Chapter Text
Dainix can't remember… He can't see… It all looks like the sun shining through the lids of your eyes, and it sounds like cries and panic.
Then it sounds like crashing, like glass shattering, and it starts to feel warm, then warmer.
Shouts overlap and fire crackles, heat rises.
It all becomes too much, too loud, too hot, to scary. It feels like he's burning.
The carriage jerks forward and wakes him with a start. The others look at him strangely.
He remembers now, he'd been picked up by Zuurrith guards while they were arresting a group of bandits, and he was being carted back to the city with them. Not ideal, but better than the memory.
He relaxes and settles against the bars and looks out at the scenery, idly picking at the cracks in his skin.
Zuurrith is well known for his treatment of perceived criminals, but Dainix is sure he'll figure something out, he just needs time to figure out a plan.
"But I don't have a lot of time" He thinks.
He cuddles further into the bars, putting his hands in his armpits to keep them warm.
The bandits begin to murmur amongst themselves and Dainix turns to look in the direction the carriage is going, and sees the gates of the city of Zurrith.
Barricades and spikes adorn the front of the wall, and catapults and archer's stations are being prepared atop the towers. There's even a moat being dug out. Inside the city the cobblestone streets rattle the carriage, and the amount of citizens pales in comparison to the amount of armed guards and soldiers out on the street. This does not bode well.
The carriage stops in front of the mountain and they're all ushered out. Individually they're inspected, and any weapons they have are taken away. Their wrists are then bound and they're taken to a large communal cell that's already very full.
"Well, you're not from around here!" An older man laughs, catching Dainix's attention.
"What gave it away?"
"You're Ravvan..!" Says another, a storm elf with yellow hair "What are you doing all the way out here?"
"That's… A bit complicated. I'm.. Looking for something -Dainix crouches down- Have any of you ever heard of a Demon by any chance?"
Those paying attention either shake their heads or quietly apologize.
"Never mind.. Anyway, what's with all the guards running around? It's like you're expecting some kind of siege"
"Because we are" The storm elf continues "Zuurrith's declared war with Vash"
"What?, Really?"
"Really" The storm elf sighs "Something -He gestures vaguely with his hands- happened, and suddenly every guard and bounty hunter are being sent out to patrol or barricade. It's been like this for weeks."
"Is it really so surprising?" the older man pipes up "they've never been exactly buddy-buddy with each-other, Vash must've finally gotten on Zuurrith's last nerve!"
"They've always been at least cordial with each other though" The storm elf replies "You forget it was nothing, dead silence, then out of nowhere he publicly declares a state of war! Like, where did that come from?!"
Dainix barely has time to consider the implications before a guard comes and unlocks the door to the cell.
"I'm here for the Ignan. You'll be standing in for tonight's match" The crowded cell murmurs amongst themselves.
Dainix stands up, facing the guard "Match?"
"To the death"
Dainix's whole body stiffens, his hair starts to stand on end and he's being taken out of the cell.
He's essentially dragged through winding, curving halls before they arrive at an armoury of sorts, and Dainix can hear the murmur of maybe hundreds of people just on the other side of the wall.
The guard starts rummaging through drawers and hangers, occasionally glancing over to give him a once over.
"Apologies for the rough handling, we're on a bit of a tight schedule"
"It's fine" Dainix replies softly.
"The original guy sprained his ankle going down the stairs, the Arena-master figured someone new would dispel possible disappointment the best"
The guard walks over to him with new arm guards, a pauldron and a helmet.
"Put these on, we'll be confiscating your previous armour, that includes your poncho. No funny business, we can tell it's Wyrmsilk"
Dainix quietly acquiesces, and folds his clothes neatly, with his arm guards rested on top of his poncho. He starts to put his armour on.
"We'll be taking your eye-patch as well"
Dainix faces her in surprise "Is that really necessary?"
The guard shrugs "standard procedure" and walks off to pick out a weapon.
Dainix reluctantly unties his eye patch, folds it, places it on top of his arm guards and goes to strap on the pauldron.
The guard turns around and winces at his very missing right eye.
"Oh! I hadn't-! Well- Sorry, let me- um" The guard sticks her head out "Hey Tria? Can you get me a roll of bandage from the infirmary and bring it to the east arena entrance? thanks"
The guard walks over with a spear in her hands and clears her throat. "Done? let's go"
Dainix nods and follows the guard.
Guards and passing prisoners quietly whisper as he passes, the feeling of hair and air on the wound is unnerving. He tries to ignore it.
They arrive at a small room with a bench and a gate leading to the arena part of the mountain, it's almost a full house it would seem. Dainix sits down and soon after Tria arrives with the bandages. The guard begins to bandage his right eye.
"Little advice? Just do what they tell you. You may not like it, but obedience is the quickest route out of here."
