Zalan looked at Slauson.

“We will meet you there when we are done in the tents to send you back home.”

“Find your own way back to the arena. I will not carry you,” Nold said immediately

“I will see you there,” Slauson said without complaint.

With the assistance of his Elemental Sand Power, Nold floated the two fighters across the floor of the stadium to go toward the medical tent one last time.

“That seemed a bit harsh to make Slauson make his way down on his own,” Zalan mentioned to Nold.

“I am not a ferry. Or do you think of me as agreeable as the captains on the port of Oriton?” Nold replied.

“I mean, I don’t know who they are. I’m just saying I wouldn’t have minded asking Madam Hikma to meet us upstairs instead of us all meeting inside the arena,” Zalan said.

Nold grunted dismissively. Zalan dropped it.

As they passed the arena, they saw Umdarr was speaking very aggressively to Dimak. It was clear Dimak was exasperated by the accusations the announcer had raised against them. Dimak’s eyebrows were furled tight and his bruised arms tightly crossed. As his voice crescendoed in anger, the words he said became clear to Zalan.

“You may be able to call me greedy, but leave Zalan out of this! He is honorable and generous. He has asked nothing in return for his money. Nor has he shown me or anyone else in this tournament an ounce of impatience or unfairness!” Dimak said with finality.

Zalan and Rep exchanged a glance at Dimak’s words. Rep shrugged, amused.

They passed through the stadium and made their way to the area outside. As Zalan passed by the many food stands, he realized how starving he was after all the fights. He wished he still had the Satiator sustaining him. But he ignored his stomach’s groans along with all the other pain signals flooding his body. He needed to focus on the task ahead.

Zalan was pleasantly surprised to find the area outside the tournament was only sparsely populated by people who had left the stadium. Most were grabbing food and heading back inside. They were eager to speak with the winner and try and get advice from him on how to take down monsters. Now that Zalan was only a finalist and not a winner, he was largely ignored. There were a few people that waved, but they didn’t approach him like they did before his last bout. He breathed easy, happy no one would mess with his broken shoulder or touch his charred skin.

They saw the tent in the distance, a few fighters limping their way out of the flap, carried by friends and mentors. Now that the tournament was over, there was no more need for a medical tent. Their fellow spectators would carry them to the nearest town, protecting them from any monsters there may be on the way. They would get the healing rest they needed, curing them of all their tournament-gotten wounds. Zalan watched the crowd closely, looking for Rexler. He didn’t find him, and they went within.

The inside of the tent was surprisingly filled with people. Mentors and fighters had come to gather all the injured, whether they were the ones ambushed or ones hurt in a fight. Many were discussing nuances of the final fights excitedly, ready to go home and try new fighting techniques. Doctor Quill gave quick responses to anyone asking questions as she rushed around the tent.

Doctor Quill picked her head up, looking in dismay at Zalan and Rep. She was running between beds, gathering things together and haphazardly packing the tent’s contents.

“More? I thought it was over!” Doctor Quill snapped. “What kind of brawls have occurred outside the tournament?”

“We are not here for any medical assistance. We only wish to speak with one of your patients,” Rep replied.

“Oh, then be quick. I need to take down the tent and go home,” Doctor Quill allowed.

“Why so much urgency?” Zalan asked.

“I am a doctor. I never got past Level 2. I require fighters to escort me if I wish to travel beyond safe zones. I need to convince people to take me and my things with them before they all leave.”

“What do you do back home?” Zalan asked.

Doctor Quill gave him a look.

“What kind of question is that?” she asked.

“I meant like… because everyone can just heal themselves by sleeping. What do you do, then?” Zalan asked.

Both Nold and Quill looked at Zalan in bafflement.

“Have you never heard of a doctor before?” Nold asked, confused.

“I know what a doctor is! My mom’s a doctor!” Zalan snapped.

“I heal the sick in my town!” Doctor Quill answered his question firmly.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Oh, right. The sick, of course,” Zalan said, pretending like that was obvious. He didn’t realize the healing rest didn’t cure illnesses.

Looking around the tent, Zalan located Rexler by the black handprint imprinted around his neck. Zalan pointed to him and Nold took them over. Rexler looked up at his approach, then a frown grew on his face. He turned away from Zalan slightly.

“Hey, Rexler,” Zalan said.

Rexler looked at him, acknowledging him.

“I’m really sorry about our fight. I shouldn’t have done that to you. Hitting you with all the lightning I had when I had won was terrible. I’m sorry,” Zalan expressed.

Rexler regarded him curiously, but still didn’t say anything. Zalan waited, not knowing what else to add.

“So, uh, sorry again,” Zalan said awkwardly.

“You do not need to keep apologizing for winning a fight. Rexler knew what he was getting into,” Nold said.

“I did not know I would face a madman out for blood,” Rexler finally spoke.

