𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒' 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐃𝐎𝐆 | 𝘷𝘢𝘥𝘵𝘥 𝘹 𝘔.𝘺/𝘯 |

(24) The Slave With A Past Unknown.

"........," 

Five hyenas, a snarling, slavering mass of fur and teeth, launched themselves onto the platform.

The air crackled with anticipation, a mix of nervous gasps and morbid excitement thrumming through the crowd. 

My heart hammered a frantic rhythm against my ribs.

Should I intervene?

But before I could even form a coherent thought, Eckles stepped forward.

With a steely glint in his eye, he brandished the toy sword like a seasoned warrior wielding a broadsword.

"........,"  

╔. ■ .═══════╗

╚═══════. ■ .╝

"........,"  

"This should be entertaining,"

Baron Von Kri chuckled, a cruel edge to his amusement.

Bun-Bun let out a string of frantic hisses, burrowing deeper into my pocket, his fear palpable.

The hyenas, encouraged by the sight of their prey armed with a glorified toothpick, lunged in unison. 

Chaos erupted. 

Eckles, despite his restraints, moved with surprising agility, deflecting snapping jaws and swipes with the toy sword. 

'Even chained,'

I thought, a flicker of grudging respect sparking in my chest.

The crowd roared in approval, their initial apprehension replaced by bloodthirsty cheers.

Even the Baron clapped his hands, a predatory gleam in his eyes.

"Bravo! You've earned your freedom with that display!"

He declared, but his words rang hollow.

There was something unsettlingly staged about this whole ordeal.

Bun-Bun trembled violently within my pocket.

Despite his small stature, he wielded potent magic.

A part of Winter's, too.

So, why the sudden terror?  

Just as a particularly feral hyena managed to side Eckles, snapping at the exposed blade, a wave of invisible energy slammed into the beast.

Bun-Bun's magic...

The hyena yelped and flew across the room, crashing against the far wall with a sickening thud.

Silence smothered the hall, thick and suffocating.

All eyes were glued to the fallen hyena, the fight abruptly extinguished.