The silence was broken, and the crowd roared, celebrating the triumph of the supposed underdog against the one known to be unbeatable in his own arena. I became acutely aware of the attention that was directed toward me, and I froze, trying to figure out what to do next while pushing back against the eyes that were surrounding me, assaulting me from every direction. I looked back towards the door I had just exited, but the white door that stuck out from the black wall had disappeared, replaced by the smooth, dark surface that conformed to the wall around it. The air around me felt stuffy, filled with the roars and cheers of the crowd, and I quickly searched for any exit, remaining calm despite my severe discomfort, but didn’t find any. There was nowhere to go and nothing to hide behind, so I turned my head so my hat would cast a shadow over my face, and allowing my mind to clear before coming up with a plan.

After I had regained a certain amount of confidence, I looked up at the dark ebony-like ceiling that hung far above my head, analyzing it. From what I could tell, the entire ship was made of this wood, and it was likely very tough, but even so, it was the only exit I could find that wouldn’t risk killing the audience members.

[In a shocking twist, the victor is the unknown being!]

The announcer seemed to have snapped out of whatever stupor he was in, and announced me as the winner of the duel with a mixture of shock and excitement. The ground at the center of the arena exploded, dirt filling the air around it, but I was luckily out of dodge off to the left, but I raised my guard, uncertain what might happen next. The dust began to settle, and a small, black structure became visible, a cube about five feet tall slowly materialized, a familiar figure sitting on top of it which her legs hanging over the edge. Ella sat there with a look of pride on her face, which surprised me since she just watched her father get literally beaten into the ground by someone she had just met, but then I remembered her overly enthusiastic and naive personality, and my surprise faded. I approached the cube while trying to think of a way to talk myself off the ship, and I felt the control I previously had on the world around me retract back to my body, closed off by my mind.

I came closer to where Ella sat, not really paying particular attention, and just caught a glimpse of her body right next to my face, and leaned back in surprise. She had leapt off the cube, and was currently falling straight toward me, and I had just lost my balance due to the weird angle my back was bent to, so when we collided I just fell flat on my back with her sitting in an upright position on top of me. She looked down at me with eyes that were sparkling with admiration, and leaned over, bracing herself on her arms which were placed on either side of me, and spoke with a confident voice.

“Time to get married!”

Now trapped under the weight of a beautiful girl’s gaze, and the numerous eyes of a captivated audience, my joints locked up, and my mouth felt like it was full of cotton. I needed to get out of here before my inability to respond gets mistaken for a yes, and I end up in a bad position. I look up at the girl on top of me, and see genuine happiness in her eyes, which causes a sick feeling to well up in my stomach. I didn’t consider her.

I was planning on beating her father, and running away, leaving her here with a shattered reputation, and no one, as far as I know, to defend her from the world like her father. I am such an idiot. I shouldn’t have only taken a logical view, that only shows one angle when dealing with illogical beings that have emotions and opinions, and I might have been able to come up with another plan. It’s too late now, I won the fight, and now I need to take responsibility for my actions, however I don’t think marriage is the best answer, for me or her.

Ella relaxed her arms, and slid her legs backwards, laying down on me with her head under my chin, and wrapping her thin arms around my back, burrowing under me.

“You’re mine now.”

She muttered something that was more than just a little scary, and my mind raced, trying to focus despite my flustered mind’s panic. This is ridiculous, why am I having this sort of reaction even though my life isn’t being threatened? I need to concentrate. I focused harder, marriage to someone you don’t know rarely ends with happiness, and, if nothing else, this girl needs someone who will make her happy. It made me a little sad to think that way, but it’s better for me to be sad than for me to take someone else’s potential happiness from them.

Strengthening my resolve, I reached up, gently grabbing Ella’s waist, and lifting her up off of me as I sat up. Apparently misreading the situation, Ella giggled, and placed her hands on mine to support herself, and leaned forward, the light reflecting of her golden hair, which was strewn partially on her face.

“Not here, silly.”

