Mogtober 2022

Day 12. - ›The Loyality Trial‹

Thaddea:

     I shut my door and my bag didn't end up on the opposite wall, just because dad would hear it - every person in the house would hear it, actually -, and he would come and ask, what happened. And that was the last thing I wanted to tell him.
     What? Are you surprised, that I got so deep dedication all by myself? Look, I'm not only the fighter. That I learn how to kick someone's ass, doesn't mean, that I'm fully dumb or something, right?
     I laid on my bed, when the steps sounded in front of my room.
     "Thadde?" A strong woman peeked inside. I raised my head. "Mom? Where is dad?"
     "Dad's not home, he went to the meeting. He'll come on a weekend, remember?"
     "Oh," I breathed out. -Great, now I'll be waiting whole week for my dad to storm home and frown above how much of a loser his daughter is. Great. Just great!-

     "Okay, who's going with Macleod?" The woman in the corner of the mat picked a name from the hat. "Will Gaudy. Oh, this will be fast," she muttered.
     -Yeah, you know it will.- I thought, but I felt like my anger could possibly explode as timed bomb. And - first time ever - I had to fight not the physical enemy, but the urge to fold to the ground and cry from the shame.
     Instead of it, I pulled myself to the middle of the dojo. Will Gaudy was a music componist, but he insisted to get these lessons, 'cos then he could say, that he's a boxer. Next to it, he was pure white, and obviously nervous too. I just stood there, waiting for him to "attack," when something caught my gaze. Someone pale - even paler that Will -, with long black hair was sitting in the fifth row, looking carefully around.
     -So you came to see, yeah?-
     Will stroke first, and started with his typical absolutely pointless waving with arms and legs.
     First I was about to do it as believable as I could, but when the Great Wundersmith Supreme showed up, I kinda lost my ability to pretend. When Will - mostly by the accident - punched me, I just laid on the ground and remained there with no move.
     Thaddea No-retreat Macleod.
     Yeah, sure.

     "Thaddea. Thaddea, I just wanted to..."
     "Don't," I groaned at Morrigan, when she tried to catch up with me, and I quickly disappeared in the crowd.

     "Hey, Thad, how's my daughter doing?" Dad asked, when he entered. "Um... Dad," I breathed out and let him hug me. He pulled away and frowned a little. "What's up, Carrot, tell me."
     I shook my head. "It's nothing, just didn't sleep much. Great to see you again."
"Did something happen in school? How was the fighting club?"
     "I..." I wanted to say him how it really was, how I fell and how much I want to kick this Wundersmith's ass... But then the Elders would find out, and...
     "I missed it this this week."
     Father stared at me, not believing me such a word. "You what?"
     "As I said, dad. I missed it out. Didn't feel for it."

°•°•°•°•°

Francis:

     I closed my door as calmly as I could, and called to the big house: "Aunt Hester?"
     "What's up, Francis?" she answered and I followed the voice to the dinning room. "I... I was thinking about... You know, baking... Challenge. My unit dared me to make something."
     Aunt looked up at me. "Was it that little monster?"
     I felt my cheeks heating up. I wanted to tell Aunt Hester, what was in a game. I really did. But something stopped me at last. "I... No, Aunt Hester. Hawthorne wanted me to cook."
     "Hmm, that dragon rider..."
     I pushed my lips together. -Maybe not the best idea to say this.-
     Aunt was eyeing me suspiciously. Suddenly I felt like a criminal. How can that Archan boy fight this every time he steals?!
     "What are you going to bake?"
     I looked at the ground. "Well, he said me to make something special, so I was thinking about..."
     "I know you too well, Francis. You wanted to bake a Great Caledonian, didn't you?"
     "I-I... W-well..."
     Aunt Hester's look was skeptical, but not disapproving. "Francis, although I think it's not the best idea, you need some friends in your unit."
     With this quiet agreement she left the room.