I was up well before sunrise.

Though that wasn’t all that difficult, given that I’d spent most of the second half of yesterday doing what could loosely be described as resting. However, that bone chilling depression that most adults feel whenever they wake up early for work still pervaded me.

Must be psychological rather than a sign of getting old.

I slowly eased myself out of the bed, thankfully only Yuli stirred. She simply gave me a bleary eyed look down the length of her long nose before going back to sleep.

I had changed into a new set of the oversized clothing found in the dresser yesterday, and having no food to eat or shoes to put on I simply left through the door. Outside, I began to walk the hallways back to the courtyard where I had killed then mutil – dissected the baboon yesterday.

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“If you wish to perform such activities in the future I recommend you perform them in the butcher’s room.”

I’ve been yelled at…..though it wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected. He simply had me sit in an uncomfortable kneeling position while he stood there, looming over me.

Hell, even the part leading up to this situation wasn’t all that bad. I had arrived extremely early, so early in fact that I was definitely too early. So I’d sat down in a cross legged position like I was doing some meditation bull shit.

I had just started to doze off when I was greeted to the light tapping of a single pair of footsteps on the sandstone floors. Once I opened my eyes however, there were two people.

Surprise, surprise………..

The Old man had given me a quizzical look, it seemed my nonplused reaction was not what he had been expecting.

After that it proceeded into him commenting on my ‘enthusiasm’ for learning under him. He’d asked me to sit in that kneeling position, which is when he’d started looming and exerting a….. ‘pressure’?

Now the current situation.

“However it is interesting that you sought out that magic core. From the mess it looks like you knew it existed but weren’t sure where….”

Almost correct, I was looking for an organ but ended up with that magic core….. though Grand Archive, that useless cur, had consumed it. I was absolutely sure of that!

“Regardless, training begins now scrub.”

“Yes.”

Another raised eyebrow, “teacher.”

That engendered a slight nod while I stood up.

“First we’ll see your strength.”

The old man walked across the courtyard silently, eventually reaching a set of boulders that had been standing conspicuously in the far corner.

“Lift each of these, smallest to largest. Until you can’t lift them.”

You’re shitting me! This is the training?

“Yes teacher.”

So I began to lift them. The first stone being as my head, the next my torso, the third was as large as my entire body. It wasn’t till the third one that it felt like the weight was getting difficult. I stopped at the third one.

“I can’t lift the next one.”

“You haven’t even tried scrub.”

“My body is significantly smaller than it! How am I supposed to gain enough leverage!?”

Oops my exasperation came out. It was true though, the boulder was as tall as the old man and its girth was quite large. Simply put, my little arms and hands couldn’t grip enough of it to lift it.

“Do it.”

Uggghh, this damn old man!

I could only shake my head and attempt to lift it. I spread my arms out as far as possible and tried to grip the rough surface as well as I could. Then lifted with my legs. To my surprise it budged a little before my skin felt like it was being ripped from my bones because I couldn’t generate enough of a grip on the rock.

After releasing it I looked over at the Old man.

“So this is the extent of a half-breed. It almost makes me want to train that purebred that survived.”

He continued to mutter a few things to himself as he paced back and forth.

…..is his head screwed on straight?

“Run as fast as you can from one end of the courtyard to the other.”

“Yes teacher.”

Speed trial next. After that is it going to be hand-eye coordination?

It turns out I was right, After whipping up what I considered to be a pretty respectable dust cloud across the courtyard the old man had me catch or dodge a barrage of stones!

It wasn’t an ordinary barrage though! Every time he threw instead of one stone he somehow threw ten! I was dodging and catching a literal wall of stones!

At the end he had me sit.

“Hmmm, it is as that bastard told me. You half-breeds have absurd strength and speed. Nothing compared to a purebred, but the young ones are too precious to waste in the arena. Then again I heard that you have one as your ‘spoils’. If only she had won, she would definitely be a finer specimen to train!”

