The End of Beginnings

Chapter 1
The beginning

Phoenix was a beautiful name for a special baby girl. The only girl in the whole land of Kekenayo to have blonde hair. She was a tiny thing when she was born and remained tiny for most of her childhood. When she turned 15, she was able to leave the house by herself. She went wandering through the forest to find her favorite rose flower. Phoenix had forgotten to bring her little sword with her to defend herself just incase the monsters were there again. She was attacked right when she found the rose flower. Chakra, her brother, went looking for her when she didn’t come back. When he found her, she was collapsed on the ground.
Chakra ran to her and gently shook her to wake her up. Phoenix was scared because she couldn’t see anything. Chakra got Phoenix back home and noticed that her eyes weren’t blue anymore. Phoenix was taken to the town doctor and they told her she was blind. Phoenix was really sad. She could never see her favorite flower anymore. She still continued her fighting training learning new techniques on how to fight while she was blind. Chakra trained with her. Phoenix attached herself to a weapon called Double Kami Sword. It could split in to two swords or it could be just one sword.
No one had mastered the sword, but that didn’t stop Phoenix. Every day she trained with the Double Kami sword and every day she got better and better with it. Chakra watched out for his older sister so no one could hurt her. One day, two travelers came to the village. One was old and one was Phoenix’s age. The youngest stopped and watched Phoenix training. Chakra seen him watching his sister and got mad.
“Hey, Get out of here!” Chakra said.
“I was only watching. Don’t need to get mad at me.” he said.
“Chakra be nice. Don’t scare the traveler off already.” Phoenix said.
“How do you fight with that sword?” the traveler asked.
“Easily. I learned how to fight with it.” Phoenix laughed.
“Come on sis. I want to go home.” Chakra said.
“Ok. I need my walking stick then.” Phoenix told him.
Chakra grabbed her walking stick and handed it to her. Phoenix followed her brother and the traveler followed her.
“Why do you need a walking stick?” the traveler asked.
“Because if you hadn’t noticed I’m blind.” Phoenix told him.
“Well you couldn’t tell at all. You don’t act like it at all.”
“Why are you even following us?” Chakra said.
“Because I just moved here and I’m trying to make new friends.” the traveler replied.
“Chakra go ahead I’ll catch up.” Phoenix said.
Chakra headed home and Phoenix walked with the traveler for a little while.
“Your brother is very protective of you.” he said.
“That he is. What’s your name?” Phoenix asked.
“Lee. My dad should be around here somewhere.”
Phoenix laughed. Lee didn’t pay attention to where he was going and managed to walk into a pole. He fell and held his head. Phoenix stopped laughing when the others started laughing at him. She helped Lee get up and got him away from the others.
“I may not be able to see, but at least I remembered not to walk into the pole anymore.” Phoenix told him.
Lee didn’t reply to her. His head was hurting him and he could barely see straight. Phoenix grabbed a hold of him when she could tell he was going to fall. She helped him sit down and heard someone else come over by them. Lee held on to Phoenix when the person got close enough.
“Phoenix why are you out here with the new guy? It’s my turn to welcome him.” a man said.
“Jento back off. I’m not scared to hurt you again.” Phoenix said.
“Like the blind Barbie doll could do anything to me.”
Phoenix grabbed her walking stick and stood up. Jento learned last time not to mess with her, but he never listened to anything he was told. He tried to hit Phoenix and she blocked it. Jento was mad now and kept trying to hit her. Phoenix blocked every single one of his punches. When he finally managed to get a hit off of her, Phoenix fell. Chakra had come to check on her and seen Jento hit his sister. Chakra punched Jento so hard, Jento fell backwards 3 feet. Chakra helped his sister get up and hugged her.
“Jento! You better not have hit Phoenix again!” a woman yelled.
Jento got up and ran off. Phoenix sat next to Lee again and Chakra laughed.
“Did you walk into the pole?” Chakra asked.
“Maybe…” Lee replied.
“What happened to your arm?”
Phoenix looked up when her brother said that. Lee hid his arm and took off to find his dad. Chakra got Phoenix back home and they ate supper. Phoenix wondered what had happened to Lee’s arm. She wouldn’t be able to figure out until tomorrow. Phoenix went to sleep and so did Chakra.
In the morning, they went to training practice. Chakra told Phoenix that Lee was watching her train again. His dad was with him this time. Chakra went to go talk to both of them while Phoenix kept training.
“Hi Chakra.” Lee said.
“My sister wants to talk to you.” Chakra told him.
Lee went over by Phoenix and Chakra walked off with Lee’s dad. Phoenix heard Lee behind her and stopped to rest. Lee sat next to her and stayed quiet.
