Weight of Leadership
"I'm sorry if things aren't to your liking but I must ask you to take your seat," the Arbiter politely asks, his voice calm yet insulting, "This place isn't as spacious as you think it is."
"I don't know. This is a pretty big building," Adam jokes to himself, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. Anby nudges Adam to stay quiet causing him to grunt in pain.
"Shut up," Anby whispers urgently, her tone quiet and low.
"Listen to the girl," the Arbiter warns, his tone full of condescension, "You've caused enough damage."
"Don't blame others for your actions," Edward steps in, pushing Adam back.
The Arbiter steps forward, his eyes staring cyclically at the elderly Edward. "I'm not blaming anyone."
The two men get into a staredown. The tension in the room becomes palpable as everyone stands there with their eyes widened and not making a sound.
The royal guards start moving leaving their posts to circle around Edward and the Arbiter.
"I think I made things worse," Adam whispers, leaning his head towards Anby.
"You think." Anby worryingly mutters, fidgeting with her fingers.
"You think I should apologize?" Adam taps his foot in a rhythmic motion, trying not to look at the situation ahead of him.
Seth walks over next to Adam. "I think you should apologize after everything settles down."
The Arbiter raises his hand signaling his guards to stand down. "Return back to your seats- the evaluation will continue as planned."
"We will return when you either cut it short or stop with the cruelty." Edward dramatically utters, his tone sharp and demanding.
"Cruelty? No, it's called reality," The Arbiter cuts in with mockery hidden under his veneer of kindness, "In a real battle, you're knocked onto the ground every second, what's the difference here? Stop acting like a parental figure and act like a mentor. Stop coddling."
He gives Edward a long look trying to convey a lesson through his cold gaze. Edward's eyes narrow as he slowly raises his fist, the Arbiter looking down, scoffs at his attempt. Before Edward can do anything, Zhang cuts into the conversation trying to maintain order.
"Alright- Enough. Everyone back to your seats. Edward, I'll talk to the Arbiter, stand back," Zhang orders, his tone foreboding and carrying an edge to it.
Adam motions Anby and Seth to stand in the nearby corner as he notices Edward walking in the other direction while Zhang utters something to the Arbiter.
"We need to cut this short," Zhang explains softly, "If words get out that a couple recruits and Edward Meitner protest an evaluation, it'll cause a ripple across the temple and I can't blame them."
"It would cause a stir, Zhang," the Arbiter reassures, "But everyone would think they are overreacting. Still, you're correct that we may have gone too far, but do you think she is ready enough to stop? Especially when people question why a recruit failed halfway?"
"I don't know," Zhang answers worryingly.
"Each time a recruit gets an evaluation that leaves them stronger and promoted," the Arbiter stares coldly, "If they can't grow stronger- they die. If she can't face challenges head-on then how can she expect to grow stronger?"
Zhang stays silent with the Arbiter's words sinking into his shoulders. He is caught between undeniable logic and mounting pressure on his shoulders. His hand is a reminder that the stakes are far higher than one recruit.
"We can't foster mediocrity," the Arbiter puts his hand on Zhang's shoulder, "As the next leader, do you want the next recruits to freeze up in their first battles? Scared and not knowing what to do."
Zhang's gaze flickers between Edward and the Arbiter. The Arbiter's eyes narrow- analyzing Zhang's resolve with an analytic look. The question the Arbiter poses lingers in Zhang's head.
"In the future, you will lead the American temple. You have to make the hard decisions," the Arbiter looks at Zhang with a gentle somber look.
Zhang pushes aside the Arbiter's hand off his shoulders. "Thanks for the lesson master. You will finish with two more tests, and you will give Kiara her rank and this whole situation will come to an end. Everyone is happy- am I correct?"
The Arbiter's eyes flicker as he sees the strain of approval and leadership on Zhang's shoulders. "Yes, I agree. Two more tests and we will move on. Everyone will be happy for now."
The Arbiter's voice slowly trails off, his tone soft but carrying an edge of mockery. "Let this be a lesson ensuring that we rise from mediocrity. This may be a small test but remember you have to prepare when the real challenges are in the palm of your hand."
"Yes master," Zhang calmly says before bowing down to the Arbiter. Zhang slowly walks back to his seat while Adam watches with a skeptical look.
"That was awkward as hell," Adam jokes to himself.
"You were lucky that you didn't get your head chopped off for disobedience," Anby snickers, her tone filled with annoyance. "Why did you play with your sword like that?" She questions worryingly.
"Maybe I could have intimidated them to stop… Now that I've witnessed the situation that just unfolded, yeah that was pretty stupid." Adam reminisces to himself. Anby gets up on her pinkie toes and flicks Adam in the forehead.
"Hey," Adam rubs his forehead. He stops for a moment to pick his words, "You know what. I deserve that."
"You kind of did," Seth utters, stretching his shoulders. He looks up at Adam with an annoyed look, "The Arbiter really said 'What does a child like you bring to the conversation' like what?"
"Yeah that was kind of crazy," Adam awkwardly chuckles to himself, "I guess that's what regular humans call old people: coffin-dodgers."
"I have never heard anyone say that before in my life," Anby cuts in genuinely confused about what Adam just said.
"Do you mean gravediggers? Anby used to teach me about those," Seth scratches his head trying to connect the dots, "What is a coffin-dodger?"
Adam rubs his forehead trying to forget the awkwardness of his "coffin-dodger" comment. "Okay, okay," he mutters to himself trying to shake off the discomfort lying in the room. He glances over to Kiara who still looks worn down from the evaluation.
