I had been practicing until late evening. The sun had long since set, and one exercise still replaced another. But all of them had one common detail: I was performing all these exercises with the dagger borrowed from Aun. Discharge spell with this weapon in hand, especially when I passed energy through the Lightning ring, turned out simply stunning. As if I stood at least on the Wootz step, not on the Bronze.
As for the young master of the house, he sat on a stool all this time, staring at one point. It was a bit strange; usually, he watches my practices with wide-open eyes, like a Messi fan finally watching the idol's training live.
But as soon as I finished, he silently stood up and reignited the atrium hearth, after which he put a local analog of a kettle on the fire, of course, after filling it with water first. Probably, it's better to leave him alone now. I thought so, and having finished a short meditation, I was already heading towards the stairs to the second floor when I heard Aun mumbling to himself:
"As if a hundred gold is a lot!!"
These words, said to himself, somewhat stung me; I stopped and asked him:
"So, a hundred gold is a small change? Really?! With such money in some provincial town like Unudo, one can live many years without working at all!"
"That's not what I meant." The boy frowned, taking the boiling kettle off the fire.
But I was a bit carried away and continued:
"So, according to you, earning a hundred full-weight gold in a day is a trifle?! Apparently, your family was far richer than I thought."
"I... No!" The blushing young man jumped to his feet, spilling the boiling water just poured into his bowl. "A hundred gold a day is a lot! But! What I have left is... it's... Master Raven, do you know how much it costs to buy a trading ship? Even without cargo, even without hiring a crew? Just buy a ship?"
Of course, I didn't know the prices in Tries, and I wasn't interested in buying seafaring vessels in the Last Cycle either. But back in my early youth, I was engrossed in the book "Thais of Athens" by Ivan Yefremov. This novel simply conquered my young heart, making an indelible impression. In many ways, because of it, I stayed in gymnastics, paradoxically. The action in this book described the times of Alexander the Great. And I was very struck by the monetary measure mentioned in the novel, which for some reason, required great effort to move. This monetary measure was called talent. And as I was a curious youth, I found out that at that time, talent was a measure of gold equal to about sixteen and a half kilograms! I also didn't stop there and found out what could be bought for this talent at that time. The fact that the construction of a galley for Athens at the same time cost about a talent and a half had stuck in my memory. Not a huge trireme, but a regular galley, similar to the "Bloody Wave" - one and a half talents! That is almost twenty-five kilograms of gold. And this is not the cost of sale but the cost of construction. Remembering this detail, I converted the weight measure into the local equivalent and answered:
"About twelve thousand gold?"
"Oh!" Aun responded, clearly not expecting such knowledge from me. "Almost. That's the price for warships. Trading vessels are cheaper. My father bought a new trade ship for nine thousand. Plus the crew's salary, adding up the cost of goods we planned to sell..." He paused for almost a minute before adding, "But today, I'm happy with a hundred."
"Hold on!" An interesting thought occurred to me. "So, the 'Bloody Wave' costs about twelve thousand in gold?"
"No, of course not!" Aun, the merchant's son, threw up his hands. "It's not new, although it's in excellent condition. Ten thousand at most! But likely, eight or nine."
"So, does that mean I'm rich?" I couldn't help but smile a little sadly.
"Why would you think that?" Aun looked at me in astonishment.
"Well," I explain, "the 'Bloody Wave' is a prize ship. They were planning to sell it at auction. The money from the sale was to be divided between the crew and me. Yes, me. I had an agreement with Huran that a part of the share after the sale was mine! And since all the other shareholders are dead, it turns out that the entire sum from the sale is... all mine!"
Aun is silent for a long time, over a minute. Then he shakes his head sadly and says:
"No, that's not how it works."
"How then?"
"Do you have a written agreement stating that you have a share from the sale of the 'Bloody Wave'?"
"No," I admit, beginning to see where he's going with this.
"Okay, can you provide at least three witnesses that you had such an agreement with the acting captain of the 'Bloody Wave'?"
"And the witnesses have to be citizens of Tries because other voices won't be recognized in local court?" I ask for clarification.
"Master Raven, you understand it all..." The lad spreads his hands.
"And your word, as a respected citizen, wouldn't be enough?" I tried to find a way out.
"Are there three of me?" Aun exclaimed in confusion, dramatically looking around.
"So, what will happen to the 'Bloody Wave' now?" Well, this imaginary money was never mine, to begin with, so there's no use being upset, but I'm curious.
