I walked down the ramp, towards the ring, I could hear loud cheers and hoots of excitement that were echoing out. As I made my way to the ring a sudden flash of light from the sun blinded me making me wince. There was a voice that boomed out.
“WELCOME TO THE 73 COLISUEM EVENT!”
A loud, deafening, cheer rang out.
“WITH US TODAY WE HAVE THE YOUNG AND LOVELY PRINCESS, PRINCESS DELPHINIA!”
Another cheer sounded out, I came out from the entrance and looked up to the stands to see a woman sitting in a large seat. She waved towards the crowd. So I guess she was the Princess of this city? She was wearing a long white dress and from what I could see here in the ring she also had long hair that reached down to her stomach.
The announcer continued.
“NOW, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LETS GET THIS SHOW STARTED!!!”
The crowd managed to make even louder noise, so much so that I think I lost my hearing for a second.
“FOR OUR FIRST MATCH-UP, WE HAVE TWO YOUNG WARRIORS. THE FIRST IS A YOUNG MAN WHO SEEKS FAME AND FORTUNE. KALE!”
I looked at the end of the arena and scowled as I seen a familiar face, Mr. Pretty Boy. Great.
“THIS TIME WE HAVE RATHER A RARE SIGHT TO BEHOLD! FOR KALES OPPONENT WILL BE A WOMAN. TEELA!”
The crowd’s excitement practically died in an instant. I suddenly felt a little uncomfortable at the silent, for a moment I remembered a similar situation. Back in Longris, when the little prince tried to make a fool of me. Before I could reminisce about that humiliating thought I could hear someone calling my name.
“Teela! Come on, don’t think about them. You can do this Teela!”
I looked up into the stands and seen Zephy, Sarya and Elora cheering me from them. Those guys… I felt a smile played on my lips. That’s right; I wasn’t the same person I was back in Longris. I now had a daughter and two wives.
I stared down this ‘Kale’ with a new fire brimming inside me; he seemed to take notice of this and became nervous.
“Teela was it…? You can still save face and-““Just shut up and let’s get this over with.” I snapped at his offer. I wasn’t interested in his pleading.
“B-But Miss Teela! Those women must be your friends! I doubt they would want to see you hurt.”
I looked over to where the others sat and smiled, looking back at Kale I shook my head. “No, they aren’t my friends. Both those women are my wives”
Kales face was priceless.
“P-Pardon…? W-Wives!? How is such a thing possible?”
I shrugged. “It just is.”
“CONTESTANTS! YOU MAY… BEGIN!”
Both me and Kale tensed and stood ready.
“Miss Teela… “
“Mrs. Teela” I corrected him.
Without another word I advanced and swing at him. Not with the intent to connect, I just wanted him to know that I was serious about this. As far as I seen, he seemed like a good man. But his purity was most likely the result of him not seeing the world at its worst. I doubt he had to fight for his life even once. Just looking at him was enough to see that. He wore an outfit that was crisp and clean, his weapon was a rapier that looked to be of good quality. He was most likely pampered at birth.
“Come on ‘Kale’ I’m not going to take it easy on you!” I jabbed my sword at him and he deflected it.
We were taking jabs at each other a few times, me more than him. Eventually he got brave enough to try lunging at me, deflecting it easily; I arched a brow at him.
“So now you’re getting serious?”
He shrugged and continued to circle me. So I guess that answers my question. Now it was my turn. I twirled the blade towards his leg and he side-stepped to the left. Trying to bring his rapier down onto my shoulder, I closed the gap between us and threw him to the ground. I needed to find a way to make him submit without hurting him too badly. I sat on top of him and delivered a punch to his face which stunned him. He grabbed my hips and shoved me off, we both scrambled to regain our footing.
“Ow… damn, my face.” He groaned in response.
“Don’t worry; you’ll get use to it.”
He rubbed his face and stood ready once again. I needed to finish this quick or it could turn bloody real fast. We clashed our swords again and it suddenly hit me as to how to finish it. I pushed him back and swiped my sword against his, knocking the rapier out of his hand and sending it flying out of the ring. Before he had time to run and retrieve it I poke my sword at his chest.
