I part with Sylwia and Matylda for a moment, to have a word with the surprise looser of the last fight. Another thuggish looking lad is just helping him out of the ring as I reach him. He still looks plenty dazed from the hit he took. Just as well. It's not like I want him to carefully think about the offer I'm going to make.

"That was a fine hit you took there. Might still loose a tooth or two, you know. I could help with that though. I could provide a little healing for just a penny, you know. It's not much I'm talking about, but for just a penny it's a bargain. Could save yourself a lot of trouble further down the line, you know."

My words seem to be enough to daze him anew, but I don't exactly feel any real compassion towards him anyway. He helped fix that fight. Sure he took a bad hit, but I'm pretty certain he'll receive a handsome enough compensation for his troubles.

Finally he nods, as we reach the edge of the ring where the rest of his things are waiting. He grabs a coin from his purse. For a moment it looks like he considers snipping it my way, but in the end he thinks better of it and he simply places it in my palm.

I in turn place my hands on his cheeks, careful not to make his injuries any worse. Then, after closing my eyes briefly, just as Sylwia enters the ring and an announcer announces her as Sylph, one of the fighters for the next bout, I speak a quick prayer to fox. Quietly enough that I might just be the only one hearing it. The only one other than Fox of course.

"Fox, divine guardian of many masks. God of making mischief and Goddess of having fun. I beg you, heal this rascal and ease his pain."

Both my [Prayer] and my [Healing Touch] skill improve a little as a result. I can feel some of my very scarce Karma drain away too, but that's alright, this is good practice after all.

The man takes a deep breath and I can plainly see him relax a little, as my healing takes effect. He is clearly not all better, but he is better and for him that's apparently good enough.

I pat his shoulder and speak up once more before I leave to return to Matylda.

"Watch your cover the next time."

He overextended himself and let his guard down on purpose of course, but me acting oblivious like this promptly earns me some more progress for my [Bluff] skill. I don't wait for an answer either and my attention is on the ring again already anyway.

Slywia, or Sylph as that is her alias right now, is up first. And after the two blokes and their slug fest she seems to be a welcome sight, even if her fighting style is a close match to what the people got to see before. Maybe that's for the best? Yes, it probably is. If people remember her for her colorful outfit rather than her fighting style she can easily go under cover again with just a change of clothes that way.

Then her opponent steps into the ring too. It's not one of the tattooed gang running the place. Not that I would expect one of them to personally enter the ring for any other reason but to make a very final statement. It would reek of manipulation of the odds after all. This lanky man, or rather boy considering the still rather uneven growth of what he probably considers a beard, is a surprise anyway. Maybe he is fleet of foot? He certainly isn't packing a whole lot of muscle. He doesn't exactly look like he can take a whole lot of punishment either.

This is incredulous and it's clear in my voice that I see it that way, as I speak up, addressing Matylda.

"Is this some kind of joke? If it is, it's not the funny kind either, you know."

The young dwarven woman doesn't seem bothered at all though.

"Nah. Don't worry. Sylph is an unknown to them. They want to test the waters first. The odds on the bets won't allow us to win big time like this, but that's alright. They will be better next time, when people know what our friend is about."

I don't push any further. That sounds sensible enough. It's a test, of sorts. At the same time it's bait. An easy victory, probably, to keep us hooked, together with the promise of better odds for the next fight or the one after it. I can feel some grudging respect for that approach. On most other people it would probably work like a charm. What worries me is the possibility that it might still only be a feint to hide something else. It's unlikely, but I can't rule it out entirely either.

In the meantime both Sylwia and her opponent show off a little. The crowd likes that. And indeed the lad Sylwia is up against seems quite fast and nimble.

I bite my lips lightly, speaking softly, so only the woman at my side is sure to hear, while the crowd goes wild. I still keep up the pattern of speaking I picked up from the bouncer outside, just to keep up appearances though. It's enough to improve my [Bluff] skill some more.

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"If this were a knife fight I'd be worried, you know. I think he would do pretty well with a knife, or two. Or maybe punching daggers, you know."

Matylda's brows furrow for a moment. Then she nods.

"Yeah. I can see it. Those fast jabs? With a punching dagger? An absolutely terrifying thought. Well, I guess it's a good thing then, that this isn't a knife fight."

I snort in amusement. At the same time I decide to study the lad more closely. Does he have actual experience fighting? Is he moving as if he is used to using weapons instead of fighting with just his fists? My [Perception] skill improves some more, as I build a more comprehensive picture of the boy.

He is young, but he looks rugged. He is definitely someone who has grown up on the street and is no stranger to violence. At the same time he doesn't appear to be a cold blooded murderer. The way his eyes are darting about, although he mostly tries to focus on Sylwia in the other corner of the ring. Yes, it's most likely other people using identification skills on him. He is bothered, but he isn't making a fuss either.

