Zalan looked up at the stands where Nold stood applauding him as he was carried off stage. He was showing a lot more emotion than Zalan had seen from him before. He was excited. Happy. Zalan first thought that Nold was happy that he maintained his reputation as an instructor, but the look on his face was too eager. He was thrilled by something else that Zalan couldn’t figure out. He was hoping it had nothing to do with what he’d said to Slauson in moments of rage.

He continued to look around the crowd and sidelines around the arena, then went tense in shock at the sight of something.

“There!” Zalan said in his weakened voice, pointing with his eyes.

“What?” Brashir said. “Did you say something?”

“Put me there,” Zalan insisted, raising a shaky hand to point.

The two men looked up to where he pointed.

“Next to the other injured fighter?” the man asked, baffled.

“Yeah,” Zalan blinked in assent.

“You would still be close enough to the arena to be hit by attacks that fly off the stage. We should place you higher into the stands,” Kashir warned.

“No. I don’t care. Put me there,” Zalan whispered.

The men looked at one another, then shrugged to take Zalan to his requested spot. They placed him down next to the other man and walked back to the stage for further direction from Umdarr. Zalan looked at him, partly concerned.

“Rep,” Zalan acknowledged.

“Zalan,” Rep replied, his voice equally strained.

“Why are you on the ground right next to the arena? You could have been hurt.”

“I could ask you the same. You are in a worse state than I am.”

“Rep, seriously. Why aren’t you with Doctor Quill?”

“I wanted to see you fight,” Rep answered.

“You should be resting,” Zalan said.

“We can use the Homeseeker and heal immediately. I did not want to miss the fight. I got here just in time to see it begin,” Rep replied.

Zalan registered his words somberly. Rep had seen everything he just went through. All the words he said. Shame washed over him. He wished that Rep didn’t witness him at his worst. Rep had always been trying to pull his emotions back to the shallows but he went off the deep end regardless. It almost felt worse that Rep wasn’t the type to say “I told you so.” At least then, Zalan would feel like Rep got back at him after not listening. Instead, Rep had to witness the sight of Zalan snapping and trying to bring someone down with him.

“Sorry you had to see that,” Zalan murmured.

“Sorry to see you win?”

Zalan didn’t reply. He knew Rep was deliberately trying to make it seem like he didn’t listen to the outburst where he told Slauson about his father. Even now, Rep was trying to decrease the blow of wounds. It didn’t matter that they were self-inflicted. Zalan sighed. Rep had even warned him about the dangers of letting anger run wild, but he was foolish and ignored his friend. Rep sat silently, waiting for Zalan to speak when he felt ready.

“I found out how he was beating everyone so easily. He was cheating. Covering his opponents with some ice whenever he did his stupid bow,” Zalan said to break the awkward silence between them.

“I see. Is there any evidence we can bring to Umdarr?” Rep said.

“That’s it? He cheated in your fight and that’s all you react with? A little question?” Zalan asked.

“Is there any evidence?” Rep repeated.

“All the people he beat were cold when they were sent to the tents,” Zalan offered.

“That is only evidence that he has power over Elemental Ice. Do you have anything to prove he was using it out of combat?”

“I dunno. Your words against his? All of their testimony would probably mean something.”

“It does not sound like substantial evidence of it happening before the battle rather than during the battle.” Rep shrugged.

“Seriously? That’s it? You’re just gonna take it?” Zalan was slightly offended on Rep’s behalf, but also intent on knowing how Rep was feeling. What was the appropriate way to react when he felt he should be angry?

“I cannot change what has already happened. It is good to know the truth. It helps me to be patient with my frustration,” Rep said.

“So you are frustrated.”

“Of course I am!” Rep cried, his voice firm. “I fought like mad only to be brought down by some louse who thought himself good enough to play by different rules than the rest of us! Why should I be happy with that? But I know something much more important. The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the strong is the one who controls himself while in anger. Slauson made me feel that I was a terrible fighter who froze in the face of fear. I am not. I was convinced I was not, but now I know for certain. Knowing that I am better than that brings me some modicum of contentment.”

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The mention of what it meant to be “strong” reminded Zalan of Gorb. The way Rep controlled his anger when Zalan was acting like an annoying brat, he might have been the strongest person in the realm.

Looking out onto the stage, Zalan ran a weak hand through his burned hair. Umdarr was directing Kashir and Brashir to carry Slauson. Slauson looked dejected, lying splayed out on the floor. Cold ice melted around him.

“What do I do?” Zalan asked.

“Win the finals. Speak with Madam Hikma,” Rep replied.

“You know what I meant. I shouldn’t have said any of those things to Slauson. I said things that… no one should say. I don’t know what to do now,” Zalan said.

“I know. I was saying you should ask Madam Hikma for advice on what to do now,” Rep said.

Zalan considered this. He watched as the men started to carry Slauson off stage. His body was bobbing like a ragdoll and marred with scars from the shock of lightning. Zalan wondered if a Healing Rest would be enough to cure him of all those injuries or if he’d left permanent damage. He hoped for the former.