Words came from her mouth, full of insinuation, and I nearly dropped her, but remained steady, and placed her to my right, sitting her down on the dirt ground. Her father had been taken away to, I assume, an infirmary or hospital so he can recover as quickly as possible, probably through one of the several doors that were appearing, one right after the other. Each one was a clean white color that contrasts with the ebony black wall, and looking very out of place in this arena.

One of the doors opened, revealing several elves nearly the size of Ella’s father, but still much smaller, all walking confidently with wide strides that closed the distance between me and them quickly. They were each dressed in fine clothing, studded with fine golden colored plated armor, though I doubt it is actually gold because gold is incredibly pliable, heavy, and may not exist in this world. There were about six or seven of them, led by one that was slightly bigger, and dressed in a more decorated set of clothes than the others. I noticed Ella make a face as they approached, and I assumed she already had her own opinion of him, which was likely shared by, or came from, her father.

An image flashed in my mind, just for a moment, but clear as day, of a boy, sixteen or seventeen years old, dressed in a matching black suit and tie, with a white shirt underneath which projected strong borders between the two. His face, however, did not match his fancy clothes, twisted with a sneer as his “friends” closed in on me threateningly.

‘Don’t get in my way, kid.’

The kid was genuinely pissed, and spat when he spoke, as if scolding to an obnoxious child for doing something stupid, which was odd, since, from my perspective, I was a little taller than him, so we were likely about the same age.

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‘I can do as I please, you know, since my father owns this town... and you.’

The boy stepped forward a smile crossing his lips, splitting his face and revealing his sense of entitlement along with his spoiled personality. I was angry, not because of his obnoxious words, I could deal with obnoxious people, and do all the time, but because he was right. Money controls this world, and everyone in this town that didn’t work for his father, owed his father money for one reason or another, and I belonged to the second group.

‘If you know what’s good for you, you’ll step aside, and let me and my buddies, here, do as we please. The way it should be.’

I hesitated. I had been taught since I was a child to stand up and fight for what I believe in, but when it comes down to it, I don’t want to die. My gaze shifted to the point of dispute, a girl, fourteen or fifteen years old, and very beautiful, her big, brown eyes showing terror, as tears streamed down her face and onto her trembling body. My hesitation vanished, and resolve replaced it, reinforcing my beliefs, and giving me strength.

‘No.’

I spoke the word with confidence I didn’t have, and fear gripped my throat, nearly causing me to choke, but I was able to stand my ground. The smile on the boy’s face grew, pleasantly surprised at my stubbornness, and was already preparing to fight, well, not really, he stepped back, and let his goons pass him. Their knuckles popping as they rolled them in their hands, trying to intimidate me, but I knew how to fight, and was confident I could hold them all off for at least several seconds, maybe more. I leaned over in the direction of the girl behind me, keeping my eyes on my opponents the entire time.

‘If you stick around, you’ll get in the way.’

The girl muttered in protest for a second, but then looked at the threatening figures approaching, and decided to leave, running off with a light scraping noise, her steps disappearing behind me. Noticing the girl getting away, the thugs shifted, and one foolishly taking a couple of steps in pursuit, and I attacked. I knew if they attacked first, some would likely run around me and catch her, so I did something unexpected, and stole their attention away from her.

She ended up getting away, and I got the shit kicked out of me, and spent the next few weeks in the hospital with broken bones, cuts, and bruises coating my body. One of the nurses said I was lucky to be alive, but I didn’t think so. The hospital bills put me further in debt to that boy’s father, and my own father was already working two jobs in an attempt to pay him back. I was fired, not surprisingly, there were many people in search of a job, and it’s not like a fast-food worker is very specialized, so I was pretty expendable.

I never saw that girl again, and while I was placed deeper in debt, I didn’t regret helping her for a moment.