Old man….the glint in your eyes right now is concerning……..

“Is there a reason you can’t teach her as well?”

He frowned now.

“You talk too much for a scrub…. Fix that.”

I nodded my head. His eyes narrowed further, but he didn’t say anything.

“Now onto the actual training…”

From there the only words that left my mouth were, ‘yes teacher,’ and that was it. The old man proceeded to display various weapons before me, his servant bringing out and returning the weapons to a room on one side of the courtyard. There were maces, tridents, swords, spears, shields, and even nets! He went over the function of each and then seemed to gauge my reaction. Eventually he brought out a set of daggers, there were four in the set. Two had a thick, rigid base with a single edge with one being serrated while the other was plane and the other two were double edged and significantly thinner. As one could guess, the thin ones were for throwing and the thicker ones were for close combat.

“This set of daggers is what is known as the naariyal aur nigala. Despite the fancy name, this set of weapons is quite efficient at killing opponents. The river folk up north are the originators of the set for use on their fishing vessels. However these were modified by a blacksmith serving the arena for the purpose of killing….”

With that he casually flicked his hand and one of the throwing knives flashed across the courtyard and imbedded itself in one of the wooden posts that supported the awning over the pathways around the courtyard. This set of weapons caught my interest. All the others had just been brutal ways to hack, smash, or stab the opponent. This Naariyal aur Nigala though would cut or pierce the opponent with a clean edge. If I had to kill I’d rather it be as quick and painless as possible. If they had offered a bow I would have gladly taken that instead and obviously a gun would be too much to ask for, hence this would have to do.

Thankfully, the old man had noticed my increased interest when he had made his little display of the throwing knives ability. He gave off a slight smile. A reaction that was irregular with the treatment I had come to expect for the better part of the year since I turned six.

“Typically those of mixed race within the arena utilize the enormous strength endowed by their bestial blood lines to wield massive weapons. Utilizing their oppressive power along with their ability to wield them like their human counterpart would a rapier to cow the opposition…….”

He then waved his hand and the servant gave him the knife that he’d just thrown.

When did he get it?

The old man placed the knife back in its sheathe and held out the blade set towards me.

“However, I think one such as yourself would be better suited towards these. Your strength, while good by human standards, is not up to par with your predecessors from the Blood Bloom. But, you do have outstanding agility and dexterity for one your age.”

I raised a quizzical eyebrow at that. I’d assume that he was using the times of previous Blood Bloom winners as a form of metric for the strength and speed. However I felt that judging dexterity by my ability to catch rocks was a little far-fetched. Then again his skill with throwing said rocks and the knife suggested he probably knew a thing or two about how to judge someone’s ability on the subject.

He raised his brows in return. I accepted the (two swallows, two coconuts) and slung the accompanying belt and sheathes, knives included, over my shoulder. It had all been designed for an adult to carry, seeing as how I was just slightly taller than half an adult I obviously didn’t have the necessary girth to use the belt.

“Thank you, teacher.”

I minded my manners. The people here are trash, but I’m not, therefore I will not act like trash.

“A thankful scrub is a good scrub.”

At least the old man didn’t seem to say this unkindly.

“Though it seems you’ll need a belt made for you before your training is done. But for now this is fine.”

With a slight twitch of his lips that could almost be mistaken for a smile the old man proceeded to run me through various forms of attack and defense with the knives.

The sun was starting to set once he dismissed me.

“Be here by the time the sun reaches the western wall, no later AND no sooner. A tired scrub is a useless scrub.”

After that he simply and silently walked off. The servant followed behind him, providing the only noise to the old man’s exit.

It was at this time that I realized something.

*GGGRRRGGGGRROOOUII*

I hadn’t eaten a single thing today…..

I quickly returned to my quarters. Thankfully while I was away the girls had not gotten into a fight again and the room had been kept clean. Furthermore there was a set of dishes left by the armoire that Marin was quick to bring to me.

“We saved you yours! Big sis said we should!”

