There's nothing good here. Nothing appealing.

I wonder around the stands, examining their contents with arms crossed. Baskets of fruit imported from the southern villages, deer, rabbit meats, vegetables grown in the mountain terrain. Even the grainy piles of wheat, stuff I usually crave, looks off. The surfaces look too shiny. Unrealistic, fake. Maybe it's all in my head, maybe it isn't. But I'd need to bring back something for tonight.

There's a rummaging around the marketplace. I stifle a yawn. Dawn has barely cracked and people are already swarming into every nook and cranny. Thankfully, I'm used to it. Used to the smell of body odor and morning breath, the incessant chants of merchants eager to exchange their goods. Packed in dirt turning to mud near certain stands, it all clinging like a child to my shoes. The constant elbow in my rib, the swooping and diving needed to avoid a rather angry drunkard or businessman. Not sure which one is worse.

"Apples! Apples here, on sale only this morning!"

"Visien, rabbit meat, pelts!"

The harmony continues as I wander over towards another stand. An older lady sits there, cash box clutched in her hands. Her eyes don't meet his. They look glazed over, cloudy. I sigh. Another salesperson who doesn't take me seriously. How original. She's selling potatoes, though, and potatoes are easy to make and keep me full. I take a bag, place it in the basket and hand the woman some money. She says nothing as her fragile fingers drivel out the change. I don't either as I shove the left over coins back into my pocket.

There's now a few potatoes, stitched together in a cheap looking bag, and a few packets of dried fruit and smoked rabbit. Hurray! I have enough for stew! It jiggles as I move. I sigh, feeling my eyes furrow. I'm going to have to get a lot more; This needs to last my family of three for the next couple of days. Maybe get some more meat? It doesn't go stale as fast as plant stuff. Fish would be cheaper. I grimace, tongue twitching. Fish taste awful, no other way around it. But it's something.

I make my way over towards the west side of the market. I know I'm close when everything starts to reek of seaweed and putrid scales. There are fewer people here, too. Not sure why, but it's definitely less crowded. I have elbow room! I slow my pace, adjusting to the lack of traffic. It's nice to feel like I can finally breath; It's also unfortunate that I'm breathing in dead fish. Yuck.

"Hello?"

I walk up to a cart where an older man is selling what looks like tuna. There's a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, one that spreads to the corner of his lips. It both draws me in and screams at me to get out. I smirk, already warming up to the fellow.

"Interested?"

The man has a thick accent. His single word is rich, booming straight towards me.

"Yeah, need something good for supper."

"Don't seem like much of a fish lover," he remarks, moving his hands over the catch. "I can tell by the way you held your nose. If you don't like the smell, may not like the taste."

"Throw in some garlic, and I won't be able to smell or taste it properly."

The man laughs, eyes crinkling. I chuckle back, pulling out my remaining coins and counting them over. I'd need two for the toll, so that means I have twenty-three left. The sign on the stand tells me it's five for a whole fish, and I should get at least two...so that's thirteen. Buy more potatoes, pocket the rest and pretend I spent it all? I'll think of something. I hand the man the money. He gives another smile and begins to bind the fish into their packages. Their dead eyes make me shiver.

"What year are you?"

"Tenth."

I suddenly swell with excitement, the sensation reaching all the way down my toes. Tenth year meant age sixteen, And sixteen was the year for the Rujan festival.

"Will you be competing?"

"Course I will."

Most kids did, after all. I'd only met a few who'd opted out. Usually, they had some type of disability or already had a set career choice. I couldn't imagine a life without winning the festival. What would I do? Tero-Magic? Sure, it's the only thing I'm good at, but it's not like it'll give me a future. It's not what will set my heart on fire. Only a dragon can do that (and no, I don't mean literally, even if that is possible).

"Tell me," he says, the fish ready to go and in his hand. "If you win the Rujan festival, what are you going to do? Security? Treat your dragon as a glorified pet? Run off to see the rest of the highlands?"

"-I'll tell you what I'm going to do."

I jump as this new voice speaks. My gut tightens when I realize...I recognize it. There's something to his voice, not quite a lisp but not unbroken. An all too familiar pattern. I should probably get out of here before those dirt eyes say something stupid.

"I'm going to win the Rujan festival, come in first, and join the Black Dragons. Make my career from there- unlike some people, I'll be useful. I'll also take three things of, what type of fish is this? Tuna? Right, tuna."

I roll my eyes, grabbing the fish and shoving it in my basket. Mister arrogant pimple face over here thinks he's going to win? Ha.

"Don't confuse arrogance for usefulness, Elton."

"And what does count, Micha? A boy playing with disenchanted metal, praying to a single god?"

He grits his teeth as he talks, turning towards me. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the man stuffing the fish as quickly as he can into a bag. Doesn't want trouble, I'm guessing. His eyes remain down. Fully concentrating on his work, fingers moving fast. Can't lie; I feel a bit bad for him now.

"I won't need Terro-Magic when I have my dragon," I say, scoffing. "And unlike you, I'm not a scrawny latrine stain like you, so I don't have to spend half of my day trying to compensate for something-"

Jab

Knuckles spin straight for me, grazing the side of my jaw. I step back in time to lessen the impact. It still screams like fireworks, causing me to wince and take another step back. Yup, I'd have a bruise tomorrow. But I'm not going to be the only one who doesn't make it out unscratched.

I return the punch, ramming him in the chest. Elton stammers backward. I smirk, knowing the air has been pushed out of his lungs. I raise my fists, preparing for his next strike. His eyes are still spinning when he hits next. Missed. I laugh, moving away from the cart. I set my basket down. The buzzing in my chest tells me things are going to get ugly. And fast.

"You dumbass..."

He roars, this time raising a foot. It happens so face. My composure crumbles as his foot stomps into my stomach. Everything goes sideways, the world swaying. Spit and blood run down my cheek in globs. I wipe it off, shaking my head and striking again. My aim is off. I miss. He grunts, bloody fist mocking me.

"Come and get me, Micha."

I hit him again. This punch lands, but it doesn't seem to hurt him. I stumble. He smirks, delivering a swift kick to the gut. Ouch, this bastard is going to pay...

"Alright!" shouts the man. "Break it up now, break it up!"

He pushes us apart. I fall backward into something squishy. I raise a hand. It's covered in mud, churned from the sea spray and rains.

"You are both almost adults! Full grown members of our society, so start acting like it! Especially if you wish to prove you're good enough for a dragon."

For some reason, the world starts to sway again. The man's words are another punch. This time it hits with full force, shattering bones and splattering whatever remains onto the ground. I grimace. People stare on, gawking. Nobody speaks. Both Elton and I get up. I don't dare meet his eyes. They are the color of mud; Not something I want to look at.

The man glares as I move and pick up my basket. The potatoes feel heavier, the fish smell more intense. I still need to get a few more things before leaving. Elton disappears. Probably to meet up with his cronies before school. I snort. He's still a bastard.

Everything moves in a blur. People give me a few extra inches of space, off-put by the blood gushing. Elton had left his fair share of gashes, and I can already feel a few bruises start to form. I get some vegetables. Honestly, I'm not sure what I buy. It's not a conscious effort. My mind can't purge itself of those man's words, and Elton's smug grin. Before I know it, I've stumbled on back home.  

Things are still a blur. 

A/N:

Hi! :) Hope y'all liked this chapter, thanks for checking it out! How was this for an opening chapter? How do you like our main character so far? Make sure to check out the book trailer!

Remember to comment and leave a like :)