Fight Against Fate: Chapter 14

Lee struggled to his feet, finding his staff and reconnecting it. He used it as a walking stick and worked his way forward, leaning against it heavily until he got out of the arena. Once he was out of it, Alec and Felix were both there waiting for him. They each took one of his arms and helped to carry him toward the benches. As they walked him away they could hear the crowd booing and jeering.

Lee sat down he let his head slumped forward and winced feeling his leg. Alec and Felix exchanged glances unsure of what to say here. “I guess this is as far as someone fateless can progress,” he said softly.

“What?” Felix said and shook his head. “A fateless couldn’t have entered this tournament and done what you did. You were beyond fantastic out there. Even the crowd here saw that.”

“I was entertaining yes but winning was something above what I could imagine for myself,” he replied.

Alec stepped forward and grabbed him by the front of his shirt and dragged him forward, “What the hell kind of bullshit is that? This is the furthest a fateless could get? Bullshit! You won your way through the last chance tournament. You got to the quarter finals and only lost to Dio. A crazy strong fighter, fated to be great. And even then! You gave him a run for his money. You did infinitely more than anyone with a fate, let alone a fateless. And if anyone wants to talk shit about you or that I’ll beat some sense into them. You included!”

Lee stared at them and he felt the corners of his eyes start to sting. Lowering his gaze, he wiped his eyes slowly and then stepped forward wrapping his arms around them both tightly. They both blinked shocked but hugged him back and squeezed him closing their eyes. He let his tears fall for a moment as they held him up but he sniffled and wiped his eyes before taking a step back.

“Thank you. Both of you. Not many have ever said such things about me growing up. And to hear them here means more to me than you know. Though maybe you do know Alec.”

The crowd roared behind them and Alec turned around watching as Rosa knocked her opponent out of the arena. It had been over in almost an instant.

She held her glaive above her head and turned pointing it at Dio as a direct challenge to him. But she turned her gaze on Alec like he was something insignificant. A stepping stone to her real goal.

“That’s a fearsome woman. She’s going to be your opponent next when you win,” Felix said softly, watching her step out of the arena and resume her spot on the bench beside her sister. She was sitting with both hands in her lap and caught Felix’s gaze. Looking at her he shivered and looked away hurriedly. “You’re up next Alec. You ready?”

“Yeah,” he cracked his neck back and forth and looked back at Lee. “You gonna be okay?”

“I will try to be,” he said and sat down again groaning. “I am in no position to exert myself regardless.”

“No, you aren’t,” Felix said and looked at Alec. “You’ve got this.”

“Sure do,” he flexed toward the two of them and then walked toward the arena waving his sword arm and shield back and forth. As he got into place he could hear the crowd jeering at him and he blew them off with a wave of his sword.

His opponent approached him wearing full metal armor and a narrow face. His hair hung on his head like a mop but neatly groomed. He brushed his hair back with a gloved hand and motioned toward. “Ah yes. Another fateless. It seems that the Gods smile upon me.”

Alec raised his eyebrow at him and laughed, “Uh huh. What makes you say that yeah?”

“Shouldn’t it be obvious? Well maybe not to one such as yourself. You see it is the duty of us fated to such a grand destiny to remind people like you of your place. Just like that one over there,” he motioned to Lee at the bench. “He thought highly of himself and had to be reminded of his place. Dio saw to that.”

Alec paused and narrowed his eyes sharply, grinding his teeth together, “Wanna run that by me again?”

“You fateless need to be reminded of your place in the world,” he said simply and drew his sword. A thin rapier. “You are the base for which the fated may rise. Dio rises off the stepping stone that that other fateless is and now I shall do the same. You don’t even deserve to look at the armor of the War God.”

Alec bristled and nodded silenty as he took a few steps back. He raised his shield and rested his sword against it glancing at the announcer. The moment his hand went down and they were allowed to begin he jumped forward.

He brought his sword down on his opponent’s head in a heavy stroke. He flashed a quick dueling dagger similar to Dio’s and parried the swing thrusting with his rapier. Instead of blocking it with his shield Alec turned with the momentum and kicked his wrist aside sending the blade wide.

Lunging again he slashed with a brutal swing that was parried but Alec swung so hard the parrying dagger was almost knocked clean from his hands. Stunned he didn’t move in time to block Alec’s shield as it smashed into shoulder. He let out a cry and stumbled backwards.

Alec wasn’t done as he thrust his sword forward. He tried feebly to block but Alec’s heavy sword snapped the rapier in half. Seizing his opening he leaped forward and kneed him in the face driving him to the ground. Rolling past him he spun around and darted forward ready to attack him while on the ground his shield raised.

“Alec stop!”

Alec froze, his shield mid swing to bring down on his opponent’s face. Through the blood that covered his face he saw his eyes shut tight and one hand covering his face. Alec’s sword arm was back and ready to come down. Chest heaving, he lowered his shield slowly and kicked at the man’s arm making him drop the sword. As he stood he could hear the boos from the crowd like a wave of disapproval.

“You see that?” he said and then turned toward everyone assembled in the crowds and shouted, “Did you see that?! I’m a fateless! And I took down a fated like it was nothing! Don’t you dare underestimate the fateless! Because me, Lee, all of us are just as good as them! I’m going to win this tournament and the War God’s armor. And if you think a fateless doesn’t deserve that honor you can come down and fight me yourself!”