Thierus had finished his battle alongside Eligret. Despite their difference in combat style, both of them had made it all the way to the second round and were now moving on to the third.
He slowly knelt down and joined his hands together.
After muttering a few words, he stood up and walked away from the colosseum, receiving a notification from the system.
[Your next opponent is Thalamik The Kaiser of Darkness and Momoka. Be sure to prepare yourself.]
Suddenly, Thierus stopped.
To think he would finally meet Thalamik again after all the chaos of the Jaka City War — only to duel him to the death. Unlike most of his friends, Thierus deeply empathized with what Thalamik had gone through.
Elves were taught from birth of their superiority over other races. Yet Thierus was never like that. He understood that superiority meant nothing if it came at the cost of one's morals toward others.
As he grew older, he came to understand that an Elf's pride was like mana. Though it could be used and change forms, it could never be fully extinguished. Even face to face with a Demon King, an Elf would protect their pride.
So what made Thierus different from the others?
It was the fact that his pride was not rooted in a sense of superiority. His pride was rooted in his own belief — a belief in knighthood and equality. After years of being scrutinized for his sense of justice, he had grown only more resolute in protecting that belief.
"Master, why did you stop? Is something wrong?"
Thierus shook his head as they boarded the transport vehicle.
Sitting inside, his mind wandered once more.
His pride was telling him to forfeit the match and accept his own death.
Why?
Because without Thalamik's help, he and the others should have died in the fight against Focalors and Vepar.
At least, that was what Thierus believed.
Without much thought, Thierus spoke to the driver. "Please take me to the forest."
"I'm not sure I understand. You do know another contestant is out there, right? The Kaiser of Darkness is—"
"I know. And I don't want to start anything. I just want to talk to him."
"Are you serious? Master, The Kaiser has committed a great deal of crimes. He isn't someone you just walk up to, especially in a death game like this."
Thierus would have liked to correct his mentee right then and there. But he didn't.
It would be better for Eligret to see Thalamik the way he saw him.
Because to Thierus, his own race had committed far worse than Thalamik ever had.
"Aye aye, sir." The driver swiftly changed course, driving toward the forest inside this Alterity.
***
Thalamik was still shaken from killing Oryba. He lay on the floor beside the bed, staring up at the ceiling of their private room. Momoka was crying her eyes out, still sobbing as she thought about how she had been forced to carry out most of the killing.
"Master, does it really have to be like this?" Momoka asked between sobs.
"Unfortunately, it does."
"Master, I am so tired."
"I am sorry, Momoka. I am sorry for dragging you into this mess. But I am here for you."
Momoka extended her hand, reaching for his. Thalamik reached back, and the two joined hands. Momoka began to shiver again, the memories of what had transpired flooding back. "Do you need anything, Momoka?"
"No. Just please don't let go yet."
"Alright."
His mind drifted to his next opponent. Thierus.
Someone who had always been one of the quieter ones among Cobalt, Oryba, and Istar. Thalamik had never come to know him beyond the level of a senior colleague at a workplace. His thoughts of Cobalt, Oryba, Istar, and Thierus had always carried that kind of distant familiarity.
He was then reminded of Istar's unresolved trauma.
Taking a long sigh, Thalamik wondered when Oryba's re-enactment would come for him. Would it visit him again in his sleep?
Then there was a soft knock at the door of their private room.
Thalamik swiftly jumped to his feet. He knelt down, glancing at Momoka, who looked equally confused. "Did someone find our hideout?" Momoka asked, looking at him.
"That may be the case." Thalamik said, his eyes still fixed on the door. "I'll open it."
Slowly peering through the eyehole, Thalamik turned back to Momoka and whispered — though it came out like a shout — "IT'S THIERUS."
"WHAT?" Momoka whispered back just as loudly.
"It took a few hours, but we made it," Thierus said to Eligret.
"Master, I'm exhausted. What if they decide to attack us right here and now?"
"That won't happen." Thierus said. "Thalamik is an honorable man."
"Is he? Didn't he set dozens of traps for Raum just to beat her?"
