There was a buzzing in his head and a cold hand clenched around his heart. That was all Harald could think off as he was gently led around by Mia to receive his prize.
He'd completed the deal with his teacher, had gotten stronger in the process and showed everyone that he wasn't someone you could easily mess with. It left him cold
It felt like he'd returned to the day where his father had been murdered, and his family had to depart towards the city.
He'd fought the injustice this time, but the result was the same. Nothing to show it for, even less if one considered that he'd likely gained a few nobles as enemies.
Handing the slip of glowing paper, the admission to the magical academy, to Lock, who was waiting for him at the exit of the arena, he was just about to leave for the city, when a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
He turned around to look at his teacher, who'd put on his helmet and was staring at him out of its depths. A bottle was pressed into his chest and he was ordered to drink. He did so, hesitantly, and immediately felt better once he did.
The same happened to Ino.
“How'd it feel like being the hero for a day?” The man said hollowly. Harald tried to turn around and leave, not willing to be lectured, but the grip on his shoulder was too strong and his body too weak.
Lock took the silence as a prompt to begin speaking. “Society calls someone who suffers so that another person can benefit a victim. Society calls someone who suffers so that society can benefit a hero. When a robber assaults a helpless victim, injures them, and steals a week's worth of money, society calls that a terrible crime that should never happen to anyone. When a hero sacrifices everything, bearing a great risk of injury and death to fight for what is right, society says it's an honour to serve, and promptly demands more. The heroic myth is simply a social construct used by the masses to steal from the virtuous few. You would be well-served to not chase this ephemeral dream. Down it's path lays only a short life full of regret, or a long one, which ends in the creation of but another bitter old man.” He said calmly, and the words rattled something in his head.
“So, me and my family are just a part of a larger parasitic mass of humans?” He asked angrily.
“I am not speaking about you. Because of one very simple reason. Proletarian parasitism depends on an important attribute that you do not possess.” Lock replied immediately.
“And what would that be?!”
“Weakness, the parasites depend on it to escape responsibility. Since each peasant is no weaker or needier than the peasants around them, it naturally must not be their fault that they require help. Therefore they must deserve to be helped.” Lock replied and continued with a question. “Now I have a question for you. Are you weak?”
“I'm not strong enough.” Harald replied weakly.
“You're plenty strong, stronger than almost everybody. You might not believe it because you haven't heard it often enough, and are surrounded by strong people. However, show me a man's friends and I will tell him what kind of man he is.” Lock pointed at himself, backwards towards Ino who was standing a bit apart from them, Mia, and to Lemmings. “Are you calling us weak.”
Harald shook his head. “If I'm strong, then why haven't I heard anyone else say it then?” He asked stubbornly.
“Because praise is only worth anything if it is given sparsely. Consider that society has near-monopolies on praise, respect and approval, and is by far the cheapest supplier. As society is the only supplier of this good, it is clear that society is creating artificial scarcity in order to raise the price that it can demand that people pay to receive its products.” Lock said.
“I can't believe I'm listening to this.” Ino said before trying to push past them in the slightly narrow exit, made worse by the size of their party. However Lock stopped him.
“There's another reason why I'm talking about this, completely different from my general disdain for heroism. Wait a bit and it shall be revealed.” He said mysteriously.
Ino seemed conflicted for a moment, but acquiescenced. “Well, if we're going to be waiting here and discussing your idiotic views on heroes, I'd like you to tell me more about how my ancestors were morons.” He demanded.
“Well, originally heroes were a necessity simply for the survival of the human species, and everyone did their part. However in recent years, or centuries however, the entire thing has taken a shift towards the situation that I described.” Lock said, before shrugging. “Honestly it can simply be summed up into the claim that once a society is no longer under constant threat of death, virtue is usually degraded to its lowest common denominator and decadence and hedonism spread. You can see the relationship change clearly throughout the ages. A society gets the heroes it deserves. We no longer have heroes, but basic mercenaries in the form of adventurers. The only remnant of the heroes of old are the nobles, but they're doing a pretty horrible job of upholding the values of their ancestors.”
“It must be hard being such a bitter shit before even your twenties.” An old voice suddenly rang out, turning around the party determined that it was coming from the ring on Kamin's finger. “However I'll put a stop to this entire charade right now by telling you that the entirety of the audience has left, albeit not entirely of their own free will. The barrier has also run out of energy for now and is only functioning as an information blocker.” It continued.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Lock nodded, “I see.”
Ino, Mia and Harald exchanged confused looks, before the ninja stepped forward. “What exactly is going on?” She asked.
“You didn't think the nobles would just let us go did you? After the gigantic egg Harald dropped on their faces. The idiotic cheering of the crowd drowned out everything, but I assure you there were some people in the crowd who noticed the obvious cheating going on.” Lock said easily, and, well, it made sense didn't it.
Not everyone could be distracted by bread and circus, just the majority. Which to be fair, was usually enough.
“I see.” Ino muttered. “What will they do though?” He asked.
This was the tricky part, Lock thought to himself. Convincing Ino, Kamin, and Kirin, that he wasn't a sociopath for what he was about to do next.
