BRRRNNNN!!!

The goal horn sounded and Bryson from the bench looked up at the scoreboard exasperated. He was currently playing with his under-13 team, the Tidal Waves and was currently losing three to one. There were still fifteen minutes of the last period left, so there was still time to catch up and even win, but Bryson truly wasn’t feeling it in his heart.

“Bryson get up; your linemates are waiting.” said Duchess Coldwater, both the coach of Bryson’s team and his mother.

“Yes mother.” He said snapping out of his stupor and climbing over the boards to the middle of the ice.

“I want you to apply the pressure!” She shouted at him.

Bryson skated his way into the middle of the centre ring. As he slowly drifted his way over, his mind was elsewhere, busy thinking about the fight between Krisel and that moron Bodger. I’m sure I could do something in these next two weeks. He thought to himself.

“Number 2! Number 2! Lord Bryson.” The referee called out to Bryson, “First warning. Get ready for the puck drop.”

“Right.” Bryson said giving a small nod focusing back on the puck as the referee dropped it and swatted at it before it even touched the ice.

Bryson cursed at himself as the referee blew the whistle for Bryson had swatting at it too early.

“False start, number 2 of the faceoff circle.” The referee ordered.

Bryson complied and skated over to the outer perimeter of the faceoff circle. Only for the opposing team player, Frans Snowfield to slide up next to him. Bryson did his best not to swear out loud as Snowfield made his way next to him.

“So Bryson… your squire’s going to fight soon.” Frans said as he subtly pushed Bryson’s stick to the side with his own.

“What of it?” Bryson said shoving back with his stick.

“Just that I can’t wait to watch the fight.” Frans said elbowing Bryson in the arm.

“What are you babbling about?” Bryson snapped as the two smashed their shoulders into each other.

“Hey! Stow it you two! I’ll call only one of you if you keep that up.” The referee shouted at them having turned around over the noise of the two fighting.

Both noble boys immediately ceased their shoving match, nodded to the referee and pretended to behave. Satisfied that nothing would occur over the next couple of seconds he turned his attention over to the two others waiting for the faceoff.

“Your mother invited me to watch.” Frans said with a grin.

“What? Your girlfriend needs to learn some new tricks?” Bryson asked nodding to Clarissa who stood in the front row silently cheering Frans on.

“No.” Frans said sneering, “She’s going to watch you fail. Just like you’re losing now, you failure.” He said as the puck was dropped and the other players began to scramble for it.

Bryson in an instant had a foul look on his face as he cross-checked Frans right on the numbers of his jersey. The officials immediately blew their whistle to call the penalty. To little too late as Frans whipped around and cracked his gloved hand across Bryson’s steel-caged helmet.

More whistles blew as Bryson and Frans went into a mad wrestling match as the rest of their respective teammates piled into this wild brawl turning it into a full scrum. Thankfully none of the boys in this mosh were stupid enough to actually use magic or any mana to enhance their bodies during the fight.

After a minute of chaos had passed, the officials were finally able to pull apart the children. Very quickly penalties were given out to both sides.

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“Tidal Waves penalties for numbers 88, 15, 11, 80. Hikers number 23, 65, 90, 8. Ten minutes for various infractions. Tidal waves and Hikers number 2 and 72, seventeen minutes for various infractions. They are out for the rest of the game.” The referee announced to everyone.

Duchess Coldwater folded her arms and watched as Bryson got off the ice, dropped his stick to the ground and threw his gloves to the side as he stormed into the locker room.

“Better keep you cool in two weeks!” Frans shouted as he headed into his own locker room.

Bryson said nothing as he walked down the hall towards his locker room. He in one swift motion removed his helmet and held it in the palm of his hands. His eyes glowed bright white as the entire helmet was frozen and subsequently crashed between his palms. He let the shattered remains of the frozen helmet clatter to the floor as his eyes returned to normal.

Gilles Coldwater marched his way over to the adventurer’s guild. He was not in very happy mood after being told what his selected champion was doing.

“Bodger.” Gilles demanded, “Where is Bodger?” He asked the receptionist while flashing his Coldwater emblem.

