I had been meditating for roughly an hour in my room when a knock at the door broke my concentration. I opened the door to find Samuel standing there with all my gear. "Come in, Sam!" I told him. He entered my room and gently placed each piece of armor onto the cot. I went to thank him, but he turned to leave and was already nearly out the door.

"Hold up, Sam. Thank you for taking care of my gear," I said.

"It is my duty," he replied.

"Nevertheless, I appreciate all you do for us. We've never really spoken before. I assume it's because you're always so busy." I told him.

He smiled. "My job does keep me occupied most of the day, but the truth is..." he seemed to reconsider what he was about to say but lowered his voice and proceeded anyway. "The truth is Lord Bainmourth doesn't want us getting too close to the sla-, err, combatants. He claims it's because you may die, and if we develop a relationship with you, he wouldn't want us to feel like we lost a friend or companion. But in truth, I believe he fears we may try to give you an unfair advantage in your battles, or even facilitate an escape." he explained.

"So why are you telling me all this?" I asked. I was genuinely astonished at his confession. Sam had just spoken more words to me now than he had my entire time in this world.

"You're a good man, Alex, and you don't deserve what has happened to you. I watch you every day, acting like everything is fine, but I know you must be in tremendous pain and stress. I watched you risk your life for a woman you've known for only a few days. I suppose I feel guilty that a man like you is stuck in this hell and I work for the people who did this to you," he said quietly.

I nodded and placed my hand on his shoulder. "Telovir told me you're a good person and genuinely want to help others. I agree with him. It is not your fault I'm in this position, Sam; it's the Lord's and Liana's," I explained. I wanted to tell him about my plan, maybe even gain his assistance, but the truth was I didn't know if I could trust him. He did work for Lord Bainmourth, after all. We shook hands, and he left my quarters, closing the door behind him.

I touched each piece of armor and added it back into my Warlord's Cache, then equipped it all, including my spear and shield. My breastplate had a noticeable area where it had been patched and repaired, but was just as protective as before it was damaged. I wanted to see my full stats while wearing my gear so I pulled up my interface.

Alexander Venriel

Level 8 (97%)

Health: 100%

Mana: 170/170

Stamina: 67%

Prime Rune: Ironwall (Intermediate Level 3 - 56%):

* Shield Charge - Rush at your target with blinding speed, blocking all attacks and finishing with an attack from your shield. Cooldown: 30 seconds. Cost: 5 Mana.

* Reflection - Send projectiles and magic attacks back at enemies for 5 seconds. Cooldown: 60 seconds. Cost: 15 Mana.

* The Immovable Object - Raise your shield and block all attacks regardless of direction or position for 6 seconds. You take considerably less damage for the duration. You cannot move for the duration. You are immune to knockbacks and control effects for the duration. Cooldown - 24 Hours. Cost: 10 Mana.

* Shield Mastery - (Passive) Shield attacks deal three times as much damage. (Upgrades: 1)

Augment Rune 1: Warlord (Intermediate Level 3 - 72%):

* War Cry - Shout a mighty war cry that increases your strength and speed by 15%. This bonus also applies to nearby allies. The effect lasts for one hour. Cooldown: None. Cost: 40 Mana.

* War Stomp - Stomp the ground damaging and slowing nearby enemies for 6 seconds. In addition, you take 50% less damage from enemies slowed by this ability. Cooldown: 20 Seconds. Cost: 20 Mana. (Upgrades: 1)

* Warlord's Cache - (Passive) Grants you a personal dimensional space to store armor, weapons, and other items. Using mental commands, you may immediately equip or remove armor and weapons.

* Blademaster - (Passive) Increases the rate at which weapon-related talents progress by 100%. Also grants you a bonus depending on what type of weapon you are currently wielding.

* Swords: Chance for attacks to be critical strikes that cause massive damage.

* Axes: Increases attack speed by 10%.

* Spears: Chance for successful attacks to cause an instant second attack.

* Maces: Increases strength by 10%.

