Tilos stood tall, dressed in leather armor, with a blunted sword at his waist. His fellow gladiators were to his right and left, each dressed in similar attire. The staff had provided him with a new pair of sandals, preventing dirt and other grime from getting between his toes.

After breakfast, the staff had Tilos and the other gladiators move the tables and kitchen equipment back to storage. Then under the instruction of Mith, the Martial Trainer, they got dressed in leather armor and weapons similar to what they would be wearing in a gladiatorial fight.

Mith stopped at Tilos, "A templar, I heard you lot are some of the best warriors. Trained as children to be the sword and shield of your Church." Mith stroked his chin, hairs gentle as he thought. "I want you and Ralken up here." He pointed to the ground before him.

Tilos stepped forward, and so too did another gladiator. Ralken had black hair and bright green eyes, an Aesir. Scars crisscrossed his exposed muscular arms and legs. A particularly vicious one rundown the right side of his face, just missing his eye.

Tilos offered his hand to Ralken, but the stern man sneered at the offer and faced Mith.

Mith laughed, "Ralken's not one for pleasantries before a fight. He doesn't talk much either."

"That's alright then," Tilos retracted his arm.

"You two will spar. Nothing too dangerous now. I want to see what Tilos here is capable of." Mith stood back from the two, giving them room to fight.

Tilos held up his left arm, "What about the Weave suppressing armbands?"

Mith smiled, "I want to see your Martial ability. Your suppression bands will only be turned off during an actual tournament and your magic lessons. Now Fight!"

Ralken charged Tilos with his weapon drawn.

One of Tilos' parallel minds warned him of Ralken's sudden movement. He leaned his torso out of the way of Ralken's blade. Tilos pivoted around the Aesir and grabbed the man's arm. Tilos pulled, flinging Ralken to the ground, causing Ralken's sword to fly from his grasp. Tilos caught Ralken's weapon, placing the blade onto Ralken's neck.

Tilos smiled, "Do you yield."

Ralken blinked, his eyes regaining focus on Tilos, "Yes." He squeezed out as he fought to catch his breath.

Mith clapped, drawing Tilos' attention, "Well, that ended faster than I anticipated. It looks like I will have to increase the odds to see what you're really capable of."

Tilos stood to his feet and retracted the sword from Ralken's neck. He offered the man a hand up, but Ralken sneered and slapped Tilos' hand away. Tilos shrugged and dropped Ralken's sword to the ground. He took a couple of steps back from the Ralken, allowing the man to pick up his sword.

"Now what?" Tilos turned to Mith.

"Ralken, you stay here." Mith then turned to the row of standing gladiators. He pointed at an Ionian man and an Aesir woman. "Loris and Elra step forward and join Ralken. You three will act as a team and fight Tilos."

Tilos smiled, cracking his neck as he drew his sword. His opponents stood across from him in a semi-circle, weapons drawn.

"Oh, look it, Tilos. We arrive just in time to see him fight against three gladiators. Time to see if all the hype about Templars is true."

Tilos turned his head, finding Creed standing next to Felwen. Creed smiled and waved at Tilos. Tilos ignored him, his eyes drifting to Felwen. The Bald Aesir man stared back at Tilos with a blank expression as if assessing something he owned. A tiny fire grew in the pit of Tilos. Angry threatened to consume him. No Templar should be reduced to the status of a slave, fighting for the entertainment of the masses. Tilos turned back to face his opponents, his eyes hardening.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

"Go, Tilos!" Hiro shouted.

"Not another word out of you! Or its latrine duty!" Mith shouted at Hiro as he drew his baton. "Now fight!."

Tilos moved first, this time not letting his opponents take the advantage.

Ralken stayed put, squatting down in a defensive stance. While Loris and Elra distanced themselves from Ralken, preparing to flank Tilos.

Tilos ran straight toward Ralken. Sword held high as he struck down.

Ralken caught Tilos' blade with his sword.

Tilos reached out, pulling Ralken into the path of Loris' blade.

Ralken screamed when the blade impacted his back.

"Ralken, your wounded! One more blow, and you're out of the fight!" Mith yelled from the sidelines. "And Loris, try not to hit your teammate in an actual fight."

Tilos then pushed the Ralken into Loris. Then turned around, ducking under Elra's sword.

Tilos kicked out towards Elra's legs.

Elra jumped back, causing Tilos to miss her legs.

