Avatar: The Legend of Anzen Hyriu, Book 1: The Legend of Beifen

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Warrior Games Begin

The next day at school, people were buzzing with excitement. The first stage of the Warrior Games was excessive and hard training, which we actually started before the games, officially began. Also, everyone that was participating for the first time had to go on a survival mission to determine if they were worthy of the games. The survival mission was in two days.

When we returned from the mission, there would be five days of competition. On the first day, it would be hand-to-hand combat. Each boy would fight in twelve rounds and needed to win at least eight to make it to the semi-finals. The second day would be water bending, and the third, swordsmanship. The fourth day would be the semi-finals. On that day, it was a sudden death. If you lost, you were out. The fifth day was the finals, which was also sudden death.

Hana and I were open with our relationship, but we weren't all hugs and kisses, mostly just sitting by each other and talking a lot. Lina and Fai were also open about their relationship.

School seemed to go by in a flash, and before I knew it, it was time for training.

"Alright," Instructor Chen said, "Everyone here is participating in the Warrior Games, correct?" No one objected. "Good. Now then, this training will be some of the hardest training you've ever done. Not only because you will see no kindness or patience from me, but also because I will not help you in any way. You will have to look to yourself for inspiration or your peers. Just remember, your peers are also your competition. My only instruction for today and tomorrow is to practice."

Tekton, Koluk, Fai, and I all sparred with one another. Fai had gotten a lot better; he claimed it was because of my teachings, but I told him it was more than that. Instructor Chen walked around observing his students. A few kids asked him for help, but he denied them. When he watched Fai and me spar, I saw a gleam light up in his eyes.

In swordsmanship practice, his instructions were the same. Koluk and I sparred; several kids watched us in amazement. I guess they weren't used to seeing Koluk lose. I disarmed him and pointed the tip of my sword at his throat.

"I guess I win, again," I said with a smirk.

"I guess so, but we'll see what the games will bring," he stated.

I laughed and saw some bows and targets. I decided I should also practice my archery skills. I shot a few arrows and hit the center nearly every time. I noticed someone walk over to me, I looked over to see it was Huan.

"Oh, hey, Huan," I said to him, lowering my bow.

"Hey, Hyriu," he said. He looked kind of nervous or embarrassed. "Um, do you think you could show me how to use a bow and arrow?"

"Of course. Have you ever shot one before?" I asked.

"Uh, no," he said.

"Alright. I guess we'll start with the basics," I said.

First, I showed him how to hold a bow. I showed him to angle his arm so the string wouldn't hit him. I then showed him how to notch an arrow and aim. He practiced firing a few arrows with my supervision. Then, he tried it while I shot some arrows of my own. I was shocked he had never used a bow before since he was practiced with just about any other weapon. Still, I was glad I could help him. He thanked me at the end of practice.

Water bending went roughly the same. Taruk glared at me as fiercely as ever, but I ignored him. After practice, I said goodbye to Hana and went to Heiwa Valley.

When it came time for Daminao and me to spar with swords, I decided to try out a new disarming technique I thought of. When I got an opening, I tried it. I hooked the tip of my sword in Daminao's sword hilt. I twisted the sword downward and snapped it upward. Daminao's sword was ripped out of his grip and flew off to the side.

"Well done, but I still have my other sword," he said and whipped his sword around in a long arch.

I parried and twisted his sword around so his own sword was pointed at his chest along with my own sword.

"You have improved," Daminao said as I released him.

"I guess it's nice to know I haven't been wasting my time," I stated.

"Young one, the real test to see how far you've come approaches. You will be faced with a real battle in which your enemy will try to kill you," Kyoshi said to me.

"Ah, you said 'try,' so I will win," I said slyly.

"No, I said 'try' because I do not know the outcome. You may be killed, but that would be a large inconvenience to our plans," she said.

"Oh, well, I'll try to keep the 'inconvenience' of my death prolonged," I said bitterly.

"Uh, Hyriu?" Daminao said. "You alright? You kind of blanked out there for a second."

"Oh uh, nothing. It's nothing," I said quickly.

I went home exhausted. Hana was there. We had dinner together with Fai and Lina. I went to bed nearly dead of exhaustion. The next day was relatively the same. Those of us going on the survival mission were reminded to meet at the warrior training field before sunrise.

"Great," I muttered to Fai. "As if I'm not tired enough."

I went to Heiwa Valley but didn't do anything too tiring because of the survival mission. I sparred with Daminao some more. My sword training had come along way. I perfected my disarming technique. I went home and had a large supper. I made sure my things were ready for tomorrow. I was taking my bow, my dad's knife, and my sword; I would also be taking my water pouch. After I made sure everything was ready, I went to sleep early so I wouldn't be so tired the next day. But, of course, I didn't fall asleep until late in the night.