Chapter Three: Denounced
The Trafa was bustling with duels and training sessions of all kinds. Military, recreational, and everything in between were common reasons why Norgavians came to this spot. The laminated wood floors barely made a sound under Devia and Härec's feet when they came in, and even if it did it wouldn't matter to the rest of the Norgavians inside. Regular visitors had reserved training spots for them in the far back of the building to do what they pleased. First time goers or those that didn't attend the Trafa as often were made to do their training in the front close by the entrance. The amount of people that showed up was oddly low, since Devia expected it to be much more due to the popularity of the place. Each room had clear walls for others to observe the everyday action. There was a function that allowed for more privacy, but for the most part Norgavians never really bothered to toy around with it.
The couple walked towards a desk where another Norgav checked them off on a list for reservations. The receptionist gave Härec a card with an ID number on the front. They were told that their sparring session would take place in Room 4A.
"Shall we?" Harec bowed as he directed his arm towards their room.
"Why, of course." Devia smiled and tried to remain confident. On the inside, she was begging for some kind of way out. As long as she could last at least five minutes, she was in the clear. Devia's mind started to wander as she started to observe some of the matches and how skilled the other Norgavians were. The times where Devia was brought to the Trafa only ended in disaster. She would either be on her knees crying or too tired to speak. Devia wanted some glimmer of hope to be there, a sign that something will be different.
Härec unlocked Room 4A and let Devia enter first. She walked in cautiously, knowing that there was a good chance that she would be watched. The most that she could do now was prepare. She watched Härec set the timer on the other side of the room. Devia figured now was the time to let her hair down. She played with the band on the back of her head before her long hair cascaded down to her waist. Härec did the same, his hair reaching his tailbone. It was commonplace for Norgavians to use their hair in battle. How or why this is the case is something they have not yet questioned.
"Are you ready, Miss Devia?"
"Y-Yes, Sir Härec."
With those words spoken, the match began. Härec wasted no time in lunging towards Devia at full force. Devia was just barely able to tumble away from his strike and get on her knees. She jerked her head to the left and focused her hair on his feet, hoping to trip him and catch him off guard. This action proved to be too predictable for her opponent, however. Härec saw what she was trying to do and a section of his hair swiftly smacked her in the ribs. This caused Devia to yelp like a dog, which forced her to come up with another plan. For now, she figured she would just dodge Härec's moves, occasionally aiming for his knees and feet. This only made him want to try harder.
Devia tumbled to the ground once more when Härec managed to land a hit to her knees. She did a somersault out of the way of his next attack, which she barely managed to avoid. Her head jerked up as a result of another strike to the neck. Another hit went for the stomach. Devia knew she had to fight back, but any knowledge she may have gained has been forgotten. Another smack to the face. Another to the jaw. Each hit became more powerful than the last. As Devia tried to get back up to the ground, Härec's hair came at her like several lashes on her back. She felt as though her skin was getting yanked off by the sheer force of each strand of hair whacking her on each particle of the epidermis.
Devia thought that time was speeding by, and that if she could keep dodging for a little longer she'd do okay. But for some reason, something came about that shocked her. He stopped. The digital timer automatically shut off and Devia remained on the floor. The time read two minutes, thirty four seconds. Her whole body ached from the blows Härec dealt out, and all she wanted to do was rest. Harec walked over towards Devia as he put his hair back with a comb like instrument. She expected him to bring out his hand to help lift her from the ground, helping her to relax from such a physical practice.
Instead, she got the opposite. Härec looked down at his partner sternly. "What kind of a pathetic show was that? My grandfather has more strength than you, and he is close to death!"
The words struck Devia at her core. She thought that he would at least have shown more sportsmanship than that. "I did say that I would try my best..."
"Your best isn't good enough in this situation, Miss Devia." Härec replied coldly. "Do you realize what you're putting at risk? If my wife can't even take care of herself in battle, how will she be able to grant my children any good traits? It's weak behavior like that is the reason for why our race is growing so complacent."
"But I... That was the most I've ever fought... I thought... I did..." What first started off as watering in the eyes turned into tears rolling down her face. She bit down on her lip, whining as she tried to keep whatever composure she had left. The whining then turned into quivering, and from there Devia covered her face in shame with the tears flowing endlessly.
"Oh, stop that incessant crying! You're lucky that I didn't get the chance to kill you." Härec threw Devia's hair tie at her. As Devia's hands were shaking trying to put herself back together, another object was thrown her way. A small towel? She looked back up at Härec, who still maintained a stoic look.
"Clean yourself up." He said.
Devia gradually forced herself to ignore the feelings of defeat and worthlessness. She picked up the towel to clean and dry off her face with a nearby fountain. By the time she was finished and had calmed down some, she turned around to find that Härec had gone missing. Devia tilted her head, opening the door and looking from left to right. She moved between the maze like halls to try and see if there was even a glimpse of him to be found. She did eventually find him, but he was waiting at the Trafa's entrance. Härec had his face to the outside, scanning the building once in a while for Devia. Devia quickly rushed over to him, about to say that she wondered where he had run off to.
But before she could do so much as pronounce a syllable, she was interrupted once again. "Too slow. And don't speak to me unless spoken to, nor touch me unless given permission. Understand?"
Devia nodded hopelessly, just wanting this horrid day to be over. She could tell that Härec didn't want to be around her, but didn't have any other choice. She kept about an arm's length distance away from him. Close enough to make sure where he was, but distanced enough to not be a bother. Devia didn't try to make eye contact with him or any of the other Norgavians passing by. She knew that by how him and her looked, something had gone wrong. Throughout the time they walked, that very word wouldn't stop repeating in her head.
Wrong.
