Chapter 9 The League

To ensure that no one sees them, Sariya and Xena promptly leave their secret meeting location in Morva territory, where security is lax and anybody may enter. To ensure that no one sees them, they locate a place that is concealed from view of the public. They also can not seem to stay in their current locations since surveillance is tight and they won't be able to communicate adequately, caused by the discord of their group.

And then if any of the Mestre creatures come to Mallory, they will undoubtedly be apprehended, as will Mestre if someone travels to their location who is a creature from Mallory. However, Sariya and Xena have learned every hidden way in their respective destinations and may surreptitiously visit each other. They are aware of where the guards are stationed in their vicinity and frequently mix it up.

The league, is always held once a year, and it is always conducted in the Mestre area, all Werewolves can attend the tournament, except those who live in Mallory. At those moments Mestre's security was not so tight, as everyone was busy with the league being held, so it became an opportunity for Sariya to enter Xena's territory. To make sure that no one would recognize her because the Mestre people have also served in their area for a long time and they have memorized the faces of the powerful creatures who will one day be Alpha, she wore a Hijab where only her eyes could be seen. When Sariya and Xena finally entered without someone seeing Sariya, the two immediately laughed softly, because they managed to get through again without being seen. When they got to the place where the tournament will be held, Sariya and Xena were immediately impressed because of the number of their peers who were there.

"Good luck! I am merely here, and when you knock down your opponent, I will make sure I have the greatest cheer." Because it was extremely noisy around owing to the number of Werewolves conversing, Sariya remarked in a loud voice to make sure Xena could hear it. Xena burst out laughing at what Sariya said; she knew that everything Sariya predicted would come true, and her plea would have been that her friend would not be discovered and imprisoned when someone knew her.

"This is my third time trying to join the league then luckily I won, and you know during those years I did not get nervous because I am confident in my ability to win, but this time I seem nervous because Oliver is my adversary. Yes, Oliver, who has never lost in any league for over a decade, he is from Morva territory, he is beyond strong, and he can knock down his opposing player in less than a minute. He is also two decades older than me, which would also suffice to demonstrate his depth of knowledge in the field in which he has engaged for so long. He has the power to defeat the greatest of all the greatest that is why-"

Xena could not continue what she wanted to say when Sariya suddenly pinched her side causing her to scream because of the pain it caused.

"Do not even ponder about it; you will win because I believe in your brilliance and competence, and I assume you do as well." Sariya mentioned at the same time as she glared at Xena as if she was warning her, that made Xena smile. Because of the moments when the woman loses her self confidence and is no longer trusting in her ability, Sariya is always there to encourage her and restore her confidence. Of all the people Sariya always believed in her, even though she was quite ashamed of herself.

"Yes, I will do my best for you. It is forbidden to lose, isn't it?" Laughing, Xena said as she held Sariya's back, they were watching the league players make preparations for their tournament at the time, and Sariya's only advice to Xena was to always observe her adversaries and find out where it came from either their weaknesses, because no matter how brave and strong it is, it will be defeated instantly if you just use your jagged mind. And then what Xena said that losing is forbidden is quite true, because they promised each other that they should do their best in whatever they do, and that in the end they should always have the last ultimate laugh.

"Do your best for yourself." When Sariya heard the announcer declare that the tournament would begin, she quickly responded as she tapped Xena on the back.

Xena immediately left to go to the side of the stage because she would be the last to fight later, and four players would come first later to compete for strength and prowess. Before she finally left, she managed to wink at Sariya as if she was telling her that she was ready to fight, and win.

Sariya instantly gone through a period of the stage, where the competition would take place. When she entered the crowd, she went straight to the spot where she knew she'd have a proper view of Xena. Even though she could feel the heat in her hijab, which covered her entire face, it did not sway simply to see Xena compete in her third tournament. That's how she supports Xena, because it is her only friend who also considers her as a sister. Xena is the daughter of someone who has been serving Sariya's family for ten years, her mother always takes Xena with her whenever she serves Mallory so this was also the reason why they became close to each other, but at the last moment they knew they will no longer meet because of the chaos that prevails in their areas only then do they realize that they are truly friends.

"Good evening! Is everyone ready for the commencement of this league this year? If so, scream out! This league gauges a Werewolf's agility, intellect, and fighting capabilities, with the winner being proclaimed the year's deadliest Werewolf. Now, is almost everyone ready?" A tall, white woman broadcasted that, causing everyone in the surrounding to shout exceedingly loud in excitement, and if Sariya investigates the woman closely, she resides in Morva territory. Morva is neither an adversary nor an ally, yet they cling to anybody they believe has a significant role to play with them.

Some time has passed and up to these moments the spectators seem to be tireless in shouting the name of who they want to win the contest, and in these moments it is Sariya's long -awaited time.

"Now let's applaud the last players, they are Oliver Hyui, who has been participating in the tournament that is held every year for more than three decades. And do you know that he has never tasted defeat? Let's see if this is the year where her built -up image will be destroyed, her opponent will be Xena Yullivs and everyone who already lives in Mestre will be the proof of how adventurous and excellent this woman is. Now are you ready to watch and know who will win? If then, let's begin the fight!" When the announcer said that, the people suddenly shouted louder, because besides of Sariya this was also their long -awaited competition. Often the spectators focused their attention on Oliver, as this is what they always watched in the league and they knew that whoever could compete against it would immediately lose. But Sariya has a lot of trust in Xena, which is why Sariya does not even feel any nervousness in those moments.

