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I looked around the arena to find the crowd watching on in silence, anticipating what I would do next. Unfortunately for them, I wasn’t attempting to create a spectacle for them to enjoy. So I summoned massive earthen walls that raised high into the sky, only allowing the light to come down from the top.
Thankfully, there were no rules about blocking the sight of the audience or referee. So, I was free to do what I wanted.
I stared back down at Tristian, still struggling and cursing in the Elunari tongue. The spear through her stomach wouldn’t kill her, but the ensuing blood loss would. I had no time or the intention to let her scream herself to death. So, I slapped her across the face, which snapped her out of her fit as she stared up at me with fury in her eyes.
“I asked you a question. Which child were you?”
Tristian called me a word that I actually recognized from the Elunari language. In their string of curses that I didn’t care to remember, there was always one word that got translated that stuck out to me as being weird. The Elunari would refer to me as a Titan. I didn’t know why and thought that it was purely coincidental that they called me that. I also never bothered to figure out why.
I watched her tighten and bunch up, so I moved my head to the side to dodge the bloody spitball she tried to launch at me. The red glob didn’t make it very far as it fell back down and splashed against her forehead. It truly was pitiful.
“If you plan to fight me till the end and come for my life. To pursue after my friends or family. To be a constant thorn in my side, I can just put you out of your misery,” I said, my voice cold.
“But I don’t want to do that.”
Tristian hesitated for a moment. I saw it in her face. Her anger subsided, but that was only for a moment.
“You forced—you forced her to do that! She! You took everything from us! We didn’t—we were just kids, damn it! Just when I was starting my new life, you showed up again to take everything! I can’t escape you even in death! So just die! Die and never come back!” Tristian shouted up at me.
I see, so she was the boy, huh? I guess if I can reincarnate into a different race, this wouldn't be that much of a surprise. How did she know it was me? What identified me in Gilcour Thicket all those years ago? And what was the point of all of this? What twisted god wanted us to meet in this new life…
Well, what did it matter? Things are different now. I have a choice, and so does she.
“You know I agonized over your death for a long time. It changed me and gave me nightmares. That change even led to my death in my previous life. I died, and so did one of my only friends. I guess, in some twist of fate, that life ended the same way yours did,” I said as I looked up at the clear blue sky.
“Maybe, just maybe, if we had met when we were first born…maybe I would have killed myself for you. After all, I didn’t think any of this was real for five years, so dying might have been a real option for me if someone suggested it to me.”
“However, that is no longer possible for me. My life is no longer my own, as I have people who need me and rely on me, so I can’t give you my life. But what about you Tristian? Do you have people that you want to continue to see in this life? If you don’t, and you just want revenge for what I did, then I’ll send you off now. I’d say you get to see the other child again…but we both know what lies beyond death.”
Tristian blinked a few times as the color started to drain from her already pale face. She would die very soon if not treated.
“She—she died? I—why? Why are you doing this to me?” she asked hesitantly.
“Yes, although I didn’t kill her, one of my comrades did, and if it’s any consolation, I killed that same person before I died.”
“But I’m not sure why I’m doing this. It’s just what I want to do. You can see it as I saw you as a friend in Sandervile. You were always kind to me and always stood up for me against anyone who tried to hurt me when you didn’t have to. I remember those moments fondly. Not to mention, Adria would be sad if you died. Or if you want, you can see it as a form of thanks and regret,” I said simply.
“Tha—thanks?” she questioned with a cough.
“Yes, it’s a thanks for changing me. It can very easily be said that your death is what started my metamorphosis. It was the catalyst for making me into the person I am right now. Although I am now regretful that you and that other child had to die for me…there is no going back to that moment, and honestly, the old me would have done the same thing again anyway. And the me now…I would sacrifice you again if it meant I could get back to this point,” I told her honestly.
I watched the blood spill out from her and pool all the way to a stone wall. “Time is short, Tristian. I’m going to need an answer if you want to live. Do you plan to come after my life for the rest of your days? Or do you want to live this new life with your friends and family? I won’t let you have both. So choose.”
“You won’t kill me? Ca—can you promise you won’t hurt my family?” she asked.
