The Unseen Effect.

BRETVER 22ND YEAR 548 ASMERIAN CALENDAR

Miller was second in his fighting station. The man who went before him lost almost as soon as he entered the fighting station because his sword broke. Impurities in swords were the most common way for them to snap in two. Most of the time it's due to an improper quenching or unbalanced heat during the forging of the steel. Miller's sword was forged by an infamous smithy in Concord by the name of Fritz Barker and was as near perfect of a blade that he could get his hands on. It comforted Miller as he entered the fighting station. Ruby took hold of his hand and looked up at him with innocent eyes. "Please be careful Mister Miller." She said.

"Not to worry lass. I'll kick this man's ass then I'll be right back to watch the next round with ya." Miller said calmly.

Miller entered the fighting station and his opponent was an older man in his thirties who had the Cambri Empire's crest painted on his shoulder. "Contestants, please shake hands and return to your starting positions." The referee barked. Miller walked up to his opponent and firmly.

"Best of luck to you." The man said in a thick Cambrian accent that made his speak near slurred like a drunk.

"Likewise," Miller said as he turned to his starting position and checked Ruby's handy work once more. His blade was superbly polished for her being such a young girl.

Miller took up a loose stance and readied himself for the knight's attack. "Commence!" the referee shouted. Miller advanced on to the knight and stepped into his attack range. The knight swung down with his arming sword with incredible speed. Miller just managed to evade the strike and grabbed hold of the knight's arm as he swung back up.

Miller stomped down on the back of the knight's left knee. The knight dropped to his knees and Miller dropped his elbow on top of his helmet. Miller then stepped behind the knight and held his blade just short of the man's neck from behind.

"Round one goes to Miller." The referee announced. Miller held out his hand and helped the knight up to his feet. The knight thanked Miller and returned to his starting position. Miller again took up a loose stance and readied himself again.

"Commence!" The referee shouted from the center of the fighting station with the roar of the crowd nearly drowning his voice. There was such excitement in the air as the head Judge Alex Daniels had just entered the arena and was watching with much enthusiasm.

This time Miller kept his distance and parried every strike the knight threw at him. He was making sure to swing his much longer sword at the knight every time he tried to make an advance. This tired the knight as he was swinging his sword much more often than Miller and had to constantly try to make an advance.

Miller saw an opening as the knight's energy drained and went in for a hard and solid strike on the top of the knight's head. The strike connected and knocked the knight to his knees. Miller then placed his sword on top of the knight's head as he was hunched over. "Round two goes to Miller!" the referee barked.

Miller returned to his starting position and steeled himself once more. Miller was determined to not lose a single duel during the competition. Miller retrained all of his focus on his opponent. The knight took up a high stance holding the arming sword above his head and with his arms fully extended. Miller took up a loose stance and waited for the referee. "Are the fighters ready?" The referee asked. Miller and the knight shook their heads and pounced at each other the second the referee told them to fight.

The knight telegraphed his swing down on Miller and Miller parried the blow with ease. The knight fell off of balance and ended up on his ass. He quickly stood back up as if nothing had happened but the crowd laughed at him nonetheless. Miller saw his chance to deliver a good strike. He swung across to the right, just barely missing his mark as his sword flew harmlessly by the knight. The knight stepped in and tried to deliver a strike as well but Miller caught his sword with his left hand.

Miller, with the knight's sword in his left hand, drove the pommel of his sword into the top of the knight's helmet. It yet again knocked the knight to his knees. Miller won the round as soon as he pressed the tip of his blade to the back of his opponent.

Miller aided the knight to his feet and respectfully bowed to him. The knight returned the gesture and left the fighting station. "The match goes to Miller of Gregoria!" The referee shouted. "Miller please exit the fighting station." Miller shut the gate to the fighting station behind him. Before he could even turn around Ruby had already made her way to him. "That was scary master, how long are we going to be here?" She asked as she was trembling.

"What'd I say about calling me, master lass?" Miller said as he bent down.

"I'm sorry Mister Miller I didn't mean to, please forgive me."

"You're fine lass, just try not to is all. Anyways, we'll be here for another hour or two, lass."

"I just get scared when I see people fighting Mister Miller and I don't want to get hurt anymore. It's just too scary."

"You'll be fine Ruby, I'm right here and you don't need to be scared of anything okay? Now, you just sit here and watch me win okay."

"Okay Mister Miller, it's really noisy here," Ruby said as she plugged her ears. Her ears were similar to that of a dog in shape and size propping up from the top of her head but were a very different color. Her tail was still hidden under her dress but it was still noticeable.

