The Ashen Dominion
Chapter 65- Chipped Blade

Chapter 65: 65- Chipped Blade

After the last fight ended, Kaiser and Damian went back to the Copper Place with a guard escorting them.

Kaiser still took the buckler with him—he’s going to keep it.

Moving on, they got back not long after. And as soon as they got there—

"Congrats on coming back alive."

Viktor greeted them, smiling. Rose, Jhamillah, and Jenna were with him.

"Congrats on winning."

"Yeah, you guys were awesome!"

"Welcome back!"

They greeted in order.

"Thanks."

Kaiser simply replied, smiling at them.

"Thank you guys!"

Then Damian followed after.

It was night now, and just on time—dinner arrived. It was nothing fancy, just some bread and a small portion of roasted pig meat.

Kaiser and everyone else took their food, and after that—they sat on the floor and formed a circle.

And with that, they started eating and talking.

"How do you feel about your first fight?"

Viktor asked Damian. The three girls looked at him curiously too, waiting for him to speak.

"I was super nervous when it started. But I noticed that so was my opponent... I tried to calm myself, and that made me perform well. If my opponent did the same, I wouldn’t have won that easily."

Damian answered. He also added that the nobles watching were annoying.

"Oh, so you’re saying that it’ll take you longer, but you’ll still win?"

Viktor followed in a teasing tone. But immediately and with a straight face—

"Yep, I’m sure."

Damian casually responded.

"..."

Viktor and the three girls went silent. Kaiser just smiled and glanced at him for a second.

’This guy is something too.’

Viktor thought, looking back and forth between Damian and Kaiser.

Anyway, they moved on after that...

"By the way, were you really serious when you challenged a Silver Ranker? Or were you just trying to get attention so the audience would like you more and you’d earn more points?"

Then, Viktor asked a new question—now it’s about Kaiser. Damian, Rose, Jenna, and Jhamillah all stopped eating and waited for him to answer.

And without much thought about it—

"I’m serious about that."

Kaiser shortly replied before taking another bite.

"Wow, you’re insane..."

Viktor muttered.

"Erm, yeah. I think he’s been insane his whole life."

Damian followed up.

"..."

The three girls didn’t say anything, but they silently agreed with the two.

"Meh."

Kaiser just shrugged and ignored them.

But suddenly, opening his mouth again...

"I’ll need to train a lot. I’ll count on you being my sparring partner, Viktor."

He went and said that.

"Of course, anytime."

Viktor replied quickly, smiling.

*****

After eating dinner with the others and talking for a bit more, Kaiser went to his room.

Creak—

Thud!

He opened the wooden door, stepped in, and closed it behind him.

"..."

Without saying anything, he walked to his bed and dropped himself on it with a sigh.

"Haaah..."

He laid there, arms spread, looking at the ugly ceiling.

"Ugh, fuck..."

Then a speck of dust from there fell on his left eye. He rubbed his eye until it was gone.

"..."

Then he became silent again.

His body was sore from the fight earlier. Not exactly in pain, but definitely tired.

Clank—

Kaiser suddenly heard the sound of his short sword shifting from his belt and falling on the floor.

He turned his head and looked at it.

"...?"

He pushed himself up a little and sat on the edge of his bed. Then, he reached for the sword and picked it up.

"Huh..."

As he held it under the dim lighting of his room, that’s when he noticed it.

The blade—

It was chipped in several places. Small chunks of metal missing along the edge.

And worse...

"...It’s bending?"

He muttered as he looked at the slight curve forming near the middle of the blade. It wasn’t straight anymore.

"..."

Kaiser stared at it for a moment, completely silent.

’First the buckler... Now the sword too.’

He thought to himself.

’Guess that fight did more damage to my gear than I thought.’

He stood up and walked to the side of the room, placing the sword and the buckler carefully on the small table beside the wall.

"..."

Then he Kaiser back on the bed again, hunched over with his elbows on his knees.

"...Man."

He muttered softly.

’That short sword got me through every fight so far...’

He leaned back once again and laid.

"I guess it’s really time to change them."

Kaiser was mumbling about the sword and buckler.

Anyway, Kaiser was so tired, he just laid there—literally doing nothing.

He stared at the ceiling, blankly. His arms resting at his sides, legs stretched out.

