CHAPTER 39: CH 39: THE SECOND DAY

The first thing he heard were the chittering sounds of insects, initially seeming to come from a faraway distance.

Slowly, the loundess of the sounds increased until finally his eyes snapped open.

"You...okay?" A concerned voice trembled from near him, causing David to weakly move his throbbing head at the direction.

The nameless girl was sqautting beside him, her eyes wide and slightly puffy as if she had just cried.

"Ahh..yeah, I guess so." He lifted his head from the ground, the throbbing in his head still accompanying him.

He touched his head, at where he had previously been injured. Now however there were only a few scratches that was covered with a piece of cloth.

’Not even a bandage...are the medication and first aid facilities here still underdeveloped?’

Although he could tell that they had something close to healing magic for he couldn’t feel the several major cuts on his back. Though they still itched...

"I...I was scared." The frail tone pulled away his attention from the night sky as he glanced at the nameless girl with concern.

Tears pooled in her eyes as she rubbed on them to wipe them off before they could drop down. Seeing this, David smiled melancholically. ’Obviously she would be. The only person she knows here is me...and given I was literally close to an eternal rest, she must have been scared like crazy.’

Sighing, he kept the base of his palm on top of her head, slightly ruffling her hairs.

"Don’t worry...I won’t be doing anything reckless like that again. I just needed to win that round or else you would have gotten alone in the Sihapi Isikolo." He tried to laugh but stopped himself as a sharp pain erupted in his jaws.

The girl nodded hearing his response, wiping her eyes as she urged, "Just don’t do that again. You hurt!"

"Yes, yes I won’t." Reassuring her, he got up from the ground, looking around him.

"So any idea where are we?" He asked. Around him were brick roads and old buildings that housed the people of this city. At a regular distance, lamps hung from hooks embedded on walls, their faint light illuminating the path with a soft, warm touch.

He looked at the leaves on the trees, were brightened by the pinkish glow from the pink coloured moon in the sky.

’The blood moon is coming...’ He thought inwardly as he remembered the last one he had faced back in the little village.

But he didn’t dwell on that distant thought as the girl stepped beside him. "I know not. After you hurt, they took you to someone. He healed you, then two invaders kept u here."

David immediately shushed her, looking around him in cautiousness. Then in a low voice, he warned her. "Whatever happens, don’t call them invaders ok?"

"Why so?"

"See, this is not our land. This is enemy territory in fact. You might even get killed if you call them with such disrespect."

Seeing the stubborn look appear in her eyes, he sighed as he explained further. "Look...I see at you as my little sister. Would you rather that I lose you for not listening to me and cry as well?"

The girl’s eyes widened as she suddenly shook her head. "No, no! No crying for me."

"So you shall listen to me?"

"Yes, yes!" She bobbed her head up and down as she readily agreed to do what he wanted her to. David didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at such an absurdity.

’She behaves like an absolute child, it’s adorable but at the same time, dangerous for her.’

But to her, he said with a smile. "Nice, just call them as people as well okay? Even if they call you savage, take it as a compliment. They fear our kind, that’s why they call us names. We don’t need to do the same."

His stomach once again made some funny noises, making the nameless girl giggle.

"Yeah, yeah laugh all you want. It’s not you have eaten anything either." He spoke to her as he started walking.

’Now where do I find some food to eat? I swear I am damn hungry!’

***

Once again, they were stopped by the soldier who stood as a guard in front of the fenced field.

"I guess an apology from my side is due." The man spoke with a small bow, acknowledging his mistake.

David waved it off as he said, "Happens to the best of us. And given the number of morons you had to chase away from inside the field, it’s not a wonder you would be suspicious of me."

"Good that you understand." The soldier smiled as he moved aside to let them pass.

"Good luck, both of you. Just don’t die this time." He laughed as David and the nameless girl passed by him.

David shook his head with a smile of his own. "Of course, I shall definitely try."

As expected, the pavilions were once again full to the brim, with even more people standing outside the fences today. David even noticed few of the participants who had been eliminated the day before, were also present among the audience.

As he approached the stage, he saw few individuals sitting on wooden chairs. Dressed in white robes, they carried a presence that easily made them stand out in the crowd.

Once all the qualified candidates from day 1 had gathered, the host stepped forward, scratching his scar as if he was feeling an irritation on the area.

"We meet again, contestants. Firstly, let me congratulate you for successfully qualifying in the first day of the contest. We shall be beginning from where we left off yesterday. But before that, I have some people to introduce you to."

He gestured respectfully at the people sitting behind him. Then in a cheerful voice, he croaked.

"Today, the Masters from the Southern Sihapi Isikolo are present among us. They have travelled a far distance in search of good candidates among you all. So don’t disappoint them at all and win your ten matches."

The crowd cheered and applauded as the host cleared his voice, making everyone go silent again.

"Now let’s hear a few words from Master Gabriel of the Southern Isikolo."

At that, one of the white robed men stood up and came at the front of the stage. His eyes were rather kind and with his muscular build, he looked like someone around whom you would easily lower your guard.

"A hearty morning to every citizen who had cared enough to come and watch this yearly contest. Some of you may know me - both personally or from my earlier visits to this city.

To all the contestants, I won’t congratulate you yet...since you still need to win ten fights, remember?" He smirked as he said that.

The contestants chuckled nervously, as they looked at each other with analysing eyes.

"Hmm...I won’t keep you all standing here. I know you are all nervous, so the faster you people fight it out, the better. Just remember...me and my collegeaues, none of us had been born as nobles or in rich households. We were just like one of you...but we still won.

So give your best...and more importantly, try to learn a torrent of techniques by watching the other matches. That might be crucial to you."