“Awe Marin you are so cute! Thank you!”

Whoops looks like my inner thoughts slipped out for once.

“Ehehehehe.”

Thankfully Marin just giggled. I looked over to Alephi and gave her a smile.

“Thank you.”

“Mmm.”

Alephi smiled lightly back. I could see concern in her eyes along with a heaping portion of relief. Is my absence that stressful? I suppose so. I’m the only form of support she has. Marin at least has her when I’m gone and Yuli…..well she probably doesn’t view me as such.

The guard eventually brought dinner which was as bland as all the other meals of the day, which I thankfully got to eat if a bit late. At that time I informed him that I’d need food for myself early in the 

morning each day now that I was training.

He rolled his eyes but grudgingly agreed. I suppose to his angsty teenager self, being ordered around by a 

‘half-pint’ in his eyes must be galling.

Later on he returned with the clothing that was sent to the launderess’.

Has it really been two days already!?

“This is the one!”

Marin innocently held up a deep red shift that had lace work done along the bust in a very…….seductive fashion.

“That’s….nice Marin, really very pretty!”

She’s so cute but….Marin I don’t ever want to see you in that! Remain innocent for the sake of my heart! I glanced over to Alephi who seemed to slightly blush before looking away.

“Hmph!”

Yuli, who had been sitting silent through all of the evening on the bed, voiced her discontent. Ah yes, this was the dress she had wanted as well. No matter though, they were all too young for wearing these kinds of clothes. Besides Alephi would be the first one old enough to anyways…….

Shit I just had a mental image of Alephi as a ‘foxy’ young lady. Damn you scumbag brain!

“W-well….I think it’s about time for bed….or at least for me. I’ll be up early again tomorrow and from now on.”

“Okay..”

Marin’s earlier excitement was subdued. Maybe I should have acted more enthusiastic…

“Kitling! What’s this?”

Nevermind….it’s back.

…..uh oh!

“Ah! Marin don’t touch that!”

I swiftly dashed across the room and grabbed the throwing knife from the Naariyal aur Nigala set that had found its way into her hands.

“These are very sharp, it’s dangerous for you to use them.”

Naturally to a five year old, this is the worst argument in existence. Therefore she considered it invalid.

“But why?”

“Because these need to remain in mint condition. That old man who’s my mas – instructor said they need to be perfect and ready for every class, every time.”

“But I wasn’t doing anything…”

Why does annoying five-year old have to kick in now!!!??

Because there is something shiny and new in front of her and I said no.

“But look, see these finger prints? They came from you.”

I began to wipe them off. The knives were of high quality and had a slightly reflective shine to them. That combined with Marin’s greasy hands, inherent to any five year old, quickly gave rise to finger prints.

“Even these are bad.”

Awe Marin don’t look so sad! Her head is now bowed and her shoulders are hunched.

“Look, I’m sorry that you can’t have these….I’ll get you something nice when I can alright?”

“Okay….”

She trundled off despondently to her sister. Alephi gave me a slight grimace, but she understood. Yuli just snorted lightly and didn’t deign to further comment on the topic.

After that it was lights out for everyone.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Over the next few days we had fallen into a routine…or at least I had. I would wake up around the time the guard boy would bring breakfast in. He had brought it in late once, probably for the purpose of making me late. After giving him a lesson in the school of hard knocks the issue had been sorted out.

Anyways, during breakfast Marin would get up and sleepily sit beside me on the ground, often times actually falling asleep. She never really said much but I guess she had her reasons for doing it.

After breakfast it would be off to training with the old man. First would be ‘warm up’ which translated into intense strength and endurance training, along with agility training. He didn’t know the existence of fast twitch muscles or burst speed, concepts that I had only learned about because one of the soccer coaches back in high school had also been the sprinter coach for the track team. Needless to say I decided to train them myself since if he didn’t know about it, no one probably did. Which would give me an advantage.