I didn’t answer her immediately. It was because that was a promise I couldn’t keep. Her father was the Vice-mayor of Sandervile and a competent fighter. There was a chance that in the near future, we would be at each other’s throats. And unlike what I can do to her, Tristian, I can’t overpower her War God father to the point of total submission.
“Sorry, but I can’t promise that. But for you, I can try my best,” I told her.
Tears flowed from her dark eyes and mixed with the blood on her face. “I don’t want to go back there! I don’t want to die again! Please, I won’t fight you…I can’t…not… any…mor—”
Tristian trailed off, and her eyes shut as she passed out. I bent down and pulled my spear free from her as I wondered. I wasn’t sure how to feel about all of that. Did I make the right choice? Was I just being naive to let her live? That would be the first time I let someone live after they wanted to kill me.
In the future, Tristian could become an enemy again. No, it was practically guaranteed that we would fight once more. Then again…so was Adria, and I had no plans of killing her.
Maybe I just understood where Tristian was coming from. If I were in her position, I would have done the same thing, right? I don’t think I can hate her for that because if I knew Zeus or anyone else who betrayed me in my previous life still drew breath in this world, I would try to kill them for the safeguarding of my future.
Or was it that I just simply didn’t want to kill Tristian? Yes, maybe it is just that simple—a selfish whim born of old feelings and memories and the fact that I didn’t want to kill someone I perceived as a child.
Yes, perhaps that’s it.
“Sorry about being so rough with you, but she is the only one who can save you on such short notice,” I mumbled to the unconscious body.
I let the earth wall crumble and broke out into a full sprint. With all the might that my one arm could manage, I tossed Tristian into the crowd toward the one person who could save her, thankful that she was light enough to throw.
Sigh, I’m going to get an earful after this…from everyone.
—
I squeezed my freshly regrown fingers and nodded. “Thank you,” I said with a wry smile.
A pair of blood-red eyes gazed at me with overflowing annoyance. “If you don’t stop losing your limbs, I’m going to cut them all off and put you in a closet for the rest of your life.”
“I will keep that in mind…thank you for fixing me and for saving Tristian,” I responded with an awkward laugh.
Is she serious? Why do I get the feeling that she would do that? No… Sylvia wouldn’t do that…yeah, no way that’s too much even for her.
“Yeah, yeah…just try not to toss bloodied people at me again. Your father had to cover Mila’s eyes with shadows,” Sylvia huffed.
“Also, Kaladin, there was poison in you. Not much, but some. That’s why you cut your arm off, right?” Sylvia asked as she crossed her arms and glared at me.
“Yes, that is correct.”
She bit her lip, shook her head, and looked over to the other person sitting beside me.
Cerila gave me a worried look as she asked,
“Yeah, why did you spare that bastard after everything they did to you? They tried to kill you with poison, Kaladin,” Sylvia snapped.
Mmm, I guess they didn’t put two and two together. I told them about Tristian and how there was a connection between the person I knew and Zero.
“I guess I have some explaining to do.”
Thankfully, I didn’t have to start at the beginning. I had already told both of them about my previous life, the Elunari children, and about my time in Sandervile. All I had to do was connect the dots for them about Tristian and that child being one and the same and explain why I chose not to kill her.
Sylvia uncrossed her arms and sighed. “Well…it’s your decision, and as long as you’re fine with it, then that’s that. But you won’t get mad at me if she comes after us and I deal with her, right?”
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“Of course not. However, I didn’t explicitly say that this is a one-time deal. I think the meaning is clear either way,” I responded. “But you don’t seem very happy with my choice.”
“Well, it’s because you know who is going to be pissy that you didn’t do what you promised,” Sylvia said with a raised eyebrow.
“That is…true. I’m sure I’ll be summoned shortly,” I said with a sigh.
Cerila laid one hand on my thigh and smiled as she signed with the other,
Yes, a scared child who made a difficult decision, just like before.
I signed back.
I felt Sylvia’s gaze boring into me as Cerila continued to rest her hand on me. Instead of just ignoring her, I thought I would try to lighten the mood.
Sylvia shied away as she looked off to the corner of the room. “That’s not why I learned it! All of your family already knows it, and I just didn’t want anyone saying things that I didn’t understand!”
“Oh? I believe just a few months ago, you were slacking in your language studies because the ‘Human language is dumb and makes no sense,’ or something like that, right?” I said with a finger to my chin.