“Give it up Kale. It’s over.”
He looked at the sword and sighed. “I-I… guess it’s my loss…” He held up his hands in surrender.
“WELL WHAT HAVE WE HERE!? TEELA HAS TAKEN THE FIRST VICTORY!”
A sudden loud cheer boomed out from the crowd. I looked over to the Princess and noticed that she wasn’t clapping like the rest of the crowd. She instead sat up in her chair looking at me. Perhaps she was surprised that a woman won a match? Either way, I made my way out of the ring and waited for the next match-up.
……………..
I laid down, sighing. I could hear the announcer voice boomed through-out the hallway; I couldn’t hear what he said though.
There were also cheers and such echoing out as the other participants fought against each other. I was waiting outside the room where we had gathered before the match-up. I noticed that the man I knocked-out wasn’t around anymore. I decided to stay out here because I wasn’t interested in the stares from the other men. I could hear someone walking down the hallway. I looked up and felt warmth spread throughout me as I seen Sarya walking towards me.
“Sarya!” I stood up and moved to embraced her. “What are you doing down here?” I asked.
She smiled. “I was coming down here to see how you were holding up. I hope you are doing well?”
I nodded and looked over her shoulder. “Where are Zephy and Elora?”
She shook her head. ”Zephy has taken Elora out to get some food. It’s seems she is enjoying this.”
It was my turn to shake my head and laughed. That sounded like her, Zephy seemed to always find a way to take advantage of the situation. Like that one situation with cuffs…
She grasped my hands and had me look in her eyes. “Teela… you don’t have to do this. I know that having a woman as a slave would cause some anger and hate, but I just…”
She trailed off, her eyes clearly reliving a moment she would better be without. I lend my forehead on hers and sighed.
“I know… it seems best not to charge headlong into battle. We are already fugitives. But after seeing the things we have… can you really let things happen this way? Can you really let people get away with things such as this? Slavery? If we just stand aside and do nothing then things will never change, I came with you on this adventure so we could make a change. I know that violence is not the best way to make change but in this world it is sometimes a necessary evil.”
I embraced her again. “You have a heart of gold Sarya. I wouldn’t want anyone to take it from you. It’s the reason why I chose to go. I don’t want you to live through this by yourself. I know I’m sounding selfish and stupid but still… I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
I laughed and tightened my hold. “I love you Sarya. Never forget that.”
She sniffed back tears and buried her head into my shoulder. “I love you too Teela.”
We pulled back to look each other in the eyes and our lips met. She had such a sweet taste. I lend in closer and suddenly spotted a familiar face behind her. Kale.
I pulled back and Sarya turned to see the young man. They both had flustered faces.
“Um… I’ll head back up with Zephy and Elora.” She quickly moved past Kale and made her way out leaving me glaring at the young man. ‘Well… he certainly ruined the mood’
“What do you want Kale?” I asked, not even bothering to hide my irritation.
“T-That elf was one of your…” He trailed off as his face turned even redder.
“Yes… she’s my wife. What of it?”
“So you weren’t jesting…”He muttered in disbelief.
“Do you need something Kale? Or perhaps you wish to fume at me for your loss?”
I knew he probably didn’t mean to intrude but it still made me a little irritable that he still did.
“Uh… I just wanted to ask you why you were doing this?”
“This? As in why am partaking in this contest?” He nodded. “Because I refuse to let that woman fall into the hands of some monster. I refuse to allow her to live out the rest of her live as some prize that someone won.”
I closed the distance and eyed him. “Dear Kale, I want you to know something… I hate the world that men have created. Slavery, discrimination and simple profit. That’s what I’ve seen women regarded as. It’s disgusting.”
His eyes fell to the floor. “I-I…” I cut him off quickly. “You may not have done such a thing but the fact that you most likely overlook such things is enough for me to not hold you in high regard.”
His eyes snapped up in a panic look. “I would never allow women to be abused in such a manner!”
I look in to his eyes, I was looking for something to tell me that he was lying but he still held a firm gaze. So maybe he wasn’t lying.
