THAT DAY I BECAME A STAR

Frankher now comes as well, followed by Elizabeth. I can see Cordel getting off the stage and the others coming down from the podium behind them.

"Tch." The guy releases Sulivan who falls to the ground and starts coughing heavily.

"Hey, I want to fight you, man. A fight to the death, with no referee, no nothing. Winner takes all. What do you say?"

Who is this guy? He doesn't mind Frankher's stare or the current atmosphere at all.

"I will pass."

"Oh, come on, man.. Don't make me beg. I know you want it as well. To see the color, the smell, the taste of my blood! To hear my screams as we tear each other apart!"

His eyes roll over and he starts breathing heavily. The fuck?!

"No seriously, I will pass."

"No, come on!! Is it because they are here? Then we can go outside. I swear you won't regret it. I will-"

"You are dead!... Cough! Cough! You…you hear me?!"

Sulivan painfully stands up and threatens the man while coughing. But like he doesn't care, he just keeps staring at me, waiting for another answer.

"There won't be any more fights here or with my students. You have lost and therefore, I advise you to leave before I am forced to make you."

Frankher seems to have gotten irritated by this guy's attitude. He is staring with such intensity even I feel weird.

"Why is there such a killjoy here? Anyway, when you will be free. Come by TELORIA, in Nivalneilm. We will be waiting."

We? The guy goes away while leaving a sinister and cold laugh in the air. Who the fuck was that?

***

After the man is gone, everyone went sitting back down. Only Cordel and Sulivan stayed on the stage. Aspen, Smith, Frankher, and Elizabeth are on another stage. Elizabeth's eyes are red and teary. I stayed where I initially was.

"Hmph-hmph. And now, the verdict. Elizabeth. One last time. Can you tell us all here who assaulted you?"

"I…" She looks at me again, then at Sulivan. He does a weird sign with his hand and Elizabeth's tears finally start falling.

"It… it was."

"It won't change anything, you know?" It's time to bring reality back to her.

I advance to their stage and stand right in front of it.

"Whether you will tell the truth or not. It won't change anything. I will still survive. Because unlike you I am strong. Your children will still die because unlike me, they are weak. You will still live in guilt because you made the wrong choice."

"Then what?!!! What I can do?!! How could you know what is the right answer?"

"Hey, stop bothering her and return to your seat!"

Aspen comes down from the stage and holds my hand. But he doesn't manage to drag me away.

"Smith, help me already!"

Teacher smith starts walking as well, though very slowly.

"Even if you do as he asks, he will still kill them because they are proofs of his guilt. And in the end, he will kill you as well, because you have no more use for him. Is this really what you want? Is this really how you want your life to end?"

"I told you to shut up!"

Aspen brandishes his staff and strikes my head. My right eye starts seeing red a little.

"Stop it!! Stop judging me!! I don't have a choice!! What else can I do?!!"

"You can fight back! Say what needs to be said so that you won't ever walk with your head low again. Make the choice that you won't ever regret. No matter how people will look at you."

Finally, Smith comes down the stage as well but I leave without him saying anything. I did what I had to. Show me your resolve now.

"So, Elizabeth?"

"I…Headmaster. I…" Her tears just won't stop. Her face is so red and flushed you could think she has the flu. Even her nose is running.

Elizabeth trembles like a leaf. She tries to open her mouth but can't speak. Well, at least, you really seem to love your children. I suppose you are a good parent then.

I whistle and K'nor enters the training grounds. Everybody looks at him when he does. He looks so majestuous, so dignified right now I don't believe he is my own. There are no more traces of blood on his mouth. He must have licked it all. The two children still haven't woken up, it seems. They are still on his back, covered by my coat.

"What kind of beasts is that?"

"Where did he find such a monster?"

"What is that on his back?"

"It's only natural he is a monster if he has such a beast with him."

People's whispers arise and as K'nor reaches me, lots of people start focusing on me.

I carry the children and remove the coat off them. Two little boys of five and six years. They are sleeping soundly like they didn't care about the whole world.

"IMPOSSIBLE!!!" Sulivan's scream reveals to the whole crowd what had to be known.

"I can't…I can't believe it!" Elizabeth falls to her knees and starts crying even more.

I slap the cheek o the children and they both wake up. Fuuu... I thought they might have been under a script or something.

"Kyaa!!"

Only, they both scream as soon as they wake up, seeing my blood-covered face and K'nor might be the reason. They crawl away from me with a scarred face and then start looking around. As soon as their eyes meet their mother's figure, kneeling and crying on the stage. Her children's voice resounds in everyone's ears.

"MOMMY!!"