The fated day

I woke up early.

Aiju was still asleep, snoring softly on the bed, as was Sanakia. Despite her insistence to stand guard she was once more deep asleep. And completely naked. In fact, legs and arms were spread out in a so utterly exposed position that it shifted back from sexy to cute.

Making sure not to wake them, I put the cover back over the two Galmons before I silently snuck out, climbed up the ladder to the roof of the tower and looked out over the arena. It was cloudy today, with a bit of a chill. Looks like it will start raining later. I enjoyed the cool morning air for a great while as I collected my thoughts.

Today was the fated day.

If I can win today I have achieved my objective. I can wire the money to my brother immediately, meaning even in the worst case scenario he would be able to continue the search for Ceri.

That was of course if I can win against her.

Against Hebi-san.

But I felt good.

Clear minded and ready.

Yesterday certainly was...eventful. I had to hand it to Beatrice. The lunacy that happened during that so called “Date” completely took my mind off my impending fight. Granted the “hot steamy sex” part didn’t quite pan out the way it should have but it nonetheless exhausted me so much that I once again went to bed early.

Even though there was really no reason to.

Unlike the preliminaries, this time my fight would be in the later half of the day. Thankfully, the schedule was a lot stricter. There would be no waiting on prior matches. My fight would start at exactly 3 in afternoon.

The loud, by now familiar, sound of the cathedral bell tower reverberated through the air. I counted the tolls and let out a sigh. It only had just tolled seven.

I should have slept in.

But since I wasn’t exactly sleepy anymore I decided to do a quick warm up session on the roof. I’m sure Bea would freak but I just don’t feel comfortable without at least a modicum of daily exercise. It felt good to get the body moving and the roof offered a lot more space for that then the gym.

I moved back down around an hour later where Maria already awaited me with a bow. “Good Morning, Master Beta. Would you care for breakfast?”

“I take a shower first. Will be a long one, so no rush.”

“Of course, please enjoy yourself.”

Please stop saying that.

I took my time showering and washing myself thoroughly to get rid of the sweat. I definitely also need to shave and my finger and toe nails could do with some trimming. Brush my teeth. Make sure my hair sits perfect. Perhaps some mild perfume and faint make up couldn’t hurt too.

After all I need to look good for my Queen

…

..

.

Just as yesterday, a splendid breakfast was ready when I emerged out of the showers. And just as yesterday my slaves where more then happy to dig in before me. Well, Fisti and Aiju where. Sanakia was, as usual, standing at attention.

“Beatrice and Cassandra still asleep?”, I asked as I took my place at the head of the table. I couldn’t help but notice that the food picked was surprisingly thoughtful, clearly taking my afternoon match into consideration.

“How shameful!”, Sanakia huffed. “To sleep in longer then their Lord is simply unacceptable! My Lord! Allow me to punish these lazy layabouts!”

Well, she was saying that but Sanakia seemed rather tired herself. The bags under her eyes where substantial. Standing half the night at attention will do that do you.

“You really need to get a good nights rest”, I told her. “Or else I command you to.”

That got her blushing. “F-falling asleep in front of my Lord! My Lord, I could never! I would have to kill myself in shame!”

“You are forbidden from killing yourself.”

Sanakia gasped. “My Lord! If I can’t fall on my sword how else may I atone for my own incompetence?”

“By sitting down and eating. You too, Maria.”

Fisti seemed to have little interest in our little banter as she devoured an impressive amount of meat.“Yer looking mighty spiffy today. How are ya feeling?”

“Pretty good actually.”, I replied honestly. “Yesterday was just what I needed. Thank you.”

That almost caused Sanakia to **** on her food while Fisti saved herself with a small cough.

“Mari is pervert”, Aiju briefly added before resuming her breakfast, consisting chiefly of freshly caught fish from the local river.

“Well…” Fisti coughed once more. “I'm happy it took care of yer needs, but that was all Rice’s idea. So ya should thank her.”

“Yes, praise me”, came the voice from the second bedroom followed by the appearance of Beatrice. The ex-witch was wearing some rather cute pink pajamas and atrocious morning hair. “I would ask, but by your carefree dopey expression I can already tell, my plan worked flawlessly. Of course, that goes without saying. It was my plan after all.” The witch seated herself and began smugly sipping at the cup of coffee Maria had dutifully poured for her.

I dreaded the notion of feeding that monster of an ego any more. But credit where credit is due. I sighed and then smiled. “Yeah, I hate to say it, but your crazy plan really did help me out. I feel very refreshed. In fact, I barely thought about my Queen at all.”

The moment I finished the sentence everyone looked at me with blank stares.

Then a coffee mug came flying.

“Huargh!”

I just barely managed to avoid the hot projectile. “W-What the hell is wrong with you!”

“That’s my line!” Beatrice screamed back. And then I saw a sight that would terrify me for the rest of my life. An angry Beatrice climbing on the table and crawling in my direction with a fork in her hand. “You trained, didn’t you? You totally traaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaained!”

“My Lord!”, Sanakia gasped in shock. “Please deny this most vile of accusations!”

Well, uh…I mean, technically.”J-just a little?”

“AAAAARGGHHH!” Beatrice shrieked in despair. “My beautiful, magnificent operation Snake Beater! It’s ruined! RUINED!”

Her fork was now dangerously close to my eyeballs. Technically, the safety order should prevent her from attacking me with any actual intent of harm but I don’t think they stress tested this against a Beatrice. “H-hey come on, Bea. H-Hold on, now.”

