Contents
Chapter Fifty-Six
Overview
Ruko’s duel with the Visitor goes badly as Yasila’s calculated presence with the Dragons undermines him. Seeking purpose beyond the throne, Ruko finds none—until Benna, disguised among vendors, cheers him. Her irreverent support restores his spirit, reframing his motivation and shifting the fight’s emotional stakes.
Summary
As the bell rings, Ruko spots his mother, Yasila, seated prominently with two hooded Dragons. Her poised presence—pearls, serene smile—shatters his usual fighting immersion, and he concludes she has orchestrated his death. The Visitor, fueled by singular purpose, overwhelms Ruko with superior technique and relentless intent.
Between rounds, the near-silent crowd senses doom. Rivenna holds back, trusting Ruko’s training but showing rare anxiety. Ruko, bruised and aching, seeks clarity through his inner voice. Pressed to name what he truly needs, he defaults to “the throne,” then falters; without a deeper truth, the voice warns, he will die.
Resigned, Ruko returns with a sword and asks the Visitor why killing him matters so much, suspecting Yasila promised the Dragons their stolen Dragonscale. The Visitor offers nothing. Ruko searches the stands for any acknowledgment from Yasila and receives none, deepening his isolation.
Then Ruko notices a disguised vendor pushed aside near Yasila: Benna, hair capped and spectacled. She grins, jigs encouragement, and shouts “Team Ruko!” before slipping away. The absurdity breaks Ruko’s despair; he laughs as he once did, recognizing this spark as the missing need—human connection and belief—rekindling his resolve.
Who Appears
- RukoProtagonist; loses ground to the Visitor, doubts his purpose, then regains resolve after Benna’s bold, comic encouragement.
- The VisitorDragon-aligned opponent; conceals skill until the match, fights with lethal focus and twin blades to end Ruko.
- YasilaRuko’s mother; sits with Dragon contingent, her poised presence suggests orchestration of Ruko’s death, offers him no acknowledgment.
- BennaAlly in disguise as a vendor; publicly cheers Ruko (“Team Ruko!”), jolting him back to laughter and purpose.
- RivennaAbbess and Ruko’s trainer; holds back her contingent, trusts his training but shows first signs of anxiety.