The hall seemed to grow darker and smaller the longer he stared down it.
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Jaiko could feel the pounding of his heart in his neck. His thoughts felt overpowered by the cheers of thousands that somehow made it through the stone. He was late, and purposely so. The rest of the Titans waited beneath his feet for the commencement. The black Titan stared down the poorly lit marble stairway, where his brothers and sisters prepared for the most important event of their lives thus far.
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Today, he would no longer place fourth. Today he would taste victory. Then, he would get the respect owed him.
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The limestone chamber was lit by mounted torches and smelled of old blood and piss. It had only two doors, one entrance at the back and one up a flight of steps leading to the Colosseum.
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When Jaiko entered they all turned to face him, the single black flame in a room filled with golden fire.
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He heard a woman's voice address him. Vylencia's dark blonde head pushed its way through the small gathering that had formed around him. "Shame. Such a handsome boy. Why did you have to go and get yourself killed?"
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Daiya chimed in, her raven hair in a braid that rested on her shoulder. "Jaiko, today was not the day to make a statement."
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A small chorus of murmuring decent rose from the disapproving titans. Jaiko's heart sank, and a drop of regret dripped into him.
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I don't need them, he thought. I am the tiger.
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"Thank you all for the concern, but as you can clearly see it is not a decision one can go back on," Jaiko said. He moved to the back of the room and sat alone on a bench.
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Vylencia approached and took a seat beside him. "Perhaps you're not as droll as I once thought. The color is beautiful and up close I do enjoy the added detail. But you should have waited until the armor was yours to do this."
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"Thank you Vylencia, I appreciate the concern," Jaiko said with an obviously forced smile. "Please leave me."
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"Alright then, Jaiko."
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As Jaiko watched Vylencia walk away, the sight of Alexander approaching brought a quickened beat to his heart. He sauntered with earned confidence.
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Alexander had beaten him in every tournament and sparring match before; his skill was unprecedented, even for a Titan. He ranked number one in all combat practices out of all eighty in their class. Even though Alexander was shorter than Jaiko, by a few inches, and much leaner, he always seemed to match him in strength and surpass him in dexterity. He was handsome and proud, quick and accurate; a viper, and as much as he tried to be, Jaiko was no viper.
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Alex sauntered over, the firelight dancing across his bronze skin. "Jaiko, you never seemed to learn humility. The sun does not rise for you, the winds do not blow for you. You haven't earned that armor yet you've altered it as though it's yours."
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"It isn't your concern, I will have earned by the end of this conclave as every Titan has."
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"As a true Titan, it's my duty to be concerned about dishonor among our ranks."
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"I am a true Titan, same as you."
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"You're a noble at play. Actually, you aren't that, bastard."
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Jaiko stared ahead masking his anger. "I'm here to relax, alone."
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"Relax all you want. It makes no difference. I will beat you, and if I don't, it will solely be because either Marccas or Daiya has beaten me to it. You have maintained a pitiful fourth place for weeks, and you will not advance in the ranks today."
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Jaiko hand waved him away, "Leave me, low-born."
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Alexander scoffed and crouched in front of him, inches from his face and whispered. "My parents may have been slaves, and your's nobles, but don't think that makes you something more than you are. You are a bastard, of low cunning, with nothing to inherit, and no glory to claim. You are not one of us, not a Titan. Every night when you go back to your palace to bathe and sleep in your bed instead of living in the barracks with the rest of us you confirm it to be true. You are an outsider. This is why you have lost, and will continue to lose. You think you deserve more than all of us. Your pride will be the death of you."
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Jaiko gave no reply as Alex stood and walked away. He unclenched his fist and fought back tears of frustration as he reassured himself.
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I am no pathetic bastard, I am the tiger.
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The sun was high and the air was hot, midday had come and the conclave with it.
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The prospect of this Titan class had gathered one of the largest turnouts in years. The Colosseum, even with the five thousand patrons, was at only a tenth of its capacity. It stood one hundred and sixty feet high, made of limestone, and marble; even Jhyr's walls paled in comparison to its might.
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They were so loud Jaiko could hear the fervency of their voices down in the Hypogeum, ten feet under the Colosseum, he could feel the vibrations in his boots. He and nineteen other Titans waited in concentration and anguish. They separated one phalanx per chamber, at four equidistant points, beneath the fighting ground.
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Jaiko looked around, reading the room. Stoic faces masked the anxiety that cut through the room like a sharp knife. A sense of pride grew over him; it was good to see himself and his fellow Titans in their golden armor, even if they were afraid.
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The sound of horns cut through the uproar and the crowds fell silent in anticipation. The gate to the chamber began to rise.
