Thane

As the sun just rose above the horizon the birds chirped to each other signalling the start of the morning. Still groggy from after being awakened by the birds I gradually adjusted my vision, rubbing away the crust in my eyes. Only after doing so I made my way through the bedroom; I slowly walk across the room doing my best to avoid the hay from the beds as to not wake my younger brother and sisters. Only after successfully crossing the room into the kitchen I breath big but quiet sigh of relief.

“Morning, Thane.”

Short and to the point my dad gives his usual greeting to me. I return the greeting and skip the chatter and continue our routine. He had made his morning breakfast was quick to leave to gather logs. I did the same making extra for the younger ones leaving just as fast as my father went to make my rounds doing my job delivering firewood and charcoal to everyone in the village. Leaving the house, I eyes blinded by the sudden light of the sun I begin to make my way up the leaf-covered path. I pant heavily as I make my way up the hill. It never gets easier for me. Struggling The sound of the villagers waking up and starting their day gets louder with each step that I take. As I reach the entrance I stand still watching. The village looks poor and almost run down but I like listening to the village as it comes to life. The breadwinners for each respective family leave their houses one by one and while their spouses chatter spreading gossip, they had heard the day before. This scene is simple pleasure of mine, it gives a sense of wonder and fulfilment I can’t describe. Though I can’t stand all day here and enjoy it I begin delivering the firewood and charcoal to those who had ordered the day before. As I make my deliveries. I engage in the usual pleasantries.

“How you are doing today?”

“How are your brothers and sisters?”

And

“Working hard ain't ya?”

I respond chatting only long enough to complete my delivery. I then excuse myself from the conversation. I repeat this till I reach Ezra’s house. I knock on the door. Only to hear his mom from the side garden attached to the house. Walking through the garden gate over to the front door.

“Morning Thane, doing deliveries again?”

“Yes, you know my father, not the type to talk or make conversation. It’s all work and no talk.”

“I know that very well. What about siblings why don’t you bring them along?”

“It's a little too early for them to work just yet.”

“Ah speaking of work.”

She opens the door and yells into the house. Frightening the nearby animals.

“EZRA GET YOU SORRY BEHIND OUT AND TO SCHOOL!”

Ezra’s mother was as scary as always; contrary to her gentle demeanour upon first impressions. A clearly startle Ezra stumbles out of the house. We exchange greetings as quick as possible and make our way to school. Joining into the crowd of kids walking down the main road

“Come on man get yourself together.”

“Easy for you to say. I don’t have to stamina or the body strength to survive daily training. Every time I get home I can hardly bring myself to do any of the chores.”

I’m sure most people our class would disagree, but Ezra was small for a 12-year-old and it didn’t help that he stood out more with his short black hair and dark brown eyes which were uncommon around here.

“You just need to get used to it.”

“Whatever.”

We leave for school and while we're walking Ezra continues to complain about the physical exercise we were made to do the day before yesterday. Though he wasn’t like this before when we first met. He talked very little and often hid whenever I came near him. Now it's different, he has opened up a bit to me.

“Well look who it is, it’s our favourite fatherless friend Ezra.”

I turn to see Bardon and his group of followers standing in front of the school and make their way through the crowd of kids just to cut off our path. I see Ezra shoulder slump making him appear smaller, and I move in front Ezra blocking them.

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“Don’t you have anything else to do with your time Bardon.”

Bardon was a big kid and his body showed it too. You could tell that he trained a lot. Though his defining feature would be his personality and his long brown hair.

“Shut up you.”

“Oh come on, you don’t have any other comebacks other than shut up.”

“Shu…. Whatever prepare yourself. If we get paired today I'm gonna kick your ass in sparring. Just wait, you and Mc Fatherless are gonna get it.”

Stifling the urge to laugh at him I grab Ezra by the arm and lead him past Bardon and his lackeys and into the school.

“Sorry Thane...”

“Why are you apologizing?”

“But.”

“Listen I'm your friend I'm going to be there for you.”

Ezra gives a tiny smile and we both make our way to our first class and waited till it was time for sparring. Everyone at the school stood in one big group as we waited for instructions from our instructors As everyone was being paired up I waited for my partner for sparring. Then by some strange fate, I get partnered with Bardon.

“Well, then I guess today is the day I beat your ass.”

“Well, you can try.”

As we were led into the fenced enclosure that we used a sparring arena. Both of us ready our practice swords and stare down each other as we get into our fighting stances.

“All right here are the rules of the match: Any attacks made with the intent to seriously injure or scar your opponents are not allowed and the round ends when your opponent admits defeat or when I determine one of you can no longer fight, okay.”

We both nod in agreement with the rules

“Alright begin!”

The instructor made a chop in the air, signalling the start of the fight. Immediately after we both rush at each other. Bardon starts off with a feinted with a downward strike into a horizontal one. Which I then immediately parry and prepare a counter aimed at his left shoulder. He jumps back attempting to avoiding my practice sword. I didn’t get a clean hit but I felt a bit of resistance from my weapon.

“Is that all you got Thane!”

Despite the impression he gives off when most people first meet him, he is a very talented swordsman. The only downside is his personality.

“Come at me!”

We both rush back swords now locked together, he continues his taunts. He would be a better fighter than me if he just learns to shut up, and watch his opponents rather than taunt them constantly.

I pull my sword back and try to attack again, but Bardon landed a heavy blow to my side before me. Though despite hitting me I pressed on with my attack, with me hitting him on the left shoulder. A loud pop could be heard and Bardon kneels down.

“That all, stop the fight.”

I relax my body and kneel down in front of Bardon.

“Sorry I didn’t mean to hit so hard.”

“Man Shut up, I lost that there was to it. I'll win the next time.”

After we both left the practice field and the class continued on. With everyone done with there was only the last match is Ezra and one of Bardon’s lackeys. Ezra is shy and cowardly with almost everyone besides a select few people. The fight went about expected of Ezra with him avoiding all direct hits rarely attacking his opponent. By the end of the fight, he had lost, not being able to land enough hits while receiving every hit. He tries despite how much he complains about training, that's what like about him.

I lend Ezra my shoulder and we both take a walk to the village doctor. I knock on the door and call out to see if anyone was in.

“Excuse me, anyone there?”

I hear footsteps on faintly on the other side of the door and they gradually getting louder until the door opens. In the doorway is Alma the doctor's daughter, I assume she isn’t surprised to see Ezra here.

“I was expecting you, come on in sit down. I’ll get the medicine ready.”

Alma leads us in and I help Ezra onto a chair.

“My fathers out right now, but I can do the treatment instead.”

“As Usual.”

Ezra is an easy person to read if you look closely. It’s clear that he likes her. Well, most kids our age would just be based on her appearance alone. Having straight blonde hair and piercing blue eyes she looked like an angel descended onto Materia.

“Here is the usual ointments Ezra, it’s time after time with you. How do you manage to keep this up? Why don’t you try doing something else.”

“... It’s because I want to try to be better.”

“Hmmm. Alright then rest up here, then you should be fine by the end of the day.”

I always think to myself and everyone probably thinks it too. It is amazing how quickly and effective the medicine Alma and her dad make. Especially Alma I often find medicine from her is faster at healing.

“I guess I should be going.”

I don’t want to intrude on their alone time. On the way out I see Bardon off in the distance. He sees me and rushes over to me.

“Our fight isn’t over yet I challenge you.”

I look down at his arm in a sling

“With that arm?”

“Yeah… Wait No! In a few days, I’ll challenge you to a duel at midnight. We will meet at the shallow river right outside the village.”

“Okay, then I will win as always.”

“Not this time you won’t.”