Bladers: Rise of a Hero

🌟 Chapter 2: The Parade and the Promise

April 7, Thursday

By the roadside — 8:00 AM

Toshia woke up early and headed into town, hoping to collect bottles. But something felt off.

Toshia (thinking):

Why is it so quiet today...?

He wandered around town, but the streets were empty.

Toshia:

"Where is everyone?"

Suddenly, a familiar voice called out.

Jay:

"Hey, Toshia!"

Toshia:

"Oh, Jay! How are you?"

Jay:

"I’m okay. What are you doing here?"

Toshia:

"I came to collect bottles, but... there's no one around."

Jay (grinning):

"Ahh, you can do that later. Come with me to the west!"

The two began walking together.

Toshia:

"Why? What’s happening there?"

Jay:

"You didn’t hear? There’s a parade in the west. The Bladers will be there too."

Jay (dreamily):

"My dream is to become a Blader and wipe out all the demons."

Toshia (thinking):

It's obvious how much he wants to be a Blader.

Jay:

"Wait — how old are you, Toshia?"

Toshia:

"I’m sixteen."

Jay (surprised):

"We’re the same age! Hey, wanna take the entrance exam for the Swordman Academy together?"

Toshia:

"Thanks, but I’m not really interested."

Jay:

"Why not?"

Toshia:

"I’ve never studied a day in my life."

Jay:

"Me neither."

Toshia:

"I’m sorry, Jay. Maybe ask someone else to go with you."

Jay (sighs):

"I don’t know anyone else. I’m just staying at my aunt’s house..."

Toshia:

"At least you have a place to sleep."

Jay (quietly):

"It’s more like living in hell."

Toshia:

"What do you mean?"

Jay:

"I get beaten for the smallest mistakes. I do all the chores. My parents owe her a lot of money... so I’m the one paying it off."

Toshia (thinking):

His life is hard too...

They arrived in the western district and saw a large crowd gathering.

Jay (excited):

"Oh! We’re here!"

Toshia:

"Wow... so many people."

Jay (pointing):

"There they are! Come on!"

Toshia:

"Alright."

Toshia’s eyes scanned the scene.

Toshia:

"Who are the people riding in the carriages?"

Jay:

"Those are the important ones."

Toshia (thinking):

Why the parade? It just seems like a distraction...

Jay (pointing again):

"There’s David Wency!"

Toshia:

"Who’s that?"

Jay (shocked):

"You don’t know the Wency family?!"

Toshia:

"Nope."

Jay:

"They run this whole place — and the Swordman Academy too."

Toshia (thinking):

So the old man I met... he must be a Wency, too.

Jay:

"Hey, there’s Kristal Wency!"

Toshia:

"Who’s she?"

Jay:

"She’s our age. David Wency’s daughter."

Toshia and Kristal suddenly locked eyes for a brief moment.

Toshia (thinking):

Kristal Wency, huh...

Inside the Carriage

David:

"How are you, daughter? Who are you looking at?"

Kristal (startled):

"Ahh—no one."

Kristal (thinking):

Who was that guy...? He felt... different from all the others I’ve seen.

Back in the crowd

Toshia:

"I’ll get going now, Jay."

Jay (surprised):

"You’re leaving?"

Toshia:

"Yeah. I still need to collect bottles."

Jay (disappointed):

"Oh... okay."

Toshia (thinking):

Poor guy...

Toshia (smiling):

"Hey, help me collect bottles. If we earn enough, we can buy food for the entrance exam."

Jay (shocked):

"What?! You’ll take the entrance exam with me?!"

Toshia:

"Yup. Let’s go. Haha!"

They spent the rest of the day collecting bottles together, laughing and sweating side by side. As the sun set, they parted ways.

Toshia:

"I’ll be off now."

Jay:

"Okay. The entrance exam is on April 10 — Sunday!"

Toshia:

"Got it."

Jay:

"I’ll help you collect more bottles tomorrow after I finish my chores."

Toshia:

"Alright. Bye."

Jay:

"Bye, take care!"

TO BE CONTINUED....