"Just when you think you've hit rock bottom, you realize you're standing on another trapdoor" 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0t78JD3BD
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- Marisha Pessl377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjgWFVgKqN
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Before my alarm started blaring, I opened my eyes 10 minutes ahead of it. I immediately jumped out of bed before the bed started realizing I'm awake and glues me to herself. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZ3dd2zW7R
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I involuntarily started stretch-yawning then went to the bathroom to take a shower. A shower in the mornings was one of the best ways to wake up, however, a shower at night was one of the best ways to have a good sleep as well. If it was up to me I'd shower everyday. But I did that for a while, and I ended up with dry skin and messed up hair. And to top it off, my hair was on the wavy and curlier side. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wPlKc8ia7
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I got out of the bathroom fully changed into my dress. After the new rulers took over which was a few years back, alot changed. One of them was that people started wearing Victorian style dresses, both men and women. It was more of a rule that everyone agreed upon. However, at home and in your own room it was fine to wear whatever you wanted even if it was a casual jeans and a top. As long as you weren't outside. This was mostly because of the fashion industry. Everyone knew that the previous king and queen loved their Victorian era fashion which was sort of odd coming from a "heartless" according to outsiders, king. But the citizens loved them so much that ended up making it a rule to wear these. There were rarely anyone that didn't like our rulers. It was hard to find. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuBU7sPmpS
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I wore a long brown dress and put my long curls into a ponytail. I passed by the kitchen quietly to not wake anyone up and grabbed a few fruits to eat. After I was done, I checked myself once more in the mirror and counting the things I needed to take for identification. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcMFENWX23
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I finally stepped out of the house. The royal castle wasnt too far away, it was in the center of the city. It made it more convinient for everyone to easily reach it during disasters or anything of sorts. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipoutEmk4K
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Once I made my way to the castle,the royal guards took me to a waiting ground for the current king to appear. I discretely looked around to find myself with the top students of the academy. Only the top students could compete to rule over the warriors. A male and a female were always selected. Romance was forbidden as the Generals unless they turned out to be mates. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQovp5Pbmt
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I found out that ten people were competing, there were six males and four females. I didn't have much competition then. Everyone was assigned to fight the opposite gender first. If you could not fight at all, then you were out. But if you could put up a good fight and show willingness, the king will judge you to stay till the real fight between each gender begins. The best of the females and the best of the males will become the leaders of the warriors. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBI2DHgVGK7
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There were still people that were nasty, saying women don't have anything to do with warriors. That they are too weak minded. There were even nasty comments about men too. That if they became leaders of the warriors, their life will be gone and they will never find a mate to settle with. But anyone who was here knew all of this and still decided to fight for it. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhai6Upb95Y
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King Cian made his way to his rightful throne, he stopped for a second as he turned around and looked at me. I instantly bowed my head to show my respect, and so did everyone else. Once he sat down, the guard announced to pay attention to our king. I instantly looked up and stood up properly.377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3X0cSLakO
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Previously, they took us to change our clothes into fighting gears. We weren't provided with a real sword of course, it was wooden so there would be no chance of intentionally killing someone. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tyNXu2BwT
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As I looked up, I saw his majesty staring right at me. He had his hands on the arm rests of the throne and motioned to one of the guards to come closer without breaking eye contact. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDur7cDnfq
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He nodded his head as the guards spoke to him then he dismissed the guard. I looked down as a sign of respect before staring at him for too long. He was the king I couldn't stare for too long before feeling intimidated even though I've never been intimidated by others before. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4vmgnFDcf
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The guards announced for the fights to start. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9J45brPli
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My rival was one of the males. We started fighting. He took a few jabs at me, but that's what I intended for him to do. I wanted him to think he had me and that I had let my guard down, then I would strike when he least expected it. He smiled with victory as he was about to put the wooden sword through my stomach. But I looked at him and smiled in return as I unexpectedly dodged it swiftly and put him in a headlock with my sword. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2Wy8kd7Jf
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The guards announced the victorious. Now, there were seven of us left. Four men and three women. The first two girls fought like their lives depended on it. The blonde haired girl won as the black haired girl was fallen beneath her heavily breathing. The guard announced the winner. The winner held a hand out to the woman beneath her, and she helped her up with a smile. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡql8Svdhcy9
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Now it was my time to fight her. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfiyajJMGx
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I stood in front of her readying my sword in what she may have thought it was poorly handled. But I meant to trick her. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18YnsLWLUz
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She circled me as I stood there watching her. She knew what she was doing. she was good. This is going to be an interesting fight. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuMKGQnBaN
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She lunged at me as I thought she was going to jab at my head, but once she was closer she went for my stomach. I heard a few gasps as the audience thought that she had me from the beginning. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vzJqcL04a
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I smirked. This girl knows what she is doing. I acknowledged her,377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HeEVbhQKB
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"It is an honor to be fighting you"377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOsJ5GA0M3
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I instantly jumped away from her before she had me. Her face fell slightly, but she composed herself quickly. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UZLfcfsqh
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She started circling me again as I did the same with her while dragging the tip of my sword against the floor.
She seemed to realize she had judged me wrongly as sweats started forming on our foreheads. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCftFbbyef
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I knew how to have her. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSXTYLca8O
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I noticed a small limp in her leg as I got closer without her noticing while we circled each other. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu36OH0x8b4
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Once she noticed I was too close, she tried to jump away. But as I had the upper hand, I dropped into position and hit her foot with my own with a kick. She stumbled about to fall but she tried catching herself. But it was too late, I had her where I wanted her. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9899DTt7yK
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I once went for her other foot that she was balancing herself on, and I kicked it. She buckled as I pushed her down on the cement floor completely. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoh5p3Suu4
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I looked down at her as we both were trying to catch our breath. I had the tip of my sword directly on her throat. She tried to catch up and jab her sword at me, but I stepped on her hands as she dropped her swords with a pained expression not letting any voice of pain out. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCizE6kW5oQ
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The guard was speaking to the king as I didn't move and inch. My head started ringing from the excitement of the fight. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuMS39GOnZ
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"The female winner has been decided, you can go back to your positions" 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4TckoQGIw
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As he announced that, I dropped my sword dropping next to the blonde. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM25b5IVQZp
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"Are you okay?" 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstchHCK30D
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She smiled at me "you're good" 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1K9VY9nn1S
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I smiled back as I held a hand out and wrapped my other arm under hers to support her.377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxpr0EtMTN
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"Thank you" she started tearing up as her face changed a bit. I looked around to see a few chairs. I tried to hide her face as one of the guards was approaching us. I glared at his direction, but he didn't seem to get the message. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FDt41EswJ
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I sat her down "It was my dream to win, I trained so hard" 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThC4fDQsao
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I frowned "I'm sorry" she looked up smiling at me. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyJJQTuFNw
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"You don't need to apologize for doing what you wanted to do" she held my hands "I wish you best of luck" my face broke into a smile mirroring hers. But the moment was inturrupted by the guard. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbp5rDQyiax
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"ma'am, we are pleased to announce that you have been selected as one of the leaders, please follow me if you accept your position" he bowed respectfully as I turned around to see someone else helping the blonde girl for medical treatment. 377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocfGMNlQSu
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The guard halted as if he had remembered something and then he suddenly whispered for others to not catch on,377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5LT8c3aZM
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"The king has requested you"
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