He is one of the two diamonds and only he is allo.....," even before he could complete, a punch to the face strikes him two paces back with his nose broken and blood flowing out. A very angry Nile standing in his previous position asks while clenching his fists," what did you say just now, how dare you," saying so Nile jumps at the boy to beat him more.
But just after a step he feels sever pain from his right cheek. A first throws him down followed by another fist to his left cheek .With a few more fists on his faces Nile crumbles down senseless from the beating.
A sigh sounds out along with a cold wind flowing around the mat and suddenly the attacking boy's fist gets incased in ice.
Suddenly every eye follows towards the girl who has a hand open faceing towards the boy. The boy shaking tries to speak,"it was him who attacked me. I just retaliated."
"Just shut up," counters Jessica. Then she looks towards the the boy in centre," Sid that is quite enough, don't you think."
"Alright guys leave him be,"saying so the boy walks towards a horse drawn carriage.Following him other kids also move.
Jessica stands up and checks Nile,"such an idiot ,so hot headed." "It's not that he is hot headed Jessica, it's their taunting that went too far" "I know Maya.But he is gonna face more and more taunting in the town where even kids of 7 to 8 years have already started body enhancement.Whatever let's take him inside." "Okay go ahead,"replies Maya."What, you are not gonna help even though it is caused by one of your suiters."
"I have just eaten food and I am going for a walk to digest."
"You and your excuses,"saying so Jessica drags Nile towards the wagon where she could see an angry aunt Veena arguing with dad.
As she gets closer she hears aunt Veena's voice,"just what did they learn in the school? Is this how kids should behave ganging up on a single person?"
"Calm down Veena, they are just kids messing around, nothing all that serious,"argued uncle James,"besides it was one on one, no one ganged up at him."
"You are saying those six kids are right in beating my kid."
"Oh Gooood, let kids handle it themselves for once," taking a deep breath James tries to calm Veena down.
"Don't worry aunty, everything is under control. I had planned this scuffle For him To take a beating. These are just flesh swellings and will heal In about two days," says Jessica giving a shocker to both elders.
"What! So that's why you joined the kid's gathering that you usually don't bother with. But why did you do it? My poor boy, I seriously doubt about you mentoring him right now," argues aunt Vina.
"Someone was sure sounding very confident in her guidance a few moments back,"jabs James from the side."You shut up,"aunt Veena shouts.
"Aunt Veena ,I know what I am doing. As you have taught me that winning always is not a bad thing.But not knowing how to cope with failure is the biggest roadblock In the path to progress," explains Jessica.
"Huh,"aunt Veena feels conflicted.
"Now that's my Great girl,"says James taking pride in his daughter's decision.
"Don't worry aunt Veena, I will help him If he is unable to overcome this mental block of beating and humiliation himself. Besides I think with his simple mind he won't have much problem overcoming these blocks,"saysJessica confidently.
"I hope so,"agrees aunt Veena while checking Nile's injuries,"My poor boy, Mama is very sorry that you have to go through the mentorship of this demons daughter."
"Hey are you going to pick a fight with me now?Why did you have to mention the nickname I hate the most?"
And so the arguing continues between the pair of kids in their fifties.
After having dinner and resting for about an hour the caravan starts the journey again with a shout from guards captain Sam,"Everyone ,make sure all the kids get enough sleep tonight. By the time they wake up in the morning we would have almost reached the town."
And so the circular rings breaks apart with a Horse drawn carriage leading with two scholars and two muscular Guards followed by another horse drawn carriage with an old and a young lady. Another horse drawn carriage with a guard, Sid and the other boy who still seems to be meditating unobstructed by the movements of the wagon.
Following which is a long chain of five cattle drawn carriages loaded with other kids going to town, merchants and their merchandise. Last but not least a private cattle drawn carriage of uncle James following at the last.
As the carriage starts moving Nile wakes up in pain second time in a day. He looks around and comes to his senses. Seeing his mother sitting beside him having a worried expression Nile tries to smooth it out,"Don't worry mama, it just a small scuffle, besides he took me by surprise, what a scheming fellow,next time you see mama ,I will make sure to not fall for such tricks." Veena smiles at his antics.
"Yeah sure ,a small scuffle and you still got beaten into a Pighead," saying so Jessica throws him a palm sized mirror. Nile looks into it. Screaming out he asks ,"what happened, how come my face has swelled so much."
"Calm down Pighead. The one you fought is named Mason. He has learned mana manipulation. The fists he used has mana enforcing them. Now that mana is messed in your wounds. As your body is not yet accustomed to mana the wounds have swelled. Be happy that Mason is not strong enough otherwise someone strong can imbune enough mana into you that with just a touch ,you will explode."
The news scared Nile so much he starts trembling.He asks Jessica,"so if some strong awakened gets evil ideas, he could massacre hundreds in minutes in this way."
"Theoretically it is possible but practically it is not so. It's so much hassle to explain these but since I am your guide I will do it but all things have their orders.
First thing first, Nile do you agree to take me as your Guide to the path of martial?"
And so out of blue Nile faces the most unwilling choices of his life.