Chadd Malik Dunkeld
It doesn’t shock me to be honest. Da told me earlier that the king only cares about signets and strengths. Afterall, my power is the reason my parents abandoned me. I am not even sure why they are so scared of it. It is true that as far as we know I am the only sun wielder to exist, but I haven’t figured out what I can do with all of it.
Yes, I figured out how to strengthen the sun, make it warmer or brighter, or even wield the light that comes from the sun to use it for my light signet to blind, light up or make illusions. I know that must be scary for some people, because the sun is the factor of life, but I don’t even know if my signet is that dangerous. I should be able to take the sun away or burn the continent with it, but I am not there yet. I think Da is scared to let me unravel that type of magic. If I did something, I could ruin the whole ecosystem and not only that. People their health and happiness.
All things that are impacted by the sun.
I feel the magic, the control shudder under my skin, like there is a door waiting to be opened, the end of a deep well. But if I dig too deep into the well, I might burn out. It is a balance I am not sure how to hold.
Do I even want to be able to do those things with my signet?
Da kind of freaked me out. Not because he wanted me, but I can see it in his eyes every time we practice.
The practice I never asked for, but something I am never going to complain about.
I like learning how to defend myself. Like learning to read someone’s weaknesses. It keeps my anxiety under control.
But I don’t like the idea of hurting someone.
Never mind killing someone.
But I might have to if the situation comes.
Da knows as well.
And with that in mind during our session, I feel like I have a burden on my shoulders.
After Da read the letter, he left quickly to support his students at the palace, who might also enter. I can’t come with him. Despite the fact that I am not invited to enter the preliminary rounds, I am not allowed to go anywhere outside of Koteld. At first, I told myself that they wouldn’t have to know. I tried sneaking out multiple times at midnight. I never even made it to the city, the king has guards everywhere. It is almost like I am a wanted poster living rent free in everyone’s mind 24/7. Watch out, a 5.8 feet girl, with golden hair, freckled face, and brown eyes who wants to go see the beauty of our village.
Bring her back before she has the best day of her life.
I hate it.
Last year they dragged me to the dungeons of the palace, and tried to punish me, but Da got me out before they started. The King and his way of handling things are corrupt as hell. That is the last time I tried to leave. Luckily, this birdcage has an expiration date.
The trials.
They are my only way of freedom; after them I am free. If it all works the way I want it to.
I wiggle my legs over the edge, swinging my legs back and forward. I sit on a jutting rock, on the edge of a mountain under a tree. The sun shines softly on my face, my gaze focused on the palace. We can’t see the palace from our house, but from my secret hiding spot I can. It is a two-hour hike through the mountains towards the edge of Koteld, but sitting here is for nowthe closest I can come to experiencing royalty. The people there are still as small as ants, but even from here I can count more than two hundred dots. The royal garden has a lot of sparring areas, and since all the people are standing there, I think I can assume the preliminary round will take place in the garden. The garden looks bright and colorful. I want to go there and pick flowers, but I can’t and don’t dare to ask. I always pick flowers for Da. It is one of the only things I can get him to show him my appreciation. It’s something I started doing as a little girl and even when I do it now, so many years later, I can get him to smile. I don’t fight the smile that appears on my own face at the thought of those moments.
I will definitely pick some flowers for him on the way back.
Because I think I haven’t done that for him in over a month.
And that man deserves all the love he can get.
There seem to be three battles. I can’t really make out the faces of those who are fighting. I can see some, but not good enough to recognize anyone. Not that I know many people. There are muffled sounds, I can’t make words or sentences out. A group of people circle around a fight, around two men fighting. A sword flies away and the person on top shapeshifts into something brutal. A black monster—a wolf. A person hurries through the circle of people. And that is a person I do recognize.
Da.
With his dark skin, tattoos and buzzcut, he isn’t one to miss. The wolf shifts back and I assume the fight is over. I squint my eyes really hard to make out the faces of the two people covered in blood, but I can’t figure it out. All I can see is that they do look really handsome, both of them.
