77th of Season of Earth, 56th year of the 32nd imperial era

Newt faced Hardstone Blackfist in the arena. From up high, the man seemed agile and powerful, like an ultraraptor; from up close, the dull look in Hardstone's eyes surprised and frightened Newt. The face, nearly identical to the townlord's, but with eyes stripped of the man's sharp intellect, made Hardstone look like a savage brute.

Before Newt could consider the matter further, the match started. Newt moved forward, but Hardstone was ready, jabbing with his greatsword, using the massive weapon as a spear. The motion appeared more mechanical from up close, but served its purpose and severed Newt's path forward.

Newt retreated, and Hardstone advanced, thrusting twice before taking another step, followed by a pair of thrusts. After the fourth repetition, Newt realized Hardstone was just doing the same thing over and over again, his brows furrowed in fierce focus. Someone had taught him the basic combination, and Hardstone's superior realm, coupled with his long weapon and powerful frame, allowed him to trample all his opponents.

Confuse Senses, a Salamandra ancestral technique, seemed the most obvious solution to Newt's problem. He could blind Hardstone with a bright flash of flames, then move into the opening and end the match, but the approach didn't sit right with Newt.

The bandits he had sparred with outclassed Hardstone in technique, even if their realms were lower. Since Newt could defeat them in a straight fight, he had to at least attempt the same against Hardstone.

Instead of retreating, Newt danced circles around Hardstone, breaking his routine. Hardstone's frown deepened as he struggled to find a solution for the unfamiliar situation. He tried to step forth to where Newt was, but by the time he stabbed, Newt was already elsewhere. Newt failed to capitalize on the openings, the massive sword sweeping to cover Hardstone's exposed flank.

The slashes would have struck Newt's chest, and by tournament rules, he would win if he let a single blow land. But the attack could leave him with a heavy injury, if not outright kill him. So, taking the blow wasn't an option.

Calmly, Newt analyzed the moves, and found them a part of an identical set. The swipe always came from the same angle. To test it, Newt moved less to the side, but enough to leave the thrusts' danger zone, and the sweep came in higher. Instead of slashing for his chest, it aimed for his neck.

Hardstone's face was turning red. It couldn't have been from exhaustion, meaning Newt was annoying him. The youth smirked. For some reason, seeing the brute annoyed brought him great satisfaction.

With the course plotted, Newt set the plan in motion. He played Hardstone's game, letting himself get pushed back, and Hardstone relaxed, the anger fading, replaced by the fierce focus of maintaining his combination.

Newt let himself get nearly cornered, then moved to the side again. Right on cue, the greatsword swept downward, and Newt ducked under it. For a moment, he considered placing his sword against Hardstone's neck, but feared the man would be too dumb to stop fighting after the match ended.

Granite Crust covered Newt's arm all the way to the shoulder, then moved down his spine to reinforce the blow from the feet up. Still holding his salamandra's fang, he smashed his enchanted fist into Hardstone's face, which was, ironically, as hard as stone.

The bigger man staggered back, dazed, but the blow was insufficient to knock him out. Newt kept raining blows, his entire body covered in Granite Crust, until finally, Hardstone toppled to the ground, his nose bloody and his face swelling.

"Dear townsfolk and our distinguished guests, it is with great pleasure that I present you with the winner and champion, Newstar Salamandra!" Newt nearly missed the shout, lost in the joy of pummeling Hardstone. While he did let go of Jasmine, the fact that Hardstone had taken her from him, such as she was, had made Newt boil deep inside, and pummeling him felt therapeutic.

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It took a moment for Newt to realize the one shouting wasn't the referee, but Blackfist himself. He looked up towards the wall, and the townlord stood there, his back straight, the very image of a hero addressing the gathered commoners.

"The champion may approach to collect his reward from my brother, Blackbush, who will be taking over as the acting townlord from now on. Hopefully, Thunderbluff's administration will make the position official in the next two moons. Leaving Hailstown and its heroic history will be a difficult thing for me; this town, and its residents have grown dear to me over the years, and I thank you for the years of loyalty."

