9.

As Sett made his way toward the arena, he couldn't help but feel the excitement, apprehension, anger, and betrayal. His father had deserted him, and now he was forced to fight for survival. It wasn't what he wanted, but it was the only way to make a living.

Sett had been searching for work for weeks, but every door was slammed shut in his face. His fists, which had once been used to silence the insults of bullies, were now his only means of survival. With his mother's illness worsening, he had no choice but to turn to the arena for the money. The pit fights were not for the faint of heart, and he knew he was about to embark on a dangerous path. What is more, Sett had always wondered about his father, and the pit fights seemed like the perfect place to find answers.

Upon arriving at the arena, Sett was met with a scene of chaos. The air was thick with the sound of clashing weapons, roaring crowds, and the screams of the fallen.

As he made his way through the crowds of people, he caught sight of the matchmaker, a skinny old man with a cruel glint in his eye.

"What do you want?" the matchmaker barked, eyeing Sett suspiciously.

"I'm looking for work," Sett replied, trying to keep the quaver out of his voice.

The matchmaker laughed derisively. "You? I doubt you'd last five minutes in the pit."

Sett gritted his teeth, refusing to be intimidated. "I'll fight anyone you put in front of me. Just give me a chance."

The matchmaker considered him for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. We've got an opening on tonight's card. You'll be fighting with one of our up-and-coming stars. Should be an easy win for him, but we'll see." The man chuckled.

Sett nodded, feeling a sense of determination wash over him. He will show everyone what he was made of, even if it means risking his life in the pit.

The matchmaker handed him a contract to sign. It was a simple agreement: Sett would fight in the next card, and if he won, he would receive a small sum of money. If he lost, he would leave the arena with nothing.

Sett signed the contract without hesitation. He knew that he had nothing left to lose.

"Come here 1 hour before the event and find me. I will show you around, kid. It's all for now," a grumpy old man said, showing Sett doors.

"One last thing," Sett said before leaving. "I am looking for information about one of the fighters from this arena. He was fighting here 10 years ago."

"What's his name?"

"I don't know," Sett admitted. "I barely remember him. All I know is that he fought here."

The matchmaker nodded. "Well, I can tell you this much, kid. There have been a lot of fighters who have passed through these pits over the years. Some make it big, and some of them...well, let's say they don't."

Sett frowned. "What do you mean?"

The matchmaker shrugged. "Some of them get injured or lose too many fights, and they end up in debt. They can't pay off their debts, so they are sold to other pits, or worse, to the mines."

Sett felt a cold shiver run down his spine. He had heard stories about the mines, back-breaking labor, and inhumane conditions.

The matchmaker sighed. "As I said, there have been a lot of fighters who have come and gone. It's hard to keep track of all of them. You need to tell me more. My mind isn't as young as it used to be."

Sett furrowed his brows, thinking about more characteristics.

"Well, he was in a relationship with a mink woman."

"Oh, now I remember. Fucking gold-loving bastard." The older man looked at him and stopped his eyes on Sett's fluffy ears. "Your father, eh?"

The man snorted, "He's long gone, kid. Bought out his contract and left for greener pastures. Ain't nobody seen him since. He was a great showman but loved gold too much."

Sett's heart sank as he heard those words. His father had abandoned them just like that. He felt a rage building inside him as he clenched his fists and trembled with rage as he heard the truth about his father. He could feel the anger bubbling up inside him like a volcano ready to erupt. His chest heaved as he struggled to contain the rage that threatened to consume him. He had always felt a burning desire to know his father, to understand the man who had left him and his mother alone. But now, faced with his father's betrayal, he was consumed with a seething fury.

"How could he?" Sett growled through gritted teeth, his eyes blazing with anger. "How could he leave us like this for some stupid money? Did he even care about us at all?"

The matchmaker shrunk back, intimidated by Sett's raw power and the fury in his voice. "I...I don't know, kid. All I know is he's gone, and he's not coming back."

Sett's fists clenched so hard that his knuckles turned white. He could feel the rage coursing through his veins. The anger burning inside him was a fierce flame, but he knew he could channel it into something useful.