Augment Rune 2: Onslaught (Novice Level 2 - 39%):

* Frenzied Strikes - Begin a barrage of strikes against a single enemy. Each successful attack increases your attack speed by 5%. Stacks up to 6 times. Duration: 8 seconds. Duration is refreshed upon gaining a new stack. Upon reaching max stacks, you may not refresh the duration. Cooldown: 90 seconds. Cost: 25 Mana.

* Crushing Blow - Deliver a staggering blow to an enemy. If successful, the target is stunned for 0.5 seconds. Cooldown: 45 seconds. Cost: 15 Mana.

* Execution - Attempt to finish off a critically wounded enemy. This attack deals 300% damage. The cooldown is reset if the target dies. Cooldown: 60 seconds. Cost: 10 Mana.

* Relentless - (Passive) Any time you suffer a control or slow effect, you heal for 10% of your maximum health. Control and slow abilities have diminished effects on you.

Augment Rune 3: Guardian (Novice Level 1 - (0%):

* Provoke - Let out a challenging roar that causes all enemies within 6 yards to attack you for 8 seconds. Has diminished effectiveness against sapient beings. Cooldown: 25 Seconds. Cost: None.

* Intercede - Charge to an ally's position; any damage they receive for the next 3 seconds is negated. Cooldown: 60 Seconds. Cost: 30 Mana.

* Freya's Blessing - (Passive) Your Vigor Attribute is increased by 100%. Your natural Physical Resistance is increased by 25%.

* Titan's Favor - (Passive) Every time you block or parry an attack, you gain an instance of Titan's Favor. This ability may stack up to 12 times. - [Titan's Favor: Increases your strength by 2% for 2 minutes.]

Talents:

* Shield Expertise - Level 8 (3%) - Improves your ability to use shields effectively. Each level also improves your ability to block and increases damage dealt with by shields.

* One-handed Axe Expertise - Level 1 (84%) - Improves your ability to wield one-handed axes effectively. Each level also increases damage dealt with one-handed axes.

* One-handed Sword Expertise - Level 7 (4%) - Improves your ability to wield one-handed swords effectively. Each level also increases the damage dealt with one-handed swords.

* Spear Expertise - Level 4 (18%) - Improves your ability to wield spears effectively. Each level also increases the damage dealt with spears.

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* Meditation - Level 2 (49%) Allows you to focus and gain experience by analyzing your previous encounters. Each level increases the experience gained from this action.

* Force of Will - Level 1 (4%) Enables you to overcome control effects you are suffering from by using your willpower. Each level reduces the focus and resolve needed to break free from the effects.

Attributes:

Armor: 475

Attack: 165

Strength: 58

Dexterity: 13

Vigor: 114

Endurance: 8

Intelligence: 8

Regeneration: 8

Magical Resistance: 10%

Physical Resistance: 25%

Movement Speed: +5%

I let out an appreciative whistle at my vigor. I felt damn near indestructible with it being so high. After a few minutes, there was another knock at my door. I opened it to find Telovir.

"Liana has requested our presence now. We best get going. Stash your weapons and armor, please," he instructed.

I changed back into my linen clothes and followed Telovir. We walked towards the arena but turned left into a hallway I'd never seen before, despite all my scouting excursions. We continued for a bit before turning right. We walked up a stone stairwell into a short hallway with a door at the end. We approached the lavish door. Telovir knocked and announced who we were. Samuel opened the door and ushered us inside. The room was large and furnished with luxurious items, including vases, statues, exotic-looking plants, and even a tiny fountain. There was a clear glass viewing window overlooking the arena. Behind an ornate wooden desk sat a woman who I estimated to be in her mid-thirties. She had long, lustrous silver hair pulled back tightly into a ponytail, revealing her beautiful face. Her eyes were a radiant icy blue that almost seemed to glow, and she looked at us with a bored expression.

