“How about it? It should be perfect to use as a slave.”
The man searched as the father held him out.
Two arms, two legs. After searching the child briefly, the man dropped a gold coin into the father’s hand.
“Is this all?”
“Girl, two. Boy, one.”
“… It would’ve been better if it were a girl.”
The father’s final words spun around the child’s ear.
The child was now barely 11.
-
It was said that the child’s father was once a famous gladiator.
Meeting the child’s mother was also around at that time.
But after losing a leg, the father lost himself in the life of alcohol
And after the mother left, he even found himself gambling.
Yet, the child always thought that by hanging on for a little bit longer, everything would go back to the way it was.
It only hurts for a moment right now..
It’ll be okay when the pain heals…
The child continued to believe that even until the father sold his treasured gladiator sword.
And finally today,
The father sold the child.
-
The man dragged the child into a corner of a room.
There were other kids there, and what appeared to be stolen goods were carelessly stacked in another.
Immediately, a familiar item entered the gaze of the child. As if he popped, the child sprung and picked up the item.
It was the father’s sword.
Upon seeing the child’s behavior, the man smirked as if it was absurd.
His expression changed. Manners had to be corrected from the beginning.
As an aura of thirst for blood emanated from the man, the children around him cowered back.
But the child instinctively drew the sword and swung.
Caught by surprise, the man was unable to avoid the attack. Crimson blood dripped from his cheek.
“Bastard!?”
The man struck the child’s face with his fist.
The child fell before a scream could utter from his throat.
“Dammit…. But it’s the son of a gladiator.”
The man wiped the blood from his cheek.
A grin spread across his face as if he had a great idea.
“This kid, could make some money.”
Game for the nobles.
Combatants risk their lives and fight until the last man is standing. Gladiator competition.
There was no age restriction for those who wanted to apply for the competition.
But it was no use for a child to compete in the competition for adults
So a normal child would not apply.
Yet, when a parent needed the money, there were instances when a child was sold.
And, there was an unspoken agreement to trade them during a gladiator competition.
A form of offering was considered a show of decency during the competition.
-
The one who grouped with the child was a man with a hair color of rye going by the name ‘Kaar.’
He had been sold as a slave from the north, across the sea.
And it was said that he had a son about the same age as the child.
Perhaps it was this reason, he liked the child.
And the child liked him.
Whenever he had the time, he would teach the child some of his swordsmanship.
However, the child’s maturing muscles were not ready to handle two swords freely.
Yet, the child ardently practiced his technique.
As he was learning the skills, it was as if he were being trained by his father at his home
And he could forget that he had to risk his life and fight.
-
What would happen if an offering refused to be an offering.
Kaar and the child gradually gained popularity.
Their movements were in sync, as if father and son. The people liked them.
However, there were those who became gradually darkened to that notion.
The offerings were merely scapegoats, they weren’t meant to be heroes.
“If the snake that’s put in for fun is poisonous, fangs should be yanked.”
In secret, gold moved to and fro.
A face marked by a long scar swayed by the waving flame of the candle light.
-
“What are you doing here?”
The child asked Kaar who had come outside alone.
“Huh? Ah, it’s nothing.”
Kaar’s eye shook.
But the child was oblivious. Rather, it was merely because of tomorrow’s competition.
Focused on that thought, he was also unable to notice the lurking shadow that disappeared under the dark column.
-
Before the competition began,
The different look on Kaar’s usual appearance prompted the child to ask.
“Are you okay? Are you worried that it’s the finals?”
For a while, Kaar looked at the child and finally, spoke.
“Can you make a promise with me?”
Kaar handed a piece of paper to the child.
On it, someone’s address was written down.
“If you go here, my son will be there. His name is Lethita.”
“Lethita?”
“Yes. It means one who defeats the wind and solitude.”
Kaar paused for a moment before speaking again.
“Could you find my son after the competition? It would be nice if you could meet him and deliver my message.”
“I promise.”
“Yes. Thanks.”
Kaar patted the child’s head and smiled.
The child liked that smile and beamed as well.
-
The competition was set as 2 person 2 group match.
The opposing team attacked with ferocity immediately when the match began.
Although the child had become faster with previous experiences
To face off adults, especially for finals, was grueling.
The child barely parried the sword coming to his side and looked toward Kaar.
Had it been a usual fight, Kaar would have unleashed a powerful attack and acted as a firm shield behind the child.
But something was wrong.
Kaar was looking at the child with a grin.
The swords held in both hands were feebly aimed towards the ground.
Then, the edge of the enemy’s sword drew a white line across his back.
“Ajussi!!!” (Mister basically)
Comments
Note: Lethita is Korean name for Lann.
Please notify me if there's an official source and translation available.
Source: http://sakurafarron.tumblr.com/post/72786742911
My guess is it would be Tieve. We probably bumped into her as it's part of our destiny. As this is an origin story, it had to of happened before the weathered bell tower. It would be a clever tie-in to Colhen and I'm sure there's a similar situation for the other characters. After all the player is the hero & Tieve is the vessel for Morrighan.
As for the earring, I'm kind of stumped... Maybe it has no meaning outside of giving us a reason to be introduced to Tieve for the first time. However, being an oracle, and the earring holding a sample of blood, it does make you wonder if it has any significance. Sadly, I do not see Devcat interweaving these origin stories with the future content & storyline. It would make an Interesting plotline though, and give us a stronger connection to the characters.
There has been some speculation going on that the woman with "full (thick) lips" is Vella who is actually a vampire and thus the blood in the earring.