9 Challenge

The city of Draxis inside the castle, Morning after the banquet.

"Hey Emera how did you like your meal?" A young boy with fire colored hair was talking to a large green serpent, as they moved down along hallway.

Emera, the serpent responded, to tell the truth Oren it surprised me, the humans had quite a few domesticated beasts to choose from. So when you said, I could only eat two, I naturally chose two good sized beasts. Although you told me they would be delivered to me, so I could not eat them right away,"... Emera paused for a minute then voiced again.

"Speaking of waiting to eat, how was the banquet, and what was it that you wanted to tell me?"

"Oh yea," Oren spoke as if He suddenly remembered something important,

"The queen said something yesterday about having lost someone, I asked Esholyn about it and she told me never to talk about it, but, I cant help but think. Where is the king? Also, that chair that I sat in yesterday had small marks of usage on it. It was also fairly similar to Esholyns chair, and, that chair had to take weeks to make, meaning that chair belonged to someone else, maybe another heir... Or I don't know but something is not right. What do you think?" Oren was speaking to Emera very seriously, you could tell He was probably up all night think about this.

"Honestly, I dont know either oren but just give it a few days, or maybe even ask someone else." Emera gave Her best answer, but seeing orens eyes light up, she knew she gave a good one.

"You're right Emera I should ask someone else, and, I know exactly who.

Oren was thinking of one of Esholyns guards, a boy named Johnny. Emera of course knew that being that Oren told her everything.

Yesterday after the banquet many people where getting chummy with Oren. Some Important people who knew the truth about how He met the Queen even promised to bring gifts and things to butter him up. While, others were just curious of who this strange boy was that the queen suddenly exalted him over the populace. After all was said and done, Johnny actually came to Oren to extend a hand in friendship to him, which Oren gratefully accepted.

The two chatted about numerous things. Johnny ended up telling Oren that his dad was a light type beast warrior, who was currently on a secret mission for the Queen. Oren, although He didn't speak about his dad, told Johnny all about Emera, Leo, and how He really met the princess.

Johnny was amazed at the things Oren spoke about, once more inviting him to join The Princess Guard, a group He and another young guard named Harvey created, in order for them to woo over Princess Esholyn. Oren of course accepted this invitation.

As Oren and Emera, were leaving their corridor of the castle, Oren could see Esholyn through a large crowd of people. Esholyn was glowing! When She noticed Him, She flagged Him over.

As He got closer, He saw Johnny standing on Her left and Harvey on Her right.

"Hey you guys," Oren spoke friendly as He walked up. He gave Johnny a friendly hug then put his arm around Esholyns shoulders, Harvey Instantly turned red, but He didnt say a word. Why would He? The Queen said yesterday, that Oren was to be treated no different than an Heir. He knew better than to disrespect an Heir of the Queen.

"Hey Harvey guess what" Oren said mockingly, "I'm joining the Princess's guard, although my main man, Johnny Boy," Oren nodded to Johnny who was just smiling, then continued, "told me that I don't have to stay in the forest for the initial 5 day survival trial being that,.. Well, I lived in the forest alone for 5 yrs.. HaHa..what is 5 more days, and also, My bride to be, Esholyn, will be waiving the 20 day feel out period in order for me to join immediately. So now the only thing stopping me from joining is you saying you will challenge me, which I do accept," Oren finished these words, still opening his mouth as if He was about to talk again. Harvey abruptly spoke His face still red, but his voice full of confidence.

"Hmpppff.., Did Johnny tell you the challenge is a non-lethal sword duel, did he tell you that I am the youngest top sword fighter in the city, did He tell you that I Have never lost a duel to anyone accept veterans. Did He tell you, My father is the number 1 swordsman in this city, I even have His elemental lightning sword. So please tell me when and where and I will beat you.....You runt!" Harvey was extremely furious, but he managed to keep His voice in check.

Oren, however was calm in his response.

"Well, I am on my way to Esholyns magic class, so how about, tonight after feast we go to the west yard and have our duel?"

