Dark Wind, Icy Snow - RyuTar, YinYuan [BL]

RTYY 039 - Won't you Lose this Fight?

ZaiWin tilted his head back and couldn't help but gape.

True, he'd spent the entire previous day jumping from tree to tree, atop wood platforms build several feet above the ground. But this .... This could never compare.

Surrounded by the tallest trees he'd ever seen, he couldn't stop staring at the small planks that bridged the gap between them. A rudimentary ladder, built against one of the tree trunks, led all the way up there, telling him that they were expected to climb it and fight atop those narrow wood planks.

A gasp of horror finally made him lower his gaze, and he saw a pale, beautiful, blond girl with wide greenish eyes arrive with the other group. She was staring at the two bodies that laid on the ground, to one side, covered with the blankets they had probably been carrying in their backpacks, which meant that at least two kids had already lost their lives in that arena.

His gaze, however, didn't linger on the girl for more than a few seconds. It also didn't linger on the dead bodies he had initially simply ignored.

Amongst the other group, taller than most of the other contestants, with his head held high and his hair still intricately braided and adorned in the imperial style, walked Wen CalWan. Of course his red hair immediately identified him as one of the El'Gin, but ZaiWin had the sensation that even if he were to be blond like the girl walking beside him, he would still look as regal, a certain air of superiority clinging to him.

And then it finally registered. Their group too, was missing one element.

CalWan and the two girls that accompanied him stopped right beside them, while the Calzai's men quickly organized the next round of duels. CalWan didn't even turn to look at him, as if he had never seen him in his entire life. He didn't turn to look at his younger brother either, who was sitting down on the ground, leaning against a tree, distractedly pulling out grass as if he were too tired to stand.

Seeing him standing there, ZaiWin couldn't help feeling a bit excited about the possibility of being able to fight him. Sure, CalWan was five years older than him, which meant he was not only taller but also much stronger. But, even though he would probably end up loosing should he face him, he still wished he could measure his experience in sword-fighting against the oldest of the El'Gin.

And yet, unfortunately, it was not meant to be, he concluded a few moments later, looking down at his green rock. Of the three kids of the other group, he had been paired with none other than the delicate-looking blond girl.

Looking every bit like a porcelain doll, her pale blond hair carefully braided and tied with several knots, even in dressed in the same common clothes as everyone, she was the living image of what a noble young woman should look like. And ZaiWin couldn't help wonder if she had actually had to fight anyone, that afternoon.

Standing as close to CalWan as humanely possible, pressing her round, full breasts against his arm, her green eyes kept staring at him with nothing short of pure adoration, leaving a sigh on his lips. So she was one of CalWan's followers, girlfriends, lovers. He had heard all sorts of rumors about the group of girls that constantly followed him wherever he went. And ZaiWin couldn't help feeling sorry for the poor girl, since CalWan hadn't spared a single glance her way since they had arrived.

Well, he didn't care what she might be. He didn't even care about the obvious fact that there was some royal blood running through her veins. He'd lost the last duel and, taking into account the differences in age and experience between him and RouZen, he could live with that. But he had no intention to lose any more combats, much less against a porcelain doll like her.