She gestured for us to approach, so we began walking the short distance to the desk. There were no chairs for us, so we stood a few feet away from her. I examined her quickly:

[Liana Bainmourth - Level 18 Spatial Mage]

"What is this about, Telovir? What is so important that you must waste my time by bringing me this mongrel?" she said in an annoyed tone. I tensed and went to offer a retort, but a look from Tel warned me not to.

"I am sorry, Miss Liana, Alex has a question for you that I cannot answer," he told her subserviently.

"Ask your question," she said, her tone wholly apathetic.

I did my best to hide my growing anger before I spoke. "My Lady, is there any way for a spatial mage, either you or someone else, to send me back to my world?" I asked as politely as I possibly could.

She laughed as if I had told a joke. I fidgeted nervously while she did, hoping for the answer I desperately desired to hear. Her laughter died down, and she finally responded.

"No. Even if I wanted to send your sorry ass back, there is no method. Now leave," she commanded. Telovir turned to obey, but I wasn't finished.

"There has to be some way! I've heard that two-way travel was possible before. Maybe we need to find the right item or spellbook-" I was saying as she slammed her hand on her desk.

"I. Said. Leave. You will obey my commands, slave!" she roared, her face twisted in rage. That did it. I tried, but Liana was related to Lord Bainmourth, and her attitude and mannerisms reminded me of a brat who had been handed everything on a silver platter her whole life. My rage overcame my logic, and I snapped at the woman who upended my entire life.

"Who the fuck are you anyway!?" I shouted. "You sit in your pretty little room, safe and sound, watching us fight for our lives down there. You ripped me away from everything I knew so that I could be a gods-damned sacrifice! I am no one's sacrifice and no one's slave! You'll see-" I was interrupted as Telovir grabbed me from behind in a bear hug that was way too strong for a man his size, and threw me outside the room, then slammed the door.

Samuel was outside and had presumably heard it all. He ushered me down the stairs quickly and followed behind me. We exited the hidden hallway and walked back towards the courtyard.

"You better hope Telovir can talk her down, Alex. She can have you executed for what you said. Why would you make an enemy of her?" Sam asked me as we walked.

"I've just had enough, Sam. That bitch treated me like I was less-than-human. For what? Because she was lucky enough to be born with the last name Bainmourth? Fuck that. Let her execute me at this point. What's the point if there's no way home for me?" I said, anger still in my voice as we reached the training area.

"Fight for your friends. Fight to get them out of here. The winning team of the Games is rewarded with freedom. Hope is not lost. One spoiled mage doesn't possess all the knowledge there is about spatial travel. Get out of this place and truly experience this world. Don't let this arena and its masters twist your view of how this world truly is. We are on the fringes of society here. Otherwise, the King would have put a stop to this long ago. Blood sports with unwilling participants are outlawed in the kingdom, but we are such a small, quiet city, so far removed from the capital, that it goes unnoticed. Stay in the courtyard and pray that Telovir can convince her not to have you killed."

I ran my hand over my face and sighed. He was right. It wasn't hopeless just because one person said there was no way home. "Alright, Sam. I'll wait here for my judgment, but I won't walk to the gallows peacefully if I am to be executed," I said, perhaps a little too harshly. Sam didn't respond. He just turned around and ran back the way we came.

I sat in the center of the training area, expecting an army of guards to come and grab me any moment. Ten minutes passed before Telovir arrived.

"Look, Tel, I-" I began to say as he cut me off.

"You're lucky she didn't kill you on the spot! I had to grovel and beg for her to spare your life. Why couldn't you keep your damn mouth shut!" he shouted.

"I fucked up, okay? I let my anger get the best of me. It won't happen again." I said softly.

"She won't have you executed, but I expect she'll attempt to have you killed in the arena. Most likely by making you fight some outrageously powerful team. She can't outright assassinate you during a match. The people have seemed to take a liking to your team and you in particular. The Games aren't some little competition the Bainmourths host for fun. It's how they make their fortune. They take a percentage of every bet placed. They charge admission to each fight. They take a cut from every vendor remotely near the arena. The annual Games are their livelihood. Also, expect to be meeting Hector much sooner than expected. She'll argue that you are non-compliant and are a risk to the guards and workers here." he explained, the anger fading slowly as he spoke.

