Hamanymu Mulengu had grown up under the southern African sun for close to twenty years and even at its hottest, it was far more tolerable than the sun of northern Avalon.
Both him and Troezen had been forced to take off their breastplates and leave their upper body effectively exposed. It looked silly as their lower bodies were still in armor, but it was better than boiling within one's own breastplate. Though that exposed their upper bodies to the full stinging bites of the sun's rays.
They were not the only ones here. They had found another young knight, his eyes were a deep ocean blue, his long locks a blood red and he wore blue and orange armor. He sat silently away from the rest of them, his attention focused entirely upon the gauntlet that he was wiping with a cloth.
" Why don't we use machines for this again? " Hamanymu groaned as he rubbed his one hundredth helmet.
Their punishment had been to rub and clean as many pieces of armor and weapons as they could outside the armory until they could and I quote, see themselves within the steel as if it was a mirror.
"Because this is a punishment Aris Mulengu, not a damn picnic. It would be good for you to remember that before socking your fellow knight in the face," a rough and weathered voice responded.
It belonged to an ancient elf, his hair and beard had lost it scarlet luster, and his brown skin was of a leathery texture that looked like one of his couches.
The elf walked up and down with a posture was almost hunched over, though he moved with enough visible strength that Hamanymu was sure that he was stronger than someone would initially assume. The truest testament to his might was the fact that even with the raging stings of the sun, he was dressed in his armor and not a bead of sweat had rolled down his forehead.
His Asikari uniform was weathered with patches, cracks and a few dents from hundreds of years of service, a perfect reflection of its wearer. Multiple badges and stars lay upon both shoulders and tied to his right hip was a great bunch of keys which jingled with each step that he took.
This was their jailer, the man that they had come to in order to be punished. Absolute hogwash in Hamanymu's opinion, he had been purely in the right to bash his knuckles against Troezen's face, and if you asked him, he should have kicked the arrogant Fae in the balls as well for good measure.
Though his fingers now hurt from the constant polishing and his flesh felt like it was being burnt with each friction of rag and steel. His torment was slightly uplifted by the black circle of bruised flesh around Troezen's left eye.
"You foolish boys are lucky that you are dealing with me. In the old days, our superior officers would punish such foolish insubordination with truly back breaking hard labour, and that was if you were lucky enough to not catch a few punches for your troubles," the old elf said before pausing as he looked into the distance, as if reliving those old memories.
Though Hamanymu didn't know if the elf was one of those poor suckers getting knuckles to the face or one of the bullies dishing it out.
"When was that Argentum Dutcha, two thousand years ago?" Troezen scoffed.
"Don't be silly boy, that was four hundred years ago. Leza be good, I was as young and as green as Esvaden grass," the old Argentum responded with the same wistful smile. "And the ladies would not get enough of me."
Troezen gagged in disgust as the Argentum began laughing with what Hamanymu could only describe as a perverse laugh induced by some long memory best kept to oneself.
" I can't believe that I would live to see the day when someone spoke so casually about being over four hundred years, " Hamanymu thought as he picked up another new helmet and he began rubbing it with his rag which had long turned brown from all the cleaning.
"Why can't call these people clean their own equipment. I clean my own damn stuff ," he angrily thought as his fingers stung from another friction burn.
"Theseus Troezen!" a male voice angrily bellowed and the Fae slumped his shoulders in a mixture of defeat and irritation.
Into view came three knights and an Asikari, at their head was a young human male Asikari. His skin was tanned, no doubt from the constant exposure to the northern sun. His long golden locks had curled into each other and Hamanymu with his own tangled mess for hair knew that was a serious pain to comb every morning.
His armor was a similar to that all Asikari wore with slight deviations. He carried a great red tower shield with a dragon painted on its center and resting upon his right shoulder rested a golden rams skin that almost seemed to sparkle under the sun's rays.
