13 Runes.
Edwin found himself in his bedroom, unharmed but sweaty. Standing up from his bed, he picked a towel before heading to the bathroom.
The bathrooms in this day and age were far more advanced than the bathrooms of the medieval past. Bathrooms were equipped with mass-manufactured rune inscriptions, and their manufacturing was exempted from tax. The emperor valued hygiene, and knew that plagues were born in filth.
Edwin that was still shaking from the experience went down to the kitchen before sitting down. Looking outside, he noticed that it was still dark outside. He silently sat down, making himself something to eat. He was going to train early today, since he was able to barely go to sleep last night he assumed that he wouldn't be able to now.
He moved outside after having eaten his breakfast, picking up a metal rod his father had given to him for training. Although they weren't poor, and even had quite an amount in savings, they weren't able to easily afford a sword. Especially when the army would provide one to promising students.
Edwin swung the rod, sweat building up on his body. Training as the sun rose up, he only took breaks to drink and clean off the sweat.
This feeling of powerlessness, he never wanted to feel it again. He still felt a phantom of the collar on his neck. He never wanted to be in this situation again, he never wanted to die. The 'dream' was too vivid to be one, the gashes, the crushing, and the collar. It was all to real to be a dream.
Resting and thinking of this, he decided to take a nap. His parents noticed but thought nothing of it, the next lesson started in 4 hours, after all.
---
Inside a dark room in the Colosseum, a rose of flesh bloomed and tangled. What was a meaty rose transformed inside of the slave collar. The process was gruesome and painful, blood splattering, and flesh twitching. From time to time a blood-curdling scream resounded.
After half an hour Edwin's body had reformed.
''Finally back, little crybaby?'' The cold voice of the silver man resounded. ''Come to the arena, five minutes. Otherwise I'll do it again.''
Edwin wanted to complain but the fresh memory of the pain prevented him from doing so. As opposed to last, he now knew that this would happen when he slept.
Edwin propped himself onto his feet, and moved towards the only exit of the room. He shortly arrived at the godforsaken arena again. A small green creature awaited him.
Quickly using his only bound item, he scanned the little figure.
___
Common Goblin - Copper rank - essence rank II.
'Stories say that the common goblin evolved from the humans right after the fall. It is said that these vile and treacherous creatures were born from the most twisted and perverted emotions and temptations of humans. Poses little threat against most people, beware of formations and groups.'
Reproductive rate: Extreme.
Hunter rating: Plague, killing encouraged.
Reward: 12 coppers in populated regions, 6 coppers in outer regions.
___
Edwin sighed in relief, the creature was weak on it's own. All it could do was enhance it's strikes against him. The battle took a while, lasting around 30 minutes. Edwin showed no relief when the battle finally ended. He knew that the deity would take no pleasure in it.
He was right, the man in silver only smiled before summoning another opponent.
The battles continued for a short while before Edwin finally died again. In the end he killed two more copper rank creatures and died to a lower-rank bronze opponent. The man smiled, and closed his eyes, waiting for Edwin's next night in anticipation.
Although he was the absolute lord of his realm, he had no control over anything that wasn't connected to it. His only entertainment before were the beasts, that had grown boring over the last few thousand years. He had tried to forcefully evolve some of them by using runes, but all he managed to create were horrors and abominations. The flower of flesh that he used to revive Edwin was one of them.
He liked human emotion. Their thoughts were very entertaining.
___
Edwin woke up, this time the extra sweat made no difference to his already dirty clothing. He looked at his clock, and found that he was only two hours away from this most anticipated lesson.