Harvey actually cracked a smile, He then nodded in agreement and walked away, normally He would accompany Esholyn throughout the day, but now he had to make some preparations.

"Well I guess it's just us today, huh?" Johnny spoke out sarcastically, He was truly getting a kick outta this situation.

The group of three, and Emera the serpent, traversed the castle. They didn't speak much accept Oren telling emera about the duel. They came to a stop in front of a room. Esholyn knocked on the door and a few moments later it opened.

"Hello Esholyn," Oren heard a voice He recognized.

When the door opened fully, Oren realized it was a guard named Fernand, a guard the Queen scolded for ordering an attack on Oren when He first came the city.

"Oren!" Fernand said surprisingly as He bowed, seemingly just now recognizing Oren, because Oren was dressed like a noble, and not some wild boy in rags. Orens hair was even attended to this morning, it was now nicely braided.

"Come in everyone, there is even room for Emera," Fernand spoke happily.

Esholyn, Oren, Johnny, then Emera entered the room, it was very large and in the center was a giant circular dueling platform with magic symbols around the edges.

"Miss Esholyn are you ready, today will be a very serious training session due to me just being assigned as an instructor. I have to see what you are good at, and where we should pick up at."

Fernand spoke quite sternly, it seemed He took teaching very seriously. "Okay now everyone take seats around the platform, and Esholyn step on up."

When Esholyn stepped on the platform, She said an incantation, and Her outfit changed, It was no longer a royal gown but, now a nicely embroidered mage cloak, although she had no hood... Pppff... She then materialized a scepter similar to Her mothers, but the stone was a bright blue crystal, the aura was similar to the jade green diamond on Her forehead but a lot larger. She looked like an goddess, her skin glowing blue with that silver scepter in Her hand, the blue crystal also glowing in sync with the green diamond on her forehead.

Emera perked up when the scepter came out, "Oren later we need to talk...I think I know whats going on around here." She said, Her voice sounding concerned.

Oren, just voiced back "Ok later after My duel with Harvey." He had no idea what Emera wanted to say, but He was right now very interested in watching Esholyns training session.

Oren just looked at the stage waiting to see what would happen.

"Ok lets see how much control you have over the Earthstone," Fernand spoke but he didn't get on the stage, instead He activated a switch and the magic symbols lit up, causing dozens of creatures and beasts to appear on the platform, even some archers and swordsmen, but there were at least double the number of beast compared to the archers, and swordsmen.

"Now Esholyn before we begin, I want you to use water for attacking, the earth for defending, but do not use your light abilities, only use the abilities granted to you by the Earthstone, so you can put your scepter aside." He looked at Esholyn smiling while continuing to speak, "also, you are not to use your wide range attacks, you can kill no more than a few enemies at once."

Esholyn looking determined put her scepter away.

She then said another incantation and her outfit changed again, she was now wearing plain clothes similar to the outfit she had on in the forest.

.....Slooosh.. The air around Her right hand suddenly liquefied and turned into a massive water blade. But Esholyn wasn't holding it instead her arm was surrounded by the water and formed the blade around it. "Okay what are you doing let's start" Esholyn said,

Swish..... Esholyn moved, She was suprisingly fast, even Oren could barely see Her movements. It wasn't her speed that surprised Oren, instead it was as if Her entire body became like water, formless yet physical, soft and powerful.

Swish.. swish... swish.. The water blade effortlessly chopped through the beasts.

Although they weren't actually real, they were still solid constructs that possessed about the same strength as the animal they were copied from. So If the difficulty was to high they could possibly kill. Esholyn however, was like a dancer, whatever beast that water blade passed by the was either beheaded or chopped in two, she moved like a vapor and attacked like the ocean, elegantly dodging attacks and countering them perfectly, Oren was amazed She truly was an expert combatant.

She slowly, one by one killed every beast and swordsman that attacked Her one against dozens, and Esholyn easily bested them all.

Screeech.....A Bird type beast swooped down. Slash... Two pillars of ice shot out from Esholyn. She was manipulating the magical elements naturally found in the atmosphere.

Crash... The giant bird beast fell to the floor, its head and torso pierced by the Ice blades Esholyn just conjured out of thin air.

