Silence filled the arena, Geralt was finally down, seemingly for the last time. They were all glad that it was over, however, they also felt as if they wanted Geralt to stand up again and continue to fight and defeat Kyle. How? Why did they have this kind of feeling? They asked themself questions. When did this battle mean so much more to them ?It was only supposed to be a normal duel, one for them to entertain themselves, usually ended in a couple of strikes between the two fighters and ended in them shaking each other's hands. What both fighters showed in this was nothing like what they have ever seen, as if they literally saw a boy becoming a man in front of their eyes.

Kyle stepped one step forward and everyone heard a yell “ Don’t you dare come near her you bastard, your battle is with me, STEP AWAY FROM MY SISTER !” Geralt stood up once again.

His face was all swollen, one of his eyes was bruised so badly that he probably could not see through that eye anymore. But he stood up, his legs were shaking and his body was full of bruises, but he ran straight ahead toward Kyle without a second thought.

Everybody’s hearts started to beat so fast that it was as if they were the one who were fighting Kyle in the arena. Tears started to run down many of the audience's faces, they finally knew why they were so emotionally invested in this fight, they were witnessing a man fighting to protect his loved one with all he got and more. Everyone was holding their breath at that point, and slowly a small chant can be heard “come on Geralt, come on”.

Geralt was fighting with everything left in him at that point. He was too weak to block Kyle attacks so he decided to go all out, throwing punches at Kyle with all his might as fast as he could as long as he could. Kyle just dodged and blocked Geralt's attacks. Geralt screamed his lungs out with each and every one of the punches that he made, his good eye was still dead focused on his enemy and he pushed Kyle back.

Their chant and cheer for Geralt was louder with each blow, but it was clear, although his mind and spirit was far from giving up, his body was slowly letting him down. And Geralt noticed that too, “NO NO NO NO…:” Geralt yelled.

The audience all stood up at that moment, they were truly witnessing a fight of a lifetime. In their eyes, Geralt had changed so much in just one fight, he was a good fighter before, but now he was a warrior, a true man. From someone who gave up on his body through fear and pain to someone that had his body given up on him. Tears can be seen run down on everybody's face and run down on Geralt's face as well.

And then it finally officially over, Geralt’s body had given up on him, he dropped to the ground in exhaustion, he still tried to get back up but his body no longer listen to him,

“No come one, no, just one more time,...” Geralt yelled. Then a hand patted on his shoulder

“You fought well Geralt, it’s ok, it's over now” Kyle spoke in a much softer voice from before. Clapping and cheering can be heard from all corners of the arena, Kyle gave Geralt a hand and helped him back on his feet then carried him out of the arena. Richard and the rest of his family came running with many doctors and healers chanting healing spells on him.

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“Why did you have to go so hard on him,” Richard screamed at Kyle, he did not reply to anything in return. Richard gave the signal and many guards surrounded Kyle and pointed their weapons at him.

“Stop !” Geralt yelled, after receiving all of those healing spells, Geralt could stand on his two feet again and the wound had stopped bleeding.

“Thank you, for teaching me everything, thank you for making me a better man” Geralt bowed his head down toward Kyle. That was a sight never before seen, the Geralt that everyone there knew was a hot head and never apologised for anything he did. How could he have grown up so much in such a short time. His eyes were no longer full of cockyness and fire, right now it was full of strength and focus, he looked like a different man altogether.

Everyone was speechless at the scene, all of the guards withdrew their weapons and the crowd was cheering for the both of them.

“You truly have a gift, Geralt. That was a good fight” Kyle said, then he turned his back and walked out of there.

The five Kyle, Maria, Allan, Luna and Liam walked out of the arena and headed back to their rooms.

“Holy fuck Kyle, I though you said you weren’t doing anything crazy” Liam spoke.

“I didn’t, couldn’t you see that I was holding back from the start, I could have killed him anytime I wanted to” Kyle smilingly answered.

“That was so not the point” Luna raised her voice “You could have ended that fight in peace but you decided to make a scene...”

Before Luna could finish what she wanted to say “HMM, you guys know nothing about fighting and honor, do you ?” Kyle said “If I was to finish him off quickly, what would they think of me ?. They would think that what I did was just being disrespectful, they would all get angry at me and at you because he lost in just 10 seconds. The proud son of the head family lost a battle humiliatingly. How do you think they would react?”

No one answered Kyle “I will tell you how, they will react exactly like how Richard reacted earlier, and we will all be in trouble, so that's why I have to earn their respect first. I have to show them who I really am and what I could do”. No one was gonna argue with Kyle about that now. Especially after the fight that they just saw. To Allan, Maria and Luna, they just saw how he could fight so well.

“Is it the same for you? why you can fight so well” Luna asked.

“Believe what you want to believe ” Kyle answered “I am very tired and hungry, can we not talk about it now."

Later, Geralt and the rest of his family came to meet everyone

“Like I promise 1000 gold” Geralt said. “Thank you,” Kyle replied.

“Can I ask you something? May I shake your hand?” Geralt asked, Kyle noded and they shook each other's hand. Geralt 's eyes were now full of respect toward Kyle.

“Mr Richard, can we have a talk ?. Miss Rose and Mr Geralt, can you lead my friends to see the city? I need to speak with your father in private.” Kyle said.

The moment everyone was out of the door,

“You are indeed full of surprises Mr Kyle, I am so sorry for what Geralt did, he is still young and immature …” Richard was speaking, when suddenly.

“Cut the BS old man and tell me the truth !, You were the one that planned that whole duel, not to mention the fact that you have been acting strange with us from the start?. Now tell me why is the leader of a merchant guide trying to mess with us?” Kyle said with a cold and firm voice, his dagger eyes staring straight at Richard’s.

“So you noticed, I wouldn’t expect anything less from a cold blood assassin like you” Richard answered, now he looked like a leader of a guide, not with that fake smile and kind demeanor, in front of Kyle was a cold hearted and experienced merchant and adventurer.