For some reason, Sam had expected a better turnout. He tried not to let his elation show as he stared at the four people Bairon had brought to whip him into shape. Two of them were familiar. He’d met them the day he woke up. They were in Daryl’s unit. The other two seemed even more excited to begin. He had never met them, but that wasn’t surprising. He’d stayed close to Wexi since she took him under her wings and only took walks with Rosaria. Much of the canyon city remained unexplored. And if he was being sincere, it was better that way. He didn’t want to end up in a ditch somewhere.

  “Amongst the many that want a piece of you, Samuel, we will start with these four,” Bairon said as he paced in front of them. “I will let them tell you their names and why they have come. Then you can begin. There will be no use of essence for this duel. Physical attributes only. Do you understand?” Bairon asked the four.

  “He is that weak?” the man with a large symbol inked over his eyes and half of his left face asked.

  “Don’t be stupid, Kels,” the woman in the dark squad uniform said with a grin. “Master Bairon, continue.”

  Bairon chuckled and nodded. His beard had been trimmed, and a bounce had returned to his steps as he walked to stand in front of Kels. They were the same height, but Kels was bigger and more mean-looking than Bairon. But there was a visible flinch from Kels as he bowed slightly, staring down at his feet.

  Sam stared in awe. Bairon had done that without even releasing his aura. He radiated a quiet authority that Kels felt and understood. That was the kind of power Sam wanted—something that dominated everyone.

  “You will fight him first, Kels,” Bairon said. “Go on, step forward and tell him wh—”

  Alecsa and Wexi walked into the training room. Alecsa, cold and reserved as usual, scanned the hall with her eyes. Wexi waved at Sam, her grin wide and cheerful. Behind the two women, Hale walked as rigid as a statue. Sam met his gaze and received a stiff nod before he moved on.

  “Bairon,” Alecsa called, her voice cold and absolute. Her long coat hung from her shoulder like a cape, the green of dead moss, blending with the hall's light. She glanced at Sam briefly as Bairon walked over to her. The four challengers looked struck, their backs straight and stiff as they stared at anywhere else but where Alecsa stood. It was a strong contrast to how Wexi treated the city’s ruler. The fear was palpable.

  “We will witness,” Alecsa said, her voice loud enough to reach everyone in the hall. Sam saw the regret in the challengers' faces. He almost chuckled.

  “Why?” Sam asked as he walked over to them. His voice carried only curiosity, but he saw Alecsa’s eyes narrow to slits. “I only asked because this was supposed to be a minor event to help me get stronger enough to protect myself.”

  “And that has not changed,” Alecsa replied, her stare intensifying as he neared. He waited, hoping she’d release some of her aura. Instead, she sighed, shaking her head. “Actually, after this, we have decided to make it public. Everyone and anyone can witness your failures and defeats.”

  “And triumphs,” Sam added. Turning to Wexi, he asked, “Is that allowed? Also, can I use my gun?”

  “No,” Alecsa said before Wexi could respond. “You wanted to do this. You will do it my way. You will be challenged, and everyone will watch. You will fight like everyone else, with ordinary weapons.”

  Sam looked from one woman to the other. Wexi appeared sad but wore a small smile. Alecsa’s expression gave nothing away. Her eyes held Sam’s as she approached him. When she stood before him, he caught the flush of an earthy fragrance. She smiled up at him, her face suddenly motherly.

  “You think I hate you,” she whispered, though Sam knew most of the others could still hear her. “I don’t hate you, Samuel Ayer. But I don’t trust you. You stay apart; I don’t trust people who stay apart from the collective. But I am trying to help you anyway. These duels will sharpen you in the most fundamental ways. You can’t use essence in combat without a martial domain. But you can still fight. Your perception is sharper than your body can move, but if you hone it now, it will be easier later. Use this punishment, or die now.”

  She turned away and gestured for the spar to begin. Bairon walked forward, motioning for Kels and Sam to get to the sparring stage.

  “You can use whichever weapon you prefer,” Bairon said. “Kels, you use a spear, don’t you?”

