He hadn't even drawn his sword, but Doevm felt the cold grip of death. It was less of a threat and more of a promise that, if he moved wrong moved, that black and gold sword at Alexander's waist would be drawn. There wasn't even a hint of life essence around him. He had simply walked behind Doevm like he was taking a stroll. In his eyes was not malice, nor was it blood l.u.s.t, or even annoyance, but another action, like he was was.h.i.+ng his hands or cutting his hair.

Alexander held up Doevm's spear. "I'm pretty sure this is Jameson's. Why would he give it to someone like you, who doesn't even want to fight? You thought before every action too much. You fought like a mage, not a warrior. I can practically feel your weapon's cries, wanting to be wielded by someone with skill. If you had any other spear in this fight, you would have lost. Do you know what that means?" He wasn't pointing the spear at Doevm, but he might as well just with his questioning look.

"I was weak," Doevm said. Alexander raised an eyebrow. "I couldn't feel anything. I don't know what happened to me. For now, I just had to win, then worry about myself later."

"The way you talk, it doesn't match your actions." Alexander hadn't moved, aside from inspecting the spear, yet he got closer. So close that the black eyes threatened to swallow everything up.

"Finlis.h.!.+" a voice yelled from the room with three generals. "What is going on? Why did you stop the fight?"

"Relax." Alexander kept his eyes on Doevm. "I was just going to expel some trash. He won't be that useful if he fights like this." At this, the crowd booed and jeered. Various pieces of trash were thrown onto the arena, but Alexander remained robust.

"Finlish, you are a referee, but you are abusing your power," another voice called out from the box. "At least give him a chance. That is the minimum you can do."

Alexander snarled: "Bunch of brats who don't know anything about battle. Fine." He handed Doevm his spear back. "I'll give you a chance. Don't worry. If you fail, I'll only expel you. If you succeed, I'll let the match continue. Do you accept?"

"I accept." Doevm didn't like the situation, but he had to enroll. Although he agreed, he doubted he could pa.s.s. He could barely feel anything. He couldn't even stand straight.

"Just for the record." Alexander put a hand on his sword's grip. "I was a.s.signed as a referee against my will, just like every year." A faint click of a sword about to leave its sheath rang out, and Doevm took a step back. "Understand that I don't hate you. I just want good students. If it's any consolation, think about what you're here for. It'll help. Now, try to remain standing." He took a deep breath.

Doevm's eyes went to the sword's black blade as it slid out of the sheath, a serpent slithering out of its den. The metallic friction was a razor to his ear. It was one motion, yet thousands at once. One second, yet years. It was a continual pull of a blade which stretched on in eternity. Adrenaline surged into Doevm as his survival instincts awakened. He shrunk back. The blade was a mountain, a pillar he could never climb. Finally came the tip of the blade, a guillotine which called his name. Throughout the draw, Alexander didn't even flinch.

Doevm took another step back. Only then did Alexander's expression change from neutral to angry: "Don't run!" Doevm's body froze. It was like he had already died. The blade slowly ran towards him, yet in reality, it was a fraction of a second. His eyes followed it, etching its every detail into his brain. It went under his gaze, under his cheek, to his neck, then stopped.

The crowd saw two flashes. Doevm saw his own death, hundreds of times over. Sweat poured out of him, drenching his new clothes. He stared at it, his death. His world spun even more, but he managed to remain standing. Alexander smiled and sheathed his sword: "You pa.s.s. Looks like you do have hope after all. You are free to move."

Doevm hit the ground. Air rushed into his lungs as he finally remembered to breath. His eyes opened wide. Color consolidated into detailed images instead of blotted silhouettes. Feeling returned alongside his strength. Alexander tossed his spear to his feet. "Now pick up your weapon and resume the fight."

Doevm jumped from lying on his back to four feet in the air. When he landed, he stood up straight and opened and closed his fist. "I'm…fixed?" He picked up his spear, finding it to be as light as he remembered it. Rick stood there, oblivious to the bloodl.u.s.t that had just washed over Doevm like a tidal wave.

