It had been a few days since the Eastern Hukivawen team reached Zaotoqav. Their journey, which had begun with three in Fol, led them to Zatkin first, where they were joined by their Head Coach and his assistant. Afterward, they welcomed their final four players in Thorov before beelining straight to Zaotoqav. Although carriages carrying townsfolk and family members had left the towns alongside the team's carriage, they were not allowed through the first entrance in Zaotoqav; instead, they had to use the second entrance that led to the Market Sector.
The team's accommodation was also covered, secured and provided by the Council of Greater Hukivawen in arguably the finest inn in all of Hukivawen: the Gold Ingot Luxury Inn and Café situated in the Welcome Sector of Zaotoqav.
*****
Locke Street East, Welcome Sector, Zaotoqav,
The night was beautiful, the full moon alluring. Unlike the silence and darkness that night brought back in Fol, the capital remained lively. Especially here in the Welcome Sector, for it housed not only the Guard Unit but also the Military Unit and other Specialized Units.
Nagra loved his late-night walks. Gathering his thoughts alone under the night sky, with the overseeing pearl above, was just his favorite thing. Strolling along, he recalled his busy past week: the journey to Zaotoqav, the excellent food and stay in Gold Ingot, the market spree with his Uncles, and finally the Museum visit along with other sightseeing with his mates. It had been wonderful! Yet, he noticed something he never had back in Fol. And he noticed it precisely because it was unusual. It was the hateful looks he got subjected to.
Fol was a small town, yet very communal and harmonious. Hukivs and Nonjouls alike were either berry pickers or game hunters. These professions, a blessing of their neighboring Gaan Forest. Men were absolutely equal; neither superficial prejudice nor ethnic discrimination existed there. Hukivs went to the temples, but no one judged them negatively for it, and neither were the Nonjouls judged for not accepting the Temple. Even the Hukivs who abandoned their religion were not scorned for their exceptional choice. That was why it felt so jarring to Nagra when a couple of Hukivs looked at him covertly with disdain and disgust.
As thoughts buried him, Nagra decided to give his legs some rest. Looking around, he spotted some benches outside a building that read 'Scaffolding Unit'. It didn't take long for him to slouch onto one and sigh heavily. This newfound occurrence really bugged him. But as he was attempting to deal with a situation he neither understood nor could comprehend, a raspy voice interrupted him.
"Oye! This is not a place to rest. Get up and… wait… Ah! I know you. The kid from Eastern Hukivawen?"
Nagra looked up, giddy. It was a middle-aged man. Over the course of his stay in Zaotoqav, he had been recognized a few times. And each time felt better than the last. Nagra, smiling foolishly, replied triumphantly, "Yes, I'm exactly who ya think I'm."
The middle-aged man assessed Nagra with concern. At first, he thought the person slouched on the benches was either a beggar or some teenage runaway. Later, when he saw the auburn hair, he grew profoundly concerned. A Nonjoul runaway or a beggar were concepts as rare as the blue moon morphing into a man and dancing to some folk music. Simply impossible. So, he finally deduced and concluded that it had to be a criminal. Of course, now that he recognized the mystery man, he was no longer concerned but rather intrigued.
"Young Star. Why were you sulking so hard just now? If I am not wrong the Final is in the day after tomorrow. Oh! Wait…let me guess… fear of the stage!?"
Nagra chortled abashedly, then hastily waving his palms, he replied, "Na, na, na, na. It was just some' nonsensical that bugged me…Ma performance will be…crazy in the finals. I will tell ya that much. So, don't forget ya tissues uncle."
Nagra's playful jab tickled the man. He broke into genuine laughter but quickly shook his head, "Absolutely not. I hope you all win. I am not from here. So, I don't want to see that annoying Royal Team complete their three-peat. I am actually, rather my father, was from Thorov. So, I support you guys over any of the bloated and privileged capital city teams."
Nagra, in reply, smiled gratefully and without missing a beat, cheerfully replied, "Thank ya. I'll make sure yer wish goes answered!"
"Mmhmm, you better kid. Truth to be told, I think almost ninety percent of the people support you all. Which neutral fan do you think would support the Goliath over David huh? So, scram. It is late. Go get some rest and don't dare disappoint us."
These words the man spoke carried no particular weight for him. He was simply stating a trivial fact, nothing more. Yet to Nagra, those same words meant something. Something special. Something that tugged at his heartstrings. Thus, he earnestly stood up to give the man a deep bow while thanking him repeatedly.
After bidding the stranger a warm farewell, Nagra headed back toward the Inn. Meanwhile en route, this short conversation kept looping inside his head. Yes! Today he understood one thing unequivocally: 'People might hate me for reasons I'll never understand. But if I stay true to meself and aim to better meself every single day, the ones who'll love me will outnumber the ones who despise me by at least ten to one.'
*****
Chargeball is simply a team sport with a ball. Teams of five face off in a physically grueling contest of attrition. The park where the game is played has its endzones referred to as 'The Fortress'. It is each team's duty to protect or 'fortify' their own Fortress while aiming to 'breach' into their opponent's. The act of 'aiming to break into the opponent's Fortress' is known as 'The Charge'.
