Isran was gd to be in the second match of the day. The week was turning out to be one of the longest she had ever experienced. The looming threat of a court case made her lost in thought for the entirety of the first match. God—or gods—what the fuck was she supposed to do?

  “Hey.” Elowin tapped her hand with a smile. “Strategizing?”

  Isran truly appreciated how good the elf had been to her. Maybe she could introduce him to Alden. If the elf was into men. In fact she was going to ask him right at that moment.

  It would help her get her mind off her impending legal battles.

  As they walked out of the stands and towards the arena she locked eyes with the mage she had pummeled till he was unconscious. And nothing. She felt nothing.

  He turned away from her, almost like he was scared and she felt nothing. Something was up. Something had to be up.

  “Do you like men Elowin?”

  The elf stopped walking and blinked, he looked a bit bashful as he registered the question. “I—uhhh… why do you ask?”

  Isran smiled. He was definitely into men. “I have a friend. I think you too would get along.”

  His obsidian skin didn’t change color, but Isran was more than sure he was blushing.

  She wondered if elves had to deal with bad heat. Bck wasn’t the best color for keeping cool.

  Elowin cleared his throat. “Well… I would love to take you up on that offer.”

  “Ladies, Gentlemen, and those the gods got bored with welcome to the final day of the team matches!”

  The crowd cheered loudly. The pink-covered elf ughed heartily as he hyped up the match.

  “Today we have the crowd favorite.”

  He didn’t even get the chance to say her name before the crows started chanting.

  Isran swallowed. A thought crossed her mind. Would she be getting recognized outside of the games? When she was walking about in Kestin? She hoped not... but that was probably going to be her reality.

  Brawner grunted and looked down at her. “Big strong. You win.”

  Isran was a bit confused but smiled up at the orc and nodded.

  That was a mistake because when she looked up at him she had also turned and caused the crowd to think she was acknowledging them. Considering she hadn’t before, the crowd was more than happy.

  Isran winced at the renewed shouting.

  Once they had calmed down the announcer continued.

  “Today the twins of this battlefield face off. A blonde human with a sword and a blonde orc with a sword.”

  The crowd cheered and ughed.

  Isran couldn’t help but subtly ugh with them as she gnced at Alden. He was already looking at her, a big smile on his face.

  “Okay okay. I know you are excited I am too! But we’ve got to start the match. So will the combatants please take their pces?”

  Once they were situated. Isran directly opposite Alden, with Ara and Brawner nearby the countdown began.

  “Three!”

  “May those whose lives I keep--”

  “Two!”

  “--be protected—”

  “Three!”

  “—by my charge.”

  Mentally choosing to protect all four of her team mates once more Isran ran away from Alden. Not interested in fighting him so early into the match. Their greatest problem would be the illusion mage, and so that was who she went after first.

  Her speed still threw her off still, but she was a bit more prepared for the wind against her face.

  The illusion mage had not been excepting Isran. By the time he realized he was her target, she had knocked him out, the back of her hand a great tool for doing that with her enhanced strength.

  She picked her next target with the speed her enhanced stats provided. The fire mage had already unched a fireball at her, and almost in slow motion she dodged the projectile and ran toward him.

  It was a mistake. She had been so consumed in her newfound speed that she hadn’t noticed the simple mage nearby.

  Isran had to admire the expert timing. She flew a few feet to the right and grunted when she hit the ground. But if there was anything her training had taught her, it was not to remain in one spot even when still on the ground.

  Another force bst hit the spot she had rolled away from not even two seconds ter.

  She grunted and pushed herself off the ground to come face to face with Alden, his sword raised high.

  Faster than him, she brought up her sword, turning the ft side towards her assaint just in time.

  Alden’s sword slipped against the smooth steel of hers and momentarily unbanced him. His feet were still very much pnted, however, his upper body had tilted to the side lowered from his previous stance.

  With one timed hit her head made contact with his nose.

  He stumbled back and before she could take advantage of her opportunity she was hit by another force bst.

  It was weaker but it made her right arm throb. Isran cursed under her breath as she stumbled away. She was much less good at wielding her sword with her left hand when it came to single-hand wielding. Her right hand was her leading hand. But desperate times call for desperate measures.

  Elowin’s twenty speed points came into py when Isran saw him hit the fire mage. He was slower than her, considering enhanced she had a good eight points on him. It didn’t mean he wasn’t still fast.

  Alden ran towards her as soon as she turned to look back at him.

  She watched his feet and narrowly sidestepped the arc of his sword. But in an astounding move, he stopped abruptly, like there was no momentum behind his run, and pivoted, his other leg following the pivot leg smoothly across the ground.

  Isran was in awe, but she did have enough sense to duck. She was still faster than him.

  He stopped again but Isran used her opportunity to tackle him to the ground.

  He hadn’t let go of his sword but using it would prove not only cumbersome but useless in such close quaters.

  One hard punch to his face and he let go of the weapon.

  Isran was under the impression she would end him. But stats weren’t everything.

  Well, that was a lie. As they wrestled each other Isran realised her strength was on par with Alden.

  “You sneaky bastard.” He ughed. “You got a stat increase skill too huh?”

  Isran grunted and shoved him off her, she punched him, but like a madman, he took the punch straight to his face and didn’t budge, before punching her in the belly. At that moment Isran was gd she had chosen her endurance stat and not energy when the fight began.

  She swallowed the punch and her head hit his again.

  Alden growled and tackled her to the ground once more, flipping their positions.

  “Like I was hiding it.” Isran shot back. She was smiling. “That’s some strength you’ve got there.”

  Alden shoved himself off her.

  “What can I say.” He panted evading a punch and jumping a few paces back. “I’ve been eating my vegetables.”

  With a huff, Isran took off away from him. She used the distance to inspect the damage he had caused.

  Brawner was dealing with the shifty sword and shield wielder on Alden's team, Ara was out cold, Elowin was running toward Brawner to help, and their protection mage was out of commission as well.

  Isran yelped in surprise when she was tackled again. The strength behind it was less than before but the speed was on par with hers.

  “Fuck!” Isran yelled out, the most vocal she had been in the games. She could hear the crowd go wild. It was stupid of Alden not to pick up his sword but it didn’t matter. Isran had dropped hers when she was tackled. What good would it have done in such close quarters?

  As they fought the crowd’s cheers grew louder. They were ughing, both their energies wavering.

  It had turned into a fight of endurance. They rolled around, grunting and ughing as they punched and pulled each other’s hair.

  Eventually, Alden found himself winning the struggle.

  He opened his mouth to say something. “Surren—" but was cut off.

  He grunted as he looked down at his side. A dagger was buried there.

  Isran shoved him off her and jumped a few paces away, her body heavy.

  Alden didn’t bother trying to py the tough guy. He lifted his hand in surrender, and the crowd went wild.