“It’s never happened before but sure,” Yan said. “You can join the tournament. In fact some of the spearmen would be thrilled. It’s pretty rare for them to get to fight swordsmen outside of war.”

“Great,” Inaki said, huffing and puffing on the ground. It was another day of arduous rock-climbing. Today for the first time, Inaki had climbed a more difficult mountain, one which didn’t have as many hand holds, and which was almost completely vertical, with no incline whatsoever.

But in the three weeks of training with Yan, Inaki had become significantly stronger, he was now able to pull himself up without getting completely exhausted. He had really enjoyed today’s climb, even though he was now near passing out.

“Let’s begin our walk back to the city then,” Yan said.

“Give me two minutes, please,” Inaki said through aching breaths. He needed to recover a little bit. Inaki stood up, and straightened his robes. Then the two of them walked back to the city.

It was about the same amount of tiring as the rock climbing itself. Four hours of walking, with trees too dense, and paths too narrow for a cart. Surprisingly, Inaki wasn’t as winded today. His training really was paying off.

“I’ll sign you up now itself,” Yan said, once they reached Inaki’s room. “The first round of fights for the tournament is tomorrow, so be prepared.”

“I will be,” Inaki said.

“You have it in you for a spar before I leave?” Yan said.

“Sure,” Inaki said. “Just give me a few minutes to rest.”

“Oh don’t worry,” Yan said. “It’s not like I am a Sage or anything, and have other things to do, it’s fine.”

“Sorry, just a few seconds,” Inaki said.

Inaki’s spar with Yan went as usual. He always said he fought at an Iron level, but Inaki had a much easier time with the Irons in the training hall than he had with Yan. Inaki spit the dirt out of his mouth and sat up on the grass.

“You’re doing better,” Yan said. “Much better than when I initially started training you.”

“Thank you,” Inaki said.

“I’m confident you’ll be able to stab some sense into my son,” Yan said. He smiled at Inaki and walked out of the gate. “See you, day after tomorrow.”

Inaki collapsed in the grass. He had a few blisters from the rock climbing, and some bruises from the spar. He put one drop of Urima herb solution on all of his wounds. He had a little bruise on his back.

He stretched his hand with the little drop, and tried to reach around his back, but he couldn’t reach the bruise. He jumped around, but the drop fell, and where it fell, the blade of grass grew the tallest there.

This thing is truly potent.

If Inaki survived his duel with Farrow, he knew where he would be heading to right after. I could go back to being a Diamond, with just one full stalk of this herb.

Trish and Nilun came with Inaki’s lunch, and after some small-talk, they left, leaving Inaki alone once again. After finishing his lunch, Inaki took off his dirty robes and looked in the mirror. In just three weeks of training, Inaki had developed some more mass. He was starting to look slightly muscular, not bulky like Yaraval, but lithe. It was probably the Urima herb solution that had been helping him.

He couldn’t help but imagine the possibilities if he had that one stalk. Would he just go back to normal, or would he become even better.

Inaki spent the rest of the day with that thought in his mind, as he read through the newest book that Yaz had given him. It was a shorter book, about a boy in another world, who was born without magical powers in a world where most people had them. The story was about how he gained power and became the strongest man ever. Inaki found the main character interesting, but his favorite character was the main character's blonde haired master, he was very funny.

Inaki woke up the next morning ready to take part in the tournament.

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Farrow was ready. He held his spear in his hand. It was a shame that in the tournament he would have to use a wooden spear with a rubber and cloth spear head, instead of his real spear. But unfortunately, sharp spearheads kill friends too.

Cloth spears didn’t give Farrow the same feel that his real one did, the real balance. He had to use them when sparring, but he used them not because he wanted to, because he had to.

The arena where the duels would be happening was at the other side of the castle, a part more accessible to the public. Farrow walked in, there was a narrow path here, where during the fireworks day shops had been lined up. Now all those stalls had been dismantled, leaving only empty grass. Following the path up to the very end, Farrow arrived at the arena. It wasn’t huge, but big enough to fit everyone who wanted to watch the tournament.

