«We are sorry to you and Captain Helgi», Bradley said, without feeling sorry at all. «My friend sometimes is lose in fight».Refur nodded, looking bored. «It is skiljanlegt. A warrior’s blood can boil during combat».«I hope no more rumors will is there». Tetsuo would have said it better, but Bradley only cared that the message was clear. He stared at the two Okkars who had spouted bullshit earlier and had proposed the match.«No more rumors», Refur replied.That was enough for him. He was fed up with the grandstanding and political games, and gave his full attention to Tetsuo, who had come back to his seat and was trying to put his clothes back on.«Sir, there is something I have to—»«Stop», Elisa interrupted him. «Sit down. Leave the clothes. How are you feeling?» She began to examine his body, her hands going through familiar motions.«I’m good, ma’am. Nothing broken, I think».«I’ll be the judge of that. What’s your name? Where are you now?»«Tetsuo Kusanagi, ma’am. I’m in the Circle Hall of Gerad’s castle, on an alien planet».«What were you doing two minutes ago?»«I was fighting against Helgi, the captain of the Castle Guard, ma’am».«How did you lose the match?»«I didn’t. I won by submission, with a triangle choke, ma’am».«Any headache, nausea, or dizziness?»«No, ma’am»Okay, she’s checking for a possible concussion, Bradley quickly connected the dots and understood the reason for the barrage of questions.«Look at my fingers. Can you see them well? Everything focused?»«Yes, ma’am»«How many am I holding up?»«Four».«On a scale from one to ten, how tired are you?»«Physically, six. Mentally? Nine».«Any problem with the lights or the noise?»Tetsuo looked around for a moment, then closed his eyes as if to concentrate on listening. (...)