A TREAT FOR VICTORY

The quarters was a lot more comfortable than their previous rooms. It had lounges, rooms and toilets. Oh! Sweet PRIVACY. The men weren't cramped up this time.

Everyone had settled down. However, Joz couldn't. His eyes kept looking for one person but he was no where to be found. Hogalbar had told him seven them made it, and he saw only six.

He was getting anxious, having to let go of his ego and ask someone. This was something he would normally never do...

"Hey! Tell me." He said to two men, that were busy stuffing their faces with food.

"Yes."

"Where's the seventh man?" He asked impatiently.

They looked clueless.

God! Did he feel like punching them in the face. Why won't they answer?

It was quite obvious that he despised talking to people. He never felt it was necessary for him, to say anything to anyone. You could be talking to him for hours nonstop, and he wouldn't say a word...

Was he not being polite enough? They kept looking at him all dazed and confused.

"I mean, I was told there were seven of us. Where's the seventh man?"

"Oh! Yes." One of them said.

"Zaiyux, he might be talking about the man that was brought out half-dead ey?" He laughed.

"Yeah. That's true red man. I'm pretty sure he's dead by now, he did manage to win the match. But, he's a goner." Zaiyux replied.

Joz asked how the man looked like.

"The baldman over there, got a better look at him." Zaiyux explained, pointing at a baldman wearing a black robe.

Geez! Joz had to talk to another freaking human. He could have let the matter die down, there and then. But, he was so curious. How could he just let go.

He went to the baldman to get more information. As he was in a hurry, he did try to speak well this time.

"If I recall correctly, I think he had fully grown beard...oh! And he's wasn't that big."

"Then I demand to know his location!...oh I mean where is he?"

"He's in the room at the back. Problem is...he wouldn't let any medics examine him..."

Joz didn't even listen to everything the baldman had to say. He couldn't stop himself, from rushing towards the room to get doubts cleared up.

"Could it be..."

His heart was doing flip-flops

"What feeling is this? Is this what people call fear?"

As a fearless red hair, fear was something he had never experienced whatsoever.

Joz opened the door to find the man laying by his side. His was facing the window. Nonetheless joz knew it was eldermar.

"This is the headdress he wore." He fidgeted nervously.

"Is... could...she, could he...God! I don't think I know what you are anymore." He thought.

"Should I approach her? Could she be dead already??" These are questions that kept running through his mind.

He wiped his sweaty palms on his shirt stained with trollin's blood. Then began taking steps forward. He perched himself at the edge of the bed and extended his right arm. Suddenly, eldermar turned.

"Ey! What are you trying to do AHH!" Eldermar said with much effort. He was clearly in pain.

Joz jumped off the bed

"What? Were you expecting to see my dead body?"

Joz stood bemusedly.

"A true fighter!" He thought.

"No... nothing." Joz stammered.

He scared the hell out of a fang, now that was something to be proud of.

"I scared you, haha OUCHH"

"What happened to you?"

"Just a couple of broken bones, nose, ankle, left arm. I feel some pain in my pelvis and ribcage. A little bruises here and there, nothing I can't handle."

"Let the medics examine you." Joz ordered.

"I don't need anyone's help!"

"Then go ahead and let your pride kill you."

"Don't you think you're interfering a little too much, Mr. Red?"

Man, did eldermar's words hurt his self respect.

"It's definitely a she, so sassy." He thought.

Joz honestly felt like bashing eldermar's head against the wall, but he decided to keep his cool. He wouldn't want to do anything he would regret.

"Ehem...so...we lost Naurin." Eldermar began.

Joz stood silently, he didn't seem affected by what eldermar had said.

"Ey red hair! I'm talking to you, can't you hear me." Eldermar wouldn't stop talking despite being in so much pain.

"I know you are, what do you want me to do? Should I bring him back to life?!" Joz responded angrily.

"Woah! These red hairs, I'm not saying you're the worst human; but you are just an apology of basic human etiquette. You slept in the same room, we are a group."

"Look, I'm not here to play baby games or make friends. And shut your mouth! You're not well!!" Joz yelled before slamming the door behind him.

Eldermar was stunned.

"Wha...did he just, how dare he walk out on me. Ugh! I just hate that guy. Why did even come here anyway." He fumed.

"OW...OW OUCHH!!!" He cried out, using the wall as support as he sat up.

"It hurts so much and I can't accept any help from the medics."

Eldermar had intended to to get some medicine and portions from parele, when he comes. "But, what if...no no perry would surely make it. I know he will.

It was just a few hours till sunrise. The other batch would take twenty hours to finish the challenge. "So perry would be here by this same time tomorrow. How I'm I going to withstand this pain. I blame my ill-fate. I could have used this opportunity to take a bath. But, I can't even walk."

His stomach had started rumbling.

"Oh great, now I'm hungry. What do I do?!"

Joz returned with a plate full of garnished duck and gravy sauce.

"Do you care for some food?"

"No!" Eldermar yelled. "OUCHH! What's your problem with me? Just leave me alone!"

"Mhmm okay." Joz left.

Wait what did he just do? He refused such a tantalising offer. Eldermar had began salivating already. "Oh curse my self respect!"

It was 5:17am, eldermar felt like dying and boy was he hungry.

"Is he serious? He's really not coming back, just because I said I wasn't hungry. Oh! Lord."

Joz was finally having some alone time. While everyone was sleeping soundly in their rooms, he stayed in the lounge.

"A couple of hours without food wouldn't hurt anyone. Good way to train a soldier's stomach." He smirked

"Oh I should go take a warm bath...