Authors Note:
We're almost in the top 200 power ranking!!!
Once we make it into the top 200, I will be changing the permanent release schedule to 14 chapters/ week. So if you want more keep sending those powerstones <3
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After leaving the pit, one of the magister's attendant suggested that I would clean myself at a bathhouse and purchase, more suitable clothing. It was already evening by the time we made our way to the estate.
The ride back to the magister's estate was much more comfortable than the trip to the fighting pit. I rode one of the horses, and although I thought of making my escape, I thought about William and all my brothers. Not willing to leave them to die in the pit I followed along.
"A champion will fight in honor of his master and the pit," the one of the magister's attendant explained, "every week, people will challenge the champion for their title."
"Ahh, my apologies, I haven't introduced myself. My name is Owen Vale."
"Why do people want the title, Owen." I had seen the man before, delivering food to us. He seemed nice enough has he had small talk with us slaves. Most of the magister's attendants feel repulsed by us.
"He who would have the title would be rewarded with gold for every week he has the title." Gold… I remember hearing about a matter… "The rule of every gladiator is once you have earned a hundred times what your master had purchased you for, you would be free."
"Should I would have to make two thousand gold before I would be free. How much do I make per week?"
"It depends on the crowd, but you would typically make a hundred gold dragons per week, at least that is what would be added to your total."
"One hundred a week, so twenty weeks…" I mutter to myself. I a sudden realization I ask, "Wait. Doesn't that mean William has already paid for his freedom?"
William would has stated that he had been fighting at the pit for three years would have easily made more than enough gold to purchase his freedom. Why would he still stay and risk his life fighting in the pit?
"William is a weird man. He was able to purchase his freedom two and a half years ago, but he stays to make more money to purchase the freedom of fellow gladiators." Owen explained, "to purchasing other slaves is not as expensive as purchasing one's freedom. That is as long as their master is willing to sell."
William has been fighting for over two years with his freedom. I wonder how many gladiators he has bought until now.
"We're here, magister Aldon's personal estate," the estate was extremely luxurious will quartz and marble tiles covering the floor and finely carve statues that probably cost hundreds on gold dragons.
"Magister Aldon is waiting for you inside," Owen states as he ushers me through the front doors, or should I say gate with how big it was.
Inside the estate, the luxurious just piled on. Beautifully handmade furniture, magnificent ceiling paintings, it was an estate built for a king, well a magister who has a lot of money in this situation.
Sitting at the table with magister Aldon, was his lovely friend who never told him anything, William. I swear I am going to beat the shit out of him when he sleeps tonight.
"Ah yes, Edward come join us for a meal!" Aldon commanded.
Not wanting to make a fuss I take a chair in front of William and to the left of magister Aldon. As I sat down I eyed William who was wearing casual clothing for the first time.
Before I could say anything, William spoke first, "The title of champion comes with many challengers, win all your fights and you will be bestowed with gold, much to you and magister Aldon's pleasure."
"To our new champion!" Aldon laughed as he downed his glass of wine. He was a large fellow, with one hell of a stomach, probably from stuffing himself all the time.
"I hope to hear great things form you, Edward." Aldon left, his laughter could be hear all the way down the hall, but that wasn't on my mind.
"So, William. When were you going to tell me?" I stare down William.
Sigh
"What was there to tell. That I was a free man still fighting in the pit? What does that do?"
Bantering like women doesn't do anyone much good. "Just tell me more next time so I am not riding blind," I mutter not wanting to start an argument. "So, what are you purchasing slave gladiators for?"
"I am forming a company of men."
"A sellsword company?"
"No. A company to kill the men who captured us."
"Have you?" I new he had already started forming this company for two year. That should have been more than enough time to search and kill those people.
"Yes"
"What do you plan to do with your company then?" our single sentence replies ended with a long period of silence. It seemed that William had only planned to kill the man who captured him and didn't plan to do anything else.
"How about you fight for me. No, we fight together to make a difference?" This was the perfect group of men to build an army with to fight in the future.
"You? You're not even a freeman yet." William laughed, "We shall talk more once your free. Get changed we're going back to the courtyard, they have a surprise for you."
With that, he left the room. Seems like I'll have a capable army soon enough. Lefts focus on staying alive for the next nineteen weeks.
