Turmoil ran through Raijens head as he digested the words.

We are supposed to kill each other? What possible reason do they have for something like that?

No one moved.

Not so surprisingly as these children had no idea what he said or meant by killing, sword or survival. They never really come in contact with those kinds of words in the room. Only when Raijen asked, did the women said the words like sword or spear and he learned.

When no one moved and all uncertainly looked at each other, in the corner of his eye Raijen saw one of the cloaked men pick a bow and draw an arrow. The sound was clear in the morning light of the sun. In the next moment kid next to him went down with an arrow in the neck. Expecting panic to occur yet no one still moved, but the terror in everyone's eyes was palpable.

“If you want to live, I would start killing.”

A soft voice rang in Raijens ears.

This was nothing like before, that men didn’t care, he would just kill us all.

Alarm bells rang in his head and adrenaline started rushing into his blood. And then one of the kids made run for the center, soon followed by others. Not being able to move Raijen just stood on his spot and didn’t move.

Then another rushed for the center, and a wave of chaos ensured as most of the kids started to run for the promised weapon as well. Two of the boys just collapsed on their knees in a fit of crying. Another one was staring at Raijen, either considering his chances or wondering why he wasn’t moving.

Raijen didn’t see any sword sticking from the ground.

Even if there was one, chances of Raijen or anyone realistically lifting it and utilizing it for anything else then their own death was unlikely.

I’m supposed to kill someone? How the fuck can I do anything like that.

Looking around his eyes were wildly trying to assess the situation.

They were all bigger and probably stronger then him, most of them running on fear and mostly survival instincts on the most primal way. Raijen had none of that, he was too old inside, they didn’t have the self-perseverance dramatically adjusted by moral norms of the old world, which stopped him from killing anyone, for whatever reason.

In seconds, sounds of cries and beating of flesh echoed in the arena. Watching the carnage happening terrified Raijen to the very core. The killing was brutal while trying to lift the sword the kid got tackled and mauled by the other three, leaving him bloody and broken on the ground. As some of them started to figure out how to do the damage the fights started to get even more bloody. With broken teeth and blood dripping from their faces and knuckles the fighting started to wind down as only eight of them were left standing.

All were staring at each other, daring others to move yet afraid of every twitch in others. Finally clapping sound woke them from the drunken state, all faces turning to the men on podium applauding. His lips were moving, but Raijen couldn’t hear anything, the only thing in his mind was the fact that he didn’t kill anyone.

It is clear I failed, but what does it mean?

The archer nocked another arrow, taking aim, Raijens bowels almost gave in, facing his death bringer. Heart ramming against his skinny chest trying to escape, his mind went blank and something snapped. Scanning the kids in front of him, Raijen found the one most beaten, most weak, the easiest to overcome.

Lowering his torso and leaning forward to make himself smaller Raijen dashed for the kid, the arrow just barely missing his head and going through the body of the boy standing next to him. The scream wretched from the dying mouth drew the attention of all others, turning around just on time to see him coming. Raijen was too far, too slow to make it the boy dodged to the side, rolling away and turning to stare at Raijen.

Somewhere deep down Raijen knew this was wrong, and he was sure he will never forgive himself for what he was about to do.

But now was not the time for self-loathing and hate, either one of them would die or he would die.

Even if the kid is innocent in what he had done, I didn’t do anything bad to deserve this too.

I'm sorry!

Grabbing fistfuls of sand Raijen continued his pursuit, knowing if he stops even for a moment he will die. As the boy was about to run at Raijen too and retaliate Raijen threw the sand at the boy's feet. Looking confused at the ground and back at Raijen another round hit his face and in next moment shoulder connected with his abdomen and they both went down.

Holding onto him for dear life the boy managed to get himself free, but only so much for Raijen to get on his back. Wrapping hands around the thin neck in deadlock Raijen lifted his legs bringing his full weight on him and painfully, slowly bringing him to his death. When the boy's body stopped moving and relaxed Raijen flailed around on the ground and tried to get away from him as soon as possible.

The weight of the body lingered on him as Raijen got on his legs. Scanning the kids around, all of them backed away, feeling his body shake he turned to the podium. Overseers expression didn’t change much, his hand was raised and upon looking around one more time Raijen could see two archers aiming at him.

“As I was saying. Those of you who are still standing will join the new family.”

The speaker's eyes softened considerably and his voice changed into caring as well.

“Your brothers will welcome you tonight, show you around the areas you are permitted to visit and show you to your training grounds tomorrow in the morning.”

One of the doors on the other side from which they first entered opened and boys of the age of ten at most went inside.

“Follow us, we will take you to your rooms.”

Following minutes felt surreal, just a minute ago Raijen was strangling the life out of a child he didn’t know and now he was treated as a friend and were told everything was as it should be. One by one they were separated and left at different rooms in a long corridor in the mountain. The place was a bloody labyrinth and when Raijen was wondering how to navigate such a place they were told not to leave the rooms so they don’t get lost.

“Someone will always come for you when the time comes for food, training, and education.“

The room was small, maybe five to five meters with two double beds, with two kids already inside. Sitting on the beds looking at Raijen as the doors closed behind. Hearing no sound of the lock was so odd that Raijen had to try and open them. To his surprise, the simple brown wood moved without any resistance and the hinges didn’t do any sound to alert anyone.

“We were told not to leave.”

Closing the doors again he looked at the one who was talking. Brown hair with the odd grey color of eyes was looking at him with that childlike curiosity, but not entirely, as the boy stayed wary of him.

One of the reasons we were separated was probably so we don’t get into a fight right after the events in the arena, but no doubt they both are the survivors of their respective groups.

They were both bigger then Raijen with the fists covered in dried blood and splashes over their clothes and body.

I’m the only one clean, which must be strange to them right? Or maybe they aren't so observant as someone like me.

“My name is Raijen, what is yours?”

“Maori.”

They both turned to the boy still sitting on the bed. The curly mess of ginger hair was now stuck on his forehead with the sweat and dried blood. His eyes were deep green, it looked like he could see right through the ones he looked at. The spark of a child in his eyes wasn’t there anymore, only eyes someone much older should have after he saw the violence of the world.

“Tim, from the house of Balkira.”

Raising a brow Raijen looked at Maori he shrugged.

“Name of the House of Chains he was brought from, apparently really large and powerfully one, according to him.”

“You were outside before you were taken here?”

It wasn’t so strange after all, who in their right mind would keep someone in the same room for so long only to send them here.

“No, we were both in the room I guess, until the exams and then travel here. He was just educated on the name of the house more than others apparently.”

“You are just jealous since I'm smarter than you!”

Tim retorted as he went back to sit on his bad, pointing his finger on the upper beds.

“You can choose one of the upper ones before the last kid comes.”

Realizing the tiredness and state of his body, exhaustion went into the forefront of Raijens mind and he could barely pull himself into the bed before sleep took him.