“So? Spit it out!” Avryn shouted.

  “This boy, you see, he’s an accident,” Ulver circled around Harver.

  Avryn was confused. Something didn’t click.

  “The hell do you mean accident?”

  Ulver revealed to him about Harver’s past. He was an accidental pregnancy. Their father did not wanted to keep him, but their mother pleaded to keep him. Harver was allowed to live. In exchange, he would not be recognized as house Olesin’s second son.

  “I’m sure you understand. You being an unwanted child, yourself.” Ulver smirked.

  Karrus, the father, made his way over to Ulver’s side.

  “How dare you lay your hands on my son,” he scolded Avryn as he stood in front of Ulver.

  Harver struggled to get up. His balance was unsteady. His pride was the only thing keeping him straight. Seeing this infuriated Ulver. He moved towards him but was stopped by Fergus.

  “Knock it off. It’s over, you won,” he laid down the law.

  Harver made a speech about how hard he tried to get along. How much effort he gave to be recognized as a son. Tears fell down the sides of his face, mixing together his blood.

  “I did everything I could,” he fell down to his knee. “I wanted to be a good son, a good brother, but you never acknowledged me. Not even once.”

  Staying conscious was starting to get difficult for Harver. He hung over his head. Ulver and Karrus did not respond. Avryn’s fists were shaking. He went to help Harver instead, draping his arm over his shoulders. Medics finally came and helped Harver into the tunnel.

  “Unwanted son,” Harver started to break down.

  “I’ll see you in the finals,” Avryn promised Ulver.

  Down in the medic bay, the squads accompanied Harver. Jenilah was helping calming him down. Avryn was in the corner, deep in contemplation. He was fuming. His friends sensed it, and in turn, became uneasy around him. Avryn, sensing it, spoke up.

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  “I know staying angry won’t help the situation. I’ll give a good match tomorrow, trust me.” he rose from the bench. “Take care of Harver, for now.”

  He left the room and took a stroll. Perhaps that would help calm him down. He went to the Academy, and into its forest. The serene green scene calmed him down a bit. Looking around, he was reminded of how he met Sir Iver. He didn’t thought his journey would lead him to this. He smiled. A crack of a twig brought him back to reality, and he instinctively looked at the source of the sound. It was Oliviere, heir to Vistella Corporation. The man was also wandering around.

  “Hello again, Avryn Starbright. I’ve seen what happened. A shame. No person should ever go through that,” he recounted.

  As much as he wanted to leave, Avryn thought this conversation could be fruitful. They talked about what just happened. Oliviere offered his sympathies.

  “I know you wanted to wipe the smile off Ulver’s face. I could sense it from the stands,” he told him. “Bottle up that anger for tomorrow.”

  Avryn crossed his arms,

  “No, there’s no point in that,” he rebuked.

  “Does your friend not deserve retribution? He was embarrassed on such a big stage,” Oliviere reasoned.

  “Comeuppance will be given, I’ll just save that for tomorrow,” he stood firm.

  Oliviere looked to leave, but turned back before doing so,

  “Alright, but consider what I’ve said. Good day.”

  The tense atmosphere died down. Avryn retired to the dorms. He needed to plan out for tomorrow. The next day, he made his way before the tunnel. Rinna was there to greet him. She gave him an update on Harver. He was doing okay now, and recovering. Jenilah was helping him still. Rinna gave Avryn a short pep talk and had him focused. He nodded along. The introductions started and Avryn came out of the tunnel. Ulver came second. The final whistle sounded.

  Avryn prepared Lerosa and used her to overwhelm Ulver’s defenses. The man’s shield arm was strong.

  “I thought you were gonna bring Your A-game, huh?” Ulver taunted.

  Avryn pulled the trigger and used its recoil to shatter away Ulver’s defense in response.

  “You’re a piece of shit brother,” he replied.

  “And? It’s not my job to look after a mistake,” Ulver rebutted.

  They bantered as their steels clashed. Ulver continued. He reinforced that he and Harver will never be brothers and he will always be a mistake, a product of their mother’s pity. Avryn rebuked,

  “I would’ve done everything to have a family, but seeing how yours functions make me sick.”

  Avryn’s anger seeped through Lerosa, and the strange power that awoke in the fight against Leandros, had awoken once again. The red glow was still faint, but it was a shade stronger. It fueled Avryn to the advantage. He trapped Ulver’s hands in ice. He was immediately disarmed and fell down to the ground. Just before Avryn was about to continue, Ulver screamed,

  “Wait, wait, I yield! I yield!” he surrendered.

  This was unprecedented. Avryn was announced the winner. This hollow victory did not satisfy Avryn. Ulver was smiling at him. Oliviere’s words started to become louder in Avryn’s mind. He got on top of him and started raining punches on Ulver’s face.

  “You’re gonna take your goddamned beating like a man!” Avryn screamed.

  His actions shocked even his friends.

  “You goddamned hypocrite! You beat up Harver but can’t take a beating yourself!”

  He continued raining down punches. Ulver was screaming for help.

  “Mercy, please!” he covered up.

  His arms could not take the punishment. Avryn’s punches got faster and stronger. Fergus had to intervene. He grabbed Avryn and pulled him away from Ulver. Avryn spun away and continued his assault on the man. During all this, Olivere was watching from the stands. He was pleased to see what was transpiring.

  “Good…this is the real you,” he muttered to himself.

  Avryn continued his attack on Ulver. The audience started panicking.

  “Someone stop this! My son is being assaulted!” Karrus demanded.

  Fergus got annoyed, and stopped the next punch. He was surprised to know Avryn’s gotten stronger. He pulled Avryn away one final time and threw in a punch to the gut. This was enough to knock the wind out of him. The blow forced Avryn on his knees.

  “You’re disqualified, now calm down,” he held him.

  Avryn was not listening. He felt he had done no wrong. He had gotten retribution for what Ulver did to Harver.