Eight Intertwined

105 - Combat

With the initial announcements over, Olberic retreated back to the tunnels under the arena. The first two competitors remained onstage, though Olberic wasn't entirely sure about who they were. He had been too focused on returning to the other members of his team to pay too much attention to it. Besides, he was confident that he would hear the outcome of the fight soon enough. 

"So, you're Olberic, are you?"

When Olberic arrived back in the tunnels, he turned at the sound of his name. Gustav stood nearby, everything about him put together and stern. He had come ready for a fight, and he was determined to win it as well. 

Olberic nodded. "Yes. And if you know who I am, then you also know that--"

"You'd be looking for Sir Erhardt, aye?" Gustav finished for him. 

"I see I don't need to explain," Olberic confirmed. 

Gustav nodded. "Sir Erhardt spoke of you, but what you're seeking has a cost. Tell me, knight. You know what this place is, yes?"

"A place where a man's worth is measured?" Olberic replied. 

Gustav was silent, and he took a small step toward Olberic. "Tell me, Sir Olberic... To what end do you swing that blade?" he asked, gesturing down to the sword that rested at Olberic's side. 

Olberic's eyes went wide at the question. That was far from what he had expected Gustav to say. As for the answer, Olberic had once been a knight serving his liege and home. He wanted to defend those who had no one else by their side. He aimed to keep his people safe to the best of his ability. He had swung his sword for king and country, and that had been enough for him. But times had changed since then, and as things currently stood, Olberic had no conclusive answer to Gustav's question. Olberic's purpose had seemingly simmered away and died the instant the king's life left his body. Olberic had been satisfied with traveling alongside the rest of his party for the time being, but it was not the reason for being that he sought. 

Gustav watched Olberic for a moment, and when he recognized that his conversation partner would not be responding, he took a step away, casting Olberic a glance over his shoulder. "I'll see you in the final," Gustav said simply. With that, Gustav walked away. 

The implications of Gustav's words were not lost on Olberic. Gustav was already confident that they would be the ones to end the tournament when all was said and done. No other competitor could hold a torch to them as far as Gustav was concerned. It was quite the bold statement on Gustav's part, but Olberic would have been lying if he said he didn't suspect Gustav was correct about the outcome. Only time would be able to tell if Gustav's words were brazen confidence or true to reality. 

The rest of the travelers were waiting for Olberic when he had finished his conversation with Gustav, and Alfyn let out a hefty sigh while shaking out one hand. "Whew. I don't think I'll ever get used to somethin' like this," he admitted. "I never thought I was one for combat, and even if things have changed since I've met up with all of you, it's still a bit nerve-wrackin'." 

"We're going to do our best to win the fight though," Tressa assured him. "We've made it this far, and that means that we're deserving of our place in the tournament. All we need to do is follow that momentum forward a little bit longer."

Olberic nodded to himself, his conversation with Gustav still weighing heavily on his mind. He found a distraction in the form of H'aanit though, who had her arms crossed as she gazed at the nearby wall of the arena. Olberic drifted in her direction cautiously. "Is something troubling you?" he asked softly. 

H'aanit looked at Olberic out of the corner of her eye, barely surprised to see him there but still only halfway focused on the matter at hand. "Thou couldst say that," she murmured.