The Venomsworn

CHAPTER 2: OF FRIENDS AND RIVALS

Kaelen Nox's POV

For the next twenty seconds, all we did was maintain eye contact. In those few moments, I understood all that this soldier had stood for in the protection of the realm. As I stood before him, the envy and awe I felt were tinged with a new reverence. It wasn't just the sheer mass of the man. It was the details: the crisscross of scars on his face, the vacant socket where an eye once was, and the missing arm that ended just below his elbow. It was then I knew that legends pay the ultimate price for their victories.

“Hmm” He coughed, finally breaking the tense silence. “Do you know what the Blaxskn clan is known for?” He asked as we moved forward. “Yes, Sir. They are known for their strength, especially in combat.” I answered. “Now, that's right. The Blaxskn Clan is known for its brute strength and aggressive tactics. They are the heavy assault specialists of the Liberated Liions. Their members excel in close-quarters combat and use their physical might to overwhelm opponents. They are the frontline fighters who lead the charge and break enemy lines. In fact more than two-third of the Liberated Liions are from the Blaxskn clan.” He answered. He paused a bit and looked around as if waiting for his next thought to drop from the air.

“And you know the Silurix clan, your clan, are not recognized in the area of strength or combat. They are known for their stealth and cunning. They are the reconnaissance and sniper specialists of the Liberated Liions. Unlike the heavy-hitting Blaxskn Clan, the Silurix Clan focuses on observation, patience, and outwitting their enemies from a distance.” He paused again. I was getting really confused. I had no idea where he was heading with all that information.

“Now let's talk about Dallaxxs in particular. He was considered too big and strong for his age compared to his peers. At a tender age he had already killed his first beast, a milestone not usually achieved until after many solar years even for men of his clan. He was the strongest of all young Vxx brought to be trained. He already effortlessly won all two of the wicked trials prior to this penultimate one. You on the other hand have no serious achievements. But you proved to us today that the patience, resilience and determination of a Silurix was much more productive and effective than the strength of a Blaxskn. Well done son!” He said, placing his good hand on my shoulder.

I felt like I was floating on air. “Welldone?” I replayed his words in my head. I couldn't believe I was being commended by JD Blaxskn. “Thank you Sir.” I saluted. I tried my best to hide my joy but I'm quite sure my almost exploded red face gave me away. As I looked at his face, I could actually see that he was proud of me. More interestingly, I think I saw a little smile form over his cheeks.

“Come on, let's take a little walk. I have a few things to share with you.” He got up holding me by the hand. I couldn't fathom what was actually happening. “Now we're taking walks?”

“Do you know why we go through these rigorous training sessions to drive out a lot of you and emerge with only a few at the end?” He asked me. His questions were beginning to scare me but I answered them still.

“Yes, Sir. To emerge as potential warriors that can protect our planet from threats.” I answered. “Wow! Smart boy. Yes, Yes. Now look around and tell me what you see?”

“ I see lush and vibrant trees, Sir.”

“Good, now look at the men, what do you see?”

“ I see a gallery of survivors, Sir.”

“ Yes, you see, the trials serve several crucial purposes for the Liberated Liions. They are more than just tests of strength; they are a fundamental part of the clan's culture and survival. The trials are a profound rite of passage. They are a test that connects each warrior to the clan's history and its founders. By surviving the trial, a warrior earns their place and honors the legacy of those who came before them, forging a powerful bond of shared experience and suffering. The trials reinforce the core identity of the Liberated Liions. They are a chapter defined by their ability to survive and thrive in a harsh, unforgiving environment. By constantly facing the most dangerous parts of their world, they prove that they are "victors of Terra".”

I had never had such a close up and detailed discussion with an elderly before. I never knew my parents and my guardians never saw the best in me. In fact they were so eager to give me away for the trials with the hopes that I wouldn't last a day here. This experience felt different and I began to see myself as well as my journey in a different way from that moment forward.

Little did I know that this conversation was not given by chance but would be the source of my strength in the trial to come.

“Heyyyy! Look who we have here!” Another familiar voice called out as I departed JD Blaxskn's presence. It was none other than Titus Anvil. “If it isn't the mighty slayer of Dallaxxs Blaxskn.” He continued, letting out a bold laugh as he approached me. Titus was one of a kind.

In a world defined by its grim, unforgiving nature, he was an anomaly—a warrior who hadn't let the crushing weight of the Crucible or the unyielding pressure of his clan strip away his humanity. While others from the Ferrum Clan might be defined by their stoic strength and aggressive demeanor, Titus’s true power lay in his resilience of spirit. His bold laugh and quick wit were not signs of disrespect; they were his armor with which to cut through the tension and fear that were a constant presence in the lives of the aspirants.

“Come over here man, I've got something for you.” He pulled me towards the Maw—where we had our food and received announcements. As my closest friend I knew he was definitely up to no good. As I entered the Maw I was immediately greeted by loud bangs of cups on the table, the harsh clangs of rods and hands clapping continuously.

“Woah! All these for me?” I blushed so hard. It was almost as tense as the ‘well done, son’ I had earlier received. But, nope—nothing could be compared to that. He was there at the front with folded arms but I smiled because beneath all that stoicness was a genuine proud gleam in his eyes.

Titus laughed the hardest, he cheered the longest. I wasn't at all surprised. That was his person. His jovial nature set him apart from his kin, most notably his stern and ambitious cousin, Jax Anvil. While Jax saw the trials as a brutal ladder to be climbed, Titus viewed them as a bizarre, absurd test of will that's best faced with a wry grin. As my eyes traveled through the room, I couldn't help but notice that he wasn't clapping. He just stood there with folded arms and a stern look and as our eyes met, I could feel the unspoken tension between us.

Jax Anvil was the physical manifestation of the Ferrum Clan's philosophy. Where others are lean and fast, Jax was built like a living battering ram. His form was a testament to the brutal, aggressive training he had undergone since childhood, with a broad chest, a jaw that looks carved from stone, and a constant, simmering intensity in his dark eyes. He carried himself with a proud, unyielding posture, a walking challenge to anyone who would dare question his strength.

To Jax, victory isn't something you achieve through stealth or cunning; it's something you seize through dominance and overwhelming force. That was what made him hate me so much. His rivalry with me ran far deeper than simple competition. From the moment we met, Jax saw me as everything he was not and everything he distrusted. Where he faced his challenges head-on, I would outsmart and outmaneuver them. In his mind, my reliance on my intellect and stealth was a sign of weakness—a coward's way of avoiding a true test of strength. He often dismissed my successes as flukes, as he did that day.

“Ahem! That's enough!” JD called out. “Let's begin packing, we need to arrive at Venom-Swamp before the moon's light touches the waters.” The joyous din of The Maw fell to a sudden, absolute silence. The laughter and the loud clanging of cups ceased as if a switch had been flipped. Every man, including Titus, snapped to attention, their celebratory moods replaced by a grim, focused resolve. A palpable wave of dread mixed with anticipation washed over the hall. We all knew what came next. As the others began to move with practiced efficiency, gathering their gear, I stood for a moment, the echo of JD's words hanging in the air. The final trial was upon us, a test more terrifying than any we had faced, and it was to be held under the oppressive darkness of the twin moons. The time for celebration was over. The time for survival had begun.