The bar was filled with a heavy, dense air. The female creatures moved with a grace that put me on alert, their touches provoking a sensation I couldn't control. The feline-looking woman who had taken my hand slowly slid my fingers down her hip, her warm skin igniting something in me that I didn't want to admit.
My heart was racing, and although I tried to keep my composure, every gesture she made, every whisper, seemed designed to break my resistance. Her smile was mischievous, her half-closed eyes telling me more than words could ever express.
"Relax," she murmured softly, bringing her face closer to mine.
I felt her warm breath on my face, and for a moment, my mind went blank. I remembered my Selene, trying to keep myself steady, but the closeness of this woman and the way she moved, as if every step was part of a carefully crafted plan, made everything else fade away. I forced myself to look away, searching for a way to pull back without raising suspicion. "No... I can't," I said in a low voice, with more fear than I wanted to show. "I don't want to do this."
The woman smiled, tilting her head as if she didn't understand. "Are you sure?" she asked, her fingers brushing against my neck. "It seems like you do."
I gently pushed her hand away, trying to keep control. "No... I don't want to," I repeated, knowing that Grimmor was watching me from his seat, his gaze fixed on my every move. I felt trapped, aware that any word I said would be judged by him.
From his spot, Grimmor leaned forward, his smile now more pronounced, almost mocking. "What's the matter, Darius?" His voice echoed through the bar, drawing everyone's attention. "Don't you find these women to your liking?" His tone was a mix of laughter and command, and my chest tightened at the sound.
I felt all eyes turn to me, and a cold sweat ran down my back. "Yes... they are to my liking," I answered, my voice weaker than I wanted, trying to find a way out. "It's just... I've had too much to drink."
Grimmor laughed, a sound that echoed throughout the place. "I see," he said, in a tone that seemed to pierce through my thoughts, making me doubt my own words. "Perhaps you should relax a bit more, Darius. It looks like you need it."
Suddenly, a strange sensation began to invade my mind. It was as if a foreign force was taking hold of me, pushing my will into a dark, cold corner. My body started moving on its own, bringing me closer to the feline woman, even though everything inside me screamed to pull away. I glanced at Grimmor, and I saw him laughing, his eyes shining as he watched me like a toy.
Something was wrong. I felt my thoughts blur, my actions becoming mechanical, obeying a command I hadn't given. I tried to resist, but the more I did, the stronger the pressure in my head became, forcing me to give in. The woman kissed me, and although my lips responded, I knew it wasn't me doing it.
Inside, my mind was in chaos. I felt like a part of me was being torn away, controlled, while another part desperately tried to fight back. "What's happening to me?" I thought, glancing at Grimmor, searching for answers in his amused, sadistic expression. "Did he do something to me?"
But it was too late. The control was gone, and my body responded to a desire that wasn't mine. Finally, my judgment had completely faded, and I fell into the abyss I had feared I wouldn't return from.
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The Next Morning
I woke up in the same room where I had spent that encounter. The light filtering through the curtains was dim, just enough to reveal the chaos of the previous night. My head throbbed, punishing me for the excess alcohol I had drunk.
I looked around; the woman had already left. As the fog in my mind began to lift, a deep feeling of guilt settled in my chest, enveloping me in a void I couldn't ignore. "What the hell happened to me?" I asked myself, trying to piece together the blurry fragments of the night before.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Grimmor's smile, mocking, as if he knew exactly what he had done. "Did he do something to me?" The words echoed in my mind, filled with rage and helplessness. I felt like my body had been manipulated, as if I had been forced to cross a line I didn't want to.
I got up, slightly staggering, and began to get dressed. Every piece of clothing I put on was an effort to leave behind any trace of what had happened. "Damn you, Grimmor," I muttered, my voice cracking with anger and guilt. I knew that, somehow, he had been behind it all, and that thought only fueled my hatred for him.