"If the sale has already taken place, the galley will go to the new owner, and the money for it will go into the city budget. If the deal has not been finalized, they could put it up for auction again and conduct it anew, or they could requisition the ship for city needs."
His last clarification scratches something in my brain. It causes a twitch, makes me think, but the thought doesn't have time to form because Aun unexpectedly offers me his grandfather's dagger, saying:
"Take it. You need it more. Just take it."
"Huh?" His simple words completely throw me off. "What do you mean, 'just take it'?"
"I don't control Lightning, and I'm forever stuck on Copper. What's the use of it for me? You need it more."
This is so unlike him that I can't help but look around, at which the lad even says somewhat cheerily:
"Looking for three witnesses? Don't worry - I'll write a property transfer paper right now."
So, he isn't joking? No, I understand that the boy is in crisis right now, and exploiting his unstable mental state isn't exactly the right thing to do. But, perhaps I'm not as good a person as I think I am because I nod and extend my dagger to him, saying:
"Better write a paper about an exchange."
"Alright." He nods indifferently.
"You do realize that such a dagger costs almost ninety gold in the Artifactors' Guild shop? And you can't just buy it; they are made to order, and it takes about a month to make." No matter how greed chokes me, I still find the strength to ask him.
"I'll make much more through bets on you." He is completely serious, looks into my eyes, does not turn away. Well, so be it.
"Agreed." Shaking hands, we exchange very similar blades.
"Do you think I've suddenly gone stupid?" The boy asks me unexpectedly.
"Not without it." I see no reason to beat around the bush.
"No, it's simpler. My life largely depends on you right now. And I saw how you trained today. I'm not a master of the sword, but I do have eyes. You'll protect me better with my grandfather's dagger than without it." He winks. "Besides, in the city, you can carry such a weapon, unlike a spear or a sword."
Extinguishing the fire in the atrium hearth, Aun turned around and headed for the bedroom. I watch him climb the stairs, and I'm not sure who is using who more, I - him, or he - me?
Checking if all the embers are extinguished, I pour myself some boiling water with a local analog of tea and sit under the open sky for a while longer. And only after finishing my drink do I follow the young master of the house to the second floor.
To my surprise, Aun is already asleep. I thought he'd lie awake all night, staring at the ceiling after all of today's events, but he's already fast asleep. It seems his nerves were pushed to the limit today, and the boy was knocked out as soon as his head hit the pillow. Looking at the peacefully snoring boy, I thought that it doesn't really matter who uses who more, as long as our cooperation benefits both. With this thought, I take off my shoes and lie down on my bed.
Unlike Aun, sleep did not come to me quickly. Seguna was at its zenith, and I was still sorting out the events of the day in my head. And despite all my midnight efforts, when I fell asleep, I could clearly feel that I had missed something important. But no matter how much I tried to grasp this feeling, I couldn't trace its origin and ended up falling asleep, full of doubts.
Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!
Of course, such a mood affected my sleep, and I had vague dark nightmares all night, waking up at least three times. There was that dream where Cristo reached out his burned hands to me and called me to follow him. But despite all this restless sleep, instead of greeting the morning with joy, it was hard for me to open my eyes. And the feeling was as if a herd of hippopotamuses had been stomping on me all night; I felt so shattered. Good thing that today, in the Bronze grid of the tournament, there's only the draw, and I don't have to fight; otherwise, it would be problematic in such a state. I would win, of course, anyway, but without any finesse.
"Are you feeling unwell?" Aun asked when I descended into the atrium. I just shrugged in response, prompting the young man to clarify, "You look sick."
"I slept badly," I grumbled in reply.
"Still, should I go to the apothecary's shop?"
"No need," I quickly dismissed. And to prevent him from making some well-intentioned blunder, I added, "I mixed two incompatible alchemical compounds yesterday. I took the antidote afterward, but the aftereffects apparently haven't worn off completely. Simple healers won't help me."
"A good alchemist?" The young man inquired further.
"Since I made a mistake with common compounds, yes, they could help. But they would charge quite a lot for their consultation. I don't need extra expenses right now, so I'll endure. From my experience, it should pass by lunchtime."
"Then maybe you should skip breakfast? They say it helps."
"Don't you dare!" I threatened him, pointing a finger.
While Aun was heating up the pan, chopping vegetables, and frying eggs, I began my morning workout. Usually, exercise helps me to come to my senses, chasing away the remnants of even the most horrific nightmares, but not today. After completing just three not very long and complex katas, I tiredly sat down on the stool. What kind of invigoration is this? It's the complete opposite. Even after such a small load, I feel like a squeezed lemon.