“Maybe you have actually helped those in need but the point remains. Women are not held in high regard. With this Coliseum I hope to achieve one thing and one thing alone: Women will not be preyed on by men any longer. If I win this then I hope that when men think of women, they will hold them in new regard. Of course it’s stupid to think that just this will be enough. But it’s my start.”
He was looking at the floor with a pained, yet, confused expression. So I added one more thing:
“My wife Sarya wants to help this world by blessing crops. My second wife wants to ensure that women are treated fairly, same with me. All I want Kale is to be able to walk into the streets or into an establishment without being treated differently, I just want… equal rights. Is that too much to ask for?”
Indeed, this… was what I wanted. What I think every woman would want. Thinking back to the modern world, yes there still existed sexism, but it was far better than the world I lived in now. When I first came to this world I was still in a firm mindset that the world should be like mine. Women should be able to go out and not have to protect their chastity with their life. I had read a few books regarding female warriors but never had I seen that they would need to do such a thing. Now that I had a chance to do something, such as proving myself, I couldn’t pass up this opportunity. I also wanted to save the Qwarnell. From what the event organizer told me she sounded like she was used, by the kingdoms, and left to be at the mercy to anyone who held her for themselves. I couldn’t really let that go, not when I had a solid chance to help her.
Kale sighed and met my gaze; he wasn’t angry or frustrated like I thought he would be. Instead he smiled.
“Well, if that’s your reason… then I wish you luck. Miss… I mean, Mrs. Teela.”He held his hand out, I was hesitant at first but decided to take it and shake it.
Kale walked away, leaving me to lay back on the floor waited for the next bout. I noticed that someone was watching from the room and I frown at him. “What?” I asked. He didn’t answer; instead he walked back into the room. ‘What was that about?’
………………..
I had entered the ring once again and I heard the announcer voice boomed out again.
“WE ARE NOW ENTERING THE SECOND SET! FOR THIS MATCH WE HAVE THE YOUNG AND LOVELY TEELA FIGHTING ONCE AGAIN. SHE HAS WOWED THE CROWN BY STANDING HER GROUND!”
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I watched the other end of the arena and seen a figure moving towards me.
“…AND NOW WE HAVE A GRIZZLED WARRIOR COMING FROM THE SWAMPS. DARIAS!”
The man stood at the ready. He was African-American and stood about a head taller than me. He had a few scars on his face and a set of dreadlocks. His build was quite large, probably enough to invoke fear just by standing near him. He wielded an ax.
“Well well well, what have we here? It looks like the little girl has managed to actually make it this far. I’ll hand it to you, I’m impressed. I heard you broke some poor bastard’s finger. A woman like you should think about finding a suitable partner, lucky for you, I’d be quite happy to take you.”
I rolled my eyes hard at his ‘offer’
“Well that sounds like an absolutely terrible idea. I’m quite fine as I am.”
“CONTESTANTS! BEGIN!”
He didn’t even hesitate to close the distance and swing his ax at my head. ‘Damn, it looks like he’s trying to kill me!’ I ducked and slashed his stomach; I moved past him and widen our distance.
Looking back I could see blood seeping through his wound and dripping on the floor. He gritted his teeth and charged again. This time both our weapons clashed and we strained against each other but I knew it was a losing battle, he soon was overpowering me. He was larger and had more body mass so he could easily use that to his advantage. He displayed a wide grin as he looked down on me.
“Well little girl, if you agree to be mine I’ll allow you to leave here mostly intacted.”
I gritted my teeth and spat: “Sorry asshole, but I’m already taken, by two beautiful women!”
He blinked in confusion.
‘Chance!’ I took the chance to move my feet and kick him in the groin. He immediately fell over groaning so I keep going by using the hilt of my sword down on the back of his head. His entire body went limp, so I stood back to let the crowd see.
“WHAT HAVE WE HERE!? TEELA HAS PULLED THROUGH AGAIN!”
The crowd roared with excitement leaving me breathing deeply. While it wasn’t the most grueling match it still left me strained due to our clash. Well… on to the next one.
