Wheels of Fate, BoF II novelization.
Summary: Novelization of Breath of Fire II: Shimei no Ko (The Destined Child). Some events altered. Strong language will be in play.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, they belong to Capcom, as the game does. I own nothing, hear ye, lawyers. But that doesn't gets you the permission to publish this as a book without the proper written and legally signed consent of whoever holds the copyright.
Well, this chapter is longer than originally intended, because I wanted to put all the fight with Katt/Lin in here, until before they decide to fight Argus/Augus.
Chapter 05: Katt-fight!
Late afternoon. The Colosseum. Colossea.
Despite what Rand suggested, Ryu decided to wait until the next day to register, and entered the Arena several hours before the fight was due to begin. Apart from the occasional passerby marveling at the architecture – the arena was hundreds of years old, a relic of Colossea's ancient prosperity – and the maintenance crews working on the recently storm-damaged sections, the Colosseum was empty.
It was odd, considering all of the talk he'd heard concerning this particular match. Perhaps they had sold out of tickets, or perhaps ticket prices had finally risen high enough that there were few spectators.
Supposedly, Colossea was under the rule of the Wyndian Crown, following the once-city state's defeat during the Locknastor Rebellion. But a 'truce' of sorts had been forged afterwards: the Wyndian royalty placed a heavy tax on Arena tickets in exchange for self-ruling as a protectorate of the Kingdom.
I guess it's a win-win situation, isn't it? Ryu mused as he wandered around, glancing casually at the carved murals himself. Wyndia can't spare the resources, but this way, they have a reasonably loyal ally and the Colosseans have a certain degree of independence.
"Excuse me, but can I help you?"
The question jarred Ryu out of his history recollections, and he looked up to see the middle-aged woman at the information booth smile and wink a heavily kohl-lined eye at him. She leant forward as he walked closer, putting down the cheap romance novel she had been reading.
"I'm Bunyan from the Howling Woods," he told her, placing the medallion on the counter. He'd practiced introducing himself, but the name still felt odd. "I came here to check-in for the fight."
She placed one hand on his and pointed to a door on her right with the other. "Then, Mr. Bunyan," she said, more than a tad flirtatiously, "you should go over there, to the Administrative offices. There's no need to be nervous about the check-in – all you have to do is fill in some forms. Have a good fight."
Ryu was indeed nervous, but not for the reason she'd mentioned. He pulled back as she winked again and tried to slide her fingers up his arm. Maybe too many of those novels were bad for her mental health.
He shuddered inwardly, but managed to say calmly, "Thank you, ma'am. If you'll excuse me, I must be going."
- o -
The receptionist continued to stare as the boy entered the admin office and sighed in appreciation. I expected a caveman, but he's a total hunk! Mmm, just look at him. I know I'd pay good money for a touch. She giggled impishly. Wait until I tell the others. At least we get free tickets by working in the overtime slave-pit.
There was no one else in sight. Quickly, she slipped the 'away-from-counter' sign onto the desk and strode off to share her discovery.
- o -
After passing through the door, Ryu found himself in a brightly-lit, extravagant office. Tapestries and expensive paintings jostled for space on the walls, and a statue of a veiled woman holding a torch dominated one corner of the room. Thick maroon carpet covered the floor.
Seated at a desk was a black-haired woman wearing a finely-tailored and expensive-looking dress, hazelnut-brown eyes scanning the pages of the heavy book before her and checking its contents with that of the papers next to it. Ryu judged her to be in her mid-thirties, but her worried expression added unwanted years to her face.
"Yes?" she asked tiredly, looking up as she heard his entry.
"I'm Bunyan from the Howling Woods," he said quickly. "I'm sorry to interrupt –"
"No, no, it's fine. I needed a rest from these city matters anyway. Are you a fighter? May I see your gladiator's medallion?"
He handed it over, and after glancing at it, the woman took out several rolls of parchment from a nearby cabinet. "Please fill these out," she said, passing them to Ryu. "It's the policy of the city and the Arena, you understand."
Was there anything more boring than filling out paperwork? Ryu felt like groaning but only let out a small sigh as he picked up a pen and began to write. The woman chuckled before quickly stifling it at the wounded expression he wore.
"You find it funny to see others in this predicament, ma'am?"
"In part, yes," she admitted with a smile. "I know exactly how you feel because your dismay was so obvious. But – please don't take this the wrong way – I also wasn't expecting you to be literate."
"I'm not a barbarian or some farm-boy who can only herd cattle," he replied. "I may not be a scribe, but I can read and write well enough."
"And well-mannered, too. You can relax, you know. I'm aware that you aren't the real Bunyan." Ryu's jaw dropped and her smile widened. "Yes, he's an old acquaintance of mine. A large man with an ax that can cleave through trees as though they were matchsticks."
"Oh," was Ryu's eloquent reply. Shit. This isn't good.
"But," the woman continued, "seeing as how you have his medallion, you must have defeated him, something I have never heard of happening before. Your manner tells me that you are not the sort who would resort to trickery to win a battle and so I trust that he is in good health?"
Her eyes and the question were sharp, tacked onto the end of her sentence like a needle hidden in lambs-wool. Ryu nodded, and her voice softened again.
"I offer my congratulations on the victory, then. If you'll keep me company for a while, I'll help you fill out those forms. Would you tell me your true name?"
"Ryu Bateson," he said with no small amount of surprise at how things had turned out. "A ranger from the Newhaven Guild, ma'am."
"A pleasure. I am Lady Ornella Collier, secretary to the Master of the Arena."
- o -
Before he knew it, half an hour had passed. Partway through, a maid had brought in tea and freshly-baked cookies and now that his paperwork had been completed, Ryu took the opportunity to ask Lady Ornella about his mission.