I snapped back, and the fancily clad elves approached, light from the floating orbs reflecting off their bright clothing, and creating bright patterns on the ground wherever they walked. The biggest one stopped in front of me, looking down at the boy who only came up to his bicep, knowing that that his life could easily be ended if the boy chose to act. Or... that’s what I thought, because that would be a reasonable response to seeing someone who could pulverize a man that could literally kick your ass up and down the street without working up a sweat.

“You? That man must be getting old...”

“No! Ash kicked his ass fair and square, and my dad lost with honor!”

Ella was quick to retaliate, though she sounded more like a child than usual, and her words didn’t seem to have much impact on the other elves.

“I never really understood Woodlocke, he seemed more anxious to lose a fight than to win one. In any case, I didn’t come here to talk about the fight. We have report that ogres are nearby, a royal ship from what I hear, and are headed in our direction. They have, somehow, gotten word about the boy, and are coming to collect him, and make him a part of their army, and in order to keep peace, we will be forced to hand him over.”

The last line was spoken with an over-dramatized tone, and a forced look of submission on his face, shrugging as if there was nothing he could do to prevent this unfortunate event. The white noise of the crowd leaving had filled the room now, and this scene was anything but realistic, since it was obvious to anyone with eyes what they were trying to do. My confidence was returning now that the eyes around me were now focused on the exits, and I stepped forward, not giving them any space to hide, looked the leader in the face.

“It looks like I’m going to have to leave.”

The elf nodded, and Ella let out a “hmph” behind me, likely making a cute pouting face, but I remained focused on the elf in front of me.

“If I leave, I won’t be able to marry Ella.”

I continued, and the elf hesitantly nodded, slightly confused as to why I was announcing this, but maintaining the look of false regret on his face.

“Not to mention her father isn’t able to duel at the moment, which leaves Ella unprotected. How unfortunate. I wonder who would have the duty of caring for her if something were to... happen to her father while in this weakened state.”

My gaze didn’t waver, however the elves were catching on to what I was implying, with the exception of Ella, of course, who was still trying to figure out what could happen to her father while he was in the hospital. The elf in front of me puffed out his chest, making his already huge frame appear even bigger as he looked down on me, but I didn’t stop.

“He has made many enemies over the years, and there would be no way of telling who would do it.”

I kept my appearance relaxed, though I was ready for any sudden attack, knowing that I was pushing some of their buttons. A lot of the things were conjecture, since I didn’t actually know if they were wanting to marry Ella, but their reactions ensured me that I was spot on.

“Speaking of enemies, where did you get this information?”

I casually asked a question, breaking my gaze and letting them indulge in their false sense of security as their nonchalant reply came out almost immediately.

“From the ogres, the king himself, actually, so it is a credible source.”

He didn’t even realize my intentions after speaking, and he remained standing tall with confidence, though he just announced that he had a direct way of contacting the ogres, and that he had just talked with them. One of the smarter men standing behind the leader realized what I had done, and facepalmed with an audible smack, which nearly caused me to crack a smile.

One of the doors that had reappeared was in the same spot where I had entered the arena, an I turned towards it without a word, and started walking, having gotten what I wanted. Ella, who was still confused, put her thoughts aside, and skipped along behind me, humming a happy tune to herself. She seemed to remember something as we approached the door, and suddenly became depressed, dragging her small, green shoes on the ground. While muttering things about me being hers, and not wanting some hussy named Army to swoop in and steal me. I think I’ll leave the explaining for another time, since it will probably take a while.

I opened the door, and entered a small white room, completely bare aside from a small white light fixture on the ceiling, and I closed the door behind Ella. I turned to face the elf girl, ignoring the out of place feeling I got from being in this white room, and making a serious face in hopes of getting my point across and a serious response.

“Ella, I am leaving. I put you in danger by removing your main defense, and I will take responsibility if you decide to come with me, and keep you safe.”

My attempt failed, and she just gazed off into some dreamland while muttering “take responsibility” to herself and giggling deliriously. I figured something like this would happen, so I came with a backup plan.

I picked her up, carrying her in a princess-style carry, and turned back to the door, praying it had taken me back to the surface before kicking it with significant force.