Percy of the Huntsmen

Long Way to the Top

La Barra de Los Borrachos

Spain, 100 BC

Percy sat in a wooden chair, leaning back against the corner of the well named Bar of the Drunks. Glancing around, he saw his target. Pablo de Rosa, he was a businessman who had achieved power by stealing it from others. A sure way to make enemies willing to pay the Hunters for a hit.

The man was standing at the counter, drunkenly flirting with the bartender. She was staunchly ignoring him. Eventually a woman that Percy assumed was his wife came in the door and dragged Pablo out after her. Percy moved out after them. He was hoping that no one else would be involved in this matter, it would be a shame if someone innocent died trying to protect Pablo. But just a shame, not a huge deal.

Pablo's wife was gibbering to him in Spanish, something about setting a good example for his son an wasting all his money on the "bebida de muerte."

Pablo muttered nonsense in reply.

Percy shrugged the cloak he was wearing off his shoulders and it hit the ground almost silently. Almost. Pablo's wife heard and turned slightly and gasped in fright. Under the cloak, Percy was wearing a sleeveless toga that showed off his wolf head tattoo on his left shoulder, but that wasn't what caught Señora de Rosa's attention. Percy's sword hilt protruded from over his shoulder, and it was never a good sign when an armed stranger was following you, especially after dusk.

"Tienes una oportunidad, Señora. Salgas." Percy said. She didn't have to be told twice, and leaving her husband she ran down the street to her home. Pablo turned around slowly, and upon seeing Percy he drew his sword. Percy drew his own sword as Pablo tried to charge him, but ended up tripping over the blade of his own sword out of drunkenness and collapsing to the ground.

"This is just sad." Percy complained. "I really wanted a fight tonight. But, a hit is a hit."

With a sight, Percy put his sword back into its sheath over his shoulder. He hit Pablo over the head, knocking him unconscious. Percy grabbed Pablo and put him up over his shoulder. He turned back towards the bar and walked to the stables. A few minutes later, he was riding back to the Hunter's HQ.

Tomorrow is going to be fun, Percy thought as he looked over at Pablo.

§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§

The Arena, Next Day.

Scitus, the Beta Huntsman, stood over the prone body of a Cyclops that was dumb enough to wander into Hunter territory. He glanced up to the raised platform where Adam was sitting, eating popcorn and looking quite bored. The last fight wasn't very good, the Cyclops hadn't stood a chance against Scitus. The crowd of Hunters were loving it though, all of them cheering Scitus on to finish him. Adam gave a thumbs down, and Scitus brought down his sword and sliced off his opponent's head, making the crowd's roaring climax as they all screamed for another.

Adam gestured to his left and a small door opened on the far wall of the arena. Pablo walked through the door. No longer drunk, he was surprisingly light on his feet for a businessman and held his sword with ease. Adam swiveled his seat around and looked at Percy, who was seated behind him.

"This is a custom. You need to win an Arena fight in order to become a full member." Adam told Percy. Percy wasn't at all nervous, this couldn't possibly be very hard. Grabbing his sword, Percy leapt from the platform and landed lightly on the sandy floor of the Arena. Pablo looked slightly confused.

"What the hell are you doing in here, kid. You can't be more than 14."

Percy gripped his sword with both hands and took a half step forward. "I'm 15. I'm the man who took you in last night, and I'm here to become a full hunter!" With a yell, Percy lunged forward and struck at Pablo. He laughed and batted his sword to the ground.