The Voyage in the Blizzard (BL)

Last encounter. Part two.

For the first time in his life, feeling pressure from all sides, Draken wanted to escape, to return to his cave.

Standing on the training field which now turned into a stage, he looked at all three masters of the three clans and then at the soldiers.

In the very center of the field, Bigfoot was waiting for the beginning of the battle.

All soldiers, sitting on the logs which were around the field, were holding their swords with fear. Three masters were sitting on the high chairs in the wooden pavilion.

The training field looked like a real boxing ring. With an audience and a jury.

The snowy field turned into a stage where every soldier was supposed to become the best actor who would prove everyone that the years of training were not in vain.

Raghnall watching Draken’s every movement, addressed to Leiandros who was sitting next to him, “Leiandros, I always expected the best achievement from you. But now seeing Draken instead of you, I completely forgot that you have left my clan.”

Hearing this, Sun added, “Brother Raghnall, I hope you are not angry with me. Or worse, I hope you are not angry with Leiandros.” Knowing how much Raghnall valued Leiandros, he with happiness in his voice said, “With Leiandros, I think my clan will reach unprecedented heights.”

“The only achievement for each of us is to survive. To survive at least one more minute, or an hour. This is our achievement. But chasing personal gain and goals, it is the wasting of time,” Raghnall said.

Ignoring their words, Leiandros, all this time, was looking at Draken who was far in front of him. Seeing him again, hearing his voice again, made him feel the life. Concealing his emotions, he nevertheless put on the cold – blooded mask back.

“Brother Raghnall, finally our clans are on the same level. Am I right brother Sirius?”

Sirius, sitting with his eyes closed, as if being in his own world, nodded his head. Expressing no interest in their conversation, all he thought was his son.

“Brother, what are you thinking about?” Sun asked.

Taking his time to answer, Sirius directed his icy gaze to Silver. “During all this time, you have not learned to be silent. You keep talking. But in reality, you do nothing. Sometimes I wonder why Leiandros agreed to become the part of your clan.”

Without showing that his words sounded offensive, Sun, with his pretentious naivety made a surprised look. “Brother Raghnall, just listen to him!”

Raghnall finally stopped their conversation and lifted his hand.

Taking this as a sign that it was time to start, Draken nodded his head and all the soldiers simultaneously stood up.

The soldiers, holding their breath, were looking at Bigfoot. They were scared, they were worried and most of all, they knew that it was the last battle with their own kind.

Draken without saying anything, approached the first soldier. Looking at his frightened eyes, he smiled thus giving him a little peace of mind.

The soldier ignored his smile and stepped forward. Holding his sword firmly in his hand, his tall figure dressed in a thin vest and pants, headed towards the center of the field.

Draken just nodded his head and Bigfoot took a fighting pose in front of the soldier.

A moment of absolute silence gave the upcoming battle an epic beginning.

With both hands holding the sword, the soldier’s eyes were directed at Bigfoot. He took a deep breath and the next, Bigfoot launched the first blow.

“Every time I look at Bigfoot, I am scared. I can’t imagine how scary it must be for someone who is fighting with him.” Sun whispered as he watched Bigfoot moving with dexterity, striking one blow after another.

Using all the techniques that Draken taught him, the soldier, jumping up, swinging his leg and thereby kicked Bigfoot in the chest. Without moving, Bigfoot caught him by the leg and lifting him, threw him on the ground.

Knowing that the battle couldn’t be stopped, unless he was victorious or completely defeated, the soldier who followed Draken’s instructions was able to get up.

Feeling the powers, he sent them to the sword. Spinning on the battlefield like a whirligig, he dodging blows was about to strike with a sword, but Bigfoot grabbed the blade of the sword and threw it aside.

“I have seen many times how Bigfoot crumpled swords with one hand without getting hurt. Looking at him, I wonder why these beasts still exist. With such powers, he could have killed all beasts at once,” Sun said without holding back his remarks.

As Sun said, Bigfoot, making the sword unusable, continued to move on the field as if he was just walking.

Breathing heavily, the soldier with his last strength trying to hit him, suddenly remembered how Draken, using the enemy as a springboard, pushed off him and the next moment inflicted a strong blow from above.

Swinging his fist, Bigfoot went straight at him with fast speed, taking advantage of this, the soldier grabbed his hand and jumped up. Climbing as if on a rock, the soldier, like Draken, pushed off from him and directing all his weight into his fist, finally dealt a strong blow to his face.

Staggering back, Bigfoot still stood on his feet. For the first time in this fight, having received such a powerful blow, Bigfoot’s eyes lit up with fire.

The feeling of fatigue and fear had completely disappeared, and now, following simple instincts to survive, the soldier, using all Draken’s tricks, simply dodged the blows. And while dodging, he discreetly grabbed Bigfoot’s leg or arm and thereby made him lose his composure.

“Draken, this is what you taught everyone?! You taught them not to be strong, but how to be cunning. This soldier, he is fighting against the rules,” Sun said without taking his eyes off the fight.