“Report us to the council, after which we'll be branded as criminals and hunted down. After all, the only people who could possibly be interested in sneaking someone into the military are the rebels or elven spies.” Lock explained casually.
“They can't though, I'm a noble!” Ino said, baffled.
“A young man led astray, who was accidentally cut down in the operation which was sent forth to arrest his companions. Or maybe they'll let you go with a slap on the wrist. Sadly the same can not be said for me.” Lock replied, noting how Harald clenched his fists at Ino's exclamation.
“So, what are we doing?” Mia asked, seemingly taking everything in stride.
Lock pointed at the tunnel opening which lead back into the arena. “Go in and kill them before they can report shit. Usually I'd be worried about the Legil managed to alert someone via telepathy, but the barrier is still functioning on a level that should suffice to block such communications.” He said, and waited for the outbursts.
None came. Harald was biting his bottom lip so hard it was bleeding, a look of utter hatred in his eyes. Mia was looking at him calmly, perhaps a bit expectantly. Kamin was still having her ears covered by Lemmings, and Ino. Ino was scowling. But that was about it.
The complaint that eventually came was not one that he expected.
“We'll get caught. It's not even night, and we're going to be attempting a triple homicide in the middle of the marketplace.” Ino said bitingly.
“The arena is isolated, and now that the sun is beginning to set nobody should have a reason to come here. As far as places to commit murder go, this one is probably on the top ten list of Abrakshana.” Lock replied calmly.
Left unsaid was that this was to a certain extent, their only chance. Or, at least Harald's. Ino and Kamin were nobles, Lock was a quasi-noble now, with his betrothal, this offered a certain degree of protection. Protection that would likely end up in him being jailed, instead of simply killed if the nobles were to make a fuss of the entire thing.
However Lock valued his freedom more than he valued his life. And thus action needed to be taken. The nobles might not be planning on doing anything about what had happened today, simply letting them go. They might die innocent, at least in that regard.
However, that was a sacrifice he was willing to make.
“That's another thing that's been bothering me. Why is the audience gone? People loiter, it's in their nature.” Ino said with suspicion in his voice.
“A certain amount of... intimidation was applied.” Lock replied loftily, causing Ino to clench his fists in anger.
“You sure have a lot of secrets for a man who wants to marry my sister.” He hissed and glared at Lock.
Lock simply turned his head downwards to check his fingernails, or more like, the sharpened tips of his gauntlets. He brought out two small vials of poison and carefully inserted them into a small compartment in the gauntlets, before flexing his fingers.
A potent violet liquid dripped out of the sharp fingertips.
“Don't worry too much, your Grandfather knows of the skill I used, and he's not making a fuss. It's fine.” He said as he started tracing his hand against the other poisons that he had in his little pouch. The assumption that Kirin knew of the skill killing intent, and had detected it was made due to the old man clearly being a powerful mage. It would have been odder had he detected nothing.
Ino turned to glare at the ring on Kamin's finger. “Is that true?”
“I know it, and understand why he didn't reveal it. There is a certain bad connotation associated with it.” The ring replied.
Lock almost chuckled. Bad connotation indeed. He held up a finger sized vial with angry red smoke swirling inside.
“Mia, is the mind protection potion still working?” He asked, at which the girl simply nodded.
Good, Lock opened the vial in his hand, brought up his helmet and drank it.
Mia's eyes widened and she stared at him aghast.
“Did you just drink Red Smoke.” She asked.
Lock took a moment to get used to the pain of the poison now stored inside his stomach trying to destroy his intestines, and failing. “Yes.” He answered shortly.
“You're a fucking monster.” Mia blurted out and he blinked in surprise at her crassness and turned to face her.
“Sorry.” She said, blushed and looked away.
“So we're really doing this?” Ino asked with a pinched face and brought up his staff to lay it against his forehead.
Instead of directly answering Lock addressed the whole group. “Lemmings, drop Kamin, she'll be staying here. Go for the Legil. Mia, Harald, Ino, go for Lily. Lock.” He said jokingly. “Your job is to get the Curador.”
He turned towards the exit of the tunnel and started walking, the rest falling in beside him. Ino joined them a few seconds later because he needed to tell his sister that she was to stay here. Which was unnecessary, the girl's grandfather was right there.
No respect for the old, Lock mused, as they entered the arena. It looked bigger from the inside, and had an ominous air about it with the on-setting night. The three stooges standing beside the platform turned towards them, stopping whichever discussion they'd been having.
“Yes, do you still want something?” The Legil asked in an annoyed tone of voice. Lily and the Curador simply glared at them.
Lock stepped forward and cleared his throat. “I do indeed have something to say.” He began, before raising his voice as if he was about to read forth a royal decree. “Due to crimes committed against my personage, my feelings in particular, and for the general unpleasantness of your existence! I, Lock the first, hereby sentence you to a flashy execution!”
Silence reigned in the arena for a short moment, as everyone but Lemmings turned to stare at Lock as if he was a mad man. But it didn't matter. The one person, or golem needed to jump-start this debacle was already in motion.
And like a chain reaction of violence, everything else started moving too.