“What happened to your arm?” Phoenix asked.
“A couple of jerks at my old village attacked me. Now the competition that’s coming up, I don’t get to participate in it.” Lee said.
“What competition?”
“To see who has the best survival and defense skills.”
“Oh. Like the one Jento is in. I’ll join if my brother can come with.”
“That’s fine with me. We would have to leave tomorrow though to make it to the competition on time.”
“Go tell Chakra then.”
Lee took off to go tell Chakra and Phoenix went back to training. Chakra came back with Lee and helped Phoenix get back to the house. They got ready to leave. Phoenix knew the competition would be a chance to get back at Jento and it would help cheer Lee up. Chakra had dropped a vase and it shattered. Their mom yelled at him and Phoenix went to figure out what had happened.
Chakra ran passed her and out the door. Phoenix slowly followed after him and caught up to him when he tripped on a rock. She helped Chakra get up and he hugged her. Phoenix could tell he was hurt. He didn’t like getting yelled at. They headed back to the house and Chakra stayed in Phoenix’s room. He didn’t want to get yelled at again.
She couldn’t wait until tomorrow. They would leave the little village and head to Hekayna for the competition. Chakra clung to Phoenix to sleep. She fell asleep as well.
In the morning, they got up and grabbed their things so they could leave. Chakra held onto his sister the whole time until they got by Lee. Lee helped Phoenix into the wagon and Chakra followed her. Lee and his dad could tell something was wrong.
“Chakra what’s wrong?” Lee asked once they left the village.
Chakra wouldn’t reply to him. He just cuddled up to Phoenix and fell asleep. Phoenix knew he was hurt.
“He’s fine. How long does it take to get to Hekayna?” Phoenix asked.
“Just about 3 days depending on how many times we stop.” Lee’s dad replied.
“How hard is the competition?”
“Not that hard at all. We just have to last 3 weeks in the unknown forest.”
“That sounds like fun to me.”
Phoenix couldn’t wait for the competition now. She held onto her brother and fell asleep herself. While they were riding Chakra had accidentally woken her up because he jumped up. Phoenix sat up and hugged him.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Phoenix asked him.
“Bad nightmare. They were killing you.” he replied quietly.
Lee and his dad had heard what he said. Phoenix held onto him and rubbed his back. He was really scared. Chakra held onto Phoenix and wouldn’t let go.
“Why do you have blonde hair?” Lee asked.
“The same reason I’m blind. It just happened.” Phoenix replied.
“I wonder. Do you have a swirl mark on your back?”
“Yeah she does.” Chakra replied quietly.
Lee’s dad stopped the wagon.
“What’s so special about the swirl mark?” Phoenix asked.
“Have you ever heard about the rumors of the treasure around?” Lee’s dad asked.
“Yeah why?”
“That would be how she’s described. The only part that’s different is you being blind, but you still have red eyes.”
Phoenix was curious now. If she was the treasure she would be the savior of everyone and the death of herself. Phoenix knew there was a war coming up, but she didn’t want to be the reason it started and ended. Lee sat in the back of the wagon by her and Chakra and the wagon started moving again.
“She can’t be the treasure if she was never cursed with it.” Chakra said.
“That’s not entirely true. I think the curse part of it was you becoming blind.” Lee told Phoenix.
“But what if it isn’t the curse part?” Phoenix replied.
“You’re the only one with blonde hair around here and the only one pretty enough to fit the name.”
“Hey, stop flirting with my sister.” Chakra said.
“Chakra be nice. He does have a point though.” Phoenix giggled.
“Chakra your sister is going to have to get a boyfriend sooner or later.” Lee’s dad laughed.
“And you have to get a wife sooner or later.” Chakra retorted.
“Chakra that wasn’t nice.” Phoenix said.
“You jerk take that back!” Lee yelled.
Chakra cowered behind Phoenix and hid. Phoenix hit Lee and hugged Chakra.
“Don’t yell at him. He tends to run off when people yell at him.” Phoenix said.
Lee was holding onto his stomach trying to avoid crying. Phoenix had hit him really hard. She got Lee to sit next to her when Chakra fell asleep. Lee hugged her and hid his face. Phoenix felt bad for hitting him, but he was being mean to her brother. When they stopped for the night, Phoenix walked around with Lee while Chakra slept.
“Sorry about hitting you, but you were being mean to Chakra.” Phoenix said.
“It’s ok. Why can’t he get yelled at?” Lee asked.
“He got yelled at enough from when I was attacked. They mostly blamed him, but it wasn’t his fault. I went off on my own. He’s like this now because of Jento mainly.”
