Chapter 31: Many Years Later

The loud blow of the wind's breeze inside the enchanted land of an interesting forest pushed through the wilderness. The rustle of the trees resonated with the muttering and chattering of the young youths. As the youngster was called out. They all went and headed outside their village. The parents fear not as they were accompanied by the chief himself and the crew.

"Listen and line up, the chief has a word to say!" Zergee shouted with his palm surrounding his mouth.

Logan, the referred chief, took off in front of them. He cleared his throat.

"Warriors, hunters, or fighters. On this day, you found yourself standing in the forest you were born in. You are here to wield skills. Never for wretchedly use. This is for self-defence and protection. We all have our sensitive spots, don't we?" The chief led his people to a statement. His hands were intertwined to his back, walking horizontally for everyone to bear in their mind his words of advice.

"Yes, chief!" They responded.

"Then, avoid drifting into a reckless fate that will lure you into the demise of your despair. Don't be a hell-for-leather, you hear me? We are all here to train, the treatment will not change, not even with my own son." Their eyes met. His father was after all the chief and he had no intention to be wholly lovingly around him. Way to embarrass himself.

The young people were all lined up by their teams. Ambroz and Lucy were the only ones lining up as two individuals. None other wished to join them as they all have baited to unite with the others. However, they were envious of them. Ambroz was looked up to, words spread fast with the youngster how Ambroz chose a path alongside a woman. They were not pleased.

After Logan had his words delivered. The session of their training began. The first was, of course, their aptitudes in handling their bows. It was a mastery must to learn.

Ambroz was looking forward to this day to come and now he has his foot set together with the people around his age or not.

They were told to discuss things with their teams. The chief has made this a sort of competition for their spirit to rile up. If not, it's possible that they would lose interest and forget the need to do this.

Everyone readied their bow and warmed up their hands. Ambroz however went to Lucy.

"I'm sure I saw you prove yourself to me the first day we've met. Now that it has been almost two years practising inside our village, you sure do know how to handle a bow, don't you?" Lucy uttered while keeping herself busy before his eyes.

"Of course," Ambroz willingly agreed and grabbed the bow that was hanging from his back.

"Then, why are you standing before me with a look on your face as if pleading for more knowledge?" She briefly stated what she observed.

Ambroz scratched the back of his head and cleared his throat. "Have you heard of a phrase that says 'adding a mindful shall always be feared by many' that means you still have a lot to teach me?" Ambroz made that up inside his head, but clever Lucy figured quickly that it was the case.

"Whatever phrase you invent, it won't be useful. Nevertheless, I still do have lessons to teach you. That's because I am far more of a good hunter than you are." She said with vigorously.

Ambroz admired her confidence. It was delivered to him, not in the wrong mannerisms. It gave rise to him even more.

Lucy on the other hand just won't take it remarkably from her point of view. She only decided to join this session for her family to have something to be proud of. Her siblings have been rooting for her best. She had no choice.

There she goes again. Reminiscing thoughts of negativity. She should stop before this deepens.

"Shall we go?" Lucy invited him.

Ambroz witnessed her carrying a bag of arrows. Seems like she did it herself and mend it only for her bow. Oh, what can't this woman do?

He was sitting on a log when he decided to stand up. "We should." He agreed and together they head to the area of the practice.

His father was waiting for all of them to arrive. Ambroz who had a calm demeanour has gotten nervous and anxious. It's this period of time where he gets conscious of the result of his actions. When he practices alone, where it's silent and only he can criticise his work, he shoots the target with not a single flaw. The forest favours his movement.

Today, where everyone and he means everyone is watching him. Setting their eyes to his target and judging him with his results, what should he be proving?

The young man's heart was beating rampant as he grip his bow. Suddenly, someone held his shoulder to call out his attention.

"Hey, you're spacing out. Don't let the crowd get into you and this is not a battle of the best. You don't need to prove yourself to anyone, you got this." It was from a brave woman's voice, Lucy.

He nodded and stood forward. It seems that the woman has read through him and discovered what lingers inside his head. She was right, he did not need to prove himself to anyone nor his own father, the chief. Shooting a single target would be a piece of delicate meat.

Lucky enough, he had time to observe the other teams. Fortunate was he, every each one of them did not hit the target directly. Some missed an inch, missed a centimetre, and the other never even and never was once hit the trunk of the tree. They all let out a loud sigh. Thinking of how many years they have practised for it to only fail because of their nervousness.

Lucy was next in line. She walked fiercely into the area to where you stand and aim. The lads whispered and gossiped about her. No matter the distance, their words were heard vividly.

"There's the black sheep, wonder how she was able to earn the chief's trust?"

