Personal Achievement and short story

So, just this week, I have finished Pre-Algebra. I know, I know, this has NOTHING to do with writing! Not in a direct way, anyhow. But I am just exceedingly happy that I am finished with it for now. So . . . I wrote a story. A story to help me celebrate my newly found freedom. This is a story for and dedicated to all Math/Algebra haters!!! Enjoy!


"The Discipuli Tribe: Destroying the Mathematicans"


Areehah, Destroyer of Enemies and Leader of the Discipuli tribe, crouched low to the ground behind the dead brush, signaling for his fellow warriors to stand still. He swiped his brown hair out of his eyes and looked over the horizon and smiled grimly. Turning back to his troop, he slapped his hands together and looked at each one of them. Thousands, they were. And yet, they were still outnumbered by the Mathematica Tribe. No matter. They would still be destroyed, as everyone from the Academicorum branch had been.
     Areehah's gaze landed on Vaidya, the Healer and only female warrior. She was small and  pale, with wispy blonde hair, and many took one glance at her and decided she was weak. Oh, but how she loved to prove them wrong. She was as strong and tough as all of the men, and she could take on all of the men in his tribe, and still come out wielding her sword and shooting arrows. Areehah smiled at the image. He straightened his face and paced in front of his men. And, er, woman.
     "Alright, warriors, the time has come to destroy the Mathematica tribe. We have worked up to this. We have struck fear in the hearts of many . . . and at last, at long last, we have made it here. Let us not get sloppy and mess this lone chance up. This is our only chance! Do you understand me?"
     "Yes, Lea-der!" was shouted in unison. Areehah's eyes met with Vaidya's for a brief second before he snapped back around. It was no time to get distracted by her big, amber eyes. They needed to be focused.
     He lifted his right arm high into the air and then extended it straight forward. "Aaaaaaaaaaaaay-yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" The battle cry filled the air as his warriors formed into a human wall of ten people, in one thousand rows, as they had done before. He ran full speed, his warriors following behind him, towards the Mathematica camp. They would crush them. Destroy them. Just as the Mathematica tribe had tried to do to them so long ago.
     Images filled his mind and blinded him as he remembered the torture and pain. The way the leaders had played with their minds. The way they has stolen their uniqueness and tried to make them the same as all the others. Fury burrowed deeper into his heart, nearly exploding in a full fit of rage. But he refused to let it out. Not yet. He would need it to destroy the Mathematicans. His legs ate up the distance and he was soon inside their camp.
      The camp lied out in the open. No gates or fences to protect them. No strong walls to guard it. Fools. They thought they were big and powerful, and that no one would dare come against them. Well, they were in for a bit of a surprise, it seemed. A slow, greedy smile formed on Areehah's lips. Revenge would be given to him this day. He would see to it.
     He drew out his sword and charged into the camp. His warriors stayed behind, just as he had instructed them to. Four muscled men stepped out in front of him, their hands on the hilt of their swords. He wanted to scoff. These men were who they had guarding the city? Vaidya could kill all four of them in seconds, with no trouble.
     "Halt, sir, and state your business." The taller one of the four commanded. Areehah looked him over, determining how difficult it would be to kill him where he stood. It wouldn't be too hard, but this man would surely put up a fight. It would not be good enough, but it would be a decent fight. Areehah smirked. Finally, a man worth fighting. He would save him for last . . . or not. His warriors would take care of him before Areehah was done with the leader of  Mathematica. The smirk fled at the thought, and his eyes narrowed. He was here to accomplish something, and he had to do it before sunset. The sun was already hanging low in the sky. Better get this done with.
     "I am Areehah. I am here to speak to your leader, Algebra." His eyes bore into the other man's. Let him dare refuse.
