The tournament

1800: Explanation

"After the tragedy that ended earth, those little who survived in the bunker, established Archiefield, at first maybe they had the intention of saving humanity or maybe they wanted destruction, but as food and supplies started lessening with over a thousand people in the bunker, the courthouse began losing power. The first of chairmen, Patrick Ephraim, Cuthbert's great grandfather; the man looks everything like lamb but deep down all that had consumed him was power. He sent his men out there to examine the atmosphere lest it is survivable for mankind, but four trials didn't do it, he kept losing his armies, until one lucky day when the last recruit found something that changed everything." Harper explained.

It's after she revealed a glimpse vision of my history and I couldn't take any more forward steps. I've sat by the base of a hill next to Harper and attentively listened to all of her words knowing she's more cognizant of my past than anyone right now.

While some of her words excite me some were hard to absorb.

Everything would be difficult when you find yourself in a spot you're not supposed to be but only because you are no one and had no one, you're manipulated and thrown into that situation.

"What was that?"

"The bridge." She answered.

We've worn back our handgloves safely and not a slight reaction had appeared on my skin. It made me wonder how powerful magic is.

"Ultimate planet?"

"That. The Chairman saw the bridge as a savior to mankind but he was wrong because when Archiefield thought of itself as the only last surviving territory, the ultimate planet is something no one after the world catastrophe had believed exist."

Sometimes it comes into my head how the ultimate planet comes to existence when everything had been destroyed on the ground over fifty years ago.

"What does it looks like?"

"I can't tell you, I don't know, even as a witch the boundaries there are strong for all of us, why do you think all the witches and wizards are out here along human battling to get to the bridge?"

But I've seen what magic could do, she should be able to see through. I mean she had memories of my parent. My poor mother who wanted to come back for me.

"You have the knowledge, I thought you can..." I silently said, my head replaying those tough images from sixteen years ago.

"Knowledge and wisdom are traveled among my family mentally as long as one person witnessed or learn about it, but since after Archiefield was unified none among my family ever left the bunker, they wouldn't know because we were to keep the bunker protected with our magic, none ever participated to get to succeed and walk through the bridge of freedom." She scoffed and pause before she continued. "But I am told ultimate planet was the beautiful place you will ever see, they say it's made of shiny particles, there are places called saloons that could bring out the best of you, there are sugar made in assorted forms and different of school to attend, they said the sun there hits differently and there are even pools and seas one can learn how to swim."

Harper sadly smiles.

"But why didn't the chairman transferred all of his people if he cares for them? Like why was the present chairman worried for his son that I ended up brought to the middle of it despite my minor age if ultimate planet offers all that recreation?" That's actually what confuses me. If the ultimate planet provides all these gratifications why choose to be restrained in a bunker for years?

I understand is risky out here but why would professor or is it chairman Ephraim chooses to deny a better life for his child?

"That is where the desire of power comes in between. If chairman Patrick is to do that he will come under the custody of the ultimate planet and that man was of a prideful family." She exhales and swallows. "For Cuthbert father, chairman Ephraim, he's also smart, I think its genetics so he saw the picture from a different perspective or maybe he was afraid of this contaminated passage, maybe he was afraid of the unfair game that he has sketched or maybe there is more to the story that we still don't know."

And so he replaced me in his child spot? Knowing I have no power, no talent, I can't even use a blade properly.

Of course, I'm no one. No one cares whether I live or die? My life doesn't count.

"But Archiefield was falling," I say from what I could comprehend in her statements the entire time.

If Archiefield was in need of all necessary supplies, it doesn't make sense to keep people enclosed down there when there's another option for a hopefully better life for every human down in the bunker.

"In an exchange with a little amount of technology and soil to grow plants in an enclosed niche to feed inmates, beautiful materials for clothes, and expert doctors to treat the sick, the chairman promised a mandatory game for the ultimate planet, where talented young people combined with inexperienced kids are sent out for the entertainment of that community and at the end of each game, the one winner had proved their ability to the ultimate planet. Rumors have it no human participant had ever made it across the bridge, the game has never been fair my father had said."

Her words gave me chills and frightening goosebumps made temporary mats on my skin.

Does that mean I don't stand a chance?

"So they make people think it's a fair tournament but the main deal of the game is truly about exchanging a professional sorcerer every year for something in return?" I exhale a despaired laugh, feeling weak in my knees even seated.

"Exactly."

"What do they do with the sorcerer after every game?" I queried cautiously.

"I don't know, but that means no matter how adequate the ultimate planet might sound, magic lives around there, maybe that's why my family proficiency couldn't go beyond the bridge."

This is insane.

"Why use innocent people to die in the process? Why not negotiate rightfully with the citizens? Some might volunteer."

"Do you think any parent would give out their children to a contaminated place if they know what's really out here?"