"I don't suppose you've heard anything about a woman with bat-wings on her back, have you?" he asked casually. "She's a thief I'm tracking."
"I'm sorry," Lady Ornella replied, taking a sip of tea. "We have had several valuable jewels stolen from the Colossean Museum, which is possibly the work of your thief, but none of the guards stationed on the night of the robbery saw a thing.
"Actually," she said slowly, considering something. "This was not the first strange robbery we've had. There have been a string of incidents where the Dragon God's statues have been stolen. Each time we've replaced them, but the culprit hasn't stopped. Do you think it could be this bat-winged woman?"
"No." The conviction in his automatic response surprised him. Why was he so sure? Why had the word leapt to his lips like that? As Lady Ornella gave him a questioning look, he tried to explain. "I think . . . I think she respects the Dragon God, if not worships him. It's just a hunch, but I don't think she's the one stealing the statues."
"Ah," she sighed. "Frankly, Ryu, I've had to leave the shrine empty until we find the perpetrator. I know the shrines mean a lot to the Dragon God's followers, but there's simply not enough money to keep replacing it and I don't have enough men at the moment to investigate properly."
"You could hire a team from the Ranger's Guild," he suggested, leaning forward in his seat. "The Guild fees aren't too high, and you wouldn't have to send your men."
Lady Ornella smiled at him warmly, the shadow of tiredness and doubt finally lifting from her eyes. "Thank you, Ryu. I will think about it, and let the Guild know if I come to that decision. And thank you for your company this evening."
"It was my pleasure, really. Besides, I couldn't pass up such wonderful cookies," he said, putting on his best boyish grin.
"The chef did a magnificent job, didn't he?" she agreed. "Anyway, all good things must come to an end, and we must speak of business. The manager, Mr. Argus, is most likely inside his office, through those doors there. It's a formality, but you have to speak to him before the fight begins."
"What's the manager like?" Ryu asked curiously.
The slight frown fell back onto her face. "He is . . . a very secretive person, someone who greatly enjoys his privacy. There is a secret passage in his chambers that he uses to travel from place to place so that people do not see him. I'm not sure where exactly it is or what he feels he needs to hide so badly, but it is best not to pry into his affairs."
Ryu nodded. If Lady Ornella, who was a reasonably strong person, was this scared of her boss, then it would be a good idea to be wary around the man. "Thank you for your time, Lady Ornella," he said, gently taking her hand and kissing the back of it.
She giggled, blushing slightly, and waved him away.
As he knocked at one of the intricately carved double doors, he noted the small sign stating that no-one was to enter without express permission. He wasn't sure whether it was a sign of the obsession Lady Ornella had mentioned or whether he was over-reacting. The door opened slowly from the inside, apparently by its own means, and Ryu entered, closing it behind him. He stood still for a few minutes to let his eyes adjust.
Like Lady Ornella's office, this room was also decorated with paintings, although they were illuminated by candles and an eerie blue light. One in particular caught his attention; a depiction of a raven-haired warrior wearing the armour of an Evaian paladin. His stern gaze seemed to sweep across the room, inspecting it for intruders.
The dizzying scent of aromatic herbs emanated from the fireplace, where blue flames flickered behind the metal grate. What herbs they were eluded him, although Bosch might have been able to identify them. Seated on an armchair nearby was a slim, beardless man, with shoulder-length curly hair the same shade as the paladin in his picture. As Ryu came in, he turned his head, appraising him with equally black eyes.
"Master Bunyan, I suppose," he said quietly. His clothing and clipped accent proclaimed him to be a member of Colossea's nobility.
"Yes, I am Bunyan," Ryu replied. "I was told that I had to see you before the fight." He tried to scan the man with the Dragon Tear, but it stayed resolutely orange.
"Indeed. Please be seated. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Argus Conte, the manager of the Arena and Mayor of Colossea."
"It's an honour to meet you," he said politely.
"No, the honour is mine, truly. The people speak highly of you as a fighter and I expect you will live up to your name. I would like to ask you, though: what do you think of fighting a girl?"
"Truly?" Ryu sighed. "If I have no other choice, then I will. But I don't think that she should be hurt."
Argus laughed. "Worry not, she's not the type to let herself get hurt. In fact, she's more often the one to deal out pain; she's not called 'Battle-Fiend' and 'Dynamite Cutie' for nothing. She's been the ruling champion for two months now. But that's too long; people get bored of seeing the same victor every time. So we've decided to bring a worthy opponent to battle her, so that she'll lose her position . . . absolutely."
Ryu shivered at the menacing tone in the last sentence, and the Dragon Tear mirrored his apprehension in a flare of red. Argus had evil intentions, but how far did they go?
"I see," he said at last. "So you have something in mind, then."
"Yes, I have set up a scenario," said Argus, standing and moving over to the window. He stared across the view of the Arena. "Bunyan the 'madman' tortures and butchers, vanquishes, maybe even rapes Lin the Battle-Fiend. She will be destroyed and humiliated, cast down from her pillar. I do hope you will live up to your reputation as a merciless warrior." Argus turned back to him with a reassuring smile, but it did nothing to ease the fear Ryu felt. The Tear's colour darkened, becoming the dark shade of dried blood.
"I'll do my best to win the fight," Ryu answered, fighting instead to keep his face blank and emotionless.
"Yes, win. Watch out for your own survival, though. The girl can be tough, though I'm sure you'll do as we agreed. Here, take this key. In your locker room, you will find part of your prize money. I'm sure you'll appreciate the amount, and when you win this fight, you'll receive the rest."
"I understand, Master Argus. If you'll excuse me, I'll be taking my leave."
