We left the tent to walk towards an empty broad field where in the left stood multiple individual small tents each one carrying flags of different colours while at the right were the large tarp roofed seatings for the hundreds if not thousand of eyes now burned at our every steps, look, and action.
The beat of the trumpet thumped on my heart as we marched out to the field and presented ourselves faces forward to the sea of crowd that felt like I was in front of a concert or live famous talent show.
If that were the case then the nobles who sat on a private balcony gleaming armor were the secondary judges. While the one with a majestic armor with violet fur cape and recognizable beard and smile was the main judged of this show.
He was not alone. With his wife besides him in his seat all dressed in lavish dress silk of leafy green and designed with vein gold. While Lady Juliana their daughter, now wore a navy blue lavish silk dress. She was once again cradled an expensive looking glass container in which another white rose floated inside.
Once we formed a line that presented us to our audience. Serafina, in her white and blue priestess clothing, came from an unknown entrance with some monks and nuns by her side. She passed each one giving some sort of prayer where our armors were made to sparkle divine light for a second before it returned to its normality.
“Be brave, young one.”
“Have faith in yourself.”
“You are more than what you think you are.”
Until...
“Never give up.”
She said to me and touched my armor before moving and the monks and sisters telling me to raise my mouth wide and a drop from vial which when slithered down my tongue tasted like liquid honey, or something near tangy like that.
“What did they gave?”
I understand the prayer and daily inspirational quotes.
But the drink as that they gave to each and one of us.
“It's hard to explain since, from what I gathered, it's a kind of healing potion that helps the against internal bleeding, prevent bone from getting fractured and it will even prevent blindness if you got hit in the eye.”
And this effect would last a day and before more questions could be ask. The priestess left and sat with her followers on their own private tent roofed seating. Then came another notable figure to face the spot light. With a hand gesture of his hand the trumpet stopped and Mayor Ronald began the announcement of this fight.
“Citizens of Ellena, as always, we and Lord Magnus --”
Has sponsored and created this games; little tournament, with the help of Rex Fisher and some notable guild leaders that made this possible then comes the rules which were different from the team melee:
1) Selections of weapons are too be but shields and swords.
2) Contestants will lose if they got knocked out, unarmed, or forced to the ground only. Meaning if we trip by accident and luckily don't get harassed and get up with a fight then we can still fight on.
3) Lastly, the referees -- O'Brian, Katherine and Edmund -- will stop any fight if they deem the contestant unable or had
‘had their fill’.
“Thus, I present to you!
Elfien Hunt representative of the Ellena Garrison Guards.”
The crowd cheered as me and went forward to raise my hand.
“Neil Larson representative of the Monestary brew guild.”
WHAT!?
And I saw him with a sparkling wink on me as he strolled down with waving hands and smile. He was accompanied by a single thin monk covered by a saggy hood.
“Ugh. Mattel you damned fermented hop drinker.”
Sighed May.
“Raven... Bolt representative of the adventurers.”
Just that name! Another adventurer!
Then came the inn guild, candle maker's guild, tailors guild, baker's guild, butcher's guild, farmer's guild, merchant's guild, shoemaker's guild, Lord's guard, Carpenter's guild, Black Smith's guild, Carver's guild, and finally the Armourers and Brasiers guild. With that finally out of the way we were lead to the individual tents. Where at the end the battle would start with Me against Neil.
Me and May got a red and white stripped tent. Once inside, a bench, a weapon rack, a table with food, water, bandages and the such, and Wendy.
“Why are you here?”
I asked.
“As your wife I want to support you and keep you company.”
Replying with a tilt and smile.
“May?”
I was going to ask of she planned this but...
“Help him wear that, I'll be right back.”
She pointed in stern at the weapon rack where a red surcoat as she left with thunder under her footsteps.
Wendy took the cloth and presented it to me. A red surcoat with the guard's coat of arms. A shield with four symbols etched inside that shield. A griffon, A lady, A sword, and another griffon.
Once she helped me on
with that, I was ready and a bit nervous as I took my sword -- not wooden but blunted
steel -- and buckler. I was up against Neil, whom I very well know would love this fight if hasn't have those bs power ups. But I have to show May what I can do.
“Good luck.”
