The slums were bathed in a pale dawn light as Virno made his way toward Cabdan's fighting arena. The streets were mostly quiet, save for the occasional distant shout or the chatter of early risers preparing for the day. When he reached his destination, he found himself standing before an old, crumbling building. Its roof sagged, and the wood around the windows was so rotten it seemed ready to cave in.

  At the entrance stood a hulking figure, arms crossed over his broad chest. The man's face, square and brutish, glared down at Virno as he approached.

  Gorilla: "Can I help you, runt?"

  Virno exhaled through his nose, a cocky smirk spreading across his face. He didn't even bother to answer, simply walking forward. But before he could pass, the man stepped into his path.

  Gorilla: "Look, kid. It's too early for this shit. Get lost before you lose the chance to."

  Virno tilted his head up, locking eyes with the man.

  Virno: "Listen, you dumb fu --"

  Cabdan (interrupting): "He's with me! He's with me!"

  Cabdan's voice rang out from inside as he waddled over to the door, pushing the Gorilla aside.

  Cabdan: "Finally! Took your sweet time, didn't you, kid? Come on in."

  He placed a hand on Virno's shoulder, escorting him inside.

  Cabdan (muttering): "And use your damn words next time...!"

  Virno: "I was just about to. Not my fault your goon didn't know I was coming."

  Cabdan: "Yeah, yeah. Alright, here we are."

  Cabdan pushed open a pair of worn double doors, revealing a large, circular arena. The scent of sweat, blood, and cheap booze hit Virno instantly. The space was packed with people -- beggars, street thugs, and even a few well-dressed men who seemed far too clean for the slums. They crowded the stands, shouting and jeering at the fight taking place in the center.

  Cabdan: "You're up next, boy."

  He turned to a scrappy-looking man near the door.

  Cabdan: "Did she do it yet?"

  Man: "Almost. Any moment now."

  Cabdan: "Great! Then come, Virno. Sit with me and enjoy the end of the show... Get a feel for what kind of fighters we've got here."

  Cabdan led Virno toward the edge of the arena. As they approached, Virno's eyes widened. There, in the center of the dirt ring, was a familiar face. The girl from yesterday -- the one who'd put him in a chokehold -- was fighting a much older, much larger man.

  Virno (under his breath): "Figures..."

  Cabdan (grinning): "Ah, you've met Faya already, huh? She's the best fighter we've got!"

  The man she was fighting was a mess. Blood dripped from his ears, and his nose was a shattered ruin, gushing so much blood he could barely keep his mouth closed. Meanwhile, Faya looked untouched -- just a little winded.

  The crowd was rabid, their chants echoing through the arena.

  Audience: "Come on, Faya! Finish him! Beat his ass!"

  The man staggered, barely able to stay on his feet. As Faya approached, he threw a sluggish punch, more out of desperation than strategy. She caught his fist effortlessly, twisting his arm behind his back and kicking the back of his knee. He fell forward, his face slamming into the dirt.

  Audience: "Here it comes! Here it comes!"

  Faya took a slow lap around the arena, raising her fists to rile up the crowd. They roared, anticipation thick in the air.

  Faya (girl, yelling): "Are... you... READY?!"

  The audience screamed their approval.

  Faya flipped the man onto his back, positioning herself by his head. As she raised her leg, a glint of metal caught Virno's eye -- something shiny embedded in the heel of her boot. The crowd went berserk.

  With a sudden, brutal motion, Faya brought her leg down in an arcing stomp. The sickening crunch of bone and a spray of blood silenced the arena for a split second before the crowd erupted in deafening cheers.

  If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  The man twitched beneath her boot, a portion of his skull caved in. Blood pooled around his head as his body went limp.

  Cabdan(clapping): "Hahaha! That's what I'm talking about!"

  Virno's gaze lingered on Cabdan's ring again -- the strange, grey-glowing one he'd noticed yesterday -- but his attention quickly shifted back to the roaring crowd. Two of Cabdan's goons entered the arena, dragging the man's near-lifeless body out while Faya strutted around, collecting coins and trinkets thrown by the audience.

  Audience: "Faya! Faya! Faya!"

  When Faya finally left the arena, the crowd began to thin.

  Virno: "Wait, where are they all going? Aren't there more fights?"

  Cabdan laughs.

  Cabdan (chuckling): "Not like that one, kid. Most people come just for her. Once she's done, they clear out. That's just how it is."

  Virno frowned, feeling a twinge of disillusionment.

  Cabdan (grinning): "Don't worry. Look on the bright side -- if you get your ass handed to you, at least it won't be as embarrassing with fewer people watching."

  Virno shot him a glare.

  Virno: "Tch. Let's just get this over with."

  Cabdan led Virno through a side door into a backstage room. The stench of blood and sweat was overpowering, and a faint trail of fresh blood led from the arena to another door.

