Chapter 5: The orc tribe
As we edged closer to the tribe, the true scale of the architecture could be appreciated. My mind could not comprehend the intricate methods and craftsmanship used to construct these buildings. How could the burly hands of the orcs make this.
"Close your mouth. An insect may accidentally fly in."
As we were walking along the paths, the other orcs looked at me with interest. For most of them, it was probably the first time that they saw a human being. Grald and the others explained to me what the different buildings were used for. I was surprised to find basic things like hospitals, restaurants and even an academy.
The school stuck out even amongst the colossal structures. It was crafted out of carefully cut stones and marble. There was even a fight arena in the compound.
"This is where you'll be coming soon. This is where the orcs learn about fighting and hunting. Orcs value the strong, so they use the arena to duel or for formal competitions amongst youngsters."
"There is a main fighting stage in the middle of the tribe that is used for important events."
The main arena made the one in the school look like a joke. The grey walls alone were gargantuan. We walked through the main entrance which was lined with the names of past orc champions. At the end of the corridor, I saw a name that stood out among the rest. It was Grald's name.
"You're a great fighter?" I asked.
"It may not seem like it, but Grald and his brother are two of the strongest warriors in this tribe and he is among the ten strongest in the orc species," Jasper said.
Suddenly, a loud thud echoed throughout the arena. The whole structure shook violently and I had to grab Quincy, so as not to be flown away.
"What was that?" I asked.
"That's just my older brother," Grald said with a smile.
"Let's go see him."
We walked forward and entered the stands that surrounded the fight platform. This arena could easily seat forty thousand people. In the middle of the structure were two orcs. One of them resembled Grald and I assumed that that was his brother. The other creature appeared to be injured and blood was oozing out of his orifices.
"Did you have enough?" Grald's brother asked in an intimidating voice.
"Go to hell," the other orc said as he dashed forward.
His body moved so quickly that I could not follow him with my eyes. In a flash, he appeared in front of Grald's brother and thrust his fist towards his opponent. All of his movements were followed by deafening swishes. My heart was pumping at a rapid pace upon witnessing such a battle. My eyes were fixated on the fight in front of me.
"That's pointless, he's done for," Quincy said.
"What do you me-"
Grald's brother immediately dodged the punch with lightning speed and immediately countered with a strike of his own that landed flush on his adversary's face. The orc was twisting its body in ways that should not be feasible. I could barely make out what he did because of their abnormal speed. As soon as the strike landed, the orc's body was propelled backwards and crashed into the barricade.
"You were not my match. Challenge me when you get stronger."
The orc looked in our direction and a smirk grew on his face.
"Look who it is. It's my baby brother and his stooges. There's even a handicapped child with you now. How are you doing?"
"I was doing much better before I saw you," Grald replied with a stern expression.
"We'll catch up later," he said as he left the arena.
"It seems like you don't have a good relation with your brother," I said.
"Axel and I have been competing to become the next chieftain since we were younger. Be wary of him," Grald replied.
"Who is stronger between the two of you?" I asked.
"Our last fight ended in a draw."
We left the arena shortly after and headed to where I would be staying. Grald, Quincy and Jasper all shared a house and I would also get a room in there. We walked up to an expansive estate with two guards flanking the entrance. The structure had wood pillars supporting the intricately tiled roof and smooth stone as its foundation. The yard was beautifully maintained with hedges lining the paths.
"This is our home," Jasper said.
"It has everything you could wish for. It has training grounds and... well that is it, but it is our home."
The wood door swiveled smoothly to reveal the cozy interior. A gentle heat engulfed my face. There was fireplace on one side warming the entire room. The soothing crackle of the burning wood echoed in the living space. The yellow glow emanating from the fire lit up the whole room. Quincy guided me down the numerous corridors towards my room. It was a big step up from the wood cabin that I was used to.
"I'll let you be. The chieftain wants to meet you, so I'll come fetch you in an hour. Get some rest," he said before shutting the door.
I had no intention of resting. My heart was pounding from the fight I witnessed earlier. That was the level that I had to reach. There was still a long way to go though. With an increased motivation, I resumed training.
I stood in the middle of the room and immediately began practicing the draconic basics. I was no longer tripping and I could maintain my balance properly. My punches and kicks had a better snap to them now and I could generate slightly more power. My training schedule was very rudimentary. I was only practicing each type of strike separately. My goal was to get a good grasp on each of them before trying to attempt any combination.
Thirty minutes was spent striking while the rest of the time was spent maintaining my stance. The door suddenly swung open and a smiling Quincy was on the other side of it.
"It's time for you to meet him."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone