The Ancients

Hope after history

Cait and Egan left my room after talking for nearly an hour. A few of my textbooks lie scattered across the bedroom floor where Egan had knocked them down from the desk with his tail, surprisingly that was the only mess the large Tiger made. I placed them all in a neat pile on the end of my desk and set about doing history homework due in for the next day. With it being so close to Dómur most of the work now in all of the classes are related to the event, so with the reminder that in a week I will be fighting Troy and Buster, I put pen to paper and start the long essay on how Domúr evolved through time. 

'  Dómur is an ancient Icelandic translation meaning 'Judgment' and this event entails two opponents fighting in their ancestral blood lineage, for example, Medieval or Roman. The fight includes the opponents Ameobas and is won when one opponent surrenders or is injured beyond the point of continuing on. In modern day society this event is ceremonial to complete schooling; after a student has completed the event they are able to start their lives in the world of work. 

This event can be traced back nearly 1100 years ago to the time of the Vikings when it was accustomary to judge young adults in combat and skills before they were integrated into society. This was to strengthen the people and create a well-developed community. Originally Dómur would have been fought to the death by those around the ages of 12-15 but over time this slowly became unfavourable as the population was decreasing. Towards the end of the Viking rein children only had to fight until one surrendered and the victor would go on to become more powerful figures in the community whereas the defeated would go on to do farm work or other low ranking jobs. 

The tradition carried on far beyond the rein of the Vikings and lasted up until the Late Middle Ages when the event started to become less frequent due to the many breakouts in major diseases over the coming years such as The Black Death which caused millions of deaths. Dómur was stopped as an event by the Ancients in power at the time in order to stop the spread of diseases and prevent more deaths from occurring due to gathering crowds of humans and their Ameobas to watch the fights. 

Dómur wasn't brought back until the rise to power of the Megas after the Class World War in 1819. They believed that the tradition should be brought back to strengthen the people more after the victory of the war however a few changes would need to be made in order for it to be continued in the modern times. Fighting until death would be the first thing to be changed as this would conflict with human rights laws so an approach more along the lines of human boxing was applied to that of humans and their Amoeba's. Rather than young children around the age of 13 take part in the event, the age would be raised to around 18 when the young adults would be finishing higher education. The attire worn in the battle would be determined on the participants family ancestry up until the 14th century, for example, lineages that could be traced as far back as the 5th century would dress in knightly attire and use weapons appropriate to that age or what has been passed down the family through time. 

Overall Dómur has gone through major changes throughout history to become the tradition it has today on the 200-year anniversary of the Class World War.'

I finished up my history essay due for the next lesson and set it aside to put into my bag in the morning. Looking over at the alarm clock and seeing that the time was nearly eleven thirty at night I packed away the rest of my homework and got ready for bed, slipping under the duvet. Within a few minutes, my eyelids got heavier and heavier before I fell into that familiar darkness of sleep.

The hair on my arms started to stand on edge as the air in the room turned ice cold. Forcing my eyes open, I look around to see that I am still in bed with the room in the same state that I had left it in when I went to sleep but something was off. The temperature kept dropping until a fine mist began to set around the room and a familiar chime began to resonate through the walls.

In the far corner of the room the mist began to swirl and shift into the shadows and the chimes got louder until a familiar set of claws and chains stepped forward out of the shadows. Red eyes found my own in the room as a fanged smile was flashed my way with the same deep soft voice. Hello Amber. How have you been since the last time we spoke?

I lept from under the duvet and wrapped my arms in the mass of fur around the huge wolf's neck. What is all this for? he asked confused at what was happening. I grasped the thick fur tighter and gave a small smile "I remember you from when I was a little girl" his eyes softened and he pulled me closer to him rubbing his head against me. I backed up and stood in front of him as he sat down on his haunches rattling is chains. 

"This means that Dan is still alive! But why haven't you both come back for me, where is he, what happened?" Fenrir shook his head and gave a sad look in his eyes. I can't answer those questions right now as I told you before, it would put you in more danger than you are already in. However, there is a purpose to my visit, one that shows hope for you.

I sat back on the edge of my bed more confused and upset than ever that my own brother has been alive this whole time and that no one will tell me what the hell is going on. Question and memories kept racing through my mind and my head fell into my hands, my fingers finding their way and gripping my hair. Amber, I truly am sorry for not telling you but it is for your own safety and I think the news I bring is of great importance to you.

Tilting my head up I looked Fenrir in the eye and saw that it pained him seeing me heartbroken, I know however that it's not his fault, he is doing what he was told to keep me away from any further danger, which is what family do. "Okay then. I am listening" he lifted his right paw forward causing his chains to rattle and chime and then planted it back onto the misty floor and drew it back towards him. The mist that swirled around his paw when he drew it back began to form a vague image swirling into what looked like three comma's circulating around each other.

You should keep a sharp eye out for this symbol as it is much like the one I gave to you on your wrist. This will help you in times to come but I am unable to say how as the only one that will decide that is you. I had completely forgotten about the rune on my arm, simply because no one had brought it up which was odd, makes me wonder if I am the only one who can see it?

The mist on the floor began to swirl around again making the strange symbol dissipate yet it continued to swirl and thicken. I looked up to see that Fenrir was standing and fading into the shadows of the corner wall. This is all the time I have Amber but I hope this helps you. I wish next time I have more answers for you. Fyrirgefðu en sjaldan er ein báran stök. Good bye.

Just like the last time the smoke consumed him before I could say anything more and once again the darkness consumed me and left me with thousands of questions running through my mind like a cascade of water. I shot up back under my duvet in my room looking around to see no trace of the mist or Fenrir and let out a sigh laying myself back in the cover of the bed and closed my eyes.

"Vinr er sás vörnuð býðr."