The seating area went up about three stories, with the highest one for the Sage, and his wife. Yan sat there alone. Farrow’s mother had died of an illness some time after the war with the Tomoka, hence Farrow had very little memory of her. Though Yaz still cried about her almost sixteen years later.

Farrow stepped up. There was a special place for the participants to sit when it wasn’t their turn to fight. In this seating area, Farrow saw Inaki.

“They allowed you to compete,” Farrow said, truly shocked.

“Yes,” Inaki said.

“This clan truly has fallen,” Farrow said. “You’re fighting in the Iron tournament too aren’t you?”

“Yes,” Inaki said.

“Then I hope we match up, so I can finish the job a month early,” Farrow said, picking a seat as close to Inaki as possible. Yaz—who was competing as well—sat far away from Inaki. Had she come to her senses after his talk? It seemed unlikely that she would actually listen to him, but Farrow was happy.

“First we shall begin with the eight wooden duels, then the Iron, and at last shall be the Silver duels,” The announcer said. He was a Gold spearman, but his name slipped Farrow’s mind. Everyone else probably knew him. There were so few Golds. “The duels shall be to the points, and the one who surrenders, or gets the lesser points in two minutes loses. Let us begin with the first duel. What is this I see, a swordsman, this is going to be interesting.”

“I call on Inaki-son-Hassai Tomoka, and Yenovar-daughter-Yasso Gael, for the first duel.”

Farrow was interested to see how he would fight against spearmen. After all, this tournament was an opportunity for both of them to observe one another.

“Begin,” The announcer screamed.

Inaki didn’t waste a second. Instantly he closed the distance and struck. Farrow noted down the stance he was using, the Bullstance.

Yenovar raised her spear and blocked, but Inaki was crafty, he feinted a kick to the shin, she tried to move her leg back, but failed, and Inaki used the distraction to land a clean hit on her shoulder.

He’s definitely above Wooden level. Farrow thought. He made quick work of Yenovar after that, scoring a whopping ten points, and losing only three in two minutes.

“You seem to be doing much better than when we last fought,” Farrow said. “I guess that happens when my father chooses to help my opponent instead of me.”

“Thank you,” Inaki said. He didn’t open his mouth after that, which seemed strange. Farrow didn’t pay attention to the rest of the fights, he couldn’t care less. Instead in Farrow’s mind Inaki’s fight was replaying. He was fast, and that was his strength. Unfortunately when the duels are with wooden swords or spears, speed matters more, since killing your opponent is not the goal.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Inaki was still extremely strong, definitely above the Wooden level on both his speed and strength, but he made a few stupid mistakes. He left himself open, or tripped on his own feet. He was fast, but not dexterous enough to maintain it.

In Farrow’s mind a duel against Inaki played out. Inaki would instantly leap at Farrow. Farrow would block with the top of his spear, then hit him in the chest with the back of his spear. Inaki would fall back, and then Farrow would stab him in the chest. A quick easy duel. Farrow licked his lips, growing impatient for the duel. But even more than the two month dead-line, Farrow needed to wait for the Tomoka to arrive.

Farrow had sent news to Tomoka, and didn’t know why Hassai was taking so long to appear. He had expected that he would be in Gael by the end of the first week.

Maybe he’s not in Tomoka, Farrow thought.

“Come on, Farrow-son-Yan Gael, and Irouk-son-Gnor Gael,” The announcer yelled. “Farrow-son-Yan Gael.” The announcer yelled again. It shook Farrow out of his thoughts. He didn’t even know how many duels had passed.

Irouk was a giant, much taller than Farrow, and much bulkier?

“Begin,” The announcer yelled. Farrow stood there, giving Irouk the opportunity to rush at him.

“You’re the one who nearly became a Silver this year right,” Farrow said.

“Yes,” Irouk said, thrusting his spear at Farrow. Farrow simply stepped to the side. He forced the butt of his spear down on the ground, and jumped up into the air. He stabbed down at Irouk.

