Chapter 1-The Duel day

The sun was rising. The birds were singing. My skin was freezing by the cold air as I was walking down to the village. Mornings were always my favourite time of the day. Without noise, peacefully, you are able to reflect on yourself and think all those things that only in silence can manifest into thoughts. To look back to your past, to think about the present and dream about your future...but today there was no future. Today is the duel day.

Every 9th of October in my village, Yurshfa, teenagers duel to death so the strongest ones will have the chance to serve the royale army. My step dad convinced my mum that if I trained for a year I will be able to get at least one kill and then, with the money that I'll get from that, I could repay her debts. My mum at first didn't want me to get involved in that mess but she knew we didn't have any other options. My three years old step sister, Ari will not survive another winter if we continue being poor. We need the money, however, if ever had the chance to kill someone now it's gone. Last week my opponent was announced to me. Luvurius. One of the strongest. A promising warrior. A fire sword. My sword hasn't manifested my ability yet. It once used to belong to my brother. He was a water sword and he was killed the same day two years ago by Luvurius brother, Armerium. It's like life wants us all to be killed by that family.

I finally arrived at the village. The preparations had started. People were running around carrying stuff, others were decorating the market and a mini orchestra right to the seven sided arena was trying to find the right pitch. I found myself thinking "what a nice day to be alive" until i saw some mothers with their sons crying in the corner and people around trying to comfort them. I tried to look away but then I catched some people looking at me, their faces were telling me everything I already had in mind. I didn't have a chance. An old woman whispered to me as I was passing by, "may gods have mercy on you my child". I felt my heart breaking in two, my throat sore. I wanted to cry, I wanted to hug her and tell her to hide me away, to a place where people don't kill each other for money and glory. Somewhere safe...then suddenly I felt an arm touching my shoulder. I stopped. A man was looking at me. His eyes were bright and scary and his face had a lot of wrinkles...you could tell he had a hard life. He was trying to tell me something but he couldn't. I tried to break the silence but I felt like I had no voice. He closed his eyes. A single tear fell. He gave me a last look before he turned his head straight and continued his way opposite of the arena, which was located in the center of the village. Now I remember...he had lost his son this couple of years ago. I kept walking until I reached the square where Jaqup's tavern was. There, surrounded by people, I saw him feasting and shouting like a victorious hero, Luvurius. 

I immediately took a step back as I saw him there. I didn't want to have my last meal with the person who's going to kill me in the next hour a few tables away from me. My mind was racing. I got panicked and, for a moment, we had an eye contact. There was no choice to be made. If I backed down now it means I lose in and out of the arena, so I kept walking. Then I heard him shouting, "hmm I think a ghost entered this tavern", everyone suddenly looked at me, my face turned red, then they all start laughing out loud. The humiliation was unbearable. I only want to have my last meal made by the best chef of the village in peace, and this is what I have to go through? Luckily for me Jacup stepped out of the kitchen to see what was happening. He was a big guy with big brown eyes and a red beard almost as long as his height and he was so short that people were calling him dwarf even if he wasn't one. He saw me standing in the corner while I was looking for an empty table. He waved at me and I waved back. Then we heard Luvurius shouting again, "Hey Dwarf!" Do you know what a ghost eats because one is here right now and wants to order". The people around him started laughing out loud again. At this point I just wanted to disappear. I haven't done anything to deserve this behavior. I was trying to look unbothered but then I saw Jacup smiling and when the crowd went quiet again he answered, "you're speaking very proudly for someone who duels ghosts to join to the royale army". Everyone went silent. I gasped. Jacup was trying his best to not laugh out loud. Luvurius face turned red. He looked around waiting for someone of his supporters to say something. You could feel it. They all wanted to laugh but they didn't want to risk it. Luvurius has a promising future and they are all want to be remembered as his friends. Best think they should do is to stay silent. Luvurius grabbed his sword. Sparks appeared around it. Next was fire. "This is not the arena Luvurius, this is my tavern, so keep that sword down if you want to keep coming here." Jacup said. Luvurius knew he was right. Some people were already around him trying to calm him down. Eventually he put his sword back to the scabbard. He walked furiously to the exit however, before he got out, he turned at me and shout, "Can't wait to make you suffer with my flames like Farafal did to his stolen kingdom!". My heart froze. His supporters went outside too. The tavern was left empty with me, Jacup and some alcoholics. He sat next to me with a plate. "Rice with wild boar meatballs and mushrooms, right?" He said to me. I looked at it. It was actually the one order I was getting every time when I was eating here. But my appetite was gone. The fire, the threat, the laughs...I couldn't eat anything now. 

