Tarion

Washed of blood by my mana-controlled water, I walked past the tall guards into the VIP box of the ring. Maskless and with my cloak on my shoulders, I am recognised by the numerous nobles who abstained from coming to my wife's party. My thumb pointed to the door I came through.

“Leave.”

And they did in a rush. The door slammed, and my servant, my appointed madam of the ravens, stepped from her ornate, leather, and gold chair to bow to me.

“Thank you for doing this on such notice.”

“Nay, your grace, I had failed you; we couldn't get enough fighters in time-”

“Fifty was enough.” I interrupted Beiye. Enough for her to practice.”

Beiye guided me to chairs overlooking the ring below. A large pewter plate of skewered meat and vegetables lay hot and streaming.

“Speaking of her Grace?”

I took a skewer and sat down. From here, I could see the crowd disperse as the matches ended for the night. “Downstairs, tending the men we injured. So holy of her. Waste of energy, I said, but she was insistent. Practice is practice, I guess.”

She should be exhausted, unable to move from the strain of burrowing the land aboves's power. However, with each heal she gets better and more confident. So much potential. At this rate, rather than Kyros leading the charge, my wife would be the vanguard the people follow.

“Bieye,” She joined me by sitting in the chair to the left of me. “Want to expand the business? Make it legit.”

“My liege…really?” She leaned forward in her chair in surprise. I smiled as I chewed on the juicy meat, noting to myself to get my chef to replicate the recipe.

“Organised Fighting. Seen as a lower form of entertainment by Nobles, yet it pulls them in like magnetism. The thrill, the action, the betting. It's inescapable. This ring is a place where all can let out their frustrations. Their roar and chant for heroes, jeer the villains.” I turned to the table between us and took another skewer, smiling. “It makes a lot of money.”

Beiye chuckled as she showcased her Alarian, black patterned dress tailored with gold tread. “Indeed.”

I will introduce a regulatory board and you get the mercenary companies on board to create a body to hire fighters. What do you say? Wanna spread the carnage across Freidland?”

“Your Grace, I am your servant. Say it, and it shall be done.”

I smiled as I threw a skewer on the plate. I looked back out at the ring. Workers chat as they sweep up bloody sand and dirt and replace it. Shoodyly made, it still gave me the same tingles the hexagon used to. Under the bright lights, I felt glory, honour, and success. The mat was the one place where I could find victory.

If I didn't strike back. If I had let them pommel me, what would my life be? Would I still be on the mats? Won a few matches here and there? Become a trainer? Would I have had a gold belt on my waist?

Vanessa checked up on me through the ring, and I felt content.

I do not know. But what I do know is that I am happier here.

I turned to the madam. “Get your ravens. Direct several bands of mercenaries to peck at the Wolfburn’s army as they return home. Let them not have a day of restful sleep. Steal, destroy, or even poison their supplies. Persuade some to abandon the posts. Anything. Just annoy the fuck out of them.

“It will be done.” She saluted. With her hands on the armrests, Bieye got ready to stand up before remembering something. Her face turned queasy as she looked at me apologetically.

“Your Grace, may I speak out of turn?”

“I will always want your advice. Problem with the sanctioned duelling distribution idea? Disagree with sending the Ravens?”

“No, it's... umm... Your Grace, a young man, a simple coach, has had my attention.”

“George?”

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“Yes. The way he approached her grace... It gave me shivers in a way I could never forget. The same way that he… “ Beiye shook her head off that memory. There is more that is worrisome about him. He always has a way of always being around her, finding ways to touch her. Sometimes... sometimes is it as though he knows everything that happens around her. I know I am pushing boundaries but I implore you to keep a keen eye on-”

My mind was in a rush. Bits and pieces of information snapped together in my mind.

Knows Everything. Knows… Everything… Could he? On HER?

I thought of a book, and it flashed into my hand from my inventory. A well-read book landed in my hand. I flipped through the Encyclopaedia of spells. Spells I could never perform, but I still study. You know your adversary by learning how to be them.

I stopped at a page. An overflowing feeling of disgust unwound in me. I wanted to hurl but kept reading the spell to make sure.

