Chapter 31 TO FIGHT A FLAMEBORN

Chapter 31 TO FIGHT A FLAMEBORN

I felt fear grip me once more. There is something about this woman that commanded respect and awe. She stood straight and was staring directly at us. 

“Is that who I think it is?” Payten asked. 

“Oh, yes.” I replied, my heart slamming against my chest. I might have been training for a while but without magic, there was nothing I could do against someone like her. I have never seen her fight but I knew it right away.

She assessed us all and smiled. “So will you surrender your medallions or do I have to put you in a world of pain before you do it.” She said in almost whispers. 

I gave her a defiant look. I might as well rather die before I surrender but the four who’d followed us, including the girl I fought, seemed shaken.

“We will surrender,” she said. 

Katerina smiled. “Good choice,” the smile didn't reach her face. It was like someone else helped her spread her lips, her demeanor was still cold and oppressive. 

I glanced up at Kael and I could make out his small figure in the sunlit sky, just watching the whole thing. Although deep down I knew he was watching me. I felt something nudge me in my heart. 

I always felt it when I considered the thought of Kael. He might seem all grumpy and hard on the outside but deep down, I always imagined what it would be to stand by his side in the halls of greatness.

I glanced back at the princess. “I disagree.” I pulled the medallion from my pocket and placed it on the ground. I glanced at the girl who’d surrendered earlier. “What is your name?”

“Sharon?” she said as if enthralled. 

“Drop your medallion,” I ordered and she obeyed. 

“Katerina. I want a wager. If we defeat you, we will collect your medallion and you will join us by protecting what we have.”

“And if you lose?” she replied immediately. 

“That depends, what do you want?” 

She glanced at me. “You lead me to Andorin's boy, I want to fight him.” 

I frowned. Katerina was interested in Zephyr. She was the type to challenge someone she deemed strong. I nodded in reply, accepting her proposal.

I knew there was no way I was winning this fight. But I will never run again and neither will I allow myself to be silenced by oppression. 

I folded my hand into fist and Payten did the same beside me. 

“What are you guys doing? Are you insane? That's Katerina. She is a machine, she has been trained since she could breathe. Fighting her is suicide.” Sharon yelled. “What do you hope to accomplish?”

I wanted to speak, but Payten spoke before me. “Accomplish? Nothing. However, doesn't it fill you with joy to be able to fight someone leagues above you, to taste the unbridled power of a true flameborn? This isn't about winning or losing, it is about tempering yourself against the flame of the forge. It is about the refusal to let fear control you. Instead of asking us why we chose to fight. Ask yourselves why you choose to be pathetic. Why should life always beat you down and you just admit defeat. Why do you not fight? Are your lives not worth fighting for? Stop running for once goddamn it and fight!”

The girl stopped talking and Payten continued. “If you fight someone you know you can beat, it is just bullying, but fighting a true adversary comes when you go against overwhelming odds!”

Payten formed two ice daggers in his hand and I folded my fist. Katerina smiled and charged at us. 

Whatever prompted us to think we had a tiny chance was stupid, in less than two seconds we were on the floor. She didn't even use her abilities, just pure fighting skill.

My back had landed against the solid ground and I was coughing. She charged for me and wanted to crush me with her boots but I rolled away.

I jumped to my feet and in that instant I put all my thoughts and focus into the fight. I forgot my pain and fears, all I saw was the girl Katerina.

I dashed at her and this time my chances were better. We dealt blows after blows. “Good, good, You are not half bad,” she said with a smile but it was obvious that she was just toying with me. 

Payten attacked from behind, having recovered from his injuries but she dodged his attack easily. The two of us began to fight her using every trick in our books. 

At a point we made a coordinated attack and I saw an opening but instead of going for it, I realized it was a trap, I had seen Kael do the exact same thing before. Instead of going for the opening, I pretended I was following up on it but I suddenly changed my direction, due to her speed, she reacted but I’d already calculated that. Kael reacted to four of my moves that day and I couldn't land a blow.

So when Katerina shifted her weight to stop my new attack I dropped low and swiped her off her feet. She landed face down and I got on top of her. Instead of barraging her face with punches that won't mean anything. I folded my fist and punched her as hard as I could in the throat.

The attack caught her by surprise and she wheezed in pain. I wanted to knock her out but it seemed I wasn't strong enough. 

I folded my fist again and tried punching her once more but a blast of blue flames sent me crashing into the wall. She turned to Payten who was trying to attack her next and clapped her hands and fire arrows pierced through his body. The teleportation magic in the field activated, teleporting Payten out of the arena.

The announcer yelled. “Payten Andersson has suffered life threatening injuries from the hands of Katerina Flameborn! He has been removed from the battlefield!” 

I tried getting up but I was delirious. Katerina grabbed my shirt front with flames burning in her other hand that was folded into fist. “You think a peasant like you can beat me?” 

She yelled!

The announcer announced. “The game is over, only ten teams are left in the arena!” 

Katerina didn't stop though. She launched the fist at me but I didn’t flinch, I stared at it directly. It was about to drill through my head when it stopped mid air. A flaming hand was holding the princess’ hand.

“The game is over! Stand down!” Zephyr growled, his eyes burning with flames.