Argh! Word fail... can I please try that again?
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I found myself lying awake in bed. I wanted to get out, but as the warm water rolled over me I found myself getting drowsier and drowsier. The warm water worked on me like tranquilizers. It's one of my favorite things in the entirety of Armor Lake. Considering the lake is made up of warm water, it kept me in a good mood, even during times of hardship.
Just then, a patch of freezing water greeted my face. I shot up out of bed. Any and all feelings of drowsiness left me. The sudden awakening wouldn't last long, though, unless I got to work. My mother wanted me to visit Armor Games' interior walls and pick up a cookbook from the library and archives. I don't know why she thought she'd find a cookbook there, but I shan't disobey Mother Dearest.
It was a long walk. The path was rocky, and little pebbles always got stuck in the webbing between my feet, and I always hated taking it. I eventually reached the gates and showed the guard my ID card. He scanned it, glared at the gates and they flew open without any resistance. Armor Games was rather vast, especially compared to my little lake. It was just my luck that the library was near the very back of the entire kingdom.
I decided to walk around the Western side of Armor Castle for a change. It would take me through the free market, the news and broadcast tower, and the atrium & plaza area. As I passed through the free market, I heard many conversations, all of them very similar, including "Do you sell inventions to take back what I said," "You! Salesperson! Sell me a device to alter my previous conversations!" I heard many grating voices, almost all yelling "Laugh out loud out loud out loud!" It was a very... Repetitive place to travel through.
The news & broadcast tower was in a state of great disrepair. It was scarcely, if ever, used nowadays. Debris constantly fell from the tip of the tower. A nearby necromancer got knocked out by some of the falling metal... served him right. Necromancy is unnatural. I chuckled slightly to myself.
I was always nervous about setting foot in the atrium. Every time I go through I nearly get blasted with a ball of fire. Just then, I heard someone scream at the top of their lungs, "Obama swatted that fly in self-defense, you noob!!" A fireball burned through a door and grazed the tip my dorsal fin. Perhaps I should have taken the Eastern route.
The library was finally in sight. About time. I began to mumble to myself, "Let's see... Aha. The Cooking Section. '1,001 Ways to prepare Spam,' 'How to Cook Using Fireballs,' 'The Strop Breakfast Way: How to Lose Weight by Eating Hay for a Month.' Nothing here Mom can use. What an utter waste of my time." I let out a deep sigh. It echoed through the hallowed hallways. I trudged, displeased, towards the exit, but I tripped over a large book. "The Ultimate guide to Armor Lands cuisine," I said. "This is perfect!"
As I left, I found myself wondering where King "Since Beta" Ryan was. He usually hung out in the library, organizing and tending to the archives. Oh well.
As I turned to the Western route, I began to fear for my well-being. "Eastern route it is," I said under my breath. I knew the area well. It was where I was for most of the time I spent in the Armor City. I wanted to avoid any commotion, so I stayed near the far wall.
I worked my way around the amusement park and found myself near Aristocrat Way. I vied to get in there one day, but I simply did not have enough AP to purchase a residence there. However, I was always welcome to take a stroll through the streets. I saw a large group of people gathered around one area, from new users who thought they had what it takes to be a wealthy man to the rich and famous themselves. The crowd piqued my fishy curiosity.
I pushed my way through the crowd, nearly knocking over a peasant. I guess I don't know my own strength, sometimes. It seemed everybody was gathered around a poster. I simply had to see what this was about.
I was surprised and eager all at the same time. I read the poster aloud. "Armor Games wants YOU... Way of Moderation Tournament... Ceremony to be held at amphitheatre, 6th August, 2009." This was my big chance. My mother and grandparents always told me about the meaning of my name... "He who is destined to make an attempt at greatness, but maybe fail. Maybe fail." I'd known that since I was four years old. I was just a fry at the time, but around the age of ten, I began really wanting to fulfill that... I suppose I could call it a prophecy. For seven years, I searched for an opportunity... and this was my big chance.
I ran home as fast as my webbed feet could take me, cookbook in arms. When I reached the lake shore, I dove straight into the water. My fins cut through the current like knives. "Mom! Mom! I brought the cookbook!"
"Oh, good. Thank you, Manta. I really appreciate it." Her sweet voice soothed me more than the warm water.
"You're very welcome... Mom, I have really big news. There's... there's this tournament. To become a moderator. I- I know I have what it takes. I just know it!" I was very passionate about this, which was unusual for me.
She paused. "Manta... how long will this last?"
"I don't know, Mom. It could last anywhere around 4 months."
"Oh... My son... You're doing this to live up to your father, aren't you?"
It caught me off guard when she said that. My father died a hero during the troll wars years ago. "W-what? No, I just feel like I was meant to do this. Please, Mom?"
She shook her head and sighed. I began to worry she would say "No." But she didn't. "Promise me you'll write me every day." We Fish Men know how to take paper products underwater without melting them.
But that's beside the point. I pumped my fist into the air and gathered my stuff up for the journey. I packed 10 pairs of my signature swim trunks, my trusty bo staff, my high pressure hose that I only used when I was in a bad mood, and the clam shell charm my father gave me when I was an infant. It allowed me to get away from the world and ignore those around me without consequence... But it also gave me confidence to think about my war hero of a father.
This was it. I was ready for the tournament. There was just one last order of business. I embraced my mother and said "Bye, Mom. I'll think about you every day." She just looked into my eyes and kissed my cheek. I felt bad for leaving her by herself... She deserves so much.
My feet hit the shore before even my suitcase, and I was off for the amphitheatre. I entered the place breathing heavily and still soaking wet. I received some strange stares. But, nonetheless, this was it. The Way of Moderation tournament.
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I hope this is okay...
If that fails, I give up.
