We are on the second day of recruitment, it's around 9 AM. The second phase won't start until 1 PM. I'm at the outskirts of the city, more precisely, in the farmlands. The air is fresh, the wind sways the trees, the clouds form white patches on this azure blue sky, a sky that can be blue, black, sometimes white, other times red, its variety. I first said it was azure blue, but that description was merely the pure product of what my eyes saw. My heart, however, was incapable of feeling it, and my brain, incapable of understanding it. But I could see, feel, and understand the situation. The problem was not the sky but what it reflected. At this moment, my head was turned towards the sky to enjoy this magnificent landscape, while on the ground, one could see the corpses of the former Madinites whose only use now is to serve as fertilizer for the plants. Their only flaw is to attract nearby insects. The once fertile and deserted lands have transformed into beautiful, productive, and flourishing vegetable gardens. One can see all kinds of vegetables and fruits. For the Madinites, it was an end for nature, the beginning. As I said: "The water of the sea goes to the sky, the sea was sad. The water from the sky fell into the river, the sky was sad. The water from the river went to the sea, the river was sad," and so on. This loop of sadness and despair will not stop, like a stone falling into a bottomless well, this well that is nothing but human stupidity.
I started to take the road to the palace, it was around 12 PM. The heat had started to take over. I was in a black hooded cloak. A normal person could never recognize me. There are better ways, but I doubt it is necessary. Otherwise, I could do like X, but that would pose some problems, especially with Karagi. It is very likely he has already spotted me. That is why I stopped at the "Cave" café. They make very good coffee and a tea that makes you feel the imprint of Madina from the first sip. They also have rooms upstairs, so I took one.
I was in a black hooded cloak heading to the palace in the middle of the city. It had a large gate with a long red carpet, but I took the small participants' door. Which means yes, indeed, I am a participant. Today, the second phase will take place in room number 2. It was an uncovered, sandy room with a circular arena marked by red lines that limited the field. We were 20 in a hallway waiting for the fights to start, 10 on one side and 10 on the other. From what I see, there are 5 children aged 7 to 10. Their talent was judged high level so an exception was made. There are 10 aged 11 to 15 and 5 aged 16 to 24. There is indeed an inconsistency. Haven't you noticed that there are children who are from Mendika but only thieves were transferred, which is correct, so look, here is the result of the Mendika regulation. Big and small imprint, to say he heard this damn thing! No, I stop. He had ordered me not to divulge anything. Ima started hitting the microphone with her hands to signal the start of the fight. The first ones from each line stepped forward. The first was 20 years old, very tall, about 1.95 m but muscular. He had well-defined abs and was shirtless. However, he held a sword in his right hand. Ima announced that his fighter name was Marcus. The second, aged 19, was of average height and not as muscular. However, he showed no sign of doubt. At his waist, he carried a sheath where his sword was. Ima said his fighter name is Anolde. They moved towards the arena until they reached its center. Before starting, Ima began to state the rules:
ima: [Dear participants, here are the rules of the second phase. Compared to the first phase, there will be no word games. There are three rules to follow. The first is that it is forbidden to kill. The second is that it is forbidden to speak and finally, the third is that it is forbidden to leave the red line. The fight stops when the opponent gives up or is unable to continue. Let the fight begin, Go!]
Marcus ran directly towards Anolde with the sword in hand to deliver a fatal blow. His sword pierced the air, and one could hear a whistle. The blade pointed at Anolde's face. The latter barely dodged it and then hit him with a rock directly in the face. Marcus stepped back due to the shock, but he no longer had his sword. At the same time, a whistle came from the sky: he had thrown the sword in the air so that it would fall on Anolde's head. He dodged it, but before it hit the ground, he tried to grab it. However, Marcus already had it in his hands and was about to annihilate him. Anolde had no way to dodge. The blade ignored physical forces and went straight to his vital organs. However, in a fraction of a second, he drew his sword and interposed it between him and the other sword. Sparks scattered in the sky after the brutal clash of the two blades. Anolde immediately raised his sword to the sky and slashed his cheek. Blood flowed from his wound and fell to the ground. Anolde provoked him with his hands, signaling that he was cowardly. Marcus responded to the provocation by running towards him until they exchanged places. Marcus took his sword with both hands and ran without thinking, aiming at Anolde's heart at full speed. Suddenly, he slipped because of his blood puddle and fell to the ground. Anolde did not finish him off but went down, took sand in his hands, and threw it on Marcus's face. The latter was blinded and, already injured, could not get up. It was then that he received a barrage of blows: to the face, neck, belly, and legs, until he screamed that he was giving up the match. Blood flowed from all his wounds. Doctors immediately took him for intensive care. The other fights were mundane; there was nothing special or attention-grabbing, except one where a participant did not enter the arena while the other was already there. Technically, he did not break any rule. His opponent acknowledged his helplessness in this unexpected situation. Only I remained, hidden under my hood in the right row, and my opponent in the left one. He showed a warm and manipulative smile; you could feel that he attracted like a magnet attracts iron. He was well-dressed and had pocket knives at the back, held by a special belt, black hair, and brown eyes, nothing more ordinary. Yet, like Kodo and Ima, he emitted a similar aura but not driven by the same intentions. I didn't really need a weapon, but as a precaution, it is preferable to have one. As we advanced step by step, making sure to enter at the same time, before the fight began, Kodo, who had been absent since the beginning, appeared. Ima, who was not focused, suddenly became interested. Ima said out loud:
ima: [The anonymous named one, will face Sir Rayo Zighko! Let the battle begin!]
Interesting, so they already knew. But it didn't take me long to understand that the opponent in front of me was nothing but a professional assassin. This information was confirmed after his first steps. He could neither be seen nor heard. Suddenly, he was behind me and slid the blade between the veins of my neck. He did not escape his fate. Despite my poor positioning, he was spitting blood on the ground, for no apparent reason. He stepped back abruptly, right at the edge of the line. I, who had trained all my life since my harsh childhood, no one has ever worked harder than me. I have seen good, evil, but not what Sir saw. I, who never disobeyed him, I, who succeeded in 99% of my missions, the threat comes from nowhere but Kodo! He must die for the good of this mission, for the good of the following missions. Today, you will understand that yesterday, the day before yesterday, today, and tomorrow, you will impact him but you will change nothing. Like water, as many times as you strike it, it has not changed, does not change, and will not change. I took my sword aiming at Kodo, then threw it while making sure he would not be hurt. It had lodged in the wall with purple hair. The fight is already over; their assassin was already on the ground, still breathing but unable to move, then whispered softly before fainting.
the pro assassin: [I saw it!.]
I took the exit, looking annoyed. If only you understood why, whatever you do, for him or against him, you Kodo or Ima, he will always be there. I cannot say if it's for your good or the opposite but one thing is certain, you Kodo! My hatred for you will never change, but if you are indeed the "key" then I could close my eyes for a moment. Signed X.
quote: "Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see."