There's blood all over my face.
Nothing like another day in Vyrathi. Drenched in blood and sweat, all of which do not belong to me. Today was a messy one, I'll admit that. The sound of blood thirsty Vyrathians cheering on to the violence fills the air, along with the smell of death of course. I'm on ring duty this week, unlike castle duty, I must admit that I completely hate it. Which is weird for a Vyrathian. To be a Vyrathian means to have no fear of death, to be ruthless, to seek power in the most deranged way possible. Vyrathi has only one rule, obey the upper hierarchy at all costs and to show no weakness. Wait that's two rules.. I'm sure you get my point. Ruthlessness and violence come naturally to all vyrathians. At birth, every vyrathian is born with skin markings. The type of marking one is born with represents their power of destruction. Fire markings, lightning markings, blades and ice, all of which are deadly. But me? I was born different.
"Saelis! Vel'kara, Nealis sil bodee unzosven!"
(Saelis! Execute, get rid of body 107)
Sigh. This is my life. I rushed to body 107 that I was directed to get rid of. The life completely drained from it's body like it had never been a man. Eyes rolled back and skin as pale as snow. "Lli reven teg desu su lee" (I'll never get used to this), is all I could say before I lifted my hand above his body and lifted him off the ground to throw him in the girr(death fire) , along with all the other dead bodies thrown in there. "Keepis vel'rae" (go peacefully).., I mattered to the body under my breath to keep anyone from listening. Ring duty always went like this. Selected Vyrathians battle to the death in three rounds; first round is the battle of fists, second is the battle of weapons, third round is battle of powers which, as you can tell, is the messiest.
I don't like it.
It's been 2000 years and I'm still not used to this. And that's why I don't fit in. I was born into this world, a world of war and violence but for some reason, I never fit in. My mother called me 'unkesi', meaning curse because I was born different. And not just cause I wasn't naturally violent, but because of my hair, my skin markings, my eyes. I was born a threat to Vyrathi's power and so I was despised by the higher hierarchy also known as the Zor'vael. Initially, I was meant to be executed at birth, however, I was saved by the kingdom's one and only seer, an old ancient woman 10000 years of age, who claimed that I was important for the great prophecy to be accomplished. I've never quite understood it but my life was spared, that didn't mean the Zor'vael didn't despise me. I was treated as different as I was. Not only by the powerful Vyrathians, but by the weak ones too because they believed that I was the weakest of them all and yet I lived while all the other seemingly weak individuals were mercilessly executed.
***
Ring duty was over and all the bodies were burnt to ashes. The crowd of bloodthirsty civilians had already dispersed. The ring was empty and the scorching sun had dried up the blood on the ground. I was so exhausted having thrown a total of one thousand and fifty six bodies into the girr. It's not something I like but it's either that or I get tortured for a week for defiling the rules. My plan now was simple, go home, have a full bath, eat and then go for training. Vyrathi was just one big battlefield anyway.
"Saelis! Saelis!"
I could recognize that voice any day. This world is harsh but having Neraya around really makes it better. We grew up together. She was the only person that didn't treat me like an outcast. She taught me most of the things I know now. She was a sister to me. Neraya was not as violent as the others. She was violent enough but she seemed to understand me. I respected her.
"Saelis, we're going to be late"
She said once she was close enough.
I sighed,
"Neraya, it's still too early"
She raised an eyebrow at me..
"Too early? Have the Zor'vael suddenly taken a liking to you?"
I simply just shook my head not finding the energy to respond to her sarcasm. She seemed to notice cause I'd never miss an opportunity to argue with her.
"You're hungry, aren't you?"
I nodded pitifully, making us both laugh.
"Oh.. I have a surprise, come!"
Before I knew it, I was being dragged away from the ring. She led us all the way to her hut where she revealed a bowl of Kaelroot, vyrathi's staple meal made of smoky roots.
"Eat up fast, we need to go for training"
And I did just that, downing the bowl of pure bitter smoky roots like my life depended on it. As I ate, Neraya left to wear training clothes which I had already been wearing for ring duty. Gold Arm bracers with vyrathi symbol, sleeveless top and pants with leather material that shimmered with power when activated and combat boots. That was everyone's uniform.
I was too busy eating the kaelroot that I didn't notice Nevo.
"You are not welcome here."
His voice was thick and full of an emotion I couldn't quite describe.
I looked up to meet red eyes already staring daggers at me.
"I'm not here for you Nevo."
I said softly, immediately going back to my meal.
"It's my home, isn't it?"
"It is? I didn't notice"
"Keep that up and I'll fuck the sarcasm out of that smart mouth."
He was starting to piss me off..
"I'm flattered Nevo, I really am, but I'm not in the mood for your games."
In a matter of seconds from that sentence I was lifted off the ground with Nevo's hand around my neck. I clawed at his arm to get him to let me go but it was no use. I struggled to breathe. He was literally strangling me in mid air.
"Listen up.. Saelis"
He said my name like it was a bitter word to speak out..
"You don't talk to me like that. You might be special everywhere else but where I'm concerned? You are nothing but weak and I can shred you at any time.. do you get that?"
The idiot expected me to answer when I literally couldn't speak. My legs swung awkwardly in the air trying to kick him.
He brought my face closer to his..
"You are weak, I am strong. So you listen when I speak and serve me in every way possible."
I got so disgusted by his words once I realized what he meant that I couldn't stop myself from spitting in his face.
It took time for him to believe what I just did, but in no time he grunted like an animal and threw me across the room like I had no weight whatsoever. My back crushed into the wall before I fell to the floor like I belonged there. I couldn't open my eyes for the first few seconds trying to get my body to move. Before I could, the sound of breaking ribs and a scream reached my ears when Nevo kicked me with close to all his might.
Pain, pain, pain.
Nauseating pain. I coughed out blood, trying my best not to cry. I groaned in pain, still trying to get up.
He squatted, gripping a handful of my hair and forcing me to look at him..
"You are weak. Pathetic. Useless."
He laughed in an animalistic manner..before continuing…
"Power is power. No prophecy can change that. Now do as I say if you want to live."
I couldn't fully open my eyes but I could see the victory on his face. It annoyed me so much.. it was disgusting and before I could stop myself I chuckled..
"Dev o pujaqwo!"
(Only in hell)
Then I spat in his face again, ready for whatever was coming. His eyes were now glowing a bright red color, his veins popping out. The beast markings on his skin begun to shimmer and I was ready to die.
"That's enough!"
Neraya walked toward her brother and I and stood between us both, separating me from him.
"Get out of the way Neraya."
It was a warning. He sounded like a beast.
"Nevo, I said that's enough"
Nevo didn't care, he took a step toward her and before he could do anything their father appeared from nowhere..
"Zoh'ven!"
(Stop right there)
Nevo immediately stopped in his tracks after hearing his father's command.
There was a long moment of silence before he stormed out of the hut. His father followed soon after, leaving me with Neraya. She looked at me pitifully..
"You poor thing".