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[Exelioth]

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I know, you did not ask for this.

Slapping water from the trough against his face, the pitfighter took a long moment to observe the setting sun. It had been a hot day in Jhelom, and the arena had more-than-sated its thirst for blood on such a day. Sixteen matches in the last twelve hours. Even the winningest of pitfighters would have folded to seizure after six or seven victories in these conditions...

...but Short Grey, for whatever reason, did not qualify as normal.

He was slight, yet strong. He was cordial and well spoken, but a bloodthirsty beast when challenged. He was attractive to the ladyfolk of the area. I very youthful face coupled with cropped, spiky grey hair had won him his nickname. Nevertheless, he seldom fraternized. In no small measure, the fact that he was property forbade it. Short Grey, commonly called Grey, had been in the pits of Jhelom for just over six months. His ability to best men three times his size in unarmed combat had tilted the underdog odds well into the pockets of his...benefactors.

"What was that last one, Grey? Jaw or neck?"

"Jaw, thankfully. If I were a gambling man, I would wager more on a dislocation than a clean break," Grey and his colleague watched as the loser of the last match was dragged off the redmoist, sandy deck. Grey then looked at his bloody knuckles. "He was a crafy one...just talked a little too much. Even if he's back in the ring next week, he won't be saying much."

Aedrin shook his head. "Kid, thats the first time I ever saw you actually hit someone. Usually its this spiderdance that ends with your opponent screaming in submission. This was different." Grey simply didnt possess the mass or muscle to overpower his opponents with blunt force. Instead he resorted to some form of grappling that upset the balance and flow of his adversary. While this type of fighting wasn't uncommon to the Jhelom pits, the rapidity of submission by Greys' adversaries shocked even the most grizzled veterans.

"I know. But it was right there, he was beyond obnoxious...so I took it," spat Grey. After washing the bruised hand off, he wiped the bangs away from his almost-radiant blue eyes. "I don't get it kid. How'd you wind up down here. You look like you should be in one of those fancy academies in Magincia or Moonglow...not here with the salt of Sosaria."

Grey curled a crooked smile at his elder Aedrin, then glanced up to the grisly form of the woman who owned him. The smile rapidly turned to a scowl as his countenance fell back towards his friend.

"...couldn't tell ya."
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"Beware the fury of a patient man."