Festival Of Torment
1417 Words
The plaza stretched wide under Eryndor's clear sky. Flags hung from tall poles. Colors looked bright in the full sun. Marston red led the line. Harrison blue followed close. Bramwell green sat third. Brighton yellow finished the group. Stalls lined the edges. Smell of cooked birds mixed with new bread. Beer poured into mugs. Musicians picked strings. People moved in groups. Feet hit the ground hard.
Zhilak stepped down from the cart. Strong hands pushed his arms. Chest hurt from the motion. He looked over the crowd. Faces turned. Low talks started. Fingers pointed. He raised his chin. Walked to the Marston spot.
Harlan waited there. Staff held tight. Eyes hard. "Stand in the center," he ordered. Voice carried across the space. People heard. Zhilak obeyed. Feet planted firm. Heart beat fast.
Harlan climbed the raised area. Crowd went quiet. Arm went up. "Today we remember wins. Monsters pushed back. Enemies held off. But one fails." Finger pointed at Zhilak. "My child. No system. Stain on our line."
People breathed in sharp. Leaders leaned in. Common folk watched close. Harlan kept going. "He brings bad luck. I cut the tie. No more Marston in him." Rope came from his belt. Leather gleamed. He swung it. Tip cut air. Hit Zhilak's back. Skin split. Blood came out. Zhilak bit his lip. No sound escaped.
Crowd cheered loud. Kayrwin hit hands together. Niamon smiled small. Riven nodded low. Seraphina looked away.
Calanthor stood from the Harrison seats. Dress flowed light. She walked to the raised area. Steps sure. "The match ends," she said. Words clear. Hand touched Harlan's arm. "Wise choice." Turned to Zhilak. "No place for the weak."
Zhilak met her eyes. "Words hold little. Actions show truth."
She laughed short. "Truth? You give nothing." Moved closer. Breath hit his face. "What we had ends." Pulled back. Face turned cold.
Dorian got up. "Our Adept power grows. We take the lead." Finger touched the stand. Light flashed. "Blade Cascade done. Trial finished: tied the weak in front of all." Crowd shouted.
The fights began. Space cleared. Fighters entered. Dorian started. Sword out. Opponent from Bramwell. Blades rang. Tips met. Dorian turned. Cuts hit in row. Foe fell. Applause grew.
Riven entered the ring. Against a Brighton. Hit landed true. Body dropped. Riven bowed slight. "Power proves right."
Kayrwin faced a Harrison boy. Order given. Foe stopped. Blade struck. Win came fast.
Niamon used Aura. Enemy slowed. Touch landed. Shape bent. Sounds spread.
Seraphina sent Mirage. Copies moved. True hit stabbed. Foe cut air.
Lirael watched from the side. Eyes on Zhilak. She came close. "Keep going," she said low. "Things change."
Thorne left the view. Met a friend. "Shame shows. Veyra knows."
Voss talked to Myra. "Orb held no light. Something hides more."
Zhilak stood alone. Back burned. Eyes blurred. Calanthor walked by. "Weak suits you." Dorian laughed. "Suits the trash."
Riven came near. "My turn in ring soon. Watch." He lined up with fighter. Swing flew. But missed path. Tip cut Zhilak's arm. Blood flowed. Riven shrugged. "Miss."
New pain. Zhilak held the spot. Sight fogged.
Crowd ate. Dancers spun. Tune rose. Harlan drank from cup. Eyes on son. No regret.
Elara moved through people. Cloth to arm. "Breathe." Voice soft.
Zhilak took her hand. "Why come?"
"Power blinds." She wrapped the cloth.
Arms pulled her. "Stay in place."
Calanthor danced with Dorian. Bodies close. Laughs shared.
Thorne showed up. Face plain. "Plan set."
Voss went up the raised area again. "Old Aether story. Lost power waits for trouble." Eyes on Zhilak.
Beat inside Zhilak sped. Weak. Then stopped.
Event lasted long. Fights ended. Food gone. Light fell. Shadows lengthened.
Harlan gave the end sign. "Marston stands strong. Weak gone." Crowd cheered.
Zhilak stepped down. Legs shook. Blood trail left. Noises followed.
Lirael grabbed arm. "Low world holds secrets. Go there."
He nodded. Mixed with people.
Stalls hummed. Seller called for pies. Heat came up. Zhilak passed. Arm hit. No sorry. People looked. One leader spit. "No system dirt." Kid pulled dress. Mother said. "Look away."
Music grew. Strings rubbed. Drums beat slow. Dancers held arms. Rings made. Laughs rang. Zhilak wove through. Back heat built. Feet slipped. He rested on wall. Breath slowed.