After the ‘warm up’ came actual combat training. Despite what I said to Marin, I wasn’t allowed to use the Naariyal aur Nigala yet.  Instead it was standard combat stances. Nothing as developed as the martial arts back on earth but a very primitive form of them. It was mostly just how to punch and kick correctly and how to guard against your opponents attack.

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Surprisingly I was able to get lunch. I had thought the first two days were indicative that he would not be allowing any breaks for food. Luckily I was mistaken.

During this time it would be just the two of us, three if you count the perpetual servant that stayed away under the shade of the awnings, sitting in the courtyard. At first he didn’t say much, just sitting there gruffly and eating a significantly nicer meal than myself. But after the first few days he started talking. 

Rather than a normal conversation about the weather or something it was stories about gladiators. He’d describe all these unimaginably horrible and gory fights and point out what the gladiator who won did right and what the one that lost did wrong.

After lunch came afternoon sparring. The old man had bought another primate like creature. This one was much larger. It kind of looked like a cross-between a sloth and an orangutan. Most of its body was similar to the orange primate while its hands and feet had digits with long, sharp claws similar to those of a sloth. 

Its speed though was no joke, it was quicker than either species and therefore made a good opponent for me. Thankfully I was no longer required to kill it and rather we would fight each other until the old man stopped us. He did so by grabbing the slothutan, as I’ve dubbed it until further notice, and tossing it into the cage. The action was often times so quick I had no idea how he accomplished it.

On a side note, this creature did not have any magical powers.

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This routine continued for a long while, until one day……

“Kitling?”

“Mmm?”

“It’s boring in here.”

Marin declared so one morning in the most adorable way possible. She slumped against me and looked at me with her baby blue eyes in the most pitiful was possible. Her russet furred ears were even flattened against her head in the most pitiful way ever!

Too cute!

“Marin! Don’t trouble Kitling! It’s fine!”

Alephi quickly interjected as such. Both her and Yuli were now sleepily sitting up in the bed, or at least Yuli was. Alephi, on the other hand, seemed a bit more alert and was looking at me again with worry laden eyes.

“Really Kitling, it’s fine.”

She looked at me pleadingly.

“Don’t worry and go train.”

So young….and yet so worried. She must be still scared after my outburst in Zla’s infirmary. I involuntary grimaced which caused Marin to clutch at my clothes in concern.

I looked down at her and smiled slightly and tore another chunk out of the loaf that was my breakfast this morning. After popping it in my mouth and eating I looked up to smile at Yuli and Alephi.

“Then I won’t!”

I stood up and before making my way outside I left a despondent Marin with a wink. After leaving in a positive attitude my shoulders immediately slumped once I began walking through the hallways. I was mostly mad at myself for having let it go on so long. I was no idiot, I knew keeping a bunch of children cooped up in a bedroom all day would wear them thin. I’d just chosen to ignore it because it was difficult and inconvenient to worry about.

Well I better start worrying about it now….

Yuli would be an easy fix…..maybe.

Marin and Alephi though…… They would be more difficult. They weren’t killers, or even fighters for that matter. Nor would I want to turn them into that….

….That may be irresponsible given their situation. But there must be some other way, and the ‘training’ Zla told me about was absolutely out of the question!

By now I had reached the courtyard. It was time to train.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

With the morning training done we sat down to a meal of meat from some type of bird and potatoes that had been roasted in spices from the southern country.

“In the end, Wolf-hound ripped the throat of Corinth right out from his neck! Later he died due to the burns produced by Corinth’s magic. But it shows that tenacity will win you a victory! However had he been more cautious and waited for Corinth’s mana to be exhausted he would’ve truly won the day. However, trying to give the crowd a good show from an intense fight is also admirable if foolhardy.”

The old man pointed his knife toward me.

“Let this be a lesson to you scrub in correctly determining when to please the audience or to live and fight another day.”

He then lead back and continued to eat.

“Teacher….”

He paused and glanced over at me with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes….scrub?”

