Shattered Sanity

(Academy Arena Number 4)

Riven could hear his heart hammering inside his chest, as the moment he felt the cold wall press against his back, somewhere deep down, he already understood that the fight was practically over.

There was nowhere left for him to retreat, no technique within his arsenal capable of forcing Gary Ironveil away, and certainly no hidden Storm spell waiting to suddenly rescue him from this situation.

Yet strangely enough, as Riven stood trapped between Gary and the arena wall, it was not the confidence within his opponent’s eyes that caused panic to spread through his chest, but rather the hundreds of spectators surrounding them that did.

Even without taking his eyes off Gary, Riven could hear the whistling, cheering and laughter echoing throughout the arena, while through his peripheral vision he could see hundreds of students looking down upon him from the surrounding stands.

They were all watching him struggle helplessly, judging the pathetic performance he had displayed since the fight began, and although Riven had no idea what most of them were actually saying, his mind could already imagine the ridicule.

They had paid valuable resources to watch two promising First Years fight, yet from the moment their weapons touched, Riven had done practically nothing except retreat while desperately defending himself.

He had failed to land a single meaningful attack, failed to force Gary onto the defensive even once, and now, with his back pressed against the boundary wall and blood running down his shoulder, he was seconds away from losing without accomplishing anything at all.

’No... I cannot lose here.’

Riven thought, as his breathing became increasingly erratic while the possibility of what this defeat could mean began weighing upon his mind.

Losing itself did not frighten him nearly as much as what this particular defeat represented, because had Gary defeated him after a competitive fight, Riven could have accepted the result and acknowledged the enormous difference between their experience.

However, this was not going to be an ordinary defeat where he could walk away with his head held high, because if the fight ended now, then this was going to be remembered as nothing short of humiliation.

The first impression hundreds of Academy students formed of Riven Dawnriver would forever be that of a Great House heir who had entered his first public bout with tremendous expectations, only to be completely overwhelmed within minutes.

’I cannot bring shame to Father’s name with a result like this.’

Riven thought, as Duke Drew’s final instructions before sending him away to the Imperial Academy suddenly resurfaced within his perfect memory.

”The Dawnrivers rule through fear, Riven. Fear, and fear alone,” Duke Drew had told him, as the memory replayed within Riven’s mind with such clarity that he could almost imagine himself standing before his father once again.

”And I am sending you to the Academy with that single goal in mind.....

By the time you graduate, I want your name to strike fear into the hearts of every noble in your generation.”

That had been the responsibility his father entrusted to him before sending him away, and yet here Riven stood on his very first fight, with hundreds of students laughing while another Great House noble drove him helplessly against a wall.

If this was how his first public appearance ended, then how was anyone within the Academy supposed to fear Riven Dawnriver after watching him suffer such a pathetic defeat?

How could he possibly fulfill the only task his father had entrusted to him when his first major appearance ended with him being humiliated before hundreds of students?

’No... I refuse.’

Riven thought, as the crowds laughter grew louder and louder in his mind, while his heartbeat quickened.

”I WONT BE DEFEATED HERE.”

He declared, as he gritted his teeth and stared directly towards Gary, refusing to accept that everything was already over simply because he could no longer retreat.

However, at this point, his words meant nothing, because he did not have the skills to back them up.

He could desperately not want the fight to end, and it would end anyways if Gary continued attacking.

However, thankfully for him there was still one card that he could play, that he knew Gary would never see coming.

’If I can’t block with my Halberd, then I’ll block with my bare palms....’

Riven thought, as he decided that even if continuing this fight cost him considerably more than a few cuts across his body, he would refuse to allow his story at the Imperial Academy to begin with such humiliation.

Because beneath his fear of disappointing Duke Drew existed something considerably darker, something Riven rarely allowed himself to consciously consider whenever he thought about his new life.

’What happens if Father decides I’m worthless?’

The thought struck considerably harder than any attack Gary had landed throughout the fight.

What happened if he continued failing and Duke Drew eventually looked towards him before concluding that the heir he had brought into House Dawnriver was incapable of fulfilling the purpose assigned to him?

Would he lose the Dawnriver name and everything that came alongside it?

Riven had already lived as a measly slave before who skirted around the brothel praying that he was not spotted by his master and assigned more work.

He had also lived as a test subject who was carved open daily and refined into something that he did not wish to be.

And now finally, he had been given the chance to live as the son of a Duke, possessing a name that commanded respect wherever he went, alongside a home waiting for him and a father whose expectations finally gave him something meaningful to strive towards.

Most importantly, for the first time since everything had been taken away from him that fateful night when his birth father died, Riven finally possessed a reason to live again, and he refused to return to being someone whose existence meant absolutely nothing.

’I will never live without a purpose again, and I will never allow myself to be looked down on like I’m a worthless human.’

Riven thought, as the panic clouding his mind gradually began disappearing while something considerably more stubborn took its place.

’I have already lived as a slave, a test subject and a criminal trapped inside a prison, and of every life I have experienced, this is the one I want.’

His breathing gradually steadied as he stared directly into Gary’s eyes, while the desperation that had previously dominated his expression slowly transformed into something far more determined.

’I am Riven Dawnriver now, and I won’t let anyone take that away from me.’

Gary noticed the change immediately, as for the briefest moment, the smug amusement within his expression weakened while he studied the opponent he had spent the entire fight effortlessly driving backwards.

”All right then, Dawnriver. If you still won’t show me what you’ve got, then I guess this is it,” Gary warned, as he suddenly stepped forward and launched another furious sequence of sword strikes.

Riven desperately moved Sky-Cleaver’s shaft from one side to the other as Gary’s sword repeatedly crashed against it, with every successful block immediately followed by another attack before he could properly recover.

Gary continued increasing the pressure until he suddenly pulled his sword backwards and changed his stance, preparing a direct thrust towards Riven’s exposed neck.

Riven immediately understood what Gary intended to do, as there was no reason for him to actually pierce his throat when merely stopping the blade against his neck was enough for Professor Jude to intervene and declare the fight over.

Gary understood it, Professor Jude understood it, and practically everyone watching from the surrounding stands understood that the final exchange had arrived.

However, just as Gary thrust his longsword towards Riven’s neck, Riven suddenly released one hand from Sky-Cleaver while continuing to hold the enormous halberd firmly with the other.

Gary’s eyes widened slightly at the unexpected movement, but before he could understand what Riven intended to do, Riven’s free hand shot directly towards the incoming blade.

Riven opened his palm and caught it.

SPLAT!

The sharpened edge sliced deeply into his flesh the moment they made contact, causing blood to splatter across his wrist as his fingers violently closed around the steel.

Yet despite the tremendous pain shooting through his hand, Riven refused to release his grip, as the longsword that had relentlessly driven him backwards since the beginning of the fight suddenly stopped dead within his bleeding palm.

For the first time since their bout had begun, Gary’s weapon was completely motionless, as he stared towards Riven in disbelief while trying to comprehend what had just happened.

”The hell? Are you completely crazy?”

He muttered, as he saw the blade puncturing a clean hole through Riven’s palm, and yet, somehow, Riven was the one not allowing him to pull it back and lodge it free.

”Use spells to drive you back?”

Riven muttered at this moment, his tone condescending as he looked straight into Gary’s eyes with a predatory look in his own.

”You’re not worthy to see me use a spell.”

He declared, as using aether to reinforce his arm, he used sheer physical strength to bend the steel that made up the longsword, while its tip still remained lodged in his palm.