“Why? Did Jento like you or something?”
“Yes he did. He still does. He isn’t that bad once you get passed his mean side. Jento defends Chakra when I’m not around now. That’s one reason why Chakra said that.”
“Well there goes my chance.”
“I never said I liked Jento back. He’s just different then what people say he is.”
“Why do you always say I’m different?” Jento said coming up behind them.
“Because you are and you know it. Where’s Raphael and the others at?”
“Sleeping. Oo your talking to the new guy.”
“Jento be nice to Lee or I’m going to hit you again.”
“Fine. Will you at least come talk to Ezekial? Before I hit him.”
“Who’s Ezekial?” Lee asked.
“My friend who decided to not shut up the whole time we were riding this far.” Jento replied.
“What did you 3 do to him now?” Phoenix asked.
“It wasn’t us. He had a nightmare.”
“Go get him.”
Jento took off to go get Ezekial and Lee headed back to camp. Phoenix followed him. When Jento came back with Ezekial, Ezekial hugged Phoenix. She could tell he was scared. Chakra tackled Jento and laughed. Lee’ s dad was asleep.
“Could we get away with teaming up in the forest?” Jento asked.
“I think so. There’s no rules against it.” Lee said.
“You better go get Raphael and Malaci before they yell at you for leaving again.” Phoenix laughed.
“Chakra come help me wake them up.” Jento said.
Chakra went with Jento and they went to go get the others. Lee sat next to Phoenix and told her quietly Ezekial was hurt on his arm. She got Ezekial to sit up and felt his arm. He tried to pull his arm away, but she wouldn’t let him.
“Ezekial who hurt you?” Phoenix asked.
“I fell out of the wagon because of the nightmare. Do I get to stay by you now?” Ezekial asked.
“Yes you can.”
Phoenix went to stand up and Raphael tackled her. Lee laughed and so did Chakra. Ezekial helped her get up and hugged her. He was scared really bad. Phoenix was starting to worry about him. She couldn’t get him to calm down. Everyone else had laid down to sleep. Phoenix got Ezekial to lay down and laid down next to him so he would relax. He clung to her an tried to hide. Phoenix hugged him and waited for him to fall asleep. Ezekial tried to sleep, but he couldn’t. Phoenix got him up and they walked away from the others.
“Ezekial what’s wrong?” Phoenix asked.
“The nightmare scared me really bad.” Ezekial replied.
“It was about you getting attacked wasn’t it?”
“Yes… It’s going to happen again. I just know it is.”
“I won’t let it happen. It was bad enough the first time it happened.”
Ezekial hugged her. Phoenix remembered very well what happened that day. It was the first couple days of her being blind when it happened. Ezekial had taken her to get her favorite flower to cheer her up. She heard people walking behind them. But couldn’t tell what was going on. They grabbed Phoenix and held onto her so she couldn’t break free.
All she could hear was them attacking Ezekial. When they finally let go of her, they took off. Phoenix  felt around on the ground and found Ezekial. He was shaking really bad. She helped him sit up and hugged him. Phoenix was scared because she couldn’t tell how bad he was hurt. Chakra went looking for both of them and when he found them, he ran to his sister.
“What happened?” Chakra asked.
“They attacked him.” Phoenix replied.
“Lets get him back.”
Chakra helped Phoenix get Ezekial back to the village. Ezekial didn’t want to leave Phoenix’s side. Phoenix took care of him until he was better. It took him forever to be himself again.
“Lets go get some sleep. You’re safe with me.” Phoenix told him.
Ezekial helped her get back and they both fell asleep.
In the morning, Lee’s dad made some pancakes to eat. Chakra woke everybody up so they could eat.
“We should do pretty well in the contest.” Jento said.
“Yeah we should. Phoenix and her sword alone will scare people away.” Raphael laughed.

You’re lucky I can’t see you Raphael.” Phoenix said.
“But I can.” Malaci said.
Malaci hit Raphael for her. They finished eating and started back on their way to Hekayna. When they arrived at Hekayna the next day, everyone was excited.




Chapter 2
The competition

Jento and Lee’s dad went to go check in for their teams. Ezekial helped Phoenix so she didn’t walk into anything. When Jento and Lee’s dad came back, they headed to the King’s court.
“Finally all the teams have arrived. This year, we will be doing something different. Each team will be split up into pairs and put with a pair from another team. Make your pair choices now.” the king said.
Chakra switched teams so Ezekial could be with Phoenix. She was confused on why he was doing this. Chakra paired up with Jento, Lee stayed with his dad, and Raphael and Malaci stayed together.