A Charge can either be 'successful' or 'unsuccessful'. A Charge is 'unsuccessful' when the ball bearer in successfully tackled by the opposition. Then, 'Resetting' happens, which simply means the opponent now carries the ball and executes the 'Charge'.
*****
The Aavitus-Koina Park, Residential Sector, Zaotoqav,
The blistering sun was completely ineffective today as excited people flooded the streets unconcerned by the heat, for the National Finals. Every year, people wait patiently and save their money for this exhilarating experience. This solitary hour of fun then becomes the talk of the town for the subsequent months. Food vendors, souvenir sellers and other small business owners pray every day for this day to come sooner. As, businesses boom and people smile; the day of the final marks itself, as an annual milestone, for the nation.
Near the public entrance of the park, a large yet stunning carriage rolled to a halt. Although people immediately tried to swarm it, bulky guards shoved them aside mercilessly to clear a path. Inside the carriage, crudely speaking, the Eastern Hukivawen team had shat their pants. They had thought they were ready, but now they knew they weren't. The largest crowd they ever played before was about five hundred, and even that was in Thorov, so everything felt hunky-dory then. Now they were subjected to jeers and cheers from thousands upon thousands of people. They were petrified.
"Sirs, it is time for you all to leave."
An impatient voice from outside the carriage jolted the fearful occupants awake. The layout inside featured opposite-facing seats, so the teammates, staring at each other, smiled nervously. Suddenly, disregarding the cramped space, the person at the center stood up. It was the assistant coach, Joda. The young fella from Zatkin glared at the team with disdain. He couldn't raise his voice right now, otherwise he would have unloaded the entire artillery on them. Nonetheless, his seething whisper was enough to make the team fear him more than the stage. "Ya fecking idiots! What's up with y'all huh? Y'all fought so hard, time and again. If beating the Northern Hukivawen Team was already not impressive enough, y'all beat the Zaotoqav Academy Team. A CAPITAL CITY TEAM TO REACH THE FINALS… And now look at youse, frightful like a newborn… I'll tell ya what…cheeks out!" Although the boys knew punishment was incoming, they also knew it was of the necessary sort. Turning their heads, they presented their faces readily as sacrifices to the Zatkin Demon. And oh, did the slaps ring! The guards outside were perplexed by the snapping sounds, but before they could look inside, the team, resolute but red-faced, stepped out with unmatched confidence.
Nagra, heading towards the park, started to feel his senses overload. The smell of sweat and spice along with the incessant voices of thousands began to unnerve him. Luckily, an insulating arm wrapped around him. "What? The slap weren't enough?" Joda, joked cheekily. Nagra was the runt of the litter, and although knowledge is in the tip of the whip, what the kid needed right now was a little love. Noticing Nagra's awkward smile, Joda rubbed his head, "Ay! Look at this. Ya look like a constipated lad. HAHAHA!" Nagra bemused, joined his mentor's loud laughter, though it was drowned out by the surrounding ruckus.
Joda waited for Nagra to stop laughing, and as soon as his protégé's laughter ceased, he continued, "See, a moment of joy blurred ya surroundings. Trust me kiddo, if ya find this exact same joy but for the game, it'll be the same…And I know that ya will."
*****
An hour or so later, inside the Aavitus-Koina Park,
The Eastern Hukivawen team was thoroughly enthralled. They had never even seen a structure this grand and imposing, let alone played in one. Seated pitch-side, they got to experience this surreal moment to the fullest.
Nagra, currently getting his legs massaged by an assigned retainer, asked curiously, "Miss, can ya pray tell me how many people are here?" The retainer, a young nurse from the nearby hospital, smiled at the curious question from the Nonjoul boy. Her tranquil voice glided out as she replied, "Three thousand…at least the civilians… the elites probably bump up the number by another hundred or so."
"Ish! Did the entire capital come over here today?"
The young nurse giggled but she shook her head, "Almost, but you have to consider that people from the entire nation have congregated here today… Are you still underestimating the game's razzmatazz?"
Nagra's face scrunched up as he nodded in understanding. 'How stupid is it of me to overlook something so obvious, Ish!' Nagra's eyes lingered on the pitch for a moment. He really enjoyed all the dances, songs, stunts and other entertainment performers performed. Their game was the main event, and the excellent performances these talented individuals delivered stoked his fire even more. He had to ensure the main event stacked up… no, he had to ensure the main event blew all other performances out of the park. He was ready.
"When will the massage end, miss?... Actually, scrap that, what I really want to ask is, when will the game start?"
"Getting impatient, eh? Without the chief guest, no game is starting boy. You are all actually lucky that it's not Lord Atkus or the King. Otherwise, no performance would have even started yet."
Realization struck Nagra hard. Mouth agape and disappointment apparent, he groaned, "Aww comon'! I really wanted to meet the wise king. Ish! Now you have disappointed me, lady. At least the crown prince is coming right?"
The nurse tried to wryly smile but she failed. Nagra's comical expression was far too amusing. But, her answer to the boy's last-ditch question; what made the bizarre, expressive superstar look so crestfallen, was what finally made her laugh out loud.
"Even the crown prince isn't coming. It's actually Lord Atkus' son. Lord Antekus."