…………….
I was once again standing at the arena, facing my new opponent. A strange looking man with a robe and wielded a staff.
‘Huh… he seems out of place…’
He bore a tattoo on his forehead and judging from what the announcer introduced him as Marak, a member of the Magic Founding Society. ‘So they’re taking interest in this contest? Or maybe the Qwarnell?’
“CONTESTANTS! BEGIN!”
He started by twirling his staff around and closing the distance, I swung my blade and it clanged against his staff. ‘Damn! It’s made out of metal? I didn’t even know…’
“Why are you competing in this contest? For what reason!?”
I was taken aback by his sudden demands. ‘What the hell?’ I suddenly realized that it was the man who was looking at me and Kale when we were talking. This creepy bastard.
“What does it matter? I’m here for the Qwarnell!”
He seethed in anger at my answer. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with! Their monsters!”
It was my turn to seethe in angry, but it died when I looked at his eyes. They looked… haunted.
“They will not stop marching. Eyes that show the emptiness of their souls. Death surrounds them, guides them. They are the monsters of old. Nothing can stop them, the blade, the spell or the arrow. They are enemies of the world.”
I blinked in confusion at his words. It sounded like a tale or something similar. From that tale, it sounded like they were… boogieman.
His eyes were filled with fire once again. “I REFUSE TO ALLOW THAT MONSTER TO ROAM FREE!” He shoved me and thrust his staff into my stomach. Pain flared through-out my body as I staggered. He took my stunned form as a chance to advance and strike my head with his staff. I staggered even further, holding my head. He tried to follow up with a strike to my ribs but seeing his attempted I quickly blocked it and punched him in the face.
We now stood five feet apart glaring at each other.
“What… gives you… the right to say who doesn’t deserve their freedom!?” I was enraged at him for imply that these Qwarnell were not only monsters but they should never have their freedom.
“THEY DON’T DESERVE-“I cut him off by rushing him and tackling him to the ground. ‘THIS FUCKING BASTARD!!!’ I rained fist after fist into his face.
“AND WHAT DO YOU DESERVE HUH!? WHAT!?” I continued to punch him until he was rendered unconscious. Panting hard I stood up and let the crowd see his form.
“IT LOOKS LIKE TEELA PULLED THROUGH ONCE AGAIN!”
The crowd cheered once again but I didn’t take comfort in it this time. I looked over to where the Princess was sitting. She was sitting up in her chair looking directly at me.
‘Well… I hope she’s getting some entertainment out of this.’
I turned and left the arena.
……………
I was sitting on the bench outside of the room. I was think back to what that man said about the Qwarnell. Just the thought that it made him scared was enough to unnerve me. I could head footsteps coming down the hall and I looked up to see Zephy walking towards me.
“Hello Teela, how are you doing?” She asked. “Fine…” I answered, dodging the real answer.
She stood before me with her hands on her hips. “You don’t look fine.”
I guess there was no hiding it was there?
I sighed. “I’m just… tired of all these men, they act with such blindness that it baffles me. That man I fought earlier, he was convinced that the Qwarnell was a monster. He went as far as to say that they don’t deserve freedom. I just… can’t believe some people. It’s like this everywhere.”
She sat next to me and grabbed my head. Before I had time to protest she laid my head on her lap and sighed.
“Dear Teela. To say this world is cruel isn’t wrong but you have something that not everyone has. People who support your cause. Even with those men who see us as nothing more than property. We have a unique opportunity to show them that we are more then they say.”
She looked over her breasts down at me with a smirk. “Even if we have to beat it into them.” I laughed.
“Yes, we will have a rough time but when we do enough to show them, it will get easier.”
Yeah, I certainly hope so.
She ran her hand through my hair. “Well if you need more convincing then I can provide.” I frowned at her words before she started pulling at the strap on her shirt. My face exploded with heat.
“Z-Zephy! Not here!” she smirked and laughed. “Oh come now, it was a joke.” I laugh nervously. She really was a strange woman sometimes. But she still cheered me up which was exactly what I needed.