“I shall pair you now.” the king said.
He began pairing teams up. Lee, his dad, Jento and Chakra were lucky enough to be paired together. Raphael and Malaci were paired with a group from team 5 and Phoenix and Ezekial were paired with a group from team 7.
“Now that I’m done, I shall explain the new rules, each new team must survive 3 weeks with each other. All your supplies has been prepared for you. Each team will be sent to a different part in the forest. No team may leave there area for any reason. Only two people are allowed to leave the area only for the reason that they can not see. Anyone else leaves, it will get there team disqualified. Are you all ready now?”
Everyone was ready. Each new team was taken to their supplies.
“Phoenix you should have stayed with your brother.” Ezekial said.
“No. Who’s the two we are paired with?” Phoenix asked.
“Boromir and Savron.” a man said.
Ezekial hid behind Phoenix.
“Oh. Hello.” Phoenix giggled.
“It’s ok. We are usually quiet anyways. I’m Boromir.” he replied.
“I’m Phoenix. Ezekial is the one hiding behind me.”
“Same here with Savron. For the last time. I’m not a shield.”
Phoenix felt someone else hide behind her.
“She’s not a shield either.” Boromir said.
“Phoenix he’s scared worse then I was.” Ezekial said.
Phoenix turned around and Savron hid his face in her shoulder.
“What happened to him?” Phoenix asked.
“I don’t really know. He hasn’t told anyone what happened.” Boromir replied.
“We should start heading out.” Ezekial said.
Ezekial helped Phoenix into the wagon and Savron was quick to follow. Boromir and Ezekial were laughing. The wagon took off and Phoenix got Savron to fall asleep.
“I hope we can last all 3 weeks.” Boromir said.
“We should. Has Savron said anything before?” Phoenix asked.
“Only once. All he said is the dark man will kill me.” Boromir replied.
“I wonder what happened.”
Savron had woken up and cuddled up to Phoenix. It would be a long 3 weeks in the forest. When they arrived to the part of the forest they were assigned, there was a house there for them to stay in. Savron was hiding behind Phoenix.
“Phoenix gets to choose her room first.” Boromir said.
“Let Savron choose.” Phoenix said.
Savron finally let go of her and he chose a room first. Phoenix chose hers last. Boromir and Ezekial brought the supplies in and started to put it away in the cabinets. They made beef soup. Phoenix waited in the living room. Savron sat by her and still wouldn’t talk.
“Why are you so quiet?” Phoenix asked him.
Savron just hid his face.
“Will you talk to me at least?” Phoenix tried again.
“Why?” Savron said quietly.
“So I know what you sound like. Otherwise I can’t tell when it’s you.”
“I’m scared to talk. They will hurt me.”
“Who will?”
“Sikar and Sanya.”
“They would have to get through me first. Don’t worry about them.”
“Hey he’s actually talking.” Ezekial said.
Savron hugged her and hid his face.
“Don’t scare him. He’s scared enough already.” Phoenix said.
“You two come eat.” Boromir said.
Savron helped her get to the table and they ate the beef stew. Phoenix knew Sikar and Sanya were in the competition. She wanted to fight both of them so they wouldn’t hurt Savron.
“Am I seeing things or is Phoenix glowing?” Savron asked.
“She glowing.” Ezekial said.
Phoenix blanked out and fell out of the chair. Boromir laid her down in her room and they let her rest.
“I wonder why she was glowing.” Boromir said.
“Lee thinks she is the treasure.” Ezekial said.
Savron went and sat next to her bed. He waited until she woke up. When she did, Phoenix felt something around her neck. She grabbed a hold of it and it felt like a necklace. Phoenix was surprised. She went to go sit up and accidentally kicked Savron.
“Ouch.” he cried.
“Sorry. I didn’t know you were there.” Phoenix replied.
Savron got up and sat next to her. He was scared again.
“What’s wrong?” Phoenix asked.
“It scared me when you collapsed. I thought you wouldn’t wake up.” Savron replied quietly.
“I’m fine. I only blacked out and this weird necklace appeared.”
“What necklace?”
Phoenix was confused.
“Its around my neck.” she said.
“Nothing’s there.”
“But I can touch it.”
“Let’s go ask Boromir.”
Savron helped her get by the others and Ezekial hugged her.
“Boromir, she can feel a necklace on her neck, but I can’t see it.” Savron said.
“I think she is the treasure. We won’t know for sure until the wizard’s calling.” Boromir said.
“Then things will get a little crazy.” Ezekial said.
“Yeah and by the end, I’ll be gone.” Phoenix said quietly.