“The wolf girl…..she would be available to train as well…..if you so desired.”

He placed his plate of to the side before standing up. He slowly paced about the courtyard, and as he did so he began muttering to himself. I could see a feverish glint in his eye whenever he glanced towards me.

I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck raise….something was off. The old man seemed just a bit too…excited.

“Is she really!?”

Woah too close!

His face suddenly loomed in front of me and I hurriedly gulped down the food I had been eating.

“Ye-*COUGH*, hrc hrm….yes she is. Currently she’s just been sitting in my quarters all day. Since you expressed interest in training her I figured it would be more advantageous….for the both of us if you did so.”

He suddenly stood up and paced back and forth once again. Before just as quickly stopping and turning to face me. His expression was….thunderous?

“And….you are telling me this now!?”

“S-sorry?”

“You had better be! Another hundred stone lifts! Max weight! NOW!”

“Yes-sir!”

As I ran to comply I heard him chuckle in a rather disturbing way.

“Huhuhuhu, looks like I’ll get another fine specimen!”

I glanced back….the glint in his eye seemed….perverse….

Uh-oh! He noticed me!

“What are you looking at scrub! Hurry up and do those stone lifts! Pretty soon you’ll have some competition! Let’s see who will be stronger! You or the purebred!”

Aaahhh! He’s a pervert!

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Training let out much later today…… I think I awakened something in the old man…. his inner sadist?

“Remember scrub…bring that purebred with you tomorrow! If you don’t, so help me I’ll give you the training of your sorry existence!”

Those are some awfully heavy words old man! Also, couldn’t you grab her yourself if you wanted her that bad!?

“Yes teacher.”

I made my way back through the hallways.

One down, two more to go.

Rather than making my way back towards my room I headed towards Zla’s infirmary. With him would lie my only hope of finding something else for the two sisters other than killing.

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“Oh come on! You must have something!”

The voice of this child’s body is quite annoying whenever I’m trying to sound aggravated.

“There are very few uses for mixed race females here other than in the sack or in the sand.”

“Not even in the kitchens?”

“They already have plenty of help. Besides, wouldn’t you rather have two beautiful young ladies serve your every pleasure once that body of yours reaches that age?”

I could only glare at him as I slouched back into my chair. Zla’s office was much the same as when I had last been here. Though when I was entering a female gladiator had just been leaving. According to Zla she had just been here for herbs that helped with the ‘monthlies’. Surprisingly for an establishment such as this, the amount of people that required long term care in the infirmary were next to none. Though that was mostly due to Zla’s expertise in healing.

It all started out fine, simple pleasantries about our respective lives here. I think Zla felt special as he was a confidant for what he assumed was some nearly divine being that had placed itself in a child’s body. However once I complained about the needs of the two sisters I was met with apologetic but firm resistance.

“I should’ve expected as much from savages. Forcing women to do a man’s bidding.”

That raised a quizzical look from Zla. His crescent shaped scar was oddly contorted by the expression. 

Further explanation would be required to further this ruse.

“In the plane of existence where I am from. A woman’s worth is measured nearly the same as a man’s. 

Furthermore we find the strength of character of the woman and the pursuit of her own passions to be….attractive. Rather than some twit that has been inundated by the whims of perverts to satisfy the carnal desires of males.”

His eyebrows raised slightly as he took a kettle off the small fireplace at the front of his office.

“I see…”

He finished his sentence there, before placing the kettle and two mugs down on the table which the chairs we had been sitting on were placed around.

“Tell me, what are these ‘passions’ you speak of?”

He stepped over to the desk and grabbed a small tin box that contained various dried herbs from the smell 

of it. He sprinkled some of them into the kettle and left it to brew before sitting down across from me.

“Things similar to what you are I would pursue. Of course some choose to pursue cooking and cleaning and other interests that are typically considered feminine. However I’ve known women that pursued the martial arts with such intensity that even I would be hesitant to go a round with them in the arena. Others had pursued medical knowledge to such a high degree that they had the ability to reattach limbs! Even without the use of magic!”

