It was noon, Raen finished cleaning and cover his wounds, he drank his beverage reluctantly and went to his room to sleep for the rest of the day. A few minutes later, the door of the inn opened.

─Raen! Where are you?… You made me a millionare, wuuuu ─Rozen smiled from ear to ear.

The whole gang entered full of joy, they were excited by what happened. They were talking nonstop like: it was amazing, you should had seen the soldiers faces, etc. The tournament was over and the boy had been the center of attention and topic of conversation for the rest of the event. They wanted to see him and tell him about the rest of the tournament.

─Where is he, uncle?

─Is he ok? ─Floralia asked.

─No, he’s not ok. He’s sleeping, if... anyone can sleep with your ruckus ─Viktor was still angry ─. If you’re here that means the event ended and the wounded will come for assistence. If you don’t have a medical business here, I ask you to leave.

─Don Viktor I’ll help you.

─I appreciate it, but is not necessary Elyon, Ingrid and I can handle today's patients. The miners have the rest of the day off, you should spend it with your brother.

And so it was, the people without wounds left, the soldiers that participated in the tournament were arriving to be healed. The talk remained the same, the healer limited himself to his work and said that he didn’t approve the boy’s actions. After their duty was done, Ingrid and Viktor had lunch-diner (1).

─Uncle, are you really not gonna heal him?

─Everyone heard I wasn’t and I won’t.

─But uncle, he must have internal injuries, it was brutal the last assau…

─I said that I won’t do it, not that noone could help him ─the girl’s face filled with joy ─. You saw what I did with the other Marlon’s victims ─he delivered a new drink, the young lady prepared a tray of food and went with her friend.

─Raen, are you sleeping? I’m going in… Wow! what happened to your door?

─Mnnn… the door nob fell ─he sat with dificulties on his bed.

─Mmn-hum, including wooden pieces ─the boy just smiled innocently ─. Everybody in town is still talking about you. It was marvelous, you made it look like it was very easy. I was frightened, excited, anguished, frightened, joyful, terrified… it has horrible. Please don’t do it again.

─Hehehe, agreed ─he was eating while listening to the girl. Ingrid started changing his bandages ─. What are you doing?… Don Vik is going to be mad at you.

─Don’t worry, it turns out that I just assisted the other ones who were hit and electrocuted by Marlon.

─Oh… I really appreciate it, remind me that I owe you one.

─Yep, a big one.

•◊◊◊•

On the next day, Raen must go to the mines. He was still in bad condition, he hardly could move and limped on one leg. He walked up earlier to be on time. When he came out the inn, his friends were already waiting for him.

─Hey, Hi, what are you doing here?

─Don Vik didn’t let us see you yesterday ─Leo said.

─He said you weren’t ok ─Isaac added.

─So, we decided to help you out ─Rozen said.

─Seems you’re gonna need it ─Jethro patted his back.

─Yeeeah, it hurts everywhere, worst than it looks.

Jethro carried Raen to get to the mines faster, Rozen was still happy for betting on the prince. Thanks to that, they already spent a lot of his winnings on new clothes and a big dinner for all the Strident Skulls. They also told him that Marlon won all five matches with ease. Then they asked him if he could teach them to do the same.

─Yes, that was the main reason I did it. You’ll have to wait a few days though, while my wounds heal, in this condition I can’t teach you much. Also… I’m gounded remember ─the others laughed at his last words. Jethro asked about his punishment ─. Well, he won't heal me… Also I must come back to the inn without distractions. I cant’ be with you, I have to do all the final cleaning at the house every day and the worst… He restricted me the dragon bread!!!… Aaawwwng, all this for a week.

─But you can buy some bread with my Flor, without Don Vik watching ─Rozen said.

─Nooou… he forbade her to sell any to me ─his friends couldn’t stop laughing, they were really surprised to see Viktor like that.

The group of boys arrived at their workplace, when the other miners saw Raen, they approached and surrounded him, some of them were amazed at his accomplishments, while others thought otherwise.

─The tournament ended yesterday, if you already saw your rotation and do not want to do extra hours at the docks, get to work immediately!! ─Melchior scolded since early, he was very strict with the regulations of the mines. Quickly everyone marched to their working places ─. Hmph, I didn’t believe mister Viktor wouldn’t heal the brat.

─Indeed, sir ─Sennet said.

