The contest

Amelia's POV

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Some Minutes later I got to the market and decided to act normal in other not to arouse any suspicion from my father.

" You're late, did you get it all?" He asked.

" Yes Father" I replied.

" It's seems the annual fight contest is starting soon because I can hear the cheering noise from afar" he said.

" I believe so, I saw them on my way here" I replied.

" You didn't stay there did you?" He asked and my eyes bulged out wondering if he knew about the fight.

" I only stay for a minute then left" I lied.

" Has anyone in our village ever won the contest?" I asked and my father laughed.

" I don't think that's going to happen because the contest had been for a long time and no one in our village proceed to the next stage"

" Most of the people in our village are farmers and hunters, they are not fighters" he added.

" Have you ever take part in the contest?.... you're a good fighter" I asked.

" I can't because I promise your mother that I won't, those who went for the contest eventually got wounded or killed" he explained.

" I thought they don't kill in the contest" I said.

" Yes, they don't unless you decided to challenge the champion of Malmoe, the man is a beast"

" Anyone who challenged him ended up dead or partially alive, he has been champion for over 15 years" he said.

" The king restricted him from fighting in the contest and crowned him the champion of MALMOE" he explained.

" He was given a house in the kingdom and ten thousand of silver as the reward" he added.

" Wow"

" Father, how is the kingdom like?... I've never been there" I asked.

" The kingdom is like every other kingdoms with beauty all over it which differ it apart from the village" he replied.

" How come I've never been there, other kids told me about the great things they saw when they went there" I said.

" Of course you will when the time is right besides if you go what are you going for?" he said.

" When you were an infant your mother and I took you there so technically you've been there"

" But worry not yourself, maybe one of these days you and I will visit" he replied.

" Okay Father"

I helped my father at the market till the sunset and then we went home.

____________________________________________

{Next Day}

I was bathing then I started having the usual pain I always have when I'm bathing.

This has been happening for the past 5 years whenever I'm bathing my back will be aching me.

The pain is originating from the birth mark at my back and the pain is intensifying everyday and just like now.

I informed my father about it and he gave me an ointment to apply on it but it did nothing to it.

I hurried up then put on my clothes before going to meet my father.

" Father, the pain at my back is still there...and it's getting worse" I said when I got to him.

" Remind me this evening, I'm taking you to the healer... I'm certain he will know what to do" he said.

" Okay Father" I replied.

" Why don't you start fire to make br..."

He was saying then we saw the chief and two men came to our door step and my eyes bulged out.

I don't need a soothsayer to tell me that they came here for me, probably to report what I did yesterday.

' hold on, is the man dead?'

' did he became crippled?'

Several thoughts was rushing through my mind and I looked at my father who seems surprised to see them.

" Chief?...what are you doing here?, You could have sent for me" my father said as they entered.

" No, I decided to come to you myself" the chief replied and my father get him something to sit on.

" What brings you here chief?" Father asked.

" It's about the contest and your daughter" the chief said and I frowned my face.

" Contest?..... My daughter?.....I don't understand chief, what has my daughter got to do with the contest?" Father asked and the Chief look at me.

" You didn't tell him?" He said.

" Tell me what?" Father asked then he turned to me while I fixed my eyes to the ground.

" We've chosen Logan as our champion to represent us in the upcoming fight contest" the chief explained.

" And yesterday at the training we realized the big muscle he have is nothing because he was bested by your daughter"

" He didn't survive one strike of her assault which made us realized we will be disgracing our village by sending him"

" Which is why I come to ask for your permission to let us send her because we have no one to send" the chief concluded.

" No, I'm not fighting...I never even wanted to fight.....it was a mistake.... I'm not fighting" I replied.

" Amelia, the winner get 100 pieces of silver and some other rewards...you and your father won't need to work in the market any longer" the chief said.

" Chief, I think you should go now...... I'll give you my reply in the evening" father said and the chief stood up.

" I hope your answer is positive for all of our sake because the village could get many things if we win" the chief said.

" Think about it" he said then left and my father turned to me.

I pouted my lips and draw my ears apologetically and said " I'm sorry Father, I never planned it"

" I didn't train you for you to fight around the village, I told you no fighting" he said.

" I'm sorry Father, Ashur and his friends caused it, they wanted to hurt me, I never meant for this to happen" I narrated.

" What do you want me to do now?, What do you want me to tell chief?" He asked.

" I don't want to fight....we can just tell him that" I replied.

" If I do that...I'll be painted as the enemy of the village, that might affect our business" he said.

" I'm sorry Father" I apologized.

" I guess I'll take your place in the contest" he said which surprised me.

" You'll be fighting in the arena?" I asked.

" Father, you don't have to do that.... I'll fight instead besides this is my mistake, so let me make things right" I said.

" It's dangerous....You could get hurt in the contest" he said.

" So could you father, but I'm young and strong.....I'm sure I can handle myself, you trained me well" I replied.

" What about your powers?.....you know very well you still can't get control of it, what if you use it?"

" This is a contest where you can get angry which might trigger it, I don't know what the king might do if he knows" father said.

" I won't trigger it Father, I no longer get angry like before, I've been trying to suppress my anger" I replied.

" Are you sure?" He asked.

" Yes Father, I promise I won't get angry" I said then he looked at me for a while.

" Fine, I'll meet with the chief this evening and inform him" he said and I smiled.

" Thank you Father" I said then embrace him tightly.

" You should start your training so you won't get rusty when you get there" he said.

" Okay Father"

' waoo.... I'm finally going to the kingdom, finally'