- I can't eat Jacup, my appetite is gone. I am sorry. I said to him.

- Of course you can! He said. You need to eat! He answered.

- Why? So I can die with a full stomach.

- You won't die!

- You know, I came here today to order something special for my last meal but-

- And that's why I made you the usual. Because you're going to come here tomorrow and the next day and the day after and so on... because you will survive Zaram!

- Please...I said in a trembling voice. Don't start this again. Nobody will benefit by giving me false hopes. You know it's not worth it. He's going to destroy me, especially after that incident.

- Aim for the legs. He said. He may wear armor but he is very clunky. I saw him practicing a couple days ago...

- He Is a FIRE SWORD! I shouted. I am a lost sword, I have no ability, and even if I had I wouldn't be able to do much. I am helpless!

Some of the alcoholics had turned their looks at us while we were arguing.

- He is arrogant and stupid! That's your advantage! Jacup answered me back.

- Do you remember what happened to Luro?! I continued. He was a water sword and still got brutally killed by Armerium.

- Armerium was much tougher. Luvurius is strong but he is also dumb. You have a chance to win! Can't you see it?

At that point I was done trying to explain to him how things were. He was delusional and he didn't want to do anything to change that. I was just being realistic, though, something was troubling me. Is he right? Do I really have a chance to kill Luvurius? Or did I also become delusional? A part of me wanted to fight just for Jacup. He is the one of the few persons that had really taken care of me all those years when my family couldn't. My mother is known for her difficulty keeping a man around. My father had left her before I was borned and now my step dad wants to get rid of me like all the other men that came before him. My mother's debt is only an excuse for him to let me join the arena today. Jacup has always been supporting us financially and he could always find some time to make me a free meal, even on the busiest days. Now he wants me to do something for him. To fight. I think after all those years I really own him. 

Suddenly the trumpets went really loud. My blood turned cold. Jacup looked at me. "It's time". I looked behind me. My family was waiting for me outside. My mother was crying. It was unforgivable for her to let me take part in that mess. Once you put the name in that list there is no going back. My step dad on the other hand was just acting sad. He couldn't even hide his excitement that I will be gone in a few minutes. Lastly, my little step sister, Ari was looking around her in aw. She has not seen the village that beautiful ever before. I stood up. I walked outside. Jacup followed me. The sun had come up. The bright daylight almost blind me as I walked out of the tavern. "You should hurry and say goodbye to them" Jacup told me. "The first match looks like it's gonna end very soon" He continued. I looked at the arena. It was true. The preacher was done with his blessings. Two teenagers were in the center looking at each other. One of them was my classmate, Okpedr. A lost sword. The other one was three years older than him. He was carrying a big ax. Its shape was ugly and scary. It must be poisonous. Everyone knew it was over. The we heard the referee shouting. "Let the glory one win the duel!'' The crowd went wild. It was so harsh to sit and think that grown ass adults were cheering for the death of a teenager. I wanted to stay for Olpedr but I had to rush to find my mother. Time was running. Luckily she found me first. I hugged her. "Oh my gods I am so sorry Zaram, I am so sorry..." She said to me while she was crying. "It's okay." I said as calmly as I could. Then someone grabbed my leg. It was Ari. She wanted to play with me. Tears start falling from my eyes. I patted her head and kissed her on her cheek, then I walked away. I really didn't want to get anymore emotional. I heard her crying. She tried to follow me but my mum grabbed her in her arms to stop her. Suddenly I heard a scream. Okpedr was dead in just two minutes. Two people were dragging his body out of the arena. Now it was my time.

Jacup appeared in front of me ready to show me the way to the entrance of the arena. I started following him. My hands were shaking. I could feel my palms sweating and my heart beating fast. I could see the people around me, but not their faces. I could hear their talks, but not their words. I could see the sky, but not my future. Suddenly I realized that I was inside the chestahedron. Luvurius was ten meters away from me. People were cheering for him. I grabbed my sword. It felt much heavier than the last time I carried it. My mind was racing until I heard Jacup's voice behind me "Aim for the legs!" Then I heard the referee's words "Let the glory one win the duel!" and so I repeated silently to myself "Let the glorious one die in this one".