The Last Mystic

Chapter One

I tied back my long hair. I pulled out my dagger and started sharpening it. This won't be easy, I thought, apparently our opponents have been undefeated all season. They never told us who we were going to fight so that neither team gets an advantage but they did tell us when we were facing a tough pair. I turned to my partner and best friend, Jacob Evans. He was sharpening his sword. He's better with a battle axe but only swords, daggers, and spears were allowed. "You nervous?" I asked

"Nervous? Pff, no. It's not like it's the Grand Final that we've been training for all season or anything."

"'Course not. It's not like it's live in front of a thousand people or anything."

"No! Not at all. It's not like the Headmaster is going to be there or anything."

"Nah." I said as we burst into laughter. "I think the nerves are getting to me."

"It'll be fine. We're undefeated, remember?"

"Well, yeah, but so are they."

"And it's not the end of the world if we lose."

"No, but I didn't train every single day for five whole years just to lose."

"Okay then. I think we have ten minutes left until they call us out to enter the arena." We spent the rest of our time warming up in silence. The officials came to collect us and took us down the hall to the entrance to the arena.

I could hear the crowd cheering. As the entrance opened up, the light blinded us. The cheering was even louder, screaming our team name: Hunters. I could make out the familiar shapes of our families in the front row. I fell into game mode when the door on the opposite side opened. Jacob and I looked at each other. We were up against the Savages. The audience screamed even louder, they were obviously the crowd favourites.

I looked up the honours box. Next to the announcer, Mr. Herring, sat the Headmaster. Mr Herring stood up and crowd fell silent. "Welcome, everybody to the Under 16s Double Dueling Grand finals!" There was a roar from the crowd. "Tonight, our two teams, The Hunters: Pearl Atkinson and Jacob Evans and The Savages: Kylie Grace and Tom Franklyn will fight head to head. Both our teams have remained undefeated all season to give us what will be a suspense filled match. For those of you who have never witnessed a double duel I must make the rules clear: the aim is to draw blood from both members of the opposing team.There are to be no enchantments placed on weapons or warriors, one weapon per warrior. No head hits or other fatal attacks are to be made, small cuts only, no stabbing. And no powers are to be used in the first two rounds. The warriors will now get a minute to discuss strategies with their partners." I turned to Jacob.

"Oaky, we know Kylie is using a sword but she's not a strong swordsman, I could easily disarm her."

"Right. But, swordplay is definitely Tom's strong point but not mine."

"Well, I can't take him — he's way bigger than me. And besides, remember what happened last time? You'll have to —"

"Time is up.  Hunters and Savages step up to the outer ring. You may start when the gong sounds the third time." Interrupted Mr. Herring. There's no way that was a minute, I thought as we stepped into the outer ring, it was about 12 meters in diameter. A warm breeze swept across the arena. I looked at Kylie. Her silky black hair was tied up into a ponytail and her blue eyes were ice cold as usual. She looked stronger than when we last battled but so was I.

The first gong sounded.

Kylie looked at me in disgust. "Seriously? That's your weapon choice? A dagger?" She scoffed, "We're so going to win."