The Capital was flourishing, people came in from all over to watch the birth of the new champion. The registration for The Royal Forces starts today, and shall continue for three days. Some people even camped the night at the door of the registration office, just to find a place.
Right at the corner of the street, you could see a child pacing in a beeline, mumbling about the arrogance of the one who doesn't respect time. He had a soft chestnut colored hair with forest green eyes, which were currently filled with worry, despite what he was saying. He had soft features and a small face, the most anyone could compliment him with would be "cute". He looked like a harmless hamster. Which was one of the child's complexes.
Lost in his own world, he didn't notice another child coming towards him. Reaching for his shoulder, the new arrival said sheepishly: "Sorry I'm late, Nathan".
The boy jerked and quickly turned to the one behind him, "Shill!!", he screamed. Eyes frantic with worry, He started checking every corner till he made sure his friend was fine. His black hair was neat, his icy blue eyes were smiling. His face didnt have a single scratch. In fact he even heard a few girls gasping from down the street. His body was perfect, no bruises. Even his black jacket and pants didn't have a spec of dust on them.
Then after taking a deep breath to calm his heart, he started berating his friend for his tardiness. While quickly pulling him towards the line." No thanks to you, we'd have to wait till dawn now for our turns", Said Nathan sulking.
Shill slowly extended his arm and ruffled Nathan's hair, "we'd have to wait anyway. It's why we emptied our whole day, remember?".
A tick of anger slowly grew on Nathan's forehead, "Still not repenting, waiting for 6 hours or for 8 ones makes a lot of difference you know".
"Take the chance to build endurance " was the last thing Shill said before yawning. Yet, Nathan had no way to rebuke. His endurance was the worst among them after all.
Stealing glances at his best friend, Nathan couldn't help questioning , why was he even friends with this one. Then remembered, with tears in his eyes, he wished he knew time magic. The first thing he'd used it for is to beat his past self into a pulb.
This goes back a little, precisely three years ago. When he was still an ignorant sixth yrs old child. He got lost while shopping with his mother, and crouched crying in the middle of the road. Then he saw a shadow of someone stopping in front of him and asmall hand reaching out for him. He slilwy lift up his tears filled eyes and saw a cute little brother smiling at him. He told him his mother was searching for him on the neighboring street, and he naively believed in it. Wanting to thank his life saver (what he thought at the time), he asked what would the other want as a compensation. When the little brother said "then be my friend", he was elated. He thought this one was a kind and lovely little brother. Alas, he went and became friends with the devil.
Glaring at Shill, Nathan started nagging :" Just where the hell did you take my lovely and cute brother, and swapped him for this lazy, scheming one? Tell me now or.. or..", he kept repeating the last word, then realized, he can't hate this bastard. Lifting his head in a 45 degree toward the sky, and spouting a look of dispair ; "I seem to have been cursed by this demon".
SMACK!!
Nathan was holding his head while squatting on the street, the swiftly looked at the culprit. " use your brain for more conducive things", with no notion of repentance and with a tone of glee the culprit was looking down on him. "let's go, it's our turn.", "eh, when did the dusk come", gracing him with a side glance, his friend retorted after sighing, "you should really fix that head of yours". Shill didn't stick around for Nathan to answer, he strode towards the registration desk. Nathan soon followed behind, with a small smile dancing on his lips.
Shill and Nathan got number 700 and 701 respectively. Shill looked strangely at the badge, mumbling whether a curse of seven was placed on him.
The battle royale will start in two days time. They'd be divided into four groups, the placing was random, with the last standing 50 of every group proceeding to the tournament.
Early morning on the day of the tournament, Nathan was shocked that he got separated from Shill. He was in D group, while shill was in A group.
A ruddy looking, bald headed teenager stood in front of the board, right next to Nathan "Shit, just my luck. Why am I in A group"
Nathan was shocked when he heard that, he quickly asked :"Is something wrong with A group brother?".
The teenager turned his head, and smiled when he saw Nathan. He figured it was his first time participating. "No, Nothing is wrong Lil bro, but they are all monsters. You seem bew around here, the placement may be random for all the groups, but not for the A group. The are selected by the captains that were disguised during the registration. They are also known as the most promising seeds.
Just that alone shows how talented they should be, but not every one is chosen. Some are placed there by their masters or their enemies, se even buy their way into it, but as it has the highest chance of death, not everyone is willing.
In the past selections, at least half of the chosen were always from the A group. Taking a risk comes with great benefits sometimes ".
Hearing this all of a sudden made Nathan believe that he might have underestimated the tournament a little. At the same time he started to worry about Shill who was placed there. But all that didn't make him forget to thank this brother for his kindness, without them he might have just died without knowing why. It wasn't only A group that held a threat of death, it was just the most dangerous one.
"Thank you brother, I hope to see you at the end of the day. If not for you, I or my friend might have lost our life today. This debt I'll definitely return", Said Nathan while extending his hand and looking earnest and thankful. The teenager looked embarrassed and smiled sheepishly while accepting the handshake.
The suddenly they heard a disturbance at the entrance, people suddenly started opening towards the board, when Nathan saw the incoming one he smiled and waved his hands " Shill". Shocked the teenager quickly asked with twitching eye :"Lil bro, thi...thi..this is your friend?". When Nathan nodded his head, the teenager really wanted to go back in time and commend his past self. Pleading he put his hands together and started crying : "Lil bro, you said you want to repay me right?. I just found the best way, please ask your friend to spare my life".