Our Legacy - Episode 2

Maha held on to Keyla’s hand, trying to make it warm. Hers was cold, almost shivering, trembling in fear over what had happened earlier in the day. They were in the canteen, served a wide variety of cheese and bread with fruit to choose from on a nearby trolley for those who wanted any. Keyla had taken a peach and devoured it within a minute. “Very delicious,” she had said, sucking on her fingers from all the juice that had started running down her hands. Right now, she was staring into Maha’s eyes who had been staring past her and into the wall. “Are you ok?” Maha shook her head to come to her senses once her partner started clicking her fingers. “Yeah, I’m fine.” She replied. “This was only the first day. It’ll get easier later on.” “Are we allowed alcohol in the army? I feel like I could go for some vodka right now.” Keyla reached out to a water bottle on a steel table in front of them and put it on Maha’s lap. “This is what we’re allowed. We can’t have super-powered humans running around drunk.” “Ugh, I’m too tired to run around. I just want to get drunk.” She rested her head on Keyla’s shoulder and embraced its warmth.

“You two having a nice time?” The ladies looked up and saw a man only Maha recognized. “Mr Kotas!” she exclaimed. The big man smiled and pointed at an empty seat. “Yes, of course!” Maha answered the unasked question. He sat down in front of them, crossed his fingers and leaned forward. “You have a few tricks up your sleeve, madam.” Maha laughed at the comment. Keyla was still confused at the situation which Maha realised immediately. “Mr Kotas, please meet my partner, Keyla Verbeke.” “How do you do, madam?” They shook hands but Keyla was still cautious. “Quite well, thank you, sir. And you?” she replied. “Still healing after the beating Ms Azim gave me.” Keyla immediately whipped her head round towards Maha. “This is the guy!? You kicked his ass?” Maha started to blush. “Damn girl! I thought you were exaggerating!” “Yeah. I’m here to bring her in for a mission briefing. They were impressed with Ms Azim and would like to send her on a small tour, should her training continue with great results.”

Keyla hugged and kissed Maha like an overly excited mother once Mr Kotas was finished giving her the details on where to go for the briefing. “You are fucking amazing!” “I guess,” Maha responded with a lighter, unexcited tone while trying to claw Keyla off of her. “Bitch, you don’t get it. This is good news! This is very good news!” “Do you think we’ll hear about the results of your training?” “Oh, I know I passed. I know my shit. You know I’m better than you.” “I could beat you quite easily.” Maha put on a smug face. “There is a training compound just for duels... I dare you to face me.” The two kissed but a shadow interrupted them. Another man was now standing in front of them and this time they both recognised him. It was the man they saw during in the morning during the mass briefing.

“Heard you two are looking for a duel.” “More like eavesdropped,” Keyla said, irritated that they had to see his face again. “Aren’t you the douche bag that said we wouldn’t be shit?” Maha added in. “I’m just making sure we get serious people into the army. Not some wannabe’s.” “We’re the same fucking rank. You don’t have anything over us.” “You’re wrong. I’m a ma...” “Make a sexist comment and I’ll rip your dick off and feed it to the dogs.” Keyla interrupted. “Was just going to state a biological fact. Women aren’t suited for war.” “What the fuck... did I just say?” “Alright, see you at the training grounds in five. Just so you know, duels are supervised and graded. Everything is noted down here. I could end your entire army career.” “See you in five.” Keyla waved mockingly.

The two began to walk towards the duelling area when they realised they were being followed by several people. Maha kept looking back and whispering to Keyla. There were several women following them. They were all the same rank and looked eager about something. They arrived at the compound and were amazed at the sight. Walls of white surrounded a blue arena floor. One side even had a place for a large audience to sit. The challenger awaited in the middle with his own gang already at the benches, whistling as the ladies arrived. “And they are here! They actually came!” The man announced. “Jesus Christ,” Keyla said under her breath. “He’s turning into something big, turned up with his own fucking fans.” Maha held her hand and kissed it. “You’ll kick his ass. I know you will.” She said. “She has to,” said a woman behind them, “otherwise we will all be victims here.” There was several nodding behind them. The crowd of women had come to support them. “What’s your name?” “Keyla Verbeke...” “Well then Keyla Verbeke... We’ll cheer for you. We’ll do our best to muffle out what those apes there will shout and say to demotivate you.” “Thank you...” She smiled at the supporting faces. “I promise to kick his ass.”