Miller waited with Ruby until the next match of fighting. Miller let her sit in his lap as he waited and he watched his competition closely. The two men in his fighting station were very skilled. One was a knight from the Lucc Empire and the other was from the Western Isle. The Western Isle was very popular with swordsmanship competitions. Most other countries couldn't hold a candle to them with the exception of Gregoria and Asmeria.

The Western Isle also had infamous assassins and mercenaries. The tyrant king of Asmeria was assassinated by a Westerner and the assassin avoided capture by the Asmerian loyalist army. The Western Isle was content with its status as the boogeyman of the world. All of the ships that came from the Western Isle would always do their best to scare Asmerian or Gregorian ships as they crossed the ocean but they hardly ever attacked merchant ships seeing as they were an island nation.

Miller watched as the Westerner won the duel, it was a close match and the Western barely beat the Luccian swordsman. The final score of the match was three to two rounds. Miller stood up and sat Ruby back down on the bench. He entered the fighting station with the cheers of the crowd backing him. He shook hands with the Luccian who was gassed from the last match. He could barely lift his saber.

"Are you alright there?" asked Miller.

"Yeah, I'll be fine in a minute or two." The Luccian puffed.

Miller walked back to his starting position and waved to Ruby who was now in the front row of seats. The Luccian wasn't an experienced fighter nor was he able to sustain a long duel. Miller was confident in his ability to win the duel.

The Luccian finally caught his breath and gave the referee a thumbs up. "Fight!" The referee barked. The Luccian charged at Miller with great speed. Miller didn't have time to swing his sword and the Westerner grappled Miller and went for a tackle. Miller ducked down and threw the man over his shoulder at the last second. Miller then pinned the man to the ground.

The referee jumped in to the fighting station and pulled Miller off from the top of the man. Miller, angered by the man going for a grapple instead of using his sword, threw a couple of good punches at the man's face. "Stand down Miller, you've won the round!" The referee ordered.

Miller stood up and went to his starting position. He turned to face Ruby and her expression was of shock and mild fear. Miller waved to her but got no response. Miller didn't have time to try to get one either, the next round had started and the Luccian rushed at him yet again.

This time he slashed at Miller with a powerful swing. Miller grabbed the blade of his own sword and blocked the strike as he gripped both the handle and the blade of his long sword. Miller tilted his sword so that the Luccian's saber slid down to the side. He then jabbed his crossguard into the side of the Luccian's head.

Miller's strike drew blood and there was a rather large cut on the man's head. The man was dazed enough for Miller to land a fatal blow, stopping his sword just short of the man's throat. The man fell to his knees and grasped his head, he screamed out in pain. The referee jumped in to the fighting station, bandage in hand.

Miller returned to his starting position and watched as the referee tended to the man's cut. It wasn't anything serious as it was just a small cut. Miller looked for Ruby but she wasn't anywhere to be seen.

"Mister Heathfield is withdrawing from the competition." The referee announced to the crowd.

Miller left the fighting station and started to look for Ruby. He walked around the stands and looked underneath the stands. He looked out near the entrance of the arena and there was still no trace of her. "Ruby!" He called out. "Where'd ya go lass!"

He headed back to his fighting station still calling out for her. He saw her out of the corner of his eye, she was beneath a vendor stand. "What the fuck do ya think you're doin' there, kid!" Miller snapped. "I was looking all over for ya!"

"Please, stay away, don't hurt me please!" Ruby cried, it was that moment Miller saw that she was shaking and had tears flowing from her eyes. Miller knew that he had frightened her and she was out of control. He had seen it too many times in a battle. Some people just couldn't stand the sight of blood or violence after they've had their share of it.

"You're going to be fine Ruby, I'm not gonna hurt ya," Miller said softly as he patted the top of her head.

"But you beat that man even after he gave up."

"Sorry if that scared ya."

"You scared me a little but it wasn't just what you did. I remembered how my mother was killed when I saw you fighting. My dad tried protecting her but-"

"That's enough, it sounds like they loved you a lot but there's nothing that you or I can do about what happened." Miller pulled her closer, a tear ran down his face as he thought about the stories his own father used to tell him about slavery.

They headed back to the stands after a while. Ruby, no longer shedding tears or trembling from fear was now ready to continue watching the competition. She felt at ease after what Miller had told her. The weight of slavery had been lifted slightly as her fears were no longer controlling her. Miller sat with her as he patiently wait for his turn to fight. "Now Ruby, if ya get scared again, just know that there's only one man here who I feel could hurt me and I won't be facing him today." He said as he stood up and walked to the gate of the fighting station.

Miller's opponent was a Northern Tribesman for the Caston Tribe. He knew the Caston fighting style well. They were very hands-on and would always go for a tackle. His opponent was a large man with a full beard that had braids running through it and a nasal helmet that had many tribal engravings on it.

