Chapter 5: Age of Seven
Morning.
Sun glares hard. Heat already on the stone.
Children cluster near the town square. A circle forms. Dust under bare feet.
Inside the circle: two boys. Wooden swords. Ready.
One has red hair. Freckles. Energy that won't sit still. Rio Hazelwood.
He points his sword at the other boy. Grins. "I'm gonna become strong like my big bro Ryan Hazelwood!"
The circle cheers.
At the edge: two kids watch.
A girl. Seven years old. Blue hair. Blue eyes. Lily Jioona.
Next to her: a boy. Slightly taller. Messy white hair. Black eyes. Luis Nimero.
The other boy in the circle steps forward. Usik Uraha. Taller than Rio. Smug. "My name is Usik Uraha. I'm stronger than you."
Then they jump.
Rio strikes right. Fast.
Usik dodges. Steps back. Jumps. Sword coming down.
Rio catches it. Wood clacks. Both stumble back.
Usik laughs. Pushes forward. Rio blocks. Blocks again. Feet slip.
One hit to the ribs. Light. But it counts.
Rio drops to one knee. Breathing hard.
The circle breaks. Girls run to Usik. "That was amazing!" "Teach me!"
Rio sits in the dirt. Clothes brown. Face red.
Later.
Under the big banyan tree. Middle of town. Shade thick.
Three kids sit. Legs crossed.
Rio pulls at his shirt. "I lost. Again."
Lily plucks grass. "You fight him every day. You lose every day."
Rio glares at the dirt. "Why can't I win? One time. Just one."
Luis leans back on his hands. Looks at the sky through leaves. "You lose because he trains."
Rio frowns. "I know that."
"He trains with someone at home," Luis says. "Every day."
Lily nods. "Can't your brother teach you, Rio?"
Luis shakes his head. "No. Ryan can't. He comes home five, six times a year."
Lily blinks. "Why?"
"Artesik Academy," Luis says. "He lives there."
Lily sighs. "So what now?"
Rio stands. Dusts his pants. Fails. "I'll train myself. Don't need anyone. I want to become strong like the Four Sages."
Luis looks up at him. Nods once. "Yeah. Why not."
Lily stands too. Brushes her skirt. Looks at the sun. "I'm going home. It's late."
Luis stands. "Yeah. Evening already. I'm going too."
He starts walking.
Rio stays under the tree. Then: "Wait. Luis."
Luis stops. Turns.
"If you're going home…" Rio walks fast to catch up. "Will you give me a new sword?"
Luis stares. "Now?"
Rio nods. Tired. "And… can you take me? Piggyback?"
Luis sighs. "Fine."
He crouches. Rio climbs on. Too heavy for seven.
They walk. Slow. Through the middle of town. Market still open. Stalls lit with lanterns. Night not here yet, but close.
Rio shifts on Luis's back. "Watch, Luis. That girl."
Luis looks. A girl runs past. Hair bouncing. Fast.
Rio whispers. "Did you see? Her… things were moving."
Luis keeps walking. "What?"
"You're still a kid too," Rio says.
"Do you think Lily is cute?" Rio asks.
Luis doesn't look. "I don't think about it."
"I do," Rio says. "She's cute."
Luis snorts. "Perv kid."
Rio laughs. "Hehe."
They reach the armory. Chris Armory. Sign swinging.
Luis lets Rio down. Rio's legs wobble.
They walk inside.
Smell of metal. Oil. Heat. Swords on walls. Armor on stands.
A man steps from the back. Tall. Full mask of steel. Hard armor on his chest.
Left side of the chest: two wings. Carved into the steel.
He stops in front of them. Looks down.
"So," the man says. Voice deep. Flat. "You're Luis Nimero."
Luis freezes. Steps back half a step. "Who are you?"
The man tilts his head. Mask gives nothing.
"Your mother is a retired Mage," he says. "Your sister is now in Artesik Academy. Your father owns this armory."
Luis's hands make fists. "How do you know that?"
Rio moves closer to Luis. Looks up at the man. "Who the hell are you?"
The armory goes quiet. Even the fire in the forge seems to wait.
---
To be continued...