The roar of the crowd, was met with a decisive blow to one of the rookie UFL fighters. Fritz and Brenn were once again in the underground arena. Marcelle had taken the day off, retiring back to their room to continue her strange experiments. Fritz could feel a large number of eyes upon him. Their presence had lingered from last night. He was sure someone was watching him. Yet he could not figure out who. Looking behind him, he tried to scan through the crowd of onlookers around him.
"Someone's watching us. Try not to make it too obvious." Brenn said.
"You felt it too?" Fritz asked.
"Aye. Been watching us all last night too."
"Glad I wasn't the only one." Fritz said with a sigh, turning back around to look at the UFL arena below. The unconscious fighter was being dragged out of the arena. The masked announcer paced back and forth as the next set of fighters were being prepared. "Do you know who?"
"Guards, some shady looking thugs, and some priests." Brenn stealthily reached her hand towards Fritz's butt. Grabbing a handful, she gave him a toothy grin. "I've no idea why the latter would be interested in you."
"I went to the local Freyes church." Reaching behind him, Fritz swatted her hand away.
"And?"
"They let me sample some holy water, but wanted like three hundred gold coins for a tiny bottle."
"You didn't buy? How'd you deal with those- ya'know."
"Made it myself."
"Ahh.... Makes sense. I guess your situation does come with some perks."
Someone was approaching the two. Brenn's ears twitched, as they moved to listen to the bootsteps confidently approaching behind them. Brenn tensed for a moment. Fritz turned his head to see the shorter ratkin rolling her eyes.
"Brenn."
"Captain Gaspard." Brenn said turning around. Fritz's eyes went wide, as he turned around to see an eerily familiar guard captain staring at him. The orange-haired foxkin was dressed in expensive chainmail. A steel rapier, hung idly at his side. Upon his chest was a tunic displaying the fox ears of Hueryss.
"I've been looking for him." The guard captain drawled. "Quick one, and not afraid to get dirty."
"You can't really mean cutey here?" Brenn threw her arms around Fritz's waist, as she brought him into a playful hug. Her long tail wrapped around his leg. Pouting her lips, and batting her eyes she became the embodiment of a brat. "Cutey's never done anything. Why are you harassing him? Don't discriminate."
"Don't play with me, Brenn. I remember him. He broke the law. Conjured gold is illegal to use, yet he tried it anyways. "
"Cutey's a law abiding citizen, and I'm here to keep him in line." Brenn whined. "Your being mean!"
"This is all just a misunderstanding." Fritz started.
"Shut up." Gaspard commanded. "I don't want to here it from a woman who's been thrown out of every brothel in the conclaves. And I certainly don't want to here it from a weak human."
"Kicked out of a brothel?" Fritz asked taken aback. He looked down towards his companion.
"Yeah, didn't you know? Brenn's a degenerate. Can't help herself. She's infamous. Apparently she's got every disease known to man and beastkin. Can you believe it? Are you sure you want to stand so close to her?"
"Cutey?" Brenn asked.
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"Yeah?"
"Don't you think the guard captain would look a lot better if he didn't have that thing on his face?" Brenn pointed to his head.
"What thing?"
"His head." Brenn said. "I can chop it off real quick. He'd look so much better, and it'd be so quick too." Gaspard hand's moved to his rapier.
"Brenn. Let's not."
"Really? You don't want me to kill him, and the three other guards watching us right now?" Brenn looked towards Fritz, batting her eyelashes at him, she pouted her lips like a dramatic child.
"Uh, no. I'd prefer it if you didn't." Fritz said awkwardly.
"Give up, you can't run away forever." Gaspard said. "Your punishment is just getting worse."
"Cutey? Are you sure we can't just behead them now? I'd make it quick. He wouldn't suffer at all!"
"Pretty sure. Let's just both go our separate ways." Fritz replied.
"Aww...." Brenn's mood completely shifted. Her face hardened as she let go of Fritz. Vanishing within the blink of an eye, she appeared behind the guard captain. Her axe was drawn resting against the man's neck. The crescent edge polished and sharpened to an atomic point hovered right above the captain's neck.
