Cabdan: "... So who knows, you might get a run for your money one of these days, Barr."
Barr: "Hopefully. I'm tired of beating the same weaklings over and over."
Faya stepped into the room, her voice cutting through the chatter.
Faya: "Why don't you fight me, then? If you're so good."
Barr turned, surprised at first, but his lips quickly curled into a smug grin.
Barr: "Ah, sweetheart. Didn't see you there. You know I can't fight my fiancée!"
Before he could laugh at his own joke, Faya punched him square in the stomach. He stumbled but managed to keep his balance, forcing a grin through gritted teeth.
Faya: "I told you to knock that off. You're a depraved, disgusting bastard. I'll never have anything to do with you."
Barr straightened up, brushing off the blow as if it hadn't hurt.
Barr: "Oh, come on. Just because I like them a little young? That's not fair. Plus, I always give them a good time..."
His grin widened, his eyes leering.
Barr: "You'd like it too, if you stopped playing so hard to get."
Faya's fist was already cocked back, ready to break his jaw, when Cabdan stepped between them.
Cabdan: "Alright, alright! Settle down, you two. And Barr..."
Cabdan's tone dropped, firm but oddly jovial.
Cabdan: "Not here. Whatever you do outside the arena stays outside the arena. You know the rules."
Barr: "Of course."
Barr winked at Faya as he headed for the door.
Barr: "See you later, honey."
The moment he was gone, Faya's fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Faya (quietly): "One of these days, he'll show up dead. And when he does, I'll be the one who did it."
Her voice carried no humor.
Cabdan: "Ahahaha... well, I'm sure you two will sort out your differences eventually!"
Faya shot him a glare, silencing him.
Cabdan: "Ahem... so, did you need anything Faya?"
Faya: "Yes -- It's about Virno. I know what you're doing to him and his mother."
Cabdan's expression hardened, a flicker of irritation flashing across his face.
Cabdan: "That loud-mouthed brat..."
Faya: "You either stop it, or I'm done."
The words hit Cabdan like a slap. His face paled, and he stammered.
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Cabdan: "D-done? What do you mean, done?"
Faya stepped closer, her voice low and razor-sharp.
Faya: "I mean I'll never step into your arena again. Not for a single match. And I'm dead serious."
Cabdan's nervous laughter bubbled up, but it quickly died when he saw she wasn't joking.
Cabdan: "W-wait, let's not be rash now! Look, I'm running a business here, Faya. I can't just give my houses away for free!"
Faya: "You own the entire slums, you greedy shithead! You make more money than everyone here COMBINED. Their rent stays the same whether Virno fights for you or not. If you don't agree to that, I'm out. Simple."
Cabdan frowned, rubbing his chin as he calculated his response. Slowly, his nervous demeanor gave way to his usual smug arrogance.
Cabdan: "Very well... let's talk business, then, shall we? You know me, Faya. You know how I operate. I own fifty properties in these slums, housing about 300 people. From rent alone, I make 25,000 copper coins a month. That's 250 silvers, if you prefer."
Faya's jaw tightened.
Faya: "I don't care about your math. Either agree or --"
Cabdan: "Patience, patience. Let me finish, I promise to keep it simple."
Faya's frustration boiled over, but she bit her tongue as Cabdan continued.
Cabdan: "Then there's my, ah... 'other ventures.' Do you have any idea how much my lady business earns?"
Faya glared at him but didn't answer.
Cabdan (grinning): "Ten times more than the slums. Add it all together, and I make 27 gold coins and 50 silvers every month."
Faya's hands clenched into fists.
Cabdan: "But this arena? It loses me money. About 100 silvers a month, to be exact. Keeping it running is purely for entertainment. It's a luxury, Faya, not a necessity. Which means..."
He placed a hand on her shoulder, leaning in closer.
Cabdan: "I don't need you. Or Rel. Or Barr. Or anyone. I keep this place open because I like to have fun."
He smiled as he saw the glimmer of hope fade from her eyes.
Cabdan: "But... I know my fun would be sure to decrease if you left. So, chin up! I'll agree to your terms -- on one condition: the other half of their rent will be paid by you."
Faya slapped his hand away, fury igniting in her eyes.
Cabdan (mocking): "Oh, come now. The orphanage rent is dirt-cheap, practically doesn't count! You can see this as your 'real' rent. So, what do you say?"
Faya's teeth ground together, but she managed to force the words out.
Faya: "Fine. I'll pay. How much is it?"
Cabdan's grin widened, his tone casual.
Cabdan: "Oh, just 250 copper coins."
Faya froze, her face contorting with disbelief.
Faya: "250?! That's with half off? For just two people?"
She lunges at him, but he steps back far enough to avoid contact.
Faya: "YOU'RE A FUCKING ANIMAL!"
He keeps his distance, just out of reach in case she tried attacking him again.
Cabdan: "Now now, dear Faya, effectively all they ever had to worry about was the 250 coppers, which is quite a fair rate! Now, that won't be so difficult for you. 2 and a half fights should cover it, yes? You know where to find me when you've cooled off...! "
He doffed his hat and sauntered out of the room, leaving her standing there, seething.
Faya sank onto a nearby bench, her head falling into her hands.
Faya (whispering): "Fuck... He just keeps getting away with it!"
Her fist slammed into the bench, cracking the wood.
Faya: "I'm sorry, girls... I promised we'd leave the slums. But it just keeps slipping away..."
Her voice broke, and tears began to fall.
The door creaked open. Faya quickly wiped her face and looked up to see Rel stepping inside.
Rel: "Bad time?"
Faya (sniffling): "No. Don't worry."
Rel approached cautiously, sitting down beside her.
Rel: "Was it Cabdan? He looked real pleased with himself when I passed him."
She nodded, her voice bitter.
Faya: "He was pretending to give Virno and his mom a 'discount' on their rent... 250 coppers."
Rel's eyes widened.
Rel: "Discount? That's the usual price for two people... hmph. Same money-hungry asshole as always."
Faya: "I got him to keep it at 250... but I have to pay the rest."
Rel stared at her in disbelief.
Rel: "Faya... you can't keep doing this. You'll never get out of here if you keep paying for everyone else's problems."
Her voice cracked as tears welled up again.
Faya: "I don't care. I'll do anything I can to prevent any more people from falling into his hands... I can't bear to see it. You know what he does!"
Rel instinctively gave her a comforting pat on the back, like a brother would his sister. The readiness with which he did so betrayed that this wasn't the first time they had picked each other up.
Rel: "You're too good for this place, Faya."
She let out a bitter laugh.
Faya: "No, I'm not. I'm just not strong enough to kill him with my own two hands... not for as long as he has that damn ring around his pinky."
Rel sighed, standing up and leaning back against the wall.
Rel: "Well, maybe the new guy can do something about it. The ring was a gift from the doctor, right? And he seemed pretty interested in Virno. Maybe he can make the doctor see reason, help us stand against that tyrant."
Faya: "That's not his problem, Rel... it's ours. We can't ask that of him."
Rel shrugs as he shakes his head.
Rel: "Way I see it, he owes you a favor already. Speaking of... what are you going to tell him about the whole rent thing?"
Faya: "The truth about the rent... but not about me paying it. I don't think he'd accept that."
Rel sighed, pushing himself away from the wall.
Rel: "There you go again..."
Faya stood, brushing the splinters off her hands.
Faya: "Come on. Let's check on him."
Rel: "... Lead the way."
Together, they leave the room, on their way to deliver the good news to Virno.