31 Chapter 31 (2/2)
The red-skin surprisingly bowed back slightly both of them taking a seat facing each other.
The bald young man pointed his staff at Mask, but then made a gesture with his hand and sat down. Motioning for her to do the same, Mask sat down sheathing her swords.
”It is not wise to let them rest!” The blond man said staring at the other two warriors on his side.
”I am not here to pass these phases, I am here to fight a battle worth remembering. I will learn, become stronger and continue challenging the strongest warriors I can find.” The stern man with the great-sword told him.
The blond man cursed, eyeing them with his blue eyes. ”Well I will not let them rest!” He shouted charging forward.
Red-skin and Mask tensed, Strem once more unsheathed his rapier. ”Allow me ladies.” He said calmly stepping forward to meet the challenge.
The blond man rushed at him, holding his longsword in two hands. He struck at Strem with lightning speed, Strem moved his rapier to knock the blade of track. The swift strike turned out to be a feint, surprising Strem with his speed, the blond man turned his first strike into a smooth second. Strem jerked his head and narrowly dodged the blade. The man launched into a swift series of attack, skillfully flowing from one attack into the other. Strem was hard pressed to keep the man at bay. He made a small mistake causing the blond man to slice into his shoulder. The cut was shallow, the blond man frowned and jumped back, staring at Strem suspiciously. His eyes widened as he saw the cut slowly pulling itself closed, the skin mending.
”It seems I have underestimated you. I am Castul of Monderburg. May I have your name strange one.” The blond man said giving Strem a slight inclination of the head.
Strem smiled at him, pulling of a perfectly fashionable bow, ”I am Strem Xilivor. It is my pleasure to cross my blade with yours.”
”Mine as well,” Castul stepped forward to challenge him again.
The two men had a small smile as they matched their blades together, Strem was losing slightly in the battle of skill, Castul managing to land a cut here and there. Yet because of Strem's skills his toughness and regeneration more than made up for it. Eventually Castul started slowing down, Strem started landing small cuts. Castul stepped back, sheathing his sword. ”It seems I have lost.” He said giving Strem a bow. ”I will become stronger and hope I will be able to challenge you again, Strem of Xilivor.” The blond man then grabbed a dagger from a sheath in his back and smashed it into his own chest. Strem's eyes widened as the man exploded into more of the floating lights.
”What a warriors! What a battle!” The announcer roared, as the audience cheered in approval. ”True honor on the battle field, today is turning out to be a great day for the Colosseum ladies and gents! Now let us move on to the next match. The audience roared once more in anticipation, cheering and screaming for their favorites.
The next to fight were Red-skin and the stern faced warrior, their battle unlike Castul's and Strem's was focused on power. Great sword smashed against shield, gauntlets smashed aside swords. The loud clanging of the blades urging the warriors and the audience into ever more excitement. Eventually by a stroke of luck the Stern faced man slipped on a rock, not one to let an opening go Red-skin smashed her sword through her opponents face. The audience cheered once more, the last two to step up were the bald man in the robe and Mask.
Their fight was even faster than Strem's had been, the staff twirled around in a constant flowing motion. All the blows not finding the female warrior as she flowed through the attacks like a leaf on the wind. She started incorporating her blades into her movement, flowing from one fluid form to the next. Strem once more marveled at the way she moved, she did not simply fight, she danced. The monk held up against her extremely well, his staff twirling, smashing away any attack that might find him. Eventually Mask started slowing down, her earlier exhaustion catching up with her, the monk got a strike in, knocking the mask from her face. The monk froze as he did so, the female swordsman quickly recovering the mask and putting it back on her face.
The monk started repeatedly bowing, Mask said something but the monk shook his head. Mask spoke again, speaking in a language he did not understand, he did however note that whatever she said was a command. The monk shook his head, obviously in panic. The audience was silent as a hush fell over the crowd, Strem got the gist of it, Mask wanted to continue the fight but the monk refused to raise his weapon against her. Making a quick decision he stepped forward unsheathed his rapier and pierced the monks heart with a lightening fast lunge. The monks eyes widened in surprise before a smile of relief spread across his face. The silence was deafening after his action, Mask stared at him, her fists trembling.
”I know you wanted to fight him.”
”If you know that then why!” She said, stepping towards him angrily.
”He recognized who you are, and refused to fight you, if it had gone on any longer people would have wondered about who you are, it would have caused you problems further into the tournament which I assumed you would want to avoid. There will be other opponents to test your blades on, forcing a man to raise his weapon never ends well.” Strem said staring her down.
Mask stiffened, then sighed. A nod and she started heading for the exit, he blinked as he noticed that he had missed the announcement that the battle was over. He rolled his shoulders as he followed Mask and Red-skin to the exit. He wondered who he had been fighting alongside this whole time. A mystery for another day, she was obviously worried that it would compromise the way people saw her. Strem chuckled as he thought of how little it would matter to him and his friends, but for now he would let her keep her secret.