The Arena

6: A Symbol of Hope

I walked over to my dorm, counting the doors along the way to make sure I didn't make another mistake.  I put my hand against the door, and it turned blue and opened. Zarbeck was sitting inside. 

"What do you need, boy?"

"I'm ready to go." 

"Go? To the armory? Boy, you can't just go when you feel like it. You have to wait until breakfast is over. Every competitor will be going at once." He said as he stood.

I opened my mouth to say something, but I didn't. I sighed. "Fine. I'll meet you after breakfast."

He nodded.

I went back into the Cafeteria. Might as well talk to them rather than roam aimlessly in the halls.

"Hey, what's wrong? You just stormed out on us, what was that about?" Tyler looked up when he noticed me come over.

"Huh? Oh, It's nothing."

"You sure about that?" Makayla asked, looking down at her chocolate milk.

"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?" I sat down.

"Are you always like this?" Tyler asked. "First, you're quiet. Then, you're distant. And now, now you're... I don't know, jittery? What do you think," he looked over at Makayla. "What was your name again?"

She glared at him. "Makayla."

"Oh, yeah! What do you think Makayla?"

"I think he's anxious. Then again, I'm sure we all are. But you seem more anxious than usual. At least from what I've seen of you. What's wrong? You know, Despite the obvious?"

"It's nothing. I just... I just..."

"Just what?"

"Nothing."

"Tell us!" 

"I can't kill, Alright?!" I looked down at the table. "I-I can't. I grew up in a family that preserved life. My dad was a surgeon, saving lives everyday. We own a farm, we would watch new lives hatch all the time. I can't- I can't kill. I just can't."

"I understand," Makayla said as she put a hand on my shoulder. "but here It's their rules. If you don't follow them, then, who knows what they'll do to you."

"They could kill him," Tyler offered.

"And lose a competitor? I'm sure they can always replace us, but they can't later on in the tournament..." 

I didn't look up from the table. There are worse things than death, Zarbeck's words echoed in my mind.

A guard came in and announced that breakfast was over and that everyone was to return to their dorms and consult their guards.

I got up along with the rest of the other competitors in the cafeteria, and returned to my dorm.

The armory was huge. Weapons were lined all along the walls. There were a few tables for other weapons.

Emperor Nanylix stood at the end of the room. "Welcome to the armory!" his voice rang throughout the room. "Today is the day. You will be given your armor and your weapons. Now, let me explain something real quick. Along with your armor, there is a symbol. This symbol will appear on everything that pertains to you. Now you won't need to worry about forgetting which dorm is yours! You will receive eight pieces of armor. One for each round and one after the tournament if you happen to be the winner. We know that your armor will be torn up, and that is why we are giving you so many. Your symbol will be on the front and the back of your tunic, and the Empire's symbol on the sleeves. Each competitor receives different colors, that will also help to tell you apart.

"Let us begin." He began listing names and handing them armor. From what I was seeing it looked like simple stuff. There were nice running boots for the girls, and running shoes for the guys. There was chainmail, tunics, pants, belts, and forearm gauntlets. 

Then he called someone up. Her name was Fey Johnson. I recognized her. She was the news lady. I wanted to go up and talk to her, but I couldn't. I would have to find her after we got everything.

"Zack Galleby" Nanylix called.

I went up and he handed me my armor. I went back down and took a closer look. My colors were black and teal. The tunic and shoes were teal, and the rest of my pieces, along with the symbols, were black. 

I looked at my symbol. It was a diamond with two "V" shapes underneath it. The top "V" had the ends bent towards the diamond, the one below bent outward. The diamond had two crooked triangles on either side above it. This was going to be the symbol everyone would remember me by. 

From then on, Every time I saw that symbol it would be a symbol of dread. But it would also be a symbol of hope. The hope that I would get to see my mother again. The hope that I would make it.

Zarbeck looked at my symbol and nodded his approval. I guess if it got his approval, then it must be a good symbol. 

Nanylix called the rest of the competitors up one by one. It took a little bit, but eventually everyone had received their armor. Tyler had found me in the crowd and waved. His armor and shoes were red, the rest were black. I gave a small wave back.

I don't understand why that guy has latched on to me, but I guess Tyler's alright. He had his problems, and I'm sure I had plenty as well.

"Choosing weapons will now proceed," Nanylix said. "I will call the names again, You will choose a sword from the tables or walls. After you choose your sword, you will go and choose a shield, then a bow, then an axe, and then a dagger. These will be all the weapons you will be given in the arena. However, the weapons will be given at random. It depends on what kind of arena is set up for you. Most of the time you and your opponent will be given the same weapon, but there are instances where you won't, so choose your weapons well."

He began listing off the names again. This would take a while. 

I looked at the weapons on the walls. There were so many different types. What I didn't understand was that If everyone got a different weapon, wouldn't the people called up first get the best pick? How was that fair?

Then again, it's their rules, who's to say they're going to play fair?

I shook out of my daze.

"Zack Galleby."

I guess it was time for me to choose my fate.