Once down in the colosseum, the murmurs from the audience became muffled as Thierry composed himself. Maybe it was his nerves but he could hear his heart beat and each breath.
'All I have to do is put on a good show. Thats simple enough.'
He tightened his grip on the blade and smirked. If there was one thing he was good at, it would be putting on a good show. Veron began the close the distance between them. Before abruptly stopping and throwing his spear. Thierry staring at the incoming projectile froze and barely dodged the spear but in the next instance he got swept off his feet.
'He's already here?'
While Thierry was startled, Veron had already retrieved his spear and was going to finish the match. Barely getting on his feet, Thierry tried to get in a defensive stance. He recognised Veron had to of had a physical type chain. After all if that was all raw capabilities without a physical type chain then Veron would be a monster.
Veron thrusted his spear but Thierry kept dodging and blocking each attack. They repeated this for a while as the duel began to reach a stalemate. He felt fatigue from previous matches catch up with him and yet Veron's gaze never left the blade in Thierry's hand.
"You know if you're gonna hold a blade. You should really use it and try to cut me down."
Veron spat out making it quite clear he had enough of their little stalemate. Thierry felt outraged since he really was trying his best.
'Fine you bastard'
Giving no response he charged at Veron and slashed down on nothing? Veron had taken half a step to the right and was already countering. Thrice, Thierry was hit thrice by Veron before getting kicked away.
Once more he got up but this time he felt indignation from within. After all the others didn't get the type of thrashing he was getting. What type of injustice did he commit against Veron that warranted this?
He held out his blade and Veron's gaze rested upon it. Once more he charged but this time he feinted in front of the spear and prepared to take the incoming attack. It was too late, Veron had already reacted hitting his counter thrust but leaving his upper body defenceless. Thierry slashed down on his chest. Thierry was in awe, he didn't expect the dull edge to draw blood. Unexpectedly he had drawn first blood.
'The gods have truly forsaken me haven't they, just how did it cut?'
Thierry made a foolish mistake and lost focus on the duel, to berate himself for his bad luck lately. In a breath's time Veron was already plunging down on him. Thierry rolled behind Veron and tried to slash his back. This time it didn't draw blood but ruined Veron's shirt.
Veron couldn't help but show an uneasy expression. After all he had been watching the blade from when Thierry charged at him. He just didn't expect the guy to just take the strike. Veron could tell Thierry was different, it was like he wasn't afraid to get hurt. For awhile his gaze lingered on Thierry before returning to the blade.
"I guess I really do have to use a sword. I'm not going to hold back anymore, so be careful."
Veron sighed and put the wooden spear behind his back before proceeding to snap in half. He wielded the two pieces of wood like swords and brandished them.
'What is this bastard doing now...'
As Thierry lamented to himself, he fixed his stance to mirror Veron's. Veron had one blade in front of him and the other to his right side. Whilst Thierry lacking a second blade, only held his to the right.
He noticed Veron's gaze resting on the blade but didn't make much of a note. The two of them charged at each other. Before it seemed like both were at their wits end but Veron seemed to be invigorated as he dominated Thierry who could barely keep up with him. Veron struck down with all his force causing the wooden blade to become splintered. Thierry took advantage of that and struck his back before making distance again. He rushed in again to strike but Veron had effortlessly dodged it.
The duel had been one of attrition with Veron dominating but now Thierry began to have an epiphany.
'This bastard doesn't have a physical type chain. He can see it...'
He put together everything that had happened throughout the duel. Like Veron's strange behaviour of watching the blade and not him, more over how he couldn't predict attacks from a blind spot.
In the wake of such an realisation, all Thierry could do is have an dark grin etched on his face as he stuck out his blade to confirm his suspicion. As expected Veron's eyes were glued to the bade. In the next instance he charged at Veron, before stopping abruptly and using the speed to hurtle the short sword at Veron.
In a swift motion Veron had already apprehended the blade. He looked up to see Thierry but no one was there. In fact the colosseum was empty.
'So he's realised my chain is connected to my sight.'
Veron began to comprehend, Thierry's unusual actions at the end but then something blunt had hit him square in the face. It was Thierry's fist, he was in between Veron's legs half crouched. Veron clenched his face, full of vexation, before looking down at Thierry as blood from his nose dripped out.
"I surrender sir!"
Thierry could feel like the anger in Veron's face just by looking at it and chose to surrender. It didn't bother him too much since his goal wasn't to win but to prove his worth. After all winning was impossible just by looking at Veron's condition, it was quite evident he could do more. Magnus came down to help Thierry back into the stands and just like that the rest of the duels went by with nothing remarkable happening. At the end the veteran once again had another lecture to do.
"You have all proven your worth young. Come back at nightfall and those of you who have been picked up will either join the young master's cohort or have the chance to pledge allegiance to the Mara."
The responses were quite mixed. Since those affiliated with clans already were satisfied with having ties to Clan Mara, while there were those who were excited at the thought of forming a cohort with Mara's heir. Unlike Those who were in newly initiated group, they had all gone ghastly pale except Thierry who seemed undeterred.
'What should I eat for dinner?'
Thierry was busy picking out a meal for later. Ultimately he was fatigued from the grand performance that was the duel.