Chapter 8

"Hey, Liam..."

"What?"

"... are your fingers broken?"

I looked down on my opened palms and indeed, my fingers pointed in wrong directions and moving them looked funny.

Not funny for me. 

Shit, I didn't even feel it. In a melee fight the hands are at a great risk of injury, hence why every kind of armor has some form of gauntlets or armored gloves. 

I probably dislocated them with that death grasp I put on Kaan, a grip so tight not even death can loosen it. 

Shit, how am I supposed to fight like this?

"Raya, can you do me a favor?"

"Need me to carry you to the nurse or something?"

"No, that would take too long. I think they're just dislocated."

I breathed in deep, hopefully the numbness isn't gone when we try to pull this off. 

"I will bite my staff, you bend them in the right direction." 

"... you know if they're actually broken then this will fuck you over."

"Fine, then feel them for any soft spots. If there are none we relocate them."

I bit into my staff, this was no longer up for any further discussion.

"... yeah, I bet you like hardwood in your mouth."

(Oh you daughter of a bitch.)

Raya started to squeeze each individual finger, trying to feel if the bones are in one peace. 

Hey, this sin't too bad. I thought it would be more painful. Did I get tougher- fuck! the numbness is wearing off. 

We're not at screaming level yet...

She got a good tight grip on my left wrist, making sure I don't flinch away.

"None are broken, better bite tight on that hardwood."

(Oh you-)

My internal cursing was cut off by the jolt of pain shooting up my arm. Without an ounce of hesitation she straightened each of my flesh numbs. 

I tried to scream, but my teeth did not let go of my staff. 

A terrible high pitched howl could be heard as my pained voice pushed past my clenched teeth. I went from howling to sobbing as my voice grew weak with each sound that came out of my gullet.

"You whimper good."

Raya got off my hands but the pain still lingered. 

I looked down, my fingers were back in their normal shape. They moved smooth, as they should. 

I have to get used to shit like this. Why did I go with action fantasy? Things would be so much easier if I wrote a slice of life!

"Mpfh"

Ah, right. My staff.

My jaw clenched to the point I barely felt the wooden rod in my mouth. 

I'm gonna get some leather to bite after this. 

I held my staff with my now functional hands as I removed it from my feeding hatch. 

Or something that won't leave a aftertaste. 

"Thanks, I would have been fucked out there if my hands didn't work."

"Just remember that you now owe me." 

"Yeah yeah, as long you don't have me testing your creations."

She had that small smile on her face that she always has

The grin of the Thistlewood.

We might count as friends but she would definitely not shed tears for me yet. Shit she just enjoyed watching me squeal. 

"Out! Lawrence of the first year wins!"

Shit, already? I'll have to be careful not to open the wound Kaan left on my shoulder whilst bullying Tiechie into the ground. I'll have to use strategy this time. 

"It's soon my turn, will you cheer for me?"

"I will start to bully you if you lose this one."

"I will have to rely on mercy this time."

"Mercy? Will you try to bring out Tiechies empathy?"

"No, I will show mercy. The most expensive kind:"

She didn't inquire further, she still had that small smile on her face. 

"You better put on a good show again, all these fights are boring."

"Yeah yeah."

I got up and walked to the pit again, much more relaxed than back with Kaan. It was clear to everyone who was watching me that I'm not worried about winning. I knew that I would be the victor. 

Tiechie was already in the pit, nervously fidgeting while trying to calm down.

I tossed my open backpack and hopped in, disappearing into the storage space just long enough to miss the annoying announcers name call. 

I came back out rising from my open bag. 

I might as well have a dam intro. 

The metallic gong could be heard, signaling the start of the fight. But unlike with Kaan I didn't rush in this time.

Alright, I have to use my left hand instead of my right. Which means I have to aim a bit off to the right...

Splat

"Huh?"

Tiechies attention was drawn away from me to where a yellow white goob with white shell pieces was. 

Damn it, too much right.

"Was that an egg-"

Splat

This time, it hit Tiechies head. 

"Yes, and there are a whole lot more from where that came from!"

I managed to land a few more egg shots on Tiechie, throwing the poor girl off course.

No one braces themselves to have eggs thrown at them in a pit arena. Punches, kicks, bites, throws, grapples and tackles are all things you'd prepare to deal with. But eggs? No one's prepared for that.

Now time to win this. 

I charged Tiechie, taking advantage that she can't see with egg white in her eyes. I put my leg up to her hip, grabbed her face with my good arm and threw her over. 

After that I just kicked the poor girl until she gave in. They weren't strong kicks since didn't want to hurt her too much, but they still hurt. 

"I forfeit! I forfeit!"

I stopped myself from delivering that last kick, you don't want to punch after the bell rang. 

The fight was a lot less spectacular than the one with Kaan, but who cares? Fights aren't meant to be enjoyed.

I walked over to my backpack and when I turned around she was already gone.

Yeah, you better take care of that pushover, Lawrence.

I climbed back out like last time and returned to my seat next to Raya. 

"Where was the mercy there? You were fucking ruthless."

"I was merciful on myself."