Be'lana the Clown Strong Woman's Arc

Chapter 2 of 2

Be'lana arrived at the stone clearing to find someone already there. A man stood in the center, spinning a staff overhead while a small crowd watched from the tree line. His movements were smooth and practiced, designed to impress. She stopped at the edge of the clearing and waited. The champion had built a platform against the far trees, two stories high with railings and lanterns that swayed when he moved. He climbed it between demonstrations, addressing the crowd like they'd paid admission. Be'lana walked forward and set her maul on the ground between them. The staff spinning stopped. The crowd went quiet. She didn't speak, didn't explain what she was building or why this mattered. She just stood there, and the silence said everything the platform couldn't. The champion stepped down. He understood what kind of fight this would be.