58.

Elai's pov

I can see him tighten his grip around the armrests, his body moving up a little. He’s too far away for me to read his lips, but it’s easy to know that he’s cursing. Elai. Elai. Elai. The host’s voice is loud and clear. People do cheer, but softly. They know my name, but not as a fighter.
Some faces even turn to look at the king. They are the faces of people who are closer to royalty, who know he had kissed me during his birth week. I like the confusion. It makes me feel confident.
“He doesn’t even have a weapon!” I only now realize my opponent is in front of me. I am lucky that Connie wanted to train me here and there. Now I at least know how to fight another Death Gazer.
I had not thought about a weapon. I stand here with empty hands and nothing but my ability to support me. I can hear some people chuckling, mouths hiding behind their hands. Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck. I can’t just ask for a weapon; I haven’t really trained with one yet.
“I fight without weapon.” It is the only thing I can say to safe myself. I make my opponent laugh, his big sword moving with him. “Alright, tough guy.” He gets closer, close enough for me to notice the scars. Are they from earlier tournaments?
Ah. Am I doomed?
I steady myself, boots digging into the mud just the tiniest bit. I know how to move to be able to avoid a sword. I don’t know if a claymore works the same, it’s newly polished steel staring right at me. I quickly focus on my core to be able to ready my ability, and before I know it, the start signal drills through my ears.
I take one last look at Arlon. I thought he’d be grinning, or smiling at least. It kind of shocks me that he has his eyebrows furrowed, and that he’s clearly in distress.
Why is everyone so unsure of my strength?
I grit my teeth and avoid the first move my opponent makes. Now that I am defending myself, I realize how hard this competition this is without a weapon. I have to rely on timing and openings. I take my time to figure out the way his feet move. They’re sloppy because of his heavy weapon, and if I just find the right opening, I will be able to put him down.
The second thing I notice, is that he isn’t a Death Gazer. He uses nothing but his weapon, which means he won’t be able to resist my ability. The opponent seems quite.. easy to defeat. I want to make sure though, so when I duck down, I use my first move.
His left leg freezes and he falls face first. His chin hits the ground and I can’t help but grin. It’s fun, but he isn’t unconscious. I am not done. Not yet.
His fall gives me the opportunity to run up to him and use my ability to take control over the bones in his arms. I turn them to the point where he can’t stop himself from screaming. They’re on the verge of breaking, but I am kind. I won’t let it get that far. I just have to hurt him long enough to knock the air out of him. If this is the level of the lowest class, I might even be able to get into the second rounds. I feel motivated; I know Arlon is watching. I bite on my bottom lip and press my foot against his back. It is like I want to give him a show to watch. A true show. One he won’t forget. I wouldn’t have to get near this man to knock him out. Hell, I could’ve killed him from meters away. But I won’t; I want Arlon to enjoy this.
I look up at him with a grin on my face, my control traveling further around my opponent’s bones. He can’t do anything about his quick defeat, can’t reach for my leg nor his sword. He is helpless, and I won in mere minutes. The longer I stare at Arlon, the stronger my grip gets. I can feel my grasp tighten around him, I can fucking feel his bones slowly giving into me. It is a feeling I can’t express in words, and it takes my fucking breath away. I have never felt this powerful, this close to pure bliss. I hope Arlon knows that. I hope this whole entire arena knows. The rush that it gives when they announce me as the winner is new. Nothing has ever felt like this I feel like a god, a god worthy of a chair behind the clouds. My eyes don’t look away from Arlon, not even to see the passed out opponent underneath my foot. My heavy breaths say enough. It tired me out, but it was nothing compared to Connie’s strength. Maybe Arlon and Connie are the reason I am standing here as a winner. Maybe losing to them ensured me to win these matches. Arlon doesn’t move an inch. Not even one. He does not show me any emotion, or any respect for that matter.
I like it, though.
I turn around and walk out of the arena without granting anyone else a look. Sweat drips down my forehead as the doors open up for me. I have left a statement, but only as a low class fighter. I wasn’t expecting it to give me so much motivation, but I want to go even further, now. I want to show them I deserve to be up there. I had the two best fighters as my mentors, for fucks sake. I deserve a higher spot. I only show my weakness when the doors have closed. I only dare to hiss out a breath when my back leans against the wall. I didn’t do much. It is quite embarrassing that I’m tired already. I take a deep breath before I stand up straight, my eyes falling on a familiar face. It is not a familiar face from here, not one of Chay, not one of Cesilia and definitely not one of Connie.
It is a face I thought I would never see again.
Nymeria Amias.
My heart is stuck in my throat. I am sure of it. The closer I get, the clearer her face becomes; it truly is her.
“Nymeria?” I do not understand the shock that appears in her eyes. It is not that of recognition, or that of happiness. She looks rather angry. She looks at me with wide eyes and doesn’t hesitate to rush up to me, hand appearing against the back of my neck. She squeezes my skin and pulls me with her. She only dares to open her mouth when we disappear into my room.
“Don’t you ever say that name out loud again, you hear me?” She points her finger at me, eyes still wide. It is weird to see a family member of mine that was believed to be dead. She had disappeared years ago, and was never seen again. So why am I now seeing her? Why isn’t anyone else surprised that the princess of Lyle is here? “It is Nerys. Nerys and nothing else.” Is she even aware of who I am? Has she forgotten?
“It’s your nephew-“
“I know who you are!” She lets out a frustrated chuckle.
“So why are you so upset-“
“Nymeria is dead, child!” She points her finger at me once more.
“But-“
“There is no time to tell you my story. I am here for king Arlon.” She’s- why? What is it that I don’t know about? “Nym- Nerys.. You’ve been gone for years- father never stopped looking for you, I don’t understand why you-“ I stop talking when I see the look on her face. I don’t want to pry at her distress, or why she’s looking around like she can get caught. It is obvious that no one has recognized her yet, even though she looks exactly like the famous, disappeared sister of king Heseras. Just when I thought any ties I had with my father had flown away.. now I feel responsible for my aunt.
I remember her well, even though she wasn’t there for long. She promised my father to take care of me, and I heard she even shed a tear when my mother died. I don’t know why she disappeared, though. I was told that she might’ve committed suicide. I was told she was dead. Maybe it is good that she is here.
“What do you want from Arlon?”
She’s starting to calm down, luckily.
“I think it is good for you to stay out of this, Elai. You are no king. Keep it that way.” She sounds serious, but kind. I find myself smiling. IS this the young child in me that has missed her? “Aren’t you surprised to find me here? We haven’t seen each other for years, you know.” I try to avoid calling her by her name. Or any name, for that matter. She obviously has something against Nymeria, but calling her by a different name feels wrong, too. As if there is something behind it. Something sinister. “I knew you were here, child. I know as much as your friend does.” It shocks me. In this, I have the same problem as my aunt. I also hide a name of mine. I guess we both hide our blood. But what is her reason?
“Huh? But you-“
“I have eyes everywhere. Just like Chay does.”
“You know him?”
“No.”
She smiles at me. Her stance has changed. Her stress seems gone; she looks like a queen now. I wonder if she ever wanted to become one. “Go back to focusing on your fights, Elai. you will need all the power you have.” She clearly wants to leave. I don’t know if I want to let her leave, though. Why am I meeting a family member of mine somewhere inside of a fucking hallway? There must be a reason the sun has brought her to me. It can’t be a coincidence to put two Amias-blooded people inside of the same arena. It is impossible.
“Arlon is in the arena.”
“I know where he is.”
So why was she inside of the hallway for fighters? She is hiding something, and I hope Arlon will share with me whatever she wanted from him. I hope I have that privilege now.