Wallowing in my own self-hatred. That's how I spent the remainder of the day. After running from my confrontation with Yasuo I simply stayed in my room and sulked.

I had no idea how any of that information got to him, how anyone knew who I truly was. Snjór, the son of a Freljorian general. I was meant to be a soldier in the civil war that destroyed my homeland. However I had no interest in fighting in a war that I despised, so I fled until I made my way to Ionia. But I never stopped fleeing from the truth.

I jumped as I heard a knock at my door. I tensed up, expecting to hear Yasuo's voice. Instead, I heard Tris.

"Khar? You in there?" Another knock.

I got up from my bed and made my way to the door. When I opened it I saw Tris, looking up at me and smiling. She still hadn't changed out of the clothes I'd teased her for earlier in the day. Odd as usual.

"Hey, Tris." I said, attempting a weak smile.

She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. "What's wrong?" she prodded.

I sighed. "Am I that obvious?"

She nodded. "Very."

I gestured for her to come inside, which she did.

She took a seat on the edge of my bed, I sat down in a chair across from her.

"So," Urgency was written all over her face. "Tell me what's wrong."

I stayed silent before looking up at her. "I don't know if I should."

She groaned. "You can't just let me come into your room and then not tell me. I didn't come in here to see you sulk about."

I contemplated telling her, juggling the idea around in my head. How would she react?

"Where are you from, Tris? Ionia?" I held her eye contact.

"Yeah, I thought it was obvious." She giggled. "You are too right? Khar is a pretty Ionian name."

I flinched. "Well, kind of..." I looked at the ground.

"What?" She was confused, reasonably enough.

"I'm not who I say I am. Or at least... I wasn't always."

Tris stayed silent. I looked up at her. She had a serious expression on her face, like the one I'd seen many times before. It was different this time though, less intense than when she talked about fighting.

I kept going, looking back down. "I was born in Freljord. My father was Snjór Jökull, a general of the Freljord. I was also named Snjór Jökull."

"I guess I should've guessed you were from the north. Your appearance and all." I looked back up, her expression had softened a bit. "Go on, Khar."

I nodded. "My whole life I was taught to be exactly like my father, but I never enjoyed it for a second." I was wringing my hands nervously as I spoke. "It's like I was only born to be him. I didn't want to be him I wanted to be me. To be my own person."

"So you left?" She asked, quite literally on the edge of her seat at this point.

"Yeah. When I was 14 I left my home. I betrayed my clan because I couldn't do my duties as a Jökull."

She touched my arm to comfort me. I hadn't even noticed her move from the bed to the chair next to me. I looked at her. Her face was sympathetic. "It wasn't fair for that to be expected of you, Khal. Don't blame yourself." She rubbed my arm to console me. "Finish the story."

"Okay. When I left at first, I had no idea where to go I just wanted to leave the war torn north and go somewhere more peaceful. Then I remembered how interesting Ionia had always seemed to me when my tutor talked to me about it. I thought it was the perfect place for me to start a new life. So that's where I went."

"What about your powers? Where did they come from?"

"I was born with them. I just never knew I had them. Not until I met Nkosi, my master." I smiled at the thought of him. "He was more of a father to me than my real one. He sensed my powers and my potential. He took me in from the streets and trained me. Raised me. He showed me who I really was."

"What happened to him?"

I looked towards the ground and closed my eyes. "He died. So did my real father." I shook my head as I spoke. "I wasn't there to protect my master and I left my family without another man to keep the line going."

I looked back up at her, eyes wet but blazing. "That's why I want to join the league, Tris."

"Why?"

I held her gaze intensely. "Because if I don't, everything I've done has been for nothing."

I stared down at the arena below me. Round 2 of the tournament had begun and this match was important to me. It would be my first time really seeing Tris on the battlefield.

I was beyond relieved to learn we wouldn't be facing each other in the arena yet. I'd had fun during our sparring match but we were both holding back, I didn't care to find out what would happen if we weren't. Not to mention after sharing my story with her in the hotel room the day before I could tell that we had a bond, and that bond was certainly stronger now.

"Coming out now we have Deletrear, The Mystic Man!" Draven's obnoxious voice bellowed around the stadium. "I gotta say man, your title could really use some work!"

