First Taste of Blood

To reach her destination, she must travel to neutral territory at the very end of the slums. This area was under the supervision of Bailekhwams military patrol day and night to ensure peace between the trade sector and the slums. Bailekhwam separates into three parts; Staimnad to the south houses the port and the craftsmen. Serasok, where we are, and Gatais, to the upper west side, where the nobles and upper class live. The military admission test is held at the point between the three and is open to any male above the age of twelve. The age requirement has always been sixteen until the Zalisthia crown lowered it eight years ago at the start of the war against the demonic nation. Since then, children have been signing themselves off to war younger and younger for various reasons; mostly due to societal pressure on men and Zalisthia's sunken economy.

She arrives late and has little time to prepare. Neutral ground, which has famously been dubbed "Gatais poor project," Isn't neutral at all. It's covered from head to toe in pristine white brick and controlled shrubbery. A path of tax money, purely for the cosmetic benefit of the nobles and Gatais; most of which clouded by large masses of people, an odd combination of common and noble folk. All of them looking to appease their families and quell their shallow egos with empty metals. Xiao had vastly underestimated the sheer amount of people that would be looking to fight for their country. Fidgeting anxiously, doubting if her skills were even capable of making the cut.

A long journey ahead of her and it appeared as though she would be shot down from the very beginning. Her fears were completely unfounded. After observing match after match of nobles and commoners alike, struggle with the weight of their swords, barely producing enough reinforcement elemental magic to kill a bug she was appalled. If this was the strength of her future comrades she would be dead before she even made any leeway towards her plans. especially concerning was the number of incompetent nobles, despite having ample access to teachers and expensive books. She began noticing that many of the flaws she perceived ended up being a result of the fighter choosing a flashier weapon or spell. Even the commoners participated, wanting desperately to prove their manhood in a childish way to the onlooking nobles. Still, there were some noteworthy men. Particularly some swordsmen from upper Gatai and a few, more experienced fighters that used scrappy knives, the ones she could tell were from Serasok, still too rough around the edges for staimnad.

When xiao crept up to the front and got shoved into the circle of civilians, she felt like a sheep among wolves, looked upon, judged; as their eyes gazed upon her. Pitying her, doubting her, looking at the rags and her slim figure surely knowing where she was from, and what that meant of her, as she had done to them. She couldn't let that be all she was. All she was ever meant to be. She looked upon the man she was meant to fight. Lean teen boy, Staimnad or low Gatai, He looked at her like she had no chance. Smug with the knowledge that he had already won. Laughs erupted from the crowd, some slime of the earth finding this amusing.

The guard, drained and apathetic, ready to return home and enjoy a cigar after a long day. "There's only one rule, Incapacitate them and you win, you may Start." It only takes an instant before Xiao launches herself forward, using her mana as leverage. Her staimnad is taken aback, though unfazed. He quickly regains his footing in time for her to come down on his sword. In a battle of strength, Xiao knows she cannot win, weak and underfed, the bread from yesterday was her only meal in days. Taking an agile step backward, she regains her composure. Xiao knows if she doesn't win she's trapped here, Sweat trickles down her arms. The salty air of Bailekhwam suffocates her. She has to get out of here.