THE CONTEST
1076 Words
Visiting Ara wasn’t so bad. While the girls would have preferred to sleep with the time-off they got, being received by the prince of Croft kingdom certainly was grand. Ara welcomed them with a hot bath that the girls and Kiro were certainly grateful for. But Kiro couldn’t get too comfortable. Unlike the girls, he was yet to begin the training, so his could start at any moment. He was a little uncomfortable upon entering the palace, fidgeting at the sight of almost everything – something that concerned Zhiyi a lot. Aroha couldn’t care less.
“Are you worried about what Vela said?” Zhiyi asked Kiro on their way to the dining after the hot baths.
“Who wouldn’t?” he said abruptly, but Zhiyi could tell that something else was bothering him.
“Feel free to tell me when you trust me. What’s bothering you that is,” she said.
“Like that’ll ever happen,” Kiro snapped much to the irritation of Aroha.
“Look here, you rude blacksmith. I don’t know what it is that fuels your hatred for nobles and honestly, I don’t care. The least you can do is respect someone who shows you concern. Because you’re not going to get it from anyone else,” she said as she grabbed his arm tightly.
“I didn’t ask for her concern. I’ve got enough to worry about with those princes on my neck. No thanks to you,” Kiro scoffed as he pulled his arm free of Aroha’s grasp. He was a beast after all. Aroha was never going to win in a show of strength.
“Fighting already, I see,” Ara said. Somehow, their bickering amused him. Zenon was seated beside him as well.
Zhiyi resisted the urge to grin. She was in awe. It was the first time she was in their presence together and it was hard to gather her thoughts. Aroha on the other hand didn’t wait to be offered a seat at the table before she took one for herself. When no one said anything, Kiro followed suit. As did Zhiyi.
“To what do we owe the pleasure, your highnesses?” Aroha asked in the most condescending tone.
Zhiyi kicked her foot from under the table so hard, that there was no use doing it so. Aroha bowed her head in courtesy hoping that somehow covered the fact that she was mocking them. But the princes took no offense. It was a taste of fresh air from the conceitful bowing and drooling over them that they received from others. There were very few people who could see the princes without their crowns. Those were the people they sought to cherish. Not those who hide behind the mask of adoration and respect without any true regard for them. They had seen that one too many.
“I thought I’d give you an out to relax. You’ve had quite the ordeal. Some from training, others from getting their bones broken,” Ara goaded.
“How thoughtful, your highness,” Aroha responded the same way as she did before. This time, Zhiyi’s kick was a lot more painful that she moaned.
“There’s something else, isn’t there?” Zhiyi asked. There was no way Ara was being honest. Something was up. Beneath that smile and composure, they could tell something was wrong.
“Well yes, but you need not concern yourself with that for now. You know of the capital’s contest of warriors, don’t you?” Ara said. Throughout the entire conversation, it didn’t look like Zenon was willing to utter a word. The same with Kiro. But somehow, for different reasons. While Zenon wore his usual calm demeanor, Kiro could not be more unsettled. His eyes ran all over the place except for the two seating before him.
Ara frowned. There were some underlying problems that they would need to address in time. “I was going to suggest that Kiro enroll for it, but Zenon mentioned how good the two of you are at combat. So, I wanted to put it to you if you would be interested. Of course, Vela still has the final say.”
“You didn’t ask for my opinion?” Kiro finally spoke.
“I’ll ask for it when it matters. I want to see what you’re capable of when you’re facing off against the most powerful being on Maori,” Ara gloated.
“Well that’s quite a lofty claim,” Aroha goaded, much to Zenon’s amusement. A chuckle was the only sound that he let out all through the conversation.
“Do you know anyone stronger than me?” Ara teased. “You could even count the wyverns if you liked.”
Wyverns! That word uncovered a string of memories that she Aroha was trying to keep buried. Her discomfort did not pass the eye of Ara and Zenon but was not rightly interpreted either.
“You’re scared of wyverns?” Ara said. This time, with a hint of concern.
Aroha’s intense frown was a coverup. Zhiyi knew that much. She also knew that they would be aware of their encounter with the wyvern on their journey to the capital, but without the extra details. The guards that accompanied them would have reported it. That was why they could notice so quickly. But it was too early to let them in on what was going on. They would start with Vela and only when they deem it an absolute necessity would they involve prince Ara and prince Zenon.
Aroha chuckled. “Take it as a challenge. I dare to make such an audacious statement before the most powerful beings on Maori,” – she teased as she stared Ara straight in the eye. A boldness he admired – “Before the start of the next year, I will surpass you two,” Aroha said with all seriousness.
Ara would have laughed, but something about the way Aroha spoke made him excited. The prospect of another challenger gave him chills. The type he had not felt since the days he and Zenon used to fight one another.
“I take it that you would be participating in the contest then?” Ara said.
“Certainly. And I’ll win it over the head of your precious student,” Aroha replied.
Ara turned to Kiro. “Well aren’t you a lucky man. You’ve already got yourself a pair of rivals.”
- Writer
