Chapter 7 - Rematch

The next few days came and went without incident. I held my breath every morning. I hesitated falling asleep during the day. Then breathed a sigh of relief when nothing happened. I’m sure Grace could still tell I was uneasy, no matter what she said. Any moment could be the time Lorelei tries to strike back. If not her, it could be that Golem or even Simon.

I thought a bit more about what Simon said. It would be nice to forget about everything, to live in a perfect utopic paradise. To never feel sadness, to not worry about that Black Knight. To be as happy as the people in Oren.

Then I remembered the woman looking for her lost husband. Those thoughts sobered me up.

Grace wandered into the room, a bowl of soup in her hands. “Eat up.” She said. “Doctor's orders.”

“Haha, very funny.” I retorted. “Though I am feeling better. I might be good to continue my journey tomorrow.”

Grace frowned. “Well, if the doctor’s orders suggest you’re getting better, maybe you should listen to what she said about three weeks without straining yourself.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but every argument has been tried and failed. “Fine, but if anything happens. I’m leaving, I can’t risk more people getting hurt.”

It seemed as if Grace wanted me not to leave the village, to just stay. “I get you want me to stay, but we both know the truth that I can’t.”

“You’re so cold, you know that?” She snapped. “You’re a human being. I’m not asking you to avoid all of this, but you need to take better care of yourself.” Grace reasoned. Her face was scrunched up in the way it always was when she got mad.

I stood up. I felt a tingling sensation all over my torso. Residual magic flowing through me. My arms felt slightly weak. “You’re right. But, I’m still going to bulk myself a bit. I’ve been on my behind for so long I’m getting soft.”

“Fine, just not too far. Call for me if you need anything.” With that, she placed the soup next to me.

“Thanks for the food.” I was at least grateful, even if I’m stubborn. I picked up the bowl and placed it on my lap. With every spoonful, I felt just a bit more grounded in the situation. I wanted to go home, yet a part of me felt sad I would be leaving everything here behind at the same time.

Maybe Simon was right? Maybe I could bring Grace with me too, and we could live peacefully. Away from the competition. Just live.

I then began to feel a little dizzy.

“Let’s live forever, Razan.” The disembodied voice of Grace crept into my mind.

“Why don’t you listen to her, Razan?” I could even hear Simon now.

“You’ll get to live a life of happiness. Not a chance at all for sadness.” Now it was Lorelei’s turn to speak.

I stopped eating. The soup grew cold on my lap. I wondered how long I had been stuck in my head. I ate the soup in a hurry and rushed outside, leaving the bowl half finished on the counter. I needed desperately to distract myself from the growing desire to escape it all. The motto I lived by began to feel more and more like a distant memory, a burden.

As I spent time practicing. I felt angrier as I hacked at the straw dummies set up. Each slice was cut through with practiced efficiency. My sword gleamed in the sunlight, as the sun set down it showed a rather empty expression reflected at me. In the distance, Grace watched. I’m sure she knew I needed space more than anything. Even if it killed her inside not to intervene.

As I faced towards the woods, I saw a pair of eyes looking back at me. I readied my sword and shield, wondering who it could be. “Who’s there?!” However, the eyes spoke back. “Lorelei. If you would rather the town not be targeted in our fight. Then perhaps you should follow me into the woods.”

It was a trap. I knew that better than anybody else, yet the thought of Grace or another villager being caught in the crossfire filled me an intense worry. “Fine, I’ll fight on your terms. But I’m now a lot more recovered than before. You’ll find I won’t go down easy this time.” With that, I waited for Grace to turn her head before walking through the trees.

We followed a narrow forested path for what felt like an hour. Before we settled in a clearing. “I would rather not involve innocents. This fight is between you and me.” Lorelei declared. Before, of course, jumping up onto a higher branch. The blowpipe now manifested in her hand again. I knew how she fought. I needed to come up with a counter strategy. Luckily, I had a lot of time to mull it over.

Dart after dart began to fly my way as she hopped from place to place. She was incredibly agile, yet all I had to do was keep her moving. No need to run. The metallic clanging of darts hitting my shield sounded off as my shield got heavier and heavier. I stood completely still, moving only to face where Lorelei was.

“Hm, I’m guessing you plan to tire me out. Too bad it won’t work. I’ll sit here as long as it takes.” She gloated.

I smirked, then looked up at her. The battle would be at a standstill, and I can’t have that.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. You see, if I went missing, there are people in the village who will notice I’m gone. Soon it won’t just be us, it will be you versus a whole army of angry villagers.”

