There was absolutely no time to think about anything. Not about being called a good bitch, not about being tossed aside, nor about any of the other little things that should have been coming to mind right now. There were people, many people, moving towards or onto the ship. She could feel them, or rather, sense their energy as they moved about around them. They were being met with opposition from the Elven Guard, who were swiftly handling the situation. Yet, there was no reason to leave such an important task up to them and them alone, not when there was a Royal Guardian and the Princess of the Elven nation on board. Risen would handle this situation, and she would protect the Princess even if it cost her her life. Even before Kiara spoke, Risen was up and pulling her clothing back on. She barely even had her mithrill vest on when she flew towards the door.
Just as it swung open, she spun around and kicked the man standing there in the face. Her foot hit him with enough force to break a few of his teeth, and send him tumbling back onto the blade of a nearby guard. She merely glanced back over her shoulder, to be sure that the Princess was alright, before her attention went back to the task at hand. The sheer number of humans crawling all about the deck of the boat was astounding. It was hard to believe that they had been able to board with such numbers. It seemed as if the Elven Guard was having trouble keeping the round eared beings at bay. Risen took hold of the hilts of her new weapons and drew each of her long swords out, spinning each of them back over her wrists. She ducked down, leaning forward just slightly, preparing herself to strike, waiting, watching, almost daring anyone to look at the room as if they had the desire to even approach the Princess. Like a fool, someone did just that.
To others, it perhaps appeared as if mere seconds had gone by before she were airborne, a trail of blood following the silver, shinning blade of her weapon. She landed, gracefully on the deck, turning her attention to the nearest attacker. With him, she would make an example. Rather than attack him physically, she charged her fist with her electric magic and discharged a bolt in his direction, sending the man flying back over the guardrail of the ship and into the ocean. Normally rather docile and quiet, Risen now looked as if she were on fire. Confidence radiated from her being as her slitted, dark optics scanned the deck. In a flash, she was right back in front of the door of the Princess' room, her weapons cutting through the flesh of yet another foolish enough to even dare try to step foot through the doorway. At this point, her scales were beginning to show on her face, a sure sign that she was using a bit of her power. Older dragons were able to maintain a perfect human form no matter how much power they used, but the young dragon was nowhere near capable of doing so.
This time, there were even more of the foolish pirates coming towards the door with little care for their life or much else. The Sky Dragon was prepared for each and every one of them. There was no time to charge an attack to hit any of them with from a distance, so instead, she focused her magic into her blades. She did not wait for them to come to her, rather, she stepped towards them. Blades clashed, two blocked, one slicing down her face and neck, before finally being deflected by the vest she was wearing, sparing her body the pain of being hurt. Blood began to fill the wound, eventually spilling out onto her face. Risen didn't blink, not even once. It took some effort, but she managed to parry one of the blades, quickly turning her wrist inward, then flicking it outward. Her sword connected with the man's body, the magical energy built up within it powerful enough to send him flying up into the air.
She turned sharply, stabbing the man who held the other weapon she was currently keeping at bay. She didn't bother pulling her own weapon free, rather, she let it go and jumped into the air. As she spun, she kicked out at the man sending the blade deeper into him and him to the ground. At the same time, she used the force of her rotation to cut the man that had cut her, her magic striking him with enough power to send him directly down into the deck. Risen landed in a low crouching stance, quickly jumping and rolling forward to secure her second weapon. Once she was certain her grip on it was firm, she jumped back directly in the doorway of Kiara's cabin, hoping that she had made it clear enough to the pirates that she was willing to die before she let any of them through.
At first, their numbers were overwhelming, but they did seem to be able to stand against the heavily armed and armored guard unit. There was always a chance that things would change. . .[/list:u][/list:u]
Whatâ?¦ an idiot. the princess sighed as she sat up and brushed her hair down. Risen was up and out within a flash, even faster than Kiara was able to do anything. For a moment, she just sat there, nudity on display, as she watched from the small gap of the door at what was happening outside. Pirates were scrimmaging about, some gaining the upper-hand, others getting mauled. It didnâ??t even cross her mind that they were dirtying the deck, as blood was as common onboard a ship as it was on land. It wasnâ??t as if Sable didnâ??t go into war, it just didnâ??t go into it often. Even still, battles of small attacks such as these ones were quite common. In scale though, she had to admit that one upon a ship, no matter the size, could be seen as an entire take-over attackâ??there was much room, really.