Maha and the rest of the crowd of women took their seats as Keyla walked in front of the challenger with confidence. A sergeant entered the arena with a touchpad and pen and halted between the two Demigods. “State your names loud and clear.” “Tom Peroks.” The man jumped in, trying to make Keyla feel uneasy. The sergeant nodded towards her after noting down the name. “Keyla Verbeke.” “I won’t remember your name after this, Keyla Verbeke!” “Were you a douche bag to your mother as well?” “It doesn’t matter if you have powers. You don’t have the will to fight like men do!” “You say that, but I bet with all your powers and toughness you still won’t be able to survive giving birth.” “The God Particle is wasted on you!” “Earth’s natural air is wasted on you...” A cheer erupted amongst the women in the crowds and a smile crept up Keyla’s face. “So are we doing this or what?” The sergeant cleared his throat and began to address the two duellists. 

“The rules are simple. No fatal strikes are allowed. No injuring the opponent in ways we cannot yet heal. The fight stops once one of you states clearly, I yield. Understood?” “Understood.” Tom and Keyla said in unison, their eyes focused on each other.

There were two red circles on the arena where the duellists were supposed to stand before engaging. The Demigods took their places and the sergeant went into his office where he would supervise the fight behind a glass wall. With the press of a button, a loud buzzer went off, starting the battle. Keyla quickly realised she didn’t know what powers to expect from Tom. He soon answered by turning the floor beneath her into quicksand. Keyla tried to fly up but was distracted once a ball of ice struck her thigh. “Fuck!” She shielded her face once another ball came hurling past her and several more. Focusing on getting out of there, she powered her ability to fly, risking hitting the ceiling. She felt it working as she gained height but the quicksand kept holding on. Tom kept throwing iceballs. Keyla was almost free when her opponent ran up to freeze the quicksand, freezing her in place as well. Tom formed a large icicle, the size of a baseball bat, and marched towards her. She continued trying to fly away and heard the ice begin to break but it was too late. Tom swung the ice bat around and hit Keyla’s hip. The force of the attack sent her flying away from the grasp of the frozen quicksand.

Keyla had to use her ability to mimic his powers but she could only do so with physical contact and they had yet to touch. She cursed herself for not mimicking Mara’s powers but it was too late for that now. She had to fly directly at him and make contact. Keyla took flight and formed two fists in front of her as she bulleted towards him. Dodging several iceballs coming her way, Keyla struck Tom and held on to him as she dragged him across the arena floor before letting him roll away. She had made contact and now had access to his powers.

With Tom still regaining his footing, she turned the floor into quicksand, capturing his arms and legs. She flew and landed beside him with a kick to the face. Forming an iceball of her own and firmly holding onto it, she punched him hard in the face. His face turned red and blood started to trickle down his nose as she continued hitting him. Getting bored with the easy attacks, she changed it up by freezing his entire body. Tom wasn’t pleased at all and was terrified once she grabbed him and took flight. A mighty cheer erupted from the crowds again. Maha was proud. Keyla spun round and released the man from several meters high.

Tom crashed, breaking the ice holding him in place, and broke his left arm in the process. It started bending to its side which it shouldn’t do. He locked it up at a ninety-degree angle and froze it. Now he was one armed in a fight against someone that had the same powers as he had and more. Keyla’s ability to fly gave her an upper hand. He wiped the blood coming from his nose away from his mouth. With sheer anger powering him, he hurled several ice spikes in her general direction. Keyla responded with a large shield made of ice and earth as she flew closer and closer towards him. Her decreased altitude meant there was room to make ground attacks for Tom who formed a vine behind her and ordered it grab her down.

Keyla was taken by surprise, not knowing that his powers went that far, as she was dragged down and hit the ground. Then something hit her abdomen and it felt cold all of a sudden. There was a shriek from the crowd. Keyla couldn’t lift herself up. Someone was speaking loudly over the speakers. It sounded like the sergeant saying something about the legality of what had happened. She couldn’t hear properly anymore. Her vision blurred.

Tom was walking confidently towards his prey. He had just summoned a large spike of earth from the ground right into Keyla’s body. It was now protruding from her back and covered in blood.

“DO YOU YIELD?” he roared. Tears were forming in Keyla’s eyes. Her body felt different, like as if several parts were missing. “DO YOU YIELD!?” Tom roared but suddenly fell to the floor. Keyla had summoned spikes of her own under his feet, crippling him. Vines suddenly grabbed hold of him and around his neck and began to suffocate him. He tried to free himself but suddenly felt tickled on his back but as the seconds went by the tickling started to inflict pain until he could no longer tolerate it. Several sharp vines were constantly stabbing him. He was losing blood fast. “I YIELD!” he shouted.

Maha rushed from the stands and into the arena, immediately healing Keyla from her wounds. Several other healers from the crowd and in the facility rushed to help. Keyla had been weakened and could barely hear... but she knew what her name sounded like... especially when an entire crowd was chanting it.