Lorelei’s eyes narrowed at the threat. If she planned to involve the village, she would have done so by now. “You avoid civilians; however, with an ability like that, I shouldn’t have gotten such a reaction.” She hides in the shadows, meaning her ability has a weakness. Mine is range, hers must be…

It hit me.

“I got it now, you’re using magic,” I remembered how Grace always got tired after using copious amounts of healing magic. Meaning she is already expending a lot of energy. “Which means I’m playing offensive now! Not the other way around!” I cut down tree after tree, forcing her to constantly move. Robbing her of rest.

As expected, she hopped from tree to tree, trying desperately to avoid me and keep her distance, but it was fruitless. I expelled a straight line of magic right into her. Her whole body glowed as she fell. I won.

She now lay helpless before me. “Crap! I can’t die!” She panicked as she desperately tried to crawl back. She threw dirt, spat, and clawed her way away.

I couldn’t bring myself to kill her. She was beaten, and she learned her lesson.

“What do you want!? The forest is MY domain! I’m supposed to win! Not you!” She spat out as she crawled away.

Yet all the while I remembered what my objective was. I had to kill people, I had to be the sole survivor. If I didn’t kill her.

“I’ll kill you!” As a last resort, she went right for the blowpipe. In shock, I struck her down there. A singular tear ran from her eye as the wound in her chest took her. Her eyes dimmed as the life faded from her. Her body made an agonizing sound as she breathed.

It created a deep pit in my stomach. I killed her, I killed someone. It was self-defense, yet I did it anyway. I figured I would be able to. But agreeing with killing someone, and then doing it. That is a whole different experience.

I felt sick, I backed up and puked into a nearby bush. As I doubled over, I saw something sticking out of my chest. A dart.

“She was an enemy; I was foolish to consider sparing her.” Yet that tear, she was only acting in self-preservation. Like a scared animal. She likely had regrets in her life that she fought hard to rectify, yet I took that opportunity from her. I hated this, I hated this game.

I pulled the dart from me, but it was too late. I didn’t feel anything now, but I knew that if I didn’t get help soon, I would die. That’s when I remembered. I was an hour away from civilization, or at least I assumed.

Suddenly, Grace appeared. “Razan! Razan!” She hugged me. “I thought someone killed you, either that or you ran away!” She looked and saw the dead Lorelei, the tattoo on her cheek beginning to fade, alongside her corpse. Her body dissolves into pure magical energy, floating freely to the sky before vanishing. It looked kind of like sparks. “Did…you kill someone? A hero?” Her expression was that of horror and curiosity.

“Yes, I did…I killed her, I didn’t have a choice, though. She was going to kill me, she tried.” I showed her the dart. Grace’s eyes turned fearful fully as she saw the dart. She didn’t have time to process what I just did, and neither did I.

“Oh my goddess, I have to heal you quickly. That looks like venom from an Astoran Black Eye.” She was about to heal me when the forest shook.

From the trees emerged the Golem. The one with Simon back in Oren.

“So it is true, you killed Lorelei. I figured you would.” The towering figure approached us. “You’re here to kill me as well?” I asked.

“Yes.” With that, the Golem punched me. If I hadn’t blocked with my shield, Grace and I would have been turned to paste. My whole body rang hollow, as if something was eating me alive. I puked again, blood this time. I felt dizzy, and my whole world spun around me.

“Hm? Why? Did Lorelei’s poison hit you?” He asked, looking down at me, reserved.

“Y-yes. It did. Astoran Black Eye.” Grace stammered. “Please, let me heal him.”

“Go ahead.” The Golem answered. “No victory in taking down an opponent at a disadvantage. In fact…”

As Grace cast the spell to purify me, the Golem picked her up. His steel body glimmered and shone. “I will take this one hostage.” He announced. “Come to the village of Oren. We will have our rematch there; the girl is to ensure you come.”

“Take as much time to recover and prepare. I will see her not harmed until you do.” With that, the Golem turned away and walked off. “Razan! Razaaaaaaan!” Grace called out for me as I tried to give chase. I fell forward. The poison was fading still, but it had sapped away my strength.

I then heard something. The sound of footsteps. “Shit! Could this be another challenger?” I looked around. My tattoo didn’t sting. I saw a woman. She wore a black, regal-looking cloak. A dress that went down to her ankles, and hair yellow as the sun, flowed down her back. Her features looked soft, and her eyes were an ocean blue.

“You’re one of the wicked ones' executioners.” She exclaimed. Then, she took out a rod and pointed it right at my face. “Give me one reason not to turn you to dust right this instant.” She ordered.

I was screwed.

Remaining participants: 79/100.

Game status: In progress.

Razan Hamada Status: Alive.