Free Web NovelChapter 164: Respect & Fear
Gracela sighed. "No, of course not. Bel isn’t like that with me. He probably respects me more than anyone in the world, but... I couldn’t train him."
"And why not?" Victor asked, leaning against the railing of the arena box.
Once again, Victor’s direct question surprised Gracela. She opened her mouth to answer, but all that came out was a barely audible whisper.
"Because... his expectations would never be met..."
Victor’s sharp eyes caught the sadness in Gracela’s gaze, a sadness that seemed to weigh more than any sword she had ever held. He sighed deeply, feeling the tension in the air. He didn’t want to force an answer that Gracela clearly wasn’t ready to give.
"Look," he whispered. "You don’t have to carry this guilt anymore. I know you do, and you’ve done everything you could for Bel. I’m here to help you now, to repay Selvarum’s hospitality and friendship. You don’t have to worry anymore."
Gracela looked at Victor and for a moment it seemed as if she would say something more, but she just nodded silently and turned her eyes back to the arena. The silence between them was a tacit agreement that some wounds needed time to heal and that certain things did not need to be said to be understood.
Despite Victor’s direct nature, after this brief discussion, Gracela began to understand a little more why Luisa admired him.
As the two watched the arena, the young contestants were still commenting on Reinhart’s fight with the orc.
Bel was one of them, staring at the orc’s decapitated body. The young man tried to process the horrible sight he had just witnessed. He had heard countless stories from his mother about the glorious battles his father had fought against hordes of orcs, but to see a real orc, with its brutal strength and menacing presence, was something else entirely.
After a few lesser knights removed the orc’s body from the arena, Reinhart spread his arms and said:
"Those who wish to become knights must understand that the path is hard and dangerous. Orcs are only one of the many challenges you will face. But remember, physical strength is not everything. Strategy, technique, and courage are equally important. That’s why we won’t force anyone to enter the arena and fight an orc. There’s no point if you don’t feel ready. But if you feel ready and confident, raise your arm and say you’re ready."
The silence that followed was almost palpable. The young candidates looked at each other, hesitant. No one moved, no one dared to raise an arm.
Bel looked at his own hands and felt them tremble slightly. He wanted to raise his arm and wanted to prove that he was worthy to carry on his father’s legacy, but he didn’t have the confidence to be ready yet. He needed more time. The fear took deep root, causing his hands to shake uncontrollably and preventing him from taking action.
Suddenly, the silence was broken by a firm voice.
"I’m ready," a man said, raising his arm.
This man was older than most of the other candidates, almost in his thirties, with a hard expression on his face. His presence was commanding, his posture confident. He carried a half-bowed sword and a short scabbard on his lower back, no ordinary swordsman.
Reinhart turned his gaze to the man, studying him with interest. "And you are?"
"My name is Matthew," the man replied, his voice firm. "I have never fought orcs, but I have faced other monsters of great strength in my life as a bodyguard. I think I can handle an Orc."
The candidates muttered to each other, impressed by Matthew’s confidence. freewebnovёl.ƈom
Reinhart crossed his eyes and agreed, recognizing the man’s courage.
"Very well, candidate Matthew. Enter the arena," Reinhart said, stepping back to allow the older man to take center stage.
One trainer led Matthew into an interior area. Seconds later, one of the arena doors opened, allowing him to enter the arena. He was alone in the arena.
Reinhart walked up to where the contestants were to watch the fight and instruct the other contestants.
Matthew drew his curved sword and began to evaluate it. His sword was a bit awkward, but clearly sharp and well cared for.
The audience was silent, all eyes on Matthew as he prepared for the challenge.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes, sir!"
"You may release the Orc!"
As the gate on the opposite side of the arena reopened, an orc was pushed into the arena. Filled with primal rage, the creature’s eyes and firm muscles with thick skin made it clear that it would be a formidable opponent.
Matthew fixed his gaze on the orc and smiled. But confidence wasn’t everything in this case. In fact, when faced with a powerful creature, the best alternative is fear. Fear doesn’t blind, fear clarifies every decision and makes every action rational.
Thus, the fight between Matthew and the orc lasted less than a minute, and Matthew was immediately eliminated from the trial when the orc caught him with a powerful blow to the chest and threw him against the wall of the arena. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
The impact was brutal.
The impact knocked the air out of Matthew’s lungs and caused his hands to release the sword. The impact knocked him unconscious, but the orc didn’t care, running toward him, grabbing Matthew’s head and raising his other arm, ready to deliver the final blow.
"The test is over!" Reinhart shouted.
Just then, five knights entered the arena, hurrying with their swords pointed forward. Their presence made the orc hesitate, and one of the riders, a woman with black hair, shouted:
"Stay back, creature!" she commanded in an authoritative tone.
When someone speaks with an angry tone, it transcends language barriers. The intensity and emotion behind her words can be felt and comprehended by anyone, regardless of their native language.
The orc growled, but he was rational and didn’t want to be killed, so he let go of Matthew and began to back away slowly.
