Humayre: The Chronicles of Ronin Wilder
Chapter 41

Slumped in his chair, Ronin began to unbuckle his armor. His fingers slipped off a black leather strap as he pulled at it. Looking to his hands he was surprised to find them covered in red liquid. The puncture wounds were worse than he thought. Grace touched his shoulder and said something but he couldn’t make it out over the buzzing in his ears. He looked up. Two armor clad people making their way to the center of the arena pulled his attention away from Grace. For some reason the sight confused Ronin, after all, he had just lost, everything was in complete disarray, how could another match be starting so soon after his defeat? It made him feel like his life was insignificant.

“Are you okay?” asked Grace. Her eyes were filled with worry and compassion.

Turning his gaze back to Grace, he said, “Yeah.” He pulled his helmet off and set it in his duffel bag. He forced out a chuckle. “Guess I won’t be needing this anymore.”

Grace scooted her chair a few inches from Ronin’s. She took his hands and turned them over so she could see his wounds. Grabbing some bandages from Ronin’s duffel bag, she quickly bandaged him up.

Slumped over in his chair Ronin stared at the white marble under his feet. His mind was blank.

“Hey,” said Grace.

Ronin sat silent. He heard her but couldn’t bear to look her in the eyes. Not only did he feel like he let himself down he felt like he let his friends down as well.

“That was one of the most honorable things I have ever seen,” said Grace. “You have nothing to be ashamed of.”

Turning his head, he faced Grace but was still unable to look her in the eyes. With a halfhearted smile, he said, “Thanks.”

A man in a black kimono stopped in front of Ronin, it was Master Kita. Maybe the last person in the world Ronin wanted to see at that moment. As a sign of respect, Ronin stood up and bowed to him.

“You fought with honor,” said Master Kita. He gave a slight bow. “Dr. Storm has requested your presence.” He looked in to the crowd and made a gesture with his head as though that was were Ronin was supposed to go. “I will escort you to him.” He looked to Ronin’s duffel bag. “You no longer need the armor. You can leave it here.”

The words stung Ronin’s heart and snapped him out of his partial daze. BrightWood was going to be nothing more than dream. A wonderful dream filled with hope and purpose. Dick was his reality now. His heart sank as he contemplated a life without his friends and without BrightWood.

“Follow me,” said Master Kita.

Too deep in thought to say good bye to Grace, Ronin followed Master Kita out of the arena floor.

Two Humayre with Mayrblades stood guard in front a special section high up in the crowd. They wore BrightWood trench coats and were gloveless. It was odd to see someone without gloves in such cold weather, then Ronin remembered that a Humayre pulled his power from the Mayreblade and it made total sense. Behind the guards Dr. Storm and Mr. Wetstone each sat in huge throne like chairs looking down into the arena. Maybe the best seats in the house, even though they were so far from the action. The two Humayre stepped aside as Ronin and Master Kita entered the special section.

“Take a seat,” said Dr. Storm. He pointed to an empty throne just to his right.

Mr. Wetstone glanced at Ronin for just a second before returning his attention to the action below.

As Ronin took a seat, he noticed a small wooden table holding what looked like a glowing green dinosaur egg.

“It’s a Mayrestone,” said Dr. Storm, not taking his eyes off the action below. He rested his hand on the Mayrestone. “In case you were wondering.”

It was a curious thing to see but Ronin didn’t really care anymore. The quicker he could get away from BrightWood and Dr. Storm, the quicker he could put it all behind him and get on with what was left of his life. The crowd erupted into cheers. Someone had their helmet split in two. If only he could have done that.

The crowd went silent as the man in the suit announced the winner. Ronin stared at the pristine marble under his feet, his mind racing for a solution to Dick. How could he go back and face the monster?

Dr. Storm nudged Ronin. “BrightWood isn’t for everyone. Even someone as unique as you are.” He turned in his seat so he could face Ronin. “Not every Humayre is equipped with the skills to be a warrior in our world. There is no dishonor in failing out.”

Dr. Storm wasn’t making things any easier on Ronin. The more the man spoke, the more Ronin wanted to get away.

“There is a silver lining to all of this however,” said Dr. Storm.

Ronin interrupted. “Are you going to let me stay?” He folded his arms and glared.

Dr. Storm chuckled. “No, no.” He shook his head and smiled. “You would surely be killed if we allowed such a thing.” He glanced at Mr. Wetstone. “Your friend Mr. Westone here obviously doesn’t agree with me. But that’s why I am in charge and he is not.” He flipped the collar on his BrightWood coat up and tightened it around his neck. “There are never any exceptions. If we were to make exceptions people would die and that is not acceptable.”