"Hello Jason, nice to see you too," Theseus Troezen said, his irritation at the new arrivals not hiding itself.
"Well it's not nice to see you, do you want to explain to the rest of us why you are being punished and why the Imparetor sent me a message about disciplining my teammates!?" Jason demanded, his foot taping the ground impatiently.
"I was sucker punched," Theseus responded as he threw an accusatory glance Hamanymu's way.
" You tried throwing hands for no reason and yet you failed, you damn moron!" Hamanymu shouted as soon as Theseus tried to defend himself.
"Only because that pampered coward can't fight for himself and it seems to apply to all his subordinates!" Theseus spat back.
"Then why don't you step up and prove it then. I am right here, so do something about it!" Hamanemu had now risen to his feet, just like Theseus had done before.
Theseus discarded the breastplate he had been polishing and Hamanymu did the same to the helmet in his hands. It didn't matter that their weapons had been confiscated, they had their hands and that would be enough.
But before the two had even taken a step towards each other, a ungodly amount of heat rolled over everyone. Hamanymu felt all the saliva in his mouth evaporate and his skin grow dry as it almost felt as if he was standing next to a furnace. Theseus had paused and he was looking to the left in surprise, Hamanymu in equal confusion turned his head to follow the Fae's line of sight.
And behold, there stood Argentum Dutcha, his face the visage of mad fury, his hair and his beard had became living flame, making him appear like some apparition from the deepest depths of hell. The heat that rolled off of him turned the concrete he stood upon into a sludge of molten rock.
"You foolish boys will sit down and show the adequate respect to each other, me and this institution. If you so much as step out of line, I will end you here and now!" The old elf spat out.
Hamanymu and Theseus did not even take a moment to reconsider his threat. Asikari might not have been as physically strong or fast as their knightly counterparts, but an old Asikari who had survived in the job for this long would school any new knight in a fight.
Hamanymu had personally seen it happen when some rookie knights tried bullying the fresh Asikari recruits in the capital's garrison. The veteran knights had stepped back and let the veteran Asikari take care of the matter. After busted lips, broken noses, a few knocked out teeth and some concussions, Hamanymu and many other young knights would never underestimate an Asikari again.
"Forgive us Argentum Dutcha, we went out of line again," they both stated at the same time.
"Foolish boys, you want so desperately to throw hands with each other?. Then you shall have your wish granted."
Hamanymu recoiled in surprise, he looked to the Argentum and he asked him, " Argentum, are you serious ?"
The old elf grinned showing off his teeth which were missing two front incisors, either from his advanced age or from a past opponent with a very strong swing. He walked closer to them and he pointed his finger at Hamanymu.
"What's the matter boy, isn't this what the both of you wanted?. Though if you prefer to keep pouring witless snide remarks at each other as you polish all ten thousand pieces of equipment here, I am more than welcome to accommodate you," The Argentum asked, his tone of voice filled with mocking mirth.
Hamanymu gritted his teeth and his hands balled into fists as he turned to face Theseus who was in turn glaring at him.
"I would be more than happy to add another black eye to his face," he responded.
"Feel free to try it, let's see if you can do more than just cheap shot," Theseus snarled back.
"Then it is settled..." The Argentum was cut off when the third cleaner leaped to his feet and bellowed out.
"Sir, sir, can I join on this?" he shouted, his long silence finally broken and reminding Hamanymu of his existence.
"This is a grudge match Aris Hadrada, you would only get in the way."
" What of if you made it a two on two sir. I could fight with the other guy to punch stupid Troezen in the face," this Hadrada excitedly responded, regardless of Theseus's protest at being called stupid.
Argentum Dutcha paused and he ran his hands through his great beard. The ancient elf marinated on the matter for a whole minute before responding.
"That sounds like a great idea. Now which one of you lot will aid your teammate. Will it be you Aris Arc?" he asked Jason who looked flabbergasted at the question.
