My mediation/ breathing exercises were interrupted by the host who had walked in, “What do you want to be called while you are walking out?”

“Errr… I don’t know? I didn’t think we needed to come up with something?”

“Okay then son,” He sighed, “What’s your name?”

“Clover Aurora…”

“Clover Aurora… Okay then we’ll call you the Bright Lucky Star Clover Aurora! How does that sound?”

“Err… I don-“

“Great then it’s settled. Good luck for your next battle Clover!” He walked away probably because he had yet to visit the other person who I would be fighting. I had forgotten to check the schedule and as a result the person I was fighting was still unknown to me. I silently cursed myself as I mentally made a note to make sure I pay attention more. I continued the breathing exercises and calmed my nerves/ excitement down for the battle ahead. I had my Rock Style and I was also pretty good at Water Style. I just needed to make sure that I use the right one and the right time.

After a couple minutes my name was called by the backstage man and he lead me to the door which he unlocked and gestured me to walk through. The darkness that I had been sitting was cut through by the brightness of the stage as the ground shook as the crowd cheered and anticipated my match. This was my first formal battle, I had fought monsters more than I had fought people so I was nervous. Would my fighting skill be enough to dispatch the next opponent? At the back of my mind perhaps I was also thinking about what had happened when I had used these very swords in my hands and dispatched all those bandits. I had to keep that power in check and keep myself in control at all times. I hesitated as I saw the darkness of the walkway get cut off by the sun outside. I took a deep breath and marched through. As soon as I walked through the crowd’s voice struck to me to the core. The sheer racket reverberated everywhere right through my spine. My breath quickened as I felt the adrenaline kick in. I closed my eyes and focused on the opponent in front of me. I barely heard the host introduce my opponents name who was apparently the brother of the Lord that we had seen in the signups. He certainly showed that arrogance that his brother had shown. The conviction that he was better than everyone else was apparent in his stance. He saw a helpless “boy” in front of him and looked at me like nothing more than prey to be hunted.

“BOY, if you surrender now I’ll promise to be gentle.” His bellowed and somehow managed to be more deafening than the crowd around me in this coliseum like arena.

I shook my head and said not a word in response. I was ready for whatever he would throw at me. I’d make him take back that “boy” insult. I breathed in and out to calm myself.

“Alright then boy lets get this going then. I guess you don’t want this easy HAHAHA!”

The ref signaled the start of the match and the crowd roared as he charged at me. He was quick! He had made up half the distance in the blink of an eye. But he was like an uncaged untrained animal. I merely jumped to the side and avoided his unbelievably slow slash. “I guess the dog has no bite!” I inadvertently said that out loud instead of thinking it in my head.

“You’ll pay for this.” He rebalanced himself and set his guard as he tried to close the distance between us using his considerable bulk.

It looked like he was trying to corner me so I would have nowhere to run. I wasn’t going to let him. I chanced a swipe at his sword with my left one to try and knock some confidence. Instead the sword flew out of his hand and onto the ground. His eyes widened in surprised as he realized he was facing a proper warrior. He dived at his sword to try and get it and regain the parity. But I wasn’t having it, I was going to make him suffer for his comment. I kicked his sword away and stabbed down with Dark with all my might to make sure he stayed down. There he wasn’t going to get up from that. I heard a crack and a scream from below. The crowd went silent as the sickening crunch could be heard throughout the stage. From below I heard the cries as he held his ribs where I had put stabbed him. There was no wound but in its place I had broken his ribs. Now time to end him. I stabbed down with Light in the same place and he passed out on the stage. I felt satisfied as I looked down at his helpless body. That will teach him to be arrogant. What am I saying? This is terrible, I’ve broken someone’s ribs! My anger subsided and the shock came in its place.

The host shocked by what had occurred tried to regain the atmosphere of the crowd, “And shockingly the Shining Lucky Clover has mercilessly finished off his opponent in with ease. And somehow finished off the barrier in the process! Our wizard will be recasting a strong protective shield to stop this from happening again. Raise your voices for the winner of the battle Clover!” He rushed over and raised my hand to signal that I had won. I hadn’t meant to permanently hurt my opponent but I had been so used to putting my life on the line and never holding back that somehow I had somehow destroyed the barrier that the wizard had placed on the stage. Perhaps it was my swords or my skills that had punctured it.

The host continued, “We will have a short break while our team of wizards sort this problem out. Please have a refreshment or snack while your wait!” He instructed me to the exit and as I made my way to the exit I spotted my opponent on the floor grimacing and holding his ribs in pain. The medical staff had rushed in the intervening time and were working out how to fix his ribs. I turned away as I heard a rather nauseating scream from my opponent. I tried to block it out as I made my way to the exit. At the end of the exit I saw Emi and Foxy who looked rather worried, Emi called out to me anxiously, “Are you okay? We heard a scream from the arena and rushed over.”

“It’s okay, that was my opponent. You shouldn’t have come you need to prep for your match too! Thanks Emi and Foxy for coming.”

I tried to move them to the waiting area for their matches they finally relented as Foxy said, “As long as you are okay… that’s what matters.” I was surprised at her comment but thankful she cared enough for me.

“Thanks guys, come on you guys need to prep yourselves too.”

As I sheathed my Light and Dark into their scabbards I felt the bloodlusted feeling subside away. I needed to be careful with these swords. They will take any opportunity they can to seek any weakpoint in my will. Dark especially. I took a deep breath and pushed it out of my mind and walked with the Emi and Foxy to the waiting area.

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