The next day, the training ground was filled with the energy of hopeful orphans. Alex Williams, the Zairo-rank Marion, stood at the center, preparing to oversee sparring matches. The point was to see who had the most combat skill among the new Barwo-rank aspirants. They were all equal in rank, but raw talent varied.
Brad stood to the side, his arms crossed. He watched with a bored expression, his mind elsewhere. Why am I even thinking about that loser? he thought, the image of Kael's heartbroken face flashing in his mind. He did it to himself. He gets beaten because he doesn't know when to quit.
"Start!" Alex barked.
The first duel began between two boys, Mario and Simon. They clashed with wooden swords, a clumsy display of enthusiasm over skill. Mario landed a sharp strike on Simon's leg, ending the match.
"Over! Next!" Alex shouted, his voice routine.
As another duel began, a figure appeared at the edge of the field. It was Kael. His face was still bruised, but his eyes burned with a fierce, desperate light.
Alex spotted him and frowned. "Hey! Stop, boy! Where do you think you're going?" He thought, It's the kid from yesterday. The one with no magic. What is he doing here?
Kael walked right up to the Marion, his voice tight with a toughness he didn't feel. "I want to be a Marion. Please. Let me train with them. I know I don't have magic power or swordsmanship, but please... let me try. Please." He bowed deeply, his forehead almost touching the dirt.
A stunned silence fell over the students. Alex felt a pang of pity. "Sorry, boy, but—"
Before he could finish, Brad's voice cut through the air. "Sir. Can I say something?"
All eyes turned to him.
"If he can beat me," Brad said, his gaze fixed on Kael, "will you let him be a Marion?"
Alex was shocked. "What are you saying? That's—"
The students erupted in chatter. "Is he crazy?" "A normal human against a Zairo-rank?" "He'll get killed!"
Brad ignored them. "Please, sir."
Kael looked at Brad, confusion and a flicker of hope in his eyes.
Alex sighed, seeing no way out. "Fine. Okay. But if he has no magic, he must at least show swordsmanship. That we can train." It was a flimsy excuse, a way to grant a hopeless request.
Kael's face lit up. Yes! A chance! This is all I wanted!
He grabbed a wooden practice sword. Brad grabbed another. They faced each other in the center of the field, the air crackling with tension.
Alex shouted, utterly confused by the situation. "Start!"
Brad shot forward, fast and powerful. Kael scrambled backward, his mind racing. He's so fast! How can I even attack him?
Brad's thoughts were a storm of frustration. Kael, this is your last chance. Just beat me. I know you can't, but try. And I can't show myself weak. Because if you become a Marion like this... you'll be dead in no time against a Bore.
Brad closed the distance. A sharp crack echoed as his sword hit Kael's wrist. Kael cried out in pain and stumbled back. But Brad was already behind him. Another strike, this time to his back. "Agh!"
Kael tried to swing his sword, but he was too slow, too unskilled.
"Sorry. Too late," Brad said, his voice cold. He thrust his sword forward, the tip hitting Kael square in the mouth.
Kael spat blood onto the dirt.
"Stop—!" Alex began to shout.
Kael held up a hand, signaling for the match to continue. He wiped his mouth, his eyes blazing with defiance.
Brad stared, a new anger rising in him. How arrogant you are! You know you'll lose, but your ego... your stupid ego is the one thing that won't let you fall, even if it kills you.
He attacked again. This time, Kael managed to get his sword up, deflecting the blow. With a desperate shout, he lunged, aiming a wild swing at Brad's leg.
Thwack. The wood connected solidly.
Brad grunted in surprise, hopping back on one foot. A murmur of shock went through the crowd. Alex's eyebrows rose. Wow. I didn't expect that.
How did he do that? Brad thought, shaking off the sting.
In that split second of distraction, Brad's expression hardened. This had to end. He pushed off with his good leg, putting his full Zairo-rank strength into a final, sweeping arc. The wooden sword connected with the side of Kael's head with a sickening thud.
Kael's world exploded into white pain, then went black. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious, blood trickling from his mouth and nose.
As if on cue, a cold rain began to fall.
"The match is over!" Alex's voice was heavy. "The winner is Brad."
Brad stood over Kael's fallen body, the rain soaking his hair. He looked down at the boy who refused to stay down. Why? he thought, a strange emptiness in his chest. Why do you keep pushing yourself?
But Kael couldn't hear him. As darkness swallowed him, only one thought echoed in his mind, a silent scream against the unfairness of it all:
Why does this happen to me? Am I that predictable? Why? Why? WHY?!
(Chapter 3 Fin)