>>5706217>“Clay, you’re up.” “Me?” Clay pales uncharacteristically. “Didn’t you hear what he just said?”
>“You understand their language?” You ask, eyebrow raised.Clay sighs as if he’d just been discovered stealing. He hops down from the stands and begins making his way into the arena. Manus seemed a particularly strange fighter. Despite the quirks in his style, he still possessed monstrous strength. Much like Flynn before him, there were few that would withstand his consecutive attacks. But Clay’s Runesword had the ability to trivialize any damage he might receive. Having just fought against a Runesword wielder yourself, you knew just how troublesome that blade could be. And that wasn’t his only trump card either. You’d had a sneaking suspicion for some time now that Clay possessed a Crest. While he hadn’t been eager to show it so far, he might find himself pushed to the brink in a fight such as this.
“Bean eile? leadránach.” Manus says, picking his nose. He manages to flick the contents towards Clay’s direction.
“Tá an arm sin mallaithe. Ba chóir duit é a chaitheamh amach.” Clay responds in perfect Sreng.
Manus’ eyes widen. The berserker is clearly taken aback, and he isn’t the only one. By the Goddess, Clay was an infuriating one. How many secrets was he hiding?
“Suimiúil!” Manus laughs, raising his peculiar looking Axe towards the sky. “An bhfuil tú ag troid chomh maith agus a labhraíonn tú?”
The Sreng crowd has once again resumed their cheering and applause, having already forgotten the disappointment Flynn brought them. This time, they shower Manus with praise. Maeve peers forward in her seat, as if seeking to observe the fight more closely. One hand of hers leans forward on the railing, while the other appears to be grasping onto something in her robe. Whatever it is though, you’re unable to make out. Leif begins addressing the crowd, and his female aide resumes translating his speech for the Blackwings.
“The Second Trial will now begin! Representing the people of Sreng is Devil Manus! Born with the luck of the devil himself, Manus has crushed any fool that would dare oppose him with one swing of his mighty axe! He shall lead the people of Sreng to victory, so sayeth the Oracle!” Leif makes sure to gesture towards Maeve for all to see.
“His opponent!” The girl continues, pausing only for Leif to get ahead. “Is a stranger that speaks the language of our people! Wielding a sword of foul runic power, he seeks to test his luck against the devil himself!”
“These people love putting on a show don’t they…” Corrine mutters under her breath.
>“Better to rile up the crowd for when Leif starts calling for Maeve’s head.” You whisper back.“Fighters!” The girl shouts. “On my mark, you may begin your duel!” Everyone quiets down once more, all eyes on the prince as they await what they came for.
“Begin!”
