Chronicles of the Blackblade 03

Chapter 3 – The End in Sight

“Oh yes right away.” he bumbled “here you are.” handing Zela a small rock – just small enough to hold in one hand, it had an engraved number on it.

“23?” Zela asked out loud to the man. “Yesyes don’t just stand there, get a move on or you wont make it.” The man said making shooing motions.

The girl took the hint and was soon on her away again. With the strange rock in hand and a sense of urgency she invoked her spell again and sped off down the street.

In short order she began overtaking other students and actually started to thank any god would cared to listen that she was one of the last.

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“I have to WHAT?!” Rose screeched at the poor man sitting at the desk, the sound of her voice alone attempting to blow the man away. “I said,” repeated the bored man, how many times did he have to do this already today? Couldn’t these stupid kids just do as their told? “That you have to take one of them rocks over there, and take it with you for the rest of the race.” “But how am I meant to run while carrying that?” Rose complained, looking at the rock, it was about the size of a melon, and it weighted quite a lot more. “That’s for you to figure out, you’re wasting your time arguing with me.”

Rose hated to admit it, but he was right, she strolled over to the rock and nudged it with her foot to test the weight – damn that was heavy, for her at least. She bent over and picked the rock up, it really was heavy but she didn’t have any trouble finding a place for her hands, seems like there was some indents or something underneath, holding the rock to her chest she started on what was looking to be a long run back to the courtyard.

Rose was beginning to get strained when she started overtaking other students, it didn’t take her long to figure out that she was lucky she wasn’t near the front…

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Dawn approached the gate, a huge crowd had already gathered, and the huge man from the start stood waiting, standing by a massive boulder, he seemed bored and was waiting for something.

There were many other older students around, it looked like they was supervisors for the race, they was trying –and failing to keep the crowd calm, Dawn was going to wait for some time, but one of these older students approached her.

“What’s happening here?” Dawn enquired, anxious to be away to finish the race. “Seems some of the contenders don’t like the next part of the race, but either way you have to take, hmmmm” he looks around, spots a rather large rock and starts walking towards it. “This is the item you need to take with you.” As he pats the rock, Dawn looked first at the man, then at the rock, and back at the man again. He showed no hint of joking.

The rock was kind of round-ish, about twice to nearly three times bigger then a pumpkin

Dawn sighed, and then walked wordlessly next to the rock, she pushed the rock to test its weight, it was heavy, but not heavy enough; she crouched down next to it gathering her strength. “I’m really sorry you know, it wasn’t my idea, I just get told which rock to give to the next person who comes along” he trails off “I think its really mean really! I mean how is a girl like you meant t-“ he stops talking, mouth dropped open in shock as Dawn lifts the huge rock.

“Sorry what were you saying?” Dawn asked innocently, barely being able to see over the rock in her hands. “aaaaahhhhh-hhhh-oooo.” The man tries to speak, but fails. “I’m sorry” Dawn says to the man, “I’m going to go now, thank you for your help.” With that Dawn turns, and starts into a jog to the huge man.

At seeing such a small girl pickup the rock, without complain and start towards him, the huge man leading the race picks up the huge boulder next to him and hefts it above his head, his muscles being pulled taunt through his skin.

“Look you group of worthless maggots!” he yells, catching everyone’s attention. “Look at you all whining like dogs! Look at her” he motions at Dawn. “She’s much smaller then the lot of you, but she’s only just got here and she’s ready to go!” He starts bench-pressing the boulder above his head as a sign of strength. “Now the rest of you get your damn rocks and MOVE IT!” with that, he turns, runs off down the road holding the huge boulder above his head and let off a cry that echoed around the street.

Only two others was ready to go with him, one was a thuggish brute of a girl who looked older then the other competitors, she was angry, very angry in fact, short of wanting to kill, she had a look someone who wouldn’t shed a thought of killing anyone, she had a larger rock then the others, bordering on boulder size, but she was also big enough to carry it.

The other was a boy, he was well built but short, kind of stocky, he had a mean look about him, but a look in his eyes that said otherwise, he had a rounder boulder, smaller then the girls but still bigger then Dawns rock, he was dressed in a pair of peasants shorts, his shirt hanging from his belt, sweat glistened from his torso after all the running so far, his skin a tanned golden colour.

The large girl took off first, holding the boulder in front of her, the boy seemed to have trouble getting his hands around his boulder, it stuck out too far and he couldn’t seem to get his grip; concerned but unable to really help, Dawn trotted off down the street following the gladiator in front.