He chuckled slightly, “Surely you can’t be serious!”

“I am! Besides there is something….. spine tinglingly sensual when those that pursue medical care decide they want to have a ‘hands-on’ study of the male body.”

I gave him a wink before serving myself some of the tea. A gesture typically considered rude in this culture, but Zla wasn’t particularly set on ceremony. Furthermore he was too busy chuckling once again at my previous statement.

I had a sip of the tea. It was quite good, it certainly helped relax all the muscles I had over-exerted today.

“Ah that would certainly be a sight.”

“It is! But that is neither here nor there, I’m here about two girls that need to be given something to do other than sex-slavery.”

“Well when you put it like that….”

“Doesn’t sound so attractive does it?”

I leaned back into the chair after taking another sip.

“They’re both quite intelligent, especially for their age. Furthermore Alephi is already ten years old. It’s probably about time she started gaining some form of skills in a craft.”

I made it look like I just had a brilliant idea.

“Actually, why don’t they help you? You probably have many duties to attend to, I’m sure have to cute little helpers would make it a bit easier. They’ve already seen blood so they won’t be squeamish. They’re too young for the men here to take an interest in them and because they are cute young girls it might even have a pacifying effect! I’m sure that would assist in your job!”

Surprisingly this seemed to make him thoughtful. Though it may because he was also still thinking about our previous conversation about women from my ‘plane of existence’.

“However they can’t read and I must carry many heavy things around with me.”

Bullshit! The most you may have to carry around is a few herbs! Your magic does most of the work! Also both reasons are things easily remedied.

“I can teach them to read, all I need is plenty of ink, pens, and paper! As for heavy loads, you forget they are a mixed breed! Even if the kitsune aren’t the strongest of the beast-race they still trump an ordinary human any day!”

I reached out and took another sip, the tea was quite good. More so, considering the usually bland diet I eat here….though the potatoes today were an exception. Zla swirled his mug as he sat back into his chair. It was at this point that he really did seem like a wizened old man. Though there seemed to be something sinister about him it was more like a mad scientist vibe.

We sat in silence. An old man and a young child. Would’ve made a cute hallmark card back on earth. But that didn’t really matter.

“Very well, I’ll take the older one…..Alephi correct?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

He sighed slightly before continuing.

“The other one is simply too young. Also, before I’ll take her on as a helper she will need to be taught how to read. I’ll leave that to you.”

He placed his mug back on the table for getting up and moving over to his desk where he shuffled through a few papers, eventually selecting a few. Then he continued to root about until coming up with a worn down pen and a small inkwell that he had freshly refilled.

He brought these pack to the table and placed them in front of me.

“See I’ll even help get you started!”

“Many thanks Zla. At least now two of them will be out of my hair.”

He had an odd expression on his face after my previous statement.

“What?”

He shook himself slightly.

“Nothing, you just really aren’t from around here. I don’t think I’ve ever heard that expression used before.”

“Ah, well it is what it is…………you’ve probably never heard that one either.”

“No but it’s relatively easy to understand what you meant.”

After saying so he went to grab a pipe and a small box off the lintel of the fireplace. He was just starting to tamp down what I assumed was this world’s version of tobacco when I decided it was best to leave.

“Well then, I’ll be off for the night then. I’ll come back here once I’ve properly taught her to read. I’ll even add in math as a bonus!”

He gave a dry laugh at that.

“If you can teach a child how to use math’s then she would be truly useful!”

“Have a good evening Zla.”

“To you as well!”

The walk back to my room was now worry free since I had figured out how to keep the girls busy….mostly. 

Now my biggest problem was the constant exhaustion from physically exerting myself every day. Which wasn’t very good for such a young body, but what was I to do?

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Here is another chapter. I'm a horrible author who doesn't give this story proper attention. I'm sorry to all of you who enjoy this story but...... it is what it is!