For the first time, the night passed so quickly for me. Even the nightmares became more bearable. I am incredibly fascinated by this. I want to sink into that vision once again, but a new day dawns. I am still fastened to the wooden post. The murmur of the crowd gathering in the stands around the training grounds reaches my ears.
The spectacle continues.
I take a deep, slow breath, trying to calm my pounding heart. It is true that the Quartermaster had no restraint yesterday. I had the impression he truly wanted to finish me off.
Idiot. Even with my slow healing, that is simply impossible.
Heavy footsteps snap me out of my lethargy. The fat man has helpers this time. A hoarse wheezing and the sound of wood dragging against the dirt reach my ears.
Even the one who issues my weapons for the arena came! They really look like brothers!
I will call the other one the Weaponmaster. I watch as they arrange thick poles around me.
These are neither spears nor stakes like mine.
They are thicker than ordinary polearms and lack sharp tips. Flat metal fittings are attached along their sides.
This is the first time I have seen something like this.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice the Quartermaster and the Weaponmaster grab one pole each and head toward me.
Holding one end, they wind up for a swing. Thud. Thud.
I am gasping for breath. My lungs burn, refusing to obey. When I finally manage to draw a breath, a whistling sound cuts through the air again. And again. Thud. Thud.
* * *
"Malvira. Why are you not watching today's spectacle?"
I lower my head, not knowing what to say. Since yesterday, I haven't been able to digest what I saw.
"I hope you aren't worrying as much today as you did yesterday."
Quirinus smiles vilely, looking straight into my terrified eyes. I would like to ask him so many questions, but I lack the courage.
"Yesterday you tended to slashing wounds. Today you will care for crushing injuries and broken bones."
He says this so nonchalantly that it takes my breath away. I do not answer these verbal provocations. I turn away completely from the arena. The hollow, echoing thuds are enough for me. I will wait here until everyone finally leaves.
After a few hours, I finally descend onto the sand of the training grounds with the same bundle as yesterday. They haven't untied him for a moment. He kneels before the post again, so motionless that I have the impression he is already dead.
I am afraid to approach him...
However, his chest rises rhythmically.
No one! No normal person would survive something like this!
I wonder if he is even human. I recall how he fought two days earlier in the arena. At a certain point, he acted literally like a wild beast.
I will approach and introduce myself right away. I don't want him to attack me by accident.
"I am Malvira. I came to wash you."
I didn't know how to announce myself. I repeated exactly the same thing as yesterday. That doesn't change the fact that my stomach is painfully knotted, and my body is tense to the limit.
"For the second night in a row, I am having the same dream!"
A shiver runs down my spine. He doesn't look at all like someone who was battered for hours. Yes, he is exhausted, but alive.
He is acting as if nothing happened!
"I am so glad to see you!"
Such a ghastly smile paints itself on his face that my hair stands on end. He looks at me with madness in his eyes.
This is the first time I have encountered such a... freak!
I try not to think anymore. I quickly do my work in complete silence. Whenever he opens his mouth, I instinctively pull back. Undeterred by my behavior, he simply keeps smiling.
I feel sick...
I cannot think rationally. The injuries he should have simply do not exist. I only notice pale traces of bruises where the blows landed, but nothing is crushed, no bone is broken.
What the hell is he?!
This is the last time I am coming here. I don't care what they do to me tomorrow.
He is a fucking monster! I don't know how long they will manage to keep him on a leash!
Without saying a word to him, I flee this cursed place.