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Jaiko's hands were slick with sweat as he tried to calm his shortness of breath. Light briefly blinded him and he was hit with the humidity of the day, not even his armor could protect him.
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This is it, I'll show them all. Jaiko's mind was an apprehensive fluster, instinct and thought each vied for power and control of his actions. I am the tiger. Victory and nothing less.
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Jaiko and Daiya were first out. They marched in pairs, to the center of the arena and waited in formation, helmets in hand.
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Daiya looked different with her armor on, he almost couldn't tell she was a woman. Nearly all her beauty was hidden away by golden plated skin. She was a skilled warrior, ranked second of eighty in combat. Jaiko was eager to face her.
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All eyes were on them, and the only noise heard was the marching of the remaining Titans, as they took formation. The heat, humidity, and sweat mingled, to assault his skin in irksome waves. Beads of sweat ran down Jaiko's temples, dripping off his jawline.
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He looked around, careful to not move his head; the arena had several mounds and even a palm tree, towards the edge of a shallow pool of water. There were four obelisks, placed equidistantly around the arena, correspondent with the arena doors. Blue-white fire--dragons blood--burned hot atop a massive archway in the center of the arena, with steps on either side leading to its flat top. Beneath the arch rested a small arsenal of weaponry.
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Jaiko slightly leaned his head towards Daiya. "So how are we to know when to stop? Clearly, we aren't going to kill each other-"
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Daiya's deep-brown eyes stared daggers at him and a glower raced across her serious face. "Jaiko, if you had shown up for final marks yesterday, you would know!" she said through gritted teeth in a harsh whisper.
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"Daiya, if you don't tell me I will talk loud enough to get us both dismissed."
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"May the Gods damn you, Jaiko. You fight until submission, or until rendered inert."
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The first horn blew, deep, loud and true; every Titan, in unison, placed their helmets on their heads.
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"Today is the day Daiya," he said.
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"Shut up."
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A smirk took his face, as he spoke with assertive pride. "Today you, Marccas, and Alexander all submit to me."
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"Prepare to be humbled."
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The second horn blew, somehow sounding louder than the first.
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I am the tiger.
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All eighty titans approached the archway and chose their weapons. Jaiko examined his options; practice swords, axes, daggers, and spears; wooden hoplon shields guarded quivers filled with faux arrows; a pair of wooden sai sat crossed next to a short sword.
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Perfect, what is a tiger without his fangs? he thought, taking the sai, a short sword, and a shield.
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The blast of the third horn caught Jaiko by surprise, his heart jumped and his ears rang, even though he knew it was coming.
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The Titans walked back to their places, weapons in hand. Jaiko could feel the sweat pooling underneath his armor like he was melding to it. The heat would offer him no mercy and he too would offer none.
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Victory, and nothing less, he screamed, in his mind, louder than even the horn. Victory, and nothing less, for I am the tiger!
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The hungry cheers of a ravenous crowd, cut short the fourth blast, and Jaiko sprang forward.
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Crack.
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Jaiko could feel the force in the air, the clash of a wooden sword against a wooden sword.
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A soft wind pressed against his face. He stepped over the unconscious body of a fellow Titan that had made the mistake of challenging him. The fighting had gone on for some time and left only six in the arena.
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Marccas spotted Jaiko from across the shallow pool and began to approach. Jaiko moved carefully, still dizzy from a kick to the head another Titan had given him before Jaiko removed him from the tournament. Marccas had a large axe in each hand and a short sword on his hip. The pair were of equal height but Marccas was fifty pounds heavier. Ugly and burly, Marccas was a bear; with the strength of two men, the wild-eyed and broken-nosed beast charged the black flame.
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Marccas was fast as lightning in short bursts, his axes were a storm of wood and rage. Jaiko felt different. This fight wasn't like before; it wasn't like the strangers. He thought he would panic during the tournament, but not like this. Jaiko parried and dodged, his sai matched each slash. But as the strikes went on Jaiko could feel the burn of fatigue eating away at his composure.
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No, I am the tiger!
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He could hear nothing but the scrape and crack of their weapons. Over and over, the two men met armor on armor, wood on wood, and Jaiko was getting tired.
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He caught Marccas' right axe in the guard of his sai. Marccas threw a false high swing and tried to turn it low. Jaiko met him, sai to axe in a parry and for half a second Marccas' chest was vulnerable. That was all the time Jaiko needed. He lept high into the air and kicked Marccas square in the chest with both feet. The two propelled hard away from each other. Jaiko landed on his back. He used his momentum to roll back over himself and spring to his feet.
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For a moment he tuned out of the fight, to hear the voracious roars of the crowd.