Farrow missed, and Irouk jumped out of the way. He had failed the Rain of Spears technique. Farrow cursed himself, but didn’t lose focus. He landed on his feet and swung his spear, Irouk jumped, but he changed the arc of his spear mid-swing. Using all the strength in his body, Farrow turned the swing into a stab and hit Irouk—who was still in the air—right in the shin.

He fell back to the ground. Farrow took the chance and leaped forward and unleashed a barrage of thrusts. He got twenty points. Blood began leaking from Irouk’s mouth, but Farrow kept on collecting points. Thirty points, thirty-five.

Finally, he raised his hand, and gave up. Farrow stepped back because he was honorable.

“Winner, Farrow,” The announcer said.

Farrow stepped back. He had won, but the disappointment he felt in himself was immeasurable. He had failed the Rain of Spears technique once again, and that too in front of an audience.

“You fought well, grandon,” Nayan said in Farrow’s mind.

“No, I messed up the technique. I am sorry for being a disappointment” Farrow said, out loud by accident, staring at the image of his grandfather. Inaki seemed to perk up when he said it.

Farrow sat down, and Inaki continued looking at him.

“What are you staring at,” Farrow said. “Do I look too much like Yaz?”

“No,” Inaki said. “Sorry.”

Farrow did not focus on the fights, until Inaki’s second duel came up. Let’s see, if he’s truly the level of an Iron.

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Inaki stood up.

He felt like he was about to throw up, but he clutched his wooden sword in hand. He looked back at Farrow. He had been looking at an empty chair when he was talking, and what he was saying.

Could he be like me? Inaki wondered.

“Inaki-son-Hassai and Yenife-daughter-Yasso Gael,” Tarid—the announcer—said.

Inaki stepped up onto the raised platform where the duels took place with his sword clutched way too tight. He looked around at all of the people and felt his anxiety rise up to his mouth. He swallowed the bile that had entered his throat.

“I guess I am going to have to avenge my sister,” Yenife said, as she stood, ready to fight Inaki.

“Or lose like her,” Inaki said, trying to act cocky to hide his anxiety. Yenife looked much like her sister, except she had long hair and was somehow even more muscular.

“Begin,” Tarid yelled.

Inaki stood in the Bullstance and rushed forward, using the Bull’s Charge. Yenife was expecting that, which is why instead of using the same strike he had used in his fight against Yenovar, Inaki feinted a sword strike once he closed the gap.

She moved her spear to block, but there was nothing for her to block. Inaki kicked at her shin, she jumped up. Inaki threw himself to the ground to dodge a strike from the butt of her spear, then jumped back up.

“How are you still a Wooden,” Yenife said. She thrust her spear at him, and Inaki tried his best to block or dodge, but Yenife was ten times faster than any of the Woodens. He moved his sword to block a thrust, but it was a feint, instead she jumped forward with the support of her spear and kicked Inaki in the stomach.

Inaki fell back, but he blocked the next spear strike while writhing on the ground. He jumped onto his feet and charged, slashing at Yenife’s neck. She easily blocked, she swung down at Inaki, hitting him on the shoulder.

He didn’t know how much time had passed since their duel began, but he knew he didn’t have much. After losing one point, Inaki went on a frenzy. Bullstance was particularly good at this strategy. He unleashed a barrage of strikes, and she blocked every one.

Inaki stepped forward and feinted a stab at her chest, she blocked with her spear, but there was nothing to block. Inaki jumped forward and slashed, and hit her right on the side of her neck—of course he had been gentle enough with the strike not to cause any real damage. She stepped back coughing. Inaki took that opportunity, and rushed forward. He landed another strike on her shoulder.

He had gained the lead in points. Yenife struck at Inaki with renewed vigor. In the face of loss she became much faster, and Inaki tried to keep up. He was pushed back.

He had allowed too much distance to form, and now getting closer would be impossible for him. She swung her spear at him, Inaki tried to block but the spear was filled with so much energy that Inaki’s sword flew out of his hands. It felt at the edge of the arena. If it had fallen out, Inaki would have instantly forfeit the duel.

