Most of the other matches are standard fare, almost dull in comparison with Savannah's.

I tune them out, although I do pay attention to the one with a foreign boy who was arguing with his mother earlier. He uses what looks to be ornately carved daggers in both hands and faces off against a similarly sized opponent wielding a long spear. The battle is a blur of speedy slashes, clanging blades, and quick parries, but he ends up winning the fight with just a few scratches.

His mother’s voice is the loudest in the podium and he waves at her as he walks to the winner's tent, sitting right by Savannah. She holds up her fist, and after a moment of surprised hesitation, he bumps it with his.

The only two matches that deviate from the norm are one between two men that lasts so long, the audience curses at both fighters out of boredom, and another that ends in a double knockout for both opponents. The sky grows darker, the evening chill starting to oppress us, but the battles seem endless, another and then another, cheers from the crowd, King Drogo raises his hand, a body is carted off the field as the smiling victor dances to the tent.

Like I said, I don't pay much attention, because I spend most of that time watching Wolf.

He doesn't look in my direction, instead analyzing the matches with an almost bored look on his face. I mentally will him to look at me so I can perhaps read what he's thinking, but so far I have no clue. A part of me thinks maybe he's pointedly avoiding looking at me, just to annoy me.

It's something that the Wolf in the future would do, but we haven't built that kind of relationship yet so I can only imagine his lack of attention indicates he doesn't care whether I'm here or not.

So why is he here? Did he decide to take me up on my offer, to help me? Or is he just here to watch the fights like everyone else?

But he never came to the trial before.

And he almost never comes to the Village Square.

So why is he here?

I can't figure him out.

Finally, the gong sounds again, and the announcer calls out, "Prince Castellan Elric vs Yul Boats."

The names finally inject some renewed excitement into the crowd. Sounds wash across victor's tent, everyone leaning forward in anticipation.

It's going to be a good battle.

Prince Caster is a great fighter but Yule Boats, son of Chief Boats, is a great fighter too. He's one of the few, apart from Caster, who participated in the Battle of the Beasts, where magical creatures from the dark forest are released onto the field for fighters to test their mettle. I actually saw him take down one of them all on his own.

He's not to be underestimated.

The spectators clap as Caster stands, and they cheer when he waves and smiles like the beloved prince he is. All his posturing irritates me even before the next part comes.

He walks to the podium next to the victor's tent, the front of which is usually reserved for important guests. He doesn't look at me even though he's only a few feet away. Instead, he extends his hand towards another woman, with blonde hair tucked in a bun at her nape, secured by a pretty flower hairpin.

She rises and takes his hand, smiling gently. Her face, while pleasant, isn't breathtaking. She has what my mother calls forgettable features, but her face is unadorned as if she doesn't necessarily care to even show off what little beauty she does have. To prove it, she's wearing a simple brown dress, with barely any jewels.

But when she turns, I see a single streak of red, tucked in the other side of her face, the color of a flame.

Of course, she doesn't need anything else. She doesn't need to show beauty or wealth.

In the eyes of the King, she has more value than every other woman in this Village.

Like the flame Chief himself, his daughter can use magic. She can control fire, pretty well I might add.

Magic is not new in the North but it's relatively rare. Most who do wield magic hail from a Southern bloodline, or from one of the Easterners.

Only once in centuries is a pure-blooded northerner born with Magic.

And that person is Genya.

We watch as she reaches up and skims her lips over Caster's cheeks.

"Fight well, Your Highness," she says, loud enough for the surrounding crowd to hear her.

Caster nods and the crowd claps nodding in approval of the display.

As they clap, Genya steps back smiling gracefully and I wonder if I'm the only one who can see the triumphant bite underneath her innocent interior. Her eyes effortlessly find mine but I look away instantly.

Only to be immediately ensnared by Wolf’s gaze.

Great. I nearly scoff. It's the one time I don’t want him to be looking at me.

I tear my eyes away from him and focus on my hands instead, feeling heat burn my skin. No doubt Wolf isn't the only one looking at me. Given how public, though short-lived, the prince and my relationship was I'm sure at least a few people are curious about my reaction.

And some are trying to make me have one.

Brute laughs and claps louder than everyone else possibly for my benefit. It's more so irritating that he thinks that will hurt my feelings, but I simply ignore him staring into space.

Please, everyone, just move on.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Finally, everyone gives their attention back to the arena when it's clear that the match is starting. Caster and Yul circle each other. Although I know they're both proficient with swords and long-range weapons, neither of them has any those. They seem to have chosen to use only their fists today.

The two have trained together before and they both know each other’s weak spots which means that this match will be interesting indeed.

I already know what the outcome will be so it's significantly less so for me.

Caster attacks first, his speed and agility matched by Yul who ducks and swings a blow into Caster's side. Caster blocks, spins, and kicks right into Yul's forearm which comes up at the right moment to protect his face. But Caster is not done. Simultaneously, he hooks his knee around Yul's neck drags him forward, and drives his forehead into Yul's.

"Argh!" As Yule stumbles back, Caster leaps up and shoots his heel into his chest, before sidestepping Yul's counterattack.

Wow. Caster has gotten better than I remember.

I have to admit he's a formidable fighter. The beauty of Caster’s fighting technique is he never just goes for defense or offense. He does both at the same time, effortlessly. Each hit is escorted by another which makes it difficult for his opponent to block both. His moves flow right into each other, the ability to anticipate and quickly counter each attack making him an even more dangerous opponent.

Yul puts up a good fight, even landing a blow or two on Caster's face, but he never has the upper hand. He's almost always on the defense and maintains it for a respectable length of time until Caster finally ends the match by driving his head into his again, knocking him out.

The crowd chants his name, everyone on their feet.