Savron hugged her and refused to let go. He was scared of losing her. Ezekial sat behind her so he could sleep.
“Go sleep in your own rooms you two.” Boromir laughed.
“No.” they both replied.
Phoenix laughed. Savron cuddled up to Phoenix and fell asleep. Tomorrow she would train with her weapon so she could get better. Boromir covered them with a blanket and went to sleep himself.
In the morning, she woke Savron up to help her get outside. He sat there and watched her train. Savron screeched and Phoenix stopped. He ran to her and hid.
“What’s wrong?” Phoenix asked.
“They are here.” Savron said quietly.
“Oh look. It’s the blind brat.” a girl’s voice said.
“What do you want Sanya?” Phoenix asked.
“To scare Savron more. Our team already lost because of his friends.”
“I suggest you leave then. He’s scared enough already.”
“Why don’t you make me?”
Phoenix told Savron to go inside and grabbed her weapon.
“You don’t even know how to use that sword.” Sanya said.
“Try me.” Phoenix replied.
Sanya charged Phoenix and Phoenix blocked her strike. Sikar was there as well, but he just sat back and watched the girls fight. Phoenix knocked Sanya’s sword oout of her hand and it went flying at Sikar. He didn’t move fast enough to get out of the way. It struck him on his side. Sanya took off leaving Sikar behind. Savron came back outside and seen Phoenix by Sikar. He went over by them to figure out what had happened. Sikar was trying to get away from her.
“I won’t hurt you.” Phoenix said.
“Just get away.” Sikar said.
Savron got Phoenix up and held onto her.
“What happened?” Savron asked.
“I knocked Sanya’s sword out of her hand and it hit Sikar.” Phoenix replied.
“Sikar, it was only an accident. She can’t see.”
“I get hurt enough by Sanya.” Sikar said.
“If you try to walk back, you won’t get far.” Phoenix said,
Sikar grabbed ahold of her to get up. Boromir and Ezekial had come outside. Sikar was staggering a little so Phoenix held onto him.
“What happened out here?” Boromir asked.
“Sanya did. She came to start trouble.” Savron said.
“We best get him inside before he bleeds to death.”
Boromir helped Phoenix get Sikar inside. He wrapped Sikar’s side and went to make breakfast. Sikar held onto Phoenix.
“We should be safe from her terror for awhile.” Savron said.
“Well we should eat breakfast and find something to do.” Boromir said.
“I’m going back to sleep.” Phoenix said,
“Why?”
“Because I’m tired from fighting Sanya.”
“We can play a game in here. Then Phoenix and Sikar can play too.” Savron said.
“Which game then?” Ezekial said.
“Marbles?” Sikar said.
“Don’t break the egg.” Phoenix laughed.
“Who’s on who’s team?”
“I call Phoenix.” Ezekial, Sikar, and Savron said.
“How about Phoenix doesn’t play?” she laughed.
“Yes she is. Now we will do rock, paper, scissors to see who’s with Phoenix.” Boromir said.
Savron went against Boromir first and won. Ezekial went against Savron and won. Phoenix was laughing at them. Sikar challenged Ezekial and beat him.
“No fair.” Ezekial said.
“Ezekial it was too. You’re just mad because you lost.” Boromir said.
Ezekial got up and went to his room.
“That’s why I didn’t want to play.” Phoenix said.
Phoenix went to go talk to him while the  other three played don’t break the egg. Ezekial wouldn’t talk to her.
“Ezekial its only a game.” Phoenix said.
“So? If you are the treasure, I won’t get to see you again.” Ezekial replied.
“Says who?”
“Because you will be moved a lot if you are and I’ll get left behind.”
“I won’t let that happened. You’ve been around me for a long time.”
“They will separate us. That’s how they keep you safe.”
“I don’t care. I will keep you with me or they will get their butts kicked.”
Ezekial laughed.
“Scoot over.” Phoenix laughed.
She laid down next to him and fell asleep. Ezekial fell asleep as well. Boromir went to go check on them and seen both of them asleep. He covered both of them with a blanket and went back out by the others.
“They are both asleep.” Boromir said.
“Well she was tired from fighting Sanya.” Sikar replied.
“What are we going to make for dinner?” Savron asked.
“We could make beef sandwiches?” Sikar asked.
“Good idea. Savron come help me.” Boromir said.
Savron helped Boromir cook the meat and Sikar rested. When the sandwiches were done, Savron woke Sikar, Ezekial, and Phoenix up. Phoenix held onto Ezekial to get to the table.
The rest of the three weeks went by really fast. It would be Phoenix’s birthday soon. When they were all back at the village, they were taken to the arena.