Godwine sits at a large table and the rest of the group is gathered sitting with him. “So you want me to not compete?” Elias’s voice is filled with shock and some anger.
“I never said I don’t want you too. I’m merely advising that you do not,” Godwine stares down Elias as he speaks.
Elias looks around the table glancing at everyone. “I can’t be the only one who wants to compete right. Katelyn I bet you want to compete,” Elias meets eyes with Katelyn as he speaks.
“I will be competing but Godwine approved of me, Celina and himself,” Katelyn says as if there is nothing wrong simply brushing off Elias’s words.
Elias’s face fills with shock. “Godwine, what's wrong with me competing? If everyone else who wants to compete is why do you want me to sit this out?”
Godwine looks at Elias as he thinks. After a few seconds Godwine lets out a deep sigh. “The reason is that I am worried what a former flame may do,” Godwine leans forwards as he speaks. “You saw what happened to the flames we fought. One succumbed to a demon. I do not wish for you to compete as I fear what may happen if you die in these games.”
Elias stands punching the table hard enough to send wood flying everywhere. “I left that life behind! Don’t you compare me to those drones!” Elias stares Godwine down, his eyes full of rage. “You heard what the leader and the flames said. I ran, I abandoned my brothers and sisters,” Celina stands grabbing her sword. “You wanna know why I did?” Godwine silently raises his hand and Celina lets go of her sword looking at Godwine. “I was ordered to do terrible things that I could never be forgiven for. I ran and am here now not for any of you but so I may one day return to town and right my wrong!”
Godwine sighs as he looks at Tasha noticing the slight shaking in her arms. “Elias,” Godwine stands slowly walking around the table till he is side by side with Elias. “Please follow me,” the room is silent except for the sound of Godwine’s armor and the door as he slowly opens it. Slowly Elias begins to follow Godwine out of the room.
Godwine leads Elias through the streets, the chatter and sounds of coins filling the air. Soldiers escort nobles through the crowd as elite soldiers laugh to each other drinking. Adventures can be seen looking at job boards. A mage is showing his magic off to a group of kids as an adventure goes on about his feats to some other kids. Soldiers push some citizens back keeping their noble safe. Eventually they reach a building flooded with people. A group of people with weapons similar to the ones the rebels used stands outside talking. One of them holds something in her mouth and as she takes it out smoke blows out of her mouth. “What have I told you about smoking in front of people, Nova?” Neither the woman nor the man scolding her seem to be wearing any heavy or even light armor.
Godwine enters the building with Elias following shortly behind. Voices fill the building, some laughing, some shouts. Godwine grabs a piece of paper, handing it to Elias. “It seems I won’t be stopping you.”
A month has passed since people have begun gathering in Yena for this continent wide spectacle. Elias and Godwine stand next to each other at the base of a great arena watching as Katelyn walks out in the center. Katelyn looks around at her surroundings one corner a dense makeshift forest another an open artificial desert in the third a rocky mountain like terrain and the last holding plains the most even out fighting grounds. The sound of cheers fill the arena as Celina sifts through the crowded competitor zone trying to find Elias and Godwine.
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“Welcome everyone to the Yena games!” The sound of an announcer fills the arena, his voice somehow able to carry throughout the arena. “As you all know the Yena games is a chance for warriors, nations, adventurers and merc groups to show what they are made of. This will be our first year without the presence of either brother of ambitions. That won’t stop us from bringing you all together to show the skills of our continent,” another competitor slowly walks towards the center of the arena. “For our first match of the year I’d like to introduce you all to Poison hailing from Nulfond’s elite division of covert operations who will be facing Katelyn who hails from the merc group that has been rising to stardom lately yet still goes unnamed.”
Katelyn stares down Poison as she readies herself. “Well, I didn't expect to see Aurora again,” Katelyn grits her teeth as she grabs her bow holding it at her side. “How have you been? Heard you joined up with that merc group that slaughtered people on behalf of Osmon,” Katelyn stays quiet as she observes the field. “Hah, still the pathetic silent type you always were. I bet you are just following orders just as you were when you served under our leader. Are you just as lost as you were then a good dog bound to their leader doing whatever they wish.”
The announcer begins to countdown as Poison laughs, grabbing the weapon holstered at her side. “Are you still stuck with only that pistol? Couldn’t raise as high as I did even after all this time. Still stuck with a pathetic side arm,” the announcer continues to count and as he shouts for the fight to start Katelyn disappears.
Poison quickly fires from her pistol three times as Katelyn disappears. “Doesn’t matter what they give me. I’ll still beat you here and now. I’ll have you running back to your master like the dog you are,” Poison slowly backs into the forest watching all around her.
“I have no master,” as Katelyn speaks Poison quickly turns, firing three shots into the trees. “You are just as emotional as ever,” another three shots fired into the trees.
“Keep your mouth shut,” as Poison shoots another three shots and then attempts to shoot another the pistol clicks. Poison hits a button on the pistol causing something to drop from the bottom of it. An arrow flies through the air perfectly hitting what falls from the pistol before it even hits the ground. As Poison sees this her eyes widen. She grabs something from her side quickly slamming it into the bottom of the pistol and with another click she fires three shots towards the direction the arrow came from. “Seems you are still a sharpshooter no matter what the weapon.”
“My skills still far surpass those of your own,” another three shots fired into the trees. Another arrow flies towards Poison impaling her left arm.
“Shit!” Poison begins to look around before running towards the closest exit of the forest. Another arrow flies into Poison’s right leg causing her to tumble to the ground.
“Do you yield yet?” Katelyn says mockingly. Poison lays on her back slowly pushing herself back as she watches the trees. “If you think you’re gonna win you’d be sorely mistaken.”
Poison unloads five shots into the treetops as she pulls the arrow from her leg then pulls the one from her arm. Blood drips from the holes the arrows left. She reaches to her side grabbing a vial stabbing it into her neck. Slowly the bleeding stops but Katelyn is suddenly face to face with Poison. Before Poison is able to realize Katelyn kicks the pistol out of her hand. The pistol clatters as it hits the ground. Katelyn pulls an arrow back aiming it at Poison’s head. “So how about now? Do you yield?”
Slowly Poison raises her hand in surrender and the crowd erupts in cheers. “I don’t believe this!” the announcer shouts his voice filled with excitement. “For the first time since we started this tradition a soldier from Nulfond has been defeated! Katelyn from the unnamed mercenary group has defeated Poison of Nulfond!”
Slowly Katelyn retracts the arrow returning it to her quiver. She walks over, retrieving Poison’s pistol, handing it to her with the barrel facing herself. “You still have one shot left. May want to reload soon,” Poison takes the pistol, her face filled with annoyance as she slowly walks out of the center the way she came.
“Let us all watch Katelyn’s performance here today closely, fellow fans!” the announcer continues to shout excitedly. “Nulfond may finally be dethroned today!”
