Chapter SEVEN
SEVEN?
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!
(I apologize for all those exclamation marks. But I'm SO EXCITED!)
So, here we are at Chapter Seven. Finally. I hope that the Prophecy two chapters ago wasn't very confusing for any of you.
Anyways, I'd best continue my story.
Chapter Seven: Training In A Fencing Court
Well, I woke up the next morning, ready to start my training, but then I realized that I was still stuck in the fencing court. What was taking Uncle Kart so long? Maybe he had been carried off by the Shadow of Rudra and locked someplace just like me, I thought. What a frightening idea!
Suddenly, the lights turned on and grew dim. A girl with a fencing sword in a uniform came onto the platform with me. Suddenly, I realized that somebody had placed a fencing sword in my hand! Did they expect me to fence against that frightening looking girl? I didn't know how to fence! I had no idea! I didn't know a single thing about fencing, or swords, for that matter! But since I was in the stadium, I guess they expected me to fence! Oh, dear...
I hope this part doesn't shock you too badly. For next, an announcer, which sounded suspiciously like Uncle Kart (and of course it was), announced, "THE FENCING CLUB'S FOURTEENTH FENCE THIS WEEK! AND IT'S ONLY TUESDAY, FOR GOODNESS SAKES! KARA, DAUGHTER OF KALI (I shuddered), AGAINST THE PROPHECY CHILD!" I could tell that Uncle Kart was trying not to snicker. Daughter of Kali? Wasn't Kali the goth girl goddess of time? Uh-oh, did that mean she could slow down time, but only my time, like in that Percy Jackson book I'd read back in Indiana with Kronos, the Titan of Time?
But I had no time to think about that, for Uncle Kart's voice came over the loudspeaker again: "BOW AND BEGIN..."
(I shall continue this fence description with what Uncle Kart said. It will not be in quotation marks but in all capital letters. He described it better than I can, anyway.
A VERY CLUMSY BOW FROM SAMARA. WHAT DOES SHE THINK SHE'S DOING? SHE FORGOT TO PUT THE SWORD IN HER HAND! NOW SHE HAS IT IN HER HAND... BUT IT'S TOO LATE! KARA STRIKES AND SCORES! THE SCORE IS NOW 1-0! BE CAREFUL OUT THERE, SAMARA! DEFEND YOURSELF! CONSTANT VIGILAN- OH, NO, ANOTHER HIT TO THE CHEST AND A SCORE FOR KARA! LOOKS LIKE SAMARA'S OUT COLD... SAMARA, WAKE UP... OH NO,15 MORE SCORES IN A ROW, ALL FOR KARA...THINGS ARE LOOKING GRIM FOR SAMARA...BUT SHE WAKES UP AND SCORES! NO, SHE WAKES UP AND SCORES. SHE... WAKES UP AND SCORES? SAMARA! WAKE UP! OH... 17 MORE POINTS FOR KARA...AND SAMARA NOW GOES ON A WINNING STRIKE! SAMARA? OH NO, SHE'S STILL OUT COLD... AND 5 MORE POINTS FOR KARA... WHAT WERE YOU THINKING THERE, SAMARA? FAINTING LIKE THAT? AND SAMARA WAKE UP AND NARROWLY BLOCKS A HIT! BUT THEN...OH NO...SHE GETS HIT IN THE CHEST AGAIN AND FAINTS... SAMARA! WAKE UP! BUT NO... THE TIME'S OUT. AND THE SCORE IS... HMM... LET'S SEE... 0-40 HITS. WELL, BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME, SAMARA...KARA, YOU GET TO GO ON TO THE NEXT TOURNAMENT...AND SAMARA, IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO START TRAINING!
I could tell that the whole time, Uncle Kart was trying not to laugh. I had had enough of Uncle Kart. The doors opened, and I ran out, ready to strangle him. There, waiting for me, was Agni, Fire-Head Extraordinare. "We were supposed to train two minutes ago, and you were FENCING? I didn't know you enjoyed fencing, Prophecy Child. It didn't mention anything about that in the prophecy. How did you come across this particular hobby?" He was trying not to laugh.
"I'm going to KILL Uncle Kart once I find out where he is..." I growled. He had obviously been the one to lock me up in the fencing court.
"Well, it's time to begin training. I suppose you explored yesterday?"
I nodded.
"And got a tour?"
I nodded but growled.
"I suppose Karttikeya gave the tour."
Once again, I nodded.
"So you know how to swim, I assume?"
"Yes," I growled.
"Okay, so there is no need for you to go back into Swimming 101."
"Yes," I scowled. I had too many bad memories about that place.
Agni smiled. "So, Prophecy Daughter, let's escort you to the swimming training course. Were you allowed in there yesterday?"
"No."
"Do you know why?"
"Because," I replied, "It's a secret until today, when I train."
"Do you know who your training instructor for swimming is?"
"No."
"Well, you're in luck for it happens to be a most beautiful goddess: Lakshmi."
I wasn't very happy with this information. If only I knew that, I would've gone into SWIMMING 101 CLASS yesterday and she could be my guide. Then I wouldn't be tricked into fencing by a wisecracking uncle.
"Good point," noticed Brahma as he hurried along, right next to us. "But I must make haste."
"Oh, did your Uncle Kart mention that Brahma can read minds?" asked Agni.
"No."
"Well, he can. So hurry along now!" He left, as if in a rush to get away from me.
I knew that I'd have to take the stairs, seeing as there was no elevator (that I knew about). It was a long way, but I took the steps two at a time and was there in less than five minutes, thank goodness, seeing as I was already two or three minutes late.
Lakshmi smiled as I joined the group. "I thought you'd be here soon for your first training. I've brought all the other people who arrived yesterday. May I introduce Samantha, a daughter of mine, and Kara, daughter of Kali. Strange, she was a bit late as well. Also, Henry, Son of Sarasvati."
Kara was a newcomer? And boy, did Samantha not look the part as daughter of Lakshmi! She had purple cheeks and a sharp-looking nose. She had a scowl and worn-out jeans. Lakshmi was beautiful. She had such wonderful complexion, perhaps from sitting in an Ocean of Milk for thousands of years. Henry was Samura's brother? Wow, he looked more mischievous than Samura.
The room had a surprisingly normal-looking swimming pool in it, but there were all sorts of nasty creatures I had never seen before in there. I hoped we wouldn't have to swim laps around it.
"Here, we swim laps while trying to avoid the creatures," explained Lakshmi.
Drat.
"I shall serve as lifeguard, but I won't after a week."
Another drat.
"You need to learn to fend for yourselves, you know."
Triple drat.
"And we'll draw straws to see who goes first."
Quadruple drat. I was no good at luck games.
A straw was drawn.
"Samara, you shall go first."
Dear, oh dear...
Well, I'm happy to say that another chapter is over! Next is Chapter Eight, when something VERY EXCITING happens and somebody almost gets eaten by a LIKOSPLAT! What is a Likosplat? Well, you'll have to read the next chapter to find out!