As I adjusted the sword he had given me, I couldn't help but feel the cold metal against my skin. If Grimmor was going to use me, I would use him too. But the guilt remained, persistent, like a thorn lodged in my conscience. "Forgive me, Selene," I thought, gritting my teeth and, unable to hold it back, I slammed my fist against the wall beside me. The impact echoed through the room, reflecting the rage burning inside me. "I betrayed you."
I left the room, leaving behind any trace of the previous night. As I descended the stairs, the bar's air hit me, making me feel nauseous. When I reached the counter, a lizard was waiting for me in silence, its gaze fixed on me.
Without saying a word, the lizard signaled for me to follow. I didn’t bother asking where we were going. I knew my fate was already sealed, and there would be no turning back.
I followed the lizard through the town’s streets, still feeling the weight of the hangover in my head. The sounds of the environment rattled in my skull, but I forced myself to focus on what was coming. As we progressed, the atmosphere became darker. The buildings were old and run-down, and the place was almost deserted.
The lizard led me to a part of the town I hadn’t explored before. Here, the people were sparse, and the silence was more noticeable. We stopped in front of a building that seemed insignificant from the outside. There were no clear signs of what it was, but the place exuded a sense of control and surveillance.
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The entrance was guarded by two imposing figures who watched us without saying a word. It was clear that access was restricted to a select few. This place was different from the others I had seen, and that only piqued my curiosity further.
We entered what looked like a reception area. The room was simple, with stone walls and a counter at the back. The place was dimly lit, making it feel even more closed off. Behind the counter, a humanoid creature watched me attentively.
I couldn’t identify it at first, but what surprised me the most was the respectful greeting. Its voice was soft and controlled. “Welcome, I am Loran,” it said calmly. “A demi-human at the service of this place.”
Its tone was polite, which surprised me. After everything I had experienced in this world, I didn’t expect to meet someone so courteous. I observed Loran, trying to understand his intentions, but I couldn’t decipher anything. The formality of his greeting made me doubt.
Loran offered us both water, which I gratefully accepted. It would help with the hangover still pounding in my head. The lizard, however, only looked at Loran with disdain and refused the water without a word. His attitude didn’t surprise me but was no less irritating.
Loran, still smiling, asked if I was ready. “Ready for what?” I replied, still a bit confused. “To hone your skills, of course,” Loran answered, clear excitement reflected on his face. His enthusiasm surprised me, but I responded hesitantly that I was.
He gestured for me to follow him to the room on the side. When we entered, I discovered a space much larger than I expected. A circular arena surrounded by stone walls stretched before me. The place seemed specifically designed for training. I already had an idea of what awaited me.
Loran showed me the entrance to the arena and positioned himself outside the walls, from where he could see everything that would happen. To my relief, the lizard didn’t enter with me. I knew I wouldn’t stand a chance against him in a fight.
From atop the walls, Loran shouted that I wasn’t allowed to use my sword, so I had to discard it. Confused, I obeyed and threw it to the side.
As soon as I did, I noticed that from the opposite end, another creature appeared through an entrance. Upon closer observation, I realized it was another demi-human, but this one had the build of a warrior.
As the new creature approached the center of the arena, I slapped myself a few times to wake up. I knew I had to be ready for what was coming. Loran, with excitement, gave the final instruction: I had to defeat the demi-human. The fight would only stop when one of us couldn’t continue.
Adrenaline surged through my body as I heard Loran's words. My opponent was practically the same height as me, giving me a slight sense of equality. But I didn't let my guard down for a second. As soon as Loran gave the signal, the fight began.
My movements were clumsy; I hesitated with every step. In contrast, the semihuman moved with a precision that caught me off guard. His blows weren’t as powerful as the lizard’s, but each one was accurate, aimed at sensitive spots, slowly wearing me down.
One of his strikes hit my ribs, and the pain forced me to step back, gasping for breath. I raised my hand, trying to catch my breath.
"Wait! Stop for a moment!" I said, panting. Kael halted instantly, holding his position.
“Giving up already?” he asked, with a teasing but kind smile.
I shook my head, trying to pull myself together. “No… just give me a second.”
