Chapter One
Tai adjusted her mask and tightened her headband; the two knight commanders before her had just been approved for the official battle. However, Tai knew that her turn would not be as simple. Never before in the history of the county had a girl been chosen by the town headmaster to represent the city in the final annual competition. Being at the youngest age to qualify, Tai's situation was nearly helpless. She was the only girl that had tried out to be the symbol of Sapphire City. The arsenal contained almost two hundred male soldiers and still the headmaster did not seem hesitant to choose her. Like many others, Tai was also confused on the town headmaster's awkward decision. Tai knew that she was good for her age and gender, but she would have never guessed that she would have made it all the way to the top. This was either going to be a historically proud or pathetically humiliating moment, there was no in between. Tai anxiously waited for her name to be called by the competition announcer. Finally the voice boomed, "The designated leader of Sapphire City is Tai…"
As Tai stood there in the unlit tunnel she knew that her name was being questioned. Tai's breathing was quickening as her heart began to pound hard on her chest. Finally, after a few minutes that seemed like hours to Tai, the announcer cleared his voice and shouted loudly, but not as dignified as the other two male names, "Tai Caliste."
As the blinding rays of light reached Tai's eyes she squinted to see the audience reactions. Some of them were silent and in awe, but most of them had on jeering expressions as well as some that evidently didn't approve of her entry. Tai shifted her gaze from the crowds to the three headmasters of the three cities. Two of them were trying to calm the crowd and the headmaster that had chosen her to be the Sapphire City representative was speaking to the emperor. Looking back to the crowd she found that many faces had started whispering to one another. Fools, just talk aloud if you dare because it's obvious what you're all talking about, thought Tai. Tai held her breath as she waited for the emperor's reaction. Her stomach gave a lurch when she watched the emperor's son, Tethys Ananke, whisper to his father.
Tai had to think about her situation just to resist the urge to roll her eyes as she thought, another fool who doesn't have the nerve to speak out loud.
Finally the emperor nodded his head in a hesitating approval. Tai exhaled and continued her long walk into the ring to join the two exemplifying opponents. Both of them grinned as she approached. Tai's body quivered with rage, she hated to be lowly looked upon and underestimated. Tai knew what they were thinking, feh don't think that just because I'm a girl I'm going to give up without a fight. If you don't believe that I can be just as good as the other boys you call 'soldiers', then perhaps a demonstration will help you rethink the matter.
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Diamond City symbol Tyrone stood there aghast, but showed no sign of shock. There, entering the arena representing Sapphire City was a girl. There was no doubt that the person behind the mask was a female. Although his instincts told him to beware, his pretentious attitude pushed the idea aside. Tyrone grinned at the thought of an easy victory. Tyre and his longtime friend Li stood there in the circle and when Tai joined them Tyrone couldn't help but smile. Tyrone gave Li a look and Li gave one back.
"Bow," instructed the announcer. All three slowly bowed and turned to face the emperor. There were to be as little as two and as many as three duels between the three candidates. The first person to reach two points, one point for each win, would be the victor. Once winning a battle, the point is kept with the winner, however, if that winner is defeated, then the battle as well as the point that he had received would go to the new victor, therefore, an automatic win. Battle One would consist of two random warriors chosen by the emperor. Battle Two would be the winner of the first battle with the warrior who did not fight before. All this was according to tradition a long, long time ago (and was understood a long time later because of multiple confusion).
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"The first battle will be Tyrone, or Tyre as he would like to be called, versus Li," bellowed the announcer. Tai walked over to the chair where the waiting warrior was to sit. While walking, Tai felt the irritating gazes of the unsatisfied spectators following her and watching her every move for flaws to complain about.
"Begin!" cried the announcer. Tai watched as the boys clashed and fought with their deadly bladed swords. Tai could barely hear the swords connect as the assemble screamed and cheered with excitement.
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Tyre had leaped and Li did the same. They both collided and a whole cloud of dust picked up and flew into the air. Tyre searched for his opponent through the smokescreen. Despite the mild dust storm, Tyre was still able hear Li's footsteps through the audience reverberation.
Without looking, Tyre whipped his sword behind him. The sword was so perilously close that if Tyre or Li were to move involuntarily in the wrong direction, Li would be walking around with a fatal gash in his chest. Slowly the dust began to clear and Tyre wanted to see where his sword had landed, but before Tyre could even turn his head the announcer called, "The winner of Battle One is Tyrone… er, Tyre Skyler!" The Diamond City stands roared and the ladies screamed with excitement, as Tyre was to continue into the second round.
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Tai would have laughed if so many people weren't watching her. Even though all three contestants were fourteen years old, Tyre had won the battle not because of skill, but because he had the abilities of a wolf.
Long ago there were two classifications of humans, one that believed that nature controlled everyone's lives and another that believed that nature was just there to help supply them with materials. The two groups debated about each other's ideas for years and eventually went into total separation. The group that believe in nature began living in different gatherings depending on what creature they loved the most. These groups were often called Clans. The group that used nature to their advantage lived randomly away from their opponent and soon forgot all about the other half of the human population.
