Tales of the Travellers

4

I sighed through my nose as I stood in the arena. I didn't know what was going to happen. I was more worried about if I lost, if I lost then it would be my hands that killed my partner and my own daughter.

I assumed it would just be better for them if it was me but... would I be able to?

I told myself not to think like that, that I needed to keep my head. I needed to win, and I was going to win.

That's when an old friend found me once again.

No demon was exactly thrilled to see me when I came out, but everybody was there to see me beaten to a pulp for disrespecting the name of the demons. There was too much pride in the demons however to completely eliminate one of their own.

Soon after I was announced, my opponent the council chose was introduced.

Jason Traveller...

Bloody Jason Traveller was my new opponent.

At the time I hardly knew of this man's existence, other than the fact that we knew vaguely enough about each other to nod an acknowledgement.

They made some more introductions, but both Jason and I remained staring at one another. I was looking at what he was made of, what I needed to look out for, while he seemed to just be staring at me. He wasn't sizing me up or checking out for any weak points, he just stared at me.

We were each wearing something similar to each other, but he wore a tall top hat and wore gloves on his hands that he seemed content enough to fiddle with.

I watched as he took off his coat and hung it over one of his arms like a butler. The sound to begin was screeched at us and people yelled at us to begin, to start fighting.

Jason made one motion, walking forwards. He didn't lung or strike, so I stared at him oddly the closer he came. At the last moment, he struck, throwing his coat over my head and blinding me as he threw me around the space. I couldn't get a grip on the ground so I was at the mercy of his pushing influence.

I stumbled for a moment but soon managed to pull free from his clingy coat.

I managed to block a punch from Jason, which sent a jolt of surprised pain up my arm. All I was doing was blocking and dodging Jason's almost feeble attacks. It wasn't like he was scared to attack me, but it was like he wasn't trying, making me feel uneasy at the start of this Match.

I made an attack at the same time, practically punching Jason's fist with my own, sending both of us back a bit.

Jason shook his hand while I flexed mine. I didn't know how to beat this guy, I've never seen him fight.

I gritted my teeth as I made an attack. But like me, Jason dodged mine. I threw punches and kicks but he knew where to go to dodge me. I went for a punch but stuck my other hand out in the same motion, stabbing Jason's stomach and ribs with my fingers.

His body was forced forwards from the suddenness of it, allowing me a few more shots at him. I jerked his head upwards with the force from my knees, it sent him back holding his chin. He recovered a lot quicker than I thought he would.

The moment he could stand up right he just held his chin.

He made a great leap into the air, and I was quick to follow. The two of us sparred for several moments in mid-air, the addition of weapons soon obvious with his rapier. I forced a blade of light to form in my hand and when they touched often resulted in loud screeches.

He pushed off me and sent us sailing back. He landed against the wall like a frog and bounced off it back at me. I held my blade up again and caught his blade, but our blades touched but his upper body continued until he head-butted me, provoking me to go down. I barely managed to land before he came down on top of me.