“But you are making an exception right now,” said Mr. Wetstone.

“No. We are making an adjustment,” said Dr. Storm.

A small glimmer of hope tickled the back of Ronin’s mind. He stared at Dr. Storm waiting for him to tell him what the exception was.

“Because you have conducted yourself in an honorable fashion we have decided to continue Dick’s allowance. We figure if Dick is compensated it would at least make your life a little easier.”

It felt like someone punched Ronin in the gut and knocked all the wind out of him. He couldn’t believe what he just heard. That was their compensation? They were going to continue to pay the man who made his life miserable for six years? All he could do was look into the crowd. Never had he felt so defeated in his life. Dr. Storm continued to talk but Ronin didn’t try to make out the words. His closed his mind off to everything and just stared.

The crowd was fairly calm as they awaited the next match. A few people were walking down the marble isle ways, some were standing stretching out their legs. Dr. Storm continued to talk but Ronin didn’t care. On the opposite side of the arena Ronin could just make out Mike and Kevin sitting next to each other. He imagined them arguing. Most likely Kevin was saying something sarcastic and Mike was threatening to break him in two. The thought made Ronin smile. He was going to miss his friends the most. And then Dr. Storm caught Ronin’s attention.

“A carriage will take you to the hospital after the days’ matches are finished. From there a limo will drive you to the airport…” said Dr. Storm.

A commotion in the crowd interrupted Dr. Storm. Three spectators shot up out of their seats. Two men and one woman. One of the men was struck in the face by a man with straight white hair. Ronin focused. His vision zoomed in like a pair of binoculars.

“Raven,” said Ronin. He watched in horror as Raven grabbed one of the men by the front of his jacket and tossed him like a rag doll into the arena. It was at least a twenty foot fall. The spectators closest to Raven panicked. People were getting trampled as they tried to get away.

Raven bent down, grabbed the edge of a marble bench and ripped it out off its foundation. Dropping to his knee’s he seemed to be searching for something.

The two Humyare guards unsheathed their Mayreblades and took defensive positions right in front of Dr. Storm. Ronin jerked his head around to find Dr. Storm’s hand on his shoulder. Crushing pain fired down his arm. Dr. Storm was squeezing so tight it felt like Ronin’s shoulder might explode.

“What did you say?” asked Dr. Storm.

Ronin had no idea what he was talking about. He tried to pull away but Dr. Storm’s grip was vice like.

“Did you say Raven?”

“Yes,” Ronin grunted out in agony. “Let go. You’re breaking my shoulder.”

He released his grip. A look of pure terror overcame him.

Ronin stood up out of his chair and tried to find Raven in the crowd but he wasn’t there. Then something came flying towards them. It was Raven. He had jumped from at least twenty feet away and was now flying towards them like a tiger about to pounce on its prey. The white haired Vein had a Bloodsword in his hand and a smile on his face. He landed only a few feet from Ronin.

Scuttling back, trying to get away from Raven, Ronin tripped over the leg of his chair. The marble broke his fall and almost his elbow. Ronin scrambled to his feet. The two Humayre who were supposed to be guarding Dr. Storm lay motionless on the marble, their swords resting next to their deathly still bodies. Raven’s eyes were locked onto the Mayrestone. Dr. Storm reached for the Mayrestone, but Raven knocked his arm away with the flat part of his sword.

“I don’t think so.” said Raven, waving his finger at Dr. Storm.

Mr. Wetstone shot out of his chair and lunged towards Raven. The gloves on his hands glowed green. He was wearing his Rahvein Bio Armor.

A thunk sounded as Raven plunged his sword into Mr. Wetsone’s thigh. Grasping his impaled leg, Mr. Wetstone howled out in agony as he collapsed to the ground.

“Come on people,” said Raven. He pulled the sword from Mr. Wetsone’s leg and wiped the blade on Dr. Storm’s coat. “You can’t be this d…”

Master Kita appeared out of nowhere. “Dog!” he shouted.

At first Ronin thought Master Kita was talking to him. After all, it was all he had heard for months, but he quickly realized the insult was aimed at Raven.

Raven turned to face Master Kita. Their eyes locked. And then something strange happened. Both men froze and just stared. A look of utter shock came over both men. Raven was the first to break the silence.

“Destiln. Or should I call you Hector?” His cocky smile vanished. “How long has it been? Three thousand years? Seems you don’t like to stay dead.”