A surveillance spell. For how long? What did he see? The day after me and Vanessa… The rage I saw in his eyes.

Lands above!!

I jumped out of my chair, shocking my servant. “Your Grace?” I paced up and down like an agitated dog.

Could he have attached Exploratorem to me? No. The mind wipe spell was destroyed and they are both around the same level of mastery. Many eyes have been on Vanessa. She has never been alone with him, and he would need touch to slowly attach his spell to her mana heart. It must have been before she came to Osberg. Is that why he came with her? To make sure his spell didn't unravel?

But why on her? He talked of love, but he dared manipulate her, mess with her mind!!

“DAMN IT ALL!!!”

Full of rage, my fist smashed with the full force of my mana. The railing and floor sizzled while the door creaked. Vanessa, holding her mask in her hand but still wearing her bloodied clothes, stepped on wood chips as she scowled at the mess.

“Tarion, what happened?” She looked back at me. “What going on?”

I sucked in the air. Mana fuming from my skin like smoke, I roared so the bastard could hear me. “NO MORE GAMES. NO MORE CHARADE. COME OUT VEL!!! IT ENDS TO TODAY!!!”

“Vel,” Vanessa muttered to herself. “I know that name.” Suddenly she dropped to her knees. Shivering, she hugged herself. Then tears flowed. I ran to her aid with a thought.

“Kyros….KYROS. KYROS! KYROS!!!” She grabbed her head; blood leaked from where she grabbed, and I pulled away the arm of my wailing wife.

“KYROS!!! KYROS!!!! AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!” A pulse of mana rattled me to my bones and I bounced across the VIP box. My fingers make grooves on the wooden floor as I regain my stance.

A mage popped into existence.

“Extremely disappointing, Duke.” With his stable hand disguise, Vel stood behind the screaming duchess. A tap on the head, and she slumped unconscious to the ground. “Not even more than 2 hours later, and you fucked it up. At least I learnt of two vulnerabilities.”

“BEIYE, RUN AWAY!” I heard her scuffle away.

Stepping over Vanessa, he makes his way to me with enthusiastic eyes. With a wave of the hand, Vel created a shield of blue mana around the sleeping beauty. “One: Certain words can break the spell. Supposing the participant could hear such words, could an ego that recognises the words be trapped instead of being erased? Interesting. I will have to square enough time to research this.

“KURT! GET HER! AT ALL COSTS!”

“TWO:” Vel pointed at me. “YOU!” Strange symbols floated around the mage, and bright energy was focused on his finger.

An allocation window floated by my hand.

“I will end this sordid partnership as you wish.”

Vel shot.

Eyes opened to the sight of the ring sand. My body stung, but all parts were accounted for. A hundred and five points into Mana capacity saved me. Climbing to my feet, I looked around at my shield full of cracks.

From the burning VIP box, Vel floated down. Holding my wife in a levitating bubble of mana, he watched me with curiosity.

“Who are you?”

“Your Duke. Now-” My prized greatsword flashed into my hand. “PUT HER DOWN.”

The mage ignored my demand. “No, idiot. Not your role in the world, the real you. Were you a warrior? I see it in your eyes. You love the violence that fills this world.” He said, with an arrogant smile. "All arguments end with a fist or sword. Strength means all. I like that. Very simple. Greedy. Selfish. If only you were not so foolish, rebellious, I could have used you well.”

As he yapped, my full attention was on her. Golden locks drift in the bubble, her face calm with her eyes closed. She called for his name with such anguish. I needed her safe. And away from him.

He was injured. Fought recently, I am sure. Twenty points to senses, I flared my sword with bright azure mana. QI course through my stinging, and I felt revitalised.

This is do or die.

My heart pumped louder than ever before.

“But despite your idiocy, you intrigue me. The tenacity, your skills. How you were able to ward off my spell. It brings out the researcher in me.”

An uncountable amount of flame spears float above. Their points were aimed at me.

“What more can you withstand?”

Vel flicked a finger, and the spears streamed toward me at a blinding speed.