Mountains were all around. A shade of black passed by, a crow, looking down at the village bellow as it flew. It was a large kingdom the town was in.
Screams of cheering were heard alongside some gasps, indicating another battle of torture, a battle of the worthy.
It was a tradition. Each month, there would be a clash of swords, a battle, a ontest of who is stronger, in which: weak, poor, or completely sick people fought, fought for victory, and tried to prove themselves worthy.
A sick tradition nonetheless, since many had lost their lives in the clash. Only the strongest remained.
Those who won, which was only one person out of the many, would be rewarded with a piece of land and would become a knighKnightshts in such a nation were trained hard and received a life of what would be called luxury. The King personally took care of such matters since he knew a warrior needed to be well-fed to be strong. The number of candidates grew day by day. So, after half of the population being knights, he cut off recruitmen. The King decided to come up with a fun challenge instead, a tradition, the only way one could become a knight would be by pure strength.
The raven landed itself on a branch in an alleyway, turning its head to the sounds coming from the square. Swords dropped to the ground, already broken from intense fighting. There were only three people remaining and only one who would live.
People watched with interest and anticipation, like it was a hobby of theirs, not minding the already dead bodies being dragged away by the knights.
The battlers were sweating and shaking, tired from the constant movement. Since their swords had broken, they continued with bare hands, trying to stay alive and breathing even if it hurt.
One of the men was more brave and intelligent in combat, which was visible. Out of the twelve of them, he had already defeated five by himself. His streak didn't last. Just as he was about to knock one of his opponents, a sharp blade went through his chest, splattering blood all around. As if that wasn't enough, he was knocked down onto his knees. Everyone gasped, looking at the victim, the one who had killed one of the battlers.
It was forbidden to intervene the clash to those who weren't shoved into it since the beginning. It would result in death if someone had suddenly ruined the competition.
It was hard to make out the face of the person who intervened due to the hood over the head, but by the body shape, it was a woman. She was barefoot, dressed in white.
It was some shabby polearm, most likely picked up from the pile of useless weapons. Yet, it came in use to kill even if rusty.
The knights, of course, went straight into action, trying to catch the woman. They failed, each one of them being knocked over as she made her escape.
The two men who were left alive made their way out of there, too, being left alive due to the sudden interruption.
꧁⎩ 𓆩༺✧༻𓆪 ⎭꧂
The knights were the most ruthless out of all the current five nations, yet they were defeated by some woman wearing a white dress and a hood over her head. Even as the best, they were getting yelled at by their general.
"Over the years, this nation hosted all those sword clashes, not once has this happened. Not. Even. Once. Some woman interrupted, and you punks let her go because you apparently can't climb roofs?!" Antez, the general of Still Fire, mocked his own subordinates while eating.
They didn't even dare look up at him. "Whatever, it's just important no one finds out, especially the other generals and higher ups. If word gets out, it will also reach the King's ears, and it will be the doom to me."
꧁⎩ 𓆩༺✧༻𓆪 ⎭꧂
That one slip up didn't stop the tradition. The general was sure it was a one-time thing, but still assigned more guards to be at the square.
Just as they thought no one would interrupt, the same woman dared step forward and join the fight. Many had already thought she's there to save them, yet out of the six men that were still standing, she killed two, ripping them apart and staining her clothing.
The knights rushed forward, pulling their swords out and threatening her to surrender to them. She didn't listen, shaking her head. That was the wrong part, but not on her side. The men thought she'd be quite easy to just defeat, but her movements with the spear were more swifter, her body agile with it.
More men were rushing forward, but she didn't kill them, just knocked them over, as if playing with their lives. In no time, it seemed like an endless battle between her and the knights that just kept on trying. That's when she rolled her spear in the sky a few times and stomped her foot, making the rocks and pebbles shake in the entire square as if it were an earthquake.
The men fell over, alongside them, the people who were watching the match. Everyone was frightened, the woman making her way out of there slickly once again.
Magic. It was power unseen, and if word got out and reached the King's ears, he wouldn't be too happy. The general immediately declared to find the 'witch'.
It was the hardest task so far. No one knew where she was nor whom she was. That's at least what the knights have been told when they went around asking the villagers. There were a few villagers who knew the location, just didn't want to betray the one who had stood up against such people as the knights. And even, the King's will.
꧁⎝ 𓆩༺✧༻𓆪 ⎠꧂
It had been annoying Antez to the core how no one could find that darn woman. But the third time's the charm as they say. He was ready to catch her.
This time, he himself went over to the clash of swords, making every person there feel tense and afraid. These battles were until death, which meant many mothers and fathers had lost their sons, their children, be it already a child that is old and has a family, or just barely a teenager.
Just like currently, a young boy was intensely watching the battle, tears falling down his cheeks, his mother holding him by the shoulders. The person he was vouching for and hoping to win was his uncle.
Just as the uncle was about to win, he was knocked down by the remaining male who was larger than him. He was already exhausted and bleeding, with no energy to stand back up, so he gave up, ready to be met with his fate.
To his luck, as he opened his eyes, his opponent was already bleeding from the abdomen. A spear was shoved straight through him. The woman was back, making the general stand up to his feet.
Only one person remained, the boy's uncle. His mother quickly ran up to her brother, checking up on him as his opponent fell in front of him.
"You," Antez rushed forward, unsheathing his sword. "Do you know how much of a ruckus you've caused in this town?! It's time you surrender, I'm going to catch you one day even if you run, you witch."