- o -
Once he was back in the main hall, Ryu started searching for his locker room. He didn't know whether to share Argus's plan with Rand or the other fighter, and if Argus was watching him, he'd be expecting 'Bunyan' to go straight for the prize money. Maybe in the locker room he would be able to sit and think about what the manager had said.
Unfortunately, the receptionist from the information booth was gone, but one of the guards on patrol duty was able to direct him to a corridor at the other end of the main hall. After trying several doors, he finally came to two towards the back, one in much better condition than the other. Ryu tried the key in the better-maintained door, and the lock slid smoothly open.
It was cozy inside, the walls painted a warm pastel pink. The furniture looked well-used although there wasn't much of it, a vase with a single flower in it providing most of the room's decoration. Only the door on the other side, a sign saying 'Arena' pasted to it, reminded him that this wasn't one of the rooms in Zarinna's house.
This doesn't seem like my locker room, Ryu thought. Lin's? Ah, what the hell. Let's take a look around.
A peek inside the closet revealed a set of worn travel clothes, a cloak and a pair of toeless boots. The cloak was vaguely familiar, as was the pile of bandages in the corner, but the half-formed recognition slipped away as half of a broken battle-staff rolled out across his foot. He hastily shoved it back in, closing the door firmly.
So she's a quarterstaff user, then, he mused. I'll have to be careful; she'll have better range than me, and those things hit hard if used properly. Hmm . . . is she pretty, I wonder? The gossips were talking about how hot she was . . .
Ryu's eyes widened as he moved to a delicate wooden chest and lifted the lid. If he'd had any doubt earlier about the gender of the room's owner, it had now been absolved. A slinky black dress, slit to the thigh, shimmered at him from the top of the pile, matching the high-heeled sandals beside it. An asymmetrical skirt sewn with tiny bells and embroidered sleeveless top, of the sort worn by Melodian 'mirage' dancers. And . . . rummaging further, Ryu uncovered several sets of extremely sexy lingerie.
He blushed a deep scarlet. I shouldn't be doing this. But . . . Bosch was right, it's exciting. Maybe I should have stopped sneaking a look at his PlayWyndian stash. Gently, he picked up a lacy black bra.
So soft . . .
- o -
"I don't care who my opponent is!" Lin snapped to the attendant following her, wringing his hands nervously. "I just want a good fight." After a few seconds she added, almost as an afterthought, "And the prize money as well, of course."
She stalked down the corridor, irritably waving the attendant away as she reached her door. It would be nice to relax for a while before the upcoming fight – Tigress knew how sick she was of idiots, even if the Arena officials hadn't realized. But the distinctive sound of her clothes chest crashing shut made her narrow her eyes.
Damn it! Those guards are supposed to stop people from just wandering into my room! If it's some creep again, I'll smash his head in!
Lin slammed the door open, prepared to see another fawning fanboy, with no knowledge of how their lack of personal hygiene offended her feline nose, asking her to marry him or whatever it was they wanted. Most of the time she kicked them out before they could finish their whining.
But this one . . . this one seemed different. Cuter, for a start. He looked to be the same age as her, although he was nearly a head taller than she was. That was all right, she liked her men tall. And that blue hair! Unusual, but it was such a contrast to her own fiery red. Her ears pricked and her tail swept from side to side in appreciation as she moved closer.
The boy gulped, his face going crimson as he tried not to stare at her chest. Well, it was only to be expected with the low-cut purple top she was wearing – after all, wasn't that the point? To distract her opponents into letting down their guard? It certainly wasn't for its defensive qualities – that was why she wore gauntlets and knee-high battle-boots.
Maybe he's a treat from the manager, she considered, a wicked smile dancing across her face, as thanks for winning so many times. Well, I'm certainly not complaining! Maybe I'll even let him be my . . . special fan. Tigress knows I haven't had one in a while.
"Mmm, they've really got a better selection of fans since the last time I checked, haven't they?" she purred, stopping in front of him and placing a hand on her hip.
"Lin! He-he-hello," he stuttered. His gaze followed her hands as she smoothed down the golden tiger-striped fur that covered her legs and thighs, and she grinned up at him.
"Have we met before? I swear I've seen you somewhere . . ." He tried to back away, but she gently reached a hand to his cheek, running her fingers along his jaw. "Oh! That's right, I remember now. I must say, you look much better by daylight, when you're not crashing into defenselesscloaked women."
The boy's eyes widened in recognition. Hers might be the same colour, but by the Tigress, it wasn't fair that a man could have such pretty eyes. She winked to let him know that she wasn't offended.
"You haven't said much . . . are you playing shy? Most boys I meet can't shut up. But not to worry, I like being the huntress. What's your name, mousey-boy? And what's that behind your back? Aww, did you bring me flowers?"
Lin waited expectantly, but the boy looked away bashfully, keeping whatever he was holding firmly out of sight.
"It's okay, you know. I do like flowers, it's just that I'm picky about who brings them to me. You're okay. No . . . more than okay." She gave him another seductive smile, before dashing around and grabbing the gift.
It's . . . a bra . . .
At first, all that registered was surprise at the fact he hadn't brought flowers. Her instincts weren't usually wrong, and they'd been telling her since last night that he was sweet, polite and definitely the sort of person who would try to woo a girl with flowers.
Surprise gave way to anger and a certain amount of embarrassment. She'd received lingerie as a gift before, sure, but from sleazy guys that she'd been only too happy to beat up. Had she completely misinterpreted his intentions?
Hang on . . . I recognize that pattern . . .
Then raw rage took over as Lin realized that the item she held was her own. She had forgotten about the bang she'd heard, distracted by the cute boy in her room. Now the pieces fell into place.