Waved Wendy as I left the tent accompanied by some cheer from her as I walked face down and could feel the eyes of hundreds aimed at me. Butt couldn't see my opponent just an empty field. Instead, I saw a clamour around the Royal benches, where May, Mayor Ronald, Wendy's parents, and Lord Magnus seemed to be in deep discussion but seemed to end quickly as Lord Magnus gave out a gesture.
After a minuet or two I faced a different opponent. Sword and buckler as well, outside his armour was purple surcoat with a griffon, castle, griffon, castle coat of arms. What the heck. What did May do? Why did he replaced Neil with this guy?
As we stood front on, Edmund and O'Brian, holding a pole with winding yellow stripes and wearing nothing but a visor helmet and gambeson, reiterated the rules before staring the fight.
“Ha!”
He took the initiative. Buckler forward and sword above his left shoulder he slash his sword at me backing up a bit as he recoils for another strike and attack again. I found myself in the defensive by this brutal yet careful attack until I blocked his fourth blow I thrust my sword forwards his temple only to be parried and got hit by his buckler pushing me back and got me in a desperate position.
By stroke a of luck, I planted my right foot firm as he passed forwarded for an attack in which a clang was made when my buckler hit his thrust and swayed my sword to push him back. This gave me a bit of space to work with as I took air heavily as he was. Yet he took the initiative again gulping down I counter charged and met his attack head on. The fighting was vicious as we traded blow after blow, left and right, but each strike wasn't enough for one of us to deter us until he tried a desperation jab using his buckler at me that I dodged but he started to cling and tried to wrestled me down. I could hear him breathe heavy as we struggled until a pole slid between and us and O'Brian separated me us.
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“This is a sword fight not a mud wrestle, you good?”
O'Brian said as wheezed and begged for air.
Calling for Edmund we both saw that my opponent was panting even more than I am as Edmund talked to him. After a few second he let him go and our fight renews, but this time he was in a resting stance with his buckler on his knees and sword down.
I laughed a bit as I readied to strike. And attack I did at this stance that had knocked me out for so long, as he strikes at my feint which a quick thrust to his temple made him stagger that another well placed quick slice stumbled him to earth in which I secured him down by pointing my sword at him as he grunted up.
It's only when he gave up did I notice the audience has been cheering. Letting go of my sword I lend him a hand stand up.
“G-great game...”
Was all I could squeeze out of my brain as both of us took air greatly and he just nodded, with some confusion in his face, as Edmund helped him to his tent and O'Brian to mine.
“Ha! Well done, my dear!”
Said May as he led me to the bench and remove my helmet and Wendy offering me water and wiping off some sweat.
A minuet or two of resting passed until I asked May what happened, why wasn't Neil on the field?
“If you have faced him I would have given you my sword.”
She shook her head,
“No, he is to fight the same cheater that is why, and as to be fair for the other guilds, you get to fight the Lord's Manor Guard representative, Locke Cartwright, one of O'Brian's students before.”
She then proceeded to chug a wooden mug as we watch the second match commences.
“Is that really your reason?”
I continued to ask. Because I know I can take on Neil, he wouldn't probably used powers on in the first place.
“Of course,”
She shrugged,
“We get to see whose the best cheater among them. But, the fight already started, let's make a bet.”
“Why?”
Me and Wendy said.
“Everyone is doing it, the nobles are secretly doing it, even your parents are doing it with the other guilds. Where do you think I got this nice Monestary brew when you won?”
She formed a satisfied grin when raising her mug.
“Your saying that you bet on your own son's fight?”
“I know how well you fight, and how well Locke kept his training. In my eyes both of you are equal in skills but in endurance, Katherine made sure of it that you were the better!”
She then pinched my cheeks that I quickly squirmed out.
“So thank you for this brew!”
And did a great chug at her mug before giving me a hug. Her armor and my chainmail clanked.
“Darn,”
I heard Wendy as she held her chin and looked in deep thought.
“Besides this is just to past the time, if I win you get to massage my back, if you win I get to buy you something you like. What do you say, Wendy my dear? Wanna join?”
She's clearly drunk and wobbling. That red face and tipsy smile reminded me of the first day I got here and saw her drunk. It's been a while since she made that face. I told her that she should stop it I'm bad at betting games anyway.
“T-then I would want Elfien to massage my back as well, and if I lose then I get to massage his back.”
“That's the spirit!”
“Not joining.”
I said as the fight between the merchant representative and candle maker representative; the wearing the coat of arms of the anchor, crown, and Marlin, against brown castle, candle, castle, candle.
