We stood staring at each other for a long period of time. We were twitching our fingers like cowboys ready to draw. My sword at my side, his club gripped in his hand, he looked ready to strike like a tiger, all crouched down ready for its prey. He straightened up, threw his club down and said, “No weapons, only fists.”

I nodded and returned the sword next to my bag. I had parted the crowd when walking toward it, as hundreds of pairs of eyes stared at me and this new person I didn’t like at all. Then again, the crowd chanted louder and louder, “Fight! Fight! FIGHT!” Their growing chants made me quiver, my fists shaking, my mind racing, I didn’t know what to do. Without knowing my own instincts, I lunged forward and jabbed him in the face, and sprung back. I began to bounce up and down on my feet, and he looked startled at my surprise attack.

I must have hit him pretty hard.. I thought as I watched him stagger. He swayed a few times, after he recovered, he straightened and stood into his battle position. He stood to the right, leaning, ready to charge. Many people were still wooping, and he charged at me like an ox enraged by the color red. He charged headfirst, but fortunantly I was smart enough to dodge. I jumped back in the circle of people, and ran around through the crowd. I popped out behind his back, and tapped his shoulder. He immediately swerved around, as I delivered a nice hard hook to the right side of his face. He swerved around, and fell to his stomach on the ground.

“This was easier than I thought..” I muttered as he stood up. He didn’t move very fast, but if I knew I was hit, he’d never stop. I stepped a few steps distances away from him, as he slowly advanced on me. He then broke into a run and speedily raced toward me. That startled me, I stepped to the side to dodge– but I was too late. I felt a sharp smash in my gut, and I could feel something rising through my throat. It was blood. Coughing wildly after falling to my knees, I felt an aching pain. He began to kick my sides, as I continued to cough from the lack of oxygen. I wheezed a few times, and after he stopped kicking my side, he stepped back. He taunted me with the use of his middle finger, and then waved his hand at me, provoking me. I was smarter than that.

I concentrated my energy, closing my eyes and directing the energy towards my stomach. I could feel myself healing, but I was considerably tired. I would not be able to keep up with him for long. He then charged again– this time I was ready for when he transitioned into his fast pace.
I stepped to the side and he couldn’t stop– I set my fist out into the air on the right side of his face and swung, and he flipped to his back. The crowd cheered at my triumph, and I looked down on him.

“Damn. I’ll get you next time.. you’ll see when this is all over.” He said with a dangerous tone in his voice.

The crowd circled me and cheered, lifting me up. I felt lighter than a feather– I wasn’t half bad at all. Looks like I did have a smidge of warrior in me. The crowd continued to try and talk to me, and I shook them off by shaking my head vigorously and saying over and over again: “Leave me be, man. I’m tired from the fight. That guy’s got a mean gut punch.” The crowd finally died down, and I felt the ship lurch. We were leaving. Seeing a black box at the top of the ship, a voice boomed, “Settle down, settle down. We just left, you’ll be in Maple Island in about 30 minutes.”

I returned to my seat, sitting down, still with that stinging of my gut. I picked up my book again, and wiped the dirt and dirty things on my shorts, shorts could wait. Books cannot. The sword was still next to my bag, with the worn handle, and I smiled at it. I put it back into my bag, and I continued to read– still skipping page 71. After a while of reading, I noticed someone who looked built but could move very fast walk up to me.

“You’re kickass, man. That was some f*ckin’ good fighting you got.” He said admiringly.

“Why, thanks. I’m honored.” I replied honestly.

“You’re going to be a warrior? Watch out. That guy’s name is Tiger, he’s the meanest, warrior on the block. You may have won this time, but he’s always going to be out to get you.” He said warningly.

“Ahh, don’t worry about it.” I said, calmly.

He stuck out his hand. “I’m Sam.”

I took it, and shook it firmly. “Jason.”

“Mind if I sit here?” He inquired then pointing to the seat next to mine, filled with my bag.

“Not at all,” I said, removing my bag and putting it at my feet.

He began to talk with me to engage in some conversation.

“Job?”

“Magician.” I said, still not distracted because of my book.

“I thought you were a warrior. You could take down Tiger, so you gotta have some brute strength.”

“Nah. My dad’s Raekw0n. I bet I got lucky by his strength.”

“So it’s true.”

“Yeah, it is. My mother’s Memouri too.”

“Your hair says it all: So do your eyes. No wonder: I thought it wasn’t but it actually is.”

“Ehh…” I was beginning to feel uncomfortable because again, of my parents. That’s what everybody knew me for. I squirmed uncomfortably in my seat, and then he started another type of conversation. He must’ve known I wasn’t comfortable with it.

“I hear Grendel’s an old geezer. That’s probably where he got his name from.”

I laughed. That was the first time I heard someone speak foolishly of the four advisors. My father and mother would praise their teachers and mentors, as if they were the only ones who could teach you to be strong. I felt my bag on the floor move to the chair next to me, and I heard rummaging when I was talking to Sam. I looked back quickly: it was nothing. My bag still on the floor, and I didn’t check inside to see if something was the matter. I was still probably freaked out from Tiger.

“What job are you going to be?” I inquired, this time repeating the question he asked.

“Hm, maybe hermit. I always liked the idea of jumping far. Then I can run away from Tiger, who’s as slow as a rock. Did you see him? He only got you once but that wasn’t even that strong at all: you got up quicker than he did when you punched him in the face.”

“I see. Well, I don’t deserve anything in praise at all, much. Oh, and I hear the Dark lord’s a drug dealer.”

It was his turn to laugh.

“You’re kiddin’, right?”

“Naturally.”

I had never really fit in with any kid at home or around Lith Harbor, but now I found someone to familiarize myself with. It was like having a friend. Time flew away so quickly I didn’t know 30 minutes was up.

The black box boomed, “We have now arrived in Maple Island. When you have 10 training tokens, please see the captain again in South Perry. You have 10 days to complete all of your courses: if you do not finish, you will have to try again next year. Please equip all weapons now, it is dangerous out.”

I rummaged into my bag for my sword, I felt my mesos bag, my book, but was that sword?

I froze. Sam pulled out his hand axe, looked at me, and said, “Dude, what’s wrong?”

“My.. my.. sword… it’s..”

“Gone?”

I nodded vigorously.

“Damnit dude, what are you going to do? You couldn’t have lost it, I saw you put it back into your bag.”

“I don’t know! I don’t know!”

The black box boomed, “You are now clear to leave. Happy learning, and remember today as a long step of your life!”

Shouldering my bag, I climbed the ladder outside the ship. The sun was shining brightly, and there was green everywhere. I walked off the platform of the ship, and wondered what was next. Life was going to get worse without my sword..

Well, that was kinda okay. I followed as much as I could, and hopefully you enjoy the second part of my written story.