His armor overall was rather beautiful and well-made as was common among those of the Caston Tribe. Miller shook hands with the Northerner and returned to his starting position. This was going to be a short match if Miller had his way.

The round started and Miller took control of the center of the fighting station. Miller was sure to use the extra range of his long sword to his advantage. The Northerner only had a short arming sword and a small tear shield.

The Northerner charged Miller with brute force being his only strategy. Miller anticipated this and ducked down right before the Northerner crashed into him. The Northerner stumbled over top of Miller and flipped forwards. Miller had won the round as the Northerner laid there with the air knocked out of him.

"Ya fucker, that was the best move I've ever seen!" The Northerner exclaimed. "You've fought us, Tribesmen before, haven't you?"

"Aye, too many times," Miller responded as he stood at his starting position.

The Northerner lumbered back to his starting position and leaned on the wooden fence. He was regathering himself from having the air knocked out of him but the round started nonetheless. He could hardly walk straight to Miller and Miller easily won the round.

Miller won the third round just as fast as the previous two rounds. The Northerner paid his respects and exited the fighting station. Just then the referee took to the center of the fighting station. "Attention everyone, the rest of the fighting will continue tomorrow and the contestants shall continue from their current standings. Please, enjoy the rest of your day with many festive activities." The referee announced.

Miller returned to Ruby who was still in the stands. Miller was exhausted from fighting in his plate armor, he was a rather large man and his plate armor was just as heavy. He stripped off his armor, except his breastplate. He wrapped his armor up in the spare sheet that he had brought with him.

"Alrighty lass, ya ready to go see the rest of the festival?" Miller asked.

"Yes, Mister Miller." Ruby said with her tail wagging under her dress. Varins were very expressive with their tails just like a dog. It made it very easy to read their expressions.

Miller and Ruby made their way to the exit of the Arena and Miller spotted the entire Scottkey family leaving just ahead of him. Miller stopped and waited for them to leave before he made his way out of the arena. He was still unsure as to how they would interpret him receiving Ruby and was still worried about how to properly explain what had happened.

The two made their way outside once the coast was clear. Ruby ran around the plaza and Miller led her to and from vendors and games. He was cautious about kidnappers and thieves. There was a rather large guard and soldier presence in the plaza and streets.

It had gotten very warm outside as well and Miller was sweating profusely from his armor. Miller took Ruby into a restaurant and got her a proper meal with everything she could've wanted. "Hey, whilst you're still eating kid. I think we should head back home for the day. It's far too hot today for me to be walking around both carrying and wearing my armor."

"But if we go back now, we'll miss everything today won't we?"

"Not at all lass, the main thing today was the sword fighting tomorrow is when the festival really picks up."

"So, what is happening tomorrow Mister Miller?" Ruby asked pulling herself closer to Miller and tucking her tail.

"Well, the sword tournament will finish tomorrow and the horse races are tomorrow."

"What are horse races?" Ruby asked as she finished eating.

"What, you've never seen a horse race?" Miller exclaimed with a baffled voice.

"No, Mister Miller, though I always raced other kids who worked in the shop with me."

"Well kid, you're in for a surprise. A horse race is when you take ten of the fastest and strongest horses around and make them run around a track. The first horse to run one lap wins."

"Can we go tomorrow, please Mister Miller?"

"I was already planning on it."

"Yay, I can't wait, Mister Miller!" Ruby exclaimed as she stood up from the table. "Can we go back to your house now?"

"Aye, we sure can lass, just let me pay for our meal first."

Miller flagged for a waiter and a short man in a waiter's uniform took the Asmerian Silver and handed two Asmerian Coppers back as change. "Is that your child Mister?" The waiter asked.

"No, she's just under my custody for the time being, why do you ask?" Miller replied kindly to the waiter.

"Next time leave her outside, Varins aren't welcome in this establishment." The waiter quipped.

"Oh, fear not my kind sir, I'll make sure there will never be the next time then." Miller retorted storming out of the restaurant with Ruby fast in tow. Miller was upset at what the waiter had said and it showed. "Are you okay Mister Miller?" Ruby asked as she grabbed his hand.

"I'll be fine lass, let's head home okay?" Miller said as he hoisted his armor over his shoulder.

The two walked out the gate and headed straight for Miller's house. When they arrived, there were two guards at his front gate and they stopped Miller and Ruby before they could get on to his property. "Are you a one, Fredric Miller from Concord Gregoria?" The senior knight asked.

The two knights were in an unfamiliar set of arms and had no crest, seal, or even a coat of arms painted onto their set of arms. They both were equipped with saber's which led Miller to believe that they were from the Lucc Empire.

"Who's asking?" Miller asked with caution.

"We're Gregorian Knights working as knights of the thirteenth district of Asmeria and we need your help, Sir Miller."