"Hail Prince Castellan, the Golden Prince! Caster! Golden Prince!

Caster turned to his father who nods with a careless flick of the hand. Caster's lips press together, and although his expression barely changes, I know Caster is disappointed by his father's reaction.

Nevertheless, he recovers enough to smile at the crowd. He also goes to Genya again who bestows him another kiss before he heads back to his throne.

And just like that, the day is nearly over. The final battle is called between Savi Lute, a foreigner, and Judd Hilldebert, son of a once prolific Elite Soldier from an influential Northern Family who deserted the Second Bloody Battle of Rynder. The battle was waged to push back the Pangean forces who were attempting to capture the Rynder Stronghold, an important merchant town for the North. Although the Northern Warriors barely eked out a victory, the King lost one of his son's in the process.

And he's never forgiven any of the deserters for it.

All deserters were put the death and their families banished. I remember Judd was one of the best fighters in our class, but left the village at one point with his mother in disgrace, taunted by the Villagers who watched their procession.

And now he's back.

"I didn't think children of traitors could participate in this game," one of the victors says to another, who shrugs.

We wait to see what the king will do, if he will allow this match to continue.

Foreigner against traitor. I wonder which one is worse in his eyes.

Judd's opponent, the foreigner, raises a hand in the air.

"I renege," he says.

The King face grows even more displeased.

"Any challengers?" The announcer calls out and King Drogo immediately turns to Caster.

He makes a gesture with his chin.

Caster frowns in confusion but the King does not repeat himself. Caster's face then slacks as he understands what the King wants.

He wants Caster to challenge Judd.

King Drogo likely was not satisfied with his son's victory because it was far too easy. Caster fought well but not well enough to show the true might of the Elric family, leaders of the North.

"My father always says in all things I must be twice as good," Caster used to tell me on our walks. “I can’t just be good. I have to be exceptional. I constantly have to prove myself to everyone."

"Except me," I told him at the time smiling. "You never have to prove yourself to me. Because I already know how amazing you are."

Ick. I can't believe I said all those things to him.

But this is evidence of the King's expectations of Caster. He can't just win once. He must win twice.

Caster's face shutters closed when it's clear what he must do.

This part happened in the first life too. I wasn’t around to observe it of course, having been banished from the arena by Caster, but I heard later that Caster had fought two opponents and won both. The last battle was a close call though, and he was wounded although not seriously. The scar on his chest stung sometimes and needed ointment daily but it was by no means life-threatening.

All that will likely happen again.

But then, a shock goes through the crowd as a voice like thunder says,

“I challenge.”

The voice pierces through the din, seeming to come from nowhere and everywhere all at once. I gape as Wolf walks from his hidden cove to the center of the arena, standing opposite Judd.

Silence.

It isn't like the silence that happened when I walked forward. This one is a combination of surprise and awe as if a god walked upon us.

Many have heard of Wolf but not a lot have seen him in person.

Right now, a few stand to get a better look and excited titters reverberate in the air. Those in the front seats lean closer as though to get a closer look.

But none of that compares to the reaction at the King's podium.

Both generals shoot to their feet, gaping. The king remains seated but he leans forward, as if he's just as entranced by him as everyone else in the crowd.

Caster looks confused and annoyed, but as I turn to my right, I catch sight of Genya again and her expression gives me pause.

At first glance, she seems composed, but her eyes are on Wolf and a smile curls her lip. Her expression reminds me of a hungry snake.

It's the first time, I've seen her mask crack so openly.

Wolf seemed oblivious or uncaring of the attention he's getting. He simply crooks his finger at his opponent as if to say, let’s get on with this.

Judd's expression changes from confident to apprehensive in a flash. He likely joined this trial to regain some of the glory of his family name, to prove he's different from his father. To give his family a chance at returning to the North.

He can't afford to back down and look like a coward. The deserter's son turns deserter, the crowd would mock him and his family will be disgraced forever.

But surely, he must know that he has no chance of winning here right?

The brightness of his gaze makes me doubt his sense, as does the way he gets into fighting stance.

Maybe he does have hope. After all stranger things have happened already. I defeated the Mountain. Savannah fought like she was flying.

Perhaps he could defy the storm too.

Unfortunately for him, the fight, if you can even call it that, is decided from the start.

It's a clear mismatch but unlike Brute, Wolf does not toy around with his opponent. Once Judd attacks, Wolf simply steps aside and drives his powerful fist into his midsection.

Judd doesn't even get to utter a single sound. He simply flops onto the ground and doesn't move.

Wolf turns to the king and raises an eyebrow.

The king’s lips tighten. Wolf's expression and distinct lack of deference borders on disrespect. For anyone else, that level of disrespect would be enough to have them disqualified and flogged, but not for someone with the relationship that Wolf and the King have.

A relationship that no one, not even me, completely understands.

Although right now, I know more about it than even Wolf himself does.

Even now, the King stares at Wolf hungrily with an intensity that nearly mirrors Genya’s. Next to him, Roki is smiling, but Halo looks neutral. And then there's Caster, who looks like he swallowed something some of the ox dung Seir was talking about.

I enjoy the look if nothing else.

The King flicks his finger and the crowd cheers. Wolf doesn't join us. He goes back into the shadows.

The horn blares to announce the conclusion of the games conclude in short order. The crowd rises to give a final clap as they start filing toward the entrance. Some hang back to discuss amongst themselves or perhaps to meet with the victors, but I don't hesitate. I can already see Wolf walking away, his back melding with the shadows.

I can't let him escape.

I instantly bolt through the throng moving after him as fast as I can.

But the minute I step out of the entrance of the arena, a hand slaps my face, and I stagger into a wall.

"You thieving cunt!" My mother's cruel eyes blare down at me. "I'm going to make you regret the day you were ever born!"