Loki stared at Ray, who was busily biting a chunk of meat off a chicken leg. Tars placed a ladle full of rice on his plate, which caught his attention. Looking at her, she gave him a smile as she added another spoon and some sauce.
"You need to eat," she said, adding a piece of meat to Loki's plate.
Loki nodded at her, took his spoon, and began eating, thinking of what Ray said. He could see Battle Arena written on the circle Ray said he and Ken should enter. Was he going to get the chance to beat some sense into Ken?
Ken was busily scooping more rice into his mouth as he stared at Loki and Tars. Seated next to him, he watched Tars serve Loki and gave a little chuckle. He didn't feel remorse for talking like that earlier. They had gone through something traumatic, and everyone was acting like love birds. He didn't feel sad that those in Camp 10 died. He wasn't close to anyone, and it wasn't his fault they died. Besides, he always felt they could die anytime. They die, and they're gone. He was shocked at the burning bodies and all, yes, and it even gave him more reason not to love or care about anyone. People leave, and he didn't understand why these people didn't see that. Why love?
A small laugh from Mary caught his attention as he watched Pan use his finger to wipe Mary's mouth. Another pair of idiots, he thought. His glance fell on Ray, and he thought of what he said about the battle arena, him and Loki. Was he going to get the chance to beat some sense into Loki?
The afternoon meal went on in silence. About thirty minutes later, the table was cleared.
Ray stood up from the table and walked toward the circle, clapping his hands. "You guys, come around."
The group walked toward Ray. "Take your seats," Ray said. The group sat on the chairs in front of the circle, which was encircled with ropes. Ray stood in front of them.
"So in Erenstone, one culture you will come to learn is settling differences by combat," Ray said.
"By combat?" Mary asked.
"Yes, Mary, by combat. That's how our seniors before us settled their differences. It's in a book in the library too," Ray added. "Loki! Ken!"
Loki looked at Ray and nodded as he stood up, letting go of Tars's hand which he was holding.
"Captain," Loki said. "Combat, but I don't remember ever taking combat lessons."
"Same here, Captain. What are we supposed to do?" Ken added.
Ray clapped his hands. "Haha. You were at each other's throats the whole time. I recall telling you not to interrupt my class again, but you did. You two get in there and have a nice fist talk."
He moved and took a seat by Tars as Loki and Ken climbed into the circle.
"Loki," Ken said as he stood opposite Loki, staring at him.
"Ken," Loki responded.
"May we begin?" Loki said, trying to focus his eyes to release pressure on Ken. But Ken was already dashing toward him, trying to avoid whatever Loki had done before. His fist threw a punch aimed at Loki's face.
Loki noticed the punch, took a step back, and threw a punch to meet Ken's fist. The impact cracked through the ring. Loki's knuckles stung, but he didn't flinch.
"You're very agile for a fatty, you know," Loki said as he proceeded to kick Ken in the gut.
Ken caught Loki's leg as it approached. With a grunt, he twisted and hurled Loki into the ropes. Loki felt the ring turn upside down as he slammed into the rope and bounced off, crashing onto the floor.
At the observation seats, Tars was grunting as she stared at Ray. Ray patted her head. "Calm down. He'll be fine. Things are getting interesting."
Mary was writing in her book, taking notes on both Ken and Loki's battle strengths and weaknesses. If settling conflicts required a duel or combat, she needed to be prepared. Pan was snoring in his seat, his head resting on Mary's shoulder.
In the combat circle, Ken stood near Loki, who was on the floor trying to get up.
"You're pathetic and weak. Without that pressure you gave, what more?" Ken said. He drew his leg back and kicked Loki in the face.
Blood gushed from Loki's nose. The taste of copper filled his mouth. He rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling, lying on the soft floor.
"From what Captain said and everything we've been through, we need to focus on evolving, especially you, because you're weak." Ken moved his leg to step on Loki's face.
Loki caught his leg just before the boot landed. His fingers dug into Ken's ankle.
"You think I'm weak because I made friends?" He used all his strength to yank Ken off balance. Ken hit the floor with a thud. Loki bounced to his feet, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He pulled off his jacket and tossed it aside. "Get up, Ken. I don't hit a man when he's down." In his black eyes were a tint of blue.
Ken slammed his fists into the floor as he stood. He tore the sleeves off his jacket, baring his arms. But as he looked at Loki, a pressure crushed down on him, his legs went weak, his breath short. This was what he had been trying to avoid.
Loki gave him a smirk and walked toward him, slow, deliberate. He reached Ken and grabbed his shoulder. "I'm the Alpha." Then he punched Ken in the face.
Ken stumbled back, a line of blood dripping from his mouth. His eyes went wide, then narrowed.
"I'm so mad now!" A boiling anger surged through Ken. The pressure Loki had been pushing on him cracked and vanished. Loki felt the shift as Ken's amplitude rose. The upper hand he had was gone.
The two stared at each other, breathing heavily.
Tars stood from her seat. Mary excitedly scribbled something down. Pan felt a sudden rise in temperature and woke up his eyes snapped to Ken, who seemed to have a reddish aura flickering around him, and to Loki, who had a blue aura pulsing in response. Ray was smiling in his seat.
"You need to understand that we haven't forgotten the brutality of this world. We're just trying to move on, Ken," Loki said as he dashed forward.
"Then why do you love again? Why do you remind me of my friends?" Ken roared and met Loki head‑on.
Their fists collided, again and again until they grabbed each other, locked together. They both went to their knees, gripping each other's hair. Loki tried to punch Ken's face, but his arm was too heavy; it landed as a soft touch. Ken tried to do the same, and it was also just a soft touch.
They stared at each other, chests heaving.
"Haha." Loki laughed first, a broken sound. He placed his head on Ken's shoulder. "I'm sorry we reminded you of the ones you lost, Ken. But me and Tars are the only survivors of Camp 12. We were lucky. Seeing her every day reminds me of that terrible day. She's the only family I know Ken"
Ken's body trembled. He leaned on Loki's shoulder and whispered back, his voice cracked. "I lost everyone in my camp. Seeing you two reminds me of someone special, and I'm always angry. I don't agree with you, but you have to focus on getting strong. I'm scared to bond with you guys, just to lose it all again."
The anger in Ken's heart melted. He embraced Loki. Loki felt he understood Ken now. He laughed. Ken laughed harder. Ray laughed much harder, the two were finishing off their duel with a laughing contest it seemed.
At the seating side, Tars watched the two bloodied figures in each other's embrace, laughing like madmen, and she smiled. Mary was shaking Pan, screaming, "Wow, it worked! It really worked!"
They didn't notice Ray was no longer by their side.
In the combat circle, Ken and Loki finally stopped laughing and collapsed on each other's shoulders, too exhausted to move. Ray appeared in the arena, Lucas beside him.
"You came just in time," Ray said.
"The hunt ended early," Lucas said as he lifted Loki onto his back. Ray took Ken onto his back.
"Do you remember our first duel?" Ray said.
"I do, it didn't end with a laughing contest though" Lucas said as he laughed. They walked out of the arena.
At the seats, Lucas nodded to the newbies and walked out with Loki. Tars followed them.
"Well, that ends today's lesson. You can do whatever you want. Find your way around. Want answers? Go to the library." Ray headed out. "And that watch has more to it."
Pan and Mary followed him out.