“Oh, uh the kid?” The receptionist asked.

“Yes.”

“Right over there.” The receptionist said pointing over to a corner of the guild where a small gathering of adventurers was located.

He quickly marched his way over to the group while shouting, “Bodger! Bodger! Get over here!” He demanded.

The crowd dispersed a little and Gilles could see Bodger at a table playing a game of cards with a couple of other older adventurers. Seeing what he was doing only angered Gilles even more.

“Lord Gilles?” Bodger said looking confused to see his boss here of all places.

“What are you doing here?” Gilles demanded.

“Just hanging around.” Bodger said with a small shrug.

“Why aren’t you training? I haven’t seen you do much of anything for the past few weeks!” Gilles said face red with rage.

“I’m just taking it easy. Relax. The fight isn’t for another couple weeks. I’ll do some quick sessions and get myself warmed up.” Bodger said with a casual shrug.

“You’ll need to do more than that before the fight.”

“Please.” Bodger said with a laugh before noticing Gilles unsmiling face, giving a small sigh he smiled at him, “Look. Don’t worry, I think I can handle a dumb child.”

Gilles narrowed his eyes at Bodger, “Did you watch any of the film that was sent to you?”

“You sent me a film? I never got a disc.” Bodger said with a shrug.

Gilles immediately grabbed Bodger by the collar with a one hand and dragged him over the table, sending drinks, cards, and money all scattering onto the floor.

“You take this seriously.” Gilles warned, “Or you’re out. No more debts being paid and you will owe me. Understand?”

Bodger desperately tried to have Gilles loosen his grip on him to no avail. Fearfully Bodger nodded in agreement. Gilles let him drop to the ground as he turned to leave. Before he quickly turned back and looked down on him.

“You will not fail me. Or I will make you pay. The footage was sent to your Communicator by Aether.” Gilles said giving him a death glare.

***

Bodger sat himself down in a quiet place and intently watched the footage he was sent. As angry as he felt from Gilles embarrassing him in front of his fellow adventurers, he had to admit that Gilles was right to have concerns.

From the footage he had of his opponent he could tell that she was good. More importantly, she was three years younger than him yet seemed to have far more basics and skill than him. Bodger scratched his face nervously; he was physically stronger, sure, but she was doing things that he wouldn’t have dreamed to be able to do yet.

“As long as I’m able to overpower her I’ll be fine.” He mumbled to himself nervously.

“Need some help?” A voice called out to him.

“What?” He said whipping around and was shocked to see a strange looking man before him.

This stranger was a man with long hair that went down to his neck; on his head was a simple bowler hat. He had narrow eyes nearly vibrant orange skin and was incredibly thin. Most interestingly however was that he had sharp pointed ears. An elf? Bodger thought. Elves were a rare sight on Strarth; they tended to reside in other realms.

“Hello there.” The stranger said.

“Who are you?” Bodger said looking alarmed that his man snuck up on him. He had never seen his face before.

“Just here to help. Was sent here by my boss.” The stranger assured him, holding his hands up to show he meant no harm.

“Help? Help how and why?” Bodger asked looking suspiciously at him.

“Let’s just say that my boss and yours both want to see the girl lose.” He said before digging into his pocket and pulling a small vial with a single pill capsule in it.

“Here. Take it.” He said offering it to him.

“It’s just a bit of medicine to help make you a bit stronger.” The stranger said.

“Why should I trust you?”

“I get that I look suspicious, but here just take it. You can check it with any doctor or alchemist. They can tell you that it’s safe. You don’t need to take it if you have to. But if you feel like you could use a boost during the fight, it’s an option.”

Bodger paused and pondered for a moment, he did not fully trust the man. But he could always get this strange medicine verified. Still, he doubted that he was going to be allowed to take it if the Coldwaters were aware of it, though it wouldn’t hurt to have it with him.

Bodger slowly accepted the vial and placed it into his breast pocket giving a small nod.

“Pleasure to be of service. Good luck.” The stranger said before vanishing into thin air. Leaving Bodger alone with his own thoughts.