After a refreshing, cool bath, Edith dressed himself modestly and combed through his messy, wet hair with care.
Taking the set of clothes he'd specially prepared for today, he called out, "Mother! I'm leaving!"
His mother had been preparing food when she heard his voice. With a gentle smile, the blue-eyed woman replied, "Take care, Ed. And all the best! Enjoy the festival!"
"Yes, mother! Take care!"
Edith set off toward Old Pal, but first he needed to make a detour to the village school. He wanted to walk together with Horus, his best friend.
Along the way, he encountered many children his age heading toward the hill. They were all dressed similarly—not in the design of their attire, but in how purposefully they'd prepared themselves.
Their sleeveless tunics and long trousers, with white cloth wrapped around their waists, gave them the appearance of well-trained soldiers. Though their clothing was uniform, their expressions varied dramatically.
Some smiled brightly, happy and eager to fight in today's competition, while others wore solemn faces, their brows creased with sharp resoluteness burning in their eyes.
Edith understood them all, though. After all, today's fights would decide who got sent to the city for a proper education.
Even more than the education itself, many of his friends simply yearned to escape the village! They craved adventure, thrills, and the joy of roaming the world beyond.
Having been confined to the village since birth, the children longed to see what lay outside their borders. Perhaps, if not for the occasional caravans traveling between village and city, they would have remained completely oblivious to the world beyond.
Watching the children stream toward Old Pal, Edith couldn't help but recall a conversation he'd had with Horus just days earlier.
***
"Why do you wanna leave?! It's fun here, isn't it? Playing with me, Ren, and all the others, racing to Old Pal's summit, swimming in Vapour Lake and all. Well, more like drowning, but you get the point! Why do you wanna go to the city?"
"You already know, Ed. I spend all day here at school— cleaning, doing laundry, running other errands. You and the others come to keep me company, and I love the time I spend with you all. But it's just that I- I find this school can't teach me anything more. I'm leaving for the city to learn at a better place and hopefully get stronger too."
Horus continued, "The work I'll have to do there won't be any more draining than here. But if the things I get to learn are even slightly better, then I'll always be happy to leave."
"But you don't even know if what they teach there is really that good or not! You're just hoping the city will be a better place!"
"Even if I'm just hoping for that, you and I both know how lacking the village is, don't we?"
Edith fixed his friend with a solemn gaze, a frown creasing his face. Then a glint of understanding flickered in his eyes as he slowly nodded.
***
"Well, I wish him luck. Too bad I don't want to leave Ren behind, otherwise I would've gone with him as well."
"On second thought, maybe I wouldn't have been able to go with him anyway. The village can only afford to send four people, after all."
"This year's crop hasn't been harvested yet and the caravan would be coming soon. We're gonna be so busy."
Lost in his thoughts, Edith had already reached the school. There in the yard, he spotted a boy slightly taller than himself.
Grey hair croened his head, and his gaze carried a hint of aloofness. His complexion was fair, his face compelling enough to make one want to keep looking.
The smile that usually adorned the boy's features was missing now, though. That was Edith's best friend, Horus.
The boy had been carrying water pots inside. Spotting this, Edith mentally prepared himself, smiled and then, tiptoed into the yard, pressing himself against the wall beside the door. He hoped to startle his friend. As Horus stepped outside, Edith shouted:
"Booooo!"
Horus flinched sideways, his back hitting the wall.
"Hahahahaha! Finally!! Finally!!!"
Edith erupted in gleeful laughter.
Horus instantly understood what had happened. His lips curved into the familiar smile that usually graced his face.
"You gave me a fright."
His voice remained calm and composed, his pace unhurried.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I just couldn't help myself!" Edith said, placing his hand on his friend's shoulder. Then, gesturing for his friend to follow him into the yard, he added,
"Anyway, why aren't you ready yet? Hurry up!The race might start at any moment."
"I just need five minutes. I'll be ready then. Wait here. There's water inside if you need some."
"Okay, go then. Shoo!! Shoo!!"
***
After about ten minutes, Edith and Horus, along with Rinnie and Carla whom they'd met along the way, were heading toward Old Pal.
"So, Carla, you're gonna go to the city as well, right?" Edith asked.
"Yes, but that's not the main thing. Horus is coming as well—that's the important part."
"What about you, Rinnie?"
"I'm gonna stay here. I'll aim for patrol duty just like my brother. You'd be staying here as well, right?"
"Yup. I won't be leaving Ren. Who's gonna play with her if I leave? Hehe. Mother and Father can't always play with her, after all."
***
"Alright kids, get in your spots. You're all gonna race to the top. On the count of three… two… one…"
"Go!!!"
Fifteen children raced toward Old Pal's summit, where all preparations for the competition had already been completed.
His father, along with other adults, had been helping with preparations since morning.
This included clearing the ground of large rocks, marking boundaries where the villagers would sit, placing weapons in appropriate locations, and giving the village elders a special vantage point to watch the matches.
That was the destination the fifteen children had to reach. They were competing for a chance to go to the city. Not all of them, though—some were in it purely for the thrill. The race would determine the fighting order: first place versus second place, third place versus fourth place, and so on. The last-place finisher would unfortunately have to drop out, since they'd have no one to pair with.
***
"Mother, which place do you think brother will finish?"
"I cannot tell, Ren. But I'm pretty sure you have some guesses. Can you tell mother?"
"Yes, mother! I think brother will come fourth!"
"Let's see. If you're right, I'll make you a pie."
"Thank you, mother!"
***
Covered in sweat and dust, Edith stood beside his father, panting and gulping water from a waterskin. His father patted his head—the man's arms were bulky, his figure towering. He spoke in a deep voice:
"Good job, Ed. Go talk to Carla. She might give you her spot."
"Yes, father. I'm sure she will."
Saying so, Edith glanced at the finishers' list in his hand, his brows turning into a frown:
1st Place: Carla
2nd Place: Horus
3rd Place: Edith
4th Place: Rinnie
.
.
.
***