      The man didn't seem to take the hint. "I am afraid we do not let lowly nobodies in the presence of our great leader, Algebra." The man's smirk made Areehah want to clench his fist and strike him across the face. He wanted to shout, I was one of those nobodies! But no longer! But your great leader will not see me? ME? The boy he said would make stronger? The boy he said he would make stronger and smarter and greater than ever before? The boy he beat half to death and played mind games with, making me doubt my own existence? But instead, he said nothing. He ground his teeth together and drew himself to his full height. A good four inches taller, he looked down at the man and placed his sword at the man's neck. The other three men drew their swords and surrounded Areehah.
     Had he not been here for a mission, he would have laughed outright. These men, trained men, were afraid of a boy of eighteen? One that had taught himself how to fight, his only motivation that he could someday conquer and control the whole Academicorum tribes? Never mind that. They should be afraid. They should tremble before him. A smile slowly stretched across his face, and the men surrounding him began to look uneasy.
     "I'm afraid I will see your leader. Now." He raised his left arm in the air, drew in his breath and shouted, "Attaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!"
     His warriors came rushing out from behind the tall grasses and brush, some had swords drawn and others had their bows ready to shoot. Areehah broke free from the four men and went in search of the leader's building. He would only want the best, of course. It would probably be made of gold and silver, with a statue of himself outside. A growl itched low in his throat. Algebra would pay. He would suffer what they had suffered.
     Sure enough, outside one of the grandest building Areehah had ever seen, stood a six foot statue of Algebra. Rage blinded him and he charged up the steps and threw the door open. A fat, bald man came running down the hallway stairs.
     "What do you think you are doing? How dare you--" He stopped and his pale eyes widened as he looked at Areehah. "No . . . it cannot be. It is not you. I-- I-- Areehah?"
     Areehah made a show of slashing his sword through the air, and was pleased when the older man blanched. "Yes, it is I . . . Master Algebra." He walked slowly around the staircase, seemingly interested in the invisible speck of dust on his sword. "How have you been, hmm? I suppose you were too busy torturing other . . . young geniuses to help me become stronger and smarter as you promised?"
     Algebra raised his hand and attempted to speak. But Areehah refused him that liberty as it had been refused to him once before. "You promised to help me, you know. You promised to make me one of the best. The strongest. The bravest." He swiped his thumb down the long, iron blade. A lazy smile tugged at his mouth as he turned his back to the man. "The smartest."
     Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Algebra put his palms forward in what seemed like a surrendering gesture. "But I did! I . . . I accomplished all I had set out to."
     Areehah whirled back around and allowed the tip of his sword to pin the lying rogue to the wall. "Oh, really? You tortured us. You played with our minds. You beat us and made us your slaves until we wanted to die. Is that what you set out to do?" He pulled his sword back. "Yes, I suppose it was." He paced in front of Algebra, wondering what way of death would be painful and slow enough for this . . . animal.
     Algebra shrugged. "I did what I must to accomplish my goal. What's done is done. Let bygones be bygones."
     Areehah clenched his fist and hit Algebra square in the jaw. The man stumbled and fell down the stairs. He landed near the door which Areehah had knocked over. He moaned and began crawling towards the door. Areehah blocked his path. "Not this time, Algebra. I allowed you to inflict pain on me. I allowed you to control my mind until it was no longer my own. I allowed you to run away and hide out here. But no more. I will have my revenge. I have waited years for this. You will pay." He bent over and dragged Algebra up by his collar and shoved him outside.
      "Warriors! Look who I have found!" Cheers rose up through the air, and Areehah felt a burst of pride. He kicked Algebra in the ribs as everyone began to surround him. "So, men--" he looked up at Vaidya, who smiled gently, "and woman-- we have captured him. How shall he die?"
     Areehah's closest friend, Erman, spoke up. "We should tar and feather him. And then, once the feathers are many, we should light the feathers on fire. I hear it causes great pain. We can always kill him after having fun with 'im."
     Algebra groaned. "Please, no. I will pay you. I will give you everything I have. I will make you like sons!"
     Areehah kicked him in the gut. "Shut up. I don't want your money. And the last thing I would want to be is your son."
