10

The Final Goodbyes

Nat was watching all the participants being surrounded by their families, while she having no parents, stood alone in the middle of the rapid conversation going on all sides.
    Dyce had also been escorted away by his father to exchange a few last words.
    She felt more sick than ever and the sadness of having no family quickly crept up in her whole mind. She just wanted to run away from all of this awkwardness into nothingness. A life from here seemed highly improbable, impossible if she could say that.
    All of these thoughts kept making her weaker with every passing minute. That’s when a hand tapped feebly on her shoulder which made her suddenly furious.
    She turned around to tell the stranger to go away and mind their own business but when she saw him, all these words died inside her brain.
    The hand belonged to a smiling Pat. Not the usual characteristic of him but still he was smiling to make her feel strong. Yes, it was a reassuring smile. Everything was not over yet.
    The helplessness of having no parents existed there no more, because, she had the best family she could have ever asked for,
    Her Brother, Her Family!

– – – – – – – – – – – –

    Dyce was walking alongside his father to a secluded spot, fit enough to have a private conversation.
    He did not care for his father much, never had. All of his love was preserved for his sister and his late mother, who died of flu a couple of years ago.
    Dyce kept wondering whatever confidential thing his father wanted to talk to him about.
    Once King Viktor was sure of their privacy, he said, “If you need any help during the whole event, you can ask me without hesitation. I’ll surely find some secret ways to supply all the resources you require and thus, ensure your win in the competition.”
    Dyce had expected this from his father and he had a reply ready. “No, thank you! I think I’ll manage to win by myself. Don’t need your any help in any way!
    King Viktor didn’t lose his cool and still spoke in his well-tested worried and caring voice, “Don’t speak like this, my little Prince. I am worried for you and indeed if you need any help, it will be managed.”
    Dyce replied again in an irritated voice, “No thanks, my honorable king.”
    King Viktor felt slightly awkward by receiving this salutation from his son. Never in his life, Dyce had referred to him this way. He must be really angry with him.
    Now the emperor said, “I want to help you as a father, not as a king. Try to understand my love for you. It’s really genuine!”
    Dyce’s head was heating up with every single thing his father was saying to him. At last he could contain it no more. He spoke angrily and bitterly to his father, “You want to help me, don’t you? And you want me to win the Battle, of course! Is this love for me, or fear that I am the only successor for the throne from our dynasty. And you don’t want to leave it to someone else, right?
    He continued with the same tone, “What about the other contestants who have been dragged unwillingly in this pleasure-deriving game of yours? Their life means nothing to you, I know! But you don’t even want to give them at least a chance. Really, you are the worst person I could have ever asked for, to be my father!”
    This was too much for King Viktor to take in. Whether his son or anyone else, no one had the right to speak a thing against him and Dyce had already taken this too far.
    He replied in even an angrier tone than his son, “Shut up, you little fool of a boy! You have no right to say anything against me. I am not going to help you even if you ask me from now on!”
    He spat on the ground in front of Dyce and then continued, “Care to tell, why the heck did you participate with that stranger in this competition?”
    Without thinking much at the moment, Dyce said the first thing which came to his mind, “Because I love her!”
    It was not exactly true, but enough to contain his father from speaking anymore.
    King Viktor, though not satisfied with this answer, still knew that any more talking was not going to help. So he decided to leave Dyce alone, without even a final goodbye.
    For the next few minutes, Dyce kept thinking about what he had just said. It was a happy thought. He and Nat, together in this competition, sharing memories in the future!

– – – – – – – – – – – –

    Many relations of the participants came to them for their last greetings. My father and mother were also standing beside me, though we were not really talking.
    In such circumstances, to begin a conversation was one of the most difficult things imaginable.
    Finally, my father broke the silence, “It is going to be hard, my boy. Make sure you stick around your friends
during the whole course of the competition.
    I replied simply, “I have only one partner, what do you mean by ‘friends’?
    He said in a matter-of-fact tone, “But of course, you will group up for the second round. Isn’t it a part of your plan?” He looked at me, surprised.
    I cast down my eyes and said in a low voice, “It isn’t!”
    Now he looked at me with wide eyes and his jaw dropped down. My mother’s gaze was focused on the ground but obviously, all of us knew that she was listening intently to the exchange of words going on between father and son.
    I continued, “But if you say so, we’ll surely consider your idea.”
    This infuriated him even more. He spoke up angrily, “Oh well, so now he will consider it. As if I am just a blabbering old devil!
    Suddenly he changed the course of his words in my mother’s direction. “Haven’t I always told you Georgina, this boy is a sad trial! Can’t understand a single thing properly.”
    Georgina, my mother, immediately came to my rescue and said in a peace-making voice, “No Alfred, this is not what you think. Be true to yourself at least and support our boy, the way you actually wish to. Spit out this anger of yours!”
    These words seemed to have some effect on my father. His face changed into many different expressions and at last, paused at the one with worried sadness.
    He didn’t speak much after that but still his anger had surely died down, just because of the few words my mother spoke to him.
    We kept talking  animatedly for the next few minutes without a worry of this upcoming tragedy.
    Finally, the bell rang and I bid goodbye to my parents. I had just turned around to join other participants for the beginning of the first round when my father said from behind, “We’ll be counting upon your coming back home, son!”
    I wanted to run into their arms and say all the things I had in my heart from a long-long time. How much I loved them, how grateful I was for all the things they did for me and to assure them that I was going to give my best in the competition and return home as soon as possible.
    But at that moment, I just kept on walking, without looking back. I didn’t have the courage to turn back because I knew that the stream of tears was now just on the brink of breaking!
    After a few steps, I joined Neel close to the podium where the king was ready to pick up names for the people participating in the first round.
    Just then, the name of the first warrior was taken out from the glass bowl.
    It was Patrick!

Next