The audience in the stands was stunned; they had seen it with their own eyes. Amis was about to take his opponent's head, even though the fight was only a performance.
In another corner of the stands, Lilar was laughing loudly as he said, "Reaper of souls… a fitting name! What an entertaining person you are… You'll waste your future if you stay in this small place."
On the royal platform, the girl Dorana was staring at Amis and at her follower who was staggering, then she turned to the man beside her and said anxiously, "Let's end the fight immediately."
The man replied, "Alright, I'll speak to the announcer."
Dorana was afraid. She hadn't known that Amis was this strong. Something was strange… Why hadn't she sensed his strength? That was what left her shocked. Had she known, she would've sent a stronger follower. The one who fought Amis was merely the weakest of them.
The fight didn't last more than a minute, but it was enough for her follower to be killed by Amis. Dorana didn't like fighting; it was only her curiosity that drove her to find out the strength of this boy whose name had spread three years ago in the Kingdom of Randor. She never imagined things would escalate to killing, but she remembered what had happened in the arena… Amis had rebelled even against his own commander — so how could he respect the rules? She saw in him someone who cared for nothing, and that's why she wanted to end the fight.
As for Amis, at the beginning of the fight, he hadn't intended to kill the man. But after hearing his intention to cut off his head, everything changed. He no longer cared, and he wanted to kill him.
At that moment, the king was staring at Felix, and Felix was returning the gaze. And Felix understood the reason behind the look... Amis had crossed all limits, and Felix had been spoiling him too much, especially in the past half year. Felix bowed his head slightly and thought: "This young boy must be restrained before he grows any further."
Then he said again in his mind: "We'll see, you bastard, if you'll keep acting arrogantly after this festival ends... we'll see… we'll see…"
And after Dorana's follower spoke with the announcer, the decision to stop the fight was issued. The announcer declared the ruling — he was holding a sunflower in his hand.
---
Then, a man stepped forward from the royal platform and bowed before the king. That man was Loren.
He said, "Greetings, Your Majesty. There is a matter I wish to speak about before this event resumes."
The king replied, "What is it?"
Loren said, "I wish to take one of the kingdom's knights to my side."
Everyone was astonished—Dorana, LeBran, and even some of the nearby attendees.
The king said with a frown, "Are you aware of what you're saying, Loren? You want to take a knight from the kingdom? One of the knights? Are you mocking me? Don't overstep your bounds."
Loren smiled confidently and said, "I will not take him without compensation. I will grant you the island of Merlo in its entirety. And we will withdraw immediately upon receiving the order. I have the official documents, and I only await your approval."
The king was shocked. Merlo Island? Sacrificing an island fifty kilometers in length and twenty in width for the sake of a single person? It was by no means a small island.
Thoughtful features appeared on the king's face, then he said, "If you mean one of the knight commanders, don't waste my time. Then he asked with curiosity, who is this person?"
Loren pointed with his hand toward Amis.
The king was astonished, for he knew Amis well and had honored him repeatedly for his achievements. He hesitated for a moment, then called upon Amis's commander and Felix, and they began a side conversation.
Many of the attendees didn't know what was happening, as the voices couldn't be heard throughout the entire arena, and the scene on the platform was like a surprise.
After the king finished his consultations, the face of Amis's commander was grim and hesitant... but the kingdom's interest came first. He sighed, then called out to Amis.
When Amis was informed of what had happened and of Loren's request to have him, he bowed before the king and said:
"If this will help the kingdom... then I accept."
Shock appeared on the king's face; despite Amis's occasional defiance, his words in this moment deeply moved him.
As for Loren, he was overjoyed from the depths of his heart — he had won Amis.
And LeBran? He felt disappointed. He had also planned to recruit Amis, but Loren had gotten ahead of him and paid a price beyond expectations. And thus, he lost hope.
The procedures for transferring the ownership of the island to the Kingdom of Randor began, and the matter was settled quickly.
The king was astonished, for he knew Amis well and had honored him repeatedly for his achievements. He hesitated for a moment, then called upon Amis's commander and Felix, and they began a side conversation.
Many of the attendees didn't know what was happening, as the voices couldn't be heard throughout the entire arena, and the scene on the platform was like a surprise.
After the king finished his consultations, the face of Amis's commander was grim and hesitant... but the kingdom's interest came first. He sighed, then called out to Amis.
When Amis was informed of what had happened and of Loren's request to have him, he bowed before the king and said:
"If this will help the kingdom... then I accept."
Shock appeared on the king's face; despite Amis's occasional defiance, his words in this moment deeply moved him.
As for Loren, he was overjoyed from the depths of his heart — he had won Amis.
And LeBran? He felt disappointed. He had also planned to recruit Amis, but Loren had gotten ahead of him and paid a price beyond expectations. And thus, he lost hope.
The procedures for transferring the ownership of the island to the Kingdom of Randor began, and the matter was settled quickly.
