Chapter 44
One Directioners
“Mauritzo” calls Xael cheerfully at the boy's approach. I’m glad he does because there is absolutely no chance I was going to remember that kid's name. As they get closer I realise the two boys and one girl with him are all cursed as well. At first, I assume they are his slaves or servants but their clothes are too nice. I mean really nice, Xael nice. These kids are fucking rich. I’ve never seen anything like it, Yes technically not all cursed are sold into slavery but I don’t think there is a single place on the world of mortals where we aren’t treated as second class.
“See “ crows the dog boy to one of his friends. “ I told you they know me.” He then beams up at the seated human. “ It is nice to see you again sir Deborant”
I repress a little snort as I stalk over to the cage bars. I don’t blame the kid really, if I were him I would probably act the same to impress my friends.
Apparently, I’m supposed to nurture these relationships and build up a fanbase. I have had countless conversations with Xael and Kalon about this. Obviously, I would rather not engage in this sort of nonsense, but the protections and exposure I have right now will only last until the end of the Storm Herald Invitational. It is in my best interest to become as ‘valuable’ as I can while it's on. If I have lots of fans to go with my lots of wins I’m told I will make BloodRock more money, which means more favorable fights, and a more forgiving schedule. It might even get me some leeway when it comes to challenges. This is the longest I have ever gone without fighting someone in the BloodRock compound and I know it can’t last. It would be really nice if I didn’t get in trouble every time I needed to smack some loser or defend myself from a pack of humans trying to prove something.
“Who have you brought with you today….Mauri?”
‘That's what he called himself’ I am pleased I managed to recall the dog boy’s nickname in time, if only just. Up close now I get a better look at the two boys and one girl Mauri has brought with him. They are so well groomed I can barely tell what kind of curses they bear.
The girl might be a rat? Her ears are rounded enough, and her face has whiskers. One of the other boys has tusks, while the other’s mouth is a ferocious pit of spikes, kinda like my own. Other than that they all just look like little rich humans with the pale skin that comes from basically never working.
“We,” Says Mauri proudly gesturing at his friends “are the One Directioners!” I have no idea what that means or why the kid is looking at me expectantly. Something he seems to pick up on after a few moments of awkward silence.
“You know, like the direction is North.” I blink once, twice, three times, four.
“Wait”” I say with more than a little disbelief.
‘Like the Rush Army or the Red Bearers.’
I feel like I can’t breathe. “You..you mean the four of you are my fans?” I ask, weirdly touched.
A little chorus of yeses comes back at me from the kids. There might only be the four of them but I have a fan club. I have a fan club.
From that moment on I have to admit my demeanour changes a little. I don’t have to fake it quite so much when it comes to acting interested in what the pack of kids have to say. Most of it is still inane garbage but somehow that doesn't bother me the same way. Their chattering is excited because they are getting to speak to me. It fills me with a weird wonderful feeling I don’t have the words to describe.
It isn’t all pleasant, some of it is just plain weird. The little mouse girl keeps pointing at my or one of the other slave’s stomachs before giggling and whispering something to one of the boys. Eventually, they start asking me about today’s final fight. The flame witch and Klash against Norrik and Selpus. I visibly exhale at that and pick my words with a little more care than I usually would. Mauri is a dog cursed and has a child’s bias for others like him. Others like Norrik and Selpus are actually wolves but its close enough. The wolf boys are good pitters, they really are. They do this thing where they split up and use specially practiced footwork patterns to manipulate who clashes with who and when. Against the HighSail pair, it won't help them, in fact, the disparity between the two teams is so great that a part of me wonders if the Itti’atti and her partner have been given an intentionally easy path to the finals.
“Uhh well, this is going to be a real uphill struggle for Selpus and Norrik. “ I say scratching the back of my head.
“Uphill struggle?” replies the tusked boy incredulously. “It’s going to be an execution.” I let out a little laugh.
“Yeah…” I agree, giving Mauri a sympathetic look, as he poorly tries to hide the fact that he’s starting to sulk.
“I saw what they did to that Ettin I don’t even think you can beat those two from HighSail.” Goes on the tusked boy before suddenly realizing what he’s saying and to who. My only response is to stare at him flatly. It makes things awkward for the kids very quickly and the group decides now is probably the best time to return to their seats. Bidding us hasty farewells while I continue to glare at the kid.
Once they are gone I burst out laughing. I can’t help it, the expressions on their faces were like the kids thought I was going to somehow break through the bars and attack them. I’m not proud of successfully intimidating children or anything. It’s just funny.
“That may have been too far in the other direction.” Comments Xael dryly.
“Huh?”
“You know.” He elaborates while grinning cheekily at me. “You went from Babysitter to scaring the children off like you are The Reveller chasing redheads.”