"Devia! Hello!" A familiar voice from the distance drew Devia and Härec's attention towards the marketplace. A Norgavian woman with pure white skin with periwinkle spots briskly walked towards them, and with a closer look they were able to see who it was.
"Zadra!" Devia greeted. Finally, a distraction for the both of them. "How wonderful to see you!"
"Oh? Are you engaging in your Eskavit, too?" Zadra asked, her beau trotting behind her. Upon closer inspection, Zadra's partner had lime skin with dark green spots.
"Yes, I- I mean, we are." Devia stumbled over her words. She stood back and let her partner be known to the other couple. "I would like to introduce you to Härec."
"Oh, hello Härec! I am Zadra, and this is my partner, Arawon!" Zadra introduced herself and her date. The two men shook each other's left hand firmly.
"I take it you two have already been acquainted with each other, yes?" Härec asked Devia.
"Yes, we have been friends since childhood." Devia explained, avoiding eye contact with him until the last minute.
Härec only nodded to her, turning his attention back to Arawon. "Have you and Zadra completed the duel?"
"Oh, no." Zadra shook her head. "Neither of us are suitable for fighting. Instead, we chose an alternative activity."
"I understand..." Härec's voice dropped half an octave. Devia knew that this was also a hidden response to her.
"Will we be seeing you two at our Eskavit?" Devia immediately changed the subject.
"Only if you two would be obliged to come." Zadra smiled. "Which is a definite yes."
"We would love to talk more, but I believe Devia needs to get home." Härec said, taking a note from Devia. "She is expected by her mother."
"Oh, what a shame." Zadra disappointingly shrugged. "But at least we'll be able to see you at your Eskavit! Goodbye!"
"Goodbye..." Devia waved, watching the happy couple go on their way. The day wasn't even halfway done, and yet Härec wanted to take her home? Something didn't sit right with this situation. Härec guided the way back to the LiQua, diverting his attention away from her as often as he could. Devia wished that he could just say something to ease the tension. Something to make her think that she wasn't completely worthless.
Härec stopped at the elevator entrance. He turned to her, his face still stoic as it had been since they left. The silence was like a cold presence going up Devia's spine, and she couldn't take any more of the silence.
"Do not speak to me until tomorrow at the wedding." Härec brushed past her and left the vicinity of the building. Devia sighed. It was something at least, but by no means encouraging. Now that she knew what her future husband thought of her, how would her parents react?
Devia entered her home without a word to say. Instead, she placed her gift inside her sleep chamber and continued to look out the window. She was glad that Zadra and Arawon didn't know, but her parents would be another hassle. She knew that they wouldn't let anything like this slide. Devia's body was still stiff, but no longer from the physical exertion. By the time Ylla had come home from work, Devia was still on her chair. When her daughter didn't respond to the first greeting, Ylla knew that something wasn't right.
"Devia, something is wrong. Tell me." Ylla grabbed a chair and sat across from her.
Devia remained silent, too afraid to speak.
"Devia, you must tell me. Otherwise a solution will not be brought."
"I... I failed the duel with Härec." Devia said quietly, bracing herself for the lecture that would come.
"You... failed?" Ylla's voice sounded more dumbfounded than mad. "But the training we've been giving you should have worked! There's no way you could have lost so easily. How long did the match last?"
Devia sighed. "Two minutes, thirty four seconds."
"Two minutes. Thirty four seconds..." Ylla's voice grew more serious, then exploded. "2:34?! You cannot be serious!"
The sudden yelling made Devia's ears start to ring. "I am serious, Kamda..."
"Your father and I taught you better than this!" Ylla continued her berating. "Were all those lessons from childhood to now meaningless?! No one in my family, or even your father's, never even scored lower than five minutes!"
The door opened and Chulir stepped into the commotion. "Ylla, Devia! What is the matter?"
"The matter is your daughter not only losing to Härec, but not even putting up a fight! 2:34, how pathetic!" Ylla ranted.
"2:34?! Devia, how could this be?" Chulir joined in the berating. "Are you really so ungrateful that you didn't pay attention to your fight lessons?"
"N-No Damka and Kamda. I-I remember, but.. but in the moment I just... forgot?" Devia stuttered.
"Forgot! There is no use for forgetfulness with the Norgavians!" Chulir boomed.
"But I'm not forgetful!" Devia stood up for herself. "I-I tried explaining that to Härec and-"
"Explaining? Ha! Now Härec is stuck with you and our race will soon be tainted!" Chulir put his hands in the air.
"But may I have a... different husband?"
"You aren't giving this matter the care that it needs, are you?" Chulir glared. "Of course you may not have a different husband! What our leader says goes! Even if that could be an option, it's far too late for that now!"
Devia wasn't given any warning as to what would happen next. Ylla swept Devia off her feet by grabbing her by the neck and lifting her up. Devia struggled to break free with both her hair and hands, but neither was working. Devia's feet kicked to try and aim at something, anything. The fatigue from earlier combined with the fear of the moment meant that this would not end well for her. She tried to get some air into her lungs.
"Listen to me, Devia." Ylla's voice grew sharp and icy. "I don't want to hear any talk of you getting a new husband or making excuses for why you aren't the way you should. Tomorrow is the wedding and everyone we know is going to be there. The fate of our race falls within each new couple. So help me, I will not let this little attitude of yours chance it. Do. Not. Ruin this. For us."
Ylla practically threw Devia to the ground as she lay gasping for air. Ylla and Chulir simply walked away as if nothing had occurred. They only left Devia to swallow up air and cry from the shock. It was as if she didn't even exist to them. She crawled over to her sleeping chamber and got inside, not even bothering to turn it on for sleeping purposed. The only thing she did was lay on her side and cry some more.