Chapter 374: Descendants of Cataclysm
"The people of the Vale of Mists are not cowards, Mister Yotsun," Heila said proudly from the arena floor. "We have faced unbeatable foes before and even if we lost a battle, we never lost the war."
Heila had no idea what Yotsun was playing at by talking of surrender or attempting to alter their wager at this late stage. They had both come much too far to back down now that what felt like half the population of High Fen City had gathered to witness this historic battle. Did he really think that she would back down and surrender just because he asked her to without even revealing his final champions?
"I respect trying to resolve this without bloodshed," Heila said slowly from the floor of the arena. Her words shocked many in the crowd but she held up a hand to still their tongues before the noise could overwhelm their conversation. "The tradition of the Willow Witch has always been one that includes healing and care for others. As my lady’s Willow Witch, I should deliver her victory, but if I can do so with less suffering, isn’t that always better?
"So I return your offer to you, Mister Yotsun," Heila said in a tone that was both respectful and challenging. "Withdraw your final champions and I will excuse them from our wager. They will not need to travel to the Vale of Mists with me when we depart and they will not be compelled to fight in our war against the Lothians and their Church. This is the greatest kindness I can offer, Mister Yotsun," she added with a pointed stare. "If you are concerned about your champions, you should take it."
"Willow Whip!"
"Willow Whip!"
"Willow Whip!"
The crowd thundered in approval, applauding at Heila’s refusal to surrender for any reason. Some even began to whisper about taking a trip to see the Vale of Mists. After watching this diminutive witch stand taller than so many champions of the arena, they wondered... were the rumors about the weakness of the Vale really true?
A few of them, particularly the young men and women who were approaching the age when they could enter an academy to be trained as gladiators, began to wonder if they might receive even better training in the Vale of Mists than they could close at home. After all, if such a place produced not only the Blood Princess but also the Willow Whip... then what could they become if they learned to fight in the way the people of the Vale did?
"You don’t understand," Yotsun said in a voice too soft for anyone outside the box to hear over the roars of the crowd. He wanted to do something, anything to avoid unleashing the men he’d been foolish enough to entangle himself with but now, there was nothing he could do except continue as he’d begun. "I can’t surrender on their behalf. They’d never let me. And if you won’t surrender..."