  “Yes, Master Bairon,” Kels answered, his voice subdued and meek. The glint in his eyes had vanished. He moved to pick a staff like Sam. He paused when he noticed Sam’s staff, but then shrugged and stood to face him again. Sam rolled his shoulders, loosening his muscles. Before they were brought into the hall, Sam had been alone, trying to find his essence domain. It was harder than Bairon made it seem.

  “Samuel, Lady Alecsa has made things even more interesting for you,” Bairon said. “If you can win even one of the squad members in the next eight days, you can join the cluster of hunters going to find the mutated Gorgon monster. You can go for minor hunts before that, but the Gorgon monster is one of the fiercest beasts out there, and there are stories of a mutated one.”

  “You said a cluster of hunters?” Sam asked.

  Bairon nodded. “A team of three different hunter squads. One of them is from Falroth, a small town near the island’s western edge. They have a mage. It will be an experience.”

  “Yes, one that might end your life,” Kels said.

  The woman who had shushed him earlier hissed and shook her head. Bairon frowned but didn’t turn to him.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  “It will be dangerous, no doubt, and it is up to you to decide. But the offer stands. You defeat even one of them, and you’re in. What do you think? Will you be a pig’s ass like Kels or will yo—”

  “Of course, I’m going,” Sam said, grinning. He pulled his hair back and tied it. He’d let it down earlier, but now it would only get in the way. A new reason to be serious had presented itself, and he was taking it. He couldn’t imagine what he could gain from an expedition that massive. He didn’t want to ask, but he hoped Zel and her team were going to be part of the hunt.

  Sam bowed to Kels the way he’d seen others do on TV. Kels stared at him as if he were stupid, but the big man raised his staff.

  “Kels Vanzy,” Kels said. “I have no real reason for being here.”

  “Don’t lie,” Bairon said, crossing his arms. “Be honest; no one will judge you for your reasons, Kels.”

  Kels turned to look at Alecsa and Wexi. He sighed audibly and shrugged. “I was instructed to make you hurt so much that you flee from CragForge. I guess I’m the hand of wrath?”

  Sam grinned.

  Kels was bigger, his arms longer. He had the martial domain too, which meant he had been trained for years. He had skill and power on his side. Sam tried to calculate what advantage he had but came up empty. His wounds had healed, and he felt no pain anymore, except a slight pinch in his back. That hardly mattered. He had high perception, but he couldn’t rule out the possibility that Kels had the Tech domain too. That meant he was higher. Sam had to approach the larger man knowing he had no advantage. He was overwhelmed by both skill and might.

  Sam grinned. It was the worst of situations. But this was the best possible condition. He lowered himself, making sure his feet were steady. The staff felt smooth in his hand, and he reveled in its weight. As it had been with Zella, it was perfect. He waited until Bairon signaled they could start and leaped back just as Kels attacked. He swayed left and crouched quickly. Kels’ staff swept through the space where his head should have been. His next attack came faster than Sam could react. He used his arms to block the kick, but the force of it threw him back.

  Sam rolled away, scratching to a quick stop. His arms throbbed, but the pain was nothing he couldn’t handle.

  “Too slow,” Kels said, leaping toward Sam as he crouched, his staff raised. Sam lifted his staff to block the strike and immediately regretted it. The man’s size and weight should have been a clear warning. The power behind the blow forced Sam down, and the tip of the staff grazed his shoulder blade. Pain crashed into him, dulling his senses for a moment.

  Kels’ boot slammed into the side of Sam’s face, and his staff followed, striking Sam’s back. Sam raised his staff to catch the next blow but slanted it, pulling Kels down. With his palm on the ground, he swung a spiral kick that should have slammed into Kels’ lowered head, but the man was faster. Kels caught Sam by the ankle and shoved him. The strength stunned Sam, but there was no time to waste. He spun, using his staff to slow his momentum. Once he was stable, he pushed himself to the right, and Kels’ staff cracked the spot he had just vacated. Sam rose quickly and charged without pausing.

  Kels grinned, weaving through each of Sam’s attacks as if he could see through him, perhaps even read his mind. A spark of fear struck Sam. If Kels could anticipate his moves, this fight was as good as over.

