johan’s crass demeanor. “Always, old man.” Xiran stood and walked out.
Across the arena, Skylar finished strapping on her armor. Its blue shine was clean and flawless thanks to her mother’s work. Skylar was excited and nervous. She had watched The Demon fight many times leading up to his final bout with Raubahn and wondered how she would fare against the man that stopped The Bull in his tracks. She took a deep breath as she triple checked her armor. Her mother had never seen Skylar be so meticulous. “If you tighten those straps any further, they’ll break!” She lightly slapped Skylar’s hand and handed over Skylar’s sword. “This is what you need to worry about. Focus on your opponent, learn his movements-”
“And go in the for the win, just like Father would.” Skylar’s heart raced with anticipation as she spoke. Skylar took her sword and picked up her shield from its stand. The door to the room opened and an attendant walked in. “Skylar, we’re ready for you. M'Irena, you can follow me to the VIP area.” M'Irena gave Skylar a kiss on the forehead. “Good luck!” she said as she followed the attendant. Skylar walked to the arena, the roar of the crowd growing louder.
At the gate, she heard the crowd hush as the announcer took to the center of the ring. He spoke slowly, raising everyone’s hairs as he spoke. “Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to a very special main event! New blood seeks to reign supreme, while a former brawler comes to reclaim his glory of the ring! At the north gate…” The gate in front of Skylar sprung open.
“One of our newest, and most enticing combatants! She has a cute tail but every inch of her is dipped in brawn and ready to take down anyone that would underestimate her strength! The Pretty Cat of the City, Skylar McCloud!” Skylar walked out as the crowd cheered wildly. She held her shield up as she walked, focused on the gate across from her. This is it... she thought.
“And, at the south gate…a man that came from beyond the horizon. He walked into this ring with nothing but his knuckles and a fierce gaze. The only man to ever win without picking up a sword and one of the few to trade blows with The Bull of Ala Mhigo and remain standing! He is The Bare Knuckle Brawler! The Demon of the East! Xiran Rayne!” The south gate sprung open. Xiran stepped out with fists clenched. His lips pursed tight and his eyes trained on Skylar. The crowd exploded in cheer and Xiran heard none of it. He had one objective, and she stood in blue armor. Skylar took a quick few breaths and took to her stance. Shield in front, sword to her side and ready. Xiran moved his right foot behind him. His right hand by his face left extended and clenched. Skylar could swear she saw flames licking his hands. The announcer looked to each of them excitedly. “Combatants are ready!” He took a moment of pause and screamed out.
Xiran’s feet exploded with electricity, charging forward. Skylar scarcely brought her shield up to block his hit. The impact pushed her backward, kicking dust as she slid on her feet. She could feel the dent his fist left in the shield affecting its balance. Alright then, you’re strong, but so am I! she thought as she leaped forward with a downward slash. Xiran sidestepped, punching again but catching her shield. Her father’s teachings worked on instinct. Every punch he threw either blocked or dodged, but in return, her sword swipes cut the air. Skylar couldn’t pin down a fighting style, he fought differently than other Pugilists. She spun for a shield bash that met Xiran’s shoulder. He recoiled and rolled forward, putting distance between them. He let out a chuckle as the crowd roared. Very well…we’ll try something else! Xiran thought as he jumped over her. He gathered aether and shot it down on top of her. Skylar raised her shield in time to deflect the blast but didn’t expect Xiran’s fist to drop down on her shield again. The impact brought her to a knee. Xiran’s foot caught the bottom of her shield and flung it sideways, leaving her open for a swift kick to the chest. The metal vibrated as she flew back. Hitting the ground winded her. As she looked up Xiran took a new stance and fire swirled around him. One word came to Skylar’s mind. MONK.