"Hey. Show 'em who's boss!" Adam calls out with an exaggerated cheerfulness trying to lift her spirit. The evaluation center is painfully awkward. The room's unnatural quietness that had once existed is now broken as everyone looks over at Adam. Seth covers his head trying not to gain any attention towards him while Anby stares down at her sketchbook pretending to draw something.
All the upperclassmen and senior wardens stare directly at Adam's presence, their gazes not leaving him. One slowly blinks, refusing to process what's happening while others cross their arms in disappointment.
The Arbiter turns around with an annoyed look in his eyes but he smiles to himself almost too amused at Adam's attempt at cheerleading. Adam smiles to himself as he slowly turns his head towards Seth and Anby who look in different directions trying not to look at Adam's presence.
Edward chuckles to himself as he sees Adam trying to get Anby and Seth to cheer on Kiara from the ledge. Zhang tries not to cringe to death as he covers his face with his hand.
"That boy is gonna give me a heart attack someday," Zhang straightens his back, his face contorting from cringe.
"He actually has a personality, that's what I'm going to say," Edward retorts, smiling to himself. He turns his head back to Zhang. "What have you said to the Arbiter?"
"I told him to cut the evaluation short," Zhang explains sharply, "She'll still be graded for her rank once she finishes the final tests. She's not finishing off easy."
Edward nods reluctantly. "Fair enough but you really expect her to finish without any troubles."
Zhang crosses his arms, his gaze steady on an annoyed Kiara trying to get Adam's attention. "She already felt like giving up easily. How is she supposed to handle real combat?"
Edward rubs the back of his neck, paying no attention to Zhang. "Yet right now, she doesn't seem like she wants to give up." He exhales. "Now that's a difference between pushing someone to grow rather than to break them."
"I'm focused on trying to keep them alive," Zhang bluntly utters, "You know what happens to those that aren't ready. She's mediocre at best but is she ready?"
"No one's truly ready. That's what experience gives you," Edward smirks to himself, "You get that by getting the occasional headaches from kids like him." Pointing his finger, Adam is frantically shifting his body trying to convey himself.
"He's barely keeping it together. Seems like Kiara has a thing for attracting goofballs," Edward shakes his head, chuckling softly to himself. He glances at Adam's not-so-subtle hand gestures. "He doesn't quite fit the mold but maybe that's a good thing. We need more people like him."
"I think I prefer one Adam over more," Zhang watches from a distance with a frown on his face, "He's a distraction at the least and a migraine at the worst."
"Too bad for you, you're gonna get another goofball in your ranks," Edward jokes to Zhang, his shoulders raising up and down, "You're going to need a few extra cups of tea to survive their antics."
Adam's and Anby's conversation cuts through the silence in the room.
"You can't adapt to this situation," Anby cringes to herself, "You're not him. You're making things worse."
"I'm going to adapt and devour you, Anby," Adam shouts out to himself.
"What does that even mean? Are you going to eat us?" Seth questions, raising his arms high in the air.
"I don't know!" Adam screams to himself, making everyone cross their arms and stare judgmentally at him.
How can they be so carefree right now? Kiara questions herself, a small smile appearing on her face. Also, why did Adam say that for real?
"Kiara. Are you hearing all of this?" Adam shouts out from above.
"Yeah," Kiara says bluntly, cringing to herself, trying to maintain her composure. "Where did you learn about this 'coffin-dodger '?"
"Even we don't know. He's strange like that," Seth leans on the railing, yawning to himself.
"Can we move past that?" Adam frustratingly demands, "Don't let them beat you down. They want to see you break on purpose- prove them wrong."
"Yeah I will," Kiara smirks to herself, wiping the blood from her forehead. She unruly looks over at the High Council preparing for her next test.
"She's still smiling after being thrown like that?" a female council frustratingly questions. "It's all because of that blabbermouth jokester of a recruit unable to control himself."
"She is awfully resilient as expected as a granddaughter of Edward Meitner." an elderly council member acknowledges, writing down his notes. "Still her skills are very mediocre. Pathetic really."
The Arbiter leans his head next to his fist, looking down at a smiling Kiara. His gaze grew annoyed and displeased by the sight.
"Don't worry recruits like her who think they are more capable break the easiest." The Arbiter reminds the High Council. "She almost broke down by the flying disks. She thinks she's recovered but is still fragile."
"So you think she's going to crack?" the elderly council member furrows his brow with curiosity.
"Of course. You don't break people like them with just strength." the Arbiter smiles to himself, "You break them emotionally."
The council members look at each other as the Arbiter stands up dramatically awaiting the next test. Edward and Zhang stare off into the distance while Kiara's friend prepares for what's up ahead.
Those with a passive mind- confused, no straight path forward, uncertain, a smirk slowly forming around the Arbiter's lips. Indecision is their greatest flaw.
Kiara breathes heavily to herself, staring intently at the challenge ahead of her. She closes her eyes before slowly opening them. The high cathedral- ceiling soars above her as the steel gleams glisten in the harsh fluorescent light. It casts a long overhead shadow over Kiara's figure that lingers longer after the light passes beside her.
She feels small beneath the towering structure, the room judges her every move, with their unblinking gaze.
Kiara's thoughts blur between doubt and resolve as she clutches her katana tightly. She just promised herself that she wasn't going to fail but her uncertainty clings on to her like a shadow. The Arbiter's calculating gaze seems to echo her doubts, watching diligently as she steadies herself.
People like her fall apart when you have them questioning their purpose. The Arbiter finishes his thought. The High Council silently turns their attention onto a heavily battered Kiara as her next test looms before her.