“Execute him! Punchy! Execute him right now! That imbecilic moron who can’t even follow the most simplest of orders needs to be dragged before a firing squad!”

“Don’t call me Punchy! And I’m not yer lackey! And I’m also not gonna kill Mari!”

Good to know you have your priorities in order.

The ex-witch continued to howl in frustration. “And you two! Sexy-Knight! Nekotamata! Why didn’t you prevent that! You where supposed to keep an eye on him! Why didn’t you screw him silly last night? At this hour he shouldn’t even be able to WALK!”

“I knew we should have tied my Lord up!”, Sanakia lamented. Aiju nodded vigorously.

“Girls, girls, come on”, I said with a nervous smile. “Let’s all be adults here and...”

“Argggghhh! I’m surrounded by idiots!” Beatrice sobbed and collapsed on top of the table.

For a few seconds nobody moved a muscle.

Then, just as the rest of us was pondering to check if she still had a pulse, the ex-witch slowly rose again.

She lifted her hands.

“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!”

And viciously slapped her own cheeks.

I winced. That looked really, really painful.

“Strategy Time!”, a re energized Beatrice shouted. “I declare an emergency strategy meeting! Everyone! Brainstorm! Now!”

“I uh...thought I shouldn’t…”

Beatrice gave me such a withering glare that I instantly shut my mouth.

“Can ya at least get down from the table? Yer on top the butter.”

“I don’t care if it’s useless!”, Beatrice further stated while shoveling all kinds of food into her mouth.”I need input! Stimulation! Talk!”

Of course, despite Beatrice’s insistence, it was difficult for anyone to speak up.

“hmm..Hebi-san. Ok. Will talk.”

Except for Aiju.

“Is Galmon”, the catgirl nodded sagely. “Uses magic and snake. Snake is tasty. Girl mean.”

Well, she tried. But to my surprise Beatrice didn’t shout Aiju down but simply made a hand motion to keep going while chugging down my herbal tea.

“I do not wish to speak ill of my fellow Galmon, but Hebi-san's are known for their lack of honor.” Sanakia scowled. “They are callous and sneaky creatures. And the way they dress is just scandalous!”

Are we just going to badmouth her? I’m not sure how that will help.

“I mean, the most dangerous thing is obviously her hypnotic doodad”, Fisti mused. “That definitely seems to be Mari’s biggest weakness.”

“I believe this is the crux of the matter”, Maria stated as she gracefully leaned over the table to pour Beatrice another cup. “I am afraid Master Beta is not magically inclined. It thus follows that any solution must take this into account.”

Meanwhile, all Beatrice did was eat and occasionally nod.

You know, I don’t want to say this to a growing girl but if you keep eating like that you will get fat.

...probably besides the point now.

What followed was a pretty lively discussion in which everyone weighted in with their advice.

“Just resist her hypnosis through sheer **** of will! You can do it, my Lord!”

“Mari must fight eyes closed.”

“Perhaps by cutting off his manhood...”

“What if we coat yer entire body in the slavers poison?”

Predictably the solutions ranked from outrageous to lunatic. The only agreement seemed to be that some plan must be made.

“The kitty has the right of it.”

That was Cassandra finally coming out of her bed room, yawning loudly.

“Finally awake, slaver?”, Fisti scowled, looking especially displeased with the winebottle Cassandra was cradling.

“Hard not to with a psycho witch shrieking around.” Cassandra casually shrugged and made her way to the breakfast table where she poured her bottle into a coffee mug. “Can you not leave the door open, please?”, she complained towards Beatrice.

“Had to get you up someway”, the ex witch responded. “What was that about the cat?”

Cassandra gulped down her cup of wine. “Oh yeah. Amazing, that the only one with a single braincell here is the cat.”

Aiju seemed rather proud of that assessment but the rest of the table was less enthusiastic.

“Fighting blindly, it is? No offense to Aiju but that’s hogwash”, Fisti stated, shaking a piece of grilled henderopa for emphasis.

“Seeing your opponents movement is vital to winning the battle”, Sanakia agreed.

Beatrice merely stared at Cassandra.

But the huntress was not dissuaded. “Whats your take on this, Daddy?”, she asked me directly.

To be frank, it sounded insane.

It goes without saying, but I rely heavily on my eyesight. Granted, I was well aware how important my other senses where but... “I’m sorry but it's impossible”, I finally stated. “If I had more time, maybe but...”

“Hold on”, Beatrice interrupted me right away. “Are you saying time is the only limiting factor here?”

“I...I think so?”, I replied. “I know the basics since I did some blindfold training back at home to sharpen my other senses. I would have to shift my priorities and it is a huge undertaking but against an opponent like my Queen, given enough time, I do believe I...”

Bea mumbled something, shoved a piece of toast into her mouth, before finally climbing down the table(yes, she was up there the entire time) and storming back into her bedroom, leaving the rest of us to puzzle what the hell that was about.

“Looks, like someone’s eager“, Cassandra smirked. “Took her long enough.”

“W-what’s her deal?”, Sanakia asked dumbfounded.

”Cassandra chuckled to herself and filled another cup. “You haven’t figured it out yet? It’s fairly obvious if you think about it for a little."

“Fancy enlighten us, slaver?”, Fisti grumbled.

“And stealing the little brat’s spotlight? I would never. I bet she is currently creaming herself at the mere thought of giving another one of her speeches. Sides, first match is about to start. I think we ought to watch that.”