Her father’s words echoed as she got back up. “Monks are tenacious bastards, but they aren’t invincible. They stay on the attack, using their brute force to overpower with secret techniques, but if you pay attention, they can be defeated…”
Skylar took to her feet and assumed her stance again. Her shield, dented and scraped, was up. She peered over the top to watch Xiran’s movement. Xiran ran forward to strike. Skylar jumped back with a spin, throwing her shield. Xiran didn’t expect such a bold maneuver and was caught in the gut. Skylar lunged and hit Xiran with the pommel of her sword. As he reeled back, Skylar took her shield and slammed Xiran with it again. Xiran scrambled to his feet while Skylar chased. She swiped his left leg, then his left arm, leaving deep cuts in both. She spun for another shield bash, but Xiran flipped over it, managing to land his heel on Skylar’s cheek. Xiran followed up with a kick into Skylar’s back. Skylar rolled forward, jumping and throwing her shield again. Xiran caught it with one hand, his gaze burning. Skylar couldn’t tell if it was anger or determination but didn’t care either way. Xiran tossed the shield aside and charged again with lightning. She couldn’t block it, letting her armor take the brunt of the hit. Xiran connected a two jab combo into Skylar’s face. She returned a backspin swing that cut into Xiran’s side. Xiran was denting Skylar’s armor, bruising her with every hit, while she turned his vest into leather ribbons and leaving cuts on his torso. After a long exchange of blows, They stood apart again. The combatants were heaving breaths, unable to get the upper hand on each other. Skylar had one more trick to try. She ran at Xiran as fast as she could muster, jumping into the air with her sword overhead pointed down. Xiran waited for the right moment to give one last full-force boot to the chest. Skylar hadn’t failed, however. Her sword continued down far enough to drive into Xiran’s leg, missing the bone and piercing straight through. Her hands let go of the sword as she flew backward. Time seemed to slow down until she hit the ground again. Xiran’s last kick cracked her armor. It pushed in far enough she was having trouble breathing, on top of all the dents pushing into various other parts of her bust and abdomen. She struggled to roll onto her side so she could see her adversary. Xiran had hit the ground. His leg was unable to hold him up. He lifted his head to see her, and their eyes met. They both knew they had enough. Skylar rolled onto her back and Xiran’s head dropped again. The audience was on its feet. The cheering was so loud the announcer didn’t bother to try speaking over them. Chirurgeons went to both fighters and placed them on stretchers, taking them both to the infirmary of the Coliseum.
Xiran was on one end of the infirmary with Johan while Skylar was on the other with M'Irena behind a curtain. The chirurgeons healed up a majority of their injuries, but aches and soreness would plague them both for a time. Skylar’s sword lay on the table by Xiran. Johan made sure the wounds were all sealed before pulling the Au Ra up. “I’m sure I still have some mint salve back at the apartment. Put some on tonight and you’ll be right as rain by morning.” Xiran nodded at Johan but his attention went to the sword. “She moved in ways I hadn’t seen before. No normal gladiator taught her how to fight,” he whispered to Johan. The old Monk nodded. “Aye, that was Corpse Brigade training, I know it. But you, you’ve trained with Holyfist and me. It may not have given you an edge, but it kept you in the fight well enough.” Johan patted Xiran’s shoulder. “You did your forefathers proudly. Come, let’s get you home.” Xiran gave a small smile. “Sure, just give me a moment,” he responded as he picked up Skylar’s sword. Johan cleaned the blood off of it as Xiran was being nursed. “Aye, I’ll see you outside.” Johan walked out as Xiran stood slowly, carefully carrying the blade with both hands. As he got closer he could hear Skylar reassuring her mother behind the curtain. “Mum, yes, I’m fine!”
“Are you though?! Look at all the bruises, you’ve never had a thrashing this bad since your father’s training!”
“And I’m all the stronger for it, Mum! Did you see him? He was all covered in cuts!”
M'Irena scoffed at Skylar. “Oh just you wait, I’ll make him eat his own horns! I’m going to find you some clothes, just stay here!” M'Irena pulled the curtain back and shrieked at seeing Xiran. “Gods, I apologize, I just wanted to return this since it was in my leg and all!” Xiran smiled sheepishly as M'Irena took the sword from him. “You’re lucky I don’t cut your bullocks off-”
“MUM!” Skylar called out from behind the curtain
“Alright, alright! You, don’t you dare peek in on my daughter or I’ll have gecko soup tonight!” Xiran stifled a chuckle as M'Irena huffed off, leaving the sword on Skylar’s bed. Xiran pulled up a stool on the other side of the curtain. “How are you?” he asked Skylar.
“I’m fine, save for the bruises. How’s your leg?”
“Fine, I’ll live to fight another day. Who taught you how to handle a sword?”
“My father. He was a soldier in the Ala Mhigan army. Who taught you how to punch?”
“My grandfather. He was a Monk for the fist of Rhalgr…”
Skylar thought for a moment. “Does this make us enemies?”
Xiran pondered the question. “It doesn’t have to. We don’t have to fight the wars of our fathers. But it does mean if we meet in the ring again, I’ll be ready for you.” He smiled as he finished.
Skylar chuckled. “That means I’ll be ready for you too, you know.”
Xiran returned her chuckled as he stood. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, Kitty.”
Skylar pulled the curtain over to poke her head out. “Watch yourself, Gecko!”
Xiran laughed as he walked away. Skylar took her sword in hand. She stood up, spinning her sword and pointed it at Xiran as he opened the door. “Next time, I’m winning!”
Xiran stopped and gave Skylar a smirk. “You can try!” He winked and closed the door behind him.
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