Relic

Chapter 2 - Hello

I wasn't expecting such a strong feeling from the other person, from him. I thought I would sense him, but not be able to feel every single thing/emotion flowing through his body. I wasn't focusing on where I was and what I was doing like I was taught and I got small glimpses of where he was standing in another Completion, I swear I could feel the light breeze that was brushing his legs touch mine as well. This was all too much. I did not know whether to reach out and reply to him to show him I was not afraid of him or if I would appear stronger by remaining silent, I couldn't fully find my mental wall, which meant he could feel my presence as well, I couldn't fully seperate his feelings from my own and I didn't like that. I could feel his curiousity, I wonder what he felt from me?

'Panic' the voice replied.

Wait, what?

'You can hear me?' I asked confused, should he be able to hear my thoughts? while we were going through our training not that much was explained about the actual Psychic link, it always made me wonder why we were not told about it considering it was such an integral part of our survival.

'I can hear you' he said, 'I guess I can hear your thoughts, I didn't think that was possible. But I guess no two links can be the same when no two brains are the same, right now you are so confused it is making me confused.'

'But  I can't hear yours unless you reach out to me, why?'

I felt something within him that I could only relate to a feeling of amusement, it was only there for a second though before a strong feeling of confidence swept through my body from his.

'I don't know Wolf, but I am not about to help you find out' He said that in a somewhat harsh, matter of fact tone, making me realise curiousity time was over.

The harshness of his voice started a fire in my stomach that brought my mental walls crashing shut. He couldn't hear me anymore, the only danger I had from him being able to read my thoughts was when I needed intel on his location or when I was sleeping. He was arrogant, before I shut him off I could feel that he believed because he had a small advantage over me that I was going to fail. Clearly he's wrong, but we would sort that out in the hunting grounds.

The hunting grounds are situated in the middle of all cities of Arcan. The cities surround the entirety of the hunting grounds so no one can run. If you try to run, you automatically forfeit your life. It is about a day's journey to where the hunting ground begins and my opponents life ends. Finding him could take an exceptional amount of time though, I have heard of some hunts going for a year. The length of each hunt is determined by what the hunters excelled in during their training. If even one excelled in stealth then the hunt could go on for a very long time. There are some who rush to the centre of the hunting ground, have an epic, gruesome fight with their opponent and then return home victorious in a matter of days. But I believe that my hunt was going to be about outsmarting the other, about luring the other into a trap. The way you kill your opponent plays a part in where you end up in society afterwards.

I am The Wolf, I stalk my prey, I like to play with my food. I will enjoy stamping out that one arrogant light preventing me from seeing the stars. I will return to take command of The Militants and lead the people of Arcan into a very bright future.

I decided there was no time to lose, with the thought of a great civilisation among the stars fueling my footsteps I walked out of the Completion and back down the gray pathways, headed for the pathway that giant gate that led out of the city.There were 3 pathways out of the city, but I only needed one. Each of the 7 cities surrounded the hunting ground, but there was also a giant wall, so the grounds ended up looking  like a giant arena spanning kilometers, there were gates in the wall, an entrance for each city. It wasn't a prison, you could leave anytime, the gates were open. But returning without the other being dead.. well that was your own death sentence. 

I thought about my opponent as I was walking, it was a strange feeling actually knowing the indentity of the person I  have to kill. The barrier that I have always known existed actually has an identity, It is a real life thing that I can physically destroy. I know he will try to use the Psychic link as an advantage against me to find me, the best thing I can do is try and find him as soon as possible to avoid the amount of hours I will need sleep. I continued to walk as I thought about him, who was he? I didn't know besides the little communication we had, what did he look like? what was his name? How strong was his will to survive? These were all things I needed to find out before we met face to face for the first and last time.