LoE: Book of Shadow

Foul Tides

It was just like any other day, the sun was high, the waves crashed on the shore, and merchants sold and bought goods to be peddled throughout the land. I was young, not a month over seven, I didn't have many friends my age, but I cherished all of them.
"Reza! Over here!"
"What's this about Reks?"
"I found an awesome spot over near the shore, Aya is already there, we gotta hurry and meet up with her!"
"Aya?!"
Aya, my childhood friend, and crush. She was a little short, but her beauty couldn't be denied, only 9 years old she was already the prettiest girl in the village. Even guys twice my age turned their eyes when she walked by. Despite her girlish looks, she was like one of the guys, she was hotheaded and would often go looking for fights, she didn't know the meaning of the word fear.
"Snap out of it Reza!"
I was brought back to my senses as Reks punched my jaw so hard that I flew to the ground.
"Ow, what the heck, Reks?!"
"You can at least wait till we get there to start drooling over her."
"I have no idea what your talking about."
"Whatever, just hurry up, we're almost there."
True to his word, just a few minutes later we were out of the forest and on a secluded plateau.
"Reza! Reks! You guys made it!"
"Hey Aya, we would've been here sooner but lover boy here couldn't stop daydreaming."
Aya looked over at me with a mischievous smile going from ear to ear.
"Lover boy huh? I wonder, just who has you so distracted hmm?"
"I, uh, um, you know."
Reks and Aya burst out laughing at my embarrassment.
"Hey, come on now, it's not my fault none of you have been in love yet!"
The laughter stopped immediately as the pair exchanged looks then turned back to me, both wearing the same grin Aya had just a moment before.
"In love you say? Those are some brave words little man."
Aya walked stalked toward me in a way that reminded me of a predator closing in on its dinner.
"I wonder, what would that girl would say if she heard that? She might avoid you out of embarrassment, and never speak to you again. Or maybe something even worse."
I swallowed hard as she stopped not even a foot away from me.
"What do you mean."
Aya leaned forward and whispered into my ear.
"She might make you take responsibility."
She backed away with a sheepish grin on her face. I could feel my face starting to turn red, Aya watched for a few moments before bursting back into laughter.
"Why do you have to pick on me like that?"
"Well when someone tells me they love me, I can't help but mess with them."
She knew. She knew the whole time, and still she picked on me.
"So, did you bring them?"
I nodded as I pulled six daggers from my pockets.
"Great, so you two ready to get started?"
Oh yeah, she was also the best knife fighter in the village. Did I forget to mention that? Oh well, Aya had agreed to teach us how to fight if we could find a spot where we could do so.
"I'm ready, but looks like lover boy is in dreamland again."
"Shut up."
"Alright, let's get started."
Aya, Reks, and I practiced late into the night, Reks and I went home dizzy from blood loss, while Aya, as expected, left without a scratch.

We went on like this everyday for about three months. Reks and I slowly got closer and closer to her level, but even with both of us working together she still managed to leave us face down on the dirt.
"You two are really improving."
I coughed up a mixture of dirt and blood as I stood up.
"How can someone sound so smug and so sincere at the same time?"
"Oh, you're still conscious, are you? Maybe I should give you a reward."
Before I had time to think she was standing not an inch away.
"Um, hi?"
Aya placed her arms around my neck and gazed into my eyes before leaning in to kiss me.... Or so I thought. The second my eyes are closed, I feel someone's knee drive into my midsection.
"Never take your eyes off your enemy."
"So was that my reward?!"
"Aww, what's the matter lover boy, were you hoping for something?"
I feel myself blushing as she laughs at the thought.
"Well, maybe when you can pin me."
"Really?!"
"Is someone excited?"
"N-no. Maybe."
"Don't get ahead of yourself, you still have a long way to go before you can get a leg up on me."
A loud groan from behind me reminds us of our now breathing friend's presence.
"Good morning sleepyhead."
"Shut up Reza."
"Ooo touchy."
Reks pushes himself back onto his feet, stumbling a few times in the process.
"Hey, what's that."
We follow Reks' gaze to see a thick column of smoke.
"That's coming from the village!"
We turned to see Aya staring in disbelief at the flames that had just rose into view.
"Don't just stand there, we need to hurry!"
"And just how do you expect us to make it in time?! How Reks?!"
I walked towards the edge of the cliff and peered over. Nothing but water.
"We jump."
Aya and Reks shot towards me.
"Whoa there buddy, calm down, we can figure this out!"
"Don't do anything crazy, there are people who would be devastated if you were gone!"
I turned to look at them.
"What are you talking about? I said we could jump, there's nothing but water down there. We could swim straight to the docks."
Aya ran up toward me and grabbed my hands.
"Then we could make it in time!"
"Yeah."
I smiled as I turned and leapt off the cliff. I looked back to see Aya and Reks falling behind me. I looked back just in time to see myself crash through the waves. I resurfaced and waited until the others did the same.
"That was a little dangerous."
"Ok the docks look to be about a kilometer away, if we leave now we should be there in about five minutes."
The three of us nod in unison as we turned and headed to the village.

*A/N* It's a little rushed but I hope you like it, if not tell me what I need to work on. will be updated along with the main story, as well as other side stories I plan to create.