Amis stood beside Loren, wearing a new coat bearing symbols similar to those belonging to Loren's men.
Loren wished to leave, but he realized that withdrawing now might be seen as a sign of disrespect to the king, so he decided to stay until the end of the festival.
The attendees were surprised by the rapid change of events and saw Amis standing next to Loren, dressed in his new clothes.
Suddenly, the announcer's voice rose from the center of the arena, breaking the silence:
"The time for the main show has come! I hope you enjoy it."
He waved his hand, then said, "Step forward!"
Four armored soldiers entered, dragging behind them six people chained together.
The announcer said, "These are criminals who violated the kingdom's laws. They were awaiting execution, but on this joyous occasion… we will grant them one chance to survive. A royal battle. Whoever survives is free to leave… as for the losers, death awaits them."
The stands erupted with cheers and shouting.
The combatants were an unexpected mix: a seventeen-year-old youth, another in his twenties, a girl aged seventeen like the youth, a man in his forties, and two elderly people.
Then one of them entered, dragging a cart full of weapons.
The king was astonished, for he knew Amis well and had honored him repeatedly for his achievements. He hesitated for a moment, then called upon Amis's commander and Felix, and they began a side conversation.
Many of the attendees didn't know what was happening, as the voices couldn't be heard throughout the entire arena, and the scene on the platform was like a surprise.
After the king finished his consultations, the face of Amis's commander was grim and hesitant... but the kingdom's interest came first. He sighed, then called out to Amis.
When Amis was informed of what had happened and of Loren's request to have him, he bowed before the king and said:
"If this will help the kingdom... then I accept."
Shock appeared on the king's face; despite Amis's occasional defiance, his words in this moment deeply moved him.
As for Loren, he was overjoyed from the depths of his heart — he had won Amis.
And LeBran? He felt disappointed. He had also planned to recruit Amis, but Loren had gotten ahead of him and paid a price beyond expectations. And thus, he lost hope.
The procedures for transferring the ownership of the island to the Kingdom of Randor began, and the matter was settled quickly.
The king was astonished, for he knew Amis well and had honored him repeatedly for his achievements. He hesitated for a moment, then called upon Amis's commander and Felix, and they began a side conversation.
Many of the attendees didn't know what was happening, as the voices couldn't be heard throughout the entire arena, and the scene on the platform was like a surprise.
After the king finished his consultations, the face of Amis's commander was grim and hesitant... but the kingdom's interest came first. He sighed, then called out to Amis.
When Amis was informed of what had happened and of Loren's request to have him, he bowed before the king and said:
"If this will help the kingdom... then I accept."
Shock appeared on the king's face; despite Amis's occasional defiance, his words in this moment deeply moved him.
As for Loren, he was overjoyed from the depths of his heart — he had won Amis.
And LeBran? He felt disappointed. He had also planned to recruit Amis, but Loren had gotten ahead of him and paid a price beyond expectations. And thus, he lost hope.
The procedures for transferring the ownership of the island to the Kingdom of Randor began, and the matter was settled quickly.
Amis stood beside Loren, wearing a new coat bearing symbols similar to those belonging to Loren's men.
Loren wished to leave, but he realized that withdrawing now might be seen as a sign of disrespect to the king, so he decided to stay until the end of the festival.
The attendees were surprised by the rapid change of events and saw Amis standing next to Loren, dressed in his new clothes.
Suddenly, the announcer's voice rose from the center of the arena, breaking the silence:
"The time for the main show has come! I hope you enjoy it."
He waved his hand, then said, "Step forward!"
Four armored soldiers entered, dragging behind them six people chained together.
The announcer said, "These are criminals who violated the kingdom's laws. They were awaiting execution, but on this joyous occasion… we will grant them one chance to survive. A royal battle. Whoever survives is free to leave… as for the losers, death awaits them."
The stands erupted with cheers and shouting.
The combatants were an unexpected mix: a seventeen-year-old youth, another in his twenties, a girl aged seventeen like the youth, a man in his forties, and two elderly people.
Then one of them entered, dragging a cart full of weapons.
The announcer said, "You may choose any weapon from these weapons. Think carefully, for your fate is in your hands."
In the stands, a man wearing a black cloak stood near one of the walls, and by a small hole the size of a finger, he whispered:
"Prepare well... there is no room for mistakes."
Throughout the stands, other men were spread near the walls, each watching through those small holes, quietly passing orders.
All the arena's doors were closed except for one door in the center. Then a stone pillar rose from beneath the announcer, lifting him into the air to overlook the arena. Then the shackles of six were unlocked.
At that moment, the seventeen-year-old boy rushed first, his face sharp-featured, his black hair flying, and his tattered clothes fluttering. He grabbed two medium-sized axes and stepped forward.
The other four followed him.
The man in his forties looked at the young boy with deadly intent and said mockingly:
"You seem eager to die, fool. To have the audacity in front of people bigger than you, there is no place for reckless daring. You don't need a weapon... your death is certain first."