Cabdan stood over the frozen figures of Barr and Faya, sighing heavily.

  Cabdan: "'Take care of this mess,' he says...! Who does he think he is to boss me around...?!"

  His voice dripped with venom, though he dared not speak louder.

  Cabdan: "No matter... Soon enough I'll be the one calling the shots. The *only* one."

  He approached the suspended tableau of Barr's hulking frame and Faya's defiant glare, locked in their unnatural stasis. His hand reached out tentatively to separate them.

  As soon as his fingers made contact, the spell broke. Time snapped back into motion, and the alley echoed with Faya's violent coughing as she staggered forward. Barr stumbled backward, blinking in confusion.

  Barr: "What the...?"

  Cabdan (mocking): "Mister Barr... Fancy seeing you here at this hour, pants around your ankles, no less. Care to explain yourself?"

  Barr's gaze shifted nervously, his mind scrambling for excuses. He hastily pulled his pants back up, his expression defensive.

  Cabdan: "I trust you weren't planning on doing anything... morally questionable. Were you...?"

  Barr: "'C-course not..."

  Cabdan (coldly): "Good... Because if I find out you've caused me another headache like this again, you'll wish I'd never brought you into my employ."

  Cabdan gripped Barr's arm tightly, his voice low and ice-cold. In response, the young man stiffened, his expression turning from confusion to apprehension.

  Cabdan: "Need I remind you of your father's precarious situation...? This is your final warning. If you get me in trouble again, I will make sure he rots away inside a hole so tiny and secluded that the last meals he'll taste will either be the carcasses of festering, disease-ridden rats, or the excrement that he pushes out of his drunken, bloated body. You either do as I ask, or that is the fate that awaits him... I promise you that."

  Barr (gritting his teeth): "... I understand, Cabdan."

  Barr looked as pale as snow. As Cabdan released him and he turned to leave, a voice cut through the air, hoarse but seething with rage.

  Faya: "Where the hell do you think you're going?!"

  She lunged toward Barr, her voice filled with unrestrained wrath.

  Faya: "I told you I'd crush your balls... I MEANT THAT!"

  Barr backed away instinctively, but Cabdan intervened, stepping between them and holding Faya back with a firm grip.

  Cabdan: "That's enough, Faya! I'll not have your blood spilled in my streets."

  Faya: "Get OUT of my way, or it'll be YOUR blood spilling, too!"

  Cabdan (calmly): "Let me reiterate -- if you so much as touch him, it won't be you who pays the price... it'll be your little friends at the orphanage."

  The words hit Faya like a slap. Her furious expression faltered, replaced by a look of cold hatred as she glared at Cabdan.

  Cabdan: "You want revenge? So you should, and you shall have. Tomorrow afternoon, in the arena. A proper match, the way it's supposed to be -- but that's the only way this will play out."

  Faya: "THAT'S NOT ENOUGH!"

  Cabdan raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her defiance.

  Faya: "Promise me the doctor won't be there... No doctor. Just us."

  Cabdan tilted his head, a slow grin spreading across his face.

  Cabdan: "No doctor? You do realize that works against you, should you lose?"

  Faya (stepping closer): "No. Doctor. Got it?"

  Cabdan's grin widened.

  Cabdan: "Very well. No doctor tomorrow. The crowd will eat it up... But don't say I didn't warn you."

  Faya's gaze shifted past Cabdan, locking onto Barr.

  Faya: "You'll regret ever touching me, you piece of shit. Tomorrow, you're finished."

  Barr smirked, standing just behind Cabdan. His smugness only deepened Faya's loathing.

  Faya: "You're truly worthless."

  Without hesitation, she spat in Barr's face. He flinched, fury flashing in his eyes, but Cabdan held him back with a hand to his chest.

  Cabdan: "Tomorrow, Barr. Tomorrow. Save it for the arena."

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  Faya backed away, her eyes never leaving Barr's until she was a safe distance down the alley. She turned and disappeared into the shadows.

  Cabdan let out a slow breath, his calm mask slipping slightly as he muttered to himself.

  Cabdan: "Girl's audacity is becoming a problem... It's only a matter of time before she tries something foolish."

  He turned to Barr, his tone sharp.

  Cabdan: "Tomorrow, you will win. No matter what. Use any means necessary, but make it clean -- nothing the crowd can see. Am I clear?"

  Barr grinned, wiping the spit from his face.

  Barr: "Crystal."

  Cabdan clapped him on the shoulder, his expression shifting back to his usual oily smile.

  Cabdan: "Good man! Do this for me, and I'll make it worth your while. Two silvers per match, and... I'm sure we can work out some discount for when you request the younger ones."

  Barr's grin widened.

  Barr: "She's as good as dead."

  Cabdan: "That's the spirit..."

  With a tip of his hat, Cabdan's figure dissolved into the night, his footsteps fading as Barr stood motionless, his breathing heavy.

  Barr: "Any means... hmm. "

  With one last glare toward the empty street, Barr adjusted his coat and disappeared down another path, leaving the alley silent once more.

  The moon had started its slow ascent, casting a cold, silvery light over the slums. The streets were a different world at this hour, the life drained from them, replaced by long shadows and an eerie stillness. A few lanterns flickered from shop windows, their warm glow standing against the cold night. Somewhere in this quiet maze, a man trudged along, his jacket pulled tight against the chill.