"Sir, in all due respect to your rank of Argentum..." The young man never finished his rebuttal as all it took was a cold scowl from the Argentum to silence him.
Jason Arc sighed in defeat and as he opened his mouth to reply in agreement, a hand from behind fell upon his shoulder silencing him.
"Forgive me for stepping in, Argentum," said a young woman who had been with the group, though she had remained silent for so long.
Her locks of hair were a snow white, a sharp contrast to her light brown skin. Her armor was a mixture of red, blue and gold. She held a bow which reminded Hamanymu so much of the one that Ursa used.
"I am Meghanada Troezen. I will stand with my brother," the woman said.
"Stepbrother!" The fae snapped, but that did not seem to bother his apparent stepsister.
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"I see why not. You have fifteen minutes to prepare and to meet me in the arena," the Argentum stated before starting to walk off.
"Where are you going, Argentum?" Hamanymu asked.
"To tell everyone about this little fight. The garrison will love to see the show," he responded and with a dance in his step, he walked off.
"I hate that old bastard," Theseus sneered as Argentum Dutcha vanished from sight. Hamanymu agreed with him, though he would never dare admit it out loud.
"Show him some respect, he is an Argentum," Jason scolded his teammate.
"He can take his rank and shove it up his ass," Theseus snapped before turning to his stepsister. "And you, I don't need your damn help... Nothing about your actions here will make us connected by anything other than my father's naivety and lust".
" It is for his sake that I decided to stand by you Theseus. Do not overestimate your importance to me," Meghanada retorted, and though Theseus looked like he was about to throw more visicous barbs at his step sibling, he held his tongue.
The fae then whirled around to Hamanymu as he grunted out the words, "I will see you in the arena."
" Looking forward to it." Hamanymu would not let Theseus have the final word.
Theseus turned and began walking away with his teammates and Hamanymu could not help but feel an excitement as he thought about punching Theseus in the face again.
XXXXXX
That excitement gave way to dread as he looked to his partner in this dance of combat. After having their weapons returned to them, his sword and Hadrada's rather abnormally large warhammer.
They had been ushered by Argentum Dutcha to the great arena at the heart of the garrison. The granite structure was large enough that he believed the Argentum's boast of it seating up to three hundred thousand people.
Him and Hadrada had been led to the lower levels of this beautiful structure and into a locker room. Hamanymu had taken that time looking at Hadrada and Leza forgive him but the red headed giant appeared to be a bit slow of the mind with how he just sat there smiling.
" Is this what I have to fight with, some battle drunk oaf... no, it is wrong to so presumptuously judge him. I should at least speak to him. I could be wrong ," he thought as he paced back and forth.
"First time?" Hadrada said breaking the silence first and catching him off guard.
"Excuse me?"
" Is this your first fight, with live weapons I mean?" Hadrada asked and Hamanymu almost felt a spark of indignation, but from the look upon his partner's face, he could tell that it was not meant as an insult.
"No, I have fought a few Night Terrors and some criminals in the capital." Saying it out loud he could not help but imagine himself as a fraud.
He had felt so sure about destroying Theseus in this fight, but all of his previous experience came from stopping a total of ten monsters, petty thieves and the sparing sessions with Chris and Ursa.
"Then there is no need to worry, I am sure that we will do fine and knock that stupid Theseus on his ass," Hadrada said with his big friendly grin that made Hamanymu lose his tension.
"Of course, I am Hamanymu by the way. Hamanymu Mulengu," he said as he outstretched his hand.
Hadrada stretched out his own hand and clasped Hamanymu in a strong handshake as he said, "Thor, Thor Hadrada."
"Thor with a giant hammer, how ironic," he thought, though he imagined that his own name sounded strange in someway to his partner.
"May I ask what your magical affinity is, it could help us with our strategy," Thor asked him.
