Distance Between

The final day of the group stage for the tourney had arrived, Phyora had been silent to us for the whole of yesterday and ignored us when she went to prepare herself for her fights. We felt uneasy entering the stadium, as if there was a distance between us and Phyora now that couldn't be closed. The trumpets blared out as the first fighters took their stances and proceeded to go at it, the clashing of steel underneath the loud roar of the crowd soaking in every hit. I sat there on my own for a while, till I was then joined by Mak, Ash and her sister Celaire. The four of us silent before Ash and Celaire started having their own private conversation between each other.

Mak slowly bumped my elbow to get my attention, and as I turned he mentioned, "Why do you look so sour today Stavn? Is it because of what happened with Phyora?" He casually took me under his shoulder and began to whisper in my ear. "If you like her that much why don't you try be with her?"

Quickly I pushed myself away from him, shrugging off his arm and shaking my head at his comments. "It's not that and I don't like her in that way... just some things that I shouldn't say here in public. That's all." I quickly commented trying to focus as hard as I could on the fight to ignore Mak.

Mak quickly sat upright before shifting himself closer to me, "You don't think Ash is seeing anyone do you?" he sharply whispered in my ear. I glanced down the row towards Ash and her sister, not knowing anything about them both.

"You're asking me... when I barely know her to that extent..." I replied after a slow process of thinking of what to say. Again he moved away as the fighters continued below the continuous flashes of glory jeering the crowd further. Onto me came a moment of silence as I peered deep into the fight below, the fighters slamming into one another trying to win in a battle of strength. One of them quickly feigning an attack before beginning a cold cut from the other side, the sword colliding with the others helmet sending it flying off his head. The helmet spun in circles before it clunked into the ground casting up dirt and sand.

"You know Stavn, I might try it." Mak said calmly as the fighter yielded to his opponent, both helping each other out the fighting pit and heading towards the entrance together.

"Try what?" I replied as quick as I could, but Mak's haste proved no bounds as he already had begun his move. A quick attack with his bishop towards an opening in Ash's defence. Interested in the idea I watched from the sides waiting to see who'd win. Quickly however it seemed that Mak was a bit overconfident as he was quickly cut down to size.

"No." Said Ash, a response to Mak's move forward, the once confident man slouched himself over as his move was bluntly cut out which then proceeded to him losing the board.

"Better luck next time." I told him jokingly, but for some reason it felt as if he took it seriously, his eyes containing a strange glint of anger at being rejected, or maybe it was shock. Either of them would be true but underneath those, there was definitely a feeling of animosity and an attitude telling me he would never stop chasing her. For a brief moment, I was actually afraid of Mak, though brief it was as the fighters entered the arena.

Phyora slowly followed by a tall behemoth of a warrior, who wielded a great sword with a single hand. The pair instantly locked into combat as the trumpets blew a sweet symphony, the swords clashing like a hundred marching tenner's. The quick blows coming together in a harmony of destruction as both combatants searched for their opponents weakness. I looked in engrossed, my mind trying to find chinks in each of their battle abilities. Yet in a flash Phyora attempted a wide attack, it was out of nowhere and even a rookie fighter could tell, that the mistake was costly. Quickly the opponent knocked Phyora off her feet with a quick barge to her already crumbling stance.

The crowds roar overshadowing the pain I felt for her, she had been practicing this whole time but from what I could tell. She let herself lose. A swift silence was then ushered through the crowd, one that was cold and bitter, one that sent chills down my spine.

"Why did you throw the fight!" Her opponent yelled, his face red with veins popping out of his head. He threw his sword onto the ground waiting for her reply to which Phyora just softly smiled and nodded, before proceeding to walk back into the resting area. The arena was stunned, a fighter throwing a fight wasn't not heard of, but to throw a fight for something so glamorous as becoming a Royal Knight. That was something most hadn't heard of, for me I suspected there was something else going on here, extortion? No. Was it her plan? These questions filled my head quickly, but realising that it would be all for naught if I thought on these any longer.

Mak had slinked down upon himself still slightly embarrassed by Ash's rejection, whilst Ash and her sister both moved up to go get some food from the stalls. For me, I didn't know what to do, I wanted to support Phyora but for some reason I had eternal doubts that she would continue to throw her fights. So in a split second decision I decided to not continue watching the rest of the fights. Getting up and leaving Mak alone to his own squalor, I walked the streets bustling with people, their loud chatter echoing for miles on the streets that were empty. My head filled itself with doubts, truthfully it felt dishonest to leave then and there. Yet I just wanted to be alone.

I returned to my bunks later that night, Phyora was already in bed and asleep, I thought for a moment to wake her and ask her results, but I soon decided it would be not for the best. Slowly I lay my head down on my pillow and drifted off to sleep. That night my head filled with dreams of the princess, her voice fluttered around my dreams, leading me ever deeper into a crystal palace. In the distance the cry of a child, the shouting of soldiers, the sound of fire and then darkness in my left eye. Slowly I could feel a searing pain creep up on me and as soon as it was at its peak I burst up from my sleep.