Inaki tried to move towards his sword, but she stopped him from doing it. Inaki was forced to step the other way. He grabbed her spear and landed a punch to her stomach. She stepped back, grabbing her spear out of Inaki’s grasp, the punch seeming to have no effect. She stabbed at Inaki, but he was successful in angling himself in the direction, to where he only had to jump back a few times to retrieve his sword.

Inaki still only had two points, because only a strike from the weapon counted as a point. Inaki ran away trying to close the distance, he was falling miserably, but he was at least blocking. The two of them were locked in a stalemate now. She swung again, but this time Inaki dodged instead of trying to block.

Inaki closed the distance, and at kicked her shin, but she was expecting that. She moved her leg back and where Inaki’s foot was now, she drove her foot down. She shoved her spear into Inaki’s stomach. Inaki’s body flared up in pain, and he thought he was going to vomit. He doubled over, pretending he was going to vomit, but then leaped forward, and struck her on her side.

They once again entered a stalemate of attacking and defending, but that was until Tarid yelled, “Time over. By the very narrow margin of 3-2, Inaki has won the duel.”

“That was fun,” Yenife said.

“It was,” Inaki said. “Better luck avenging your sister next time.”

Inaki rushed back to his seat, where he saw that Farrow was deep in thought. Inaki observed as the Iron duels went on. He even cheered for Trish, Nilun and Yaz, who all won their respective duels.

Then came the duel of the Silvers. The first duel happened between two people who Inaki didn’t know, but it was a pretty interesting one. A close duel like Inaki and Yenife’s. Then came the second duel, the one that Inaki was most interested in seeing.

Farrow stepped down to the platform. His opponent was a Silver named Eris. He looked like most of the Gael men, tall and stocky, with short blonde hair.

Inaki focused, as their fight began. Just as the fight began Farrow once again tried that technique of his, the Rain of Spears, and once again, it failed. This time, it caused him a point, because while he didn’t get a hit from the ground, his opponent did hit him while he was in the air.

Farrow fell to the ground. His opponent rushed at him, but while still on the ground, Farrow blocked, and stabbed forward, hitting the man in the chest and scoring a point. Farrow jumped up to his feet, and stabbed forward at Eris’ chest. Eris stepped to the side, and slammed his spear towards Farrow’s face.

Farrow moved his head and swung his spear out. He hit his opponent in the chest, who fell back. Farrow stepped forward, but his opponent didn’t look affected.

“How are you still Iron,” Eris’ said out loud.

“Not for long,” Farrow said. He stepped forward and unleashed a barrage on Eris. Both of them were evenly matched. The two of them turned into blurs, Inaki could barely keep track of their match now. It was good there was a Gold judge, because Inaki couldn’t tell who had scored what points anymore.

Inaki tried to keep up, but their spears were flying at nearly the speed of sound, with loud swishing in the air as they stabbed.

Farrow stepped forward and stabbed his spear into the man’s thigh. He buckled down, as Farrow was about to stab him in the chest, Eris thrust his spear into Farrows chin. Farrow fell back, and he lost three points in succession. Eris hit Farrow in the face, and blood began leaking through his nose.

The first real injury in this tournament. Everyone knew this was mostly for fun, and while they fought with all of their skill, they made sure not to hurt the other. These two were a different story.

Inaki squinted, and realized that both the combatants were covered in bruises. How many points had they each scored?

Farrow lunged forward, he leaped into the air using his spear as a pole vault, he landed a kick on the man’s face.

Eris fell over and landed down, Farrow’s foot still on his face. Everyone heard the loud crack. Farrow stabbed the man in the chest a few times. Then lifted his foot off Eris’ face, revealing a bloody mess.

“Winner, Farrow,” Tarid yelled out, then ran to make sure Eris was okay. Inaki observed Farrow talking to himself once again as he walked back to his chair.

He was too fast, too strong. Inaki didn’t know how he would be able to defeat him. The gap between them was as wide as the desert between the Province and the other lands.

Farrow looked at Inaki and smiled through bloody lips.

Inaki didn’t know how he would be able to catch up.