Chapter 4
I already mentioned that I love Historical drama/stories over all so I found a soundtrack that matched the story between the two main characters. It's the opening song of the korean drama "Queen Seon Deok" (One of the best historical drama ever), it's my most favourite historical soundtrack so I hope you can feel the excitement I feel whenever I'm listening to this soundtrack :)
Have fun reading the fourth chapter
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Mainwhile in the amarapura palace, the tournament proceeded to the next round. Twelve from the eighteen men passed for the archery match. The archery match almost reached its end because most of the participants were already eliminated from the competition. Only four men remained in the tournament till now. However Ko Chan Tha already defeated his challanger and progressed in the final round. The thin man nobody took serious, the weak looking man nobody believed in, was the first man to reach the final. Now only Ko Thura and Ko Thet Shay remained as the two last participants. They were showing their archery skills in front of the higher officials, some rich households, the emperial's guards and the royal family. It was like a match about life and death none of them wanted to lose.
Both of them had 5 to 5 point, also a tied between them right now. Each one of them had a single shot right now. Thura positioned some meters away from the target, concentrated then shoot her arrow. It flew towards the bull's eyes but hit the red circle under the bull's eyes instead. His eyes widened in shock, almost broke down from his failure. Most of the viewers sighed and screamed disappointed at his failure. But he didn't lose everything yet, there was still a glimpse of hope in him. If Thet Shay did a mistake and hit the lower blue circle, he would be the winner, also Chan Tha's opponent.
Ko Thet Shay stood behind the white line, spread his legs a little bit from each other. He looked first at the target, took a deep breath then exhaled the air, positioning to shoot his arrow. While the last participant shoot his last arrow, Thura wished for the young man to fail. The arrow hit the red circle too, just like he did. Now the tension reached its peak. Were they tied again? If yes then Ko Chan Tha would be the winner of this tournament. A guard ran quickly to the target, messuring the distance between the two hits. It was so silent, even the buzzing of a bug could be heard. It was as if everyone hold on their breath at that moment.
The guard observed the two arrows to a hair's breadth, noticed an arrow was under the yellow bull's eyes while the other one was on the line separating the yellow and the red circle, clearly showing it was an inch higher than the other.
Chan Tha already realized who's arrow was on the winning side, also who his opponent would be so he left the field to relaxe in the shedrow. He went instead to his white horse that already grew to his heart. If his Ma knew about him caressing another animal beside him, it would sulk again, feeling jealous over the white beauty. A smile cracked on his lips as he thought about his own horse. He patted the animal on the stomach, praising him for being so fast. It was thanks to his speed he won the first match.
„The winner's Ko Thet Shay", the young soldier screamed.
As soon as his name was mentioned, the young man jumped in joy, being proud of himself for coming so far in this competition, something he didn't even expect. While the latter was in joy, Ko Thura left the arena, stomping back in the shedrow where he could vent his anger. He was so angry that he searched everywhere for something to punch but he didn't find anything in particular. There was the swordholder of the young man he just lost to in front of him, staring at him as if laughing at him for losing the match against his owner. An idea dawned in his head: He wanted to sabotage him. His anger finally faded away.
Thet Shay's silver sword caught his attention, he took it out of the holder and was about to sneak out the shedrow but a taller man blocked his way. The man looked disappointed at him.
„What do you think you're doing?", his eyes went over the sword in his hands, „This clearly doesn't belong to you."
„And what does it concern you? You'll be happy if you win against him, right?"
„I'll be satisfied if I win against him with my own skills and not with dirty tricks like yours."
He went quiet but still didn't let go of the sword, „You don't know what I went through to take part in this tournament", suddenly the person's voice changed. It sounded like he was sobbing but he still hide his face to not reveal his crying face. „I was happy to be allowed to participate in the competition and had hope to fullfill my dreams but because of a lowly life like him, I lost and can't meet him anymore", his voice quavered.
Now Ko Chan Tha understood him, he was just like him. Just like he stole the identity of a man to see his Highness again, Thura took part in this match just to meet someone important. But now his dreams crumbled down like it never existed before. He went to him. Actually, he hated crying man because emotional humans were too weak. They were someone who could be easily defeated but somehow he felt sorry for this young man in front of him.
He had the urge to pat him on the shoulder to calm him down but felt something not right as he touched him. He felt too skinny as if he didn't eat properly for a long time now. To not ask about sensitive matter, he choose to concentrate on calming him instead of his look. Thura reached his arm to him, giving him the sword back.
"Promise me to win against him", she said before taking her way to an unknown place, not even waiting for the other's reply. She didn't had too because Chan Tha would give his best without her asking for it.
„You can have it back", Chan Tha said, directing it to Thet Shay who hide behind the wall, eavesdropping at their conversation.