“Thanks Zephy, I needed that.””This?” She pulled on her strap again. “N-No! You know what I mean!”
We both laughed. She really was quirky.
………………..
I stepped into the arena once again. ’OK… last guy and I can finish this contest’ I looked at the end and could see a rather large person, tall, not wide. He had a large sword that… looked to be as tall as him. Wearing a helmet and a chest plate he certainly didn’t seem like he comprised his chances.
“NOW OUR FINAL MATCH-UP! WE HAVE BOTH TEELA AND BARLEN! LET’S GET TO IT!!!”
Barlen looked at me with a tilted head. “So… you’re Teela? I’ve heard quite a bit of you. Well… not a lot outside the fact you beat a Prince and even a General. I seems like you certainly are on an infamous start. Now are you hoping to shake that reputation by contesting in the Coliseum?”
My first impression of him was that I figured him to be ruthless but he was asking some oddly specific questions. I suppose if he asked then the proper thing to do was to answer.
“No, I’m here to insure that the Qwarnell doesn’t fall into the hands of… shall we say, less then desirable men.”
Barlen lifted his face-plate up to show that he was surprisingly young. He looked to be about late twenties, maybe early thirties.
“I see… the job of ‘white knight ‘usually falls to a man. Interesting. So… I’m eager to begin.”
He lowered his face-plate and gripped his sword with both hands.
“I hope that you are as good as they say Teela, because I’m not going to hold back.”
He rushed at me with surprising speed and swing his sword down at the ground, I managed to evade in time. Raising his sword he poked at me a few times, both at my face and legs. I needed to get past the length of his sword and get closer. The sword I was provided with wasn’t nearly as long as his so I was at a disadvantage. I clashed a few times with his sword, trying to find a weakness, a tell in his defense.
“Come on Teela, I hope you aren’t thinking of quitting. I’m here for a challenge, so give me one.”
I clashed once again. “Well I’m not, but it seems like your giving me no choice!”
I landed my sword on the side of his and closed the distance, we were standing close. Our swords were crossed and he looked at me with surprise.
“What?” I snapped. “Were you expecting me to fall over because I’m a woman?”
He shook his head. “No, I believe woman can be quite capable. I have seen a few women show some courage but you seem to be quite brash. I suppose I should have expected it as much from a woman who would challenge a Prince and General.”
I pushed against him. “Well, brashness is its own reward”
A rumbled of laughter came from behind his face-plate. “Indeed.”
He pushed me back.
We circled each other, remaining vigilant.
‘OK… Just like my training’ I gripped my sword with both hands. I raised it above my head, and brought it down on his. I brought it up and down, again and again. I continued to keep up this tempo, not halting, not giving him a chance to strike back.
He kept his guard up for a time until he saw a chance which he took. Moving to my left and stuck out with the hilt of his sword. I immediately stepped just out of range and brought me sword down on his shoulder, cutting deep.
Barlen grunted and stepped back. Blood trickled down through his armor and seeped through his clothes.
“It’s seems… like you really do have what it takes to be something Teela.”
He shook his head and held his sword up again. ‘Damn… he’s still going?’
He clashed his sword against mine, I noticed something this time. He wasn’t pushing as hard as he was before. Was he weakened? Before I could capitalize on the opportunity his thrust his head forward and stuck me. A head butt which made me jerk my head back. I suddenly felt pain flare in my stomach, looking down I could see that his sword cut into my side. The copper taste of blood invaded my senses; I slowly looked up to him.
“My victory?” He asked.
“No…” Was my answer. I ripped his face-plate open and punch him with all the strength I had, causing him to fall over. With his face bare I brought the hilt of my sword down onto his face. I could hear something break, when I raised my sword I looked down at him to see that it was his nose that I broke. He was out cold and I breathed a sigh of relief.
“Finally…” My body shook as I stood up and the announcer spoke.
“WHAT HAVE WE HERE!? TEELA HAS TAKEN THE WIN AND HAS BECOME THE NEW CHAMPION!”
He was going on about something else but I couldn’t hear him, my vision blurred and the last bit of strength left my body before I collapsed and everything went black.