The Old Man's eyes snapped to Maran's. The disconnected, vacant expression was gone. Hatred and rage boiled in the Old Man's stare. His frail body started to tremble. His muscles clenched and spasmed. Maran took a step backward, unsure what to expect. The roar of the crowd was gone from his mind for the first time since he had become a gladiator. He watched in confusion while the old man rocked back and forth on his feet, before launching himself forward. He propelled himself into the air with the Glaive and dragged it after him. He made a perfect somersault in the air, the tip of the Glaive only barely brushing the sand before sweeping over him… And then the huge weapon was coming down straight towards Maran with its full weight behind it. Caught flat footed, Maran had no choice but to raise his shield. It had held against the Glaive already. And yet he felt a spark of fear deep within him as he raised the slab of steel above his head and braced for impact.

The Old Man's eyes snapped to Maran's. The disconnected, vacant expression was gone. Hatred and rage boiled in the Old Man's stare. His frail body started to tremble. His muscles clenched and spasmed. Maran took a step backward, unsure what to expect. The roar of the crowd was gone from his mind for the first time since he had become a gladiator. He watched in confusion while the old man rocked back and forth on his feet, before launching himself forward. He propelled himself into the air with the Glaive and dragged it after him. He made a perfect somersault in the air, the tip of the Glaive only barely brushing the sand before sweeping over him… And then the huge weapon was coming down straight towards Maran with its full weight behind it. Caught flat footed, Maran had no choice but to raise his shield. It had held against the Glaive already. And yet he felt a spark of fear deep within him as he raised the slab of steel above his head and braced for impact.

Carver's sworn enemy was disorder. The corruption, pain, and death that mortals brought to each other time and again. Following the example of his former master, he was striving to find a solution, a way of fixing civilization, of creating something truly eternal.

Carver's sworn enemy was disorder. The corruption, pain, and death that mortals brought to each other time and again. Following the example of his former master, he was striving to find a solution, a way of fixing civilization, of creating something truly eternal.