Chapter 125: The Rose Garden

*Date: 33,480 Third Quarter — Kingdom of Satar, Capital City Parthanon*

"This costs extra."

Kirious rolled his eyes. "Come on, everything is money with you?"

Turbo let out a laugh. "It's coming from you?" He slapped his massive thigh. "Don't make me laugh."

The Rose Garden wasn't really a garden, and there were no roses in sight. It took its name from blood spills, the crimson stains that decorated the packed-earth floor like macabre petals. The place was used for illegal bare-knuckle fights at night, when the city guards conveniently looked the other way. But in the mornings, they opened their doors to fighters who wanted to train. The training area wasn't crowded since they were so close to the tournament. Players didn't want any injuries, and they didn't want to show their talents to potential opponents.

The building itself was a converted warehouse with high ceilings and dusty windows that let in shafts of morning light. Wooden training dummies lined one wall, their surfaces pockmarked with blade strikes and fist impacts. A raised platform served as the main sparring area, and around it sat rough benches where spectators could watch and drink.

Marven had been furious when she found out Demir and the others had just drunk the night away instead of letting her know he was freed. She had fought all day to get officials to find Demir, and had nearly gotten herself arrested for pressing so hard on the city guards. She was still mad even when Demir explained, half-drunk, that they were actually going to help getting the rest of the balance from Quarnion and help train him for the tournament.

"You could have sent word," she had snapped at him, her arms crossed. "I was imagining you dead in an alley."

Demir had apologized a dozen times, but her anger had only started to thaw when Kirious promised to personally ensure the remaining gold was collected.

---

The following day, Demir went to the Rose Garden as Kirious instructed to find Turbo. They promised to help him train until he could learn to fight. Real fights, Kirious explained, were so much different than spamming special moves. They finally settled on forging weapons for Turbo as training payment.

Turbo sat at the corner of the Rose Garden, watching with arms crossed. "If Demir doesn't know how to fight, how the fuck did he save you?" he asked Kirious.

They had put Kuza against Demir. The wiry man looked small compared to Demir's broad frame. But Demir didn't have any of his gear for training. He was wearing his everyday tunic, and carried only a wooden sword and shield.

Kuza grinned. "Boss, the real question is how did he get captured by a bunch of goblins?" He was trying to provoke Kirious.

Kirious waved his hand dismissively. "Hey, hey, cut the stupidity and help our blacksmith friend. We don't want him to lose those arms. They'll make us money in the future."

Turbo stood and stretched. "Before we spar, I want to see you against Kuza. He's the weakest of us in terms of strength, but he's quick."

Demir started to feel talked down to. Yes, he had been captured against Turbo, but he had been attacked from behind. He might only be level twelve, but he had worked his ass off for years providing for the hunt and stood his ground against goblin hordes. They were all acting like he was some child. He had good gear. Well, relatively good gear. In a world with few good masters, he was probably the only smith making his own equipment.

He took his stance against Kuza and lunged with his training sword.

Kuza just stepped back and hit his head.

*Okay, I acted in a rush*, Demir thought. Next time he was going to account for Kuza's speed.

Turbo and Kirious started laughing. Kirious waved. "Okay, okay, again."

Demir mumbled under his breath. "I'll have the last laugh."

He judged the distance again and lunged. This time he accounted for Kuza's step back and pressed on. But Kuza stepped to the side instead and hit the back of his head. Again, Demir was defeated in one movement.

What was happening? Yes, he was slower without his gear buffs, but Kuza wasn't wearing any equipment either.

Kuza turned to Turbo. "Boss, is he real?"

Now the Rose Garden's owner, Dirty Joanis, had joined Turbo and Kirious's laughter. Joanis was a grizzled man with cauliflower ears and a nose that had been broken so many times it sat at an angle on his face.

Kirious wiped his eyes. "Okay, okay, once more." He was waving his hand to stop himself from laughing.

Demir tried to block out the voices around him. He concentrated and held his breath. He acted once more.

His giant swings were going through air, and Kuza was always standing in deadly spots, his wooden blade tapping Demir's ribs, his neck, his wrists.

Now everyone witnessing was laughing their asses off.

Demir stepped back, frustration burning in his chest. "What the hell? What's your level? I know I get good stats from my gear, but even without it, this can't look like I'm a child."

Turbo walked over and took the practice sword from Demir. "Watch this."

He signed Kuza to take stance. Without any sudden movement, using small exchanges, Turbo pressed toward Kuza. Then suddenly, when Kuza tried to attack with a leg kick, Turbo broke his stance and landed the killing blow, his wooden sword stopping an inch from Kuza's throat.

Kuza picked himself up from the floor, rubbing where the finishing blow had landed. "Boss, that hit was too hard."

Turbo turned to Demir. "What did you see?"

"I mean, I get it. My swings are big. But that's how I charge my specialty."

Kirious intervened. "Who cares about your special attack if you die in seconds? Even the best goblins are idiots. You just took advantage of that. I'm guessing they're designed so you idiot players gain experience and level up. But if you're not actually learning to fight, and you're not leveling up..."

The realization fell on Demir like a heavy cloud. His vision darkened. He had just been hitting air all this time. Yes, surviving was mostly against fights against locals, but not every local was an idiot like goblins. Turbo was a living example of that. Even a subordinate like Kuza was better than him by miles.

"Exactly," Turbo said.

Kirious sighed. "I didn't think you were so behind. Turbo, can you actually help him?"

Turbo scratched his shaved head. "Well... I'm not the best teacher..."

Kuza laughed. "Teacher..."

Turbo elbowed him. "You're physically capable. We just have to drill survival instinct when fighting."

Kuza nodded sagely. "Live to fight another day."

Turbo turned back to Demir. "Okay, let's start with basics. Keeping distance and defending. Closing distance and attack would be too much for you right now."

Demir puffed out a breath. "I mean... okay. But I didn't know I was this far behind."

"Yeah, those grand moves of yours? You can only land them on idiots. I'm sure they're devastating with that amazing sword, but you need serious training for fighting actual fighters."

---

While they were correcting Demir's stance and swings, Kirious went away after a note came to him. He came back half an hour later.

Kirious wore a downed face when he returned. "I guess I'll be here as well."

Demir lowered his practice sword. "What happened? You seem upset."

Kirious ran a hand through his braided hair, making the emerald pieces click together. "I was going to go on another treasure hunt with a friend to the Iron Confederacy, but I guess there's a literal civil war started."

"What civil war?" Demir's thoughts went to Master Brovick and Moradin. He pulled out the messaging scroll Brovick had given him, handling it with great respect as he carefully unrolled it. In Brovick's section, there was nothing. But Sin had written something two days ago.

*"Thousands of goblins gathered and going toward Ironfell. I will follow from safe distance."*

Demir's blood ran cold.