"Still practicing Balor?"
My eyes roll back as I recognize the voice. I turn around.
"What do you want Apollo?"
"It doesn't matter how many times you swing your sword you'll never be able to beat me". " You know that right?"
I shoot him an annoyed glance.
"I mean you train 5-8 hours everyday and your still weak"
He slightly smirks.
"You might as well become a healer"
I catch him off guard and punch him in the mouth.
Dropping the wooden sword, I step back.
"I don't care what you have to say"
"You– aghh" He steps in too fast for me to react.
His elbow stabs me in the abdomen.
Stepping back i throw a right hook. He dodges
He kicks my leg, tripping me.
The gravel makes my backfoot slip.
"Nghh –hh"
I try to cover myself as he kicks me.
"Who's the strongest??" – "I am"
"Look at you on the ground" – "Pathetic"
As I try to cover myself, gravel on my back feels like needles.
Suddenly there's another voice. Its Mia
"Hey stop, stop kicking him"
"I said stop Apollo"
The kicks stop
"What are you guys doing?"
Standing in between us now
"Huh?"
Stretching her hand out she helps me get up
"Nothing" Apollo says
"It didn't look like nothing"
"Balor are you alright?"
I slightly narrow my eyes.
"Yea im fine"
"Lucky I didn't kill you." Apollo whispers.
"You got lucky, that's all."
Mia's eyes narrow and face gets red.
"Are you two still fighting?"
"Apollo, get the hell out of here."
I wipe the blood running down my nose.
"What!" - "What did I do?"
He gives me an angry look and starts walking away.
She points to a bench not too far off. "Lets sit over there ill treat your injuries Balor."
I walk over my abdomen throbbing with every step.
Once sat down she asks. "Where does it hurt the most?"
"Im good, I don't need any help." We make eye contact
With an angry voice."Yea right, tell me where it hurts the most!"
"My abdomen i guess" and lift my shirt a little bit to show her
She starts blushing and starts looking away.
"W-well i cant do anything since i dont have the healing spells memorized."
I drop my shirt
"So why did you ask?"
"I just remembered, okay?"
Turning back to face me " I know! If you can go and bring me the healing book I can heal you."
I let out a sigh. "Why me, Can't you get it?"
"Cause then I'll be too tired to heal you!"
[Anything to get away]
"Fine ill go get it" – "Wait for me here then"
With a smile she says. "Will do"
The Night sky lights up the hallways.
[It doesn't matter how much i train] – [I cant seem to surpass or even get to Apollos level]
[Even Rohan who is the weakest is better than me]
Nothing but my steps can be heard.
[We've all been friends since we were kids.] – [We've played, trained, studied, ate together so wh-why are they so much stronger than me, even Mia.]
I notice a voice I recognize not too far ahead.
Sticking to the right wall I quietly step closer.
[Its father] – i notice another voice
[And the King?]
[What are they talking about?]
"I will not let him marry Mia!" – "And that's what it's going to come down to. I know her."
[Mia getting married?]
I step back and lean on the wall
"Why not your majesty? He's smart and knows how to fight."
"Pff– dont make me laugh, he is weak! And that's exactly why."
I can hear what sounds like pacing coming from the room they are in.
"Ill die before I give the kingdom to someone that's weak. Because that will mean the end of the kingdom"
"Ill train him even harder, your majesty. I promise you"
"Your son has had more than enough time to get stronger"
[Your son?] My eyes widen in shock.
[A-are they talking about me?]-- [It can't be right?]
[Me marry Mia?] [ Me, too weak?]
The voices started talking again
I try to focus on what they are saying.
"As long as Balor is alive Mia is going to choose him."
"I can't let that happen" – "You know that better than anyone Tar"
"What do you mean, What do you plan on doing with him?"
"Im going t-" "Wait! Don't tell me i can hear that" –
"Hes my son after all. There isn't another way?"
"Anything but that"
The king with a calm voice "Tar,-- It's what must be done. For the future of this kingdom, for everyone's future"
Suddenly what sounds like sobbing can be heard.
"I-I understand, still I refuse to be involved."
A sharp pain in my heart makes my legs tremble.
What sounds like my fathers footsteps start getting closer to the door.
The shock makes me start walking away.
The king suddenly calls my father.
I can barely make out what he says. "Tar!-- Tomorrow."
[Tomorrow? What's going to happen tomorrow?]
My feet almost glide on the marble floors as I get away.
I decided to forget about the healing book and go to my room instead.
Now sitting on my bedroom floor with my back against the wall.
[What did they mean by tomorrow?]
[What are they planning on doing?] – [Father wouldn't let anything happen to me right?]
[They wouldn't banish me o–or worse kill me.]
My foot tapping on the ground.
[I know I'm the weakest out of everyone else but.]..[They wouldn't get rid of me just because of that.]
Before I realized it I was sitting down on a chair looking out of the window.
[Is that how the world really is?] I say closing my fist, the blisters on my hand burning.
I wake up to a loud banging on my door.
"Huh?"
My eyes still adjusting to the light.
"Balor open the door!" [Ah it's Rohan.]
I walk towards the door and open it.
To my surprise it wasn't just Rohan Apollo was there as well.
Rolling back my eyes I say. "What do you guys want so early?'
"Early? Rohan shoots out.
"It's almost the afternoon, w-what are you talking about?"
I overslept.
[I must have fallen asleep really late.]
"What is it then?" – "What do you two want from me?"
"See? Told you we shouldn't of invited him" Apollo quickly responds
"I don't want t-" Rohan suddenly stops nervously.
"A-anyway we were wondering if you wanted to go to the hang out spot for a bit?"
A sigh escapes my mouth.
"Sure I guess." "When?"
"Right now dumbass" Apollo says
I glance over at him.
"Ill meet you guys in 20 at the same spot as always"
Apollo smirks.
"Is Mia meeting us there?"
Both of them tense up
"N-no"
I quickly hop in the shower and eat before heading out to meet them.
The temperature change catches me off guard.
"Man, I need summer to be over, I'm tired of this heat."
[Weird that Mia isn't going, it's always us 4.]
I stopped. Everything from last night came rushing back.