The Battle

‘Clary!’

‘Clary!’

‘Clary!’

I snapped out of my senses after multiple attempts of Cordia to call me. I found myself in the arms of Darren, he is literally hugging me.

“What happened? You’ve been trembling,” he asked with a voice full of tenderness and care.

Until now, I can feel myself trembling. With the fear caused by the anger of my mom, I would rather collapse and to run away from this kingdom. My mother would definitely scold me when this event is over.

What have I done to make her so angry? I just looked at Alpha, it is not my fault to have a beating heart.

When a sudden realization hit me, I looked at my sister on the elevated platform. There she is, sharply looking at me that confirms my theory. She probably told mom through telepathy that I am looking at them. That’s it! What else should it be?

“Shh. It’s okay, I’m here.” I felt Darren’s thumb wiping my tears. I must be crying, I did not notice. The fear, pain, and other unknown feelings are building inside me…but at least, I have Darren by my side who is trying to calm me down. At least, I have someone to lean on. Sad to say, it wasn’t my family.

‘Hey, have you forgotten? I am also here by your side.’ Cordia, my wolf self, said.

I smiled and whispered, ‘thank you.’

Darren let go of me when I was able to calm and compose myself. I am still in the stadium and the battle is still ongoing. Proof that the world does not revolve in myself, I smiled bitterly.

I am not familiar with the names of the people who are battling in the middle of the stadium. I actually have not much knowledge with the names of individuals in this kingdom. My parents refrain me from interacting with another individuals and I usually do all the household tasks at home.

It is only Darren who took interest in me two years ago and I, myself, could not believe that he really did. My parents too. When I introduced him as my boyfriend, they did think that I was losing my mind. True enough, how could they believe that someone who is stronger than him would like a useless woman.

“Our winner for this duel is... a member of the family of daggers, Corinth Davis!” The announcer said. “Next in line, a duel between Clary Vertina and Alexa Miller!”

I froze. It is too soon for me to fight, this will bring disgrace to my family.

‘You can do it! Prove yourself, Clary!’ Cordia said, which made me even nervous.

I also heard Darren’s voice but I was too nervous to understand his words. My thoughts are getting unsettled and messy. I can’t comprehend anything; all I can feel is the nervousness enveloping my soul.

I marched towards the platform for the duel. My heart pounded more rapidly as I faced my opponent. Based on her weapons, she is from the family of daggers. She could just target me with her dagger and that would be the end of me.

‘Calm yourself!’ Cordia exclaimed.

I nodded and released a deep breath. I could take down her daggers with my own arrow, assuming that the speed of our weapon is equal. I really hope that she is also lacking in physical abilities so I could outsmart her.

‘To your right!’

I was taken aback by Cordia’s words and it took me seconds to respond.

“Oh shoot!” I absentmindedly said as I felt a sting in my right arm. Her dagger did make a contact in my right arm! Without Cordia’s warning, I wouldn't be able to avoid those daggers. Direct hits of daggers would cause me to lose blood.

I bit my lip, it is just a little cut in my right arm but it stings.

I immediately moved when I realized that she was about to throw her daggers again. I released my arrow, hoping that I could take down her dagger.

I froze when I realized that I would not be able to take down the dagger and it would hit me in my chest if I did not move from my position.

‘Help!’ I screamed internally.

‘Wolf!’ Cordia responded agitatedly.

That’s it! I changed rapidly into my wolf form and moved away from that initial position. My body is all tense in this duel, I don’t think I could win. Battling is not for me, it never does.

“What a weak creature,” my opponent laughed devilishly. “You should surrender before I kill you.”

“No!” I screamed loudly and advanced toward her. I could feel the adrenaline rushing.

She fell out of balance when I strike her abdomen using my head. I don’t have much physical abilities when I am in my human form but I am fast during my wolf form. She sure was not able to anticipate that attack from an archer like me.

But I was dumbfounded when I heard her laugh, “that’s all you’ve got?”

“You don’t deserve to be a Vertina!” That was her attack that hurts me the most. It is like a dagger that pierced into my soul, into my heart. It was incurable…poisonous. It has destroyed me…entirely.

I could feel a cold metal piercing in my back, but I can only feel how sharp her words are. My soul has taken so much damage in those simple words.

Probably because I knew, all this time, that she is correct. I shouldn’t have been born. In that way, my family could achieve all the prestige and will have no weakness.

I was aware that I am bleeding, she stabbed me multiple times but I cannot move even my fingers. I couldn’t go back to my human form. All I know is that I am brutally broken. Nothing, but a weak wolf trying to find her own place.

Arbiters stopped the duel, I could say that they are mumbling some words that I can’t comprehend. I could see that they were moving but I couldn't hear anything. I couldn’t care less.