Cabdan: Ready up, boys! We've quite the crowd out there today, so give them a good show, alright?!

Cabdan was pepping the next fighters up in the arena's backstage, one of which was Barr. Outside, the rumbling of the crowd could be heard. Behind him, the door that leads to the slum's streets opens wide.

Tyssa: I'm glad you're here, mister Cabdan...!

He turns around.

Cabdan: Tyssa! Good morning sweetheart.

He opens his arms, and Tyssa hugs him.

Cabdan: What brings you here at this time of day? Shouldn't you be at the orphanage?

She nods.

Tyssa: Sadly, something has come to my attention that I believe I should share... Mister Cabdan, it would seem some girls were not very discrete on their way home from work. The new boy, Virno, overheard them and concluded that you had something to do with it...

He squints.

Cabdan: Do you know their names...?

She shakes her head.

Tyssa: Sadly, I do not...

Cabdan rubs his chin, pondering for a moment.

Cabdan: Very well. Thank you, Tyssa! I'll make sure to remind them that discretion is key in their line of work...

He pats her on the head.

Cabdan: If only they were more like you...!

She smiles.

Tyssa: After all you've done for me, mister Cabdan, it's the least I can do.

Cabdan: Oh, nonsense! Come here, you...

He hugs her once again, grinning. Barr witnessed all of this, his gaze betraying a certain sadness and disgust, though his face concealed them well. The hug lasts a couple of seconds, then Cabdan lets go of her.

Cabdan: Barr is fighting now, aren't you going to wish him good luck...?

Tyssa looks at Barr. Barr looks at her. Both of their gazes were empty, as if they were staring into each other's souls, only to find nothing within.

Tyssa: Good luck, Barr.

She says, coldly.

Barr: Thank you, Tyssa.

He replied in kind.

Cabdan: Alright, you should go now, Tyssa. This is no show for a lady like you!

Tyssa bows.

Tyssa: I will, mister Cabdan. See you later tonight!

He smiles.

Cabdan: See you...

She takes her leave. Cabdan takes a deep breath.

Cabdan: They grow up so fast... Feels like it was just yesterday that we met her for the first time.

He shifts his attention from the door Tyssa closed on her way out, to Barr.

Cabdan: You remember, don't you...?

He approaches him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Cabdan: I think that day was even more special for you than it was for me...

Barr lowered his gaze to the ground, his teeth clenched beneath his closed mouth and bland expression. Cabdan turns to the curtains, and claps.

Cabdan: It's show time!

He sticks his hand through the curtains, giving the announcer a thumbs up. Barr hears the announcer calling his and his opponent's name. The crowd goes wild. He steps into the ring... But his mind was elsewhere. The world before him seemed like a mere theatre play, though he knew his role well. The cowbell rings.

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Fighter: Focus on the fucking fight!

The man tries to catch Barr off guard with a quick punch, but Barr dodges him instinctively. His face was completely expressionless. His focus was elsewhere, on times of old...

Cabdan: Ready for the next family, kid?

Cabdan was around 10 years younger, and not nearly as wealthy. Barr was still a teenager.

Cabdan: Come on, then! Jargen's already waiting for us.

It was the dark of night. Barr followed Cabdan through the slum's streets, until they reached an old, rotting home. A muscular man with a newsboy cap, round sunglasses, and a torn scarf was waiting outside.

Cabdan: So, anyone home?

Jargen shakes his head.

Jargen: I tried knocking, but there was no response. I haven't looked inside yet, though by the stench coming through the cracks of the door, whatever is in there can't be good. It smells of rotting bodies.

As Cabdan and Barr approach the door, the stench hits them. Barr puts his hands in front of his mouth, to avoid puking.

Cabdan: Heheheh! It's all a part of the job, kid...

Jargen didn't think it was funny.

Jargen: You sure he should be here for this...?

Cabdan: The sooner he gets used to all the filth around here the better, Jargen.

The scarf covered most of his mouth, but underneath it, Jargen's mouth showed his disgust towards Cabdan's attitude.

Cabdan: Now, open her up!

Jargen opens the door. The smell got at least three times as bad.

Cabdan: Holy...!

Inside, two children hugged each other near one of the corners of the house. Flies circled a dead body on the floor, already bloated and filled with maggots. There were human bones arranged in a pile in an opposite corner of the home.

