Unlike other festivals and celebrations, the villagers did not give a special name to the event when the young hunters and warriors publicly demonstrated their skills. Villagers called it a tournament, a contest, or a trial. Tao got the impression that this was not a long-established folk tradition, but something that the villagers had invented themselves. Perhaps that is why nobody minded that something changed every year.
Previously, people stood in small groups around the field where the skills were demonstrated. This year, the field was fenced off with wooden stakes to prevent the large crowd of spectators from getting too close. Carts were brought from the village to distribute snacks and drinks. The Tao also smelled freshly baked white flour bread and skewered meat. Musical instruments were played nearby to entertain the crowd.
It no longer looks like a test of skills. More of an entertainment event, Tao made a judgment.
He couldn't imagine the stress for the young people who had to demonstrate their skills to a crowd of several hundred people.
Although Inya was just over a year old, her parents decided that she was old enough to watch the trial. Tao remembered that he was also that age when he first saw his father demonstrating his archery skills. It didn't seem to be the norm, at least the boy didn't see many other children that age. As he studied the children among the spectators, something else occurred to him.
As could be expected, no one else brought dolls... Tao still felt discontentment about the rag doll in his hand.
As if in response to his thoughts, the doll's body vibrated slightly.
The boy threw a quick glance at his mother and older sister. When Tao was sure that he was not being paid attention to, he put the doll closer to his ear.
"What is it?" He asked quietly.
"Hold me higher, face forward, so I can see." Eleya's voice was just as quiet.
The boy sighed and moved the doll in front of him, pressing it to his chest with his hand. It wasn't very comfortable, and it made it easier for people around him to see exactly what Tao had brought with him. The only consolation was that most people did not pay attention to him.
Unfortunately, not all.
As Sofra broke through the crowd, she met Reyte, who came closer to talk. She soon noticed a toy in the boy’s hand.
"Tao brought a friend with him today?" Reyte smiled.
Although the woman's gaze said, 'Oh, how adorable,' Tao lowered his head and turned the other way.
"Yes... he's guarding a princess." Sofra's voice had a similar tone.
Please, stop... Tao could only pray to himself.
Fortunately, the women didn't discuss the boy's behavior for long and turned to other things as they headed closer to the competition field. To prevent the children from getting lost among the people, Reyte helped by holding Safia and Tao's hands.
"I heard that there will be a lot more participants this time. Think you'll manage?" she asked her friend.
"There aren't that many young people who will have a trial. From what I understand, there will be more skill demonstrations by experienced ones, so I hope we will get through without any injuries... and we have noble Neter with us this time." Sofra responded.
"Yes, I saw that he had already arrived. It certainly put me more at ease... I just hope the hotheads don't rely on it too much and take unnecessary risks."
"Indres and the others certainly warned them to be wise."
"That's good, but still... so many people, and not only from the villages around but also from the city... some people can lose guts, can't they?"
With spring came even more new families to the village, so it was no surprise that Tao didn't recognize many of the faces. But he also noticed several people around him wearing cloth made of a more durable material, which they usually wore on longer journeys.
"Speaking of guests... do you know anyone who has come from Vestra or Reivette? Villages that are further away from us?" Sofra turned the conversation in a different direction.
"No, not really... I heard that Hanye had guests from far away yesterday, but I have no idea where they're from."
"Hanye... Good, I'll ask."
"Why the interest?" Reyte glared at her friend.
"Nothing, I just want to know the news from other places."
Tao was aware that her mother was planning to keep her promise to Neter and gather information. He wanted to know more himself, so he praised Sofra in his thoughts.
With Reyte's help, Sofra and the children reached the edge of the field, where they could see the youngsters and adult gatekeepers and hunters alike contorting their bodies to warm up for the upcoming event. It looked like there were more than 50 people on the field in total, more than half of them adults who had passed the trial sometime in the past. Nevertheless, some of them looked as nervous as the young people, probably because of the large crowd.
No one had as impressive plate armor as the knights of the Temple who came to destroy the evil in the tower last year. Still, to see such a large group of armed people made the boy's heart beat faster with anticipation.
At first, Tao couldn't find his father until he noticed that Indres was at the other end of the field, in a separate enclosure, looking after a group of hunting dogs, including Sigi. Sofra waved her hand to get his attention. Safia also started to wring her hands, but more energetically, even jumping. When Indres noticed this, he also waved his hand in response. Tao thought he also noticed a sort of smile on his father's lips, seeing his daughter's eager greeting.
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On the edge of the field, but within the area marked out by stakes, were several wooden benches where Neter, his assistants, and some of the village elders sat. In previous years, Sofra and also Indres had allowed the eldest children to sit beside them when they were performing their medical duties. This time was different.
"Tao, Safia - stay with aunty Reyte, yes? You will be able to see everything from here. Mum will sit over there." Sofra pointed to the benches.
Safia wasn't very happy, but she obeyed her mother's will. Tao also felt surprised. Although his parents had sometimes entrusted other adults to look after the children, this was the first time it had happened outside the village, with many strangers around. Although the boy considered Reyte a trustworthy person, the thought that his parents would not keep an eye on him for a long time in the middle of a crowd was unpleasant. Tao did not understand his feelings, but did not express them aloud either, just nodded his head in agreement.
Inya, apparently too young to be away from her mother for a long time, was still able to enjoy the privilege of sitting with Sofra near noble Neter and the other important viewers.