  Rel's father, a scruffy, kind-eyed man in his fifties, entered the store quietly, careful not to startle his son, who was focused on tallying inventory. The oil lamp on the counter bathed the room in soft, golden light.

  Father: "Evening, boy. How's it coming along?"

  Rel glanced up, a smile breaking through his concentration.

  Rel: "Almost done, dad. How was the garden?"

  The older man sighed as he shrugged off his jacket and hung it on the back of a chair.

  Father: "Not bad, not bad... but your ma's determined to bring those weeds to their knees, and she's dragging me along for the war."

  Rel laughed, shaking his head.

  Rel: "You're the one who promised her, remember? I heard you this morning -- 'Don't worry, dear, I'll do double the chores.'"

  His father groaned theatrically, settling into the chair.

  Father: "A man's got to keep his word, hasn't he? Even when his back's paying the price."

  Rel handed him a cup of ale, which his father accepted with a grateful nod.

  Rel: "She'll appreciate it, though. You know she does."

  The man took a long sip before speaking.

  Father: "And what about you? Doing alright with your injuries?"

  Rel paused, his pen hovering over the ledger.

  Rel: "Yeah... Good as new."

  His father's tone weighed heavily. It wasn't the first time they had discussed this.

  Father: "Just... watch yourself, Rel. The slums don't play fair, and Cabdan plays dirtiest of all. More coin's always welcome... but you know how we feel about his arena business. Killing yourself over his entertainment, son..."

  Rel gripped the pen tighter, his smile faltering.

  Rel: "I'm not doing this for the money or for him, dad. I told you... It's just something I must do. Please, trust me."

  The man patted his son's shoulder before standing.

  Father: "We do, Rel. You've a good head on your shoulders... But it's not something easy for your ma and I to live with. You understand, right?"

  Rel nodded in understanding, as his father grabbed his jacket and prepared to head out again.

  Father: "Now finish up here and get some rest, yeah? Don't want you keeling over inventory. It'd be a pretty embarrassing way for a fighter to meet their end..."

  Rel smirked as he waved his father goodbye. The door clicked shut behind him, and Rel returned to his notes.

  Minutes later, the sound of hurried footsteps interrupted Rel's focus. He glanced toward the door, his brow furrowing. It was late -- too late for customers.

  The door swung open, and there she was -- Faya, her face streaked with tears, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

  Rel: "Faya?! What happened?!"

  Faya struggled to speak through her tears, choking on her words.

  Faya: "I -- he -- Barr -- he tried to... He tried to..."

  She collapsed into a chair, trembling. Rel rushed to her side.

  Rel: "Wait here."

  He quickly closed the shop's front shutters, bolted the door, and fetched her a glass of water. Her hands shook as she tried to drink it.

  Faya: "I'm going to kill him, Rel. Tomorrow... I'm going to kill him."

  Rel furrowed his brow, crouching in front of her.

  Rel: "What do you mean? Kill him where? What are you talking about?"

  Faya (bitterly): "Cabdan set it up. He wants me and Barr to fight in the arena tomorrow."

  Rel's eyes widened.

  Rel: "What?! Faya, you didn't even have a match scheduled! Why would Cabdan--"

  Faya: "He showed up, Rel. Right there, in the alley. I was... I was losing it, and he stepped in. He separated us and said I could have my revenge tomorrow."

  She pauses briefly to catch her breath, before continuing.

  Faya: "... And I made sure the doctor won't be there."

  Rel's jaw tightened as he processed her words.

  Rel: "No doctor...? Faya, are you serious? If Barr wins -- if something happens --"

  Faya (interrupting, with fire in her eyes): "I'm not going to lose, Rel. T-this was a long time coming. I'm ending it, once and for all."

  Rel grabbed her by the arms, looking her square in the eyes.

  Rel: "Listen to me. This isn't just some regular fight. Barr's not going to play fair -- he's going to pull every dirty trick he knows, and you've just given him the chance to make it lethal with no safety net. Are you ready for that?"

  Faya nodded, her voice steady despite the tears still streaming down her face.

  Faya: "I don't care what he does... I'll kill him before he gets the chance."

  Rel exhaled slowly, his grip on her arms tightening briefly before he let go.

  Rel: "Alright... Alright. I'll be there. And I'll make sure Virno is too. You're not going through this alone."

  At the mention of Virno, Faya stiffened.

  Faya: "Virno... Oh my god, Virno! He was there too -- Barr knocked him out. But I didn't see him when I left..."

  She moved to stand, but as she reached for the door, Rel gently grabbed her by the arm.

  Rel: "Hey, hey -- you've had enough adventures for one day. I'll take you back to the orphanage, then I'll check on him. Please, let me handle this."

  Faya: "But -- "

  Rel: "If he wasn't in the alley, maybe Cabdan had someone bring him home. He wouldn't just vanish. I'll make sure he's alright."

  Rel's calm tone seemed to soothe her somewhat. She took a shaky breath, nodding.

  Rel: "Come on... Let's get you home."

  Rel keeps Faya company, as she calms down. He then walks her back to the orphanage, ensuring she arrives safely.

  At the orphanage gates, she turns to him, her expression softening.

  Faya: "Thank you... For everything."

  She hugs him tightly. Rel hesitates for a moment before returning the embrace.

  Rel: "Get some rest, alright? Tomorrow... You'll be fine. I know it."

  She nods, forcing a smile, and disappears into the building. Rel watches the door close behind her, letting out a heavy sigh before heading toward Virno's home.