It was a few minutes later when she could hear yelling behind her, “oove” it was saying? Dawn couldn’t hear too well over a loud noise behind her. Suddenly she felt it, her spiritual senses screamed at her to move, she were in danger where she currently stood; she dived to the side of the street, rock and all, and just in time as well.

The boulder rolled past, and behind it the boy following, Dawn had to admit it was a good idea. The boy was rolling the boulder down the street; the loud noise was as the boulder hit one of its less rounded sides and bouncing out of control and quickly approaching the gladiator in front, it was heading straight for him!

The boy tried to slow down the boulder as it rolled but it was too late, it was picking up speed and heading straight for the gladiator, he stopped running and turned to face the runaway boulder, not even bothering to drop the boulder he was carrying, he lowered himself into a stance, as the boulder approached he let off a tremendous howl.

“NONE SHALL PASS!” he bellowed, the runaway boulder stopped dead in its tracks, as if it had hit an invisible wall; the boy caught up with it just as Dawn did the same.

“What. Are. You. Playing. At.” The gladiator yelled at the boy, “You’re meant to pick up the rock. Carry it to the end. And put it down again, its not hard!” he said condescendingly.

A grin kept across the boy’s face, Dawn cringed, that could only mean one thing; he intended to argue.

“Well.” Began the boy, “We were told to race around, and at the gates we’d be given a item to return with, Ole Berty didn’t say we had to carry it, only that we had to return with it.” He finished with a smug grin.

“But.. Well..” he was tongue tied, the gladiator didn’t know what to say, but then he seemed to think of something and a smile crept across his face. “Ha! You look like the kind that wants to be a warrior, yet you cant even pickup a rock like that!” his smile let both Dawn and the boy know that he thought himself victorious and he was about to turn around unless the boys retort hit him. “Actually, I was thinking of learning how to do that nifty dance the mesmer’s do, and since carrying a rock has nothing to do with dancing, why should I carry it?”

That was it, the gladiator was stumped; he turned and continued the race while the boy rolled his boulder along. Dawn continued to carry hers, as it was too small to roll along.

It wasn’t long afterwards that they arrived back at the courtyard; Dawn took up place near the podium, she put her rock on the floor and used it as a seat, the boy had stopped to talk to a guard.

He soon came rolling his boulder along and sat down next to Dawn, the gladiator was nowhere to be seen.

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Rose was tired, no, in-fact she was absolutely shattered, the rock was very heavy for her, she had trouble keeping her grip on the rock, her hands were sweaty, and she was hot, very hot infact as she only just now noticed the clear blue sky and the sun shining down on her.

Rose had already passed by numerous other hopeful students, their rocks of various shapes and sizes littered across the street, many of whom who had rocks too big for them to carry for any serious length of time, many sat panting on the sidewalks gasping for breathe, trying to summon up the strength to finish, Rose soon joined them.

She collapsed at the side of the road, letting the remaining contents of the canteen drip into her mouth – for the third time, her strength was fading, she could hardly stand, her hands worn and painful, her back aching. This was it she thought, she looked around; there was also many other students in various conditions close by, they too had pushed themselves too far, and was now paying for it in sweat, blood and in some extreme cases – tears.

Rose started to drift off, her vision blurring.

She saw a group of boys who had formed a ring around a small girl in a cute white dress, her hair well kept with a pearl headband, she was wearing a pearl necklace and bracelets. The girl was extremely cute; looking like a little angel, her black hair giving contrast to the pure white clothes, but the boys had not surrounded her for that fact, no. Rose remembered this scene, it was the day that started all this off….

That day she had gotten beaten to a inch of her life, her jewellery was stolen from her, the dress ripped, she laid beaten and broken on the floor when she was found by one of the tutors. She had argued her case, that they had robbed and beaten her, but there was political intrigue going on, and it was arranged for an older trusted student to claim that she had insulted and started fights with some of the boys. It was said that she got what she deserved…

And she was punished for something not of her doing; she was kicked out of the tutorage and sent to a private school, her friends had left her, and the worse part: her parents did not believe her and punished her.

That was the day she knew that she was well and truly alone, she could not count on anyone else, that was the day she refused to wear anything but black and a grim look.

Rose opened her eyes with a start, her strength had suddenly returned and she stood proud and strong, she picked her rock up off the floor and vowed to finish the race at all costs.

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When Rose entered the courtyard it was filled with around fifty students already, most scattered around, sitting or lying on the floor, she walked over to a part of the wall that was unused and sat against it, she had done it, the first hurdle was over.

She will complete the course, she will learn how to defend herself, she will return to reclaim what is rightfully hers, and she WILL have her revenge.