Sylvia’s face went red, and she pointed a finger at me. “That’s different! That’s for school, and this is for family! Two very different things!”
I chuckled as I hadn’t seen Sylvia embarrassed like that in some time. It was truly adorable. And at the end of the day, I was aware that deep down, Sylvia knew what it was like to be alienated from things just because of the way she was born.
At least those two can share that in common…if that is something even to be proud of.
Knock.
Knock.
“Come in,” I answered.
We were in my private room at the very back of the Luminar student section, so it was just the three of us. Rules were rules, and even though my family probably wanted to see me, I decided not to make a big fuss over it as I was sure I would see them later. However, I hadn’t expected to see him so soon.
“Captain Fairchild, what brings you here?” I asked.
He scanned the small room with a hardened look on his face. He stared at the three of us for some time and cleared his throat, “I apologize for interrupting your, um…private time, Sir Shadowheart.”
Mhm? What’s with that look?
“It’s fine; I’m sure you are here for a reason,” I said in a dismissive way.
“Indeed. Her Majesty has summoned you, Sir Shadowheart,” Captain Fairchild said with a bow.
Faster than I anticipated. I suppose I am due for a scolding.
“Let’s go,” I said as I stood up, saying goodbye to Cerila and Sylvia.
As Captain Fairchild escorted me out of the depths of the stadium, I heard someone sprint toward me as we made it out of the Luminar-specific area. I wondered if I should dodge them but decided against it. I could hear the excitement in their steps.
Captain Fairchild jerked toward the noise, but I put a hand on his arm to stop him. By the time I looked back around, the smaller person had already barreled into me at a full sprint, knocking me over. On the bright side, it didn’t hurt much as she was…how to say it…soft?
“Thank you, Kaladin! Thank you so much!” Adria yelled as fresh tears rolled down her face. It was obvious that she had been crying a considerable amount as her eyes were swollen and bloodshot.
“I’m not sure you should be thanking me for almost killing your friend,” I argued from beneath her.
“But you didn’t! Thank you! Thank you, Kaladin, for not doing it!” Adria wailed.
Well, if that’s how she sees it, then who am I to correct her…
—
It took some time for me actually to meet with Queen Maxwell. I’m sure it was meant as a slight punishment to keep me waiting, but that wasn’t the case, as the king had gotten a whiff of my location and demanded that I workout with him. I tried to explain that I was a bit tired from my match earlier in the day and that I had just had my hand regrown, but that apparently wasn’t cause for concern.
The man has boundless stamina; it’s truly frightening to think about how powerful he actually is. I mean, he killed a Wyrm just by swinging it. What a monster.
The thick wooden door lock clicked behind me, and in the dimly lit office room in the royal villa sat Queen Maxwell behind a large black desk made of some stone. The desk was littered with stacks of paper, scrolls rolled out to the maximum length, and a large number of glass bottles that were thankfully full of water and not alcohol.
Come to think of it, I hadn’t seen her much after the week break, and I could see why. She looked haggard with her blonde hair tossed about and dark circles around her eyes, and she looked very, very pregnant with that thin nightgown.
This is probably the most normal I’ve seen her looking. If I were to walk past her on the street, I wouldn’t even recognize her.
Queen Maxwell looked up at me with tired eyes and motioned for me to sit down in the chair right in front of her. I obliged and gave her a few moments to finish what she was writing. After she was done she put the quill down with a long sigh and ran a hand over her face.
She poured herself some water, looked at me, and poured me a glass. “Here,” she said curtly.
“Thank you,” I said, taking the water and drinking it.
Surely there is nothing in this water….right? And I am quite thirsty…
Queen Maxwell laid back and took huge gulps of the water and finished the entire goblet with three loud chugs. She poured another glass and finished that one just as quickly, followed by another deep sigh.
“You look tired,” I commented casually. “You should get some sleep for the sake of your child.”
“Yes, yes, I should. I would like that very much, but it’s my child that is keeping me awake. My back and stomach hurts, I’m always hungry, and I feel frustrated with everything,” she complained.
“Oh? Is it…that bad?”
Queen Maxwell looked at me with a face of annoyance. “I’d say you understand one day, but that’s not something you will have to deal with.”
“Yes…I’m sure I won’t.”
