Chapter 71 - The Peak

I parted ways with the man and continued walking towards the city walls.

After getting closer to the city, my perspective of the wall became clearer. The magnificence was in full display the closer I got.

My head tilted all the way back, then approached the huge iron-barred gate.

There did not seem to be anyone manning the place, making me confused about how I was supposed to get in.

My eyes could make out part of the city through the iron bars. There appeared to be a tavern and an inn just a few meters into the city.

As for people, there were quite a few in thick coats that shuffled past each other, minding their own business.

My steps continued forward until the iron-barred gate was right in front of me.

"Stop!"

A voice came from behind the gate. It was booming, yet nobody was at the source of the voice.

"For what purpose do you come here?"

My eyes blinked a few times.

"Uh... This place looked interesting and I wanted to check it out."

The voice did not respond for a few moments.

"...So are you here for trade, vacation, or the competition?"

My eyebrow raised.

"What is the competition?"

The voice became enthusiastic and proud.

"The city of Evermore always hosts a competition called, 'The Peak'. This takes place with the strongest warriors in the last year of summer! Though the snow has come early, it is still the last year of summer, and as such the competition will continue!"

My finger scratched the side of my head.

"Ah, sounds cool."

The voice chuckled.

"Yes, yes. Are you here for that?"

My shoulders shrugged.

"Well, not-"

"Say you are!"

A whisper came from behind me, it was the necklace.

My head turned around to look at the necklace, then turned back forward.

"Uh, yes I am here for that."

The voice made a sound akin to clearing its throat.

"Participating or spectating?"

My mouth opened then closed. The necklace behind me whispered again.

"Participating!"

My fist was held in front of my mouth.

"Uh, participating?"

The voice scoffed.

"Then you must prove your strength! You must slay a wolf and bring back its pelt to enter!"

My head tilted to the side.

"Oh, I am wearing one right now."

The voice behind was silent for a moment.

"Well... Alright, whatever."

The iron bars were slowly raised, revealing their spiked bottom.

Once the gate was finished raising, my foot was set down past the gate, into the city.

After that first step, I was at a loss.

Where do I go?

The location of this 'competition' was knowledge nobody gave me.

"Hey, do you know where to go for the competition?"

The voice coughed.

"Er, somewhere up ahead. Just go straight, you should see it somewhere."

My face twitched.

"...Ok."

Following the unclear directions, my steps walked down the pathway.

The streets were not crowded by any means, but it felt like everyone was looking at me. No matter what people would make sure they were at least a meter away from me.

My original intentions were to ask someone else where this 'competition' was.

My head scanned the area around me. Once my eyes landed on someone, they looked away.

It seemed nobody would answer my questions...

After a few moments of awkward walking, a large field came into view.

There were a couple of burly men practicing swinging a variety of metal weapons. In a corner far away from them, was a kid waving around a wooden sword.

Like the other people, he was only wearing a simple shirt but also sweating profusely. The kid clearly did not know what he was doing, randomly swinging the sword with one hand and then placing it in his other hand to swing some more.

He didn't seem concerned as my figure continued to approach. When he was one meter away, he turned to look at me.

"Oh hey!"

My finger scratched the side of my head.

"Hi, my name is Jay."

The kid smiled.

"Hey, Jay! My name is Everett. That is such a cool crown on your head, where did you get it?"

A small smile formed on my face.

"From some lizards."

Everett raised both his eyebrows.

"Wow! If I ever find lizards they are going to fall by my sword!"

Everett pointed his wooden sword up in the air, though his hand was trembling.

"Did you get those floating pieces of jewelry from the lizards as well?"

A laugh naturally came out from me.

"They were collected from caves underground."

Everett waved his sword around excitedly.

"Haha, I need to explore a cave someday then!"

My eyes drifted off to the people practicing their swings in the distance.

"What is everyone doing over there?"

Everett's head followed my line of sight.

"Oh, we are practicing for The Peak that is happening tomorrow!"

My head tilted to the side.

"Ah, you killed a wolf as well?"

Everett laughed.

"Oh, you are a visitor. To participate you either need a wolf pelt or proof that you are a resident here."

Everett swung his wooden sword with a smile on his face.

"But that doesn't mean I can't kill a wolf! With just one strike it would fall, but my time is better spent preparing."

I nodded.

"Oh yeah, where does the competition thingy take place?"

Everett had a big smile and pointed towards a colosseum.

"Over there! It's pretty hard to miss."

My eyes followed Everett's finger.

"Haha, you're right. Thanks."

Everett put his hand on his side while his elbow stuck out.

"Hehe, so you're also participating in the competition? Do you want to spar? Don't worry I'll hold back!"

My finger scratched the side of my head.

"Ok?"

Everett raised his wooden sword.

"Then let's start!"

Everett swung the wooden sword at me. Though unprepared, it was easy enough to take a step back and dodge it.

Everett swung the wooden sword again and my hand directly caught it. My hand was about to pull the sword.

Everett laughed with flared nostrils.

"If that was a metal sword you would be done for, I win!"

My hand stopped from pulling the sword. In the back of my mind, I was sure a metal sword would hardly hurt me.

Not to mention the force behind his attacks felt like he was trying to hand me the wooden sword more than anything.

My shoulders shrugged.

"Haha, well played."

Everett smiled.

"Don't be a sore loser! After all, I'm going to be the winner of The Peak!"

My face twitched.

He seemed to be happy, so I changed the subject.

"Anyways, don't you need to rest so that you aren't tired when The Peak starts?"

Everett tilted his head then nodded.

"Ah, you are right. I should go back home."

Before Everett ran off, my finger tapped his shoulder.

"Wait, do you know any places to stay the night?"

Everett turned his head over.

"Um, if you are rich there are some inns."

The corner of my lip twitched.

"...What if I'm not rich?"

Everett tilted his head to the side.

"Maybe I can convince my mom to have you over?"

A sigh of relief escaped me, but before a word could come out of my mouth, someone else interjected.

"Sir, is this kid bothering you?"

A man with toned muscles was saluting and a few meters away. His other hand was holding onto a spear which was pointed to the floor.

Everett frowned.

"What do you mean? How am I bothering him?"

The man glared at Everett, then looked at me.

"I can take care of him if you wish."

Everett pointed his wooden sword at the man.

"As if! I could-"

"Everett."

My voice cut him off.

My head turned to the man and flashed him a smile.

"Don't worry, he hasn't done anything"

Everett stuck out his tongue and leaned over to the man.

"See? You big-"

"Everett."

My eyes were intently staring at him.

Everett's face twitched.

"What?"

A sigh escaped me.

"He was concerned, don't take so much offense."

Everett frowned.

"Ok..."

The man bowed.

"I see sir, sorry for disturbing you."

My hand waved dismissively.

"Don't worry about it."

Once the man left, I let go of Everett.

"Can I still come over?"

Everett smirked.

"Hehe, Of cour-"

Everett's face suddenly twitched.

"Um, if mom allows."

A chuckle escaped me.

"Alright, thanks."

Everett led me down a cobblestone path.

As we walked, the people around us were whispering.

I wasn't trying to listen in, but some whispers still reached my ear.

"Foolish kid, he got his family in trouble. This is why I'll never have children."

My gaze subconsciously looked towards the woman who said that. Once my eyes were on her, she immediately looked down to the floor.

Why were people being so weird?

My head shook and my steps continued after Everett.

Soon, we stopped in front of a humble house.

Everett knocked on the door.

"Mom?"