Not daring to remain silent, Draken replied, “Sometimes you don’t need strength to survive.”

Nodding his head, Raghnall approvingly said, “If you want to survive, you have to be cunning.”

Feeling Leiandros’ gaze on himself, Draken moved a little further. Taking advantage of the moment when everyone was watching the fight, Leiandros took a few steps towards Draken. Stopping next to him, he looked at his serious face.

“What are you doing? Don’t run away!” Bigfoot angrily shouted.

Without stopping, the soldier ran past him and at that very moment when Bigfoot wanted to kick him, the soldier took the snowball and threw it right in his face. The freshly fallen snow that didn’t have time to harden was like a sand. Throwing more snow, so that all the snowflakes hit him right in the eyes, the soldier took advantage of the situation and pulled his leg. The next second, Bigfoot fell down.

According to the rules, if in the last battle, Bigfoot falls down, then it means only one thing, the victory.

With joy in the eyes, the soldier, raised both hands and there was a quiet applause from afar.

Raghnall looked at Draken, the blush on his face indicated that he was very pleased with the fight. “Draken, it is too early to rejoice, but I hope that all these soldiers will show the same agility as the first soldier.”

Frowning even more, looking even fiercer, Bigfoot threw a menacing look at the soldier who was leaving the training field with joy on his face.

While waiting for the next soldier, Bigfoot shook the snow off his face and straightened his shoulders.

“Why does it seem to me that this fight will be remembered for a long time?!” Without ceasing to speak and comment, Sun got up and took several steps forward so that he could clearly see the fight.

Draken, using the moment when everyone was watching how another soldier was flying like a bird and hit Bigfoot, stepped back. Knowing that Leiandros would do the same, he still tried to look indifferent.

Slowly approaching each other, but acting consciously, they, without noticing it, were already very close.

Feeling Leiandros’ shoulder, Draken lost all connection with reality. The ground slipped from under his feet, the voices died down, his heart stopped beating.

Without moving, they both looked straight ahead.

And feeling each other’s shoulders was enough to feel all the stars in their souls.

Leiandros, unable to endure this any longer, grabbed Draken’s hand. His cold fingers wrapped Draken’s palm.

Draken, feeling weakness in his legs, closed his eyes but a loud cry of the soldier who was pinned to the ground brought him back to senses.

Squeezing Leiandros’ hand in return, Draken still couldn’t turn his head and look into his eyes. After all, any eye contact would lead to the whole disaster.

“Bravo!”

Sun’s loud voice brought them both back to the cold reality. Abruptly stepping aside, Draken approached Raghnall.

After defeating Bigfoot, the soldier named Ice exclaimed, “How easy it is!”

Raghnall happily laughed and exclaimed, “Bigfoot will never forget this day!”

The next turn was Storm. Now, Draken was completely back to his senses.

Confident in Storm’s strength, he still was very worried.

“Look, Draken is worried about his brother.”

No longer able to tolerate Sun’s remarks, Sirius said, “You can’t be silent. What is wrong with you?”

Making a surprised look, Sun couldn’t find any words so he fell silent.

Paying no attention to anyone, Draken closely watched Storm’s every movement.

Dodging every blow, holding his sword in his hands, Storm didn’t use Draken’s technique but his own.

Despite the difference in muscle mass, Storm showed his strength and steadfastness more than Bigfoot.

And in the blink of an eye, Bigfoot was defeated. Using his sword, Storm showed his great skills in fencing and then he hit Bigfoot in the chest. Unable to stand on the slippery ground, Bigfoot fell down.

“His father was a good friend of your father, right?” Sirius asked.

Draken happily replied, “Yes. And we are good friends too. I spent all my childhood with him. We are like brothers.”

Sun added his poisonous words to the conversation, “Brotherly feelings, they are unacceptable in our world, am I right?”

“Draken’s father was like a brother to me too. So brotherly feelings may be the only thing that still makes us human,” Raghnall said, trying to silence him.

But Sun didn’t remain silent. “And what feelings are unacceptable then?” he asked looking at Leiandros.

“Leiandros, did you accidentally fall from the mountain? Why did you become the part of the Second clan?” Sirius asked, this time showing his nervousness towards Sun.

“Teacher Draken, I won’t let you down!” Den’s loud voice was heard. Walking energetically towards Bigfoot, he threw his sword away and said, “I don’t need this sword.” Not waiting for Bigfoot take the first step, Den ran straight at him and quickly jumping up, wrapped his legs around him and made Bigfoot fall down.

Bigfoot, throwing him away, quickly got up and hit him.

Den, not paying attention to the blood which was flowing from his nose, continued to attack him.

Laughing, Raghnall pointed at Bigfoot and said, “It seems, he will never forget these fights.”

Without holding back the cries of pain and victory, Den, using all his positive attitude, jumped over Bigfoot and quickly kicked him on the back.

Bigfoot wanted to catch him, but before he had time to turn around, Den was already sitting on him and pressing him to the cold ground.

