Anitus grinned, “Finally. I’ve been aching to fight you for too long now, brother.”

Amaro paced with the fluid calculating stride of a panther, “Oh? Is that so? But I’ve lost to you about fifty times already, haven’t I? You’re only doing all of this so you get another fight with me aren’t you?”

“Very astute of you brother, what’s your point? You never fight me seriously anymore, so I have to resort to this in the end.” Anitus said, rolling his eyes.

“Oh, but I’m far beneath someone like you, so why are you going this far to start a fight with me?”

“That’s because you haven’t actually tried to beat me in those matches! Those victories mean nothing.”

“Then I suppose your victory just now means nothing too?”

“What are you talking about? He was actually trying to beat me.”

“Oh come now, brother, you scraped a victory against a fool who challenged you with an injured soul. I know you sensed it too. You hardly beat them when they were at their full power last time, so what’s the difference in the end? You still only win when your opponent lets you win.”

“Then prove to me you can beat me. You want to impress the Tibur girl so badly, don’t you? That’s why you let yourself be embarrassed at dinner. You’re quickly becoming a disgrace to our name, and I’ll be ending it here and now.”

Amaro took his stance, “Go on then. On your mark, brother.”

Kaara wanted to say something. She wanted to stop them from fighting. In the end, it didn’t matter who won or if Amaro beat his brother to help Rorik.

The snow around Anitus melted into a puddle, “Mark!” Anitus said as he launched forward.

Amaro fell to his knee, patting the ground, “I concede.”

Anitus stopped in his tracks, looking like he was about to kick Amaro in his jaw, “No you don’t! Stand and fight! You walking embarrassment! Coward!”

“What’s that now? Fifty four wins for you? Congratulations, brother.” Amaro said, brushing the snow from his pants, “Now me and the Tibur have both lost to you this day. I assume we can rechallenge you at any time? Perhaps when we’re ready to beat you.”

“Don’t play games with me, idiot! You know that wasn’t a real win!”

“If I concede, then it makes no difference, does it? Our record shows what it shows. You win, I lose. Do you really think I’d beat you if I tried? You’ve gotten so strong lately and I’ve slacked off quite a bit. How would putting in all that effort change the outcome?”

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Anitus grinded his teeth, “Fine. Have it your way, then. I won.” He stormed off, “Keep on humiliating us. I’ll have clean up whatever mess you put our family in anyways.”

Amaro sighed, his hands on his hips, “He’s got more than a chip on his shoulder, that one.” he looked over to Rorik, “Are you alright? I’m sorry about him-”

“Why did you do that?” Rorik asked angrily.

“Because I know why you challenged him. It was because you were protecting Kaara right?”

Rorik looked away. Amaro squatted down to his level, “You knew your soul was injured, and you likely planned to challenge my brother once you had rested, but seeing him bully Kaara pushed you to challenge him now instead. Am I wrong? I know pride when I see it.”

“That still doesn’t explain why you did that. Even if my soul was injured I still lost.”

“Because I know losing now doesn’t mean you can’t win later. We’ll all be together for what… two or three years? That’s more than enough time to rechallenge Anitus as much as you like. Two losses is nothing, take that from a guy who’s lost to him over fifty times.”

“He said you threw those matches, it’s not the same.”

“Isn’t it? Your soul wasn’t into this match just as much as my mind wasn’t into my matches. If we’re not giving it everything we have in a fight does that mean a loss isn’t a loss?”

“I don’t need your charity.”

“I know you don’t. That’s why you’ll rechallenge my brother and fight him with everything you have. And if you lose, you’ll always know you can challenge him again. Unless you’re saying this is as strong as you can get? Have you peaked so young?”

There was a pause. Rorik stood up, “Fine. I understand your point. What was your name, Xirxus?”

“Amaro. And you’re Rorik, correct? Kaara has said quite a bit about you. She respects you greatly.”

“She has?”

Kaara jolted, having almost forgotten they knew she was there, “Oh! Um… well yeah, I mean…”

Rorik gave her a rare smile, “It’s been too long, Kaara. Sorry I couldn’t win.”

“Why would you apologize for that? It’s not like I needed you to win for me. I was just fine, so go on and beat him for yourself next time.” She ran over and gave him a hug, “Thanks for standing up for me, though. I still appreciate it. I’ve got something to tell you in secret, okay? Come to my tent tonight, my parents won’t be there.”

Critical blow! Rorik was flustered!

Amaro took psychic damage by proxy! Amaro was flustered!

Sancta took double psychic damage seeing the psychic damage! Sancta was flustered!

Kaara was confused!

“What?”

“N-Nothing! I suppose the two of you do know each other better, so it’s best not to pry into private matters,” Amaro stammered, “Though of course one day I hope you can see me that way too-”

“Brother! Do not be so vulgar?”

Vulgar? What was so vulgar about wanting to be trusted? She looked to Rorik who seemed a lot more flustered than he usually would be.

Oh well, no point in thinking about it too much! Maybe she had too serious of a tone. She wanted to put him at ease when she told him and Arik about her curse.

Kaara giggled, “Aww cmon Rorik, it won’t be that bad! I’m inviting Arik too! We might die during the Siren Ceremony, so I gotta make sure I have no regrets in the end!”

C-C-C-Combo!

Rorik was crumbling to dust!

Amaro was struck by lightning!

Sancta was melting into a boiling puddle of acid on the ground!

Kaara was trotting away with a happy hum!

Kaara remains undefeated!