“Fine, in behalf of my son,”
I felt a sinister aura as May said that with a giggle.
“Wendy, my dear, if that merchant representative wins then Elfien sleeps with you in your carriage, if the candle maker representative wins you get to sleep with Elfien, how about that?”
“What? You wouldn't dare!”
I looked at Wendy and tell her to deny this bet and just ignore her.
“I-I... Agree with miss May...”
She said shyly.
“Why— Hmphff!”
“Sush! Look!”
With her hand on my mouth she pointed at the candle representative writhing on the ground holding his knee as O'Brian, and Katherine was tending to him while Edmund returned with a monk. The merchant representative raised his sword that made a section of the crowd boom a loud cheer.
“And don't worry about it, Me and old Fisher agreed the date of your marriage already.”
How strong is that beer? She only took a mug but she smells like a whole crate of ale was showered down her.
“I'll give you the key to my carriage later.”
Wendy fidgeted.
“Alright next bet!”
Throwing off May's drunken lock on me I joined in the action.
It was the tailor's representative against baker's rep.
“I choose... The baker. Yeah, the bakers.”
Out of knowledge, that bakers carry flours, knead dough, and other heavy duties that I think the baker will have an endurance advantage.
“If I win you get to be sober for a month! and you, our marriage to be denied!”
I could see their entire face shatter at my proposition. Now that I think about it, this could my chance to get rid of that marriage contract.
“N-no-no-no! I don't want to join in this bet any longer!”
I could see her eyes form a tear.
“No, you agreed in the first place so no backing out!”
I laughed as I didn't know she'd be this cute being flustered.
“Wendy! Come here!”
Jumped May and stealing Wendy deep in the tent as they whispered.
“Scheming won't help!”
I said as I broke my laugh and watched on the fight, I'm not serious about this anyway. Well, maybe May should sober up I don't want to see her all too drunk with hoarse voice again.
****
As the fight was in it's heat, where the both fighter has traded some good blows and that they're slowing down, changing guards, and slowly creeping to each other,
“Ha!”
Wendy was right, the way they fought suggests they took a lengthy period of training. But, right on my prediction, the baker had an advantage on endurance and as sound clang of the buckler hit the visor of the candle maker the crowd go ‘Oh!’ as he stumbled to earth where the baker quickly pointed his sword at the face of the candle maker. A clap and cheer from his guild was given at his victory. May and Wendy saw it thus I told them about my bet.
“Then, next round will be in my terms! If I win then after this match you... You... Propose to me!”
She cracked her voice but didn't stop.
“And the contract will be renewed with... With... An addition that we have 5 kids as we grow old together... ”
She said in an almost whisper tone as she his her face with her golden hair. Looking behind me, I caught May hiding her thumbs up as I suspected.
“Ok, if I win then what May said will be forfeited and... Let's just forget this bet and watch.”
Yet, May's drunken demeanor still kept nagging and betting despite my desire to just watch and wait until my match. And... To my surprise, every round, every time I thought I picked the right fighter, I always lose, even if I didn't agree to join anymore, they were serious as May gave me a ring that she made out of the wooden mug she broke and bent the metal strips and sternly said to me that I propose now.
Then came the match I have been anticipating for.
“Neil, I bet on Neil.”
I said to them as Neil Larson wearing a white cloth outside his armor with the surcoat of arms of a lady, castle, church, and griffon. He held his sword and buckler against an adventurer of Silver hair and blue eyes, wearing black cloth around his armor with the coat of arms of sword and castle.
Everyone knows Neil, Allan and Roland to have the same absurd powers comparable to an adventurer. After that chicken necromancy incident that got us separated for weeks what time I spent training did they use their powers in public services. I hear about their deed in the conversation of townies that I served; garrison guards spat out their report to Kenneth about accidents, thievery, and would fatal events if not for Allan Roland, and Neil's timely action; it brought them respect and fame from the masses.
No wonder the popularity rating cannot be denied as Neil's name was announce that all cheered and applauded in great adoration while in contrast to the obligatory clap when the adventurer's was announced and two girls that cheered him on outside his tent.
As I was about to ask whose side May is taking sparks exploded as the two greeted sword. May took out her sword and stabbed the earth and a beam of light shone around us deflecting any sparks that flew towards us. Seeing such ferocity as the two clashed, I looked at the neighboring tents how they were faring on this absurd fight.