That was incredible. Real combat. I wish I could have a fight like that someday. Tanaka thought. The attendants ran around the arena picking up litter, while others were busy shoveling dirt into the gaping hole the king had left in the sand. All the while, the crowd was dispersing. People yelled and cheered even as they made their way home.
"Did you see that thing the king did!" someone from a passing group said.
"Yeah. I'm not gonna lie, I was scared."
"Haha, wuss."
The king and Hwasabi had left first, though Tanaka could still see them—they hadn't yet reached the royal carriage. His eyes wandered about until they finally landed on Jacker. The man of the moment. Tanaka's eyes and mouth widened. He left the road, trying to cut through the crowd. The shortest distance to Jacker.
"Don't be late for dinner," Harun said from behind him, his voice in its usual low, whispery state. "Again."
Tanaka waved to Harun.
"Yeah, sure, Harun." Yet his eyes stayed glued to his target. He increased his pace the closer he got.
"Oof." Tanaka felt as if he was being choked. The top half of his gown had stretched backwards, holding his neck in a tight grip as it brought his quickened strut to a halt.
"Hey, what the hell?"
He tried to swing around to see the source gripping his collar. There he saw Kesi pulling his gown.
"And where are YOU off to?"
"Kesi?"
Tanaka managed through a choked voice as Kesi dragged him back onto the royals' path. Kesi's shoulder suddenly jerked forward, forcing his hand to loosen its grip on the cloth.
"Sorry, bro!" Dagan stumbled, trying to regain his footing after bumping into Kesi. He turned back to face them.
"Hwasabi is teaching me his shockwave move. HA!" Dagan turned away from them, running past the stone paths towards Hwasabi and the king.
Kesi shook his head. He closed his eyes.
"The most unroyal of us all," he chuckled.
Tanaka cocked his head, his top dreadlocks lying like a curtain over his shoulder.
"Unroyal, bald, and yet somehow he's still Dad's favorite."
"Father does not have favorites."
Tanaka scoffed a little louder than he intended. He rolled his eyes as he saw Hwasabi standing side by side with the king as they boarded the carriage. Hwasabi stood outside, saying something to the king. Tanaka noticed Hwasabi signaling Dagan to hurry up. It wasn't until Dagan had caught up to them that Hwasabi finally got on as well.
"You didn't answer my question, though," Kesi said.
"Huh?" Tanaka snapped from his gazing trance.
"Oh, I saw Jacker was still nearby. I wanted to talk to him about the fight," Tanaka yanked the collar of his gown, straightening it out. "You know, to get some tips on how to beat you."
Kesi placed his fists on his waist as he laughed.
"Ooh, I'm afraid all the tips in the world couldn't help you there, bud."
He walked with Tanaka in the opposite direction, towards the exit.
"Besides, he's live bait. If you annoy him, he'd just run. Why don't you try out the guy in there?" Kesi extended his arm, pointing towards the healer's quarters.
Tanaka recoiled on instinct. "What? The loser?"
Kesi's eyes narrowed, his smile fading to a slight frown.
"Sometimes the losers have more wisdom to offer than the victors."
Kesi turned, staring at Jacker celebrating his win, surrounded by fans. He leaned brazenly on a wall, showing off his scars to some admirers. Kesi's eyebrow wrinkled inwards as his nose scrunched up. He spoke with a low voice, but Tanaka heard him.
"Some victors have no honor," he said.
"Have a go, okay?" Kesi shoved Tanaka towards the open bronze door, his head still centered on Jacker.
"O...kay."
Tanaka walked towards the entrance. The scent of revitalizing herbs wafted to his nose as his eyes scanned the blue walls accompanied by warm lights. When his foot stepped past the door, his eyes landed on the man whose head was bandaged. The large body drew deep swigs of breath as he sat there staring at the wall, ignoring whatever it was the healer was saying to him. He finally relaxed when he was left alone. Tanaka, seeing his solitude, approached the giant man. He couldn't think of any question to ask that would improve his battle prowess, so instead, he asked,
"Why did you challenge them?" What else could he ask the man who lost?
Ixris did not flinch. He simply heaved a sigh.
"You had to know you'd lose."
Ixris did not look at him. His heavy, deep, gravelly voice spoke. "Because losing was better than not trying. At least, that's what I tell myself anyway."
Tanaka placed his arms neatly behind his back and walked closer to him.
"I don't get it. Aren't you fighting for your tribe's glory?" He pushed his head forward inquisitively. "I don't really see how losing would do that."
Ixris scoffed, his large frame bouncing up and down.
"Glory?" He let out a small, raspy laugh. "Nah, I was just fighting for dinner."
Tanaka stood there, quiet. Ixris finally turned to face Tanaka. He stood indifferent even as Tanaka saw the fresh cracks and dried blood on Ixris's face.
"Tell me, boy. How old are you?"
"Fifteen."
"Young. Curious. What tribe are you from?"
Tanaka's eyes landed on the bandages that wrapped around Ixris's head. He then saw they were also covering his eyes.
"Yera Mbada," Tanaka responded.
"Ah, a noble tribe." He rested his hands behind him on the bed, using them to hold himself up in the position he sat.
"Let me tell you something your parents never told you, and probably never will. See how you have good meals, nice clothes, commerce, a future to look forward to? We?"
Tanaka flinched back when Ixris lifted one of his hands up to scratch beneath his chin.
Ixris paused. "We don't have that. Our food is given to a select few. Our waters are muddy. And our trade routes are controlled by these three kings that don't bother to drop a crumb from where they stole the bread."
Tanaka shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting to the floor.
"And the only way to improve our lives is to dethrone a noble tribe through one-on-one combat. For their entertainment."
He grit his teeth. "Like dangling a carrot in front of a donkey."
Tanaka could not help but wonder. "But you lost."
Ixris sighed.
"Ai. Yes, I did."
"And now?" Tanaka pressed.
Ixris went silent when he heard the question He turned back to the wall. His head lowered to staring at the wooden floor.
"Now my children will ask me why there's no food on the table tonight. And I will tell them I tried." He forced a smile. "That's all I have left to give them."
"It... isn't fair," Tanaka whispered as he pushed back his dreadlocks, his lips curling into an apologetic frown. He saw the bandages on Ixris changing color from the reflecting pale blue to a bright orange hue. He quickly looked behind him, through the windows. The sun was setting.
"I have to go," Tanaka announced, though his eyes softened as he looked upon the giant man.
Ixris sat still.
"Sure. I wish you well, Prince."
Tanaka pushed the door open, ready to leave. He looked at Ixris one more time before he finally found the heart to go. The walk out was uneventful. He crossed the pavements. Yanked at leaves. But his head was always tilted down. He barely blinked the whole way.
"Are you okay, young man?" A voice snapped Tanaka out of his daze. He turned to see the source. It was coming from an alley. Stench filled the place as organic waste was scattered all over. Tanaka squinted in the individual's direction.
"I didn't mean to startle you. I'm sorry," the voice said.
Tanaka then saw the wrinkled man sitting on the ground with his back leaning on the wall. His eyes were a light shade of green. No, they were a bit red from the sunset's glow. Wait, I think they were brown. Or maybe blue.
Never mind. The old man then...
He told him.....
He shook Tanaka's hand?
Tanaka could not really remember what happened in that alley.