Hey guys! Welcome back to Hear a Tale! Before we do anything else, review time!
Thanks so much to CitrusChickadee for reviewing! True, that travel banter is great! And yeah, even while semi-conscious, Therion's quite the skilled thief, haha XD
And with that, on with the tale!
Relevant Events: Olberic's Chapter Two
20. Fortitude
Victor's Hollow was the birthplace of champions, known far and wide as the jewel of the Woodlands. Spectators flocked to the arena from all over Orsterra to witness the town's legendary tournaments. Every fighter was a celebrity in their own right, whether they were already coming from a place of established renown or making their debut as a rising star underdog. Among such a shining ensemble of contestants, it would be extremely difficult for any regular warrior to stand out in any great capacity.
This was not so, however, for the fabled Unbending Blade of Hornburg.
Though a last minute entry, Olberic had already earned himself a sizable quantity of fans simply by showing up. The warrior had been presumed dead for the eight years following the fall of Hornburg, and his sudden reappearance immediately dazzled the crowds before he even had a chance to draw his sword. Cecily, the young woman who had jumped at the chance to sponsor him as a fighter, was no doubt more than pleased with all of the easy publicity. Though Olberic did not speak much, and would never have considered himself much of a showman, the audience nevertheless adored him.
In fact, even the warrior's seven traveling companions found themselves awestruck as they watched him battle his first opponent from the stands.
"Shucks…" Alfyn breathed, giving a low whistle. "No wonder they call him the Unbendin' Blade! Has he even stopped to take a breather once?"
"Not that I've been able to notice," Primrose replied, eyebrows raised. "I must admit that I'm impressed…fighting off monsters is one thing, but to duel one on one with another person is a whole separate sort of dance, and one with particularly complicated steps, at that. And yet…our Olberic is performing it perfectly without a trace of uncertainty or fear."
"Indeed, his fortitude is surely something to be admired!" Cyrus agreed. "And without a lick of magic to boot…truly, Olberic's strength is all his own."
They watched as Olberic's opponent practically pranced around the warrior, trying to poke at him with a long, thin sword that seemed more suited for fencing than a proper battle. Olberic expertly deflected each strike with his heavier broadsword, remaining in one spot and merely rotating on his heels to match every attack, which forced his opponent to expend his energy while Olberic cleverly preserved his own. The tactic seemed to be working rather well, as his foe appeared to be growing increasingly more flustered, especially as his long cape and wide-brimmed hat began getting in his way.
"You know," Tressa commented with a frown, "with a name like 'Joshua Frostblade,' I kind of expected this guy to be a bit more, ah…impressive?"
Therion snorted. "I highly doubt that's his real name, Tressa. Besides…half the guys here seem like they're more interested in putting on a show than actually fighting well. I mean, come on…'My dearest Angela! I shall win this fight to prove my love for you!'" The thief laughed dryly. "Seriously, does anyone actually buy that nonsense?"
"Just because thou dost not haven a wholesome cause to fighten for, it dost not meanen that no one else can," H'aanit said primly, ignoring the glare Therion sent her way.
"I don't know, I think it's sweet," Ophilia said with a slight smile. "Performance or not, it shows that he has his love in mind no matter the circumstance, and that he's willing to put his life on the line to show how much he treasures her."
Alfyn scratched the back of his head, frowning. "I don't think this is exactly a 'life on the line' situation, though…ain't all this just for show nowadays?"
"That is correct, Alfyn!" Cyrus confirmed enthusiastically. "While, in days of old, arena matches were indeed frequently fought until the death, such contests have been banned for quite some time. Protective measures, such as the use of blunted weapons, sturdier armor, and overseers to break up the fight if things get too intense have been gradually implemented over the years in order to reduce casualties as much as humanly possible. In addition, intentionally causing great genuine harm to one's opponent is strictly against the rules, with an immediate disqualification and possible period of incarceration serving as the consequences. Furthermore - "
To the rest of the travelers' relief, the sudden roar of the crowd effectively drowned out the professor's long-winded lecture. The excitement, it seemed, was a result of Olberic finally choosing to go on the offensive, now that Joshua Frostblade had been worn down a fair amount. The warrior struck relentlessly, forcing Joshua backwards until his thin sword actually snapped in half and he toppled over onto the ground. After that, all Olberic had to do was point the tip of his blade in the long-haired man's direction, and Joshua swiftly yielded.
The audience screamed its approval, to the point where they could barely hear the announcer proclaiming Olberic the victor. Ever the honorable knight, Olberic extended a hand towards Joshua as he staggered to his feet, firmly shaking it and saying something that no one could make out over the cheers of the crowd. Joshua seemed mildly surprised by Olberic's courteousness, but took it in stride, sweeping his feathered hat off of his head and bowing deeply to the warrior that had just bested him. Amidst even more applause from the audience, the two fighters were swept out of the center of the arena to make way for the next combatants, as well as to allow Olberic to rest a spell before his next match.
"Do you guys think Olberic is going to win!?" Tressa called out over all the noise, though the crowd's roar was beginning to fade to a low din.
"Absolutely!" Ophilia said assuredly. "Olberic has all of the strength, courage, and willpower required to best a tournament like this. I have no doubt that he will emerge victorious and find the information he is searching for!"
Primrose smiled and nodded. "Agreed. It may prove difficult as the fights continue, but Olberic is fighting for a powerful cause. I speak from experience…the desire to unravel and perhaps avenge the wrongs of the past can be quite an effective motivator."
"Mhm…I wonder what he'll do once he finds the answers he's looking for," Therion mused, his visible eye narrowed. "Seek revenge? Make amends? Do nothing at all? Olberic's not exactly easy to get a solid read on…"
H'aanit shook her head. "That is Olberic's choice to maken," she reminded the thief. "If he wanteth to finden a new purpose for himself, then…he is the one who must deciden what course of action will proven most fruitful."
"That is true," Cyrus concurred with a nod. "And, whatever the case, there is no doubt in my mind that he will not 'do nothing.' This is the Unbending Blade of Hornburg that we are talking about! His valor is, quite literally, the stuff of legends! Our Sir Olberic will surely persevere, no matter the path he chooses to embark upon in the end."
"Now, now, don't put the poor man too high up on that pedestal," Primrose chided wryly. "Unbending Blade or not, he is still only human. Everyone has a limit, you know. We had best not take care not to accidentally push him past his, what with all of this excessive lauding we're doing."
The scholar cleared his throat, chastised. "Er…yes, of course, that would be best. Heh, my apologies…I'm afraid my enthusiasm for history often gets the better of me."
"We've noticed," Therion deadpanned.
"There's no need to be grumpy, Therion," Ophilia told him, chuckling slightly. "Remember, we're all here to support Olberic! The least we can do is cheer him on with a smile."
Tressa snickered. "Are we sure Therion's capable of that?"
Therion glared at her. "Shut it, brat."
"And this is why we can't take you two anywhere…" Primrose sighed, shaking her head.
"Alright everyone, settle down," Alfyn chuckled. "Look, the next match is startin'! This one'll decide who's gonna fight Olberic next!"
The seven travelers soon ceased their bickering and banter, focusing their attention on the arena, where two more fighters were escorted into the center. Both of them appeared formidable, and once they began dueling, their skills more than matched their looks, but none of Olberic's companions were worried. Each one of them knew that their warrior friend's fortitude and strength of will were unrivaled, each equally as formidable as the sword he wielded. There were answers waiting for Olberic at the end of the tournament, and he had no intention of stopping until he reached them.
No matter the opponent, the Unbending Blade would not yield.
See you guys next time for Tale 21: Vacation!