Loris pushed Ralken off of him and dashed towards Tilos.

Tilos grabbed some dirt from the ground and threw it at Loris' face.

Loris covered his eyes with his arm.

Tilos took that chance to thrust his blade into the man's stomach.

Loris heaved, throwing up this morning's breakfast onto the ground and collapsing onto the ground in pain.

"Loris, your out!" Mith yelled.

'One down, two more to go,' Tilos thought.

Elra came from behind Tilos, her blade hitting his back.

Metal hit bone. Tilos grunted at the force behind the blow. He twirled around, swinging his sword in an arc with as much power as possible.

The blade made contact with Elra's sword arm. She flinched back in pain but held on to her sword.

Tilos jumped back, allowing Ralken to stab nothing but air. Tilos then stuck his sword in the ground and flung dirt at Ralken.

Ralken ducked under the spray of dirt. Some of the dirt landed in his eyes, blinding the man.

Elra appeared from Tilos' side.

Tilos parried her sword, then kicked the woman in the stomach.

Elra grunted. The kick knocked her off balance. But she stayed on her feet, eyes locked on Tilos.

With his sword freehand, Tilos grabbed Elra's neck.

Elra's eyes bulged as she began to gasp for air. She clawed at Tilos' hand.

Tilos picked Elra up by her neck, his muscles strained, and veins bulged around his arms. He then slammed the woman to the ground. A cloud of dirt and sand erupted into the air.

Tilos gently ran the blunt sword along Elra's, taking her out of the fight. He let go of Elra and turned in time to find Ralken.

Ralken slashed at Tilos' side.

Tilos lowered his blade and blocked Ralken's sword.

Ralken pulled back and stuck at Tilos again and again.

Tilos blocked each of Ralken's attacks with ease. Tilos used one of his split minds to predict the path of Ralken's attacks.

Finally, Tilos parried Ralken's sword, throwing his blade off course. With his other arm, he elbowed Ralken in the ear.

Ralken screamed, holding on to the side of his head. Blood began to coat his hand before dripping onto the ground. Ralken's eyes redden as he glared at Tilos. He charged Tilos, sword at his side.

Mith stepped between Tilos and Ralken, "I think I've seen enough. No more fighting."

"I can still fight," Ralken said as he stared at Tilos. "Let me go one more round with him."

"No, you've done enough. Go back and stand in line with the others."

Ralken sent one more hateful look toward Tilos before joining the other gladiators in line.

"I thought the mighty Templar would finish things faster," Creed said. His voice grew louder as he neared Tilos.

Tilos laughed as he squinted at Creed, "I'm a gladiator now. We're supposed to put on a show. That means making my fights entertaining and long-lasting."

"I suppose that's true," Creed responded. "But still, you could have added some more flair, style. That was just a brawl of brutes. With the way you fight, I am inclined to think that the Church is filled with nothing but brutes. Don't you agree, master?"

Felwen nodded. "You are indeed skilled at fighting. But you lack the style of a gladiator. The ability to win the crowd to your side." Felwen then gestured towards Mith. "Nothing Mith can't fix. I'm sure he'll make you into the perfect gladiator in no time."

Creed approach closer to Tilos. An appraising look on his face, "He also took a hit to the back, one caused by Elra. A wound would have pulled more of the crowd to your side. It speaks poorly of your training."

Tilos frowned at Creed's comment, "That would have never happened if I didn't have these armbands on. I'm still not used to not having the Weave providing me warnings. Getting used to using only my senses is a task that I will grow a custom to."

Creed waved his hand, "Yes, yes. More excuses. Covering for you Church, filled with falses gods. Humans pretend to be the divine when they are nothing but mortals. Prinis is the worst of the lot. Nothing but a warmonger and tyrant. He spreads nothing but destruction and chaos. His followers aren't even properly trained."

The rage within Tilos exploded like a storm. Before he could stop himself, Tilos punched Creed in the face.

Creed fell to the ground, the smile on his face replaced with fear. He scrambled back from Tilos.

"You will not disrespect my Church again," Tilos brought his sword up and stuck down at Creed. Metal hit metal as a blade stopped Tilos' sword. Tilos looked up to find Felwen there, his blade drawn, preventing Tilos from injuring Creed.

Felwen's normal neutral face was gone. Replaced by anger that threatened to burn Tilos just from his gaze. "Slave, what are you doing?!"