I laughed under my breath but kept watching eagerly, sizing up Tris' opponent. Deletrear was a normal sized guy wearing orange and red hooded robes. He was walked calmly out into the arena, taking his place on his side. He was clearly a mage of some sort, I had no idea if Tris had experience against mages. This fight would be interesting.

"And now we have Tris, The Wuju Wonder!" Draven drew out the r in her name for added effect. "Both of these competitors have shown quite a bit of talent so this match should be quite entertaining!"

I focused on my sight to see Tris' face clearly. She wore the serious expression she had whenever she discussed real battle. This time it was much more intense than I'd ever seen. She was wearing all black, a short skirt as usual and a tight long sleeve shirt. She was equipped with two swords this time as opposed to one. Assuming she knew how to use two at once, she really was holding back during training. This guy wouldn't stand a chance.

"If the audience would please join your favorite commentator in the countdown."

"3!"

"2!"

"1"

...

"GO!"

Tris charged at the man, removing one of her swords from its sheath. Deletrear however, just stood there. Waiting.

As Tris was about to reach him a glowing orange wall appeared in front of her. She had to time to slow down but managed to let her shoulder take most of the impact. She staggered away from the wall but had no time to recover as a giant boulder appeared from nowhere, its appearance similar to the wall.

That's some impressive magic. I admired how effortless the spells were to Deletrear. He simply stood there watching her.

Tris jumped out of the way from the boulder just in time to avoid being crushed. She gritted her teeth and ran towards him again. This time he sent out small glowing projectiles, balls of magic.

She drew out her other sword and began avoiding and slashing at the projectiles as they came close to her. Despite Deletrear's efforts, Tris was advancing towards him quickly. It wasn't until then that I noticed what his play was.

Through the fight, his hands never moved from behind his back. The whole time he had been building up a large sphere of magic, one Tris wouldn't be able to cut through.

Deletrear threw the massive orb at Tris. Her face revealed clear panic. She simply kept running instead of attempting to dodge the attack.

What the hell is she thinking?

Within seconds the sphere had hit her, and she was gone. It was as if the sphere had completely disintegrated her.

Wait, I know this trick.

Deletrear seemed satisfied, so sure that he had won that quickly. He wasn't prepared for what came next.

Without warning two of Tris appeared on either side of him. He audibly shouted in surprise, he had no time to assess his situation.

"And Tris comes out with a surprise attack! Will she be able to finish him in one move?!" Draven shouted into his microphone.

Tris 1 slashed at him, making contact with his upper arm, leaving a large gash. Tris 2 went for his chest, leaving a deep cut across it.

Neither move was fatal though, Deletrear sent out a pulse of magic, shoving T1 and T2 away from him. His hands began to glow as he made his next move. He pushed both of his fists out like a punch and two massive glowing fists appeared in front of both of the girls, striking them both and putting them on the ground.

T1 and T2 got up and dashed at him with speed I'd never seen from Tris. They viciously sliced at the mage, to no avail. He blocked each attack with small shields appearing and reappearing with each attack from the girls.

I could tell from his expression that he was trying to figure out which was the real Tris. I hoped Tris had learned from our brawl not to make the mistake of showing which was which.

My prayers were not answered, it was obvious that one was moving faster and more efficiently than the other. She was gonna lose to him the same way she lost to me.

Deletrear used a burst of magic to shove the fake Tris away from him and turned to the real one. Glowing chains appeared and attached themselves to the ground, wrapping around Tris. She struggled to move but before I knew it a sword had appeared and forced its way into her chest.

I winced at the sight of my impaled friend. I waited for her body to crumble to the ground but instead, I only saw her vanish.

Deletrear screamed in pain as Tris shoved both of her swords into his back. She was the real one all along.

She removed her swords from Deletrear's now dead body and slipped them back into their sheaths. The entire stadium was silent as Deletrear's body fell to the ground.

"WE HAVE A WINNER!" Draven shouted into his microphone. The entire crowd joined him in celebration. "The Wuju Warrior ends the match with a surprising killing blow!"

She threw her hand in the air to wave at the audience, a huge grin planted on her face.

I couldn't help but have the same grin on my own face. She was something else.