“Ferest,” said Master Kita. His eyes burned with hate. “Or should I call you Achilles.” He reached behind his back and unbuttoned a strap on his kimono. A flap opened revealing the handle of a sword. He slowly drew the weapon from its scabbard. It was a Bloodblade. “

“Seems we both have abandoned our pasts, now doesn’t it,” said Raven. He quickly glanced at the Mayrestone, then returned his focus to Master Kita.

“Seems so.” Master Kita grabbed his sword with two hands and held it out in front of his body in the ready position. He slid his slippered right foot forward.

Raven took the same stance. The tips of their swords were only inches apart.

Ronin stared in shock at Master Kita’s serrated sword. He couldn’t believe his master was wielding a Bloodblade. He wondered if Dr. Storm had known Master Kita was a Vein.

Raven and Master Kita slowly circled each other. Their feet seemed to glide across the marble, each movement as precise as a surgeon blade. Master Kita lunged forward and lifted his sword over his head. He came down with a quick slash. Raven blocked the attack. The sound of metal tearing against metal echoed through the arena. The Bloodswords were locked together in a deadly embrace. Both men fought for leverage. They were equal in strength neither giving way to the other. Both men jumped back. They circled each other once more. Raven pulled his sword to his side and spread his feet to take a wider stance.

Raven moved his sword to his left side. He tilted the blade so that it was parallel to the ground and let loose a side cut. Master Kita stepped back to avoid the strike. In one blindingly quick motion, Raven lunged forward and thrust the tip of his weapon towards Master Kita’s chest. Master Kita parried the attack off his center mass but Raven’s weapon still found Master Kita’s flesh. A thunk sounded. Raven drove forward. His straight blonde hair trailed behind him like golden flames. Master Kita slammed against the marble wall. The screeching sound of metal piercing stone was muffled by Master Kita’s body.

Ronin was frozen in shock. All he could do was stare at his impaled master. Raven’s sword was buried in both Master Kita’s shoulder and the marble wall behind him.

Master Kita’s eye’s furrowed as his right arm limply hung in the air. His Bloodsword lay at his feet. The master didn’t so much as make a peep as Raven slowly pulled his sword from his body.

The fight was over. Master Kita collapsed as Raven removed the last bit of cold steel from his shoulder.

With two hands Raven lifted his sword. “At least you will have a honorable death,” he said.

The area surrounding Ronin was eerily devoid of people. Just moments earlier not an empty seat could be found anywhere. In a rush to save themselves the spectators had fled from their seats and made their way to the arena floor. As Ronin searched for anyone who might come to their aid, he saw men with swords desperately pushing their way through the mob that had collected at the center of the arena. The men were trying to get to the stairs leading up to Ronin but they were pushed back by the current of people trying to get out of the arena. A chilling realization came over Ronin. There would be no help.

With his back pressed hard against the marble wall, Ronin eyed the empty stairs leading to the safety of the arena floor. With the crowd dispersed there would be no one to block his retreat. The fight was over he kept telling himself. He glanced at the carnage and then to the path leading to his freedom. Everything in him told him to run. None of this was his responsibility, his time there was over. A small voice in the back of his head kept telling him to run for it. His head fired back and forth between Raven and the stairs.

Raven bent his knees and slid his lead foot towards the helpless Master Kita. Angled above Ravens head the Bloodblade glistened in the sunlight. As Ronin battled the instinct to flee he watched the world slow to a crawl. Raven’s sword hung in a sort of suspended animation. Master Kita’s face was frozen in a look of steely determination. Despite the fact that Master Kita was about to be killed his heart rate didn’t accelerate.

Run, run, run, Ronin’s mind thought of nothing else. The Bloodblade began its decent. It’s destination obvious, it’s purpose gruesome. If Ronin stayed his fate would be the same. Run, run run. The words tormented him. But he couldn’t do it. He wouldn’t do it. The words faded. His mind went blank. A desperate rage consumed him. He pushed off the marble wall and spread his legs wide. Ten pearlescent daggers grew from his splayed fingers. They ached for destruction. The Empty Furry was upon him, consuming him. A pressure behind his fangs furthered his frenzy and drove him forward.

“No!” screamed Ronin in a voice he didn’t even recognize. He sprung into the air and pulled both of his shoulders back as far as they would go to create tension so that he might release its furious energy on his enemy.

Raven spun around and faced Ronin. The Vein was ready for the attack.

There was nothing Ronin could do. He was already in the air. But he did not fear. His mind remained blank as instinct took over. He was no longer in control of his own body.