"You fuckin' goddamned pervert!" Lin screamed, glaring at him in icy fury as she slammed her foot into his side, spinning with the momentum and striking him again in the chest. A knee to the stomach doubled him over, and a blow from her staff sent him flying backwards outside. "Learn to respect a girl's privacy!"
He was cute, though, so she didn't kick him in the balls before slamming the door in his face.
- o -
Ryu groaned as the door to Lin's locker room crashed shut, the wooden frame creaking ominously. Wincing, he climbed out of the fountain she had knocked him into and shot a dirty look at the guards, who had come running at Lin's shout, trying to stifle their sniggers.
Well, at least I'm still alive, he thought as he tried to wring the water from his shirt. But she's no delicate lady, that's for sure. And I've still got to fight her yet! Bosch, why do you always get me into trouble like this? No, that's not fair, it's my fault for following your teachings when I should know better.
He had his answer on her attractiveness, though, even if it was small consolation after how badly things had gone. Lin was lean and muscled, with the scars of many battles crisscrossing her limbs. From her waist upwards, she could have passed for a human girl if not for the catlike ears poking through her unruly hair, the red stripes across her cheeks and the slit pupils in her green eyes that belied her Woren heritage. And the way she'd walked towards him, hips and tail swaying like that . . .
But enough of that, Ryu thought hurriedly. He had to find his locker room and work out some sort of strategy for fighting Lin. The speed at which the Dragon's Tear had changed from green to red had startled him, and it would surely only get worse when the "defenseless girl" saw who her opponent was.
~*Young Ryu, please listen to me.*~
Ryu looked around in astonishment as a voice slid into his mind. The sensation wasn't unfamiliar – after all, how many times had he spoken to Ladon in the same manner now? – but the voice was; a soft feminine voice that reverberated slightly as though they were standing in a tunnel and the speaker was far away.
Did Lin hit me that hard that I'm hearing voices? Ryu wondered. I didn't think I was that dazed, but . . .
~*Ryu, I am a guardian spirit speaking directly into your heart. You must return to that office. The person there is more than he seems, and I can feel evil emanating from his soul.*~
Ryu sighed. He still had a little time left, and what would it hurt? Except perhaps his credibility if it turned out that there was nothing there and the mysterious girl was simply a figment of his imagination, but it wasn't as though he intended to stay in Colossea any longer than necessary. Making up his mind, Ryu turned and began making his way back towards Argus's dwellings.
- o -
Ryu knocked at the entrance to Lady Ornella's office, but there was no reply. Hesitantly, he opened it slightly and peered inside. There was no sign of the secretary, nor any hint of where she might be. Ryu shrugged and continued through.
~*Enter the door on your left, young Ryu,*~ said the phantom voice.
This had better be worth it, he grumbled to himself as he pushed the scratched and battered door open. Suddenly, as his foot crossed the threshold, coldness began to emanate from the Dragon's Tear. It was black, a deep, pulsing black that he had only ever seen once before – on that day. The day when his childhood innocence had shattered into blood-stained shards.
The walls felt too close in the darkness, and a cloying smell hung in the cold air. Ryu flinched as he recognized it. Dried blood.
~*It is time I granted you the eyes of our kind,*~ said the 'guardian spirit', seemingly unaffected by the atmosphere. ~*Close your eyes for a moment, concentrate on the Dragon Tear, and then open them again.*~
Ryu did as told. For a moment, he could see the Dragon's Tear inscribed on the inside of his eyelids. As the glow of its tiny gem eye blinked off and returned in a Ladonic wink, he could sense magic tingling through his head. Once it had stopped, he opened his eyes again.
To his surprise, he could see as clearly as if it were mid-day. But Ryu immediately gagged and turned away as he saw the gruesome scene the darkness had concealed.
~*This was the first time I have manifested before,*~ the spirit said faintly. ~*I must go; I did not realize how much energy speaking to you required. But, young Ryu, while you cannot use them yet, you have inherited many gifts from your mother. One of these I have unlocked for you; the ability to see with only the faintest source of light as long as you hold the Dragon's Tear. I hope we meet again, Ryu.*~
As he felt the spirit fade away, Ryu gritted his teeth and looked towards the back corner of the room.
Here was the answer to Lady Ornella's robbery. The broken pieces of what had once been statues to the Dragon God lay scattered across the floor. It was hard to tell how many there were, but Ryu guessed that nearly a dozen statues had gone missing. Only one was whole, the source of the grisly stench being the blood that covered it from horns to tail.
Ryu pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and rubbed gently at the statue's head, trying ineffectually to remove the blood from its eyes. His effort weren't completely in vain, though, as they began to shine and the sensation of being in the Dragon god's presence started to seep back into the room.
"Lord Ladon!" he said in relief.
~At last. I thought I would not be able to speak to you in this city, but the guardian spirit of the Tear fulfilled her duty.~
"Do you know who is responsible for the destruction, my lord?"
~I'm afraid that this statue cannot sustain me long enough to explain, Ryu. But there is a space for you to look to the next room, where you will find answers. Be strong, Ryu. Have faith in yourself and your friends.~
Ryu sighed as the glow faded again, but at least he knew what his next step was. As he let his vision return to normal, it was easy enough to spot the two spy-holes in the wall, light from the room beyond shining through them. Carefully avoiding the stone fragments, he peered through, an unnatural coldness flowing over his limbs as he watched the unfolding scene.
Neither the Arena manager nor any of the five black-clad figures following him noticed as the eyes of the paladin painting changed from black to green. Argus took a stoppered flask from the mantelpiece gover his fireplace and handed it to one of them.
