Azure Chronicle

Az

Rule one, entice the enemy into your blaze.

Rule two, never become trapped in your own blaze. Failing to leave an opening can be your end.

Rule three, ALWAYS strike first.

The sandstone arena loomed with an oppressing force. I felt the strength of warriors before me, but they did not instill their divine power. Rather their courage seemed to mock me. My success was out of reach.

Across the sandstone floor stood a large blight cocrottat. A dog with hooves and the horns of a ram. It stunk like dead flesh. Sulfur drifted from its mouth and the slits down its throat. It sounded my name in a fleshy gargle.

The warrior shrines along the wall seemed to chant the same grim sound.

The cocrottat slid its hoof across the floor and hunched its back.

I lifted the sword onto my shoulder. My foot forward, legs bent.

The dog sprung into the air, a trail of dust in pursuit.

Clop, clop, clop.

"Wait," Sensei Lon said softly.

Clop, clop, clop.

Swing too soon and the cocrottat would dodge my blaze.

Clop, clop, clop.

Another few seconds.

Clop, clop...

I swung igniting the air into a thin burning, blade-like trail.

The cocrottat spread its legs sliding on its hooves leaving a white scar on the sandstone behind it.

The blaze managed to scourge its back leaving a smoldering patch of flesh and fur. But not before it landed a solid bite into my leg. It easily pierced my thin leather legging.

The blight fed on fear, I had to stay in control. I bit down as hard as I could, holding back the emerging scream of pain.

I raised my blade and prepared to swing.

The cocrottat turned its head twisting my leg. I lost my balance and started to fall.

My blade forced toward the ground to catch myself, it slid across the stone slab scraping as it threw sparks.

The full force of the cocrottat landed on me with its hoof in my face then a wet spray followed by yelping.

The creature fell on its side kicking hitting my stomach. It furiously bit at the ground, attempting to strike a mortal wound to its invisible foe.

I looked up to see the triumphent warriors, satisfied in their bets.

"Your father would be disappointed," Lon said pulling a knife from the creatures neck.

"That thing nearly killed me." I struggled to get up.

"You need to be practicing in your free time, all of your fellow students have passed the test."

"Well, I am not everyone else" I threw down my vorsica, it clattered across the stone hitting the nearly dead cocrottat.

"Az, you have a reputation to uphold."

"I'm going home" I tied my scarf around the bite and hobbled out of the Koedon.

The familiar market street met me as I pushed open the large patina doors.

The busy streets were filled with the same stupid people. All walking around like everything was fine. Acting like they actually enjoy this life.

I looked behind me to see Lon still pacing behind me.

"Leave me alone!" I yelled back to him.

He remained silent and vigilant in his pursuit.

I rounded the corner of the Koedon, the street here less busy.

The footsteps behind me grew louder and faster. I began to run, matching, even exceeding the pace.

The drab azure colored markets become a fuzzy streak and I zipped through the market.

"Catch me now old man" I thought to myself.

The garden of sanctuary just across the street.

A large grey box swung into view. My foot snagging its edge.

The previously streaking market now a tumbling swirl of rocks and dust.

The spinning stopped with my knees and elbows skinned, lodged with small pebbles.

"Watch it kid" a deep robotic voice called.

I looked up to see a large mech standing over me. A hatch on top opened, revealing a dusty haggard man complete with leather vest and cowboy hat.

"Ya godfersaken savages" the man cursed.

Lon then caught up, "Az, you return immediately."

"Maybe the kid wants tah play, aye?" The man shrugged.

"Mind your own business, this is our way of life"

"Maybe ya didnt know, but enslavin kids is illegal"

"Mind your own business"

"Feckin savages" the man grumbled, sitting back down.

Suddenly the air grew cold as the street was engulfed in shade.

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AUTHOR COMMENTS

Gotta watch them Mech legs....hmm.

Also, the locals are apparently grumpy.