"Wait surprise? What surprise!" I yell chasing the back of William.
My apologies about posting this chapter an hour late. I fell asleep. Back on topic the army will grow throughout the story and so will Edward's ability to lead. The name of the company is still a mystery give me some naming suggestions. Another chapter will come out tonight <3
Authors Note:
A character develops with experiences. He also develops with those around him. He has to be willing to allow people to get close to him in order to develop.
A lone wolf can only get so far in life.
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By the time we returned to the courtyard, it was dark, and the torches were lit. The guards who had been escorting with William and I opened the main gates to let us through. What awaited us was a mob of gladiators cheering and congratulating me.
"The champion has returned!"
"Edward the Conqueror!"
"…"
All their cheering made me blush with embarrassment, but I was happy to have them as brothers.
"Ed, what happened to the others?" a younger gladiator walked up to me and asked. Turning my attention to the boy barely old enough to be called a man, I noticed it was John. He was close to Buch who went with me to the pit earlier today.
I bit my bottom lip and shook my head.
Silence overtook the courtyard as we had a moment of silence for those who have left us.
"They would have been happy to see you come back," Darrel spoke, breaking the silence. He was the oldest out of all the gladiators. The story had it that he had been here since the beginning of the games, but I never believed those stories.
Darrel was the trainer that Aldon had bought from another magister. While skilled in the way of the sword, he no longer had the strength to compete in brute strength.
"Cheer up guys! The master has given us forty barrels of liquor to celebrate Edwards accomplishments!" William announced lifting the spirits of all the gladiators.
"LIQUOR!" They yelled so loud that the magister would have been able to hear it from his estate.
The only thing these gladiators did better than fight, was drink. Forty barrels may sound like a lot, but for over a hundred gladiators… well, let's just say a gladiators or two got a black eye or two fighting each other for more liquor.
@@@@@
While the rest of the gladiators were drinking their hearts out, I quietly snuck away. "John, why aren't you with the others, it's rare that you guys get liquor to drink.
"Did Buch die well?" John asked.
Taking a second to think about the question I answered the best way I could, "he fitting of a gladiator." Although I had seen Buch's head get taken off, I thought it would be too much for the boy to take in.
Tears formed in the boy's eyes, and I didn't blame him, John was only fourteen and had lost everything. They killed his family and sold him as a slave. When he finally found someone, they too were stripped away from him.
"John, Buch wouldn't have wanted to see you like this."
"Sniff, sniff."
"How about I teach how to wield that sword," I suggest pointing at the wooden sword he had been using to beat a straw target.
He looked at with red eyes from all the crying he had done, "Teach me to be as strong as you."
"It will take a lot of time and hard work, but if you're up for it I make you my second." I had learned this from William on the way back. As a champion I could take on a second, someone who I would train as my apprentice that would fight in my stead when I was to die or step down. Most champions found training an apprentice a waste of time and didn't have one, but I didn't want to just make him my second.
Buch had been kind to me during my time here, and I felt guilty being there to watch him die while doing nothing. I wanted to amend by taking John out of the system and give him a better life.
"Yes master, I am willing to be your second," instantly standing up straight with his arms to his side like a soldier in the army.
Chuckling, "no need to call me master, just Edward will be fine." This should bring some spice to my life, I thought to myself, "show me what you can do."
As the rest of the gladiators were having fun drinking and partying on the other side of the courtyard John was practicing with Edward teaching him on the side.
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Noon the next day.
"Your feet should be farther apart. You don't want to lose your balance. That's good. Now pivot as you deliver the stroke, get all your weight behind the blade." Edward could be seen showing John how to best deliver a sidestroke when he spotted William enter the yard.
"You're taking quite a liking to the boy," William commented with a smile.
As I walk over I give him a big hug, "back from the Pit in one piece I see." William had gone to fight to maintain his champion title early in the morning today, but knowing William no one could possibly be his match.
"You're going to have to put your training to a hold. Something big is happening," His voice was grim, and he had an expression of thinking what to do next. "Come with me and bring your apprentice with you."
Not knowing what to expect I quickly follow William to the front gate with my apprentice in tow.
Second chapter for the day. Thank you all for all the support you are giving me. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. If you did please spend sometime to write a review for me <3
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