Sorry it took me so long to post! I wanted to finish another fanfic but couldn't so I decided to write this one instead! Enjoy!
The stars did not shine the beginning of the third week when I looked to though the colossal window again. I sighed, still wrapping my wounds in bandages. The pain throughout my body did not sting as much as the scarred confidence. The end of the second week was still fresh in my mind. It began as the best week in my life that ended as the worst; aside from my father's death.
-Beginning Flashback-
Gharan was acting strange throughout the last week (mainly due to fear of his father) . He became more and more interested in me, asking me to be alone with him. (He not only was trying to please him by gaining my affections by spending time with me but also didn't come home for most of the week. Luckily for him, the night he came home, Vaman had no words to transfer with him). However, Vaman did not hold back his tongue whenever I failed against Eelo in a battle. Luckily, I did defeat her once on the sixth day. Vaman said nothing. However, as I had readied to fight Eelo the last day, Gharan reminded me it was his turn to fight me. My hearts fluttered and my excitement got the best of me. The fight was more of a dominance battle in what felt like a growing relationship than an actual battle. Interestingly, his father did not possess a scowl of disapproval on his face (only because he was expecting him to kill me).
As we were smoothly blocking each other attacks during the fight, not having touched each other for nearly the entire battle, (Vaman expected my strength to grow; especially since I had defeated Eelo finally the day before) the pattern discontinued when he had snuck a plasma knife to the battle and struck me in the shoulder. As the air filled with gasps from the others, being a fight using weapons. My honor seeped through the wound, and I lifted my purple-stained hand which held my bleeding wound and my vision darkened to a crimson color (they say my eyes appeared a vibrant red during this moment). I lifted my eyes to where Vaman and Gharan stood (smirking, waiting for me to die slowly from 'lacking honor'), and I said,
"Why did you try to harm me? You told me I was beautiful. You said you wanted to eventually be mine..." Gharan's cackle struck my soul hard in anguish.
"Those words were empty and lacked truth. You live up to the name, eyesore." My hearts were broken; I was unforgiving as of now in my depression. And while the others of the class were non-existent, the two's outlines were visibly white; consciously telling me that they were my targets. My Sangheility was lost in the midst of my robotic-like nature, and a voice telling me to kill. The voice was distant, like a whisper, soft yet harsh; gender unknown.
I charged both males on all fours, allowing my tail to balance me. They tried to evade my attack, but my fury has been let loose of its chains. Their agility and speed meant nothing towards my assault. I slashed at them, and gave them permanent scars on themselves. My claws delivered as many hits as they deserved; both of them. Vaman for every hurtful word and Gharan for breaking my hearts.
In my malicious affront, the rest of the class rebelled, save for Eelo and Nikhal. However, they all had the goal to pull me off the males. And, as it were, they began to beat me. Eelo and Nikhal both tried to discourage this behavior but they, too, ended up bruised. As I was thrown out of the class, I was called to the Council, another bicker had once again commenced. The Prophets wished to hear what I had to say (they were enraged with inner fire that Vaman had not brought to their court a dead female sangheili but did not show their anger). I explained that both Vaman and his son had struck their last chord in a song full of hatred and discrimination. Silently, the Prophets discussed what must be done.
In conclusion, they told the two that if they tried to harm me through words or otherwise, they, and any joining them, would be sentenced to Garr's fate and, ultimately, death (In other words, this sentence was said to please me, who not having knowledge of their plan to rid of me, was merely a sign to Vaman to continue with the riddance of me at a much later date; preferably near the end of my trial period). Thus, the trial of my endeavors to become equal to my brethren would continue with Vaman as my teacher. Though I dare not question the reason for giving me a new teacher, I was appalled at this decision. I knew that any chance of surviving the next four weeks called for discipline and focus; not letting my emotions or my mysterious curse of fury get in my way of my goal.
-End Flashback-
Exhaling my troubles away with a sigh of distress, I emotionally put up barriers from the hurt I would receive this week. I silently and boldly walked through the doorway and into the class. Jeers spread like wildfire across the room. My friends Eelo and Nikhal tried to hush them but did not succeed. I noted the displeasure of my arrival on Vaman and his two-faced, deceitful, shifty, and traitorous son, Gharan.
"Welcome back, Eyesore." Both said in unison, crossing arms. "Students, pay no attention to her. She is a curse among us-"
"Get on with the lesson, you imprudent bastard." Though I would be calm, I would not allow him to berate me during the course of the next four weeks. I expected him to react with anger, very much wanting to finish what I unintentionally started the day before, yet he simply smirked, practically ignoring my insult as if it meant nothing.
"As for this week, whelps, we will be learning the meaning of teamwork. After which, you will take your partner and practice your fighting techniques on a dummy together, learning to have a like mind. Lastly, you will fight for five minutes. The winners of each battle will be the victors today. Like last week, you will fight your assigned opponents all this week." He stood by his son, placing his hand on his shoulder. "Teamwork is an ethical necessity during battle. It is very rarely that you will be asked to perform a duty by yourself. In groups, you will have the advantage over your enemies whose own group falls before them. Each individual makes up the unit; as each limb to its body. The group cannot exist without each other. Lone wolves die without their pack. That being said, take your partners and go forth."