"Here you are, gentlemen," he said, his bright smile incongruous with the sinister atmosphere. "Chimaera snake venom. A special gift from a friend of mine, imported all the way from Bando. Remember, as soon as one of them is unable to move, shoot them with the poison-tipped darts. I don't care which of the fighters you choose to turn into a pincushion as long as we have a victor and a victim. Either one will be a prime offering for our God."
One by one, the assassins nodded to Argus and left through the window. It looked as though everything was going according to plan, but as soon as he was alone, Argus's grin changed to a grimace. Furiously, he picked up the vase of small purple flowers someone had left on his desk and threw the blossoms into the fire.
Thick smoke began to creep over the stone hearth and in the light of the now-lavender flames, Argus's shadow flickered and seemed to grow larger, resembling the shadow of a bugbear more than a human's. After a few minutes, though, the fire had consumed the flowers and his shadow returned to normal.
His chuckling took on a manic edge as Argus walked out of the room, locking it securely behind him.
Once he was sure Argus was gone, Ryu stepped away from the spy-hole, his mind spinning with questions. Who or what was this 'God' Argus had mentioned? It obviously wasn't benevolent if it was pleased by human sacrifices. And how could he tell Lin about the danger she was in without being beaten to a pulp?
The Dragon's Tear faded from black back to a neutral clear as he carefully slipped back out of the offices. There was still no sign of Lady Ornella and suspicion began to nag at him, but Ryu ignored as he walked back to the other room beside Lin's. As he'd thought, the key fit this room as well.
Unlike Lin's, this one was small and spartan, with nothing more than a single pallet against the wall. The two doors opposite it had signs reading bathroom and Arena respectively. Standing in front of the second was one of the Arena guards, who raised an eyebrow as he handed Ryu a heavy money pouch.
"Cutting it a little fine, aren't you? Inside this bag is the first half of your prize money, Master Bunyan. It's the manager's orders, so don't ask me about it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm free to go back to the Arena so I'll be leaving. I remind you that now that you're here, you're not allowed to leave until the time of your fight. Should one of the other guards or, Eva help you, one of the judges come and find you not in this room, you'll be immediately disqualified. Good luck."
Ryu sighed as the guard left and poured the contents of the money sack onto the straw mattress. It yielded nearly fifteen hundred zenny, mostly in silver pieces although there was the occasional gold.
Dirty and tainted blood-money, all of it. My best hope would be to contact Dr. Kay – I'm sure she's got an antidote to just about anything – but now I can't leave, damnit!
Someone knocked at the door, and Ryu quickly shoveled the coins back into their bag. "Come in!" he called in relief. Hopefully it was someone he could ask for help, even if he had to lie to them about the situation. But other lives were at stake, and saving those lives was his duty as a Ranger.
The titanic Rand, his drinking partner of a few nights ago, was his visitor. Once again, the Tear changed to a soft yellow-green and Ryu relaxed.
"Hey, Bunyan!" said Rand with a smile. "How are you feeling before fighting our Dynamite Cutie?"
"She hits too hard for my liking," he replied with a wry smile. "I met her earlier, under the guise of being overeager fan, but I didn't get to tell her my name."
Rand's jaw dropped. "Are you serious? She hates those kinds of people! I assume she kicked you out?"
"Quite literally." Ryu sighed again, massaging his side with a wince as the painful memories came back. And other recent memories . . .
Rand frowned as the silence dragged too long. "Something is bothering you, isn't it?" he asked.
"To be honest, yes. When I met with the manager, he told that the fight had been fixed already, with me as the winner. Not only that, but he told me that he was going to use chimaera poison-darts to kill Lin."
Well, he might not have told me personally, Ryu thought, but I did hear him clearly. And a white lie is quicker than explaining the guardian spirit and seeing in the dark.
"That's extreme, even for the Arena," Rand replied. "There're always rumours that the fights are fixed, and yes, sometimes one of the fighters dies of injuries, but . . . never poison . . ."
Ryu shook his head. "Argus seems pretty determined, though. Do you know of a lady doctor in Colossea, Aniella Kay? Would you know where her clinic is?"
"Miss Kay? She's been working as a medic for the workers who've been injured during the renovation. She doesn't have a clinic, though – from what I understand, she's currently living in the St. Eva church."
"Dr. Kay's also been researching poisons, though. Could you buy a few chimaera antidotes from her? They won't let me leave until after the fight."
Rand looked thoughtful as he considered their options. "I could," he said at last, "but if there even is an antidote to chimaera venom, it won't be cheap. And on such short notice . . . I don't know if it'll work."
"Would this be enough, do you think?" Ryu asked, handing over the dirt money. "It's a start at least, right?"
"Wow, this is . . . Maybe you were right about the manager, Bunyan. I'll be back in a while." With a chuckle, he said, "Wait for me here."
Ryu rolled his eyes as Rand left, hearing the Shell clansman's heavy footsteps gradually grow quieter. From what he had seen of the sun earlier, there was about half an hour until the fight, so after checking that his armour was secure and not too uncomfortable, he sat on the pallet, closed his eyes and tried to relax. Meditating in armour wasn't the most appealing thought in the world, but it would help with what was to come.
- o -
"Oy, Bunyan! Get up!"
Ryu opened his eyes to find Rand standing over him, shaking his shoulder. "That was quick!" he said in surprise. "Didn't you only just leave?"
Rand gave him an odd look. "Aren't you fully awake yet? It's been about twenty minutes."
Ryu mentally slapped himself. He'd lost track of time while meditating again. It was something he'd really need to work on later. "So it went well, I assume," he answered, cheeks going slightly pink in embarrassment.
