The Land Below our Feet COMPLETE

AKOH

Akoh had woken up that night startled by the loud sounds of the battle taking place outside the city. Ashrae´s army had been trying to get through Yahur´s gates for a while now, with no result. He surely possessed numerous troops, but nothing could ever compare to the true Yahurian grit, and the boy knew it firsthand.

He was eight when Pahoka-Xe´s men had freed his village from a horde of usurping tribes, and she had found him crying inconsolably, holding his father's corpse. Her hand tightly wrapped around his as they stood watching the short battle taking place. Akoh´s eyes blinking with disbelief at the speed they charged and the precision they struck with.

Even if his village had been saved, peace would eventually be restored. He had no one else left to look after him. So, the warriors had taken him with them on their way back to Yahur.

On his first night inside the citadel's walls, the Guider had found him sobbing silently among the shadows, his heart still shaken at his tragic loss and the imposing magnificence of this new cold place.

-Today, your soul is burdened with tribulation and pain – She had told him, sitting beside his whimpering body – It is an unspeakable thing, what has been done to you. But tomorrow you will hold the power to spare many others from it. Now, walk with me.

She had taken him to the training pit, where a single man trained untiringly in the dark. His labored breath and strained grunts the only sound disrupting the silence of the night as his weapons collided repeatedly against the training dummy. His movements graceful and his eyes focused. Every offensive, a delight to witness. Each of his calculated lunges performed at the speed of light… So fast, that they were impossible to track.

-See that man? – Pahoka-Xe had asked, nodding at the massive fighter – He used to be like you a little more than a decade ago. Look at him now… Do you like what you see?

-Yes, Guider! – The kid had responded eagerly, unable to take his stunned eyes away from the formidable warrior.

-Well, that is what Yahur is going to turn you into – She had said, patting his shoulder lightly – But not until you are ready to outlive your own transformation.

-When will that be? – Akoh had inquired excitedly, following the old woman's steps as she led him back to the big hall where the new recruits slept.

-When you have learned the true meaning of service – The lady had whispered softly as she tucked him into bed.

-Who was that man in the pit? – The child had faintly asked before falling into a groggy stupor.

-That was Ussiariah- She'd sighed - The once frightened little birdie that has grown into a hawk. You are wounded, like he was… But you will learn to fly… just like him, once your time comes.

Four years he had served, and four years he had watched Ussi fight and command the Yahurian army with an iron hand. Dreaming of the day that he would be granted the honor of following his steps… And now, his time had finally come.

When Pahoka-Xe crossed through the gates with the new kid in tow, Akoh´s eyes had widened in sympathy at the sight of him. He looked as frightened as he had been that day, when he'd taken his first step inside Yahur´s formidable walls.

-Akoh- The Mother Guider had calmly called out, walking hurriedly towards the main hall and clutching the boy's hand in hers.

-Guider!- Akoh had rushed himself to say, running to keep up with her pace as the battle commenced behind them - How can I be of service?

-Go to the training pit, my loyal child - The Guider said, pausing and leaning down to tenderly brush his cheek - You are now at Yahur´s service only, and no longer at mine. Report to the acting trainer and may fate favor you in your new task.

Jardos, the trainer in charge of the greenhorns, had just taken a brief glance at him, before nodding silently and tossing him some training and protective gear.

-You better catch up fast, rookie!- The somber man had advised him – War is at our gates now and every Yahurian, sworn or not, might be needed in battle soon.

With that, he had been launched into the arena mercilessly, then driven to the most absolute exhaustion by his more experienced peers.

That night, as he remained slumped on his bunk, feeling incapable of moving a single muscle. The clamor of the battle arising at the very entrance of the place that was now his beloved home, had been enough to make him feel enraged. A wild need to stop being the helpless child he'd always been, giving him the strength to stand up weakly, ignoring the pain, and clumsily tumble his way back into the pit.

His shaky hands tightening gradually around the training spear as he practiced the day's lesson over and over, under the silent moonlight stare.

-Good to know you are not playing any games, rookie – A voice had startled him and broken his focus, making him stumble and turn around to find Jardos sitting on the steps of the arena, watching him behind his mask with inscrutable eyes.

Akoh stood silent for a moment, not knowing what to say, before sloppily returning to his previous task and striking again. A moment later he heard the heavy thud of the warrior landing by him, and he struggled not to flinch.

-All right kid - The instructor had said, grabbing a spear and waving for him to approach - You are in luck. We are giving Xiblen a good beating. So, I am in good mood for some sparring tonight.

That was how Akoh had made a habit of waking up in the middle of the night and going to the pit to train under the warrior's vigilant eye. His movements feeling sharper by the day, his muscles getting stronger, little by little.

-That's enough, kid – Jardos announced one night, after making him charge for hours in a row – You still need to report for duty in a few hours and do not think I will be cutting you any slack just because of this.

-I know- Akoh sniffled, grabbing the flask that the trainer offered him and taking a sip, his eyes wandering pleadingly at him – Can I watch the battle just for a moment before I go back to sleep?

-The child is with me – Jardos had stated to the masked man guarding the tower, and he had nodded politely at him, leaving them alone as the kid peeked down towards the field. His eyes taking in the amazing image of the magnificent Yahurian army in full array, each pledged warrior proving the worth of ten Xiblenean men.

-Why do they insist on attacking Yahur? – Akoh asked as he watched the huge Xiblenean army stubbornly charging at their men with force.

-Because Ashrae wants Ussi, as much as he wants the Vessel – Jardos shrugged off.

-But none of them are here – The boy muttered, staring mesmerized at the fighting armies.

-Yes, kid. But he doesn't know that.