"Tris!" I called to her as she re-entered the spectating area. She looked at me and smiled, making her way over to me.

"What'd you think?" She looked up at me excitedly.

"You were insane!" I exclaimed. "You fooled everyone with that fake out!"

She shrugged and flashed a cocky grin. "What can I say? I'm just that good."

"You sure are." I rolled my eyes but my words were sincere. We held our eye contact and shared a smile.

"Tris!" Another voice called from across the room, making both of us jump. I turned to see Tris' friend from the other day running towards us.

I looked back to Tris. "I'll leave you to it." I flashed her one last smile and she returned it. I turned and walked away.

As I wandered the area I listened to the conversations around me.

"That last match was crazy!" "I know! Isn't that Tris Chick kinda hot?"

"Did you see that guy in the first round that could control frogs?" "Yeah, he almost managed to win too!"

"I can't believe I even made it to the second round."

"Riven's participating, right? Any other former champs?" "Yeah actually, I heard that guy ren-"

"Hello, Khar."

I turned to the voice, knowing exactly who I'd see. Yasuo.

"What do you want, now?" I glared at him, my blood boiling.

"Just wanted to explain my intrusion yesterday."

"So you had a reason? I honestly Thought you were just being a dick." As little as I wanted to look at him, I held his gaze.

"It's just that, if I find you messing with me or my plan again," He smirked. "That information I found will become very public very fast."

I looked down to the floor.

"What would the Freljorians here think if they knew you were Snjór Jökull?" He waited for a response, I gave him none. "I personally think they would be less than thrilled. So stay out of my business with Riven, okay?"

I looked back up at him. "Leave me alone and I'll do the same, k?" My words were practically spat at him.

He shrugged. "Works for me." He flashed one more smirk before finally leaving me alone.

I shook my head clear of him after watching him leave. I couldn't have him clogging my thoughts when it was time for my match. I had to focus.

Who knew what I'd be up against this time?

My time had come, to my dismay. I was told who my opponent would be just before entering the ring. I would up against a former champion. One that was kicked out of the league for unnecessary aggression towards his fellow champions. I was not exatcly feeling confident.

I swallowed my nerves and began walking out into the arena.

"Returning to hopefully put on another good show, we have Khar, The Energy Warrior!" Draven called out to the heavens. He lowered his voice before speaking again. "But how will he do against his opponent Renekton, The Butcher of the Sands?!"

The crowd went wild as the monster thrashed his way onto the battlefield, giant fan blade in hand.

I audibly gulped. Renekton always struck me as terrifying and unpredictable when I would watch league matches. He was one of the last people I wanted to see on the other side of that arena.

And yet there he was, and there was me.

"Now again, say it with me folks!"

"3!"

I can do this.

"2!"

I think I can do this.

"1!"

I hope I can do this.

"GO!"

The beast snarled as he charged towards me. I had already begun absorbing all the energy I could before the countdown had finished. By the time Renekton reached me I had built up enough to see his attack coming, and duly avoid it. He swung his massive blade at my position but I was already gone, dashing to the side just in time.

He roared in frustration and jumped towards me. I panicked and focused my energy into my arms, putting them in front of me. His blade smashed into them but did not cut through, the energy shield around them held strong.

The crowd went wild and I widened my eyes in surprise, as did the beast. I hadn't realized how much my training would pay off. I dashed behind me, distancing myself from my enemy. I focused some of my remaining energy into my hands as well, hopefully giving them enough power to hurt Renekton.

He dashed towards me again, I knew I had to keep playing defensively or I'd be toast.

When he finally attacked I blocked him once again, the force not breaking my shield but pushing me back slightly. I took the opportunity to slam my fist into his leg, earning a howl of pain from him.

Out of reflex, he swung his blade at me, the dull end hitting my stomach. The force made me fly backward and land on my stomach.

I slammed my fist against the ground and forced myself onto my feet. I stood up, staggering and faced my opponent again. I spit blood out of my mouth and began forming a weapon I never had before, Gauntlets.

Realizing what I was doing, Renekton once again advanced towards me. He slashed and slashed at me but I put all my focus into my weapon and my senses, dodging side to side until one of his swings finally hit me. The sharp part of his blade managed to cut into my side, leaving a bloody gash under my arm pit. I jumped away from him and grit my teeth. I'd have to ignore the pain.