Once he had served the freshly cooked breakfast, Aun asked:
"Are you planning any expenditures in the near future?"
"Why do you ask?" I responded to his question with my own.
"You said, 'I don't need extra expenses right now,' and people usually say that when they're saving up for something."
"I just don't want to waste money where every coin could bring a dozen or more."
"Every coin could bring a dozen?" The merchant's son was clearly intrigued by my words.
"Bets," I explained. "You're going to bet on me in the next round, right?"
"Yes."
"Then you'll also place my money."
"A tenth is mine!" The boy said sternly but then immediately laughed and corrected himself, "That was a joke. Of course, I'll place the bet for you. But it's not forbidden to bet on yourself in this tournament, and you could've done it yourself."
"I'm not a citizen of the city, and if a contentious situation arises... So, it's better if I do it through you."
Initially, I was going to place the bets myself. It wasn't prohibited to bet on your own victory in this tournament; Aun was right about that. But, if I had the opportunity to do it through a third party, it seemed better to take advantage of that. Perhaps I'm being overly cautious in this case, but this caution costs me nothing, so why not?
"And how much do you want to bet?" The young man asked.
"I'll leave ten gold for unforeseen expenses, and the rest goes in."
"That's very risky, I understand your confidence, but you said it yourself, a real battle is full of uncertainties."
"In this case, the risk doesn't matter," I shrugged indifferently in response to his, all things considered, reasonable comment.
"Really?" the boy's voice was full of doubt.
I deemed it excessive to explain that if I lost the tournament, I probably wouldn't be able to complete the questers' task in the allotted time and, consequently, I would be Erased. So, I responded without specifics:
"That's how the situation turned out."
Since Aun was a smart lad, he figured out that further questioning was undesirable and steered the conversation toward the weather.
After breakfast, I checked all the doors and windows in the house. One of the windows on the second floor, farthest from the room we had made into a bedroom, concerned me. No, no one had forced it open, but the hair I had strung between the sashes was missing. Perhaps I hadn't secured it well, and it had been blown away by a draft? Perhaps that was what happened because my second mini-trap, which would have gone off if the window had been opened, was still in place. Still, I decided to be cautious. I brought a trough of water from the atrium and placed it right under the window. If anyone tried to break in at night, they would undoubtedly step in the trough because the far-protruding windowsill made it invisible from the window. Perhaps this was overkill and paranoia, but we weren't planning on doing any laundry in the coming days, so it might as well stay here.
"What are our plans for today?" Aun asked me when I returned to the inner courtyard.
"The first thing is the draw."
"That's obvious," the lad nods.
"As soon as it's over, you go to place the bets, and I'll stay in the stands."
"Do you want to watch the Iron grid fights?"
"It wouldn't hurt," I confirm his guess.
"And after I've placed the bet, should I join you?"
"Only after you've checked with your acquaintances in the municipality if anyone from the former slaves of the 'Bloody Wave' survived."
"But the fleet report said they all burned."
"That report was done hastily," I object. "Better to double-check. And find out what will happen to the 'Bloody Wave' now? Maybe there's a fleeting chance for you or me to get our hands on it."
"I will," agrees the merchant's son. "I don't think it will take long."
"After that, you can join me in the stands."
"Great!!!" Aun exclaimed, sounding much more cheerful.
"And remember, without me, you don't leave the central square! And stay closer to the guards while avoiding large crowds."
"I remember your advice," the boy said a little grumpily.
"Repetition is the mother of learning," I automatically replied, and the young man froze for a moment with his mouth open, apparently digesting the phrase he'd just heard.
Leaving the house, we headed straight for the city's central square. As we walked, Aun kept pestering me with questions about Elevation. I was happy to answer. I don't think it will affect his already established phobia, but perhaps my words will help him try to rebuild his Core again. Not now, not in the near future, but someday. We reached the Arena while talking about this.
"So, here's the plan," I stopped before the first steps of the central staircase. "I'm going to the registration desk now. The Bronze draw will start in an hour. By that time, you should secure seats in the stands closer to the bookmakers."
"And as soon as your opponent is known, I'll run to place the bet right away!" the young man rubbed his hands together.
"Stop!" I interrupted him. "You will rush to place the bet immediately only if I get a weak or medium opponent. But! If I get one of the favorites, you will make a bet only after the first wave of bettors."