She ties a bow at the back of his head and then hands him the spear "Figured you'd be most comfortable using this"
Dainix takes it and simply hums in thanks.
"Good luck." She says before locking the door behind him.
Good luck? Do what they tell you? Sure, playing the long game is probably the safest and quickest way to get out of here, but he doesn't have time for that, he doesn't even know how much time he has, and now he has to fight some stranger and either kill or be killed.
He grips the fabric on his pants as his right arm cracks further and a hot flash washes over him.
A loud voice, that must be from the announcer, speaks and the gate starts to open.
Dainix puts his helmet on and stands to attention, trying to steady his breath, It's hard with the helmet, and manages to steel himself somewhat before gripping the spear and facing the crowd.
As he walks into the main arena the crowd cheers in excitement. The announcer and his opponent, a cocky looking bull ferin with a short-sword, were both hyping up the crowd, his opponent showing off with his weapon.
The other tries to start a bit of back and forth with him but Dainix could barely hear him, completely focused on his stance and his opponents movements. Dainix jerks his head upward in a nod, and with that, the fight starts.
his opponent lunges toward him, aiming for his legs, but Dainix manages to dodge and roll out of the way. He began to circle him with his spear pointed outward. They exchange blows but Dainix manages to block them all, and even manages to nick the other in the side.
He's sloppy, rushing, focused on the show rather than the fight, Dainix manages to kick him back and spin to hit him on the head with the back of his spear. Dainix returns to his resting stance with his spear facing outward, with his opponent is clearly annoyed.
They dance like this for a while, his opponent swinging and charging wildly, clearly used to banking on his strength, with Dainix carefully evading and attacking non lethally. It's not a terribly interesting fight, his opponent keeps looking to the crowd and finds them yawing or walking out, and the poor announcer is trying his best. but tensions are starting to run higher. Dainix's nerves are hard to be rid of, and with every slight misstep and mistake they get worse, and his opponent is becoming desperate.
Dainix prods the guy in his side again, causing him to drop his weapon. Dainix goes to knock it away but slips and ends up being grabbed and raised above his opponents head. He manages wriggle out and stand on the guy's shoulders, surprising everyone, and then jumping off him, sending his opponent to the floor. He back away unsteadily and tries to catch his breath while his opponent regains his bearings and grabs his sword from the floor. The crowds interested again, and he's really pissed off now, uh oh.
The guy lunges towards him and starts striking wildly and quickly, Dainix only having time to block, and barely.
The guy finally eases up, leaving an opening and Dainix goes to knock the other's weapon away but misses and is then pulled forward by the end of his spear and put into a headlock. He does his best to wriggle his way out but he's no match for his opponents size or strength, and without his friends, his team… He does manage to release himself by pulling tightly on the hair at the back of his opponents neck, catching him by surprise, but loses his spear in the process. He steps back and removes his helmet to catch his breath, He can't breathe, and no one's here to save him this time, to pull him out of the water. His opponent catches him by surprise and tackles him.
The other manages to pin him to the ground, with his knee pressed against his chest. Dainix gasps for air as he uses all his strengths to stop his opponents sword from piercing his neck.
Damn he's strong. If he hadn't slipped, if he hadn't lost his spear, or his helmet, or his cool. If only he wasn't alone, he's so alone. Dainix's mind raced through every scenario and pitiful thought he could conceive of. Cracks climb up his arm and further around his neck with sparks.
His left hand slips and he thinks he's done for, shutting his eye and bracing for the inevitable.
The weight is gone with a scream and a collective gasp from the crowd as something bright and hot passes in front of him
He opens his eye and finds his left arm completely transmuted into a beastly imitation made entirely of flame, with his opponent sat on the ground in front of him clutching the right side of his face in pain, his partially melted sword laid out in front of him.
Dainix sits up and shoves his fiery palm against the shallow sand of the arena, and grabbing and pouring as much dirt and sand as he can over it. He tries to remember his breathing techniques and slowly starts calming down.
A pair of guards rush over with a bucket of water and a medic.
"Stay back!" Dainix shouts, and the guard with the bucket hesitates while the other goes to check on his opponent. He takes another deep breath and finally his arm manages to reform back to normal. Relief floods over him immediately, and another guard comes running up yelling at the guy with the bucket and Dainix is seized in an instant and taken out of the arena.
Inside the mountain, Dainix is dragged up curving stairs and into the dark secluded corners of the prison. One guard opens a door and he's shoved inside and locked away. He bangs on the door to be released, to be heard. The guards do nothing, he's not even sure they're still there.
The room is dark, and cool. He's all but resigned to the situation when he gets the feeling as if he's being watched. With a start he turns around and finds two incredibly blue eyes staring back at him.