Professor Throne
As I stood behind the stone pillar, my eyes widened in awe. 'Was this the same Katherine Rose I had taught not so many years ago?' I wondered, my mind struggling to reconcile the timid student I once knew with the formidable warrior before me.
Katherine's movements were as fluid as a flowing river, her skill on par with that of a master. Her strategy was a perfect blend of attack and defense, carefully avoiding her opponent's attacks and striking at just the right moment. The arena, once a place of entertainment, had transformed into a hostile battleground.
Great Commander Reynold stood to the left, his presence imposing, while Katherine faced off against the remainings six, her determination evident. My concerns, however, were not for the great commander, but for Katherine. As talented as she was, she was no match for the greatest military force of Zouran.
Each of her opponents had a reputation that weighed heavy. The massive man wielding an enormous hammer, for instance, was a force to be reckoned with. "You're not half bad, girlie," he proclaimed his voice laced with mockery, attacking Katherine relentlessly.
Katherine's expression remained calm and collected, but it was clear she was being cautious. Using the man's own massive weight against him, she swiftly dodged his attack and tripped him over. I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. "Yes!" I screamed inwardly, my heart buzzing with excitement.
But my excitement was short-lived. The two duo knights, known as the Balakist twins, charged in, their simultaneous attacks deadly and perfectly harmonized. They quickly took the advantage, overwhelming Katherine in less than a minute. Her moves slowed as her accuracy began to fade.
The twins launched a coordinated attack, one distracting Katherine while the other pinned her down. Katherine fell to the floor, clearly in pain. "You're slow," one twin said, chuckling ominously. "I know, right? What a disappointment," The other agreed.
Katherine regained her footing, but it was clear her left arm had suffered a great deal of pain. The twins pulled out their daggers, dripping with serpent poison, and pointed them at Katherine. "You're dead," they uttered simultaneously.
The giant hammer-wielding man returned, charging his hammer at Katherine, nearly decapitating her completely. The six opponents attacked at once, the twins leading the assault. Their combined speed was even greater than before, and their coordinated attacks were a masterpiece.
Katherine fought off the enemy with only one good arm, her determination evident. But just as it seemed she was gaining ground, a child's cry pierced the air. "Mommy!" the child wailed, her voice filled with fear.
Instantly, Katherine rushed over, still making the safety of others her main priority. I felt a pang of guilt, questioning myself. Why had I, a professor, let a student do my job? I cursed myself loudly in my head, trying to find the courage to do what others found so easy to do.
'What's wrong with me?' I thought, my mind racing with self-doubt. "
'Why can't I protect my students? Why do I always have to rely on others?' I felt like a coward, hiding behind the pillar while Katherine fought for her life.
I thought back to my own days as a student, when I had been full of ideals and ambition. What had happened to that person? When had I become so weak and timid?
The enemy attacked, managing to get Katherine away from the children, leaving them defenseless once more. A tall and lean knight approached the two, his blade longer than himself. I knew I had to act, but my mind was a jumble of fear and self-doubt.
'Why can't I just be brave for once?' I thought, my frustration boiling over.
'Why do I always have to be the one who runs away?' I felt like I was staring into the abyss, my own weakness and flaws staring back at me.
But then, something inside me snapped. I blinked, and the next thing I knew, my hands were oozing with blood. My body screamed in pain as the sharp end of the blade slowly pierced through my flesh. Unknown to me, I had a smile on my face, almost deceiving the fact that I felt like crying.
"Are you okay...Mr?" the little girl asked, her tone concerned and worried.
I took a deep breath, trying to ignore the pain I was experiencing.
"Oh, me? I'm perfectly fine."