Colosseum - Spectator Thread

[Gildarts]

Gildarts hobbled up the bleachers of the stadium after acknowledging the Bandit With No Name off in some of the lower seats. She would be fine, especially after the blood transfer.

He drank in another breath and set his mind back, he had wondered how she was going to prepare for the next fight, but then realized a warrior never put too much emphasis on anything that wasn’t the fueled by the heat of battle.

The mage strolled up, past the curious expressions of the many secondaries in the audience. He grunted himself up the stairs, but other than that, did not seem utterly immobilized by the pain. His black cape swooshed behind him, and on his left arm was a new magic-traced appendage. The light in the Prime’s eyes glinted, smoldering with that after-battle glow.

That had raised his heartbeat, and despite the man’s loss, he still smiled. She was a formidable adversary. He would train stronger and take her on again. And now that the excitement was over, he could relax for a bit and enjoy the festivities. Though, he would not stay.

“Gildarts?!” he heard a distant yet familiar voice called from beyond what his eyes could see. The Prime’s head turned, only to see a young child’s head popping up and down from the crowd.

“You’re Gildarts, right?” she said. It was a young girl, about the age of eight, she had blonde hair, and her button nose reminded the mage of Molly. A sweep of disappointment flooded his stomach, but not an ounce showed up on his face.

“I am,” he said with dignity, “And who might you be?”

“My names Tabby, and I just wanted to say, that even though you lost, you did AMAZING!” she made a gesture of explosions with her hands. “There were lights like fireworks, explosions that leapt to the moon, and you both were SO fast!”

A slow grin formed on the charismatic man’s cheeks, “You think so, young Tabby?”

“I know so!” the child’s head swept around, the majority of people in their vicinity were all looking at the new show, since the battles for this round had concluded.

“Tabby, Tabby!!! How many times have I told you never to run off light that!” the whims of a desperate mother were not answered, only by the sudden look of shame in the young girl’s eyes.

“Uh-oh.” Tabby said under her breath and her chin dipped low as her once admiring eyes left Gildarts’s form.

The mother’s eyes distorted into that of shock as she saw just who her daughter was speaking to. Eventually, anger got the best of her.

A mixture of fear blended with fury and suddenly a hot mark of glowing crimson appeared on the man’s cheek. Gildarts did not wince as the mother held eye-contact with the Prime, her eyes held a threat, unspoken, as the somewhat oblivious daughter’s cheeks had both grown red from shame.

Tears bubbled in the daughter’s eyes as she was unwillingly taken away from Gildarts without a goodbye. “Tabby! Never do that again! Your daddy is councilor and that makes you a target for many people! That man could have hurt you!”

“He wasn’t like that mom! You guys told me it was ‘publicly important’ that I attend even though I can’t stand the idea of people hurting themselves senselessly. And now that I show the slightest interest, you take me away from one of the competitors! I was only congratulating him mommy. And there was pride on his face even though he lost. So tell me again that he is a bad man.”

The mother dipped low, “Anyone who joins that ruthless bloodbath has something to learn about becoming more civilized. Come now, back to your chambers, where you will remain for the rest of the competition.” There was no diplomacy in the mother’s harsh voice, the woman even scowled at the onlookers who offered mercy to the little girl, who suddenly broke free and ran back to Gildarts.

The clapping of little feet on the stone benches soon delivered the girl to the Prime, and Tabby placed something in Gild’s hand. “You did a good job, don’t let anyone tell you differently!” Tabby was adamant that she was listened to. The mother stormed closer.

“From what it seems, your mother only wants your safety, you best run back to her before you get in more trouble.” Gildarts was eager to avoid another slap.

“Awwww,” the girl whimpered, but obeyed the respected warrior, and the two vanished in the crowd.

His jagged shoulders suddenly lowered, resembling relaxation, and his smile still remained as he looked down to the stadium below. The second round was about to commence.