"It's fine," Alexander a.s.sured him. "Just fight." Even the crowd was at a loss for words. One or two people tried to cheer, but their words carried over a stunned silence. "Fight!"

It clicked for everyone in the Colosseum. The few cheers evolved to dozens, which returned to the normal chant to kill the opponent. Doevm got into a stance. 'I don't know how long I'm fixed for, so I might as well make the most of it. My opponent has a ranged ability that can push me back. I need to keep the fight at close range.'

He ran forward, his spear entering its familiar grip between both his hands, near the bottom. It fell towards Rick, who blocked, then the spear fell again, and again. The attack Doevm had learned from Jameson was in full motion, a shower of blows and flashes of steel.

Their arms creaked and moaned under the stress. Sand was kicked away from the constantly s.h.i.+fting feet. Doevm pushed through the pain in his chest while his opponent blocked with his one remaining good arm. The crowd roared. Only the clash of blades was louder. Doevm smiled as he launched some throwing knives.

Rick's chest expanded again. A layer of blue life essence swirled around. Doevm anch.o.r.ed himself by pus.h.i.+ng his spear into the ground. Rick's chest collapsed, and a wave of sound bounced the knives back at Doevm and pushed him back.

Rick charged in while Doevm was off balance, separating the spear from his opponent. Doevm drew his dagger and deflected the barrage of blows and kicks. He was pushed back within a few feet of the edge of the arena.

Blue life essence swirled around Rick's chest. No matter how much Doevm rolled or countered, he kept getting pushed back by the sword, which had a much better range. He looked back; at the floor he would soon be blown back to if he got hit by another blast. Rick opened his mouth and inhaled, his chest expanding for another burst.

Doevm laughed: "So you're a one trick pony." He threw a handful of sand into Rick's open mouth. His eyes went wide, the sand dropping into his lungs. The blue life essence faded and he coughed. Doevm feinted for Rick's neck, then ran around him to his spear.

He brought his spear into a defensive underhand stance: "Let's see what you got when you're not screaming like a b.i.t.c.h in heat." Rick finished is fit of coughing and let out a burst of curses before running forward. Spear met blade. Hot, bright sparks to fell on the black stone. Doevm's smile returned and he went faster. His life essence condensed around each individual muscle, growing and shrinking as he alternated in defense and offense.

Rick didn't scream anymore. His breathing was more chaotic now. 'This must be a side effect, loss of breath.' Doevm thought. 'To scream, he uses a lot of life essence and air. It's similar to magic that some bat-type magical beasts use.' Doevm pushed harder, taking advantage of his better range.

Rick neared the edge, trying to defend against the dozens of blows. When he got to the edge, his flesh was covered in cuts. His wrists were bruised from taking the force, even if they were reinforced. Doevm swept the blade low, cutting at Ricks feet, forcing him to jump. Doevm's chest expanded as he gulped down lungfuls of air. His life essence condensed around his chest. Rick brought his hand in front, bracing himself to receive his own attack, which never came. Doevm simply prodded him off the stage with the back of the spear.

"That's cheap!" Rick cursed as he fell off the stage. "You don't actually know how to use my move, you just imitated it!"

"So what?" Doevm shrugged and put his spear back into his s.p.a.cial ring. He walked to the center of the stage. When Alexander raised his arm and announced him the winner, the crowd cheered. "What happened to me?" Doevm whispered, trying not to move his lips.

"Put the fear of death into you," Alexander whispered. "Just go with the others. This won't be our last time seeing each other." Doevm walked off, taking a few glances back at Alexander.

...

'He's good,' Hector thought as he watched Doevm leave the arena. 'Maybe I should try to recruit him. No, I already have enough people inside of the knights' academy.' He felt around his gla.s.s-like material, which Draken had given him. 'He could serve as good material. No, I need to be patient. I have plenty of time for that later.'