You want to grow up faster, but when you start to be treated like an older one, you wish it was like before... Tao could only laugh at his conflicted heart as he looked at his mother’s back.
A loud trumpet blast drowned out the noise of the crowd and the playing of other musical instruments. It was a signal that it was time to start the trial. The crowd concentrated on what was happening on the field, although they continued to enjoy the snacks and drinks.
Tao noticed that the number of candidates was even higher this year - 8 hunters and 12 warriors.
The village is indeed growing bigger... and not just from immigrants, Tao concluded.
Although Sofra was just over 20 years old, she already had three children. Most other families had even more children - five or six seemed to be the norm, sometimes more than 10. Tao reasoned that the number of children and teenagers in the village could be close to the number of adults. At the same time, the child mortality rate was low. At least in recent years, the village had not been hit by plague or famine. Sofra's medicine seemed to be quite advanced, and in serious cases, people could turn to a healer with supernatural powers. Tao therefore did not doubt that next year there would be no shortage of people wanting to become hunters and warriors. The boy could already see many teenagers in the front rows, watching the tournament with keen interest.
The start was quite similar to previous years. The hunter and soldier candidates demonstrated their normal skills either in target shooting or in duels. An experienced hunter and soldier then demonstrated the use of these techniques together with the spirit power and offered the most skillful of the youngsters to repeat it.
Given that Indres and other adults had been especially helpful to the young people's preparation this year, Tao had expected something more spectacular than in previous years but was disappointed. Two youngsters successfully pierced a wooden target with an arrow and four others managed to cut or pierce a wooden block with a melee weapon, but none seemed as impressive as Arwain or the skillful guy with the spear from last year's competition. The crowd seemed entertained enough though, with the onlookers shouting cheers and applauding the winners. Perhaps the alcoholic beverages and snacks helped to improve the mood.
Two warrior candidates trying to break wooden blocks, unfortunately, failed to use their spirit power skillfully enough and injured themselves. Sofra attended to them, but it didn't seem to be anything serious. However, another guy managed to get a sword slash in the face. Although the blade of the weapon was dull, the blow seemed to be solid, blood gushed and the injured guy fell to the ground. The combat judge immediately rushed to his aid, as did Sofra and Neter. The audience expressed surprise but did not seem too disturbed. Even younger children like Safia rather looked at what was happening with curiosity. Perhaps because he had been in a dangerous situation before, Tao was also able to stay calm. Apparently, the injury was serious enough that selesti had to invoke the blessing for healing.
Despite his last unsuccessful attempt to contact the light spirits, Tao felt tempted to try again. Although the thought was only in the boy's mind, the doll in his hand shook as if it had instinctively sensed that Tao was going astray again. The boy felt his desire to do something was waning. He didn't want to upset Eleya again.
Fortunately, the wounded guy did not seem to be irreparably mutilated. Thanks to Neter's healing, the wound on the young warrior’s face had closed and he was able to get up and walk, although he could no longer participate in the tournament. Sofra then wiped his blood and smeared a strong-smelling ointment on the wound.
This was the second time Tao saw the healing blessing in action. On both occasions, the wound did not disappear completely, so perhaps there were limitations to this power. Or the healer was just saving his strength and healed only as much as was needed? It would be worth befriending the spirits of light if only to learn this ability. It was far superior to a similar skill that Eleya had taught.
Once again, the forest spirit seemed to sense what Tao was thinking. The doll in the boy's hands began to move, reaching closer to his face. Tao didn't quite like it, but he hoped that outsiders wouldn't notice or would think it was the boy who was moving the doll.
"Listen! You haven't mentioned Reflesh for a long time. Have you lost the desire to learn the skills of a warrior?" Eleya asked.
Because of the crowd noise, the forest spirit's voice could barely be heard, so Tao wasn't worried that Reyte or Safia would overhear him.
"I remember... but learning to sense the spirits is more important." He spoke with caution.
Eleya was able to use spirit power to alter living tissue in ways she desired, such as creating her own miniature body out of plants. The forest spirit called this skill 'Reflesh' and began teaching it when Tao complained of pain in his joints and muscle ligaments after doing a lot of blows and kicks with spirit power.
Full-fledged Reflesh seemed incredibly difficult for a mortal to learn in a lifetime. Tao could not simply concentrate spirit power in his joints and will them to become more enduring. Eleya taught him the very basics, namely how to accelerate the natural regeneration of cells by the spirit power. If Tao used this ability after physical training, injured tissues in joints and muscle ligaments would recover faster and become stronger. The problem was that during this process the pain in the joints became more severe, and it took a long time, several hours. Too long to heal serious injuries before bleeding to death.
Tao decided it wasn't worth it, at least for now.
He was not completely open about his reasons, though. The boy had only started to learn the ability to sense spirits in the last few months. His desire to learn and use Reflesh had subsided much earlier for the simple reason that it required him to endure pain regularly.
Maybe later... when I'm older and my body is more fit for physical activity... Tao told himself.
It reminded him of his past life, when, at the age of 35, his belly started to become rounder. Several times he had resolved to start physical exercises, but never 'found the time'. Who knows, maybe better physical health would have led to a different outcome when he became seriously ill...
Eleya did not ask any more questions, so the boy put these unpleasant thoughts aside and continued to watch the event, which did not stop after the demonstration of the youngsters' abilities. In fact, the most interesting part was yet to come.
***