A look of disappointment overcame Raven’s face as he thrust the tip of his blade towards Ronin’s chest.

In mid-air Ronin twisted his body and spun away from the attack. He landed on Raven’s left side. Ducking under Raven’s outstretched arms, Ronin’s eyes found the Veins midsection. With every ounce of speed he could muster Ronin fired his clawed hand towards his target.

Raven’s eyes opened wide as he stumbled back and spun. Ronin’s strike missed Raven’s midsection but found his hip. Five pearlescent daggers tore through cloth flesh and bone.

Furry contorted Ravens normally fine features. Stumbling back, Raven flipped his Bloodblade around so that the tip was facing the ground. His injured leg gave out and, as he collapsed, he plunged the sword through the back of Ronin’s shoulder.

Both Ronin and Raven hit the marble at the same time. Like an enraged animal Raven was back on his feet and nearly frothing at the mouth. His left leg was incapacitated and he had to put all his weight on his right foot. He pulled his sword out of Ronin’s back and screamed a furious incomprehensible battle cry.

Rolling over Ronin watched in horror as Raven lifted his sword into the air. This was it. This was the end. Ronin sucked in a deep breath and closed his eyes as Raven’s blade began its downward path towards his chest.

A thud followed by a cracking sound. Ronin opened his eyes to find Dr. Storm’s BioArmored fist buried in Ravens side. The force of the impact sent Raven flying. Ronin lost sight of Raven as he flew over the railing and plummeted towards the center of the arena.

Dr. Storm rushed forward and dropped to his knees. He pulled Ronin’s jacket off and inspected his shoulder.

A dimness attacked Ronin’s vision and he felt himself slipping in and out of consciousness. Two more men rushed to Ronin’s side. They gently flipped Ronin on to his stomach and felt around on his back. Ronin wondered what they were doing. They rolled him back over. Looking to his chest, Ronin was shocked to find a gaping hole in his shoulder. He wondered why he couldn’t feel any pain and why he wasn’t more scared.

“I need a med kit,” said Dr. Storm. His voice was panicked. “Quickly.” He pointed to the arena exit. Placing the palm of his hand over the wound, he looked to the remaining Humayre and added, “Put pressure on his back before he bleeds out.” He stared into Ronin’s eyes. “He’s going into shock. Quick. Give me your jacket.” He grabbed the jacket from the man and covered Ronin with it.

Three more men with Mayreblade’s rushed up the stairs. Dr. Storm Pointed with his hand in the direction that Raven had fallen. “Two of you secure Mich…” He shook his head. “I mean Raven. The rest of you tend to Master Kita and Mr. Wetstone.” Turning his focus to Ronin, Dr. Storm nodded, “That was incredibly brave.” He gently grasped Ronin’s arm. “You’re going to be okay. Just relax.”

“We’ve secured the Vein!” shouted one of the men.

A look of relief washed over Dr. Storm’s face.

Ronin was comforted by the news as well. He relaxed his shoulders and took in a deep breath. Staring to the sky he got lost in its calming blues. With each breath Ronin watched the white billow towards the heavens. And then, as though he were struck by some unseen assailant the pain came on. It was like nothing he’d ever felt. Piercing, burning, throbbing, it sucked the air from his lungs. He tried to sit up but Dr. Storm held him down. No matter how hard he tried he couldn’t catch his breath. It felt like he was drowning. Gritting his teeth and clenching his eyes shut he tried to fight the pain. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he cried out. Darkness tried to consume him but he fought to stay awake. He was all but sure he was dying. He could actually feel the life draining from his body. In pure terror he looked to Dr. Storm hoping he could help him. The concerned look on Dr. Storms face did not bring him comfort. Once again he tried to sit up but this time he didn’t need to be restrained, his body had stopped working. A memory burst into his mind. It was of his mother. She was lying in bed with a fever. His father had gone somewhere, so Ronin took it upon himself to take care of her. He was only five or six. She looked so sick and weak. He made her chicken noodle soup from a can. It was cold but she still ate the whole thing. A warmness came over him as he remembered what she said after she was done eating the soup. I love you so much, my angel. The memory eased the pain and relaxed him. With all his strength he tried to fight the urge to close his eyes, but his eyelids felt so heavy.

“Stay awake Ronin. Don’t fall asleep,” said Dr. Storm. He pat Ronin on the hand trying to keep him awake. He looked to the stairs leading to the arena floor and shouted. “Hurry up with that med kit! He’s bleeding out! We’re losing him!”

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