Chapter Text
It was hard to remember when their plan had gone so wrong. A simple scouting mission gone wrong. While most of them had managed to escape they hadn't been as lucky. Unable to fight them all and having provided an opportunity for the rest to retreat they were forced to go with the guards. Hunter knew when they were out matched and had the feeling Muriel knew it too. Even the castle alone left a bad taste in Hunter's mouth as they were brought before none other than Lucio himself. Yet even just being forced to look at his horns and sharp grin left Hunter wanting to tell him how much everyone hated him. Yet this wasn't the time or place.
"So you two have been leading the rebalian huh?" the almost enjoyment in his voice caused Hunter to quietly growl. Otherwise keeping their mouth shut along with Muriel's neither wanting to give him the satisfaction of a reply. "What? not even going to acknowledge you're Count?" Another silence followed as Hunter wondered if Muriel's silent was due to the anger he must have felt being forced to be there like them or something else. "Fine then. Take The Scourge to be prepared for combat."
"WAIT!" Hunter even startled themselves by the sudden loudness in their voice as they noticed Lucio's gaze snap onto them. "you've seen him fight countless times, unbeatable if I remember correctly. If you want a real show you'll take me instead. Why put someone you know you'll win, not to mention I know how to put on a real show for you. let him go and I'll give you a show" there was a pause as they quietly added. "I'll do whatever you want." The silence that followed felt like they dragged on forever as they watched Lucio almost think about it.
"You make a compelling argument, GUARDS! take the magician away and let the scourge go, I have no use for him anymore" Hearing the orders Hunter had hopped the stone forming in their stomach would've dropped but it didn't, it sat there uncomfortably as they kept their eyes focused on Lucio. Scared even glancing at Muriel's face would dissolve any courage Hunter had left. Yet, while being lead away taking a glance they could see Muriel looked like he had a million things he wanted to say but unable to find the words as all they could think was 'please forgive me for this' They knew self sacrifices was something they hadn't wanted to do and yet they couldn't let Muriel go back.
Arriving at a jail cell Hunter didn't fight back as they walked inside. The walls did little to sooth them as they started to pace. Muriel was safe that was all that was important, he wouldn't be forced to go back, hopefully he would've ran into someone else form their group. The more they tried to block out their thoughts the louder they become as Hunter found their wasn't much they could do, the stone walls made it hard to write on them and without dirt on the ground that was also out. They could try and use what magic they had to escape but then what? They get out of the cell and get overwhelmed by the number of guards? be thrown into a magic proof cell? was this magic proof? did it matter?
Questions and worries swirled around as Hunter eventually found themselves slipping into an uncomfortable sleep. It was a blur of a few different dreams but they all seemed to focus around the colosseum the place that'll decide if they live or die. Waking up to the sounds of guards and having bread thrown at them they growled lowly while eating the bread. As much as they would've loved to throw it back they knew too well how important it was for them to eat before the fight. Once it was gone they found the guards returning to move them. Hunter didn't fight as they followed them out of the castle. Once there they were taken to a room to get fitted for the fight. Swapping the clothes they were wearing for a feathery cape and arm armour. Once armoured up they were taken to a room filled with different weapons. Looking over them the daggers seemed to call to them but as they made their way over they froze. On the floor nearby was another weapon, it didn't call to them like the daggers but almost seemed to do the opposite. Heading over Hunter gently picked them up, claws. Hesitating they put the claws on before looking over their hands. Nose scrunching up they could feel something thrumming in the back of their head. Yet, it felt different from their other headaches it didn't look unrecognizable, it looked too much like them. What it meant? they didn't know but they knew they couldn't focus on it long as they heard a guard approaching. "Picked a weapon? it's time"
Refusing to reply they headed out into the fighting area. The crowd above them seemed to cheer for the upcoming violence. Yet all Hunter could focus on was the large scar covered woman carrying a large battle axe. Taking a deep breath and getting into a defensive pose they zoned out the noise of the crowd of the announcer as they stared into the violent filled blue eyes that stared them down. The next thing they knew the roaring of the crowd broke through as they jumped to the side, letting the axe land where they had been a second ago. Landing on their hand they used it to propel themselves forward and behind the large woman. The next thing they felt was the metal hitting flesh as they cut into her back. Only to then feel something smack into them as they were elbowed in the face. Rolling a short distance they rolled to the side to avoid the axe as they tried to climb up quickly. Unable to take even a second they focused on trying to hit them, their arms, their legs, their body, their back, it didn't matter where. It just mattered that they managed to get some damage in. Yet in their desperation they left themselves open to more attacks than they would admit.
Only when missing a strike and landing on the ground did they realize the true cost of their mistake as they barely had time to jump out of the way as the axe was slashed. Pain shot up their back as they felt the need for a few seconds. They had no idea what for but allowed themselves to go limp, using the force to roll as faraway as they could at the risk of more bruises. Watching as the person hefted up her axe stoming over, raising it above their head. Then they felt it, as if the pain had subsided they managed to jump up and out of the way jumping past her as her axe slammed down where they just were. Missing by the skin of their teeth as they landed behind her. Except their hand landed in something wet, blood. Their was a trail following them, they were standing in it. For the first time they become focused on the red liquid on the other person, the way it clung to them the way it clung to them. They hadn't tried to make a fist, even with those claws it wouldn't hurt, yet they hadn't. They couldn't zone out now, not here, moving beardly in time they felt something slam against the back of their head as they had barely moved enough to miss the sharp part of the axe.
It wasn't like time sped up or slowed down. Rather the noise of the crowd become almost silent, the only noise was their own heartbeat in their ears, the only thing they could see were those blue eyes and their reflection staring back. It was like their body moved on it's own. One moment they were watching her trying to readjust her aim, the next they were right next to her face teeth biting down on her ear as their clawed hand smacked at her face. Then they were on the dirt again, the taste of iron in their mouth, the warm sensation of blood, theirs? hers? they didn't care. Again they were back in the air none of this mattered, live, die, the only thing that they could focus on was their opponent and getting them down.
When they felt themselves getting smacked back by the axe it felt like the noise of the crowd, the noise of their own breathing, the pain all over their body, the heaviness of their limbs, it all snapped back at once. Leaving them disorientated as they started to back up to recuperate they noticed something odd, a cloud started to form in the center of the arena. Thunder shook the ground as for a second Hunter forgot about the fight and looked up as the first rain started to pound down into the arena around them. Looking back towards the lady she seemed just as unsure how to act, the chaos of the crowd having gone from cheers to screams as everyone was trying to leave. Yet Hunter refused to keep their eyes off the other for long as they started to feel their sensors blur together.
When Hunter noticed Muriel any attention on the other person was gone as they could see from the way he seemed to be trying to say something, yet Hunter couldn't tell if Muriel was actually saying something and they couldn't hear him or if the words were stuck in his throat. Both options felt possible as before they could try and figure it out they felt themselves getting picked up. Unable to help but tense up before relaxing just as quickly as they felt themselves being taken away from the coliseum. Unsure where they were going they couldn't stand to see their hands covered in blood and claws as they slipped the claws off letting them fall to the ground as they cuddled into Muriel.
It felt like everything was blurring more together it was hard for them to keep their eyes open let alone focus on Muriel's face. Their body felt heavy and all they wanted to do was sleep, and yet something told them to try and fight it off. Yet the coolness of the bed they were laid on and the feeling of Julian messing around. It was hard to feel what was happening as eventually they let their consciousness slip.