Chapter 2: Combat

Chapter 2: Combat

"Sacrifice can't be called as it without an equal cause," Frost thought to himself. Saving life may not cause his death, but it lost the most important aspects of his life. But who knows? It's not just him who has no spiritual connection--there's a ton of humans who lived peacefully happily without it.

The wooden door creaked out as Frost went inside the cabin. Wearing a long face, he let his body fall on the bench, resting his nape against the backrest, and closed his eyes.

"Oh, Frost, there you are. How's the training?" Ferra, his mother, greeted from the kitchen while preparing the knee-leveled wooden table. After, she went into the living room to welcome them--which she expected that her son was with her husband. "Where is your father?"

Frost acted like a deaf. And so, Ferra anticipated what just happened. She sighed, "Oh, Barien. He pushed his son too much again." Then she went back to the kitchen.

Ferra went out the pot from the hearth and put it on the table. "Don't worry, sweety, I made your favorite dish."

"Hi, Tita!" Winter suddenly went inside and closed the door. She calls Ferra "Tita," which means "Auntie."

"Oh, Winter, I'm glad that you're here. You're lucky that I've prepared much of this Reindeer Stew," she said while stirring the pot and then tasting the broth.

Winter noticed how unusual was his friend. "Tita, what happened to Frost?"

Barien finally arrived.

Ferra sighed, "Ask my 'super kind' husband," she said in sarcasm while emphasizing the word "super kind."

"He's just in his tantrums," he defended and just went straight into the kitchen to hug his wife. "Aren't you embarrassed acting like that in front of your crush, Frost Sansvania?"

Frost quickly fixed his posture while cheeks turned red, "Ama?" he complained.

Winter giggled, as well as Ferra.

"Torpe!" Barien added while tasting the stew. Torpe refers to the men who have no courage to tell their romantic feelings to their loved ones. "Hmm... I felt addicted to your cooking, Mahal." Mahal means love or darling.

Ferra slapped him lightly, "Stop flattering me. What did you do to our son!?"

Barien didn't answer her question. "Come now, the stew will get cold."

Frost sighed and leaned back again. But Winter suddenly held his hands, "Let's go before Tito can say another thing!" she jested and chuckled.

Frost looked away. It's warm--Winter's hands. Before his friend would notice his red cheeks, he stood up while bowing down and let Winter lead him on the table. Then they ate together.

Frost woke up at midnight and carefully peeked in his parent's room. Her mother sleeps deeply while his father is gone. And so he went outside their house.

Except for the moonlight, only the torch Frost holding gave a guiding light in his direction. And after a few minutes, he saw a group of glistening orange lights.

While stepping near to it, he started to hear splashes, shattering ice, and mixed murmurs of different voices.

"The winner is--Winter Woods!" This is the voice of his father. Then followed by claps and applause of the audience.

When he finally arrived, he saw a familiar girl surrounded by their fellow youths, celebrating her victory.

Winter sensed his presence, so she looked at him and ran in his direction, "Frost! I wish you had seen our fight! I won!" Then she hugged him.

Frost was frozen while feeling his cheeks were burning. It's because of her warm body that wrapped around him. It took long, yet no one dared to destroy their moment for each other.

"Frost," Barien interrupted. That's the only time they realized their situation, so she quickly detached herself. They both stepped back from each other and looked away while wearing red cheeks.

"You're next." Then Barien gave him the bow and quiver full of arrows.

Forst creased his forehead as he scanned the weapon and looked at his father. "Ama, no, I can't use that!"

Barien can do nothing but sigh, "Then use your barefoot and fists. Prove to everyone that you're still useful without a power!"

Frost already gave up. These skills his father taught him won't change the elder's mind of abandoning him. Because first of all, combat is forbidden to be learned. Water distorters are supposed to be a support only. This is the only way they can be useful without staining their purity.

Plus, Frost knew that it would never be fair. What can be his advantage to the power of spirits? But as he was used to his father's order, he had no choice but to accept the challenge. He's tired of resisting.

"My son will prove that he's an asset of our tribe! He will defeat the son of my brother--Kaleb Sansvania!" Barien announced, and the two bowed to each other.

As they went into the center of the crowd, the buzz of opinions started to embrace the atmosphere. They already claimed Frost's defeat, especially, that Kaleb is known second to Winter as the most skilled water manipulator in their tribe. And Frost will never prove himself to the tribe. It's just right for him to be abandoned because he isn't pure anymore.

Barien is at their center, blocking their way to each other by his right arms. "Start!" He then went out to give them space. It took seconds when they just observed each other. Frost wants Kaleb to make the first move.

After Kaleb had done synchronizing with the environment, he started to melt the ice on the ground. At the same time, his hands rose up, the water also rose up in the air--mimicking every hand movement. He pulled his fist and punched through the air so, the water raged in Frost's direction.

Frost was able to doge it and quickly ran to his opponent. Kaleb expected a fist to surprise him so, he immediately made a wall of ice in front. But the powerless lad slid down on the floor and kicked his feet to make him lose balance and fall to the ground. Without wasting a second, Frost's fist was already in front of his eyes--only a centimeter of distance! It didn't touch his pointy nose, but the air pressure was enough to terrify him. He's already a worthy opponent in his unfortunate situation.

"The winner for the first round--Frost Sansvania!" Barien shouted proudly, making the audience more excited as they found this interesting.

"Go, Frost!" Winter cheered up.

After Kaleb recovered his posture, the second round has started. He controlled the ice beneath the opponent's foot and champed it! Frost jumped up through the air before the ice smashed itself and shattered into pieces. As the clouds opened a spot for the full moon, Frost's body was seen as a silhouette with the effects of the glittering ices.

As he landed, Kaleb continued to try to catch him by the ices, but he was too agile to be caught on. Frost was able to reach his distance while evading his attacks. Until he was already in front of him and blew his face with the power of his fist. He was splashed on the ground. And before he could stand up, Frost is already ahead and ready to give him the second and last bow.

He immediately clenched his fist, and the ice finally caught Frost's one foot. Delayed with the attack, Kaleb successfully gathered back his balance and cast a storm of sharp ice that flew directly to the opponent.

Still immobilized, Frost can do nothing but to just protect his face with his bare crossed arms. And when the ice touched his skin, it quickly transformed into unpressurized cold water that wetted his body.

"The winner of this round--Kaleb Sansvania!" Barien announced, and all yelled out from excitement.

They were now tied. Can Frost prove himself to the tribe?

-mvcabusas