The Dagger

I was desperate to improve myself and I realized that I badly need to train. With all the wolves in the stadium, craving for the prestige and honor, I realized that I should learn to manage my defense or attack. It is the only way I that would protect me from others. Having this weak body, I will eventually face death in a duel. With this second life, I may found something that would teach me how to carry on.

Because of this, after attending and finishing all the household course, I decided to went in the nearest book store. Looking for some books that would somehow help me to train and stimulate my body to achieve its greatest condition. It took me around fifteen minutes or more in order to reached the book store, it is located near the plaza where the duel is taking place. I am not surprised when bunch of wolves from different families are walking around my destination.

I am not in disguised, I am wearing my usual clothes. I usually wear black leather pants and a turtle neck long sleeve top. No one is interested to looked at me. Everyone is busy with their own business. There are few who would just mumble some words I cannot hear but would eventually continue with their own lives.

Scanning the bookstore, only few customers are present. Most of them are probably in their retirement age, looking for something that they could spend their time with. I looked for some books about enhancing physical abilities and even strategies for a war. I bought all of which that I found interesting and useful. I hope that these books would somehow help me.

My parents, more specially, dad, have taught and trained both Andrea and I to be prepared in any battle. According to him, it is his responsibility to pass his knowledge, skills, and abilities to the next generation. Although, Andrea and I started with the same training, she excels quickly…and I left behind her. When I was fifteen, I remembered that she become more skilled and powerful than me. She turned eighteen that year and that was the time that she received the bow of our bloodline. I have no memories that I can recall when I was younger than that.

On my way out of the book store, I decided that I should practice in the magical falls. Now that I thought of it, I haven’t been there since the day that I decided to take my own life. I took the isolated route that would bring me faster to the falls.

I was near the forest when I suddenly felt a pain in my back. I immediately face my back to see who threw that dagger. I am sure that it is a dagger, it is a familiar feeling. It is the pain caused by a dagger. To my surprise, three of the members of the family of daggers are surrounding me.

I hissed when I removed the dagger piercing in my back. It is indeed painful and I can’t deny that. I want to whimper and scream but I can’t. My body is still recovering from my last match, the wounds are still present and I am not yet fully healed. But I could say that the wounds from that event are not that bad anymore.

“That’s what you get for messing with our family!” The member of the dagger, who is standing in front me, said.

I bit my lip, trying to conceal the pain from my pierced back. “You must be mistaken…” I said weakly.

All of them are in their ninja suit. I am unable to see their face but I doubt that I messed with them, I haven’t had an interaction with other wolves. The only interaction I have was during the duel in which I lost.

The one on the right side laughed, “you are a Vertina, right?”

I gulped. What have I done?

“Your sister almost killed our top member! You’ll pay for everything!” That person in front of me, who is probably the leader, said with a lot of resentment.

Flashes from yesterday’s duel between Andrea and a member of family of dagger crossed my mind. I closed my eyes when I felt another dagger has pierced my leg. I screamed out of pain when I removed that dagger. I have no weapon with me, I cannot protect myself. I left my arrow and bow because I decided to train my physical abilities.

“I am not the one who fought your member,” I explained, hoping that they will spare me. With the wound in my leg, I will not be able to run away.

“You will pay for your sister’s place! I will make her regret her impulsiveness.” I can still feel the resentment and poison in her very words. It seems that she is blinded with anger.

Another dagger pierced by other leg, making me slumped in my own feet. Tears again started rolling out of my eyes, feeling sorry for being like this… for not being strong enough to protect myself.

With the feeling of heaviness, I immediately throw the dagger that pierced through me in their direction without looking. That was all I could do in this situation. My vision is blurry because of the tears that won’t stop from falling and my body is starting to ache all over.

I was looking at my leg when one of them pulled my hair, she is already in front of me and keeping the distance closed. I felt the sting in my left cheek from the slap that she gave while pulling my air.

“Bitch!” She hissed.

And all I could do again is to cry endlessly. When I wiped my tears, I was surprised when a dagger is pierced in her shoulder. It took me several seconds before I realized that I probably did that…but, it is impossible.

She slapped me once again. I couldn’t defend because she is pulling my hair, it stings too. My legs, shoulders, face, head are all aching…everything hurts. I received another slap that made me a little bit dizzy.

“What are you doing?!”