Growing Up

        "We all did it. Every one of us." The men were gathering closer around him, forming a circle around the ritual stone. There was no escape for Kyan. He would have to do this, or he would get beaten for the rest of his life. Butterfly, they would call him as they kicked. Kyan had seen it happen before, to other cravens. And still, he couldn't help but wonder.
    "Why do I have to do this? What does this have to do with being a man?"
    One of the newly found men walked forward, staring down on Kyan. Just an hour ago, he had been Mirek the boy, Kyan's own friend. Now he was Kyan's elder. He still smelled of burned flesh. "It shows that pain means nothing to you. A man should not be guided by his boyish feelings, he should devote his life to obeying the Great Above. Are you scared, Kyan? Maybe you should rather be by the girls, crafting your woman's necklace." He laughed and the others joined in, mockingly.
    "I'll do it," Kyan found himself say. The others hushed. "I'm no craven, I'm no butterfly, I'll do it!" He grabbed the saw before he could change his mind and began cutting. 
    He could feel the metal slicing through his bones, and he swore he could hear the sawteeth grinding. His body was paralyzed and Kyan dropped the saw and screamed in agony. There was blood everywhere, and his left arm burned with pain. His vision blackened as he fell on the ground, not even feeling the pain of the fall. I can't go on, he told himself. But when Kyan opened his eyes, he was looking into the eyes dozens of men. Some were holding him down, others were watching and whispering words. Mirek was holding the saw.
    "No, please, no more. Please please, no more pain," Kyan pleaded.
    "We only need one hand," Mirek said as he took the first cut. 
    "One hand to kill a man." Kyan thought he was going to faint, but he couldn't escape the agony.
    "One hand to please a woman." Kyan's muscles were tensing all over his body as the pain continued.
    "One hand to praise the gods." Mirek wasn't sawing anymore. Kyan tried to open his eyes, and saw everyone cheering. Someone was holding a severed arm up high, waving it about for everyone to see like it was some trophy. Mirek was red with blood.
    "You lay down as Kyan the boy. Now rise as Kyan the man," he said.

    The pain never stopped.