Half Complete

CHOICE

                                          He walked towards an open space, a paved courtyard.There stood a boy who seemed to be three or four years older than me. He was  facing a soldier, posture tense.Dorian must have taken me to the training area. The boy had his back towards me , but I  recognised him.I had seen him before ,always hanging around Dorian and the other soldiers.But he was too young to be int army. He had raven dark hair that fell well past his shoulders. Now it was tied into a simple ponytail.But his eyes, they were what had always caught my attention. He had eyes of the faintest blue, almost a grey colour and he had a faraway expression on his face, almost as if he didn't know how to use his eyes.

                                              Suddenly Dorian stopped.There was a glint in his eyes as he signalled to me to stop.He put his finger on his lips, telling me to keep quiet.Then he just  charged straight towards the boy, sharp sword shining in the sunlight.The soldier crouched and swung his sword at the same time . I stifled a gasp and I felt my blood run cold.Dorian wasn't so cruel to just beat a boy  up.But contrary to my expectations, the boy stiffened.He ignored the soldier charging at him   and at the last moment, with a marvellously  agile leap as if he were some deer instead of a human he jumped up and parried Dorian's strike.He had drawn two daggers from his sleeves and  clutched close to his body in a defensive manner. He moved closer to Dorian swung both his feet upwards,in a somersault and kicked the soldier approaching behind him. The man groaned, clutching his stomach.Ponytail whipping in the breeze, he came close to Dorian and met his blade in a deadly dance. 

                                         I was awestruck and my mouth was open.Who exactly was that boy?To my surprise he grinned as Dorian slapped his back.He then turned to where I stood "Hey there, whoever is there by the bushes, please come out.I can sense another set of footsteps."I gave a start. Reluctantly,I came out and stood near Dorian.The boy looked, no,looked was the wrong word,he faced me, looking somewhere above my head.

"Well,"said Dorian "This is my foster son and student, Ciel and Ciel,this young lady is the second sister ,miss Clarissa".Ciel smiled pleasantly  and said that it was a pleasure to meet me.He had then surprised me by asking whether I was there to join Dorian's sword classes.Suddenly all the events of today entered my head.Talented or not, he was no different from the others.I had no place here. Dorain must have read my expression and steered me away from the boy before I screamed something at him, cheerfully calling out."Now Clarie, it's time we took you back.Bye Ciel" .

                                              "What was that all about",I had asked him.

" Clarie  didn't you notice something strange about Ciel".

       "Um..Yes.His eyes, they were so pretty but they seemed to be somewhere far away.And the was he moved, it was really strange".

                        He sighed."Clarie, Ciel is my foster son".

"You have a son?"I almost shouted.That's why that boy always folled him..And that meant that the boy was an orphan.

 He laughed at my shocked expression."Yes, I have a son. Ciel is ....He is different like you. "

"Different?Is he cursed too?"I had asked, understanding what that his strange eyes meant.But then how could he fight so gracefully? 

"His beautiful blue- grey eyes, they are his biggest curse. He is blind you see,  and the worst was that he wasn't born like that. Ciel was the son of a dear friend of mine. When he was born he had the prettiest blue eyes, almost the same colour as the sky on a cloudless day.But Fate never wanted him to know his parents. His mother died when he was born . His father wanted to name his by the colour of his eyes. His father loved his mother dearly and was devastated by her passing"

                        "Ciel means sky, right?"I asked remembering my mandatory French classes.He chuckled.

"You're a smart kid aren't you.Yes his name means sky.But his eyes started to loose their colour as the days passed by.By the time he was one his eyes were almost grey and to our horror,we discovered that he had lost his sight too.That was the last straw for his father.He went delirious and drowned his misery in alcohol. He was in no way fit enough to look after a child. "A shadow passsed over his face then."So I took him in and helped him.The rest is just history, and now he is quite good with those daggers, not exceptional but definitely getting there."

                                            Dorian's eyes were shining. He was really proud of that boy.Then his eyes focused on me."So what's it young Clarie?" he asked , startling me."Is it a life of self pity and sorrow or a daring life of adventures and hard work that you chose?"

     "But what can I do? " I stuttered out.
   He smiled. " Oh , you can do a lot if you set your mind to it. You're quite a determined kid and you can make a change. "He bent down and took my hand." If you are ready to toil hard for it". He drew his sword and put it on my palm. I staggered a bit under it's weight but gripped it tightly.
                                                          I didn't want to hesitate. I  felt my shield building up. I thought about my life, hidden from everyone one subjected to the worst kind of verbal abuse.No one could walk over me again.But was I  ready to change, was I ready to lock away the scared me away and just reinvent myself? Could I learn to fight and would I have the courage to face my tormentors head on? I had to.It may be a choice but surely it was fate. It was my destiny. I would change my life. I took a deep breath and steeled myself. I looked straight into my mentor's eyes determinedly and  smiled " When can I start?"

                                    Now I was sixteen, Ciel was somewhat older. I had practised day in and day out  and was now quite good with swords. Getting my mother's permission had been a tedious task but I did it, not breaking under theor ridicule.  But it had been worth it. Even if my limbs were tired and I had to work twice as hard as a normal person, it was worth it. I was able to see  My mother and sister speechless, gaping at me with open mouths as I had fought off  three soldiers during an exhibition match.Mary had screamed herself hoarse that day.  And the people had seen just how fierce the middle child was.Now the annual fair was coming up and I was sparring against Ciel.

It was another amazing opportunity.  We wanted to amaze everyone.

                             "Hey Clarie!I see that Mary has finally pulled you off the bed." Ciel sauntered in.He was taller than me but we were evenly matched now.Rigorous practice and his help had made me excel in a feat many thought was impossible

"Well lets see if I can beat you today."I said drawing my sword with my right hand and shifting my balance to my left leg to prevent me from toppling over. Ciel's unseeing eyes were staring at me as he drew his two daggers from hidden pouches in his sleeves.With incredible precision he charged at me.But I was ready.I charged too.

                                        I am Clarie,a sixteen year old.I was born without my left arm which in many people's eyes may seem like a curse. But I realised that it was a choice. A choice for me to shine brighter than the stars or to sink into the murky depths of my own personal hell. But thanks to the wonderful people around me and my friends that it is my greatest advantage and nothing, absolutely nothing is impossible if we try. I have had to work extremely hard because of my choice but I don't regret it one bit. I concentrated and thrust harder as my eyes gleamed with anticipation and excitement for the future......