"Well my dear, that bet is quite interesting. If you can truly kill me then I will not only free your friends but I will stop the trials right now."

I smirked.

"Are you going to lie once more?"

Maldonius chuckled before snapping his fingers to reveal a piece of parchment paper in his hands. He then snapped his fingers once more, sending the paper to land in my hands. I read over the paper to see that it was some sort of contract entailing the fact that if I manage to kill Maldonius then my friends could be released along with the fact that the trials would end. I rolled up the paper and threw it on the ground. Of course the trials would end, the f.u.c.ker is the one controlling them anyways. 

Despite the rea.s.surance of the bet, I felt melancholic for some reason. It was as if my soul was on fire. Irritation laced with the deep feeling of hatred shook my bones and made my blood boil. My fists shook and bled as my nails dug into my bare palms. 

That was when I realized the source to my irritation. The fact that all the events which had occurred to me so far were all out of my control. I couldn't control the fact that I drowned in my previous life and woke up in the past. I couldn't control the fact that I had to become a pirate of some sorts in order to survive. I couldn't control the fact that this dragon weirdo is playing with my emotions and sanity. Despite my continuous struggle of trying to control the situation with my own actions, nothing seems to work out in the end. 

How truly frustrating indeed. 

This was a side of myself that I had hated even in my previous life. My tendency to go with the flow usually allows others to impose their opinions and force me into situations that I would regularly never partake in. On the other hand my steadfast and stubborn self seems to miraculously save my a.s.s before a situation occurs. I guess that not only my thoughts are contradictory but my personality and nature are as well. 

The simple fact that I was dealing with this situation in itself is a contradiction to both my morals and my interests. I would have never thought of killing something, let alone some dragon dude. But now I was seriously contemplating it and with an innate pa.s.sion as well. 

Now that I pause for a second I also realize that everything has been happening way too quickly. I struggle to keep up with the sudden changes at times, but due to my persistence I get over it and look towards the new task. To a fault I not only hate my prediction, but am quite, 

sick of it. 

All of it. 

I know that I am in no position to whine, but I feel as if I've been trying to act strong for way too long. I may look and act strong but I'm only human after all. And a teenager to boot. All of this responsibility and twisted turn of events has been way too much of a burden on my conscience. My level of tolerance at this point is so low, that sc.u.m might even be higher on the spectrum. 

I really just want to go home. And if I am not able to do so, I at least want to go back to the new life which I had created with my crew members. So no matter what it is I have to do I will rescue my crew and have them accompany me. 

I turned to see their faces pale as they yelled out my name from behind the bars. Several of my crew members were trying to warn me and advise me on ways to kill the lions. 

I scoffed. 

They're all the same. Despite the fact that they were behind bars, each and every one of them were desperately trying to warn me and care for me. My eyes widened as I looked down to see droplets of moisture fall on the sand ground below. A second later I noticed that the droplets were mine and they were falling from my very own eyes. 

Now is not the time to cry. I have no time to ponder and stay stuck on my own selfish whims. It is the time to act. Later I'll have long enough time to ponder over my feelings and insecurities. I looked at my crew members and friends with a smile. I'll even have their support while pondering later on. 

I then stepped forward and slightly bowed as I picked up the golden soldier's bow and arrows. The crowd quieted as they watched me walk over to one of the pillars which were alit with a single flame. I then piled the four riddles on top of each other after which I balled them up into a large ma.s.s. I then took out one of the arrows and pierced the ball of papers with it. After which I placed the arrow over the fire pillar. Seconds later the ball of paper cackled and spit as the flames licked and begun to feast on the paper. 

Maldonius watched with a certain gleam in his eyes from his throne as he sat watching me with unmoving eyes. The crowd watched in antic.i.p.ation as I closed my left eye and placed the inferno of an arrow on the bowstring. I then calmed down my breathing so that it was in sync with my heartbeat. After which I pulled back the arrow along the string. 

Maldonius's smile continued to lengthen until the edges of his mouth seemed to stretch upwards to reach his ears. I also smiled. It was now or never after all. If I do manage to land a hit on him then I would at least appease my annoyance. Otherwise I would at lest be able to p.i.s.s him off. And if I miss then I had tried. After all there was nothing at stake on my part. The original bet stands after all. If I do manage to kill him then this whole mess of a situation could disappear. While if I miss then I will only be subjected to coercing the eight lions back into their cages. 

My vision blurred slightly as I felt an onset of vertigo fill me. 

G.o.d d.a.m.n it, I'm exhausted as h.e.l.l. Ever since I started these f.u.c.king three trials I haven't been able to sleep like a normal functioning human being should. Let alone every single one of my tasks so far have either been entirely physical demanding or mentally exhausting. 

Fatigue was an understatement to what I felt right now. Instead my condition resembles that of a walking zombie or a system shutdown. My vital organs are currently singing the "Its the final countdown" anthem as they awaited for my destruction. 

I felt my body teeter as my headache intensified. Nausea accompanied my malaise. Because is the one friend in a group that always wants to be included in every conversation even though it tends to ruin it. 

I needed to get my s.h.i.+t together immediately or else I would have no chance of saving my friends and crew. I slowed down my breathing once more and ignored my s.h.i.+tty bodily outbursts of pain and exhaustion. I then pulled back the arrow and let it fly. 

The crowd was silent as they watched the aflame arrow fly through the sandy air. I coughed as my body began to reach its limit. My knees buckled as I felt my whole body fall to the sandy ground below. My face slammed onto the ground as a yell filled the colosseum, radiating and bouncing off the walls. I then forcibly raised my head to look at where Maldonius was standing. 

Instead of a human there was a large dragon. Its eyes gleaming as it looked at me. The flaming arrow struck on the throne in the area where Maldonius was sitting. The crowd was yelling in both fear and exhilaration as they watched Maldonius's dragon form fly upwards before diving and landing softly on the sandy ground in front of me. I coughed out blood as my eyelids started to droop. I felt so tired that years of sleep would not be enough to satiate my exhaustion. An outburst of flames blinded my view for a few seconds before Maldonius's human form appeared in front of me once more. His smirk did not cease to disappear. 

He then squatted down to face me. Now his skin shone a pristine white as long, crimson hair flowed down his bare back. A sort of toga covering items on his body which needed to be covered, along with sandals on his feet. His golden eyes gleamed as he said. 

"Oh my dear, it seems like you had lost that bet. But I have to commend your effort. If I were a normal man you surely would have killed me by now. But due to my ability of being able to quickly transform into a dragon I was able to move out of the way of your arrow. And to coat it in flames was additionally genius as I would have been engulfed in fire no matter where the arrow were to hit me. How wonderful indeed."

Maldonius then twirled once of my loose curls with his finger. He then smiled and placed his hand to cover my eyes for a second before saying. 

"Due to impressing me my dear I will let your friends go, so that they could accompany you. Additionally I will revoke the bet from earlier which dictates that you put back eight lions. You have done good my dear, now get some shuteye. I will meet you in the third level of the ziggurat. Please keep on entertaining me my dear."

I opened my eyes to see the whole colosseum start to fade away. The cage which held my friends and crew vaporized as they ran towards me. Their voices shouting out my name filled my ears. I allowed the darkness to overtake me as my exhaustion finally took control. Before pa.s.sing out I smiled and whispered. 

"Thank you for coming everyone. I missed you all."

..................….

Thank you so much for reading my luvs! I'm sorry for the delay in posting today's chapter, I had to run some errands as I've run out of food at home. Stay safe and stay tuned for the third floor of the ziggurat which will involve something to do with astronomy. Get ready to learn about some planets!