With that Dandelion Blackfist gave a wave and retreated, the crowd dead silent. Newt could see much confusion and incredulity, but little sorrow amongst the commoners in the stands. He shrugged. Whatever was happening wasn't his problem.

He went into the keep and up the stairs, where he collected his reward. Familiar faces leered at him, and Newt gave them two crystals each with no hard feelings. Without those spars, the fight with Hardstone would have been harder, and he might have had to resort to trickery to beat him.

"Have you settled the bill at your lodgings?" Blackfist asked behind Newt, nearly giving the youth a heart attack.

"No, I'll go handle it now," Newt said as he turned around, noting the former townlord holding a long steel bar as thick as his forearm slung across his shoulder with a sack tied to the other end.

The two walked together when a shout came from behind them.

"Newt!" Jasmine yelled.

Newt stopped and turned around, while Blackfist just kept walking, giving the youth some semblance of privacy.

Newt watched his childhood friend, focused on her face and the emotions in her eyes. Fear and determination mingled there, and Newt clenched his teeth in anger when he realized his former friend harbored not an ounce of shame. She ran towards him, her face a happy grin of reunion, perfectly acted, as if she had just learned he was in town, and not like he just had a scheduled duel with her boyfriend.

Jasmine leaped into his arms, and Newt pivoted, letting her fall on the cobbles.

The young woman flopped against the stone, then lifted her head, giving Newt the most miserable look of betrayal he had ever seen.

"Newstar?" the manipulative snake said with the wounded face of a kicked hatchling raptor.

"Jasmine." Newt nodded in acknowledgement, but that was the only word he had to spare for her. He turned around and left as Jasmine sobbed behind his back.

Newt told himself it was just an act and kept walking until he caught up with Blackfist.

"How are you faring?" the townlord turned vagrant asked.

Newt drew a deep breath and looked up, gazing at the clouds drifting in the wind. "Good. I think I finally have some closure and that I can move forward. You?"

"I am incredibly glad I am leaving this dump. It is time to see a bigger world." Blackfist's smile beamed with wanderlust, and Newt flashed back a surprisingly similar grin.

"Thank you for everything," Newt said suddenly, "For the information about my parents, for exposing Jasmine, and for offering to help with my realm. I really appreciate it."

"Do not thank me yet. You only have the name of the one who bought them. Your parents could have been sold a dozen times over in these three years. But do not lose heart. I know you are competent and that you will achieve what you set your mind to."

Newt looked at the man, and he seemed bigger than his already large frame suggested. For some reason Newt couldn't explain, Blackfist's approval meant more to him than it should have.

"Thanks."

They walked in silence until they reached Tickle and Giggle. It was an hour past noon, and while the place wasn't open yet, the women were working, cleaning and preparing for the day's business. Dandelion stayed outside as Newt walked in.

Dahlia spotted him right away, abandoned the cleaning rag, and ran towards him. She moved vigorously, and her top suffered a suspicious malfunction, which the woman suspiciously didn't seem to notice.

"Hello there, champion!" She grinned at him, and Newt struggled to focus on her face with what was revealed.

He tried to say something. He knew he should, but words other than breasts or bare failed to enter his mind.

"You have been staying with us for a while, and you refused all my advances," Dahlia stepped closer, thankfully removing the objects of great gravity from Newt's field of vision, but unfortunately pressing them against his chest.

"If it's because you don't want to pay," she whispered in his ear, "you… don't… have… to."

Newt cleared his throat and two minutes later, exited Tickle and Giggle, after settling his bill and leaving a handsome tip for Dahlia. While he refused to do anything, the woman had entertained him for days, and he felt more positive towards her open approach than Jasmine's two-faced opportunistic backstab and betrayal.

"Everything settled? Are you ready to leave?" Dandelion asked.

Newt nodded. "Let's go."

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