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Zela sped past others on the street, she noticed the different sizes of rocks and in some cases, huge boulders, she got many a strange look as she ran past, some even noticing that she had a tiny rock compared to theirs, they wondered why her rock was so small, but none had the strength to stand or give chase save for one.

He had saw her coming down the road, spotted the size of the rock she carried and put himself in the middle of the street, Zela didn’t believe she would be able to get past without problems, and she slowed herself as she approached.

”I don’t know how you got such a small rock, but give it to me. Now.” the boy stated, he was in a crouched stance already, fairly burly. He was ready to dive and tackle the girl if she tried to pass him.

Zela waited, she knew she didn’t have time for this, but she also didn’t really want to get hurt, all it would take is one twisted ankle or a banged knee and that would be it.

“You know, even if I did give you this rock, you wouldn’t reach the courtyard in time anyway, I mean look at you; you’re completely exhausted.” Zela hoped he was the diplomatic type. “I would, I have enough time, give me the rock now.” Was the reply, Zela sighed, she didn’t want to do this the hard way. “Look, I don’t want to hurt you, get out of my way.” She snapped, rapidly scouring her brain the spell she wanted. “Haha, as if, a little girl like you? Hurt me? Don’t make me laugh.” The boy laughed, Zela began to gather her magical energies.

“Just give me the rock and I wont have to-“ he was cut off mid sentence as a rock the size of a coconut landed on the back of his head, he collapsed to the floor with a thud.

“Yeeeeeeaaaaaahhhhhh take that” the small girl behind the boy squeaked. “Don’t you dare pick on us girls, we’ll show you whose boss!” she squeaked more, while jumping up and down on the spot, “We will! And then we’ll.. er,.. well we’ll” she mumbled off, forgotten or not even knowing what she was going to say.

Zela laughed, the sight of this small almost tiny girl, her bright spiky blonde hair, piercing ice blue eyes and squeaky voice had pushed her over the edge, she released the gathered energy and relaxed herself, she wouldn’t have any trouble getting past this midget in her purple pinkie armless top and short skirt.

“oooooooohhh” the girl squeaked some more, pulling Zela out of her laughter, “I just hate big bullies hmph” the girl crossed her arms over her chest, causing another bout of giggles from Zela.

“Thanks for that.” Zela said as she got herself back under control “I really didn’t want to hurt him.” “well that’s noooo prob-lem-o.” she said, her high pitched cheery voice prolonging each word. “But, what was you going to do to him?” she asked questionably. “Quickly lets go.” Zela said, as she started running towards the small girl, “We’re not going to make it if we stand around here chatting.” Avoiding the question completely. “Ohh noo, I forgot about that!” she squeaked, picking up her rock and chasing Zela down the street.

The town gates were in sight, but also so were the guards who were preparing to close the gates! “Quickly!!” Yelled Zela, “We’re not going to make it at this rate!” The tiny girl had managed to keep up rather well; she was fast for her tiny size. “Oh I know; I’ll help! Here hold this for me.” The smaller girl says, tossing the rock to Zela, and pulling a wand out from somewhere. “Where the hell did you get that?” Zela asks after she finished securing the other rock under her arm like a rugby ball, it was like she pulled it from thin air, or out of… somewhere, the tiny girl only replied by sticking her tongue out.

“Oooook, heeeeerrrreeee we gooooo!” she says, swishing her wand around her, was the end broken or was it just supposed to be bent like that… she began chanting loudly. “Wind of wonder; Wind of Wisdom; Take us forward on post haste; Lift us onwards on your wake!” and with a round circular swing she brought her wand around behind her and then pointed forwards, towards the academy.

Zela’s heart sank, she was stunned, she had no idea anyone used chants like that anymore, and not one as poor as that; wild magical energies surging everywhere. But it seemed to do something as the wind started blowing her onwards, softly at first, but gathering strength rapidly, soon Zela felt more like she was getting pushed along, and was fighting to retain her balance.

She didn’t need her balance much longer however.

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Zela heard a scream from behind her, she didn’t have to turn around to see what it was, and she didn’t have to guess that it was from the tiny girl behind her, the poor girl flew past her three seconds later as the wind had picked her up and was hurling her towards the academy at a very high speed, Zela soon joined her as she felt her feet leave the ground as the wind also picked her up and carried her forwards as well.

Faster and faster they flew, hurdling towards the academy at insane speeds, Zela struggled to keep her eyes open, the speed forcing her to close her eyes, she realised that they was going to crash into the academy at the rate they was going, but from the shrieking of the tiny girl in front, she was in no condition to stop it!

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