My gauntlets were finished just in time. They were bulky and had spikes on the knuckles, modeled after the iceborn gauntlet. I prayed that they would be able to do some real damage to the monster in front of me.

I flowed the remainder of my stored energy to my muscles in my arms and legs, increasing their strength. I could do this.

Renekton swung his blade at me and I moved my body to the side, avoiding a swift death. I jumped up and slammed my equipped fist into the side of his face. It made an impact, throwing his face to the side and leaving an indent in his scales from the spikes.

The cheering audience influenced me to flash a grin, what a stupid thing to do in a fight.

Out of nowhere, the beast's tail slammed into my side, knocking me to the ground. I fell on my back only to see Renekton's massive guillotine plummeting down towards me.

I rolled to the side and jumped back onto my feet. Renekton attempted to punch me but I grabbed his fist with my hand. This was a move I didn't exactly think through.

I heard the beast let out a low sneering laugh before yanking me towards him. I was stopped only once his other fist slammed into my stomach. I coughed blood onto his arm and the ground below it. I let out a low groan before he flung me across the arena.

I skipped like a rock against the ground before skidding to a halt flat on my stomach, face in the dirt.

"That," I muttered as I pushed myself onto my hands and knees. "Did not go as planned." I spit blood from my mouth and looked up. Renekton was standing there staring me down. He wanted me to make the move now.

I let out a sigh, completely out of ideas. I looked at my hands and deflated with disappointment. His last blow had made my gauntlets disperse.

"It was such a good idea, too." I complained out loud.

I started absorbing more energy as I got to my feet. My original plan would work, I just needed to be more careful. Just like my previous fight, I let myself get cocky. That was something I couldn't keep doing.

I waited for the energy to make its way to my limbs, putting extra into my hands and feet, and made my move.

I pushed my feet hard against the ground and hurtled myself towards my enemy.

Going at breakneck speed I slammed my shoulder into Renekton's chest, who wasn't expecting me to be so quick. The wind was knocked out of him, he released a hissing wheeze.

He staggered as I landed back on the ground. By the time I landed another blow to his stomach he had recovered and was even more furious than before. I stepped to the side as he swiped at me with his enormous blade. I waited for him to attempt another attack before making another move. He let out an angry hiss of pain as I smashed my fist into his knee.

He kneeled, unable to stand after the blow. I reached and hit his face with all the strength I could muster. His face flung towards the ground with the force of my punch.

I thought about making a sword, but I had no way of knowing if I'd be able to pierce his scales enough to kill him. I did have another way I could finish things, though.

I brought as much energy as I could into my palm, forming a sphere of pure power and energy in my hand. I stared at Renekton, waiting for him to make a move as I built up my final blow.

He started to recover, slowly getting up to his feet. I made sure to get some distance between us.

He managed to stand even with his knee being injured. He glared into my eyes from his position. They were glowing red, an aura of violent energy surrounding him.

"Uh oh, someone's getting scary!"

"Shit, shit, shit." I mumbled to myself. I had to hurry up.

He let out a roar, now showing no proof of his injuries. I closed my eyes, building the power into the sphere as much as I could.

I opened my eyes and saw the monster 8 feet in front of me. Before he could reach me, I hurled the energy sphere at his chest, making an impact within a second. When the orb hit him, it caused a massive explosion, enough to push me back a few feet.

The blast sent the monster flying back, not stopping until he slammed into the wall of the arena, creating a crater.

When the beat hit the ground, he didn't even attempt to get up. The audience was hushed as they waited for something to happen.

But nothing did.

"Ladies and gentleman Khar, The Energy Warrior puts on another good show!" The crowd erupted into shouts as Draven spoke. "And he's managed to beat the roughest toughest reptile in Valoran!"

I winced at the pain in my side, now feeling it again.

"I did it," I breathed, looking around at the adoring crowd. A huge smile crept its way onto my face as I felt my wounds heal.

But if I had that hard of a time with him, how am I gonna win the next round?

Holy shit that was long. I hope you guys enjoyed! Let me know what you thought I'm always open to criticism.

-Lance