Arwick (A Light Of Roria Sequel)

Chapter Eight

Aziel and I stood beside the gated archway as the chanting seemed to grow exponentially.

"Ahab! Ahab! Ahab!" they bellowed, thrilled that their king provided such a game as this.

I tried to catch my breath, tightening the grip on my sword and shield to keep my hands from trembling. I could feel the adrenaline rushing through my veins before I closed my eyes. "You live, they live," I whispered, focusing on the faces of the ones I loved.

Aziel began to beat his sword against his chest, humming a soft unfamiliar tune as the gate began to rise. Turning to me, he smiled. "Courage," he said with sincerity before the gate came to a sudden halt, rattling in place.

The guards shoved us forward, and we stepped into the arena. The sun was hidden behind dense clouds, and the air was thick with dust, carried by a slow but steady wind, and having never experienced humidity—Eastern Oregon was known for its dry, hot summers—my first breath felt slightly heavy. The crowd rejoiced with violent cheers and a thirst for blood. I took in the arena that was approximately forty feet across and forty feet wide, surrounded by a large square wall that separated us from the crowd above, who sat on a stone structure, similar to a row of stadium bleachers. Dark magic stirred around me like moving shadows casting out the stars. It was an environment of wicked deeds as the crowd shouted, "Kill! Kill! Kill!" over and over.

We were led toward the very center of the arena, where a long chain was connected to my left ankle, before they did the same to Aziel.

The chanting continued as I scanned the faces around me. Some were elves, some were human, and a few were centaurs. Soon the sound of beating drums filled the air, causing the crowd to clap and stomp, their gazes all moving to one central area north of the arena, where King Ahab came into view. To his right was his son, Ahaz, and, to his left, one of the men whom I'd seen with him before. Ahab moved forward toward the edge of the seating, and with his hands raised above his head, everyone grew quiet.

"My friends!" he shouted. "With your bets placed, let us see how you fare!" He paused, allowing the crowd their moment of excitement. "I give you...a she-fairy!" They cried out once more while Ahaz returned to his seat.

Aziel crouched defensively, with a firm grasp on his sword. "Face your back to mine, Addisyn," he ordered, loud enough for me to hear above the noise.

Following his direction, two archways like the one we'd exited began to open. The first was directly within Aziel's line of sight. The other was directly within mine.

"Divinity, don't leave me." I quivered, waiting for whatever was about to be released.

The bear that had threatened my life now rushed toward me, his aggressive huffs and howls growing louder with every eager step he made. My eyes then caught sight of the two men who sprinted toward Aziel, their dark blades high above their heads.

"The bear, Addisyn!" Aziel yelled, turning back to his opponents.

Bracing myself, my long sword quickly transformed into a short blade, and with a violent toss, the blade soared through the air, piercing the bear's shoulder. He bellowed in pain, and I rolled to the side, dodging his sharp claws as he swiped the air. Already on my feet before he had turned to attack, my shield quickly faded, replaced with a bow and arrow. Pulling back, I released two arrows, aiming for his skull. His paws collapsed underneath him before he skidded across the rocks and dirt, coming to a slow halt just inches from my feet.

Turning to face Aziel, I watched his blade sink deep into the man's flesh before he pulled it back. Falling to the ground, his limp body lay next to the other dark user Aziel had already taken down. It was the first time I'd seen a dark wielder die rather than fade away in black smoke. I instantly recalled that only the Marked Six and Kane could not truly be killed. Any others were less fortunate, and I wondered what fate was in store for those who died denying divinity.

I felt a sting of heartache for the three lives that had just been taken, one of which had been by my own hands, a deed I never thought I'd be capable of. I averted my gaze from their still frames in shame, knowing that irreversible act would change the way I viewed myself forever. Of course I had done so out of self-defense, but the guilt significantly outweighed the logic, a truth only time might have been able to heal.

The crowd was already on their feet whistling and shouting vehemently, with their eyes fixed on those we'd defeated. Their deaths had been the spectacle they'd desired, a twisted reality show live for their viewing, where Aziel and I had been the stars.

"Divinity is strong with you!" Aziel yelled. His hand gripped my shoulder comfortingly. "There is no shame in self-defense. You were given this life, and it is your right and duty to protect it." I realized he must have noticed my guilt, and though his words were appreciated, they didn't provide any relief, but I nodded in gratitude anyway.

Once Ahab stood, he raised his hands, and the crowd became still. "My friends! The divinity wielders live to see another fight!"

The crowd roared, crying out for another fight to the death. I looked to the ground in defeat, dreading the very idea before uttering under my breath, "Divinity, get us out of here."

"Guards! Feed our champions and let them rest until the next event!" With Ahab's last words, the crowd cheered one final time while we were escorted back the way we came.

"Hold on to your faith, young fairy. For this is only the beginning." Aziel wiped the sweat from his brow. There was a longing in his eyes desperate for a freedom he'd fought to stay alive to see, and as they shouted "she-fairy" over and over, a fire fueled by my disdain for their actions built inside my chest.

"We're going to get out of here, Aziel. I won't stop fighting with you until divinity makes it happen," I promised.

He looked to me with a gentle smile. "I believe you."

***

"You surprised me, Addisyn," Aziel said as he leaned against the bars that separated us. I didn't open my eyes or even move, too full of exhaustion to give him a sign I'd heard his words. My silence, however, did not seem to faze him as he soon continued. "I have been surrounded by other divinity users in my time here. Each of them succumbed to fear before falling at the hands of a dark wielder, but not you. Today I did not stand alone."

With a heavy sigh, I turned my head to face him. My body felt weak, each muscle aching until it seemed even impossible to just keep my eyes open. Now that the adrenaline had passed, I was ready to let sleep take me but forced myself to endure a few minutes more for Aziel's sake.

"I am sorry you are here, Aziel," I said empathetically. I didn't know how long he'd been their prisoner, but I was already growing weary of that place and couldn't imagine how he was feeling.

"This is not your doing, Addisyn," he started out. "This world hates what we are because it first hated Divinity. We can no more escape the darkness than we can the wind. Eventually it was bound to catch us. All we can do is find a way for you to bring upon..." He paused before lowering his voice. "The light of Roria."

I opened my eyes and smiled. "You really believe I can find it?" I whispered with a yawn, knowing I was moments from falling asleep.

"I am not a fool, Addisyn," he replied, his voice sounding slightly amused. It was like I'd just asked the world's dumbest question as he let out a soft laugh. "Divinity is not capable of failure. Naturally this would mean you will."

Nodding, I felt my mind begin to drift, just as a soft smile formed on my lips. His faith was inspiring, and even though I wasn't entirely lucid, I knew I would forever remember his words.