CHAPTER FOUR

The contest was way bigger than anything I imagined, the guys who showed up were huge and masculine. I was almost invisible in their midst.

A blonde haired lady in a suit walked up to address the contestants who were possibly half a million individuals. Really everyone longed for the prize, his school. I noticed the shock in the lady's face when she spotted me among the men.

“Hey what’s your name, small boy?” while the other guys laughed.

“I’m Leo,” I answered.

“Okay I believe you are fit for what we are here to do” she said and turned to the rest of the crowd.

“The contest will kick off in an hour's time, get yourselves lady, anyone defeated goes home straight”.

Just in time, the contest resumed. I could swear I saw him.

Yes, it's him. Alpha Daman.

So many guards walked with him, two were in his front. He walked in their midst with slow graceful steps. He wore a black cloak with a bold D on its chest.

I was freaked by his look. He is really young, and terribly handsome, and his masculine body and broad shoulders made him look like a hot god. His blue eyes were the most attractive I have ever seen. There was a unique calmness around him. As I stared at him. Anger and resentment filled me. Oh I wished I could thrust a sword through him and watch him die, how dare him kill my parents.

“Get out of the way!” It was one of his guards.

I couldn’t believe I had been standing in his way, staring blankly at him.

“I am sorry young master” I bowed my face.

And when I lifted my face, he was staring at me, our eyes met and stayed for a while. He stared at me as though he suspected something, a strange secret, then he walked off. I had to catch my breath from the shock.

When the contest kicked off. I knew straight from how fierce the fight was that I didn’t stand any chance of being even among the top ten.

Indeed I had practiced, oh I have tirelessly practiced with the sword but seeing how even the perfect and well trained men were defeated made my confidence vanish. I was not sure I had ever seen a sword tournament this strict before, the swords moved with great swiftness smashing with shattering sounds.

Oh perhaps Nadine was right, there was no way I could win this contest. It was my turn and my heart sank very deep into my chest, I looked around and every eyelid was fixed on me, it seemed everyone was curious to know what sword skill gave me the confidence to be here.

“ The guy on my list as your opponent is Gibs Andrew!” The lady called out and a tall fierce looking masculine guy walked out. My heart skipped a beat, my grip on the sword shaking. Standing with him, I looked like an ant.

“You can start,” the lady said. I saw the guy’s sword coming swiftly towards me, almost chopping off my head so I had to dodge it, almost running away. The other guys laughed, some murmuring.

“Does this look like a comedy show to you, now get out?” The lady growled at me, her eyes glaring hard at me.

I noticed the Alpha’s eyes on me. I could feel it. I stood with the boys who failed and would be returning home. My heart burned as I stared at him. I would find another way around it. I concluded. Then I saw him whispering to his guard who turned and stared in my direction, then the guard walked up to the curvy lady in a suit and whispered something. The lady turned my direction and scoffed instantly, staring at me with a spark of resentment in her eyes.

The contest was over. The lady walked to the front while All eyes stared fixedly at her to hear the name of the lucky winner. I knew this plan was a complete mess already . “ I won’t give up though, there will surely be another way.” I thought to myself then watched the lady at the front.

“I appreciate that everyone of you did amazingly well, and that’s impressive but this is a contest so therefore there is a winner, so our top in the list is…” she stopped and stared up at the crowd. Everyone dripped with curiosity. I wasn't left out. I watched to see the lucky guy.

“Our winner for today’s contest is Leo Houston!” Everyone stared around for the Leo guy including me, where is he?? I expects such a lucky person to run out smiling or even jumping but there was not even a sign of the Leo guy. I stretched my legs to see through the crowds. My eyes. searching for the lucky guy. I caught the lady’s eyes on me. It dawned on me that Leo Houston was my new name, since I turned to my new identity— boy.

“Leo Houston, Where are you? Walk forward!” She said again. I gathered every strength and walked forward. I couldn’t grasp the shock.

How?? For real.

I was the least of the guys here, I could barely hold that sword. It’s so obvious that there was something else. What really happened?? Did Daman tell her to retain me, definitely not possible, who am I for him to take notice of me??? But… like… I can’t believe it myself.

I walked to the top, while the lady peered into the book in her hand and said “Congratulations Leo, you are the winner of today’s contest”

“ Why that boy??? this is not fair”

“He is the least here”

“Maybe there’s a mistake somewhere!” Soon everyone was murmuring.

“Quiet everyone, I understand your views and I must add that the parameters for judging this isn’t just skill but also on other measures quite personal. With that I believe We have come to the end of it for today” the lady announced and dismissed the crowd.