Normally, he would be training right now. Even just a few light sets or shadow sparring.

But right now... he didn’t have the spare energy to do that.

"Haaah..."

He let out a long breath and closed his eyes for a while. He was tempted to just go on and sleep, but he can’t yet.

And finally, after a few minutes...

"He’s probably here now."

Kaiser stood up and muttered that. He’s pertaining to Rai.

So with that, he left the room again.

Thud—

As he stepped out and closed the door behind him—

"..."

Just a few steps down the hallway, he saw Rai approaching from the other side of the metal bars.

Their eyes met.

They casually raised a hand and waved at each other.

Then Kaiser walked up to the gate.

"Hello!"

Rai greeted first.

"Yo."

Kaiser replied, smiling.

"Congrats on today’s fight. You were really amazing!"

"Thanks."

They shared a short laugh, then talked for a bit more—just some small updates about the other copper fighters and what’s planned for the next few days.

Then after that—

"Here."

Rai handed him a brown paper bag.

Kaiser took it and peeked inside.

Of course it was his daily protein, two roasted chicken breasts.

"Appreciate it."

"Of course. You should probably get some rest now... I can see how sleepy you are."

Rai said before exchanging goodbyes with Kaiser. And after a bit later—he started walking off.

Kaiser just stood there for a moment, watching him go.

Then he looked back down at the paper bag.

"... I’ll just eat this and sleep."

He muttered before turning around and heading back to his room.

*****

Thud!

Kaiser got back to his room and kicked the door shut behind him.

Rustle—

He sat on the bed and immediately took out the food from the bag. Two thick slices of cold chicken breasts wrapped in paper.

"..."

Without saying anything, he just started eating. No seasoning.

Nom- nom—

It was dry. Tough. But Kaiser didn’t really care.

He was used to this. He’d eaten worse.

A few minutes later—

"Burp."

He finished the last bite and leaned back, exhaling deeply.

Then, without hesitation—

Fwip—

He tossed the paper bag onto the floor, not even bothering to fold it.

"...Done."

Kaiser rubbed his stomach, now he was super full.

Stuffed, actually.

And it made him even more tired.

The heaviness in his gut started to spread to his limbs, making everything feel heavier, lazier.

His eyes blinked slower and slower.

"...Damn... I’m gonna pass out."

He muttered while leaning further into the bed, stretching his legs out and resting both arms behind his head.

His body was aching.

A sharp tingle in his left shoulder.

A dull throb in his ribs.

Small bruises on his leg.

But none of that mattered now.

He was just... really tired.

And the full belly wasn’t helping.

As minutes passed, he felt his muscles relax more and more. He could hear faint chatter from other rooms, the sound of footsteps echoing outside.

But it was all fading out.

Slowly, surely.

"..."

He didn’t even change out of his clothes. His boots were still on.

And then—

He finally shifted, turning on his side.

His head rested on the thin, worn pillow.

He pulled the scratchy blanket halfway up his body.

And with a deep breath...

Kaiser closed his eyes.

"..."

No thoughts. No worries. No dreams.

Kaiser fell asleep immediately.

...

...

*****

The next day—

Kaiser woke up full of energy.

He sat up right away, eyes sharp and alert. The soreness from yesterday was mostly gone now, replaced by a light, tingling feeling across his body.

"Hngh—"

He stretched his arms up, cracking his shoulders and back in the process.

Pop, pop—

"Nice."

He muttered, then rolled his neck a few times before getting out of bed.

He started doing some light exercises—basic stretches, squats, and push-ups. Just enough to get his blood flowing.

And after about ten minutes of that—

"Haa... Alright."

Kaiser stood up, wiped his sweat with his sleeve, and left the room.

"Yo."

He greeted casually as he stepped out. Viktor, Damian, Rose, Jenna, and Jhamillah were already there.

"Morning!"

Rose waved.

"Looks like you just finished with your stretching."

Viktor commented while chewing a piece of bread.

It was breakfast time.

Breakfast was simple again. Bread, porridge, and a few thin slices of dried meat.

Everyone ate quietly for a bit, enjoying the peaceful start to the day.

Then, after they were done—

Kaiser stood up and clapped his hands once.

"Let’s go, you two."

He called out, looking at Viktor and Damian.

It was time to head to the training ground.