Hamanymu smiled, the magic was another thing that he loved here. He knelt down and he placed his right hand upon the ground. An electric surge ran through his body as bursts of red electric strings ran across his fingers and into the ground. Four flowers immidetly grew out of the earth, their vibrant colouring of red and gold gave away their unnatural status as beings created from the magical energies born within him.
"Earth, though I am naturally drawn to making plant life of sorts," He explained as the flowers began to crumble into a pile of ash, their unnatural existence unable to be sustained for long.
"Mine is air," Thor explained as he opened his palm and upon it danced a circling of air, a mini tornado within which orange bolts of lightning would occasionally surge.
"Can you shoot lightning perhaps?" Hamanymu asked.
"Yes."
" So you can keep our enemies at range while I plant my magic into the ground. I can make my flowers do things like create poisonous pollen or some which explode when exposed to air," Hamanymu explained.
"That sounds like a right plan," Thor said with a smile.
Just then the door to their room shook as someone knocked and before any of two could respond, the door was opened and the Argentum walked into the room.
"It is time boys, now put on a good show, I have a lot of money on this," Argentum Dutcha said before stepping out of the room once more.
Hamanymu took in a deep breath as he followed the old elf that regardless of his hunched stature moved at equal pace to him and Thor. They finally reached the end of the passageway and into the heart of the arena.
He looked around and upon the stands he saw thousands of Knights and Asikari. His feet suddenly lost all feeling to them as he felt all those eyes bearing into him. Standing opposite to them by seven meters were Theseus and his stepsister.
"Now remember the rules, you brats. No killing strokes to opponents either standing or downed, no Alpha-Spells and serious blows will grant you two points. If you are knocked down you will have to beat a ten count to not lose, you can help your teammate up to beat the count, but if you get knocked down ten times by serious blows then it is a Technical Knockout!" Argentum Dutcha explained as loudly as he could but Hamanymu didn't care, all he thought about was fighting Theseus.
"This match shall go on for thirty minutes. Now get ready..." Argentum Dutcha loudly declared as he slowly raised his left arm into the air. "...Fight!"
From his hand erupted a great burst of flame that crackled with a loud bang that it rocked Hamanymu's eardrums. The Argentum left the ring and Thor quickly raised his great warhammer.
A surge of orange bolts of lightning danced around the great obsidian warhammer before escaping it with a large stream. As it flew through air Hamanymu slammed his fist into the earth and he felt his magical energies running through soil and birthing new seeds into the soil.
Theseus answered the challenge of Thor's lightning bolts by swinging his great axe, the force of which managed to smack the electrons aside.
His stepsister Meghanada raised her bow and she pulled back her bowstring and upon it materialized an orange lightning bolt that looked like a arrow.
" Another air user ," Hamanymu thought in surprise as she let loose the arrow.
The lightning arrow started it's flight with a sonic boom as it broke the sound barrier. Its hypersonic flight would have been impossible for Hamanymu to perceive were he like he had been back on earth. He run forward and smacked the arrow out of the air with his sword, Imwami as he called it.
"Brother wait!" Meghanada shouted as Theseus rushed forward, he had fallen for the trap and Hamanymu could not help but smile.
As soon as Theseus stepped upon the earth, the ground cracked open as multiple blood red and gold flowers emerged from the ground. The flowers poured out a thick cloud of golden pollen, Theseus raised his hand to his mouth to protect himself from any poisonous pollen grains, but that was not what he should have been fearful of.
For within a second of the pollen being released, they caught alight in a conflagration of fire. The earth shook and a cacophony of sound flew across the entire arena as the ground was scorched into a black shade and Theseus was tossed ten meters into the air.
He landed ungracefully upon the ground, his body covered in smoke and soot, but not a single burn mark marred the Fae's body. Though with how he groaned and staggered to his feet, it was clear that it hurt him.
"Be more careful !" Meghanada snapped as she loosed a few more arrows that Hamanymu and Thor managed to dodge.
