“Did you manage to get any sleep?”

ZaiWin nodded.

“I was awake most of the night. I always thought that night hours were the quietest of all. Never thought they’d be so frighteningly noisy,” Wen NimRen sighed and he nodded again.

“I felt the same,” he confessed. “Though I did manage to get some rest I kept waking up and looking around.”

“Me too!” she declared, obviously happy that she hadn’t been the only one. “So you had never slept outside?”

“I have, but always inside tents.”

“You have?!”

Her blue eyes widened in disbelief and he couldn’t help feeling slightly embarrassed. She’d sounded so natural when asking him that question that he’d forgotten that, of course, sheltered as she’d always been, there was no way she would have ever had such an experience. More than that, she had clearly never conceived that he might have done so. Not that sleeping outside was such an extraordinary thing, he added in his thoughts.

“Why? How was it? Weren’t you scared?” she bombarded him in one breath, her cheeks flushing from excitement, and he averted his gaze.

“It was normal, I guess. Besides ZenTar was always with me, so it wasn’t scary at all. Nox has vast inhabited stretches of land and it takes a long time to travel from one village to the other. ZenTar wanted to make sure I personally knew my own land and so we went traveling for more than one year.”

“Really? That sounds so amazing! I wish they would allow me to travel across Won like that. Won has been in our Clan’s care for many generations, but I’ve never went anywhere but the Capital,” she sighed with a depressed expression on her beautiful face and he couldn’t help smile.

Of course she hadn’t, he thought. But the mere fact that she showed an interest in knowing more about her own Province, even though she was one of the El’Lin, just went to show what he already knew, that Wen NimRen was truly a kind and gentle girl.

“I’m sure you will, some day. Maybe once you get married they’ll allow you more freedom.”

“Maybe … Though I really wish I didn’t have to get married just for that …”

Seeing that she looked even more depressed than before, ZaiWin reached inside his backpack and pulled out two cattails’ rhizomes handing her one.

“What’s this?”

“Food. And last night’s leftovers,” he declared, already chewing on one them, and NimRen looked at the whitish root-like thing in her hands, finally giving it a try after obvious careful consideration. Her frowned, suspicious expression made him smile, until she was actually able to taste it.

“Hum, it actually doesn’t taste bad. And it’s a bit sweet.”

“It’s good to fill your stomach.”

She nodded in agreement, taking another small bite.

When they reached the secondary location it was well past midday and everyone was beyond tired, the increasing heat leaving them sweaty and thirsty.

“We will stop here for the day. You have until the ninth hour after ManDaozao to rest and take care of whatever tasks you deem necessary. At the ninth hour after ManDaozao you will report here without delay and we will start our first formal competition,” the Calzai announced and this time no one dared question or challenge his command.

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Since NimRen had apologetically left him to rejoin her brother, ZaiWin went in search of fresh water to refill his flask. He also needed to procure something to eat, and he felt so hot and sweaty that he couldn’t help wishing he could jump into the next puddle of water he found on his way.

Making use of his orientation crystal and the map he’d been giving, finding one of the small streams that ran close by wasn’t hard at all. Now if only there were some fruit trees around, he wondered, looking up at the trees surrounding him. Not that he had never eaten raw fish, he considered again, looking at the crystalline water where silvery forms kept swimming by. But he’d much rather eat some apples or nuts. On the other hand he wasn’t sure he would be able keep his strength up if he only ate that during the next seven days.

A hard push on his back made him fall head-first into the stream, the cold water quickly seeping through his clothes, making him shiver. The sound of laughter filled his ears before he could even turn back, fists clenched to his side, ready to defend himself from any further attacks.

A group of three teenage boys and two girls was staring mockingly at him from the bank of the stream, eyes filled with contempt. But there were no red-heads amongst them, he noticed to his surprise.

“What do you want?” he demanded, since they just kept staring, and the blond boy in the front crossed his arms with a sneer.

“Want?! Nothing, really. Just trying to do our duty and dispose of some low grade garbage.”

Anger heated ZaiWin’s stomach and he almost sent them all flying back, away from him. But then ZenTar’s voice echoed in his head.

Always think twice before you raise your hand, even when you’re sure that you will win the battle in front of you. You need to think further ahead than that and weight if today’s victory will not become a big disadvantage in the future.

Taking a deep breath he forced himself to relax.

Above all never allow anger to take control over your actions.

When it finally subsides I assure you you won’t like what you’re left with.

Wiping water from his face he stood up, squeezing the hem of his tunic. Well he really had wished he could go for a swim.

“Is that all?” he asked, untying his hair so he could redo his ponytail, and the blond boy frowned, clearly displeased with his calm and unconcerned demeanor.

“You mark my words! I will beat you up to a bleeding pulp before the Gathering is over!” he practically growled, even though ZaiWin had never even seen him before, or at least he didn’t think he had …

Sighing deeply he shrugged. It was no use, he knew all too well. In the past he’d spent endless hours trying to understand why people seem to hate him after just taking a glance at him. Now he really couldn’t care less.

“Yeah, you are welcome to try. Though I should warn you that there’s probably a long queue for that. You’ll have to stand in line,” he declared with a mocking smile and the blond boy grounded his teeth, taking a furious step towards him, that was, of course, stopped by two of his friends.

“You filthy piece of trash! We’ll see who has to stand in line! I’ll make sure to beat you so hard that you’ll never walk straight again!”

“Leave it, CarFan. If you fight him here the Calzai will most certainly interfere. He’s not worth it, getting in trouble because of him. Later. Later we’ll take care of him.”

CarFan snorted, giving him a hateful glare, and stormed away, followed by all the other boys and girls who took the time to, in turns, offer him similar glares before they left.

With a sigh ZaiWin stepped out of the water. He really wished he could simply take off his wet clothes and go for a swim, but he would never dare undress himself where he knew others could creep up on him at any moment. And so his only option was to stay wet until his clothes dried on his body. At least it was hot, he thought, checking his backpack to make sure his map hadn’t gotten too wet.

“Guess I’m not the only one who hates your guts!” a voice declared, sending shivers down his spine, and he slowly turned back to be faced with FeiWan’s bright green eyes.

Of all the people in that Gathering, even counting the adults, no one left him more on edge than FeiWan. And sure, he knew that there were probably others stronger than him. CalWan, for once. But the depths of FeiWan’s hatred for him ran so deep that it was like poison, spreading in the air around him, making it hard to breathe.

“I’d really watch my back, if I were you, mud-head! Every Gathering there’s a few kids who never go back. You know. Accidents and all that,” he added with a cold smile and simply walked away, calmly turning his back on him.