The Ellcrys

Alex came down from the carriage, he glanced at the surroundings with a competitive spirit.

Right now he was at the front of a huge silver forest with large roots connecting the trees to the big tree at the distance, called the ellcrys.

The plains was packed full of thousands of kids his age and two above (8-10).

"I'm going to awaken my totem and join the elites of our badge", said a boy with confidence.

"Ha!.. you, awaken a totem in your dreams", another kid mocked.

"I think the top five competitors are , Vincent, Arthur,Asher, William and Ulrich, also maybe Alex", a thin kid said.

"Alex,that gray haired boy,I don't think he's anything apart from depending on his father", a short kid spoke in denial.

"He is not that weak, he is the cheiftian's son, he must have had a different training", the thin kid defended.

"Why do you support him so much", questioned the short kid irritated.

"And why do you criticize him so much!, it's not his fault that he's different or do you blame the cheiftian",the thin kid responded, threatening the short kid.

Hump!, The short kid snorted and walked away, he did not dare to insult the cheiftian.

"Thanks John", said Alex who had appeared at some point to the thin kid.

He was indifferent to the prejudice against him, it has been happening for as long as he could remember, this is what happens when your born different in a blood clan, being a subject of discrimination and abuse. If he wasn't the cheiftian's son, his life maybe lower than that of a slave.

But being indifferent doesn't mean there is no pain.

I mean (am still eight).

"Are you okay, don't listen to them, they are completely brainless", Ariana spoke as she stared at Alex with concern. she arrived with Alex.

John was also staring at Alex worriedly, seeing his friends care he smiled 'who cares about what people say when you have such great friends', Alex thought with his eyes filled with gratitude as he waved his arms to indicate his fine.

"GATHER!", Thundered a booming voice from a silver armored warrior standing on a platform, beckoning the kids to come closer.

As Alex and his friends were walking towards the platform, other kids would inadvertently cast glances over at Alex occasionally and whisper to the others.

After all, he was the cheiftian's son or maybe the only different kid.

At this moment the warrior spoke"young warriors of denerim, prepare yourselves, there are no partners in the race to the ellcrys only your strength matters and if you fail to be among the top two thousand,you will never be able to enter the elite regiment, do you want to be mediocre all your life?!".

"No sir",the kids roared with agitation.

"Good!,we begin at noon".

After that, a relatively handsome kid walked towards Alex, he 'smiled' at him and spoke.

"Alex, I hope to see you at the end, beating you at the event will prove who is stronger"

Alex glanced at him and strongly replied "we shall see, Arthur".

"Yes we shall"said Arthur with the same fighting spirit.

After that, he turned around and departed.

Watching his departing backview, Ariana asked with uncertainty,"are you sure you could defeat him?".

"I don't know, but we shall find out", Alex replied.

After that, Alex turned and went back to his carriage.

He needed to calm down and meditate to prepare for the event, seeing Arthur gave him serious pressure and there are other excellent kids like him. It's a warriors clan, fighting is the norm, looking down on other kids will be his downfall.

The intensity of the sun has reached it's peak, noon has arrived.

Alex came out of the carriage, prepared for the race. A young man came over and tied a black cloth around Alex eyes, the other kids had their eyes tied as they waited for the starting signal.

Lots of people had gathered on the high plains, chattering as they watched the kids.

At a distance were seated seven elders and the cheiftian.

"Keeper, it's time",an elder said to a 50 year old man in black robes.

The keeper stretched out his hand towards the forest and shouted in ancient Assyrian language "foz zirax akun".

The symbol at the back of his neck began to glow. The large roots began to glow and entwine themselves like snakes as they moved in an unpredictable way.

BOOM!,a huge drum rang aloud as a warrior banged on it.

Immediately all the kids began to run towards the forest at the speed of an adult, brushing and shading each other to the to the grounds, the thunderous sounds of their feet colliding with the ground was like a stampede of beasts.

"dad how can run they run that fast, we're the same age?", a small child asked his dad with a dumbfounded face.

"In the vastlands, son nothing is as it seems especially beings that are not humans, do not ever forget that. Even us humans, be careful of the ones outside denerim", his dad advised while they watched the event with the crowd.

As he ran, Alex calmed down and began to regulate his breathing and concentrated on his hearing.

After that, RUMBLE!, RUMBLE!, He hears the moving roots, jumping into the air he tapped on a tree branch with his feet, borrowing it's force to flip over three moving roots, gaining a good advantage he ran faster slides under another root,proping himself up,he suddenly halts and stumbled a few steps forward, he perks his ears and listened to his surroundings.

'I'm surrounded', Alex thought, and tensed his muscles, he leaned forward and burst with a high speed, performing all sorts of acrobatics to avoid the snake like roots while front flipping over the final root.

Haa!, Haa!, he breathed roughly,'that was exhausting',he thought.

"I am almost done", he muttered as he ran towards the final test, he remembered his teachers voice "feel the wind against your body, your every breath, feel every beat of your heart and take the leap"as the ethereal voice stooped Alex jumped over a wide pit.

Midway through the pit an incoming stone at a fast velocity hits Alex.

BAM!, When Alex smashed into the pit, he sensed someone jumped over while he groaned in pain, every bone in his body ached.

"Aaahhhh!!", Alex screamed with a stomach full of anger as he breathed rapidly from the continuous running, he knew it was his fault, he should have been vigilant and now he was not sure if he could even pass.

Mustering the last strength he had, he leaped out of the pit and broke into a run, he knew after the pit it was war so bracing himself ,he ran with heightened vigilance.

A kid sensed Alex, etching closer to engage, he plans to tackle Alex to the ground and knock him out.

WHOOSH!, He felt the wind as Alex flashed passed him not willing to waste any time dealing with unnecessary actions.

As he got closer to the ellcrys, the harder it got to advance, another kid tried grabbing his clothes, Alex frowned put his weight on his left leg swinging his right across the kid's face knocking him out cold as he turned and sprinted towards the finish line.

He was already hearing the roaring voices of the crowd as they cheered and counted the kids who had finished when he heared the last number, his heart sank.