"Meh, no idea. I heard she defeated Trevor back in the days."

"Trevor? A woman like her defeated that Trevor guy? She must be something. Although, she does not look like anything."

She turned her glare to them and pierced an intense and harsh view. These lads will be the end of her. Just their mere body on her sight is escalating her deepest and atrocious feelings. What a day, indeed.

"Shut it, she heard us."

True enough, men never fit her liking. Causing her vexation as always. She ignored them and aimed. It did not rook her long. It was an easy task force by the chief for her to take again. Saying that she should be a role model to the young lads.

The arrow gashed into the wood of the tree and destroyed the front face. Her arrow was built to slaughter meat after all. When the gossiping fellow saw what she did and how it turned out. Their eyes widened and their mouths were in awe.

She gazed at them smirking. "Hm!"

She left to grab her arrow and head to Ambroz. It was his turn. He stood forward. A position was given to them by his father. He eyed his father before doing his stance and was ready to shoot. His left hand was gripping the wooden bow as it was his non-dominant hand, the right hand pulling the string of his bow while steadying the arrow, and his right eye closed. After setting it, he found the right aim and timing, the man slowly but certainly let go of the arrow. The feather at the last end of the arrow brushed to the edge of his eye and pass quickly through. The tree that had an "X" carved into its trunk, there his arrow landed and it hit the spot.

The other teams saw what he did and even cheered for him, except the three lads who approached him the first time whom he rejected.

He lowered his bow and raised the corner of his lips, putting it into a carve. He did it! He finally did.

He wandered his eyes and it landed to his father who nodded at him and smiled. He responded to him with the same movements he did. After a while, he trace his way towards the tree and dragged the arrow out of it. He then walked towards Lucy. She just tapped his shoulders, it's the way she conveys her thoughts, saying as if he did a great job.

Logan did not prolong that trial. Soon enough after all of them were accomplished that session. The next examination was to test their swordsmanship mastery. They retained a metal helmet and vest on with the wooden sword prepared for them only. A protection in case anything goes astray.

"These are the mechanics. If the sword's point touches or was led on either your neck and chest, you have to pretend as if you have died." Logan uttered. He was standing at the centre of the young men and women. They were all positioned in a circle.

"As if we are in a battle, chief?" Someone asked.

Ambroz was all ears. He saw how his father was caught off guard. He could not talk rapidly and respond. After a few seconds, they heard him clear his own throat.

"No, we are doing this for the sole reason of practice. Just a test to figure out who among you is the best. Not a battle, well, at least there won't ever be any battles. Just to reassure you are all well prepared for a sword event." He reasoned out. Ambroz however figured that it was not the case.

"Is that so, chief?" One responded.

"Y-Yes... Anyway, you need to ready yourself. No mercy upon your opponents." He exclaimed and went out of the scene.

They were put to face each other. Like a parallel line arrangement. They stood there holding their sword below and waiting for the chief to charge. When he did.

Throwing out on the balls of his feet, he readjusts his grip on the two-handed sword. Holding it over his left shoulder, he waits for his opponent to make his move. In a traditional kendo stance, the opponent quickly slides forward and cuts at his left arm; however, Ambroz sword already intercepted his, allowing him to trap his opponent's blade on his hilt and execute a pretend stab. The opponent pretended dead. That duel between them was done.

Another one came after his back. If not for Lucy, he has already been out of the duel. The hit was blocked by her and Ambroz also came for another lad. They battled endlessly and what was left were Ambroz and Lucy. Their backs hit each other. The ones who have fallen and failed were instructed to head over the side.

"Huh, who killed you, Sebastian?" One said to the other.

The other panted hard and for air as he headed over to them. "Don't ask."

They all witnessed how Lucy and Ambroz won. When they thought that it was all done. The chief announced a continuance of the duel. "Now, to whom left will end this duel with another battle."

"It seems thee greatness has attested to his own recklessness." The Sebastian lad said to the other. "Let's make a bet on who wins, Pilvo."

Pilvo places his finger on his chin. "I bet on Lucy, she has been on trial way longer than us. Even her batch, Trevor, has been inside the crew. This is a piece of meat for her, don't you think so?"

Sebastian scoffed. "Well, we might just have to find out."

Pilvo looked at him with furrowed brows. "Who do you bet on? Lucy or that Ambroz?"

"The latter, Pilvo." He replied.

The duel between Ambroz and Lucy began, Ambroz knew her for years now. But he's not certain of her movement. She could attain something more than what he'd seen.