Zalan went warm in shame.

“Yeah, sorry, that was really messed up.”

“Why are you here?” Rexler asked derisively.

“I just thought it was important to apologize. Let you know that I know what I did was wrong,” Zalan said.

“That is why we are here?” Nold asked, bothered by the delay.

“Nold, please just… Let me talk uninterrupted for a second,” Zalan said, running his hand through his hair in embarrassment. “Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?”

Rexler regarded him. He scoffed in a mix of amusement and impatience.

“No. Unless you carry me to the next town over by way of a wagon to heal,” Rexler said.

“I can warp you home with a Homeseeker,” Zalan immediately offered.

“I do not wish to go home. I have errands to run in the next town after healing,” Rexler shook his head.

Zalan frowned, his one good offer having failed. He considered whether now would be a good time to use the Reversal Stone, but couldn’t think how it could help. He didn’t want to offer it to Rexler. Rexler scrutinized Zalan up and down, then sighed.

“Fine. I will accept your apology if you give me a rematch. A fair fight where we both know the extent of each other’s power,” Rexler offered.

“You mean right now?” Rep said, baffled.

“I said a fair fight. He cannot even stand,” Rexler struggled out of the bed. He looked uncomfortable, but stood by himself to prove his point.

Zalan looked down at the platform of sand holding him up.

“Fine. Fair fight,” Zalan agreed. He would have shrugged if he could. “Where?”

“Meet me in my city, Winkerton. I look forward to our rematch,” Rexler said.

“Sure. See you then,” Zalan said, not looking forward to being covered in bruises yet again in the future. He turned back to Nold.

“Oh, can I speak now?” Nold asked sarcastically.

“Let’s just get back up to Madam Hikma,” Zalan said.

“Certainly, your majesty,” Nold replied, reeking with sarcasm as he led the way out.

“Farewell, Doctor Quill!” Rep called.

“Yes, farewell,” Doctor Qull replied, continuing to rush without looking up at him. She spilled a box of bandages and kicked them back into the box quickly.

Nold carried his students outside, making his way back to the stadium.

“Any other tasks you need to distract yourself with?” Nold asked sarcastically.

Zalan was about to say no, but his stomach grumbled.

“How about some food? Something we can eat quickly?” Zalan asked.

Nold shook his head in annoyance, but purchased food before continuing. Zalan, Rep, and Nold all had full stomachs by the time they returned to the arena. Nold didn’t have to push past people leaving the tournament as they parted ways for him out of respect. He stepped up the arena stairs. Umdarr looked over to the three men approaching. Slauson sat at his side, next to Dimak.

“Very well. It seems you may be telling the truth,” Umdarr admitted to Zalan.

“Glad we got that cleared up,” Zalan said, dumping thirty gold coins into Dimak’s winner’s pouch. Umdarr eyed the money suspiciously, but dropped anything he had to say regarding it. Dimak stared into the pouch with wide eyes, not quite believing what he was seeing.

“You are certain?” Dimak said, staggering astonishment on his face.

“Yeah, I told you I was serious during our fight,” Zalan said, surprised he had to repeat himself even after having given the money.

“This will not go to waste,” Dimak closed the pouch with deference. “With this, you have saved more than just my life, Zalan. Thank God for you.”

Zalan saw that Dimak’s eyes were wet. Yet another man that could cry from Zalan’s actions where Zalan himself couldn’t find tears. Even when his actions brought someone to tears, he felt nothing. Even Rep looked on the brink of tears after having seen Dimak’s reaction and hearing his words. Zalan was growing frustrated with his being the only dry eyes around.

“You said you came to the tournament in order to ask something of me. Did you still have questions you wished to ask me?” Madam Hikma chimed in, looking pleased with Zalan’s generosity.

“Yeah, but…” Zalan looked embarrassed. “I’m still in a ton of pain. Can we all go home and get rest first, and I’ll visit you right after?”

“I will not announce my return to Oriton until after you come by,” Madam Hikma promised.

Zalan was confused by the remark.

“She means that there will be no line to enter her home. You will have exclusive access,” Rep whispered.

“Oh! Thank you,” Zalan said, pulling out the Homeseeker. He turned back to Nold. “See you when you get back.”

“Indeed. Wait for me before embarking on your next quest. I wish to be there when you are available for our quest,” Nold replied.

“Sure,” Zalan said with unease.

With that, Zalan held out the Homeseeker. Madam Hikma, Slauson and Rep held onto it. He pressed down on the button atop it. Nold watched carefully as they were enveloped in the black glow. The glow intensified before a loud pop announced their warp out of existence.

“Well then,” Umdarr said, looking at the mentor who got his students to the finals yet again. “I will see you next year?”

“No,” Nold said coldly, creating himself a platform of sand and floating his way out of the canyon.