Theseus did not respond to his stepsister, he only raised his axe overhead and he slammed it into the earth. From the wound his axe had made into the earth came a strong gash of water with enough pressure that it would have cut through steel.
Hamanymu raised many tall flowers to shield himself but the high pressured water cut through them and managed to strike him in the chest and sent him flying upon his back with a sickening thud. He gasped in pain as though he wore armor, Theseus's water was still able to impart enough kinetic energy that it felt like a horse had kicked his unprotected chest.
And though it hurt, he still tried rolling to his feet but Theseus was already upon him and he brought his axe down on Hamanymu's head with murderous intent.
The axe might have been stopped by his helmet, but the force imparted still rocked Hamanymu. For each time he tried to rise up, Theseus would bring the axe the down hard enough that a crater had formed where Hamanymu's head smacked back down to the earth.
Hamanymu instinctively threw his fist upwards in a panicked frenzy, he missed the first nine times that he tried, but finally a good strong punch managed to catch the Fae in his helmet, sending Theseus staggering backwards.
Hamanymu rushed forward with Imwami in mid swing and it came crashing into the side of the Fae's helmet, sending him flying upon his back.
On the side he watched as Thor created a miniature twister around himself to keep Meghanada's arrows at bay. But one of her arrows managed to punch through the twister and into Thor's shoulder.
The giant redhead grunted in pain as the arrow punched through his breastplate and into his shoulder. Meghanada tried to advance forward but she was stopped as Thor brought down his warhammer and from the heavens came a barrage of lightning bolts that struck the archer with the force of heavy duty artillery shells.
This little distraction was enough for Theseus to come at him once more with his axe and though Hamanymu managed to avoid it again, the tip of the axe scratched his breastplate.
The young knight raised his basket hilted broadsword and he swung it at Theseus who parried it with his axe and the collision of their two arms was like a warhead striking the ground. The deafening sounding was followed by the earth upon which they stood being disfigured as hundreds of kilograms worth of earth was torn apart and knocked many meters away.
But even with this both combatants stood their ground. Using all of the their might to push against the other in the hope of overpowering the other.
"Damn it, he is just as strong as I am, I can't just easily overpower him, " Hamanymu thought as he gritted his teeth and his muscles felt as if they would be ripped from the bone by how much strain they were under.
But as all Knights knew, their physical enhancements were not the only way to win a battle. He called upon his plants from the earth once more and this time they wrapped themselves around Theseus's legs like two constricting serpents, startling the Fae.
This ended the contest of strength and Hamanymu struck forward with an elbow to the helmet of Theseus rocking him once more. He then rushed forward and leaped with his right knee extended.
The knee struck the Fae square in the head and sent him crashing to the ground like a tree felled by a lumberjack. Hamanymu fell upon him and the two of them began wrestling in an attempt to remove the other's helmet.
The two warriors devolved to rolling on the ground as they punched and kicked each other, all skills and techniques were lost to a mad hatred and desperation. But in the end Hamanymu succeeded in ripping off Theseus's helmet.
The Fae tried to retreat but Hamanymu would not let him as he grabbed Theseus by his ankles and he raised overhead before slamming the Fae hard enough that the reverberation of the impact could be felt through his boots.
Theseus stretched his moth like wings and he tried to fly out of Hamanymu's grip. But Hamanymu held on tightly and he used all of his strength to pull the Fae back down to the ground with an even more powerful slam.
Hamanymu then threw his foot forward into a powerful soccer kick to the Fae's now unprotected head. The sickening impact and the manner in which Theseus's head snapped made Hamanymu for the briefest second feel disgust in his actions.
Theseus might have remained some what conscious, but he was no longer fully cognitive. His eyes were glazed over and his limbs had gone stiff. Hamanymu let go of his leg and it fell limply as the Fae simply lay there.
"Team Mulengu and Hadrada win by KO!" loudly declared the voice of the Argentum, ending it all.