Chosen

My body jerked violently. 

I had returned. I wasn't feeling good at all.

I looked around. The white man was still in his conversations, and others were listening with equal devotion. My stomach bubbled.

As soon as I had seen betrayal, I was immediately thrown out of the vision.

I burped. Acid tang hitting my mouth. 

"Mo'gun had decided it was necessary for the youth to experience the swords of those better than him. And thus the tournament was introduced."

Regen was engaged in that speech.

And then suddenly something strongly tried to escape my mouth.

No. This can't happen.

Wait Seken. Deep breaths.

I took deep breaths, while looking at the still familiar sword. It hadn't been taken out from beneath the throne.

I retched, but I stopped the bile from escaping my mouth. 

Not here, I wasn't going to embarrass myself in front of all these people.

I met the head's eyes when he was giving a passing glance to everyone in the hall.

I thought he would move away, but his gaze lingered on me. My stomach churned again, this time even stronger.

"This throne, where Mo'gun took his seat to command the sword world…"

Intense stream of something rushed from my abdomen, all the way to through the mouth. 

But then the white man stopped. In fact everyone stopped to turn and look at the Head's sword, as it gurgled in its place. Intense energy coalescing around it.

I didn't have the liberty. I took hold of the person nearest me. He grabbed me from shoulders in immediate concern.

And then all it rushed out.

*Blergh*

Bile and food escaped my body in a rush. I felt the back of my head freeze with cold and numbness. I had vomited.

I felt lighter. But there was still something missing. 

*Blergh*

I vomited again.

The person was hesitatingly holding onto me. His grip wasn't firm, and only for little support as if he wanted to as quick to escape as possible.

I wiped my mouth.

"Now I feel alright," Saying that I lifted my head, and froze.

Everyone was looking at me.

White Man, eyes shook particularly as he looked at me in disgust.

I didn't know why, but I felt better seeing him like that.

And then my vision fell to something else.

I froze again.

Murmurs erupted around me. But internally I was weeping.

The sword that sat beneath the throne. Flowing with lava, and grace it was emitting a red light.

And I was at the center of that red light.

The white man sighed.

"It seems the sword has chosen its next inheritor."

***

"Thank you," I said to the servants as they washed my face and then cleaned the vomit around me.

They too, were suppressing their emotion and particularly strongly averted themselves from looking at the mess, while cleaning it up.

I was embarrassed but the deed was already done. So I just lifted my head in dignity shamelessly.

And then popped the pill they had given me. It looked similar to a round candy in shape.

I heard the murmurs around me. Even stronger than before. They were all directed against me.

"How can they choose someone with no talent?"

"Our family has waited this long, and yet again the sword betrayed us."

"Isn't he crippled."

"Yes, why must of all the people, he be chosen."

And then one of them decided to speak directly to the four people standing on the podium.

"Seniors, is there a chance that the sword has chosen wrongly?" The man tried to look as polite as he could, but I could see the unwillingness in the way his lips turned themselves. The way his eyes glared in my direction.

I wish I had popcorn with me. But the pill will suffice for now.

Then another one came out from the crowd finding his courage. Similarly he bowed before speaking to the four at the top.

"Seniors, why must the sword choose to consider someone who is so weak? There are others who are more talented than him. Infact, almost all of us are more appropriate to hold the sword," 

Several others nodded after him as he finished speaking.

I stopped chewing onto the pill and looked at the man.

I had a very strong desire to just say something, but I held it inside. Thankfully the white man Marcus cleared his throat grabbing their attention.

"I admit that this hasn't happened since the tributary has been held, and wielders chosen. But the sword has chosen, and we must accept its decision," Marcus spoke, hands held behind.

"At the end, you must all keep in mind. It is the sword that chooses the wielder not the other way around. And it is true for every sword that has ever been made in the sword world, or will be made." Marcus looked aloofly after saying that.

This drew another round of nods from everyone. Even though they didn't agree with its decision, that was the truth otherwise.

Show-off. That word was just on the pit of my tongue. 

I was still at odds with that man. But I had to agree that it made for a great quote. 

"Seniors, even if we agree with it. How is he going to ever hold the sword? After all, he doesn't have the proper pathways to channel the energy inside that sword." The second one spoke again.

I was waiting for the white man to answer that. Instead it was the head of the house.

"What falls for the future shall be seen there. The swords must have its own intentions. Let's end the conversation here, and head for the sword field." Alysys said, taking out the sword from the engraving and seething it on the waist.

"I announce the start of the Sword Tournament," Alysys lifted from the ground, as the other masters too decidedly took their swords and headed out the hall from the skies.

"How convenient." I said, looking at them wistfully. 

I wish I too had the same ability.

As soon as those four were gone, a crowd started to draw around me. I just left, because I knew, most of them weren't even here genuinely and only wanted to see what kind of a person chosen by the sacred sword looked like.

But then, someone immediately jumped at me from the crowd. He didn't look like he was from those sword families, because of his carefree dressing style, which were torn and stiched at many corners.

"You are so lucky." The man around Regen's age, with blond hair, and earrings, spoke with earnest enthusiasm.

For a moment, even I was surprised by his genuine compliment.

"Thank you," I said and asked for his name.

"This one is Monkey Ears," He said, clasping his hands. I did the same.

"This one is Seken Sokyro. It is a pleasure meeting you." 

We were already heading out along the crowd.

Regen had already left, because he had to prepare for the tournament.

"I am participating in the tournament. I hope we can go out to the market for food after it ends."

I was hesitant. Due to all the talk about swords, I had forgotten to take a look at the cuisine of this game world.

"Sure, we can go to the market and I know you will do well at the fights."

"Thank you," He said back. 

We headed through the entrance of the sword field while I was glad to make a new friend in the game world.