Ko Thet Shay came out his hideout and walked towards him, standing in front of him, eying him from head to toes before taking his belongings back from him. He bowed as thanks then took the way to the tournament field. „He's not the only one with dreams to fullfill. I want to show a special person that I changed into a strong man that's why I want to win this match", it sounded like a challenge the latter should be better prepared to loose.
The taller man smiled. Ko Thet Shai challenged him, interesting. His hands itched from anticipation for the incoming match. It's been a long time that his strong sense for fighting woke up from his long sleep. They would fight till only one of them would remain as the winner on the field. And the winner being rewared would be of course him, Ko Chan Tha.
After their short break, both of them returned to the field that was already cleaned up for the sword fight. The Emperor stood up, expected a great fight from them, wishing them best luck. When the horn bugled again, they stood in front of each other and drew their swords. They were waiting for the first attack but none of them wanted to start the fight because of a saying: The first one to attack always lost the fight. They looked at each other, it seemed like they were speaking through their eyes, a language only both fighter could understand. A heavy feelings laid in the atmosphere, everyone could sense the tension raising between them.
Ko Chan Tha, the patient man he was, waited for his opponent. Ko Thet Shay couldn't hold on his excitement anymore, he ran to him while swinging his sword against him. The taller man realized his opponent was serious so he didn't need to hold back for his sake either. Thet Shay was before him, Chan Tha jumped over him, landed behind him, turned back to slash him on the back but the short man reacted faster than expected, turning back while swinging his weapon to protect himself. The two silver swords clashed against each other, a loud clang of their weapons echoed in the air. It seemed they smiled at each other. The spectators hold back their breath, they waited for them to continue the fight before breathing again.
It was the taller man's turn to strike, he stepped back till some gape was between them. He rushed to him, trying to stab him but the latter avoided the hit by bending over downwards, just like Chan Tha expect him to do. Chan Tha quickly swung his left foot, it hit Thet Shay on the cheek. The force of the kick threw him aside, he landed hard against the ground. He laid on the ground, taking a short break.
A moment passed by, he sat up, wipping the blood from his mouth with the scarf covering half of his face. He stood up, staring at the taller man. Chan Tha returned the gaze, as if they were doing a starying contest instead of a fight with weapons. They ran towards each other.
Now they were fighting as if their life depended on it, every five seconds the two silver swords clashed against each other, making it impossible for everyone to sit back nor relaxe in their seats to enjoy the match. The spectators stood up, fell in silence to not disturb the fight. The only noise resounding in the air was the loud clang of metal clashing against metal. Each time one of the fighter was about to stab the other, finally ending the match, some women couldn't stand the tension anymore, covering their eyes with their hands.
Chan Tha had enough of the show he played with the young man, it was fun fighting him but now he reached his patience. He admitted, the short man was a capable fighter but he wasn't strong enough to win against him. It was time for him to end the fight to ride back at home before sunset. He took in a deep breath while his opponent came rushing towards him. His legs parted a little bit from each other, he squeezed his feet on the earth to stand firlmy on the ground, waiting till the other was in front of him.
The latter was finally a few inches before him, trying to slash him on the shoulder but Chan Tha blocked the hit with his own weapon. He swung his sword with so much strength, Thet Shay's sword flew out his hand, flying higher in the sky. But as he was about to slash the defenless man on the arm, a part where he would avoid to kill him, his eyes met with Thet Shay's. Those brown eyes, reflecting something innocent in them, it was too familiar. It can't be! He quickly retired his weapon but kicked him instead on the leg. The shorter fell down, grabbing on Chan Tha's clothes and yanked him forwards. Both of them fell on the ground, Thet Shay laying on his back while the taller man laid above him. Chan Tha looked him straight in the eyes, asking himself if it was really him or not. Meanwhile Thet Shay was confused, didn't even realize yet what was going on.
Surprises was written on the faces of the spectators. The other silver sword came back flying towards them, threatened to pierce them but Chan Tha reacted faster, pulled his opponent over then rolled with him on the ground while holding on to the latter so he won't slid out his arms. The sharp weapon pierced through the ground. Chan Tha's arms remained strongly around Thet Shay's back. A minute of silence passed by, the two young men looked at each other, as if they nobody surounded them. As if they were the only human beings on earth.
Strong wind went over them, blew the scarf from their necks away. Now their faces were revealed, they froze on the spot from surprise. Thet Shay's eyes widened in shock. They finally recognized each others. The lowly servants from rich households and some officials didn't realize why the situation turned tense all the sudden on. The horrified expression of the imperial family, the higher officials and the royal guards confirmed the taller man was right about his assumption about the identity of his opponent.
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So what do you think of their match, their fight and their reunion after 4 years of seperation? I'm not the best in writting about sword fight but I hope it wasn't too confusing :D
Here's the picture of an target so you can follow the story :)
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