"Man, that doctor is the daughter of a Manillo, I swear. She wanted to charge me two thousand zenny for each one!"
He winced. "So what happened?"
"Fortunately, Paladin Ray Braddock, one of the important men of the church, was passing and heard our plight."
So he was being humble! Ryu thought in shock. Well, good for Father Ray then. "And then?" he said aloud.
"He believed me, and he tried to convince her to lower her prices by saying that St. Eva would smile upon her in an unexpected and mysterious manner if she were to do this favour. At first she said, 'I already care for the Colosseum workers free of charge; I have to eat too, you know!' But Paladin Braddock ended up guilt-tripping her with the fact that if she didn't, she'd most likely have two innocent deaths on her conscience because it was obvious I couldn't pay what she was asking. Y'know, I never knew that paladins were allowed to do that." He smirked at the thought.
"It's good for us, though. Paladin Ray sounds like a nice guy."
Interesting methods . . . Though I also know a certain NON-mustached – this last bit was directed towards the ceiling along with an emphatic glare that Rand pretended not to notice – god who likes to pick on poor defenseless humans and who works in mysterious ways.
"Yeah, he is," Rand agreed. He pulled a tiny vial from his belt-pouch and handed it to Ryu. "Anyway, Kay didn't have chimaera anti-venom like we'd thought, but she did have this: her strongest general antidote. She said it'll at least stop you from dying."
Ryu looked at it dubiously. The vial let out no sound, but the myrtle-dark liquid inside seemed to be hissing and bubbling. With a shrug, he uncorked it and took a sip. He immediately regretted it as he broke into spluttering coughs at the bitter taste.
"How is it?" asked Rand, grinning as he slapped Ryu on the back.
"Doctor Kay should advertise better," he growled, quickly knocking back the rest. "Freshly brewed hell, only 750z and St. Eva's blessing."
"You know," Rand said while chuckling at the remark, "what doesn't kill you . . . doesn't kill you. Better some shade of rotten green than being corpse-rotten yourself."
"Yeah, I get it. And you know what? Just for that, you can give the other antidote to our'defenseless little girl' over there." This time, it was Ryu's turn to smirk. Rand paled but nodded glumly and left.
Little more than seconds had passed before Ryu heard the sound of cracking stone and a tremendous splash. Lin's hobbies, it appeared, included throwing people into fountains. Though managing to throw a Shell clansman . . . Well, Woren were known for their crazy strength. Rand trudged back in, his toga drenched.
"Man, that girl is dangerous!" he said, rubbing his head. "She's like a Bilbull. You won't talk any sense into that animal!"
"You know, Rand," Ryu replied with a grin, "what doesn't kill you . . . doesn't kill you." He snickered as Rand rolled his eyes.
"You learn quickly, man. But the chances of her listening to me are as low as mine are of winning a limbo competition against a Highlander." He let out a short chuckle. "So I have another idea, but you'll have to bear with me on this one."
"What?"
"You'll have to shield her from the poisoned darts, but you know that she's not a delicate flower that'll let herself be protected. So you'll have to knock her out or something and cover her."
Nobody said this would be easy, he berated himself. Bunyan's lessons should help, at least. Hang on . . . why is Rand grinning again? Oh, no. No!
"So, Bunyan, take the other extra-strong antidote and be ready to protect our fair Lin." With a sheepish grin still firmly in place, Rand handed the other vial to him.
"Well then, a toast to the wildflower. Cheers." Ryu sighed, gazing at the vial in disgust, before tipping back his head and draining the vial of freshly-brewed hell in one gulp.
"Have a good fight," he told Ryu seriously. "I'll try and spot the assassins and shout when they move for the kill. Try not to die."
- o -
"Master Bunyan, it's time. The battleground is this way."
Ryu left his knapsack and cloak in the locker room and followed the waiting guard. His armour, sword and daggers were in good condition, and the dragon carved on his gauntlet gleamed softly. If it had only been a question of fighting Lin, Ryu felt confident that he could have won. But with the added risk of the poisoned darts . . .
The light shone brightly in his eyes as he entered the stadium. It was packed to the rafters, with hundreds if not thousands of people here to watch the fight. What looked like an enormous tree spanned the distance between the corridor he had just left and his opponent's entrance. As the cheering of the crowd grew louder, the floor beneath the log rumbled and began to open. Once the rumbling had stopped, the gap revealed a pit filled with water.
The water rippled for a moment and something growled. Ryu shuddered. After listening to Argus's insanity, it's possible there is some giant starving monster down there. Argus will have to feed his pet something else, though. I'm not planning on being its lunch.
The more troubling thing was that the battle-area had been reduced to a log only a few meters wide and Lin's agility meant that she would most likely have the advantage.
Suddenly the lights dimmed, and a single spotlight encircled him. "Ladies and gentlemen," called the announcer, voice magically amplified, "welcome to one of the most anticipated fights in the history of Colossea! The battle for the title of Champion! On the left, more muscle than man and ready to fight, we have Bunyan the Lumberjack from the Howling Woods!"
"Bunyan is a stupid name!"
"Yeah, go back to your trees, you crazy hillbilly!"
The crowd's reaction was every bit as disdainful as Ryu had expected. But to the side was something he hadn't expected – a small group of women holding banners and cheering for him. He couldn't recognize them from this distance, but suspected they were friends of that receptionist.
"Bunyan! Bunyan, when you win, we'll be waiting to give you the special treatment!" one of them called.
Ryu grimaced. Too many romance novels along with old age really can fry your brain, he decided.
But even the ladies fell silent when three spotlights swung and converged on the opposite entrance. As the drum-roll sounded, the announcer said, "On the right, the one and only, the amazing and incredible, the Battle-Fiend! The Dynamite Cutie! The ruling Champion of Colossea, Lin Chuang!"