I snort but don’t argue. The conversation with the pack of kids; the ‘One Directioners’ has left me feeling sort of light-hearted, except for one minor annoyance they have inadvertently reminded me of.
The Itti’atti girl and Klash are in the final and thus the most prestigious match of the whole round. Conversely, I was in the first. It doesn’t seem particularly fair since I have a win over Klash already. It also means I will be stuck in that spot for the remainder of the tournament. In the interests of everyone getting roughly the same amount of rest, they try to keep the match order as unaltered as possible as the event progresses.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
That means I'm the opening act. ‘Me’ It is honestly galling in the extreme. Especially since the second to last match today, the one that is involved in the Storm Herald after the prisoners are done murdering each other.
That match is populated by four humans. Fucking humans! Most of them are slower, weaker, or lacking some sort of special ability like my bite or Resh’s speed. Yet they are the ones in the second-best possible match time. It's enough to remind me why I used to hate Kalon….I’m still not quite used to not getting an intense surge of rage through my veins when I look at him.
“What?” Asks the blonde boy frowning. I blink realizing I'm staring at him.
“Nothing,” I grunt bashfully redirecting my gaze to the prisoner on prisoner violence taking place below.
“Just thinking about how awful the matches are today, one fight between humans I’ve never heard of and one pointless execution.“
I’m not looking at him but I get the impression Kalon rolls his eyes at me. “There are plenty of humans who can fight good.”
At that, I make a dismissive noise “Sure. Xael, Neston, some of the boys out of Saffron, hell even you aren’t that terrible.”
“Thanks.” His reply is flat and sarcastic but I ignore it.
“But are these four any good? I don’t even remember their names.”
Kalon laughs. “ Come on North, they showed us their pamphlets this morning, they are uhhh..” He pauses for a moment. “ Tota, what are the names of the human kids fighting tonight?”
The spike-covered boy offers a shrug. “ Who cares?”
“See,” I say with a slightly forced laugh.
It’s at that point that Xael chimes in, apparently he knows who they are but Tota is right. I don’t care to know the answer. In fact, I slump back down onto the bench and go back to napping as a form of minuscule protest. I won’t even watch the fights if I can help it.
I wouldn't call it a success but neither is it entirely a failure. The screams of the high-pitched announcer lady bring me to, which is more than a little annoying since the whole point of going back to sleep was to not watch the matches.
Her shrill voice fills the arena and she goes on about the two human teams. I don’t pay any attention to her or the match. There is a decent chance I will be fighting one of the winners of that fight so I really should have been watching. Not that it really matters, most opponents I have faced in my career have been unknown quantities prior to fighting them. It didn’t help all those losers and it won’t help the humans down there if I’m lucky enough to draw into them next round.
Despite my complaints, I do sit up and watch when the introductions for the final match begin. I like everyone else packing out the tens of thousands of seats around the pit am a little mesmerized by the spectacle of an Itti’atti. She can do genuine battle magic and while I resent her and Klash for what they did to Larnen and Tarnen. I have never seen anything quite like the Flame Witch in action. Backed up by the impossibly strong and durable elephant boy I know my earlier description was right, this will be an execution.
“Fighting on behalf of House FarStride are a pair you know and love, using their unorthodox teamwork skills they have more monster kills than any other youths in the city!”
‘I did not know that.’
“ It is my pleasure to introduce The PAAAAaaaaaAAAACCCKKKK!!! Norrrrrriiiiiiiiikkkkkkkkkkk and Sellllllpuuuuussssss.”
There is a smattering of uneasy cheers. The pack has fans I know they do, but it must be a little awkward to summon that energy when everyone knows that the two cursed can’t possibly win.
To their credit, Norrik and Selpus still stride out waving their pit-swords at the crowd and jumping up and down on the spot while they are introduced.
That awkward cheering dies entirely when the pair from HighSail appear on the other side of the pit floor. Klash steps out onto the sands first while the Itti’atti girl spends a moment staring up at the sky. She did this last time I saw her fight too, and once again beyond maintenance walkways and a deployable canvass, there is nothing up there. It might be a prayer or something, I’m really not sure.
Seemingly satisfied she follows the huge elephant boy out onto the pit floor and the second introduction begins.
“And their opposition, with a combined one loss ever!”
‘Heh, that was me.’
“The strongest youth pitter meets the steamiest!”
‘So dumb.’
“Fighting on behalf of House HighSail, I present for your viewing pleasure KLLLLAAAAAASSSSSSHHHHHHHHH ANNND EMMMMMMMMBEEEEEEEELLLLLLLAAAAAAAA!!!”
I’m not surprised about Klash lacking a last name, lots of slaves don’t have them. But the Flame witch? I don’t really know anything about Itti’atti culture but I assume they have last names. Maybe HighSail just doesn’t know what her second name is?
I don’t have time for further consideration before the crowd explodes into a roar so loud I can’t hear myself think.