Thought came. Calanthor in yard. Hands linked. Mouths touched light. "Our time ahead," she said. Now, that mouth threw poison. Faith broke. Beat inside flashed. Lost.
Harlan drank more. Cup filled again. Eyes checked son. "Take the point," he said to Kayrwin low. "Power or gone."
Kayrwin agreed. "He goes."
Niamon drank wine. Aura buzzed light. "Link safe."
Riven honed sword. "My fight next. Real hit."
Seraphina sat by self. Fingers turned cloth. Bad feeling bit. Stood. Moved to side. Saw Zhilak leave.
Dorian took reward. Gold link. "For the cut win." Calanthor hit hands. "Ours builds."
Thorne saw friend in dark stall. "Break in open. Veyra wins." Friend wrote fast. "Catch set."
Voss took Myra to side. "No light orb points change. Boy matters." Myra turned sheets. "Story says trouble start."
Elara looked for crowd. Found Zhilak. Came near. "Child." Cloth new. "Cover cut." Fingers moved fast.
Zhilak pulled back. "Event laughs."
"Live through." She held cloth. "Aether checks hard."
Guards came. "Move time." Took her.
Calanthor spun once more. Dorian's hand on side. "Marston drops. We climb." Plan said low. Areas noted.
Zhilak kept going. People less at edge. Lirael reached. "Take low road. Low town calls." Drew line on hand.
He agreed. Went through door. Path black. Feet sounded. Back wet with blood. Beat inside moved one time. Small light. Or lie.
Event hit top. Fires started. Flames jumped tall. Singers told past stories. Monster losses. Enemy defeats. Harlan held cup. "For power!" Shouts filled.
Zhilak got to far wall. Rock bumpy. Climbed bit by bit. Hurt stabbed. Top made. Dropped side. Land shook. Legs gave. Stood. Low town waited. Lights low. Smoke climbed slow.
Heard talks. Two leaders. "Calanthor sleeps with Kayrwin." Laugh. "Match fake."
Zhilak stopped. Anger rose hot. Hand balled. Then ran. Night took him.
The plaza's center held the main fire pit. Logs stacked high. Sparks flew up. Heat pushed back chill. Vendors packed goods. Baskets full of fruit. Jars of honey. Knives with bone handles. One seller called. "Fresh cuts for home." Zhilak passed without look. Arm brushed table. Fruit rolled. Seller cursed. "Watch path."
Dancers formed lines. Skirts swirled. Men stamped feet. Rhythm matched drums. A girl spun fast. Hair flew. Boy caught her waist. They laughed. Zhilak saw from side. Once, Calanthor danced like that. Hand in his. Steps matched. Now, her hand in another's.
Harlan sat on raised chair. Cup in hand. Servants poured more. "Son's fall teaches," he said to advisor. Advisor nodded. "Show strength." Harlan's eyes followed Zhilak's trail. No soft look.
Kayrwin joined group of young lords. "My command won fast." They slapped backs. Wine flowed. One asked. "What of brother?" Kayrwin shrugged. "Gone. Good riddance."
Niamon talked with ladies. "Aura holds foes still." They nodded. "Impress Harlan." She smiled. "Always do."
Riven practiced swings. Blade whistled. Hit dummy. Wood split. "Next real," he said to self.
Seraphina watched from bench. Fingers drummed knee. Stood. Walked to mother. "Father too hard." Elara shook head. "Power rules."
Dorian and Calanthor sat at table. Plates with meat. "Marston weak spot," Dorian said. "We fill." Calanthor cut piece. "My break clears path." They planned low. "Take east fields first."
Thorne walked fast. Met man in back stall. "Shame full. Veyra happy." Man took note. "Trap for boy set."
Voss stood with Myra. "Blank orb hides big." Myra read line. "Old tale: power sleeps in bad times."
Elara found spot alone. Sat. Head in hands. "My boy." Whisper to air. "Find way."
Guards patrolled edge. One saw Zhilak climb. "Let him go." Other agreed. "No use now."
Crowd thinned slow. Fires burned low. Singers stopped. Last tune faded. Harlan stood. "Event ends. Marston strong." Final cheers.
Zhilak ran through alleys. Feet slipped on dirt. Blood dripped. Beat inside stayed quiet. Low town gates near. Iron bars. Guard yawned. Zhilak slipped by. Inside, huts leaned. Smoke from chimneys. People moved in dark. Eyes watched.
One old man sat on crate. "New face." Zhilak nodded. Kept walking. Pain slowed steps. Found corner. Leaned wall. Breath heavy. Thought of Lirael's words. "Low world truths." What truths? Beat came faint. Hand to chest. Warmth brief. Then cold.
Festival sounds far now. Cheers gone. Only night bugs. Zhilak sat ground. Back to stone. Eyes closed. Sleep fought pain.
- Writer