Swoosh... Esholyn seemed to move like a vapor, only solidifying in front of enemies to deliver a fatal sword chop. Esholyn fought beautifully only retreating from certain beasts that could withstand her waterblade strike. Even then, She quickly dispatched the defensively weak beasts. Oren was stunned He just stared dumbstruck, realizing Esholyns magical strength was truly powerful.

....BOOM... A loud bang caused Oren to snap out of His stupor, now realizing, Esholyn had killed almost every beast accept for 3 rhinomen and 4 human archers. The boom happened when the rhinomen all charged her at the same time, Esholyn caused a large stone slab to appear causing all three of them to smash into the newly formed wall.

The wall suddenly vanished and Esholyn charged, her water blade meeting the closest dazed rhinoman,.....Bang... The water blade bounced right off the rhinomans nearly impenetrable hide allowing him to throw a nice backhand.....Bang.. The rhino hit another stone surface, Esholyn once again materialized stone, but this time around her left arm to form a stone fist, meeting the rhinomans fist with her own, then flipping backwards as the other two charged over, summoning two rock walls to block Her escape,

Esholyn charged again this time causing the rock walls to disappear at the last second,

However the Human archers had launched an attack, and Esholyn formed a rock wall to block the arrows, while also, sending it forward easily barricading the 4 archers. She was still moving towards the rhinomen, the humans had thrown her off guard, and so the 3 Rhino men all swung their massive fist at the same time, BOOOM... The ground shook from the might of these powerful fists.... But, Esholyn at the last moment put a thick stone shell over herself...Blocking the attacks all at once, then....Bang.. The shell blew apart, and Esholyn with a small hint of blood on her mouth stood there looking like a god, as the stone flew in all directions. Swoosh.. Swoosh.. Swoosh three needles of water materialized. Swish... They all flew forward at once. sikt... sikt... sikt...

The rhinomen who thought they hit Esholyn were momentarily bewildered, the needles didn't hit their skin, She and they knew nothing would happen, instead Esholyn sent the needles into their eyes. The needles easily pierced into their soft eyelids and eyeballs instantly destroying them.

Esholyn, then turned to where she left the archers who where still barricaded by the stone wall she formed.

Slash... slash... slash.. Esholyn caused numerous ice pillars to shoot up under the archers.

When the final archer died the magic runes stopped glowing and the corpses vanished. Esholyn walked back over to Oren smiling, no doubt She was putting on a show for Oren just now when she was slaughtering those beast constructs. Oren couldn't speak all he had were questions and right now he was so confused he couldnt even say a word He truly was mezmerized at Esholyns astonishing magical abilities, as well as Her fully capable combat ability

"Bravo, Bravo, Bravo Esholyn," Fernand starting applauding,

"You were magnificent, in order for you to have been able to defeat nearly 100 enemies in a couple of minutes, means you truly have almost mastered the Earthstones power." Although Ferdnand spoke very highly of Esholyn, Oren could hear a underlying tone of envy every time Ferdnand mentioned the Earthstone.

"Please come back in two days Esholyn, and We will have a lesson on wide range attacks."

Fernand spoke as the group got up to leave.

Johnny was the first to exit the training room followed by Emera, Esholyn and Oren,

Johnny was the first to speak "Esholyn that was a very good display of skill I doubt anyone but the Queen can beat you in...." "Please Johnny you are too kind," Esholyn interrupted Him, She wasn't one for empty compliments. "I have yet to beat Harvey, and you are in line for your fathers beast aura yet without it you are still on par with me, your magic is on par with my current Light Witch magic that I inherited from mother, and Oren....." Oren and Esholyn had been told not to tell others about Orens abilities, therefore Esholyn stopped herself before mentioning Orens monstrous strength.

"Esholyn didn't you wanna go somewhere," Oren spoke, quickly changing the subject as the group walked down the corridor.

"Oh yea I wanted to go buy something from the City." Esholyn spoke cheerfully.

Oren then turned to Emera and aksed, "now Emera was it you wanted to tell me?"