I nodded towards Eelo and she reciprocated. We were ready to face the motion-detecting dummy together. Once the dummy had been activated, we both attacked the dummy, successfully blocking its attacks using our synchronized leg and arm attacks and defenses. Unfortunately, my attention drawn towards Nikhal and his glancing at me as well as plotting against Gharan caused the pattern to fail. Falling on my behind, the dummy stopped. Eelo smiled and helped me back to my feet.
"Nice work. We kept it up for a solid four and a half minutes. Rest, my friend. You've earned it." I smiled.
"Thank you."
"Pleasure's all mine."
Gharan came towards us, acting as if nothing happened between us.
"Impressive Eyesore. I reckon you cannot duplicate that tomorrow." He said with a smug smirk. I wanted to lash out, but Eelo prevented me before I could reach out to harm him. As he walked away, his father began to talk.
"Excellent work whelps. Now it is time for your battles between your duo and another. First up, Nikhal and Q'rin 'Tahamee and their partners."
I watched them both take their places, bow, and fight. With either partner down Nikhal was taking it difficultly. Taking blow after blow, I felt very bad for him, having that happen with me when I first sparred with my father, I had to do something.
"Don't let up, Nikhal!" I said to him. Vaman and Gharan glared at me evilly, I just mirrored their smirk.
He peeked at me with wide eyes, then narrowed them in determination. He from then on blocked every hit and his opponent could not block his. After the five minutes being up, they both were covered in their blood; thankfully not enough to cause another stir within me. Q'rin nodded his head towards him smirking.
"You're lucky for your girlfriend there, or you would have been on the floor in withdrawal." To that Nikhal blushed slightly, looking at me nervously. I was curious again to the intent of this but said nothing.
"Yes…well… I am grateful for her support." Q'rin smirked wider.
"You win this time. Rematch tomorrow? WithOUT the support?"
"You're on!" They both had become mutually friends.
"It looks like we do have a winner. Your opponent is right, were it not for Eyesore here, you'd-"
"My support is just as impacting as your son's distraction last week when I battled with Eelo." I was starting to predict his moments of personal hatred towards me. And while I know this upset him greatly, he ignored it. He cleared his throat.
"Next battle."
The battles carried on, and with every other win soon came the battle between Eelo and I versus Xygos and Ygar. The battle was tied, thanks to the week of training with Eelo making us a formidable duo. I resisted the hatred of our opponents, our teamwork overruled their foolishness.
"Very good whelps." Not a word against me this time. He may have held his tongue but not within his mind. "Next week, we will practice heavily with dummies, once more, using the Plasma Pistol." All at once, with the exception of myself and Eelo, the entire room filled with a disappointed groan. I, for one, am willing to be taught any weapon. Even if I have nearly mastered the blade. "During the half point of the weak, after you practice upon your dummies, you will then compete in a trio-based battle; as I will choose your added member this time, for the sake of variety. You are dismissed."
On our way to relax and train loosely at my place of stay, Eelo and I heard a voice after she commented that Nikhal cared for me very much as she sensed.
"Ruz! May I please have a word?" I paused to allow him to come near me. "I owe you a great deal, you truly encouraged me with your words to push back against my friend. He had never seen defeat from me." He said with a smile.
"Please save your compliments." He looked confused at first. "I had nothing to do with your victory, you chose to take my words to hearts." I told him. He insisted on his argument that I encouraged. "Be as it may, I do forgive you, friend." His face lit up bright.
"You really mean your words?"
"I do. But I owe you a fight soon; which will make us even. Perhaps on the day of our advancement ceremony we can fight." He grinned wide and nodded.
"It would be most pleasing to do so, Ruz 'Malamee." I giggled at his silly bow, which caught him by cheerful surprise. Instead of traveling towards my abode, we relaxed and trained in the a wide open area throughout the day.
"Father?" A frightened Gharan asked his angry instructor.
"What do you want boy?"
"Please forgive me for not destroying the female. I hadn't taken into account that she was stronger than me and-" A swift slap to the mandibles quieted the lad.
"Don't you dare say that my training was meaningless and that some frail Eyesore has taken your pride and honor! She is nothing! Leave my sight before I have to physically remind you who gave you your Mark of Shame and begged the Prophets to give you a second chance, only to reward us with power if we rid of their problems…" Gharan did not move, as he was as stone. Vaman shook his head. "You sicken me with your uncanny ability to grow soft at the most inappropriate of times. You should treat life as if the Journey demanded a ceaseless punitive heart of uncorrosive metal! And such glory demands restrictions!" Gharan said nothing, only cowered in fear. "Look at you…pathetically giving your pitiful life to the notion of terror. I need to be reminded as to why I chose you. Your brilliance only shows when others are there to watch you; do they give you strength when they cheer for you? Do their encouragements give you fervor? You are not to truly be called my son but a louse! You are far worse than the Eyesore!" Roaring in rage, he lifted his fists. "I WILL PUNISH YOU!" Screaming and yelling resounded from the 'Ontomee household that night; and no one heard it.
Having been in this kind of humiliation before, Gharan crawled into his hole after he ran away from his father, who had grown tired of beating him, with ever-flowing tears. Tomorrow would be another day explaining to his friends and female affectionates yet again that the bruises were from training at home and he felt absolutely no pain, as he knows too well he does. This night would indeed bring him nightmares.
"One day, father, one day you will no longer breathe."
What a chapter, huh? Please fav and follow if you like this story! Thank you to my readers and for all the reviews!
Next Time: Ruz, Nikhal, and Eelo team up to learn about the Plasma Pistol.