Peter stood at the center of the arena. His shining eyes were piercing Gob with confidence. Gob had his dagger, but it didn’t seem like it will make a difference. Peter might also be a Miko. Even if he isn’t he still felt superior to Gob. Those eyes weren’t for show. They felt magic.

Gob took a low stance. He might be able to slash Peter. Curan would stop him if he were to go too far. He stood nearby with a coat on his shoulders. He was drinking something from his flask. It was surely a test for Gob. How else would he be allowed to go all out?

He focused on Peter who stood with his empty hands set in a weird stance Gob never seen before. No fists. His palms were left open waiting for Gob’s attack. Evie despite her fear of Peter floated right in front of his eyes clearly curious. Peter blowed at her when she was close to his face making her run away.

He could see her! Did Curan said that he can’t use magic against him? Was it a trick?

As he conjured a flame in his left hand Peter eyes flashed with colors and suddenly all Gob could feel was the pain of Ether being replaced with his own mana. He fell to his knees breathing heavily. Curan approached him.

“When I said don’t use magic, I didn’t mean that you cannot. I said it to make this encounter less painful for you. You can surely see why.”

“He can see it!”

“I’m always amazed by your critical thinking. You never seem to question new things you encounter. That adaptability is your biggest strength. However this isn’t a fight you can win. Show me how you struggle. If you can make Peter bleed you win.”

“He's a Miko! How can I pierce his skin?!”

“You seem to misunderstand something. Miko’s powers are different for every Miko. Besides Peter never told me if he actually is one. As far as I’m concerned he is a normal man with abnormal vision. Nothing else.”

Gob stood up with Curan’s help. So Peter could see and react to magic. This short skinny man, clearly older than Curan is said to be normal? If he can only react to one’s spells then why was Curan so sure that Gob wouldn’t even graze him with his blade? And so Gob attacked.

Running low with his dagger tightly gripped in his right arm he approached Peter head on. Peter adapted to his low stance. He seemed to wait for Gob’s attack. He wouldn’t give him a chance to counter.

Gob quickly tried to fake a few stabs before dashing around for a hit, but he instantly realized that he couldn’t just stab Peter. He followed his movement perfectly not too close to get hit, close enough to counter with his palms.

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Curan looked at the spectacle amused. Gob was barely faster than Peter, but it didn’t matter as long as Peter was at the defensive. In this flurry of dashes and fakes Curan could see goblin’s frustration. He must have realized that Peter’s weird stance isn’t just for show. Those palms could kill.

He observed as the frustration took over the goblin. He slashed with a wide swing. Not a bad move. Peter couldn’t just go for a hit while dodging. The move only had a single flaw.

Gob suddenly felt that he is leaving the ground. He realized that Peter kicked him when he hit the ground a few meters back and bounced. There was no chance to hit him. He dodged every single move Gob made. So Gob changed his tactic.

He rolled a few times making the dust cover his movement a little. It didn’t matter what Peter could see. What was important was what he couldn’t see. As Gob threw his dagger, he felt that he made a mistake.

Peter looked furious at him. The dagger that flew perfectly at his chest was stuck behind his clapped palms. He had caught it with his bare hands. Gob didn’t move. Hadn’t Curan moved to reflect the dagger back with his sword Peter would have killed him. Curan looked back at the goblin and smiled.

“Gob look where you are.”

As he looked around he realized why Peter was furious. He fell out of the ring. The fight should be over before he threw the knife. Had Peter not been on his guard despite his victory he could actually get killed. Only now had Gob realized that Peter’s hands were slightly bleeding.

He actually cut himself when he caught the dagger. He was currently swiping the blood and bandaging his hands with some cloth he took from one of the crates. Curan touched Gob with the tip of his sword and helped him up.

“That would be it I guess. After you will come back with the chest, I will make Peter train you with no weapons. Just make sure not to harm him. He hates the sight of blood. Oh Fritz!”

Fritz who was trying to quietly pass them after leaving Piper’s tent. When it failed, he looked at Curan with resignation.

“No weapons. No magic.”

“Sure.”

As he stepped inside the circle Gob stood up. He was confused. Wasn’t his chance to fight with Fritz gone?

“No gouging eyes. No hits below the waist.”

Fritz took a stance with his fists guarding his face. Curan asked him with a smile:

“Aren’t you out of character today?”

Fritz just shook his shoulders.

“I had seen he was scared shitless when Piper went on a rampage. Unless I’m permanently injured I don’t care to fight him.”

He looked at Gob, who looked back excited.

Besides, if he breaks my arms he would need to carry this chest you spoke of with Peter alone...”

No weapons. Gob had never fought without a dagger. He was confident that his punches could hurt the human, but he only his right arm was properly usable and Fritz wasn’t exactly small. He much more resembled Curan than anyone else. Could he win against him?

“His eyes are boring! Gob do something else!”

Evie was flying around Peter. He blew air at her from time to time when she got too close to him, but it didn’t make her ran too far anymore. She seemed to be way too curious of him to quit bothering him.

Gob looked at Fritz and readied his fists. His stomach was still hurting after the kick, but it wasn't something that would stop him from fighting. He walked into the ring to face this dagger-breaking fool.

"Here I come."