"You heard the man." Brenn said. "Fuck off. He's not worth your time."
"I suppose they don't call you Flickerblade for nothing." Gaspard snorted. Several members of the audience turned around. Whispers and fingers pointed to the emerging drama in the stands. UFL staff and more guards were being alerted. Disguised soldiers were moving in to assist their captain.
"They don't. Now hurry up and leave, before I turn this into a bloodbath."
"Fine." The guard captain's hand move away from his rapier. "Your judgement will come later. Don't expect to leave Hueryss. Come on boys." Gaspard motioned to the others, as he turned on his heel. Facing Brenn, he spared her a brief scowl before walking around.
"Let's skip the fights, cutey." Brenn said.
"Yup! Totally agree. Let's get out of here!" Fritz replied. More and more spectators were watching the two of them.
"Shall we? Our love nest awaits!" Brenn said with a grin.
Moving quickly, Brenn and Fritz exited the underground arena. Fritz with panicked steps led the way, as Brenn skipped behind him. From the spectator crowd, several beastkin followed the two out of the arena.
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Ada and Neva stood in a room surrounded by other fighters. Their coaches and champions all eyed each other. Yet, the white-robed healers of Freyes kept paying special attention to Neva and Ada. Their eyes kept darting to the two wolfkin studying each and every move of the two. Ada frowned, and as if sensing her thoughts, Neva placed a re-assuring hand on her shoulder.
"Come on. Don't get distracted. Two more fights, and we can get you a new sword."
"But it won't be enchanted." Neva let out a sigh.
"I know. Those are a lot more expensive, and no one likes to bet on rookie fights."
"I want an enchanted sword."
"I know. But it'll have to come later. We'll get you a real sword after today. How's that sound?"
"Fine. But I'm gonna get it enchanted as soon as possible."
"I'm sure you will."
The two wolfkin fell into a light conversation. Neva prepped Ada offering tips and advice on how to fight. As the white robed healers of Freyes rushed around aiding injured fighters their ears turned towards the two wolfkin.
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Marcelle slithered alone. Her arms hung limply by her side, as she hunched forward. Her black hair fell forward across her face obscuring her like a mask. Children ran away as she passed. Women and men, clutched hidden weapons as she passed by.
Mumbling to herself, Marcelle made her way towards the park. Behind her trailing at a safe distance, several figures stalked her. Their non-descript clothing and laid back attitudes drew little attention. Marcelle lost in her own world paid no mind to anyone.
"My successes, have born fruit. Yes. Yes. But the dangers. Are they too great for me to handle? Will the potion work? Or will I transform into a grotesque monstrosity? If it does work, I will be on step closer to transcendence!" A creepy grin transformed Marcelle's face. "Oh, what I wouldn't give to watch Zola's face as I ascend."
A hidden fire burned within her. Ambition filled her, as her mind turned to the dimensional bag attached to her side. Her fingers twitched as she fought the urge to consume her latest masterpiece.
"But the cost is too high if I fail." She whispered to herself. "The potion should be tested properly. How many times, have I failed? How many times have I been proven wrong?" Her mind flashed thousand mental images of her failures. Cringing to herself, Marcelle moved to sit down on a nearby park bench.
"Test it first, but on who?" Marcelle wondered. "I must not get ahead of myself."
Her mind was like a storm. The debate swirled within her, as she sat within the park.
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The following day passed by without incident. Ada withdrew from the final day of the ULF rookie tournament, yet in exchange she had a shining new steel shortsword. The blade looked almost identical to Neva's. The two had snuck off for an extended training session with Brenn. Marcelle was distant. Her thoughts and mannerisms were completely consumed by some internal quest. Still, she offered to teach Fritz the basics on magical control. Using the remaining, rare quiet time, Fritz was able to continue his reading on enchanted items.
The night of their final day within Hueryss approached. The fell asleep thinking of their journey ahead.