Chapter 15 – Matte Black.

The only freshman who signed up for the tournament was me. The reason being most did not think they were ready to battle sophomore and junior year students. Roia tried to change my mind, but I stood firm and told her that I want to be a warrior and no demon or beast man is going to tell me that I’m not fit to fight him or her so I should leave and come back next year. Winning or losing meant nothing to me, I had to participate.

60 warriors and mages were divided into 2 groups of 30 and had 1 on 1 battle until one wo/man left standing. Every day battle were held and any participant could only fight a battle a day. Losing meant disqualification.

Arena for tournament was much bigger than we had in our village. It was rectangular in shape. Its borders were cover in walls with heighted up to 12 meters and 5 meters in width. People could stand on them and watch the battle. Inside part of the arena where actual battle happened was covered with invisible magic that made sure that magical attacks would stay within arena. We weren’t fighting to death but I was told that accidents has happened in past.

My first match was against a junior with a negative reputation of losing every single fight that he has had in tournament from his initial attendance. He had a kampilan as main sword and kalis as a shortsword kept in its scabbard. I had Ulfberht with me. We faced each other in distance of 20 meters. That was provided to give a chance to magician type fighters’ equal standing against warrior type fighters who relied on hard weapons rather than magic alone.

My opponent was smiling. He thought he was lucky to face a freshman and his reputation of a straight loser will be over this year. I hit the ground with Ulfberht and he got stuck there. Ulfberht was cursing me and flooding my mind with his unbelievable selfish and pointless arguments. I concentrated and shut him off. My opponent had both his arms up in air as if he won the battle. He was careless. I teleported to his left. He was in shock though got over it in a second and tried to slash me. But he was late. He was full of openings. I hit him hard in the face with my fist. I think his jaw cracked. He was knocked out with a simple punch. Everybody began to cheer, scream and applause. I did put a show. Only people in my practical magic class new about me being able to teleport and most of them didn’t know what it was about at all and seen it only once. I had way too many cards in my sleeve to lose in the first round. Unlucky guy the opponent was. By the way, that match is still considered the shortest fight ever to occur in a tournament in Mehn Academy’s history.

Elise and Roia were watching with their parents. Mariette was with some girls from school.

There were 3 days for tournament to end. I had won most of my matches easily. My biggest advantage was that I faced warrior types and Ulfberht was an amazing weapon which did break their swords and spears or cut through their shields in 2-3 consecutive attacks. 8 participants remained and 5 of them were magician type warriors. I still couldn’t perceive how they managed to last. The other seven were junior level students.

My opponent this time was a guy called Rifel. He was short. So short that you would need a magnifying glass to know that he existed. I’m just joking. He was around 5’2”. He had a talwar as his main sword. I could see he had something like a short sword katar up in his right and left leg sleeves. He seemed dangerous. As the signal was given we rushed towards each other. Our swords clashed. He was fast and agile. I still couldn’t use Ulfberht properly. Rifel was aiming at my vital points as it took time to change course of the Ulfberht swing due to its massive size. I shouldn’t have underestimated my opponent. I was losing ground as time passed. I changed my strategy to break his talwar and for him to use katars. I was lucky again. Even though his talwar was made of some expensive material it could not keep up with Ulfberht. After his talwar broke, he stood shocked and admitted defeat without continuing.

[Me]: Why the hell did you gave up?

[Rifel]: If somebody as clueless as you about sword fighting breaks my sword then I have no right to continue. I come from north-east, but we belong to same tribe. You should know that what is honor to a warrior.

[Me]: I nodded.

I felt disgusted. It was Ulfberht who was winning fights not me. I felt helpless and hopeless. I went back to my room without watching other fights. I had a shower. Came out. Lied on bed.

[Ulfberht]: You seem troubled kid.

[Me]: I am.

[Ulfberht]: What’s the reason?

[Me]: It’s you Ulfberht. It’s you who is winning most of the fights. I’m useless. I’m not qualified.

[Ulfberht]: Qualified for what?

[Me]: Qualified to have you, Ulfberht. I believe you are great sword but I shouldn’t be the one to wield you. I’m planning to quit tournament and approach village council in summer holidays to give you up to them so that they find a proper warrior suitable for you.

[Ulfberht]: Stop spitting BS! Now listen to me.

I was thinking.

[Ulfberht]: Lord Ulfberht to idiot! Lord Ulfberht to idiot! Do you read me?

I laughed. He was always referring to himself as Lord Ulfberht.

[Ulfberht]: I think it’s time you learnt.

[Me]: Learned what?

[Ulfberht]: Sit down and begin to meditate.

I did as I was told. I sat in lotus position. Breathed in and out slowly. It seemed as if I’m in some village in from of a blacksmith. I entered it. There was a tall blonde woman. She was putting the last touches on a gigantic sword. A tall blonde man entered the blacksmith.

[-]: Magnhild, my love, did you finish what I asked you for?

[Magnhild]: Ulfberht, it’s almost ready.

[Ulfberht]: It’s the last time my love.

[Magnhild]: You always say that. We should leave this goddamn place. We should go to some faraway place, live a long life and have many kids.

[Ulfberht]: We will my love. We will.

(Scene changes into a war) Ulfberht is killing hundreds so elegantly as if he is dancing. He uses no shields or anything else. A big gigantic sword. As time pass, tides of war change. Gods began to favor the other side. Their side loses very badly, and wounded Ulfberht tries to go back to village. He can’t make out of the forest though. Dies there and his soul transfers into the sword turning its color to matte black.

Next: Chapter 16 - Hunter Valley

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