Maud walks up to me, seemingly appearing from nowhere. "It is about time, my King you must pray quickly. The angels will not approve of you delay much longer." Of course, he's pressuring me into this religious cult thing, don't get me wrong, there are many religions that aren't cult-like. I hope so at least, I never have been out of this forsaken Red Province. You'd think that with all the Church's prayers the Red Angel would give us a miracle or blessing.
I bet the angels have left us, just like the Gods did before the Bloodied Era. If all is left are men, then soon there will be nothing left at all. In a dog eat dog world like this, there will soon be no "dogs" left to eat.
"The Green Faction has been denying us trade and well needed medical supplies. If you win, you will be saving millions. My King, you must remember this as you fight. If you don't want to fight for yourself, do it for everyone else." The Elder of Trade makes a good point. He finally walks out of my room so I can prepare myself. Then Iver walks in.
"How are you feeling, Thirteen?"
Trick question, "I feel nothing, emotion is a weakness."
"Good, it seems my lessons have done you good. Now, you must remember to not listen to the Green King. He is well known for being talkative during battle. All he speaks are lies, don't let them into your head." He spins on his heel and walks out.
I wait for a couple of heartbeats to see if any other Elder is going to barge into my room. Finally, I can prepare myself. I change into my battlesuit which consists of a black skin-tight layer, over which is my actual armor. Made of black metal, lined with flashy red rubies. But now there are blood splatters all across this once was a pure suit. The moment blood is spilled, there is no going back.
I slide some daggers into my boots, sleeves, and belt. And finally, I grab my sword. I open the tunnel connecting my room to the stadium and close it behind me. Don't need an assassination attempt today.
The closer I get, the louder the cheers. I faintly make out the introduction of the Green King. My turn. The trapdoor above my head slides open and my platform rises up the to the stadium floor. I raise my sword and shout, "Turpe autem mori est detrimentum honoris!"
The show has just begun.
I smirk and look over at my opponent, a man with a large build wielding an axe. His armor appears very, well, minimalistic let's say. I hope children aren't watching.
I rush forward and run around him, to test his reflexes. He tenses and starts to swing his axe. To slow. He sees I'm no longer there and smirks. "Not one for waiting, huh?"
"Not when there are lives on the line."
"A pretty little girl like you shouldn't be out here representing a murderous faction like yours."
"As if. Says you, the faction withholding medical supplies." I point my sword out at him. Remember, he speaks lies. I let out a breath and start my attacks.
"Of course that's what they tell you. I wonder what else have your Elders' lied to you about?" He says as he blocks my first attack with the head of his axe.
Remember, he lies. Or is it your elders' that lie? I shake my head and continue my advances. Jab, fake, switch. I get a swing off on him and draw blood on his shoulder. His eyes harden. I quickly jump back to get away from him just as he throws his axe a switches it for dual wielding swords.
I sprint forward, dragging my sword behind me to kick up dust. I sneak up behind him but the giant man turns and dodges my stab. Before I'm able to move away, he slashes both his swords down at me. I quickly dodge and my attacks gain speed. By this time the dust has cleared and I can see the Green King's face clearly. He is red-faced and sweating heavily. His wound seems to have started bothering him now, his swings are getting lighter and slower.
I quickly dodge and disarm him. I step even closer as to stab his heart. "Halt! The Green Faction forfeits!" One of the Green Elders shout.
I turn but before I leave I hear, "Maybe you do deserve to represent a murderous faction. Seeing as you and your mind are truly stained with blood, you deserve the title, Crimson King." I step onto my platform and leave. The audience is at first disappointed at the lack of a gruesome death but soon cheer at my victory. Yet today does not feel like a victory.
I finally arrive at my room and quickly change out of my battlesuit. I lay down atop my bed and his words float through my mind. "You and your mind are truly stained with blood"
When night comes and most are asleep, I am still on my bed, tossing and turning. I remember the brainwashing of small children and believing that I was not successfully brainwashed. But now I think I was just lying to myself. I have believed every word my Elders have said to me. How many times have they lied? How many have I believed?
I sigh and sit up. My brain brings up memories of past fights. My first kill is one of them.
I shake my head as if I could shake the guilt eating my mind away. All it does is worsen my headache and prevent another flashback. I swing my legs off my bed and make a decision. I am going to find out for myself if what the Green King said is true or not.
A few minutes pass of me sneaking past patrolling guards, picking the lock to the library, and finding my first victim-- I mean book. Right, a book.
Skimming through the book, I find out Iver, my mentor, has been withholding certain information from me during our tutor sessions. Like how one day the Red Faction added extra guards to the border, and later that day, a village on the Orange Faction's territory burned down killing hundreds. And it just so happened that the village was near our border. What a coincidence. All Iver had told me before my battle against the Orange King was the opposite, that he had told me that the Orange Faction had burned down one of our villages. And because I believed him, just like a fool. I quickly left the library, multiple books in hand.
I flipped through more books and decided to start writing down some of these. Creeeak. My door slowly opened, the person behind attempted to silence the creaking door as if they wanted me to still be asleep. Good thing the books are hidden inside the mattress.
Wait.
What if this person came to kill me instead? I slowly moved and gripped my knife, luckily I was under my covers so they can't see me. I leap from my bed when the man turns. I hold my knife against his throat.
"Who are you and why are you here?" I whisper in their ear.