  Cabdan (inhaling deeply): "Ahh...! The smell of money in the air..."

  Inside, Faya was chatting with a young man, but she stopped as soon as she noticed Virno.

  Faya: "Ah, there he is! So, did you see that? That could easily be your face if I catch you messing with kids again."

  Cabdan's eyes widened in alarm.

  Cabdan: "Messing with kids?! What the hell is she talking about?"

  Virno's cheeks flushed slightly.

  Virno: "She's making shit up! Don't listen to her. Shut your damn mouth!"

  Faya burst out laughing.

  Cabdan (nervously): "Ah, good. We don't need that kind of trouble around here."

  Faya's laughter cut off abruptly as she glared at Cabdan.

  Faya: "The same goes for you, pig-man. Don't let me catch you near any kids either, or it'll be the last thing you do... Got it?"

  Cabdan forced a laugh, waving her off.

  Cabdan: "Ahahaha... Such a joker, our Faya! Haha..."

  Faya extended her hand expectantly. Cabdan sighed and handed her a silver coin from his pouch.

  Cabdan: "Here. Now go."

  Faya: "Not yet! I want to see what he's got first."

  She nodded toward Virno, who crossed his arms.

  Virno: "Who am I fighting? Him?"

  He gestured toward the young man gearing up in the corner.

  Faya: "So clever of you! How'd you figure it out, huh? Could it be because he's literally the only other person here...?"

  She smirked as Virno ignored her, turning to Cabdan.

  Cabdan (clearing his throat): "Yes, Virno. That's him."

  He walks over to him. The young man stopped what he was doing as Virno approached, turning to face him fully. He stood tall, his expression calm but assessing.

  Virno: "What's your name?"

  Rel didn't flinch under Virno's gaze. His voice was steady, unbothered.

  Young fighter: Rel.

  

  

  They locked eyes, the silence between them heavy with unspoken judgment. Virno's sharp, cocky edge clashed with Rel's quiet confidence. Neither man moved, but their body language said enough: they were both measuring each other, noting every detail -- the reach of an arm, the width of a chest, the stance of their feet.

  Virno: "Hmph."

  Without another word, Virno turned away, walking toward a bench. He pulled off his shirt, revealing a lean but muscular frame, and tossed it onto the bench carelessly.

  Cabdan (chuckling nervously): "Well, he's eager, at least."

  Faya (rolling her eyes): "Eager to get his ass handed to him."

  She crossed her arms, watching as Virno paced like a caged animal.

  Virno (impatient): "So? What are we waiting for?"

  Cabdan and Faya exchanged a glance but didn't answer. Instead, they both stared at his hands.

  Virno: "What? What is it?"

  Faya: "You're gonna want to wrap your hands."

  Virno (frowning): "Why? Are you stupid? That'd dampen the impact... I want him to feel it when I hit him."

  Faya (snorting): "Yeah, and when your knuckles split open, then you'll both be feeling something! How do you plan to fight tomorrow with broken hands, genius?"

  Rel stepped forward, his tone calm but firm.

  Rel (young fighter): "Bandages protect the bones, tendons, and muscles in your hands. Without them, repetitive strikes could fracture your joints or dislocate your wrist. They also redistribute the shock across your whole hand, keeping everything in place... Fighting bare-knuckled might feel tougher, but it's as reckless as it gets."

  Virno blinked, caught off guard by the sudden lecture. Even Cabdan seemed impressed.

  Faya (yawning): "Alright, professor Rel... We get it! Nobody likes a know-it-all."

  She grabbed a roll of cloth and shoved it into Virno's chest.

  Faya: "Here, let me show you. You're welcome, by the way."

  Virno scowled, but he let her help. As she wrapped his hands, he caught the faintest whiff of sweat and leather, tinged with something softer -- lavender, maybe. His cheeks flushed slightly.

  Faya (grinning): "... No need to get so flustered!"

  Virno: "Oh, shut the fuck up..."

  She laughed as she finished tying the wraps.

  Faya: "There! All done. Now you're only half as dumb as you were a minute ago."

  Virno flexed his fingers, testing the wraps.

  Virno: "Finally. Let's go."

  Faya: "Not so fast...!"

  She tossed him a small wad of cotton.

  Virno (groaning): "What now?"

  Faya: "Bite down on this -- unless you want to break your teeth."

  Virno glared at her but begrudgingly took the cotton and stuffed it into his mouth.

  Virno (muffled): "You guysh are preddy big pushies for a fite club in the shlumsh, yhou know thath?"

  Faya and Cabdan burst out laughing.

  Virno (snarling): "Ffhuck hoff!"

  At last, both fighters were ready. Cabdan waddled over to the patched-up curtains that separated the backstage from the arena. He stuck his arm through and gave the announcer a thumbs-up...