     Algebra grabbed Areehah's leg. "Don't do this. You hate me, I know. But if you do this, you will have to live with what you did forever, like I have. You will be no better than I."
     Areehah clenched his fists. "Tar and feather him now. But I wish to set him on fire." He squatted next to Algebra and narrowed his eyes. "I will never be like you. I am better than you. I am freeing others from your bond."
     Algebra shook his head weakly. "No. You are only binding yourself in chains of bitterness and hatred. It will be your death. I assure you."
     Areehah stood. "No." He snapped his fingers and two of the warriors lifted Algebra up and brought him to the bubbling tar. They stripped his shirt away and threw bucketfuls onto his chest and back. Areehah had expected delight at Algebra's screams, but all he could focus on were the man's words.
     "You are only binding yourself in chains of bitterness and hatred. It will be your death. I assure you."
      Areehah shook his head and suddenly found Vaidya beside him. He opened his mouth to thank her for helping, but she spoke first. "He is right, you know. I cannot tell you how many people I have seen who allowed bitterness and hatred to control them. They all died young."
     Areehah scowled. How dare she tell him that? If not for him, she would still be a slave to Algebra. "So now you are on his side, I suppose? Did you wish to be his servant once again?"
     Vaidya lowered her eyes. "No. But . . . do you have to kill him?"
      Areehah turned to face her. She met his glare without flinching. "Yes, I have to kill him. He stole our imaginations and our young minds. We are forever scarred because of him." He walked over to Erman and took a match from him. He then lit the feathers and watched as the old man danced as if he . . . well, as if he were on fire. The hollers and groans of pain gave Areehah a moment of pleasure. He turned and strode back over to Vaidya, who watched with compassion and -- was that sorrow? -- in her amber eyes.
     What would she feel sad over? This man had tortured their minds and haunted their dreams for years. This was the man she had pledged to help take down. He was about to ask her, when a redheaded woman came rushing through the crowds. "Metry! Metti, oh, is that really you?!" Her soprano voice echoed throughout his head, and he tried to recall where he had last heard it. Erman walked up to him. "We are ready to kill him. How should it be done?"
     Areehah shrugged. "Uh . . . just . . . toss him in that huge ant pile over there. They look to be the deadly kind. Make sure you restrain him."
     Erman nodded and walked back to the others, shouting orders. Areehah went over to where Vaidya and the familiar woman stood. The redhead jumped at him and tried to claw him with her nails. "No! Do not hurt him! Leave him alone!" It took Areehah a few moments to understand who she spoke of.
      Algebra.
      "Ah, so you know him, eh? That's right. You're his daughter. Calculus, correct?" She nodded, a defiant light in her blue eyes. Areehah faked a laugh. "Fine. We can arrange for you to die with him."
     Vaidya gasped and jumped between him and Calculus. "Please, Areehah. Do not kill her. I beg you. Please."
     Areehah looked between the two women. "How do you know her, Vaidya?"
     Calculus tilted her head. "You do not know?" When he shook his head, she gasped. "You did not tell him, Metti? Are you that ashamed of your heritage?"
      Vaidya hung her head. Areehah felt a bubble of panic. He tried to quench it. "Vaidya . . . what is it?"
      Vaidya lifted her head and met his gaze, her eyes emotionless. "I am Algebra's daughter, Geometry."
     Areehah sucked in a breath. "No, you are not. You are Vaidya."
     Vaidya shook her head. "We were given different names. Vaidya was given to me by my mother, who hated my father, Algebra. This is my sister, Candice."
     Areehah shook his head slowly as he backed away. His enemy's daughter . . . was . . . Vaidya? He couldn't -- wouldn't -- believe it. He stalked back  towards the tall grass, barely noticing the beautiful sunset that painted the sky just above the distant mountains.
     If he followed the "Tribe Warriors Law", he would be forced to kill Candice and Vaidya. If he didn't, he would have to step aside as warrior, and Vaidya would still die. Any way he looked at it, Vaidya died. Areehah sank down on a rock and put his face in his hands. What was he to do?



I hope you liked it! I am going to make this a series, of sorts. I might write a new addition once a month or something. I'm not sure. We'll see how things work out.

You can check out the Pinterest board here! It hasn't had a lot done to it yet, but there's a few things.

God bless!
Galatians 6:9 KJV