She sighed and rubbed her protruding stomach gently and said softly, “I thought I would be prepared for my fourth, but it looks as if I was wrong. All three of my children were rather simple and rarely gave me any problems, even when they were inside of me. But this one…she must take after her father as she enjoys kicking as much as him. She will surely be a rambunctious nightmare. I’m already fearful of the future and how she isn’t even out in the world yet.”
“She? How can you be so sur—”
“It’s a girl,” Queen Maxwell stated simply. “I just know.”
Okay…I’m not sure if it works that way, but there are more mysterious things in this world than the intuition of a mother.
“This was pleasant, but let’s get down to the reason you sit before me, Kaladin. Do you enjoy stressing out pregnant women?” The queen asked in a stern voice.
“No, I don’t particularly find enjoyment in that,” I responded.
“Then why do you keep making things harder for me? We had a mutually beneficial deal, and you have arguably failed three times, Kaladin.”
“The first one was acceptable; he was insignificant and wouldn’t rile up Sandervile at all, so I agreed with your judgment. However, the second one was perfect. If you had killed Adria Sandervile, our goals would have been met, and everything would have moved according to our plan. But…I was willing to overlook it as I understand you two have a history together. Yet this third time…it was the second-best thing to fall into our lap, and you didn’t keep your promise yet again. She even broke the rules and used poison. That would have been perfect. So tell me, how am I supposed to see this, Kaladin?” she asked as she stared me in the eyes.
“How did you know she used poison? And I made the decision not to kill Tristian Relude for personal reasons, just like Adria Sandervile,” I said with a shrug.
The queen sighed and let her head roll back. “You understand that your actions put others in danger, as now I have to put the Paine family into motion to secure something. We can not allow Sandervile to leave this city unscathed, Kaladin. We need a just cause for when a war breaks out, and we need the support of the public. Things would be even better if Sandervile started it over the loss of a talented noble in a sanctioned duel. You agreed that doing it during the tournament was the most optimal.”
Well, that is only the start…in truth, we would assassinate many more nobles under the guise of them retaliating.
“Oh, and we found out because of your detached arm. In the future, you should keep better track of your limbs…no matter how weird that sounds,” Queen Maxwell grumbled.
“Can I ask that you wait? I still have another noble of Sandervile in my bracket,” I pointed out.
The queen let out a huff and took another drink of her water. “That is wishful thinking at its best. I highly doubt that boy will be able to best Tsarra Tel’an’duth if he even beats his next opponent, that is. He was in the weakest bracket, so it was sheer luck that he made it this far. I’ve seen his swordsmanship, and it’s nothing special.”
“It’s still a chance.”
“Hoping for the downfall of your friend to suit your greed isn’t what I expected from you, Kaladin. And no, I will not wait that long. If an opportunity arises, I will give the order. Just remember that I held up my end of the deal to the very last moment, and you did not. I’m positive that you have no qualms with that?” She said with her head tilted and a sharp look in her eyes.
“I understand. I’ll just rely on some luck, then. After everything that has happened to me I must have some built up and ready to spend,” I said with a grin.
Queen Maxwell chuckled as she shook her head. “I hope so. It would make my life easier…” she trailed off. “You may leave.”
I stood up, but before I left, I turned back to face her. “Is there any news regarding that Vampire?”
“No, not yet. I’ve mobilized Gryphon Knights to scout and investigate the outskirts of Luminar, focusing on high-density populations or areas of strategic importance to find whatever they can. Whoever did that intentionally left no trail. And if they did it once, they might have done it multiple times,” the queen said.
“You should look everywhere, even in small towns. Panic spreads far and wide when it blows in,” I warned.
“Yes, if you find more highly trained and trustworthy soldiers that can cover entire sections of the kingdom, I will gladly put them to use. So, until then, I will do what I can,” she said with a dismissive wave.
I opened the door and was just about to leave when I turned around again. “What is it this time…” Queen Maxwell sighed.
“When you have the time, you should see Sylvia. She might be able to relieve some of your stress,” I said casually.
Queen Maxwell gave me a confused look that turned into disgust. “Are you prostituting your own lover now? What has happened to you since we last spoke…”
“That—that’s not what I meant…”
The queen smirked. “I’ll keep it in mind. Maybe I’ll look for her before I go to sleep…”