The crowd erupted into shouts of delight as Lin stepped out, waving to her fans with a grin. She looked little different than she had earlier, save for the fact that she was now wearing what had to be light-weight Woren-design armour. Ryu put on his best poker-face as he moved forward, the moment of truth approaching.
"Now, the fighters are to go to the center of the Arena and greet one another."
Both gladiators advanced until they were within handshaking distance. Lin shot at glare at him, one that sent shivers down his spine.
"So you're Bunyan," she hissed. "I thought maybe it was just a weird name, but I'm disappointed."
"There's no time for this, Miss Lin!" said Ryu. "The manager is planning to shoot poisoned darts at one of us."
"What?" Lin screamed in outrage.
"As I said. It'll probably be shot later when one of us is injured."
"That's bullshit!" The Tear, which had been flickering on red, shot to maroon. "You think I'll fall for that cheap lie? You already tried psyching me out, pervert! And you failed! This time I'll rip your balls off - yeah, that's right, you heard me! An S-class ass-kicking is coming your way, Bunyan!"
She gracefully flip-jumped back to her side of the Arena, pulling her staff from its holder and taking position. Ryu sighed and retreated as well, drawing his own weapon. So much for warning her, he thought in annoyance. It looks like there's no diplomatic way out of this one.
The crowd started chanting, "Fight! Fight! Fight!" when it was clear that the two fighters had nothing more to say to each other. The drum-rolls started again as the announcer spoke.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, the moment has finally come! Three!
"Two!
"One!
"FIGHT!"
- o -
=Hey, mustachio-lizard. How about a little wager?=
~What have you got up your sleeve, little pussycat, that you're grinning like that?~
=If my young kitten defeats your whelp, you have to keep meamused for the next era.=
~And if my warrior wins?~
=Then I'll give that dwarven friend of yours a chance.=
~You're playing dirty, Tigress Belthina!~
=Well, I did have the best possible master – you, dear Ladon.=
~ . . . Fine. I accept the wager.~
=Ah, then I want a foot massage and a back rub and . . . Mmm . . . =
~You do realize the fight hasn't even begun yet?~
=Hmm? What now? I was just imagining all the things I would get you to do for me!=
~Heh. A master never reveals all of his secrets, Belthina.~
=You . . . What have you done?=
~Oh, I guess I didn't mention that he's stirring? He already has a Myrmidon's strength and some of its passive abilities . . .~
=You CHEATER!=
~You were the one who made a bet you thought you had no chance of losing. And he's awoken of his own accord. So, shall we watch the fight, little kitty?~
- o -
The audience was silent and expectant. Lin's tail flickered restlessly as she and Ryu advanced slowly, each trying to find any exploitable weaknesses in the other. Seconds passed, the spectators starting to murmur irritably, when suddenly –
Clank!
The two clashed in the center of the log, their weapons meeting in a shower of sparks. Hit after hit they blocked, neither giving nor gaining an inch of ground.
"Lin! Lin! Lin!" chanted the crowd, noisy once more.
But, "Bunyan! Bunyan!" could still be heard from a certain area.
Lin glared at Ryu who glared right back, feinting to the left and being deflected. But there it was, an opening!
Remember, kid, the real Bunyan had said, it's not what you use that's lethal. It's you that has to be the fearsome one. Your weapon is only an extension of you.
His sword was at the wrong angle, so Ryu struck with his dagger. Lin pulled her staff away at the last second and blocked the smaller blade. He jumped backwards and Lin followed, staff spinning. Ryu flinched as she attacked in mid-air. He managed to parry the strike, but it still numbed his arm as she used it to leap into the air.
At the last moment, Ryu sidestepped and struck at her back. Too slow. She spun, his sword scraping along her armour, and kicked high.
Get her angry. That's my only chance, but it's a double-edged blade . . .
Not realizing the feint, he ducked, dagger and sword held overhead to shield. Lin flip-jumped over his head, slipped the staff into its holder and leapt again, claws outstretched.
This is it! There's no way he can dodge!
But somehow Bunyan did, rolling awkwardly to the side. Lin landed and immediately struck again. If he fell, then she'd win. Easy.
As she retrieved her staff, Bunyan tossed a dagger at her. What sort of idiot throws away his weapon? she thought scathingly as she barely deflected it. A wide sweep of his sword drew blood as she tried and failed to parry, and his own kick caught her in the stomach. Even armoured, it still hurt.
What the hell? He can't be getting faster. He'll pay for hitting me!
The moment's hesitation cost her. The flat of the blade caught her shoulder, knocking her off the log. The audience shouted its denial, but it wasn't the first time it had happened. Lin pushed off the wall, catching the word with one hand and climbing back up.
She grinned menacingly as his jaw dropped in surprise. Hah, you weren't expecting that, were you, perv? Lin swung her staff at Bunyan's head. He blocked unsuccessfully and she hit his shoulder instead, his arm falling limp. Numb arm? Good. No more pesky daggers, then.
Then, taking a deep breath, he stabbed downwards, leaving his sword buried in the log.
Suddenly he was right there, fists flying, each punch hitting harder. Lin struggled for air and backed away. She spun her staff in front of her, the whirling circle providing her best defense. But it wasn't enough. Blood dripped from his hands as he caught her staff. The rough wood had shredded his palms, but there was no pain in his eyes. There was nothing.
Lin shuddered. His eyes had glazed over, a white film covering them. Who was he? She snatched her weapon from his grasp and struck at him, again and again, just as he had. But nothing seemed to faze him.