"Tel, can I ask you something? How would I be able to break the brand Hector applies? Is there a way to counter it?" I asked, changing the subject.

The fightmaster shook his head. "Short of killing him? No. The spell is too powerful. When I was branded, I was paralyzed first. There were also three higher-level guards with him, and I was only level 40 at the time." he stated grimly.

"Do you know where they'll take me to be branded?" I questioned.

"Yes, of course. Hector comes here and performs it in the arena. Typically he doesn't show up until the combatants have reached level 30 or so." he answered, clearly confused why I would ask.

"Okay, Tel, listen to me very closely." I proceeded to explain my plan to him, and he seemed to be willing to give it a try. I was nervous about sharing it with him. If he betrayed me, there would be no second chance.

"We'll need Samuel for this, you know. I'm not sure he'll go along with it," he warned.

"I'll handle Sam. Just be ready when the time comes," I advised.

Telovir grasped my shoulder and looked me in the eyes. "Tomorrow, you'll be the second fight of the day. Expect a strong enemy team, possibly even the favorite from your tier. Be careful. I'll see you back here later for dinner." he said before he turned and walked away.

I felt terrible that my rash decision could put my team in more danger. I spent my free time taking out my frustration on a training dummy.

I was unsure how much time had passed when my teammates entered the courtyard. I had a vague idea of the time of day based on the sun. My phone had been demolished from my first fight with the two dwarves. Maybe they sold magical wristwatches here?

"I heard you told our resident princess to get fucked," Cass said with a laugh.

"Eh, not exactly. I'm sorry, guys. I let my anger get the best of me. We're probably in for a rough fight tomorrow because of it. Tel said we may even be facing the top team," I answered.

"What? How would we fight our own team?" Leo said with a warm smile.

I laughed, some of the weight lifted from my shoulders. Leo had a way of knowing what to say or do to raise anyone's spirits. Maybe that came with being a healer, or perhaps it was just who he was, but either way, I appreciated him for it.

Telovir and Samuel joined us a few minutes later. Samuel wheeled a cart with steaming food towards a table for us. After Sam set the plates on the table, he wheeled the cart back in the direction he came. We ate a great dinner consisting of grilled fish and rice with a delicious sweet and spicy sauce.

"Tonight, rest and meditate. Focus on your fight tomorrow. I don't know who you will be facing, but expect Liana to pull some strings in favor of your opponents. In the morning, we will come here and discuss strategies to defeat various compositions of combatants," Telovir instructed us.

We said our goodnights and I went back to my quarters. I meditated for a long while, reliving the fights I had been in, what I did correctly, and what I did wrong. I considered how I could have better used my positioning, my teammates, my skills, or my weapons to have gained a better advantage. An ethereal notification broke my concentration.

[You have reached Level 9.]

I was happy I gained the last little bit to hit level 9. Any advantage would be welcome for tomorrow's battle. I hopped on my cot, my nerves keeping me awake for a long while before I dozed off. I woke up numerous times that night, and I even walked out to the courtyard at one point. It was another crystal clear night. The stars and moon illuminated the training area, and I saw someone sitting in the center.

Cassilia sat cross-legged in the sand, her red hair tied back into a tight ponytail. She rested her hands on her thighs and was breathing rhythmically. Her eyes were closed, and her face was emotionless. Even relaxed, her muscled form was impressive. She had a physique that people on Earth could only obtain from years spent in the gym. It made me wonder what the woman had gone through to sculpt her body like that. Cass wasn't a talker, though. She hid behind sarcasm, humor, and occasional anger, but I knew she was suffering. I can't imagine how it felt to be betrayed by your parents, and for money of all things.

She opened her eyes for a moment and motioned for me to approach. I sat next to her, mimicking her pose. We silently meditated together for a long while. It was peaceful and relaxing. When I finally stood and returned to my cot, I felt a little less nervous.