─Mr. Sennet, I’ll reunite with the generals all morning, keep an eye on Raen, and secure order in my mines. I don’t want they continue talking about yesterday.

─Yes sir, it will be.

In the morning rotations the toxic mist was in minor quantities, so the miners worked in the deepest parts. As the day progresses they advance through the tunnels until they reach the surface at nights. In this ocation, Isaac and Raen stayed together.

─My favorite part was when you took Commander Gahiji’s kivet, haha, I didn’t see that coming, brat ─said excited the guard in turn with the boys.

─When you came out the smoke and kicked Paolo, his expression was the best, bwaaah ─Isaac imitated the soldier, mocking.

─My favorite moment was when Marlon kicked your ass… You’ve had enough time to your chit-chat. Move those hands! the kivets won’t extract by themselves.

─Co- Commander Sennet! ─The guard made a military salute to his superior who suddenly appeared. The boys did what they had to do.

─Go to your other sections, I’ll take care of this one.

The guard obey and a overwhelming silence covered the tunnel where they were.

─Mnnn… Sennet, seriously that was your favorite part?

─Silence… Be more like your friend, obedient and quiet ─a couple of hours passed and the commander didn’t let the boys talk not even for a second, about any topic. <<Aagh, this job is too boring>> he tought.

─Last night Inyi gave me a massage… ─he whispered as much as he could ─. But I think I’m worse than I was before it ─both were laughing in silence.

─Ingrid massaged you! ─Sennet yelled ─. Uh… ─the three of them looked at each other, the boys holding their laughter and the soldier was blushing ─. Shut up, tsk ─with his psychic powers moved them, one on each side of the tunnel so they could stop causing discomfort.

─I never thought you wouldn't evade Gahiji’s arrowheads… ─the boy didn’t know if they should say something ─. Neither that he was so bad fighting without his powers. Raen, where did you learn how to fight? Except for General Yago, all of us on the special seats were amazed.

─At my city, my brothers and a dear friend taught me.

─Aaah, you remembered where you are from?! ─Isaac asked, but Raen denied.

<<Mnnn, why is he not telling the truth?>>. Raen noticed Sennet’s frown ─. Why did you participated in the tournament? did you know you would win?

─Eh?!… No, no, how could I know that?

<<False again>>. His brow furrowed even more and approached the prince ─. You know I can tell when you lie.

─Ok, ok, I was confident I was going to defeat the first two, Gahiji was mere luck and well… you know how I ended against Marlon.

<<He still lied about Gahiji…>> He pulled Raen from his tunic ─. Why did you participated in the tournament?

─Mnnn… Fun.

─Don’t try to fool me! ─he grabbed him with both hands and stamped him on the tunnel wall.

─We asked him to participate! ─Isaac pulled the soldier away from his friend who was in pain, but it only took Sennet to glare at him to smash the kid against the other wall of the tunnel and paralized him ─. Ugh.

─Isaac!

─Wrong answer.

─Cht, ok, I’ll tell tou the truth. I just wanted… to show them we can defeat you without powers. We are… we’re sick of bullies like you and the other soldiers.

─You keep wanting to escape from Minawoods?

─No, just to… defend ourselves from your abuses. Look at you… attacking two kids… For what… motive? You didn’t heard the answer… you wanted ─Raen was panting and struggling he was still being pushed against the wall. Sennet looked at the youngsters, sighed, and released him ─. We lie, because we try to tell you what you want to hear, and don’t end like Rozen dying on the floor.

─Oh, nice speech, did you finish?… Maybe you don’t need to worry about those things anymore. Do you know what the generals are doing right now? ─Raen shook his head ─They’re deciding if they kill you or not ─he knocked the boy down ─. Now shut up and keep working ─he walked away and turned his back on them.

─Ngh… Isaac, can you help me? ─out of the corner of his eye, Sennet saw that he was having trouble getting up. The soldier turned and with his powers raised the kid, he also placed the work tool in their hands. The boys looked puzzled. Still hesitant, Raen thanked the commander.

Inside Minawoods fortress, the three generals were reunited, discussing some matters.

─Well, with that cleared, let’s pass to thee situation we have ─Yago spoke.

─About the Dragon Boy? ─Melchior asked.

─I like him ─Louis said.

─Hmmn, Well, I want him dead!

----

(1) Lunch-dinner: I don’t think is a proper name but this wants to say that, is when you eat lunch way later than you are used to and have dinner before the time you’re used to :P