Her staff came to a jarring halt. Bunyan had blocked it with his arm. Once again his skin had been torn, but he ignored it, grabbing the weapon and pulled her off-balance. A casual flick sent her staff spinning through the air to land with perfect precision next to his sword.
Right. Last resort.
Lin roared in fury as Bunyan walked towards her. A faint look of surprise crossed his face as her fangs lengthened and the side-straps of her armour lengthened to accommodate her increased muscle. She dashed forwards, feline eyes blazing with the resolution to bring down this enemy.
He dodged. Somehow, he dodged to the side, using Lin as a pivot to swing around and slam her to the ground. A quick strike to the base of her tail left her paralyzed but still awake.
As one, every person in the audience gasped in shock. Then the call started growing until the stadium shook with the chant.
"KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL!"
Bunyan had crouched in front of her, smiling as she met his eyes. It was not the embarrassed smile of earlier. This smile was amused and merciless, the teeth-baring grin of a predator who had finally decided to stop playing with their prey.
For the first time in her life, Lin felt fear course through her veins. The exhilaration of combat had vanished. She couldn't move, sprawled on the ground before a man – if man he was, to fight like that – who could and might kill her without a second thought.
There was no pride in such a hunt.
- o -
~An interesting fight, don't you think, Belthina?~
=Well, yes . . . But can't you do anything to stop him killing her?=
~Kitten eyes won't change anything, Belthina. I did tell you about the contract forbidding Myria and myself from performing miracles in Asparia? After the catastrophes it caused in the last Dragon War . . .~
=Yes, you told me.=
~Then you understand that it would take one to bring him to consciousness. It's up to him now.~
=Yeah, I know . . . It's just that my little kitty has suffered through so much, Ladon.=
~Tigress, as he trusts in us, so place your trust in him. The fight isn't over yet.~
- o -
Again. Those three demonic eyes watched him again. "Ah, Destined Child," the hated voice murmured. "This is a nice show you put on. Our God is pleased with you."
A scream echoed in the darkness. The demon's claws slashed at the boy, reopening the scar in his chest and reawakening the pain.
"Continue forward, Destined Child. Let me see you open the Gates!"
- o -
"The snipers, Ryu!" screamed someone in the crowd. "The poisoned darts!"
That sounded like Rand Marks, Lin thought hazily as she waited for the inevitable attack. But who's Ryu?
To her surprise, the colour of Bunyan's eyes flickered. The white faded back to green, which went gold as he looked at something above her. Then he was looking at her again, with the green she had admired so much earlier.
He picked her up as though she weighed no more than a child and Lin heard the sound of a crossbow being fired. Pain flitted across Bunyan's face, and then he carried her gently into her locker room and laid her on her bed.
"Do you mind if I sit down?" he asked quietly with a little smile, before fainting. Lin cried out in horror as she saw that his back was studded with crossbow bolts. The faint tint of vinegar common to most poisons drifted through the air.
Although she didn't know it, the Dragon's Tear flared a beautiful turquoise as she came to a realization. Bunyan hadn't been lying when he had told her of Argus's 'plan'. He hadn't acted like the normal perverts, but she had allowed anger to blind her when he had tried to warn her later. When Rand had tried to help in his place, bearing a similar warning, she had kicked him out. And yet, despite her abuse and ingratitude, Bunyan had still taken the poison for her and had carried her to safety.
The man before her, slowly dying, had saved her life.
- o -
~It seems your kitten managed to survive.~
=Yes. I'm relieved, if a bit annoyed that she didn't win. Still, a bet is a bet and I did promise to give your friend a chance.=
~Before you leave, Belthina, there's something I wanted to tell you.~
Now what?=
~Don't glare at me like that. All I was going to say was that it was my friend who taught Ryu the basics of meditation. And I believe it was, in part, that training that stopped him from losing himself to Myrmidon.~
=So . . . in the end . . . it was thanks to him that my girl survived?=
~Indeed. But I would ask you not to let him know who told you. It'd be my head on the chopping block if he found out.~
=Ah, don't worry. He'll be the one singing, not me.=
~I see. Don't let your huntress habits get the better of you, Belthina. Mammon is going to have an interesting future as it is.~
=Ha!=
- o -
End Chapter 05.
Author's Notes:
- I just made up the names of some NPCs. Any coincidence with real people is just by mere chance AND IT IS NOT a deliberate intention to offend someone.
- For the story I'm considering as techno-stuff:
- Most advanced rediscovered AND understood technology is the Steam Machine.
- Petroleum has just been discovered as fuel for the steam machine, or Greek-fire. Gun Powder is a heavily guarded secret of the Iron Ogres clan, for cannons and muskets, and one or another bomb; one-shot pistols have not yet been invented, let alone machine guns, Gatling guns or whatever modern-world gadget exists.
- Chrysm has been discovered, but for now it's just a piece of rock that can be willed to be lit or unlit by anyone. And it can be widely found, so it's used for lighting homes, but there are no other known uses of it.
- Ryu can feel the color of the Dragon Tear, and when it changes; the feeling is conveyed directly into his heart, by a mystical mean. So in the story the change of color is more for getting you, good reader in a proper context.
- Well, I'm including the god-chatter at the end of some chapters for some sort of comical relief. I hope it achieves the objective :) (In other chapters it could be Balbaroy speaking, or other character... who knows).
- Tigress Belthina, is a deity inspired in the Lioness Atalanta from Mieu Sedai's Breath of Fire universe. Reborn DOT darksiren DOT net.
- Review and give a piece of your mind, please.
Special Thanks:
- Ryusui, for his Retranslation.
- Lady 'Kestre Wynde' from ; your proof-reading has helped me to understand about English language and improving the quality of my writing. Thank you very much.