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Marccas stood and roared, blood dribbling from his lips.
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Jaiko could feel it, the quickening of his blood. The tiger will taste his victory, and nothing less.
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Marccas pressed forward and screamed again.
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Jaiko lunged, in a false advance. Before Marccas could react, in an underhand throw, Jaiko launched his sai. Not half a blink after, Jaiko dove into a roll, right behind it. Marccas used his axe to block the sai from his face. Mid-roll, Jaiko grabbed a fist full of sand. He stayed low and flung it into Marccas' face. The golden bear staggered back, desperate to claw the sand from his eyes. Still crouched, Jaiko locked his legs over Marccas' and turned in a scissor take-down, knocking him to his stomach.
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Jaiko broke free from the tangle of legs and crouched over-top of Marccus' back. He pressed the sai underneath his helmet against his neck.
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"I'd guess this makes you third," Marccus said.
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Jaiko dismounted and moved on. "Good fight Marccus," He yelled back as he flew to the next fight.
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Their eyes met through the archway.
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This is it, he thought. Today, the tiger eats the serpent.
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Alexander stood, unmoving, sword in his right hand, and a long dagger in his left. The gold scaled viper pointed at Jaiko with his sword, beckoning him to the fight. The calmness of his stature sent a chill down Jaiko's spine, which contrasted the wet, hot, humidity surrounding him. Jaiko no longer felt the quickening of his blood. His weapons felt numb in his hands. He wasn't emboldened and did not feel brave; he feared Alexander and he knew the viper could sense it. A familiar well off dread drummed up doubt in his heart with each step.
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Jaiko ran forward to his fight and Alexander made no move.
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Before he could reach the archway, Jaiko, was struck, heavily, from behind, by a force of provocation and fury. The blow was so hard he landed on his side. He peered up to make eyes with his next challenger. Blinding sunlight shrouded his foe in shadow, revealing only a hoplon.
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From the edge of his vision he could see Alexander, sword sheathed and sitting on the ground, still underneath the archway.
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"Over four thousand days and you have never bested Alexander nor I," Daiya's voice rang out stronger and truer than the conclave horn. "What gave you the impression you stood a chance today?"
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I am the tiger.
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The thrust of her sword came before Jaiko's answer. He rolled to the side before her strike could connect. Jaiko spun his leg out, aiming to sweep her off her feet. She bashed her hoplon down, pinning his leg before it could meet hers. A hammer of pain shot out from his knee. He used his free leg to kick the shield, sending her staggering back. Jaiko stood but for the first time in his life, he was too slow. She lunged forward with the grace and ferocity of a tigress and knocked into him again with the shield. He stumbled back, losing his balance. She rushed with shield again but Jaiko lurched forward. He clashed with her at the shield. His hands tingled from the force of vibration. Pressing his weight against her she lost ground. Her strength was no match for his.
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She peered over the top of her shield and locked eyes with him. "Brute strength is not power."
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She raised the shield up and spun around him, throwing his balance. He stumbled forward as she wrenched the sword down on what would have been his back if the armor wasn't there. Jaiko had a new feeling in this fight; not of fear or glory. Embarrassment burned behind his cheeks and he could feel his arms beginning to tremble.
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I am the tiger, he assured himself.
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He spun to face her, heart-burning. He lunged forward so fast and aggressively it was nearly a leap. Jaiko thrust his sai with as much speed and vigor as he could muster. His body was a blur of motion. He jabbed high and low but she blocked every advance. Her answer came in an unanticipated shield bash that connected with Jaiko's face. She hit him so hard that for a moment his vision went white and his ears rung.
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Am I the tiger?
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She spoke again seemingly trying to admonish him. "Speed is not power."
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Rage and instinct took his mind burning away his clarity and calculation.
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Jaiko's knee soared through the air meeting her shield. She staggered back, nearly losing her balance. Jaiko slammed the sai atop the shield locking the guard over the curve. He ripped the shield from her hand, discarding it in the same throw. He parried her swing exposing her chest and for the second time in the arena, the half-second of opportunity presented itself.
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In that brief moment, as he prepared to kick her, Jaiko locked eyes with her. Tiger.
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Daiya brought her sword low and around in a graceful swipe, and before Jaiko could block, it connected hard with his head.
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The sand was hot against his face and his ear screamed at him. Jaiko sat up to see Daiya, now many feet away, claiming her shield from the sand.
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It's over, he thought.
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He looked about himself, to find she had knocked the helmet from his head. He picked it up, staring down at it as he left the tournament.
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He gave one glance back to the arena, to see a tigress and viper mid-fight.
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It's over.
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