I decide to give it a try too. I refocus on him and activate my [Identify] skill. The tiniest sliver of my Mana drains away. The skill improves a little and the next moment the notification with the results come in.

[Amadeusz, Wharf Waif(Water, Common, Level 6)]

My use of the skill doesn't go unnoticed, but he doesn't pay me any more heed than any of the others. For him I'm only one of many who give in to curiosity right now.

At the same time I can't help but blink in surprise. What kind of class is that supposed to be? Well, it probably is something like urchin, or maybe street rat except it signifies a different very specific origin. That's my best guess anyway. So he probably has grown up as a homeless child around the docks, either here in Riverrun at either of the waterfronts or in some other town. It's a common class, thus probably not very powerful. And to be perfectly honest, with just six levels in that single class, I doubt he has even the slightest chance against Sylwia.

The real question is, how hard will she stomp him? Will he be able to put on a good enough show to be noticed by someone? In all likelihood that is what he is here for after all. It's almost a little tragic.

I let out a long sigh, as I address Matylda again.

"That boy is really out of his depth, you know."

My dwarven companions doesn't seem too concerned.

"Eh, he'll be fine. Probably. I doubt Sylph will break him in half or outright kill him in any other way. She can pull a punch. He'll probably end in a world of pain and regret, but otherwise he'll be fine."

I don't say anything in response, but I'm left to wonder. What exactly can be fine about being put in a world of hurt and regret? Well, yes, he might end up being noticed by someone who recognizes his potential, someone other than me, but is that really worth it? I'm not quite sure. In the end I just shake my head. I really hope the lad hasn't bet away the last of his money on winning his fight, because that is an outcome I just don't see happening. Hopefully he has at least a penny left in his pockets, because I don't want to create precedent of me offering healing for free.

Then I break into a soft chuckle, earning myself a raised eyebrow from Matylda. I don't elaborate though, keeping to myself instead, as the boy and Slywia get in position. In a way the lad already has achieved what he came here for. He has been noticed. Of course he still needs to survive the experience to benefit from it, but overall he is on the right way for a career in the city's dark underbelly.

Then a bell rings, the fight starts and there is no more time for thoughts like that. Instead I focus my attention on the action in the ring once more.

The lad is quick on his feet, as expected. He doesn't hesitate to make good use of his speed and agility either. It's not quite like he is dancing around Sylwia, but he fires off a few fast and well aimed jabs and hooks. He obviously has some experience with brawling. Probably experience earned the hard way in the city's back alleys.

Sylwia is ready though. She makes a token attempt to block the first two attacks, but quickly shifts to blocking instead. It's not quite like my own brief fight with her though. She keeps her arms up to block this time around, not simply soaking up whatever punishment he dishes out.

The crowd hollers and cheers. Some cheer for the youngster. Others for the colorfully dressed Sylph. Many are too drunk to care much, but the few who keep a close look on the fight, like me, probably already know, that the lad is not doing any damage worth mentioning and that Sylwia is just waiting for the right moment to strike back.

Even knowing that the outcome is essentially predetermined, I keep my eyes open and watch carefully. I especially take note of how Sylwia shifts, her arms and her body in general to block, not just soaking up the hits but bending and swaying with the impacts ever so slightly to reduce their impact force.

It's a useful lesson, even if it's one not learned first hand. That impression is further reinforced as I can feel both my [Brawling] skill and my [Block] skill improve a little. Who would have thought? Keeping your eyes open can pay off nicely.

By now the lad too has realized that he is doing little damage, if any at all, and he decides to do something about it. The correct reaction, under other circumstances would be to back out of the fight or make a run for it. That option is not available in the ring. Thus he tries for a hit on a vulnerable spot. A hook to Sylwia's left side, probably aimed at her kidney. A hit just barely above the belt line, not that anyone here would care about things like that.

Sylwia has waited for something like that. When the lad drops his own guard to go all in on the attack she lashes out. A single straight jab, not as fast as the lads, but fast enough anyway. I think I can hear his nose break, as the crowd falls silent for the briefest of moments before it erupts into another hollering cheer, as the boy goes to his knees clutching at his broken nose.

I hop into the ring, and give Slywia a brief hug.

"You alright."

She just nods and moves on to Matylda.

I in turn saunter over to the lad. His nose is still bleeding. Not too much tough. He is clearly not in any condition to continue the fight, but I think Sylwia still pulled her punch. She might as well have jabbed the broken bone all the way up into his brain if she had wanted to. I flash him a wicked little grin.

"Well, lad, you look like you could use a little healing, you know. No promises that you'll ever be pretty again, you know. But at least you won't be bleeding all over the place no more, you know. It'll cost you just a single penny, you know. I'd say that's quite the bargain, wouldn't you agree?"

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