"Oh! I get it!" His eyes sparkled. "But why do it after the first wave? Isn't it better to bet one of the last in such a case?"
"Late bets are made by less impulsive and more calculating people; they will knock down the maximum odds that those who consider themselves experts will spin."
"You understand the bets well..." The young man scratched the back of his head but still nodded, "Alright, I'll do as you said. Bet everything you gave me on you?"
"Of course. And if there were a chance to immediately bet on who would win the whole tournament, I would make just such a bet. But alas, it can't be done, so we will bet on each round separately."
Having agreed on the plan of action, Aun and I went in different directions, I approached the staff entrance, and he ran to the central gate.
As soon as I appeared in the service vestibule, a young servant immediately took over. He was very respectful and polite, but at the same time, persistent. Following him, I found myself in a small separate room where a clean, laundered set of tournament clothes with my colors was already waiting for me. While I was changing, I heard how lightly, but still noticeably, the entire Arena was shaking from the screams of people. That's right, right now, the Iron round draw is taking place in front of a multi-thousand crowd. When it ends, it will be our turn, and after that, pairs for the Steel grid will be decided. And only after the end of the entire draw the fights of the first Iron round will begin today. The Bronze fights will only happen tomorrow.
Having changed, I didn't hurry to leave the individual room. On the contrary, I stayed in it and went into meditation. First, I wanted to get myself together, and second, I didn't want people to point fingers at me too early. As if sensing my mood, the organizers didn't bother me until the very moment when it was time to step onto the arena sand.
In general, the locals have advanced much further in terms of how to make a show than in technological progress. Yes, and the betting industry here was no worse than in England of the nineteenth century with its racetracks and horse races.
All of us, the participants of the Bronze grid, were lined up so that there was a large distance between us, and we were only released onto the arena after the broadcaster's announcement, under the roar of the heated crowd. Since I was one of the last in this line, I roughly estimated from this shouting and noise who among the fighters had the most fans. And the clear favorite in this popular love was the beautiful Paravi Malik. All the others were far behind her.
When the organizer called my name and I stepped onto the sand, I was not greeted with applause and delight but with silence, which was occasionally broken by someone's dissatisfied hooting. Well, didn't I want to draw attention to myself and earn a reputation? Congratulations, I succeeded! Only this reputation turned out to be not with the sign that I would like, but it's already too late to change anything.
We were lined up in two rows, with the seeded fighters facing the main VIP box, and those, like me, who had passed the selection, turned towards the less wealthy benches. Scanning the audience, I tried to spot Aun, but even knowing roughly where he should be, I couldn't see him. Many of the fighters standing across from me unabashedly stared at me while I remained as indifferent as possible, fitting the image I had already established. I didn't even activate my Perception Aura, showing that I didn't care who the draw would pair me with. And, in principle, it wasn't entirely a bluff because to accomplish the questers' task, I would have to defeat everyone. Does the order of these victories really matter?
For the guy with the axe, the one who had wanted to attack me after the qualifying round had ended, fate had chosen a very similar fighter. Just as big, with a furious look and a large axe in his hands. Their duel might even be interesting, not because of technique or style, but as a collision of emotions and primal anger. Paravi Malik was paired with an unremarkable-looking fighter, but the way the crowd reacted to this draw, it was obvious that the girl was clearly not the favorite in this pair. When my name was announced, I ascended to the temporary podium and stood to the left of the lead steward. Again, the crowd met me with silence and the occasional hooting.
"And for Raven from Seattle," the steward's voice, amplified by magic, echoed over the Arena, "fate and the grace of Antares choose as an opponent... "After a rather long theatrical pause, the steward pulled a plaque from the drum. Raising this plaque above his head, he removed the attached paper and read aloud. "Raven from Seattle gets... as an opponent... Shiin! Karim! Champion of Cisto!"
No more than a breath later, the whole Arena literally exploded with screams. I, on the other hand, observed the steward's face intently, but he, apparently, was an excellent actor and pretended just to be doing his job.
As for me, it was hard to believe that in the first round, I was the one to get the absolute favorite of the Bronze branch as my opponent. Apparently, my performance in the selection didn't sit well with someone, and they decided to knock me out of the tournament straight away by putting the strongest fighter against me.
And the draw...
You can always pre-chill or heat the necessary plaques, and this can be done easily without any magic.
Or maybe this choice is really random and a fair draw, and I'm just experiencing a bout of unwarranted paranoia?
Maybe so... Maybe so…