Jargen: Fuck...

Barr couldn't hold it any longer, and vomits all over his clothes.

Jargen: Dammit, Cabdan... Let the kid go home!

Cabdan: Enough. Let's just take care of this already.

Jargen: There's nothing to take care of, look at this fucking place...

Cabdan looks at the children.

Cabdan: Where are your parents?

There was a young girl, around 5 years old, and an older boy, around 10. The boy steps in front of the little girl, protecting her.

Boy: Please, don't hurt us!

Jargen approaches them.

Jargen: No one's here to hurt you two. We just need to talk with your parents...

Jargen looks over at the dead body.

Jargen: Is that...

Boy: ... Daddy...

Jargen: ... Daddy. And where's mommy?

The boy points towards the pile of bones at the corner of the room. Jargen turns to Cabdan.

Jargen: Let's go. These kids need to go to the orphanage.

Cabdan approaches them.

Cabdan: We came here to collect what was due, remember, Jargen? One thing at a time...

Jargen clenches his fists.

Cabdan: Children, do you know where your parents keep their rent money...?

Jargen: Does it look like they have any damn money, Cabdan?!

Barr was still in shock. Jargen turns around and sees his sorry state. He sighs.

Jargen: Look, I'm done here. I'll take the kids and leave. If you want to find your coin, search the place yourself.

Jargen prepares to take everyone with him, but Cabdan stops him.

Cabdan: Are you forgetting who's in charge here...?

Jargen stops.

Cabdan: You will do as I say. Yes?

Jargens nails sink into his palms, drawing blood with how hard he clenched his fists. Barr grabs his arm.

Barr: I-I'll go look, it's alright...

Cabdan: Good lad!

As Barr searches the home, Cabdan kneels down in front of the children.

Cabdan: So... What are your names?

Boy: I'm Yiel. My sister's name is Tyssa.

Cabdan extends his hand in greeting. Yiel shakes his hand.

Cabdan: I'm Cabdan. Nice to meet you!

His memories fast forward slightly, and he returns to Cabdan after finding no coin.

Barr: Nothing...

Cabdan: Hmm...

Cabdan looks at the little girl.

Jargen: Cabdan...

Cabdan raises his hand, signalling Jargen to remain silent.

Cabdan: Say, little one, why don't you come with Cabdan...? Your mommy and daddy owe me coin, see, but if you come with me I'll forget all that!

Tyssa: B-but mommy and daddy are...

Her eyes begin to tear up as she looks at what is left of her parents. At that point, Barr's memories begin to get blurry and skip ahead. There was something he didn't want to recall... Though the aftermath remained.

Cabdan: Attaboy! You did what you had to. Your father would be proud...

Barr looks down at his hands. They were bloody and shaking. He felt horrible inside, yet he had a terrifying smile on his face. Jargen was nowhere to be seen anymore. Only Cabdan and the little girl were with him.

Fighter: Got you now, little bitch!

He got too distracted inside his own mind. His opponent managed to sneak in an uppercut, hitting him right in the chin. Barr stumbles backward, his mind now fully back in reality.

Barr: Little bitch...? Hah...

He walks hastily towards his opponent.

Barr: I'm going to kill you.

The man puts his hands up in defence, but Barr seems unfazed. He musters all his strength into a right hook, hitting the man on the side of the head, right on his ear. As the man is dazed, Barr uses his left hand to punch his ribs. His opponent bends forward in pain. Barr punches him on the side of the head, drawing blood, before sweeping at his feet and making him fall to the ground. The crowd goes wild.

Barr: I'm really going to kill you...!

Barr pins the man down, placing his knees on either side of the opponent's ribs, locking him in place. He then starts mercilessly pummeling him.

Barr: Die...

Each punch stronger than the last.

Barr: ... Die...

And stronger.

Barr: ... DIE...!

He rips the bandages from his hands, hitting the man's face with his bare knuckles.

Barr: ... FUCKING DIE!

The man's face was an unrecognizable, bloody mess. Still, Barr didn't stop.

Barr: DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE!!!

By the time he was finished, half of the man's skull had caved in. The crowd loved the show, and the announcer declared the end of the match. Barr stands up and triumphantly raises both hands up as he laughs. The adrenaline of battle had once more wiped away the memories he didn't want to revisit...