When Sariya saw Xena come out on stage she immediately shouted loudly to show support to her friend, but she stopped shouting when she saw that Xena seemed to have just finished crying because her two eyes were swollen. Sariya could not help but worry, because she knew Xena if there was a problem and she was sure something had happened backstage so her friend became like that, it was far from the energy Xena had given her when it moved away from her.

"Do you want to say something to each other before the contest starts?" The announcer immediately asked, when Oliver and Xena finally got to the middle of the stage. Oliver immediately picked up the microphone and based on its gesture, you could immediately feel the arrogance it had.

"Me and Xena talked earlier in the back, and I told her, I am ready to lose and give her the victory as long as I can just claim her body. Who does not want a beautiful and sexy woman, right? It is embarrassing to bruise her body so I will just taste it." Oliver said he seems so proud uttering such words that caused the audience to laugh, while Xena's tears almost flowed in those moments which caused Sariya to clench her fist due to extreme anger.

Sariya knows how critical this issue is when it comes to Xena, when she was young she was coveted and raped several times by her own father and in these moments she still can not forget it and it still gives her trauma. So maybe this is just her reaction whenever just a few words are said that connect to what happened in her past, and Sariya is sure that Oliver said a lot more to her friend that was obscene backstage, which caused its eye to swell. Only Sariya knows what Xena went through, because even her own mother did not know about this incident because Xena did not want to ruin their family and besides of that she knew that it was only a small problem if it was brought to her mother. Without knowing that Xena had almost attempted suicide several times because of that incident, she has always felt dirty with herself because she still remembers how her own father molested her.

"But she does not seem to want to, do you want me to kiss her now?!" The man reiterated it again, and as he progressively drew his lips closer to Xena's face, the lady was unable to move due to her immense anxiousness, and her tears just continued flowing in those seconds.

After a time, everyone has been astounded when someone threw a stone between Oliver's lips, causing him to abandon his intention to kiss Xena because the agony in his mouth made him almost jump. Everyone was shocked and searched for who had thrown Oliver's mouth, almost everyone was gaping and almost not knowing how they would feel. Eventually because of the embarrassment Xena felt she immediately got off the stage and ran away. Wherever it goes no one knows, Sariya was planning to follow her when someone suddenly grabbed her arm.

"This woman is the one I saw stoning Oliver's mouth!"

Sariya just closed her eyes because of what she heard, she did not do anything when the creatures around her pushed her towards the stage where Oliver was, who was still suffering from the pain of his lip.

'Who are you?" Oliver immediately asked when Sariya finally got close to the stage, Oliver's eyes were full of anger because in his whole life he had only now experienced being stoned in the middle of so many people who believed in his ability and greatly admired him. Oliver could only see Sariya's eyes because she covered her whole face with hijab at those moments because she was hiding in that place, and she did not expect to come into this situation.

When Sariya glanced in the direction where Xena was escaping, she noticed that it was still attempting to escape and that it was still sobbing since Sariya had witnessed Xena's weakness due to the actions of the man in front of her, the anger she felt towards Oliver in those moments returned.

"The first creature to give you a taste of defeat." While many were demonstrating disdain towards Sariya, Sariya stated forcefully that the reason Oliver had laughed was because he thought the woman in front of him was playing around.

"She will fight in lieu of Xena, and I know this fight will be effortless; even with your face covered, you seem oddly appealing, and I will make sure when you lose, you are going to be mine -"

Oliver could not continue what he wanted to say when Sariya suddenly rushed at him and kicked him terribly on both sides of his face. It was no longer able to dodge because of the speed of the woman's movement as if it were following the rhythm of the wind. Everyone was taken aback by Sariya's prowess and the quickness with which it moved; they hardly noticed it approaching where Oliver was until the man sat down due to the power of Sariya's kick in his face.

"No one can even own me, even you being the dumbest creature I have ever met." Sariya said emphatically, even with her whole face covered it could see in her eyes the extreme anger that her eyes had almost turned orange, meaning she was about to transform into a Werewolf because of the emotion that enveloped her in those moments.

Oliver almost backs away when he sees the color of Sariya's eyes, everyone knows that all the Werewolves' eyes are golden yellow, and Alpha's eye color is red, and the next one is destined to be Alpha has orange eyes. The prophecy states that the next Alpha will be even more powerful and stronger than the Alpha appointed today, so that's exactly how Oliver reacted earlier. But because of his arrogance and fear of embarrassment he forced himself to stand up and fight, but when he unleashed a blow on Sariya's stomach it did not seem to hurt the woman. Even though he kept doing what he was doing as if the punch did not harmed Sariya, she could almost pour all his strength but still nothing was happening.

A few seconds also passed and Sariya decided to hold the man by the neck, and lift him into the air, she choked him tightly because the man's redness could be seen as a sign that he was wanting to breathe. Everyone remained silent and almost gaping in shock, they never thought they would witness how a mysterious woman beat a man whom no matter what tournament it is, he always won. However, he appears to be up against a worthy opponent who is more powerful than him without being contemptuous.

Sariya spat out words that made Oliver quiver in terror for the first time in his life before releasing the tightness of her strangle on his neck,

"Be fortunate that I am still in the perfect frame of consciousness, for if I am not, you may have been lying down at the moment and your soul has already gone to hell; remember that if you repeat your obscenity, I won't let you live again."