Thierus was taken aback by that. He had to admit — ambushing a Demon King wasn't exactly the most honorable thing. Now that he thought about it, it really did make Thalamik seem like less of the honorable type. He was a schemer at heart.
"Maybe you have a point. Just in case, let me raise my weapon..."
Creak.
"What makes you think you can just come here and— huh?"
Thalamik suddenly opened the door to find Thierus with his weapon raised — a massive hammer, more than capable of caving in Thalamik's skull. For a few seconds the three of them just stared at each other, all wearing the same blank expression.
"STAND DOWN OR I'LL BEAT YOU TO A PULP!" Thalamik shouted in surprise, forming his Alterity hand sign.
"OH YEAH? SAY THAT AGAIN AND I'LL CHARGE AT YOU!" Eligret shouted back.
"SSSSSSTOPPPPPP!!!" Thierus threw both hands between Thalamik and Eligret. "We didn't come here for trouble. I was just asking if we could hang out!" he muttered, a blush creeping across his face.
"Huh?" Thalamik said, face blank.
"Huh?" Eligret said, equally blank.
Both of them stared at Thierus, who was slowly turning redder by the second. His face was full of shame. What he had just said sounded exactly like something a person desperately longing for company would blurt out.
The awkward silence was broken when Momoka appeared from behind the door. "I brought everyone tea! Let's drink outside!" she said with a bright smile, looking at the three of them as if nothing was wrong.
She glanced at her master with a smile, then turned to Thierus — and her eyes went wide when she noticed the enormous hammer hovering near her master's face. "YOU WANNA GO RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW? I'LL DESTROY—"
"I TOLD YOU IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
***
Soon, the four of them were seated outside near the secret private room, deep in the forest.
"It's so quiet here compared to last time," Eligret said, sipping his tea.
"That's because there are only 32 people left," Thalamik said, sipping his.
"You didn't have to make it gloomy..." Eligret muttered, looking away.
"I apologize for that." Thalamik replied quietly. "It's been quite a while since I've done something like this." He closed his eyes, letting the moment settle. "But let me ask you, Thierus. We will be fighting soon enough. Why would you do this?"
Thierus smiled softly. "Because I don't really know you, Thalamik."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It's because I don't know you well enough that I would feel sad if either of us just disappeared."
"I see." Thalamik nodded, drinking his tea.
"Perhaps, if you would allow it, after I finish training Eligret — I would like for us to meet again like this."
"I'm sorry, Thierus. I'm not someone who opens up easily. I don't see the point. We are inside a death game. How can I simply trust you like that — especially given my history with..."
"Elves. Am I right?" Thierus said. "You would probably disfigure me on the spot the moment you heard my family name. But the fact of the matter is, inside here, I am just Thierus. I am not confined by the rules of the outside world, and neither are you. So what I am asking is..."
Thierus went quiet before continuing. "I am asking for a chance. At the very least, let me be the one Zikmel you see differently."
Thalamik's eyes twitched. "Are you serious?" He stood up, his aura rising, and grabbed Thierus by the collar.
"Master..." Momoka called out.
"If my death would erase my family's sins, then I would gladly accept it."
"MASTER, WHAT ARE YOU—"
"Please, Eligret. This is not your concern. My family was sinful. Any repentance through means that do not harm others — including my own death — is something I am willing to accept. My principles are mine alone. I will follow them until I die."
Thalamik stared at him coldly as he conjured a dagger from magical energy. He pressed it to Thierus' neck, nicking the skin just enough for a thin trickle of blood to run down to the blade. Thierus closed his eyes with a smile and said, "Thank you."
Thalamik's eyes twitched. He let the dagger drop to the ground.
"I am sorry, Thierus. But don't mention that name again." Thalamik said, looking away.
"Then I am sorry as well. So, may I see you tomorrow?"
"Suit yourself, Elf."
"Alright!" Thierus said, his voice brightening.
"MASTER THAT WASN'T A VERY NICE THING TO SAY YOU KNOW!" Eligret said to Thierus.