He nodded, and as soon as I caught my breath, we both returned to our stances. This time, I took the initiative, but my strikes still lacked precision. Kael dodged them with ease and countered with accuracy. Every hit I took made me step back, and the fatigue built up in my muscles. My breathing grew heavier. I tried to stay on my feet, but the blows to my ribs and legs were becoming unbearable. I couldn’t keep this up much longer.
My legs gave out, and I collapsed to the ground, gasping. From above, Loran watched closely. He gave the signal to stop the fight and came down, bringing a glass of water.
“Take a break,” he said, offering it to me. I didn’t hesitate to accept; the water instantly soothed my dry throat.
“From up there, it was clear you were hesitating too much,” he commented with a smile. “Relax and let your movements flow. Don’t overthink it; let your body do what it knows.”
I nodded, trying to process his words. I closed my eyes, trying to calm my mind. The break ended, and I got up for the next round. I remembered what Loran had said, and I felt a familiar energy: the mana I had gained from Eldrek’s sword. An unexpected calm took over me. Something had changed.
When the fight resumed, my steps were firmer, my movements smoother. Kael noticed the change; I saw the surprise in his eyes.
"That's it, Darius! Just like that!" he cheered, his fists ready to meet my attacks. “Don’t stop now!”
This time, I set the pace. I found a small opening in his defense and didn’t hesitate. My fist slammed into his abdomen, and Kael fell to his knees, gasping.
I looked at my hands, incredulous. Subtle black sparks danced around them. "What the hell is this?" I thought. These moves… I had never learned them. Was the mana from the sword activating some forgotten memory, something my body had left behind but was now emerging clearly?
From above, Loran clapped enthusiastically, cheering on the fight. I looked at him, and without realizing it, I smiled. For a moment, the adrenaline and thrill made me forget the pain and fatigue.
I extended my hand to the semihuman who was still on his knees. He hesitated for just a moment before accepting it. I helped him to his feet, and, surprised, he flashed me a smile. “You’ve surprised me. Up for another round?” he said, a challenging gleam in his eyes.
I returned the smile, adrenaline coursing through my veins. “Of course.”
Loran, full of excitement, urged him to use magic. “Come on! Show what you can do with magic.”
I froze at the sound of that word.
“Magic?” I repeated, incredulous. Until that moment, I had seen no real proof of its existence in this world. Could it be possible? Or just another trick?
The semihuman rolled his neck, preparing himself. Then, with a confident smile, he extended his hand. A faint current ran through the air, and a bluish light enveloped his fist. Before I could react, a burst of energy hit me head-on.
It wasn’t devastating, but strong enough to put me in trouble.
Every move he made, every attack, was now accompanied by magical sparks. My attempts to counter his strikes became even harder. The fight leveled out, with both of us battling without giving an inch. I felt exhaustion building up, but I forced myself to keep going.
"Come on, Darius! Don’t fall behind!" Kael shouted, his eyes shining with excitement. "Show me what you’re made of!"
The fight dragged on. Neither of us would yield, and with each passing second, the struggle grew more intense. From his high vantage point, Loran kept shouting excitedly, cheering us on. “That’s it! Don’t stop! Give it your all!” His shouts echoed through the arena, adding even more intensity to the moment.
But the hits and the magic began to take their toll on me. I couldn’t last much longer.
In the end, I raised my hand, signaling that I couldn’t go on. The pain and exhaustion had overwhelmed me. The semihuman stopped his attack and approached, extending his hand. I took it gratefully, and we shook hands in respect.
“My name is Kael,” he said with a friendly smile. “I hope we can train together again.”
“I’m Darius,” I replied, returning the smile. “And yes, I’d like to keep training with you.”
We exchanged a slight bow, and I left the arena accompanied by Loran. He couldn’t contain his excitement. “That was amazing! I really enjoyed watching that fight,” he exclaimed with enthusiasm.
As we left, the lizard was waiting for me. “Get ready for tomorrow. We continue,” he said seriously. It was already night, and fatigue washed over me. I decided to return to the inn. Even if it was a filthy place, it would serve to rest. I needed to regain my strength for the next day.