“I don’t think I can win the finals with the way I feel right now,” Zalan admitted. “With a few minutes’ rest, I’ll be able to stand up again, but there’s no way I’ll be able to move fast enough to keep up with a finalist. I’ll get slaughtered on the first hit. If I can’t beat the finals, I can’t speak to Madam Hikma in time. Slauson might be gone as soon as the finals end.”

“I see,” Rep said, adjusting his position on the floor to get a better look at Zalan’s injuries.

“What would you do if you were in my place? Regarding Slauson, I mean,” Zalan asked Rep.

“I would ask Madam Hikma,” Rep replied.

“And if that wasn’t an option?”

“I would apologize.”

“To Slauson? After he cheated and everything?”

“One’s evil acts do not condone others,” Rep said.

“I’m evil now?”

“Your words certainly were not kind. Definitely not the way I would tell someone their parents had passed. Not even my worst enemies.”

“Yeah,” Zalan sighed in agreement. “Let’s see if the two guys will carry us to the medical tent to talk to him.”

“You want to leave the stadium? You could miss the finals. You would be disqualified,” Rep reminded him.

“I told you, there’s no way I’m gonna win. Doesn’t really matter at this point.”

“You do not at least wish to try?” Rep asked.

“I think we should at least console Slauson on the loss of his father. And apologize. I don’t think even Slauson deserves what happened. But if I can make it back in time, I’ll try the finals,” Zalan said.

“Very well,” Rep sounded encouraging.

“We’ll talk to Madam Hikma when we get back to Oriton and figure out how to get me to my real home. No more complaints and asking for different solutions, like last time. We’ll take whatever bargain she offers,” Zalan closed his eyes and leaned his head against the stadium wall.

“Indeed. I believe that is the best course of action,” Rep smiled.

Despite his burning injuries, Rep was genuinely happy to see the transformation in his friend. He had seen Zalan falling into darkness and felt like he was desperately trying to pull him back with every conversation on the journey to the tournament. Nold was no help to them in regards to Zalan’s mental state, and he was worried that he would have to confront the powerful instructor at some point. He was glad to see that Zalan had come to the conclusion on his own terms. It was terrible what he did, but Rep felt it could have been much worse. Both Slauson and Zalan’s physical wounds would heal. Neither are dead and Zalan wasn’t intent on killing Slauson anymore. The improvement in Zalan’s bearing was heartening.

“Interesting, you may not have to miss the finals after all,” Rep said, looking up ahead of them.

“Why do you say that?” Zalan asked, his eyes still closed.

“Slauson is pointing at us. And now he is being carried this way,” Rep relayed.

Zalan’s eyes shot open and he picked up his head to get a better look. Slauson was still mostly flopping around in the arms of the two carriers, but his eyes were sharp and looking directly at Zalan. Zalan held eye-contact, not sure what to expect. Slauson looked determined, but not vengeful.

The two men carrying him set Slauson down gently a few feet from Zalan. A little further than arm’s reach. They stood and Brashir folded his arms, looking skeptical. Kashir hurriedly rushed off to assist Umdarr in cleaning up the arena of ice and water. The organizers decided they didn’t want variables from the previous fight affecting the next one. The lightning traveling the entire stage via water didn’t feel like an intended way for the fights to commence. The audience impatiently waited for the cleaning to conclude and the next fight to commence.

“If you lay as much as a finger on Zaltor, we will have you removed,” Brashir warned Slauson forcefully.

“I know,” Slauson replied patiently.

“Not just removed from the tent, we will personally have you placed atop the canyon. The Basilisk will have its way with you if it has chosen to remain nearby. You will be left to the whims of the wild in your state,” Brashir insisted.

“I understand,” Slauson said.

“Any sign that you have used Elemental Power on him and the punishment will be the same,” Brashir said firmly. “Even if he so much as makes the accusation that you hurt him, we will take him seriously. Do you still wish to sit here and converse?”

“Yes, I understand the terms. I wish to speak with him,” Slauson nodded.

“And you,” Brashir turned to Zalan. “There is no more need to hurt a broken fighter. Umdarr has said that if you hurt him, you will be disqualified.”

“That’s it? No Basilisk feeding?” Zalan asked.

“Fine, yes. We will also feed you to the Basilisk.”

Brashir turned to Rep, raising an eyebrow. He opened his mouth, but faltered.

“Who are you, again?”

“My name is Rep.”

“Right… Umm… Rep! Do not do anything foolish. Or else,” Brashir warned, though the threat was much weaker this time.

“I understand,” Rep replied.

“Very well, we will be watching closely,” the man said, walking off to the arena.

Zalan, Rep, and Slauson were left on their own to interact. Zalan tried to muster some lightning to imbue within himself just in case, but didn’t have the energy for it. He was completely at Slauson’s mercy if he had any ill-intent. Slauson could probably kill him before they sent him to the Basilisk. Zalan wouldn’t blame him. After all, he tried to kill Slauson with the lightning from the sky only minutes ago.

But whatever Slauson’s plans were, he kept them to himself as the tension built between the three men on the side of the arena.