Pretty
I head over to the arena at the appointed time.
It is a Colosseum-shaped building with a heavy crowd today.
I spot Reem and Surma waiting for me at the entrance.
"It's almost time," he says to me as he guides me through the throng towards the arena.
A tall lanky Terra walked up to us seemingly emerging from thin air, but I knew better he was waiting specifically for us.
"Have you washed your neck cleanly Reem, when your head goes flying so does your little Olim bitch's skirt".
The man was followed by another Terra with blonde hair and dark brown eyes.
He was six foot and had a one-handed sword along with a golden chest plate and bracers on his chest and legs.
"I won't be fighting" after a moment's hesitation he pointed at me saying "He will".
Both men burst into laughter "You Olim sure do love sending your young to die" he said looking at Surma, her eyes watering.
"Talk about entertainment, tell me kid how scared are you right now," he asked me.
"Truly afraid, there is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action".
Neither of them expected that and I was met with a dead pan silence.
"The name is Ambrose pleasure to kill you," I said before walking towards the arena with Reem and Surma in tow.
"You don't have to do this," Surma said in a whisper.
"Actually, I do" not turning around to look at her I step to the official giving him my name and association.
He knows why I am here and tells me to head in.
"It's a fight to the death kid, if you want out right now is the chance".
I nod and walk to the center of the ring.
It is a fifty-yard field with rows of pews filled with people shouting, talking and some even brawling.
The Terra man stepped into the ring quickly making his way over until he was seven feet away from me.
"I'll make it quick kid, you won't even know it happened".
He must really believe that was a mercy.
Unfortunately for him, I cannot afford mercy, my annoyance turns to anger at these ignorant fellows.
'If only they knew' I think to myself.
'If they knew what I was dealing with, if they had to deal with it they would be a crying puddle'.
I flood my mind with mana, making his movements become slower in my eyes and more telegraphed.
As he brings down his sword, I lean into it avoiding it by a hairs breath and roll underneath his feet cutting his Achilles tendon.
He involuntarily kneels to have his crotch meet with my sword in an upward swing.
He doubles over howling in pain as I crushed his manhood.
I do not look at him, I look at the man responsible for getting in between me and my resources.
Letting out a wave of unchecked bloodlust I stab my short sword into the man's neck while staring at Deed.
The crowd is silent, it was so quiet you could hear a rat pee on cotton.
"Are you not entertained"? I mouth to Deed from my position in the middle of the ring.
His mouth still hanging agape I turn and walk away.
I stop in front of Reem "Any other issues"?
"None" he replies instinctively for the first-time fear in his face.
"Then I will be seeing you in a month and a half".
I walk back to the inn leaving a crowd of stunned spectators.
I quickly gained a new nickname, they called me the little monster.
It bought me some unwanted attention along with a new stalker who watched me no matter where I went.
It wasn't a problem for me, as he thought he had his eyes on me, I was monitoring him.
He never took any action against me and I didn't need to leave the Village at all, so I just bided my time.
A week after the fight Isla had her first minstrel cycle and didn't know what it was.
I explain to her what I know and how to deal with it with mana.
I go shopping and purchase cotton, linen, and bandages creating makeshift pads for her.
I also show her how to make them and make her a pack of twenty she didn't take it very seriously as she could just manage it with mana, but I give it to her non the less.
The exchange rate for four duffle bags of purified coal from Reem was one mana stone.
Fairly good if you asked me but Reem still complained.
I guess being a blacksmith coal was the bread and butter he could not get enough.
Isla and I prepare for our journey and head out after a week of rest.
We head west towards the glades direct and go south.
Isla pays no mind to my change of direction and continues.
As we head further and further southwest, we reach a lake.
I stop and get off my scile, I leave it untied and lay back underneath some shade using a huge rock as support.
"What are we doing"? Isla asked me from atop her mount.
"Waiting for some company" I replied with my eyes closed.
'I really do work too hard' I think about my recent schedule and how I don't really have time to enjoy myself, even when I did in the village what would I do?
I think it might be time to teach Isla chess but even then, I would wipe the floor with her.
Shortly after I shut my eyes a group started to emerge from the east, west and north.
A total of forty-seven figures most of them men with three women mixed in.
I stay lying down seemingly sleeping.
As they closed in, they slowed down eventually stopping after surrounding us on all side creating an encirclement with our backs to the lake.
All of them were Terra, all of them were armed and had armor, except for one.
It was Deed, coming forward on his skile he looked down on Isla and I.
My eyes closed, relaxing in the shade and Isla hunched over filling out a multiplication table in the dirt, neither of us giving them much attention.
"You filthy little brat! I am going to kill you so, so slowly but before I do, I'll sell you to every single man and woman for as little as a loaf of bread!"
I hop onto my feet and as I do, he flinches and rears his scile taking a few steps back.
Without looking at him or anyone else for that matter I walk over to the lake water and wash my face along with taking a few gulps, "Got to make sure I look pretty".