My story began before I can remember. My story is painful, sad and without a happy ending. This is my story, the story of Leksa kom Trikru.
I was taken from my mother before I could even remember her face. My existence has revolved around death and killing. After having the blood on my hands from my only friend, I made a vow; Noumou. Enough.
"LEXA!" I ducked to avoid impact from my opponent's sword. In vein. The sword grazed the side of my cheek, leaving him at the advantage. I gritted my teeth and in one fluent movement I was back on my feet. Guess that agility training was not such a waste. My mouth formed a sarcastic grin, "Is that all you have, Edaii?" tauntingly, I circled him, breaking his defences.
Edaii was a slender 11-year old from another Trikru village. We were the two 'lucky' ones sent to Polis, sent to train and become the potential new Heda. Being Trikru bonded us when we first arrived. Edaii and I have been training together ever since we could walk, our fate as nightbloods. We arrived to Polis at the same time, we were four years old and scared, not knowing what was waiting for us. I was not always as straightforward and confident as I am now. I used to hide from trainings, but that didn't bring me much other than more physical pain. It was Edaii that helped me through that. It's only now that I start to appreciate the lessons issued by Titus, he no longer frightened me, but I am no match for him either. My body is slender and muscled, tough, but I am in full control. Edaii is not, his development is catching up on me. He is starting to get stronger, but I am more flexible.
"Focus is not your thing today, is it Lexa?" Edaii's blue eyes stared at me tauntingly.
I huffed. "Bite me, Edaii. That was the only blood you will draw from me today." roughly I wiped the cut clean with my sleeve and turned my head to spit the remainders of black blood in the grass before crouching back in position. I twirled my sword and motioned to him "Come and get me, oh great future Heda" I said sarcastically. As is his custom, he parades, aiming for my left side. My weaker side. I saw him coming and shifted my feet to the right just ever so slightly, dodging his sword easily this time. My movement got him out of balance and it only took a slight hit from my sword to send him face-down in the mud. "HA. Touché, Edaii" I pointed my sword in his back and grinned triumphantly. He made a mocking face at me, knowing full well he had lost.
Footsteps near, just behind the treeline of the clearing we used as our arena. "LEXA!" The irritation in Titus's voice was unmistaken. Uh oh… Did I miss the sparring session? I cringed. I knew that today was the day I would be paired up with Luna. Involuntary I thought back about what happened last time and swallow the uneasy feeling down. I took my position to address master Titus respectfully. His voice boomed over the field. "LEXA, NOW." I always found him intimidation, knowing full well that explanations were not going to help my case, I lowered my gaze and excused myself. "I am sorry master."
He looked down in disdain and huffed. "You are late. Again. Don't let me look like a fool, Lexa."
Holding my posture I fixed my gaze on the grass below me, acknowledging my mistake silently and I promised myself to not let him down. "No I will not, master." I whispered.
Edaii is observed me from a distance. It was not his training day, so he was off the hook. But he knew as well as me how it feels to be in this position.
"Then, let's go, Lexa. You are being expected." Titus turned around and walked back in the direction of the arena with long strides.
Confused I scrambled up. Expected? I threw a questioning glance in Edaii's direction, but he raised his shoulders and mouthed "I don't know."
I hurried to follow Titus's large steps. I was quite sure that Luna kom Floukru would not be 'expecting' me. Yeah, perhaps to kill after injuring her brother last week. As we neared the center of Polis, I saw a large crowd gathered up at the edge of the arena, which was located just on the edge of Polis' center. An uneasy feeling crept up on me. No, this was not about missing a training. But what was it about? I squinted my eyes, trying to make out the symbol in the distance. Unmistaken, Trikru. That confused me, I was sent to Polis to train here, as is custom for all nightbloods. Why would they be here now?
As we near the crowd, Titus began speaking, in his mentor voice this time. "Listen Lexa, you make use of your advantages. No one is as fast and flexible as you. Use that. They will underestimate you according to your lack of muscle, but you make up for that by agility. Remember how we practised last week."
I thought back to the agility training and how I beat the other nightbloods with exception of Luna. The wound on the back of my calve was the silent remainder of Luna's victory and I winced thinking back to that moment. Luna was outraged because I beat her little brother and she took her rage out on me. She was not much taller or older than I was, but she was ten times as strong as me. I scanned the crowd to see if there were others from my class, and then I spotted Irinay, the leader of the Trikru clan. Her fiery red hair stands out in any crowd, and she was so much taller than any other of the Trikru I have known. Her muscular build and fierce stance instantly made you want to respect her, leadership came naturally to her. I have always looked up to her, she was also a nightblood, one class higher than me. Suddenly it all made sense. This was not just a random training, this is the real thing. I heard Irinay's second vanished with the rest of the inhabitants and warriors of one Trikru village, Washi. Everyone was completely wiped out when the clan was defending enemy lines under her command. What happened to them, no one knew and Irinay herself didn't come back un-scattered either. She was the sole survivor, probably because she was thought to be dead. The severity of her injuries attested to that, the scars were evident. One of her piercing blue eyes was scanning the area around her, the other one was carefully covered by a black cloth. Her left leg was limping and twisted in a strange position. If she would be called for a conclave now, she would never survive.
In anticipation of what was to come, the palms of my hands were becoming warm and moist, my heartbeat raised in my chest, causing the gaze on my cheek to flow again. Quickly I wiped the black blood off and mentally went over my battle advantages. Speed. Surprise. Suppleness.
As we arrived in the center arena, I took my position and observed my three opponents. One boy from Azgeda, I had seen him, but did not train with him. He had an arrogant grin on his face and he looked about fifteen. The awkwardness already lifted from his body, making place for muscles. The way he clenched his sword showed me that he would not hold back in using that advantage. The second girl I knew, Aïda. She was tall and featured a muscular build, she was about two years older than me and she was born in Polis. She is a representative of the Floukru, same as Luna. The last boy I had never seen before. His face was covered by long black hair which was carefully braided in the back, warrior style. He looked small, but judging by his posture I would be wise not to underestimate him.
Then, the murmur of voices died down as Titus raised his hands asking for attention.
His loud, authoritarian voice boomed through the arena. "Today we have gathered with our champions, to decide who is worthy to follow Irinay temporary." Irinay rised and a loud murmur raised from the crowd. It was highly unlikely for a clan leader to choose a second from the nightbleeders. Irinay raised her left hand and started speaking, the murmur died down seconds later. "As you know, my warriors have vanished. Leaving Trikru Kanaku exposed. I call upon the champions to reinforce and retaliate." As Irinay sat down, Titus stepped forward, pointing at me to rise first.
I rose and took my place in front of Irinay as Titus' voice announced "I present to you; LEKSA kom Trikru!" I heared a hint of pride in his voice, with renewed confidence I nodded to Irinay. From the corner of my eye I saw the boy from Azgeda leering at me before Titus continued.
"TAGOTA kom Azgeda!" The boy rose, almost in an arrogant way and assumed his place next to me. I could almost feel his smugness radiating.
Titus did not take notion and continued, pointing at girl from Floukru. "AÏDA kom Floukru!" Aïda quietly strode and took position next to Tagota before she looked at Irinay and nodded.
Lastly Titus motioned to the boy I didn't knew to come forward. "JAHU kom Trishanakru!" The black-haired boy slowly rose and respectfully nodded to Irinay before taking his position next to Aïda.
Titus steps forward before announcing "Teik sadgeda stot au, oso don hod op feva." (let the conclave begin, we have waited long enough).