It was said that Clans soon began to evolve. By living with their beloved creatures so closely and for so long, the different Clans began to gain a few special capabilities and relations of that of their animals. Their changes caused them to start calling their adversary humans 'Regulars.' Because of their differences, they began to hide and create their own places. They did this because of the fear of creating a commotion with the nearby Regulars or pure humans. Because the Regulars had forgotten all about the past, seeing something unique would cause a lot of commotion and would take time to clear up.
However, the different Clans began to die out because of the lack of mate selection in their living area. Fearing the worst, many left their homes and went to the common cities where they married Regulars and lived a normal life with them. However, still some believed that the existence crisis would turn around and stayed in their ancestors' homes to await the day. Most of the smaller Clans died out, but the larger ones who still stood a chance in reproducing were furious at their fellow Clan members that left. Wanting to prove to them that did not have enough faith and gave up too easily, they began over-mating and the population eventually grew to a stable number. However, still holding a grudge, the original Clans made laws that said when a half-breed child was born out of the Clan home, the child was forbidden to return and may be killed for trespassing without question.
The different Clan members that had left had half-bred with so many Regulars that it diluted the effects and physique of the half-breed children. The effects were usually mild and sometimes even too mild to even identify; the less distinguishable traits in the half-breed children allowed them to live among humans more adaptively. Because of the fear of having their child feel different and have the risky chance of losing their children's lives in going back to the Clan living place, many half-breed parents never told their heirs about their Clan history. This caused the generations to forget their past and live with the Regulars without even knowing about their well-developed abilities.
Even though most half-breeds were still born with tainted forms of their half-breed parent's instincts, speed, senses and ability of thought, they are unable to tell the difference between them and a Regular because there is rarely a big division between the custom feeling. Only a third of the born half-breeds have highly advanced senses like the members that still lived in the Clan area and only a tenth of those half-breeds know about their past.
Tyre, as Tai could sense, had the advanced senses of smell, night vision and hearing of a wolf. Tyre's reflexes were faster than a sheer human, but slower than an average wolf because of his wolf half-side. However, there was no visible outward appearance that would give him away. Tai knew all this because she herself had something similar and usually a person's action gave him or her away.
Tai walked as casually as she could into the field. No sooner did she position herself did the announcer cry, "Begin!"
She knew that the announcer had done this on purpose so that she would be at a disadvantage. Nevertheless, Kris was able to jump as Tyre's foot nearly connected with hers in a spinning low-kick. Flipping backwards and landing on her hands, Tai set herself down as Tyre came in for another attempt this time with a sword. Clink!
Tai felt too conscious; if she were to fight like this for the whole duration of the battle she would not win. Tai had pulled her sword as Tyre's had come swinging straight down. Tai was fast and never could the other boys who qualified for the symbol of Sapphire City compete with that. However, with Tyre's wolf speed, the speed advantage was near nothing and the two were evenly matched. Tai charged and knocked Tyre hard with her shoulder. Tai was going on automatic battle mode.
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Tyre fell backward and landed on his behind. Going for the offensive, Tai lunged her sword straight for Tyre's chest, but Tyre's 'wolf reflexes' had stuck his sword in between just in time to halt the assault. Using Tai's own force against her, Tyre kicked her in the stomach and forced her right over his head landing her on her back. Never before had Tyre faced such a challenging opponent. It was hard for him to admit it because Tai was a girl. Tyre sprang to his feet and shot his sword downward, aiming for Tai's head. Tai rolled over and Tyre thrust again. After a while, Tyre could tell that Tai was getting dizzy from his continuous strategy, but was not prepared for her next move.
Tai rolled over five times to get out of Tyre's total sword range, which was the big flaw that Tyre had not caught in his strategy. Getting to her feet Tai charged at full speed, Tyre barely had enough time to recover and could barely block Tai's pointed sword using the flat side of his.
From the lack of time recovering, Tyre was unable to retain his balance and took a few steps backward. Tai lunged again, this time tauntingly to get Tyre to move back. Tyre, being flustered in the unexpected move, took the bait and dodged the provoking snares. This lasted finally up to the point where Tyre had backed into the battlefield corner. Tyre couldn't see through his opponent's mask, but he was sure that she was smiling at him mockingly.
Tyre was so busy thinking of escape issue possibilities that he was swiftly disarmed. Tyre was stuck, he couldn't move without surrendering the game. Tai had now disarmed him, immobilized his feet and arms and was staring at him face to face.
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Kris smirked, Feh! You underestimated me and yet your instincts should have sensed something. I don't know if your senses are weak or if you just ignored them, but you're obviously not strong enough.
Tyre, already knowing he lost, stared into Tai's blue-black eyes, they're so deep… so determined, and yet they seem so sad, but how can that be? A warrior can never fight with such hindrance. They seem filled with anger, but at the same time the fire seems to be confined within its own chamber, forbidden to escape…
A loud voice shattered Tyre from his thoughts, "The battle is finished! Tai is the winner of the annual competition!" The announcer stood there despising his position that he had to be the one to announce that a girl was the winner.
Tyre was frozen even when Tai release her lock his mind was set on what he just saw. His private teacher always taught him that the eyes know all and show all, not to mention that eyes prove what's going inside of a person. Tyre had saw the emotions clearly mixed in her eyes and yet Tai was still able to battle and win effectively. Her eyes were fierce and concentrated, yet at the same time they seem sad and afraid. What can be disturbing her? Tyre wondered this while still having his back pinned to the wall.