The morning shine's through the window with a bright ray of sunlight. Charles rises from the comfortable bed feeling well rested. "Ah your awake Charles, how are you feeling this morning?" Doctor Varus asks as he walks over to Charles's bed. "Yes I'm feeling great, I can go now right?" Charles replied though a bit reluctant to leave the comfortable bed. "Indeed your free to go, oh and the fighter named Sieg is waiting for you outside the room. He was adamant about waiting for you." Varus sighs as he walks back to his desk.
Walking out of the door Charles sees Sieg leaning on the wall, but the bandage on his right eye has been removed and showed a long scar line down his closed eye."Took you long enough to wake up, now then let's grab some food!"Sieg said as he starts walking down the dimly lit cobblestone corridor to the mess hall. Charles silently follows Sieg; he looks around at the people walking by them. They seemed rather scared, as though their trying to avoid some dangerous beast. "So Charles, how much do ya know about this arena?" Sieg asks trying to break the silence. "I don't know much to be honest. All I know is that I have to fight to survive here." Charles replied.
"Well at least have that figured out. Most young fighters think this place is just some sick prison, so they give up on the first day. If you haven't already noticed the fighters here are more or less free people inside this arena. All they have to do is fight, win and put on a good show." Sieg comments. "Put on a good show? Oh right someone told me something about an audience watching us fight. But during the duel, I had with Leon the audience were all fighters and guards." Charles said as he recalled what Robert said to him.
"During personal duels between fighters aren't shown to the public unless it's between very high profile fighters. Most Low-rank fighters and especially low-rank young fighters are no high profile fighters, so most duels usually are only watched by other fighters to see the competition and guards that want to watch two people fight." Sieg explains. "The real audiences that watch the arena matches are nobles, city folk and the people that come to Roaring Silk city to sightsee. It's considered high-class entertainment, so it's quite popular. The city earns a lot from it too." Sieg continues.
Charles and Sieg reach the mess hall, as usual, it's relatively crowded with people eating rice and beans while chatting about recent events and fighting. But as soon as people spot Sieg standing in the doorway, everybody quickly moves to the back. Charles became confused at their behavior, but Sieg doesn't seem to care. "Alright we got some seats, go ahead and seat first. I'll grab you some food." Sieg said as he walks towards the guards giving out food.
Charles sits at one of the wooden tables as he looks around. He looks at the other fighters moved to the back of the mess hall in confusion. Charles could see that most of them were looking at Sieg with wary eyes and some of them were looking at him with pity. The same shame they showed him when he was about to fight Leon. Can I ever catch a break with these people? I already received enough pity the first time so what's with you guys pitying me again?! Charles starts wondering if he should tell doctor Varus to check on these sick fighters when Sieg returns with two plates of rice and beans. "Thank you, Sieg!" Charles thanks Sieg in gratitude. Not even Robert treats him this kindly!
"Don't mention it, Oh and tomorrow is your fifth day here right?" Sieg asks "Yes that's right. Oh, you mentioned that everyone has to fight on their fifth day when coming to this place right?" Charles replied "Mhm you have a decent memory, what they do here is that they bring in slaves in five-day intervals. So every five days there will be a battle royale held for those who had been here for five days as the new ones come in." Sieg says as he eats his food. "Oh, so you're saying that when I came in together with a bunch of other slaves on the 5th day of some other group and they had this battle royale?" Charles asks.
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Sieg nods and replies: "It's one of the big events in the arena, Every five days there will be a battle royal with new slaves that come in. They will fight until only five survives! This way they get to remove the weak ones from the pile and audiences will be more interested in them. Oh, and the battle royales are split into adult fighters that age from 16+ and young fighters below 16." Sieg explains. "Eh?! Wait then how many people are in the battle royale?" Charles asks. "Well it changes every time, but usually it's about 20 to 30 people." Sieg recalls "So I'll have to survive while fighting that many people, then I can't just sit around and relax! I need to start practicing!" Charles quickly said.
"Mhm good, you have your priorities in check now. But food is also important! I didn't get this body without eating you know!" Sieg says as he finishes his meal. "Alright, then I am done eating. Since you want to practice, fighting to meet me at the practice grounds once you've finished, I will practice with you!" as Sieg says that he stands up and walks out of the mess hall. Once Sieg was out of sight everyone in the mess hall lets out a sigh Robert quickly runs over towards Charles and blurted "Honestly Charles! You have the worst luck possible!"
"Oh, Robert! See look at that I survived!" Charles says proudly. "Yeah, I thought you'd lose... But that aside what were you doing with one of the top five fighters in the lower rank? Are you actively seeking your death?! You are so young and have so much to live for!" Robert exclaims. "Woah there I don't want to die! And what's all this about one of the top five fighters?! Were you taking about Sieg?" Charles asks.
"Yes! I am talking about Sieg Ironheart the mercenary! He is one of the top 5 in the lower ranks! His one of the few fighters that are capable of ascending to the higher rank!" Robert hurridly explains. "His one of the best then? Great! Then he can help me in practice!" Charles quickly finishes his food and runs off "I'll see you later Robert!" Charles shouts. "Did...he even hear what I just said?!" Robert holds his forehead as he sits down on the wooden chair.
Charles arrives at the practice ground after running straight from the mess hall. The entire practice ground is empty, and only Sieg and another man stood at the center of the sand pit standing away from each other by a couple of feet. "Oi Sieg, Why don't we team up in the upcoming battles huh? We'll get better scores ya know?" The weird man said as he tilts his whole body to the side while holding a short spear, kind of like a javelin with a Knife on his waist. Sieg stands straight, and his face looked fierce as he holds a battle-ax.
"I am not in a mood to talk to you, Theo. Leave me alone." Sieg replies with a fierce tone. "My, my such rage! Don't let that anger hamper you in battle or you might get bitten!" Theo laughs as he walks out of the sand pit and spots Charles. "So this is the kid that grabbed your attention. He doesn't look that impressive. But before Charles could say anything in return a dagger was instantly pointed at his throat. "Do not touch him, Theo!" Sieg shouted.
"Hmph, I was only playing right kid?" Theo asks Charles as he retracts the dagger back to his waist and pats his back. Charles starts sweating as he doesn't dare even to move his head. "It was nice chatting with you Sieg, do consider my offer!" Theo shouted as he places the javelin and dagger back onto a rack and leaves. Charles holds his throat and notices he's breathing faster.
"Sorry about that Charles, I didn't expect that guy to pop up here today." Sieg walks over to Charles "It's fine, who was that?" Charles asks "The guy was Theo; he was a noble until he got sent to this dump. Though I can guess why anyways enough about him let us train! Get a weapon and join me in the sandpit!" Sieg replied. "Alright!" Charles then quickly runs over to grab a shortsword and a shield.
"So that's what you use, alright kid come! Let us practice!" Sieg replied as he holds his battle-ax in position. "Here I come!" Charles fixes his shield onto this left arm, grips his shortsword and rushes at Sieg!