Espex The Demon Mage. (1)

Chapter 5: Espex Fights!

Espex lead Samth and Grix to a large building in the darkest area of the great round white city of Gord. The people walking down the alleyways to the inn were unpleasant scary people all with scars on their faces, the atmosphere was darker and everyone gave the hooded Espex and Samth dirty peering looks. The large red doors of the inn looked as if they should be opened by at least two muscled men. They did not even give a little resistance to Espex pushing on them with his seal skin glove. Walking in it was light and loud, people of many looks all sat laughing and drinking. The main area was much larger than any house Samth had ever been in, Many times bigger than the tavern she was brought up in. Not a free table in sight all taken by women and men, at the far end of the inn stood a large bar that stood in the middle full of drinks and stools. A lone man stood behind it the inn keeper, Ivan. A tall man with a bald head and thick green eye brows, he had a constant angry expression on his face and had a body build with more muscle than an ox. Samth and Espex both shifted and pushed their way through the tables and people to get to the big giant Ivan. A few people Samth could feel them stare at her and the blue creature Grix on her shoulder. Espex with his hood still up got to the bar first with Samth a little behind him.

Ivan was the first to speak. "So this is the girl," He peered at Samth, her long dirty blonde hair and thin pale face with red lips just leered back at the big bald angry Ivan. "Hmm she doesn't look like much Espex, but then you don't look like much. I have set-up the area, go downstairs and get ready." With that he went on to serve a customer.

Espex turned to Samth and spoke in his low weird fashion. "Ok, I will be taking you to an area where we will be facing other mana users or mages if you prefer. So what you learned from Grix about wind mana you may want to go through in your head again. Fast." with that he turned round and went to an area to the far left of the bar. He placed his hands on the wall and it opened up. Wood moved up as if alive to reveal a large set of stone steps leading downwards.

"Wait why do I have to fight!" protested a worried Samth.

"To see what your level will be among us Mage." Espex said no more and walked down the stairs.

Samth turned to see what peoples reaction would be to moving wood. None paid attention as if it never happened. Samth worried to be left behind followed Espex into the unknown. A good few minutes of walking Samth reached the bottom to behold a sight jaw dropping. Many people beyond counting stood shouting and cheering as in the middle of what can be described as a crater, in it stood a large stone arena with two people fighting. It had many steps leading to the arena. People on different levels all stood watching and cheering. The men fighting were using magic. One was blasting another with fire while the other shielded himself with unseen shields. With every move the crowd would cheer or jeer. Samth found this strange but was almost caught up with the atmosphere that she forgot to tail Espex. Luck would have it he was next to her watching the fight.

"I am up next...You will see what a Mage must fight like. We have been lucky since we began to travel together no Knights of One have found us. But they will...they always do."

"Who are the Knights of One?" Samth asked.

"After my fight and yours I will tell you, but today is about you being ranked and approved by the Mage community. Everyone here is a Mage and we all had to do it."

As Espex finished talking the crowd went wild as a fighter had won. It was the fire Mage. He waved as the other mage lay on the ground unmoving. Samth found this brutal and scary. A clean up team came on the stage and dragged of the unmoving Mage. Then a small balding man came on stage. He wore a long coat buttoned all the way up to his thick brown beard.