  Sam paused. Only for a second, but Kels’ body already moved in rhythm. He swayed left, and Sam struck, his staff slicing through the air with all the force he could muster. He was sure the attack would land. He had closed in and caused Kels to miss a beat in his flow.

  Sam’s heart sank when he heard the crack of staffs colliding. Kels had tossed his staff from right to left so fast Sam hadn’t even seen it.

  , Sam thought.

  His moment of hesitation was all Kels needed. A punch smashed into his face, and Sam’s vision swam. Lights merged into an opaque screen and a dizzying corona. He staggered back, but Kels didn’t relent. More punches rained down on him. He heard the clatter of wood against the stone floor but couldn’t tell if it was his staff or Kels’. Only the pain existed. It consumed his mind, his senses screaming for him to flee. But flee where? All he sensed was the assault. He staggered back, only to be caught, and the punishment continued until someone told Kels to stop.

  Sam opened his eyes slightly to see Bairon crouched beside him. The old man chuckled, looking at him with a mockingly sympathetic smile. Sam grinned, though he couldn’t see clearly. He was sure there would be blood there.

  “That was good,” Bairon said. “I saw what you tried to do; it was smart, but he had the right training, and you didn’t.”

  Sam opened his eyes fully, ignoring the pain. His chest rose and fell heavily. He had given his best, but it hadn’t made a dent in Kels.

  He chuckled.

  “His speed too,” Sam said, and Bairon nodded. “He has the tech domain?”

  Bairon nodded again, and Sam laughed painfully.

  “He is one of those we call a complete fighter,” Bairon said. “Many of us don’t take the option to open more domains. Instead, we focus on one and hone it until we are undefeatable. But some attempt to open all four, only to develop the attributes.”

  “Step aside, Bairon,” Hale said.

  Sam grinned at him. “Don’t laugh, Sam. You almost died.”

  “Yet, look at him.”

  “More,” Sam said, sitting up. “Who’s next?”

  Hale hissed, and Bairon guffawed. Hale pulled out a vial, round at the bottom like a beaker but the size of Sam’s thumb. The liquid inside was pale blue, with particles of black and silver.

  “Open your mouth,” Hale said. “It’ll sting, but it should heal you enough for another fight. This is expensive. Nadia wanted me to tell you that you’re wasting the Forge’s resources, but Wexi already paid for today’s batch.”

  “Hurry up, Hale,” Bairon said with a grin. “Feed him the potion, and we can get on with today’s business.”

  Sam tilted his head, and Hale poured the vial’s contents down his throat. It tasted sweet, with a minty aftertaste. But nothing happened. Sam looked up at Hale, confused, about to complain when something exploded in his chest. A gush of overwhelming cold surged through him, freezing his organs. His breath came out sharp and painful. Sam groaned, but Hale held him and pressed his palm to Sam’s chest.

  A flush of warmth pierced through the cold, and Sam sighed. The potion’s restorative effects overwhelmed his senses. It was gradual but shockingly fast. When it was done, Sam took a deep breath and grinned, glancing at the system’s message.

  You have been restored! [Partial healing]

  +2 VIT, +3 WIL, +2 PER

  +10 EoM

  He couldn’t decide if the bonus points came from the healing potion or the fight, but he suddenly felt good about taking all that punishment from Kels. He stood up, stretched his arms and legs, and sighed. He felt good. There was a slight pain in the side of his face, but it was nothing.

  “You should be careful,” Hale said, but Bairon was already clapping for him to leave. Hale glared at him and moved away.

  “Now, are you ready for the next?” Bairon asked.

  Sam nodded. “Just what I want to hear. Your next opponent will be Sahael.”

  One of the unknown sideliners bowed to Bairon and then to Alecsa and Wexi before walking over to join them. She was darker than anyone else in the hall, but her eyes resembled shards of purple crystals, vibrant and piercing. Sam felt the urge to look away.

  “Sahael can’t speak, so I’ll tell you why she’s here.” The woman nodded. “You got her elder brother injured. He lost his right hand in the skirmish above the city, and she came to see if you are worth it.”

  The woman nodded again, her face blank.

  “I am—”

  “Stop,” Bairon said. “Show her.”