Trial By Combat

It was just as Itsuki had imagined it to be, if not even better. 

Yuna had brought him the book that night with his dinner meal. It's leathery bindings were barely held together, but somehow legible to him despite beind from another world. The spine read "Histories and Customs of Brightmoor", and the book seem mostly intact. 

After Yuna was gone and he was sure the guard wouldn't notice, he took it out and flipped it open. Then, as if through some divine strike of lightning, it was done. The book remained in his hands, but its knowledge was his. Even the parts that were likely damaged from age and weather - it was as if the soul of the book still remained regardless of the book's condition. Now, just like that, he possessed intimate knowledge of everything that the book had within its pages. 

When Yuna returned later to provide him his rotting porridge for dinner, he handed her back the book. 

"Wha...already?" she exclaimed, taking the book and handing him the other one she had snuck in. "Can you really read that fast?"

Itsuki put his finger to his lips, as if instructing her to quiet and watch. He looked at the spine of this book - "Governing Traditions of the Fallen Lands". Yuna watched in awe as Itsuki opened the book and a faint blue flash emitted from its pages. Itsuki then immediately closed the book, and handed it back to her. 

"Oh, wow... I mean, it's not like I doubted you, but..."

Itsuki reached out and took hold of Yuna's hand that was grasping the cell bar. Yuna held back another "Yeep!" as she was taken aback by Itsuki's sudden forwardness. Itsuki, on the other hand, had fire in his eyes. 

"I need you to find every book in that library involving martial arts and combat training," his eyes were locked onto hers, pleading. "Please, Yuna. As much as you think you can bring without risking your own safety..."

Once again, Yuna was overwhelmed by Itsuki's intense passion. She wasn't sure what to make of it or what plan he had, but she had just witnessed the miracle he possessed firsthand. She took her hand back, slapped her cheeks a bit, and resolved herself. 

"Yes, I'll do my best!" 

That night after his dinner, Itsuki continued to solidify and formulate his plan. It was a huge stretch, and there was zero guarantee it would work. His execution was set for the morning after tomorrow, however, and he had no solid backup plan. It was this - or it was execution. 

The next morning, Yuna had snuck in with nearly three books and a half-dozen independent scrolls. Itsuki was surprised by how ballsy she was being, but the guards paid her little attention. At most, they seemed to presume she was just getting a bit fat and needed her rations cut back. 

"I tried to grab ones that seemed smaller and to-the-point," she explained, handing him the different texts. 

Itsuki took the texts one at a time, receiving their knowledge as he opened the pages or unfurled the scrolls. As he did so, and decades of experience entered his mind in moments, he shifted his focus to Yuna. Her eyes were fierce and present, but they were dark. Upon examination, she seemed like she was worse for wear. Even compared to what she normally seemed like. 

"Are you okay?" Itsuki asked, finishing the last of the texts. 

"Yeah, I'm fine," she smiled, warm from his concern. "Slaves are worked for about fifteen hours each day with just enough time to eat and sleep. I spent all of last night preparing what to bring you, so I haven't slept since yesterday morning."

Itsuki's heart ached at her words. He was certain that those fifteen hours were typically grueling and painful. Sleep would've been paramount to her keeping any form of health and well-being. To sacrifice all of that for him, especially when slowing down likely meant more punishment...

"I truly appreciate your concern, Mr. Itsuki," she smiled, reading his expression once again. "I promise, though, I want to do this. I can't think of any better sacrifice than helping a hero. The worst they can do is kill me, and that's more of a mercy at this point..."

Before she could say anything more, the door to the prison block started to jingle. Yuna quickly snapped back to reality and collected all the texts. She stuffed them expertly back under her attire. It's clear she had been adept at sneaking food and other things in order to keep alive. 

"What's the holdup, slave girl?" the guard asked, cruel as usual. "This isn't a break! He's fed, now get out!"

She nodded in obedience and grabbed the tray. She held it to her chest and hurriedly moved to pass by him. In a small moment of irritation, the guard decided to shove her against the wall for causing him the minor inconvenience of scolding her. 

It was then that one of the books, haphazardly put away in haste, clamored to the floor. 

"What's this?" the guard noted, kneeling down to pick up and examine the book. "Sneaking contraband to the prisoner, are we? If you're lucky they'll give you a death sentence..."

Itsuki, now horrified, scrambled for an idea. He looked to Yuna, whose face was pale but stoic. She was clearly terrified at what had happened, but was intent on accepting her fate. Itsuki couldn't stand the idea of this kind-hearted girl suffering for his sake. Especially in the vile ways he was describing. 

"Hey, fatass!" Itsuki called to the guard, hoping to garner his attention in some way. "How about you beat on someone besides a defenseless girl? Unless you're intent on proving that your mother was a Blightlick!"

It was such a weird word to leave his lips, but he had gotten it from the historical book that Yuna had bought. Apparently a 'Blightlick' was a very deep cultural insult for many. They were considered a cursed people who were responsible for the downfall of the Fallen Lands through their adulterous actions. Insulting one's lineage by referring to them as such was considered a very noteworthy insult, at least from what the book had noted. 

The book, as it turns out, was right. Once the guard processed what was said, he ripped off his helmet, his face bright red and filled with anger. He then marched up to the cell door, forgetting about Yuna for the time being, and began the process of opening it. 

"You have no idea what's coming, you God-Marked swine," the guard growled through clenched teeth. "I'll break every bone in that body of yours and sleep to the sound of your wails. As soon as I get in there, you'll be..."

The guard continue spewing his threats, wound up by his fury as the gate door unlatched and swung open. The moment it did, Itsuki sprung at the guard with all he was worth. The lessons and tactics from the texts he had absorbed ripping through his mind. 

Don't let him draw a weapon. If your opponent is bigger, use your speed to your advantage. If the surprise causes him to flail, you should be able to dodge easily. Then, when you see your first opening, make sure it's fatal and crippling!

His hands were bound, but they were not useless. He lunged for the guards' face, avoiding his arms and driving his thumbs deep into his eye sockets. He held nothing back, pouring all his pent-up aggression in as the man shrieked. He only pulled his hands back when he was sure the guard was permanently blind. 

The guard clutched his bleeding face, howling in agony. Without hesitation, Itsuki fumbled for the sword at the guard's side. Clumsily, he was able to remove it from its sheath and grip it in a meaningful way with both of his cuffed hands. He waited for the guard to swing around in his direction, and then drove it deep into his chest. 

Moments later, it was over. The guard no longer shrieking, his mouth instead spewing blood from his lifeless body. Itsuki stood there, processing what had transpired. He had never killed a man, but it did not have the impact on his psyche he expected. It seems that the knowledge he had absorbed from the books had somehow braced his mind for the cruel reality of what comes with taking a life. 

"Yuna..."

The girl jolted back to the real world, staring in aghast horror at what had just transpired. Itsuki had seemed like such a kind person - she was in awe that he was capable of such violence. 

"Y...yes?"

"Ditch the books and scrolls so you don't get caught," he commanded. "Run screaming to Damon and tell him you found us like this. Tell him that the day after tomorrow, when my execution is scheduled, that I demand a trial by combat!"