“Didn’t expect this from me? And why is everyone afraid of you? You are gigantic but you aren’t fast. Guys, it is so easy to defeat him! While he turns around, you have time to make ten circles around of him.” After shouting this, Den waved at Draken and exclaimed, “Draken, I didn’t let you down!”

The next half of the day, Raghnall, watching the epic fights, showed a full spectrum of emotions for the first time.

And Sun was silently sitting. It was clear that the envy took possession of him.

Feeling all the excitement, Draken rooted for every soldier. After all, during this time, everyone became his friend.

After several defeats, Bigfoot still managed to win the fight. But in truth, he was losing his strength and for the first time in his life, he felt tired.

The next in turn was Galen.

Knowing how Galen behaved on the training field, Draken worried about him with all his heart.

“I am afraid this handsome young man will be afraid to stain his face with blood.” Sun whispered to Sirius.

Draken unable to endure him any longer said, “Master Sun, I wonder about one thing. How did you manage to become the head of the whole clan? What is your secret? I think you have a lot of secrets.”

Smiling nervously, Sun replied, “Everyone has his own secret.” It was clear that he was hurt by Draken’s words. He didn’t say anything further.

Seeing his angry expression, Draken felt satisfied.

When Galen was fighting, Draken’s worry disappeared.

Galen, who had shown himself as a weak and fragile, now was literally dancing on the field. Dodging blows, brandishing his sword, he was one step ahead of Bigfoot.

But after a few moments when he was so close to victory, he suddenly stopped and turned towards Draken.

“Galen why did you stop?!” Draken shouted.

Taking advantage of the moment, Bigfoot didn’t hesitate and attacked him. Pressing him to the ground, Bigfoot noticing that Raghnall was waving his hand, stopped.

“Why did he stop?” Draken whispered to himself.

After several fights, Draken had already lost count and stopped noticing who was on the field. But when the last turn came to Silver, he concentrated all his attention on the fight.

As if reading his thoughts, Sirius said, “Let’s see who my son has become and whether he has become anything at all.”

Approaching the field, Silver looked a little tense and even scared.

Bigfoot, seeing him, said, “If I hurt you, then I am sorry. I know who you are, but don’t expect from me to be kind. I just do what I have to do.”

Smiling nervously, Silver took the right pose and said in response, “Don’t worry. I will be fine.”

Ending the conversation at this point, Bigfoot didn’t start the fight until Silver made a first step.

“Forgive me,” Silver said and brandishing his sword, struck the first blow.

Not wanting to look further at this battle where Silver was losing, Draken turned away. During all this time, Silver became his brother and therefore, the worry that was in his heart made him close his eyes until this fight was over.

The sound of the flying blades of swords slicing through the air, was the only living sound across the field.

And only from time to time, Silver’s sighs reached his ears. Deciding to win at any cost, Silver didn’t want to give up. Especially when his father was looking at him.

Now, feeling himself like a real warrior, he knew that he shouldn’t protect himself, but Draken. Protect his name and prove to everyone that he is the best warrior and person in this whole world. And also he wanted to prove to his father that he is capable of something.

Waiting for this fight to end, Draken nevertheless turned around and what he saw calmed his mind.

“Your son is very strong. Why did you complain about him all this time?” Raghnall asked.

With a loud cry, Silver holding the sword of Bigfoot who literally pressed him to the ground, felt the surge of energy. Channeling all the powers that remained in him on his sword, Silver slowly began to rise back.

Draken whispering words of support, thus attracted Leiandros and Raghnall’s attention.

And when Silver’s sword was finally at one level with his face, Silver took a step back and Bigfoot noticed the edge of the sword at his chest.

With the sword pointed directly at his chest, Silver said, “Beast can be defeated by thrusting a sword into its heart.”

Sirius stood up from his chair and happily looked at Draken. “Good job Draken. Finally, Silver showed himself.”

After finishing the final battle, everyone was excited about their victory.

Raghnall was the happiest person among all. Looking at every soldier, he said, “Now I see that the new generation of the First clan won’t fail my expectations.” And then approaching Draken, he with tenderness in his voice added, “I hope you will remain in this clan as a teacher. There is a great future ahead of you.”

Draken who was very tired by the end of the day, whispered, “I hope you didn’t forget about your promise. Soon, I will be 25. And I hope you remember about my father’s letter.”

“Of course. Whatever you want. The main thing is that you stay in my clan.”

“Stop praising him like that, we haven’t seen his fight,” intervening in the conversation, Sun whispered.

“I think Bigfoot is tired.”

Sun, standing by the fire, nodded his head. “You’re right. Bigfoot is tired. So why don’t Draken fight with someone else? With someone whose powers are the same as Bigfoot’s powers.”

“Who do you propose?”

“Why don’t Draken fight with the greatest warrior of this world? I mean with Leiandros,” Sun loudly said and his voice sounded like a thunder in Draken’s head.

“Resolved! With such powers, Draken should fight with someone like Leiandros.”