They face each other, holding their sword over their waist. It did not take long before they charge for each other. When he swung his sword, the woman lowered her body down and kicked his foot, causing him to stumble down. He was quick to react he rolled over and avoided her sword. Rolling away he was able to stand up. He blocked her every hit going towards him. After a lot of swinging and blocking. The swords ended up on each other's necks.

They panted as they stare at each other.

"It's a tie!" Zergee shouted to everyone.

All of them was stunned but eventually cheered with both. Some sighed in dismay. How could it be a tie? They lose in their own bet.

They both slowly lowered their sword. He saw Lucy remove her helmet and threw it into the ground. Her chest went up and down as she panted for air. Not long before she left that area. Ambroz roamed his body before following Lucy.

"Hey! Where are you going? The trial has not yet instructed done." He chases her.

The woman walked towards the table wherein there were session materials. Even though they're inside the forest they have built cottages for their trial. It was also a shadow for them to rest when they roam inside.

"Lucy," he halted when she was removing her vest.

"Why are you following me?" She asked, still lacking breath.

"No, I was just... I thought you were perhaps mad that we tied." He uttered as he removed his iron vest as well.

Lucy paused and laughed. "Mad? Are you serious? I haven't tried my best in that trial, Ambroz. That was a bunch of kids play. I'm just hanging on it." She exclaimed.

Ambroz was relieved inside. After all, she was his teacher. Now that they have tied for at least in an average duel for her, he knows that he's improving. It will not take long for his father to let him in the crew and help them organize it.

"But, I'm impressed, Ambroz. It has not been that long since you joined the trial. Yet, you have come to the level of our examination. As for me, you are good to go." Lucy complimented him.

It was music to his ears. He will soon hear of it from his father. "Why have you returned to the session? I saw big lad Trevor joined their crew and has already been roaming around the land." He asked and it made her face him.

She narrowed her eyes and placed her hands on her own waist. "To train you, his highness." She sarcastically muttered and smiled. "Two years ago, I was contending to not partner up with you. I was just there for a momentarily training. But, your father saw you plead and convince me. He gave me a look, Ambroz. A look that I should accept your wish as a command." Lucy explained to him.

That enlightened him and he now realized it. "Why do you only train me?"

"Oh, do you also prefer me sweating up for fellows that won't even trust a woman's strength? Not today, Ambroz. Not today."

That's right. He knows how those fellows mocked Lucy. If it was him too, there will be no vigour left for him to teach them.

"Where are you going? The trial. We're not done yet. There are still a few examinations left!" He shouted to the woman who was already approaching out of the area and walked deep into the forest. Possible to their way home.

"The trial for me is done. Your father will garner a hand to hand combat. I might break someone's leg. You head back there and I'll head somewhere."

Ambroz hesitated. He looked in between Lucy and the area of their session. He groaned as he wanted to follow Lucy.

"I'm following you!" He shouted as he run over to her.

—

"Why did you join the trial, Lucy?" He asked in the middle of walking back to the village.

They were surrounded by huge trees and their echoed rustling. The ground they were stepping into was nothing but green grass. It caressed their boots. The forest was calm yet mysterious.

Ambroz knew he had a lot of explaining to do later on when he had already encountered his father. They were in the middle of a session, a trial, for their benefit and they escaped in the midst of it.

"I had no choice. My father was envious of how the others had a son as their eldest while he had two daughters. He wanted to feel disgrace and lack of honour but he stood silent. I knew he was envious right from the beginning so I felt the necessity to prove myself to him. The trial started and I offered myself to join. However, before that, I had trained myself mercilessly and hid through the back of our houses. You know, Ambroz. I am not even certain what we're all practising for when your father keeps telling us that there will be no war." She blurted out as a response to his question.

"Is it not because we have to hunt so we don't hunger? Father said that there are a lot of weird animals in this land. It's for protection he says."

Ambroz thought that this was the reason why they all had to train themselves. But after listening to what Lucy had to say next, confused his entirety.

"I heard my mother and father having a conversation when I was still little. They talked about how grateful they were for chief and milady Maurelle for getting them out of an anonymous land." She spouts the memory that was long kept in her mind.

Ambroz could not catch up to what she was trying to say. 'Get out of an anonymous land? What land could it be?'

"Don't you get it, Ambroz? We are not originally from this land. That explains why the chief's calling his people as crew and that ship I once saw. It seems as if we have escaped someplace. Everything is hazy, Ambroz."

And that hit him. He was once curious as to why his father calls his people crew. So, there are things his parents not telling him.

They were still not done talking with they have arrived at a place. A place that blew strong and fresh wind breeze. The sound of waves and their splash against the sands. The sun touching their skins. They accidentally arrived at the wrong place.

"The beach. It's the sea..."

To be continued...

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ABYSSCESS