<h4>Chapter 81: A Familiar Name</h4>


    I flinched; I hadn''t noticed anyone else here with us. It took me a moment to find the owner of the unfamiliar voice.


    He was standing not too far away from us, with his back leaning on the wall. He had dark blue skin that reminded me of the night sky. His yellow eyes shone in the darkness of the hall. His pupils were thin slits that reminded me of snakes. A pair of thin, elegant horns were visible on his head. His red hair covered the left side of his face a little.


    "I didn''t expect you to win that match." He continued. "But that was before I knew of your skills with a sword."


    "I''m ttered." I replied. "And who might you be?" I didn''t really expect an answer, but I figured, asking wouldn''t hurt, right?


    "My name is Luca Morren." He said as a smile shed across his face. I raised my eyebrows, why was that name so familiar?


    "I''m K-"


    "Kai Friseal, if I''m not mistaken." Luca interrupted me. "Anyways, it was a good fight to watch, that''s all I wanted to say. Take care to keep winning. I would love to get a chance to fight you soon." He turned around and left before I could even say anything. As he disappeared in the dark corridor, Erik asked hesitantly. "Do you... know him?"


    I shook my head. "No, I''ve never met him here before." I hesitated. Did I know him from... back home? But how would anyone even recognise me? I didn''t look remotely like my real self. A thought urred to me as I nced at my left hand. Was it because of that?


    I shook my head again. That was impossible. "Let''s prepare for the next fight."


    Erik nodded. "We should get you and Joshua healed up." He said, ncing at our young rogue. He had tiny cuts all over him.


    "How did you get so many cuts?" I asked with genuine confusion. "And how are all of them so tiny and unimportant?"


    "Don''t even ask." He grumbled. "It feels like I''ve got a million papercuts."


    We chuckled and went back to the room given to us. Soon after, an Ereth healer came and fixed us up. I did consider using Soul''s Respite but didn''t out of fear of being disqualified.


    "Thatst fight was tougher than I expected." Vincent said after the healer left. "But Kai, I didn''t know you were ambidextrous."


    I flinched. "Oh. Well, I''m not. Not entirely. My right hand is my dominant hand when ites to most daily tasks, but I taught myself to fight left-handed as well." While Mother had disapproved it at the time, my efforts had proven somewhat worth the time I had invested in it.


    "You''re crazy." Joshua said, shaking his head in disbelief. "First you take on two guys at once and beat them in a matter of seconds, then you take on two guys back to back and use your left hand to fight. What''s next? Are you going to solo the entire tournament?"


    I couldn''t help butugh. "No, I''m not that good." I said with a chuckle.


    Silence followed my words. Somewhat confused, I nced at the other two. "Guys?"


    "Well," Vincent mumbled. Erik tilted his head to the side. "I''m not so sure I believe you."


    "Oh,e on!" I cried out. "Stop overestimating me!"


    "I don''t think we are." Erik said as a grin appeared on his face.


    "No, you definitely are." I said with a more serious tone. Erik''s grin shattered as I continued with my words. "Don''t go into the next fight thinking that I can take care of everything alone. I need each and every one of you to be able to hold your own, at least for a while."


    Joshua drew a sharp breath. I continued. "With each match, our opponents will be getting stronger. Take that guy – Luca, for example. I don''t know if we can beat a team with each member as powerful as I believe him to be." I hesitated. "No, I know we can''t beat them. So, try to learn with each victory."


    Silence followed my words. I did feel somewhat bad for shattering their fun, but I felt that I had to say it if we aimed to win.


    A knock on the door broke the awkward silence. The door creaked open and the Ereth who first brought us here spoke. "Your next match is about to begin. Please follow me to the gate."


    With a sigh, I got up on my feet. "Let''s go," I said to the others and followed the Ereth to the massive metal gate.


    "Oh, one thing." The Ereth said stopping me as the others passed by us. "This is today''sst match, so I''d suggest making yourself..." He hesitated. "How should I put it? Make sure you stand out. Please the crowd."


    I flinched. Was he supposed to be telling me this?


    "Why?" I asked after a moment of silence. A smile – I think – shed across the Ereth''s face. "Because the happier the crowd is, the bigger your pay-out." He gestured towards the gate. "You should hurry."


    "Right." I said after a moment''s hesitation and joined the others.


    "What was that about?" Joshua asked, ncing at the Ereth calmly waiting a little behind us.


    "Let''s make sure we win this." I replied. "Quickly." As these words let my mouth, the massive metal gate creaked open. The bright sunlight burned my eyes as the announcer''s voice echoed. "Once again, we see Team Torchlight take the stage!" He continued to speak as we stepped onto the sand covered arena. "Will the twice victorious team win again, or will they be snuffed out by Team Darkswords?"


    I flinched. That name was just as cheesy as ''Team Reapers''. Though, seeing our four opponents, all d in dark coloured armour, all wielding dark metal shortswords, I couldn''t help but think the name was fitting. Somewhat. Maybe.


    I stepped forward. I couldn''t even guess which one of them was stronger.


    "Begin!" The announcer shouted.