Mistake

We are at the gates before they are open and went directly to the arena waiting for my match.

I tie a piece of cloth around my face before entering, I hardly stick out.

Olim and Terra men alike where carted through here with chains and a sack over there heads, they where the ones that didn't pay their fair share of tax on the twentieth day.

Bund had warned me about this family and how they had ties deep in the community, so I expected some sort of harassment.

I wasn't disappointed, the Livet house sent one fighter after the next to harass and provoke anyone who was there for a prize fight that day wanting to deal with me outside of the ring.

What they didn't expect was Isla who quickly challenged and dispatched anyone who came close giving them no mercy or a way out.

Soon no one wanted to touch us leaving us in our own little patch of the Colosseum.

At the end of the day when they talked about an Olim who fought well in the ring they wouldn't be able to distinguish me from Isla adding another layer of anonymity.

At noon I I step into the rocky field that is the ring expecting my opponent.

I was disappointed as no one came forward.

Isla noticed people leaving hurriedly probably to let them know the opponent.

As long as it wasn't Bund they would send the mage.

I wait for about an hour and even let another two hash out a squabble before he shows up.

The man is young, almost twenty years old and just like anyone else from his family he was extremely arrogant.

Behind him a group of Olim servants and to his right a raucous Terra girl who was smitten with me the moment she saw me waiting by the entrance.

Usually we enter from different sides, this man was arrogant as hell.

"Jud isn't he adorable! I want him! You have to get him for me"! she squealed with a high pitch, clasping her hands in front of her chest.

'Well this is a first' I think to myself my expression not betraying my thoughts.

Standing up from my cross-legged position I swagger into the center of the ring, not really interested in the filth that was ready to spew out of my opponents' mouth.

"Hey there little guy how about coming to work for our family? If you're willing to serve my friend, we would double your pay you would have two mana stones a month"!

My expression was vacant 'Was I ever like that'? I ask myself.

In my first life I was so focused on saving life from different antigens that I never even considered the actual people I saved with much regard.

I mean it wasn't as blatant as he was but still there was a similarity.

"It's a good deal little guy and hey if you work hard enough maybe you can get enough stones to make something of yourself one day, maybe even mine for yourself".

"I wish I was ignorant" I said out loud,

"Just enough so that I didn't know how ignorant I am".

Drawing my sword, I look at Jud and recognize him for what he is, a mana stone payout.

He narrows his eyes and spouts out a threat I didn't really hear as I was so focused on him.

I tunneled in ready to make a move not underestimating my opponent.

He drew his one-handed sword and let it dangle from the side, the height difference between us was a head and a half making his tall frame that much more imposing to the crowd.

I saw all the exposed vitals.

Darting off from my position I jab at his throat, my sword taking the shortest route.

He was stunned, but he parried quickly and even countered with his own thrust.

His face went from someone who was confident in the battle to one of a man putting piecing together a plot.

The fight looked choreographed due to both of us pumping energy through our bodies and mind.

Unlike me he doesn't have waves of white hazy energy leaking out but for some reason he was still able to keep up with me and at times move faster.

Three blows where exchanged the metal clanging after each blow until I pushed away his sword arm with a kick.

My balance was off so instead of taking a large swing with my sword I stomp and jab with my left fist knocking him in the nose.

All the years of tempering my body paid off as he was put on his ass nearly losing grip of his weapon.

Before his knees touched the ground he lunged forward but I stabbed with my sword aiming for his chest.

He deflected by raising his weapon barely fast enough and leaning to the side.

This put me the closest I have been to him, I crane my neck and bit at his face but he jerks back the distance growing as that jerk became hurried steps.

"You are absolutely excellent" shouted Jud who had a crazed look on his face.

I couldn't sense a lick of mana from him but he seemed to have noticed mine.

Instead engaging me like before he started taking huge leaps backwards clearing almost ten yards with each leap.

He stomped on the ground twice and rubble flew up catching a stone he hurled it at me.

I was running in but leaned to one side in the last minute still taking a rock to the left shoulder making me halt.

It stung something horrible, it felt like it could have taken my whole arm off.

If I hadn't trained with Isla and toughened my body, I would have gotten tripped up here.

I didn't dodge I would only end up meeting another rock.

I swing my sword deflecting one after the other closing the distance on him.

I was steadily shortening the space between us it was harder than it looked.

Not only that, but Jud was flinging rocks faster.

A throwing knife was hidden behind a rock I smack it away and eat a stone to the chest, the flying blade leaves my arm vibrating.

Running out of rubble he tries to jump back but my dagger closes in on him as fast as the rocks where being flung moments ago.

Barely sidestepping he has his shoulder pierced.

Gritting his teeth he ignored the pain and drew the dagger our in one swift motion he tosses it back at me as I close in on him.

I had already stomped on the ground while he was busy prying out the blade, raising rubble like he did a moment ago.

The dagger hits the rising stones, it veered it off course slowing it down enough for me to catch and throw back.

Jud's wound had already stopped bleeding but I had closed enough distance for him to see the dagger coming but cannot do anything about it.

He managed to move his head to the side just in time to be met with a rock I had thrown after the dagger.

Having the same tactic used against you was almost as painful as the rock smashing against his left eye.

Closing the distance quickly I swing at his blind spot going for the neck.

He raised his arm, and my sword is deflected by his arm guard.

I am sure I broke or at least fractured it.

'I need a sharper sword' I think to myself.

"Your actually trying to ki-" I didn't let him finish his sentence I feign going for his neck again.

He instinctively covered it leaving his chest exposed I punch him in the diaphragm with my left drawing out all the air from him.

He was kneeling and trying to take in air, my sword raised above his head, I prepare the killing blow.

An aged voice screamed out "Stop" which had no effect on me as I brought the sword down and decapitated the young man.

Oddly enough I could see his eyes glaring at me with an unwillingness after the head had dropped and rolled, this made me want to keep the body in the name of science.

"No"! a choir of reluctance and grief reaches my ears and draws me out of my thoughts.

Two figures run out of the crowd and down the wall but were stopped by the attendant and a group of guards.

I walk out and head back to the hunter's guild.

I go straight to the back room without being invited and wait along with Isla.

A few hours later Bund comes in with a cart of pouches.

"Thank you for keeping your end of the bargain".

"Have they all been wiped out"? I asked him

"No the elder of the family was notified the moment Jud lost the match that the servants where gone and they decided to pull out of the village they let through the western exit not too long ago."

The people are using the Olim as hostages outside of the village and the villagers here are there protection inside.

But leaving was the worst thing they could have done.