Tournament Defeat

"HIY-YA", "KIA", "AHH!" The fight went overtime. Raja kicked and slashed, ripped and bashed at her opponent but was too slow. Her enemy was Elf. A quick strong attacker, Raja was but extremely self-conscious. On the other hand Elf was smart, fast, and always ready for the next move. Raja halted as Elf seemed to disappear and reappear in front of her eyes. "How can I battle something so quick?" she asked herself. "She moves so fast and has such agility even I, Raja empress of Shodokan, cannot compete with her? How can this be?" Raja was loosing herself. Then, Elf struck with the speed of light and the strength of a dragon. "Feh... take that Raja! You do not deserve to win!" Elf smirked and watched Raja. Elf new she had won by the expression on Raja's face. Raja became so dumbstruck and furious with herself that she walked off the battle arena.

"How could you let something like that get the better of you eh?" Her sister Miriam rambled on. "You weren't there Miriam! You didn't see what I did or feel like I felt! So just leave me ALONE!" Raja finished her words with an angry tone and stomped off towards her room. "That wouldn't have made a difference Raja..." Miriam began. Raja stopped and looked at her in an uneasy way. Miriam continued, "As I was saying Raja... it wouldn't have mattered if I was there or not. You would have quit either way. Most likely you would've quit if I were there because all I seem to make you do is sulk and feel terrible about yourself!" Miriam finished in a hurt and trembling voice. Raja thought a moment and went on her way again.

Laying on her bed wide awake, Raja thought about how she could have lost and what her sister had said. It was now dark and the whole mansion was quiet. Raja stepped outside and breathed the fresh air. "No matter what Elf, I shall beat you and your dynasty of followers! I will if it's the last thing I DO!" Raja grabbed her father's sword, packed a bag of food and water, then headed towards the forest. "Good bye my family," were Raja's last words to her relatives.