-Ajax-

I faced off against Lucien, normally we would both be cracking jokes and grinning.

This wasn’t a normal situation.

We remained grim faced and unmoving, ignoring the jabbering of the spectators that surrounded us.

This was day that we would officially be welcomed into the company and it was not a time for joking.

“Salute your opponent!” Aegus’s voice rang loud and clear over the courtyard, silencing the jabbering around us and focusing the attention on what was about to come.

Not a sound could be heard.

I raised my Battle Staff and my opponent raised his Spear, then we bowed.

We were ready.

I was ready.

“Combatants are you ready?” His voice rang out once more,

“Yes, we are ready!” We shouted as one.

“Combatants! Are you ready?!”

“YES, WE ARE READY!” We shouted louder this time, our voices echoing out across the courtyard.

“COMBATANTS! ARE YOU READY?”

“SIR! WE ARE READY!” We raised our weapons once more and saluted the crowd, who remained silent, as custom demanded.

We were being initiated and the mood was fit for the occasion.

“Combatants! Engage!” Aegus’s voice rang one last time across the courtyard.

We looked each other in the eye and charged.

Usually we would circle and search out each other’s weaknesses but custom demanded that we charge and engage in combat like so many others did before us.

And charge we did.

Lucien went in for a quick jab, his unblunted spearhead coming straight for my heart.

We weren’t in the sparring field anymore.

This was real, and wouldn’t stop until one of us surrendered, we had good enough mages that most wounds would heal rather fast.

Even then, I was an avatar and he was attuned to light.

With mages ready to save us not a lot could kill us.

I ducked under the spear, and leaped forward going in for a jab of my own.

He sidestepped and his knee surrounded by a golden glow came up to slam into my jaw.

I probably could have dodged it but I was confident that I could take the blow, his knee slammed into my jaw.

My neck snapped up, my jaw shattered.

Making use of The Madman’s gift I dulled the pain, then leaped right into Lucien, taking him onto the ground.

I could tell he was amazed, the only reason he gave up his advantage with his spear was because he thought I would never take a blow like that and just retreat.

Now he was on the ground, and the advantage was mine.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not particularly skilled at wrestling, and yes, I lost my staff.

Thing is being an avatar gives me an inherent advantage in pure strength in comparison to an empowered.

I punched his nose in, leaving it a squashed mess, and probably cracking his skull in the process and prepared to cave his neck in and win the fight.

Only to be blinded by a flash of light, I felt a foot in my gut and I was sent flying.

I landed on my feet.

And promptly vomited.

I felt my jaw slowly start to heal, I don’t know why but my regenerative capabilities decreased after my escape from the mountain and now three years later, they, while still powerful, were but a shadow of their former self.

My vision cleared and I saw a glowing spear point coming for my eye.

I deflected the spear, jumped back and tried to find my staff.

It was behind Lucien, who was coming in fast, spear coming for my gut.

I blocked once again, and the next blow, and the next blow, my hands were a blur and I was utilising all off my gifts as an avatar.

It wasn’t enough though.

The spear came through my defences and plunged into my gut and came out the other side.

Lucien savagely twisted it, and looked to Aegus to call it his win.

I charged, letting the spear come all the way through me and out the other side, howling in pain I grabbed Lucien and started to punch him, again, again, and again.

He tried to flash me and escape except that I too good of a hold on him and continued to punch him even while blinded.

Blood was splattering everywhere, Lucien was on knees.

“YIELD!” I roared lost in the madness of bloodlust.

He remained silent.

I continued to attack him, a punch to the gut, then a punch to the ribs, I heard a crack and watched as bone violently shattered and came shooting out his side.

I saw a white light come over him and start to rapidly heal his wounds.

I felt air and earth start to wrap around my feet.

I roared, I was so close! I continued to punch him until I was pulled back.

I looked around, coming out of my rage.

All I saw were disappointed people, I looked to Aegus.

I saw disappointment there as well.

I saw the broken body on the ground, healing from the wounds that I inflicted.

I saw them.

I walked off, into the forest and started to cry.