She didn't budge, adhering her spear to the ground. Just as everyone was expecting a fight to go on or to burn the so-called witch, the young boy rushed in, standing in front of the woman, shielding her with his body, arms spread.
He looked barely six, hair a dirty blonde. His lip was busted at the corner, and he himself looked like a mess. Ripped clothes and grime on his body. Still, a cute one with puffy cheeks and wide eyes. Eyes the colour of the ocean, a deep blue that almost pierced through the person in front of him.
"Boy, what do you think you're doing? Eh? Do you have a death wish or something, standing up against a general. She's a witch and shall be burned." Antez almost laughed at the boy's courage, looking down at him and his mother, who was just as surprised as everyone there.
The boy didn't budge either, a pout on his lips. What a weird boy. "No, she's as much human as we all are. I won't let you touch her."
Antez raised a brow, feeling as if he had just been mocked by a child. A damn child. He laughed, looking up at the other people who began laughing alongside him, mostly out of fear.
"No way you just showed your teeth to a general, you jumped out of your swaddling cloth too soon. But very well, how about we let this 'human' speak up for themselves, hm?" He smirked, everyone's eyes falling to her.
Sadly, no words left her. She sighed, not even looking at the boy who was standing up for her. She turned to the side and just walked away, as if nothing had happened. The boy's eyes widened. He was hoping for some sort of reaction or coincide word. But she just left and walked down one of the alleyways.
"Well, it seems you were wrong and just gave the witch a chance to once again flee from my grasp. But even so, you are to pay the price for standing up against me in the first place. I do hope you learn your lesson, child."
The poor boy sadly nodded, keeping his head down in shame. His mother was crying, begging on her knees to spare him. But it was no use.
꧁⎝ 𓆩༺✧༻𓆪 ⎠꧂
The boy's mother was a known lady, since her husband spent most of his time in the tavern, just drinking and hanging out with his buddies. He wasn't the best husband. That much was visible, not just as in image, but also by her body.
Putting the plate of rice in front of her son, she sat down, holding her head in her hands. Her son was now useless, an invalid. She had to do something, make the woman pay the price since her son was the one to help her elude.
꧁⎝ 𓆩༺✧༻𓆪 ⎠꧂
While buying vegetables from the market, the woman was moving closer to a friend, whispering to her. "Noya, I heard you make very good deals at midnight."
"Huh? Hm... I do, surprisingly, I do," Noya picked up some tomatoes, checking the quality. "Why, do you want to make one too?"
"An arm would be very nice if... You know, you could lend a certain arm..."
She sighed, knowing what the problem was. She quickly paid up for the vegetables, bowing her head and walking away. "If you wish to find her, she's usually at the Fang cliff, just doing nothing and standing there, looking over the town."
"Thank you. You have no idea how much you're helping me." She took Noya's hands in hers, kissing them.
"You're a friend, so of course I'm up to lend a hand. Just remember to not tell anyone, not a single soul."
꧁⎝ 𓆩༺✧༻𓆪 ⎠꧂
As soon as her husband left, she took her son by the hand and left the house. It was a pretty lenghty walk. The Fang cliff was the highest point near the city, and other points were just full on mountains.
It was midday when she reached the cliff with her son next to her, tired from all the climbing. But it was worth it. The woman was indeed there, just at the end of the cliff, staring out to the horizon.
"I do hope I'm not interrupting, but I wish to speak with you about very important matters." The woman didn't even fret, just turning her head slightly. "So far, there have been many stories about you. Or so I've heard, saying how generous you were to give beggars gold while just walking through the alleyways. Then lend me that kindness, too..."
She finally turned around, facing the two in front of her. "My son, he stood up for you, trying to prove some kind of childish point. But that point has... h-has cost him a-an ar-" She was just choking on her words, tears streaming down her face. "I can't bear to see him like this! So heal him the way I've heard you heal... he helped, after all. "
The boy's left arm was truly gone, and now a cloth clipped to his clothes, around the shoulder, to hide the damage done, as if it was enough...
After just some stare down and tear wiping, the woman motioned the boy to walk forward, crouching down to match his level.
"Tell me, what is your biggest dream?" It was something the mother didn't except. She wasn't exactly here for that, after all.
"My biggest dream?...'' He looked up at the being before him with the eyes of an innocent child. Those same deep blue eyes... ''Hm, I guess, freeing this world from the Five Mad Kings. They're very cruel. My mommy could barely find someone who could sew up my wound since only the rich guys, those that have gold can reach out to a healer on a whim..."
It wasn't a reason, but the fact they were tyrannical and merciless was true, the monthly battles being one of the many examples of wrongdoing. But, of course, it was just one king and one nation, while in total, there were five.
"Very well. Then, I'll give you back your arm if you join me for a while, I'll fulfil your wish. Of course, this doesn't only depend on your decision, but also your mother's."
"Well..." She looked down, thinking it all through. "I don't think it's appropriate, but it should be better than to hear his own father shout while being drunk... I just... I hope you take care of him like you take care of the poor." She sighed, not really trusting her own words. "But... I'll allow it. My son deserves some freedom from all the abuse."
"Then, we shall spend our time together for now, boy."
Just like that, he could feel his left hand fingers twitching on his control. It was as if it had never disappeared. He was screaming inside out of happiness and was about to hug her, but she pulled back and shook her head.
"Oh... By the way, my name is Eden."