Standing up, she found her gait a bit off, as the ship rocked to the side from the feeling of the other ship bumping into theirs. Nothing seemed too bad though, as the two ships only rocked and swayed like drunken lovers. Blood splattered along the window nearest to her, as the blonde shuffled about for proper clothes. Briefly, she wondered if she should go out there and join the battle to protect some of the Elvin guardsâ??they were never all 100% prepared nor strong enoughâ??but threw out that idea as she came across her favorite tunic. Soft laces and pristine blue, almost a deep royal color that brought out her eyes. With a small smile, she used the basin in the room to wash herself free of Risenâ??s juices and her own. The water sloshed in the golden basin, but she ignored the rocking as she squeezed the water out of the cloth and wiped her pale flesh clean.
Once cleaned, she removed the remainder of her clothes and slipped on the new tunic. Such soft feeling silk flowed ever her sink, cooling it from the already rapidly cooling feeling of not being pressed against another body. There was a roar of anger somewhere beyond her door, and she could tell by the sound that it was the men being killed by her Guardian. Risen was truly a good warrior, but she was obviously lacking in the bitch department. At least, the kind of bitch that Kiara was training her to be.
Brushing her tunic as if there were some dust on itâ??it was as clean as it could beâ??the blonde princess took a peek outside of the door. The piratesâ?? ship was right next to theirs, still stuck in the oceanâ??s forceful dance against the Elvin ship. A few more men, stronger, were boarding, and even the Elvin guards were forced to step back. They were dressed in royal red, bled with dye or blood, she could not tell. Each one of them was brunettes, strangely enough, with deeply tanned skin that told her they were out at sea often. Ragged blades, some rested, some brand new, but imperially well furnished clothing. It was interesting to say the least.
The Elvin princess observed this, as the battle waged, and Risen was slowly proving herself in the eyes of the others that she was capable of battle. So swiftly the Sky Dragon attacked in her bipedal form, blood of her adversary glistening on her blade like beautiful rubies adorning the silver metal. Kiara would have joined in the fight to protect their ship, if she had known it was needed. That, and it wasnâ??t often that the princess would join in battleâ??it being neither proper, nor wanted by the Elvin guards. It was their job to protect the ship and the royals upon it, not to be aided by the ones they were to protect. Of course, there were drawbacks of such things, such as always when things were rather chaotic upon such a small ship. The Elvin ship wasnâ??t even that small, but most Elvin ships were considered slimâ??and efficientâ??compared to the other raceâ??s ships. More so than the Dragon ships she had seen, though few there were. They were areal beings, but being diverse, they created ships to hide themselves of their race. Even still, those ships were not effective as they should be, so they borrowed Elvin ships to transport themselves whenever needed.
But, to the matter at hand.
â??You smell nice. A non-battler like yourself must be such a fair maiden.â? hot breath ghosted over her neck, disturbing the fine hairs there. He needed breath freshener herbs, badly.
â??You never cease to amaze me.â? was Kiaraâ??s only response, not even talking to her captive. Standing at the front of her door with the man pressed behind her and a blade pressed firmly against her neck, the princess released yet another suffering sigh. It was enough that the sharp blade irritated the skin and pressed open a small paper-cut slice. No blood, butt enough to turn the skin an irritated whitish-red.
No, Kiara was speaking to Risenâ??the silly Guardian that rushed away from the very being she was supposed to protect. Awesome.[/list:u][/list:u]
As soon as Risen saw what was going on behind her, she cursed under her breath. It had been her intention to eliminate anyone and everyone who moved towards the door to prevent this situation from happening. Somehow, this man slipped by her. She hadn't been able to sense him at at all. It was clear that he had skill, and his skill made him dangerous.
More than that, this was yet another failure on her part. Her job was to keep Kiara out of situations like this, but her carelessness landed them here. There was no doubt in her mind that she would be punished for this later, but that was something that would have to be dealt with when it came up later on. Right now, she needed to think, and think fast about what to do to free the Princess from the pirate. There were several other pirates running about the ship, a few who had their sights set on her specifically. After taking out a few men, it was only natural that they wanted to get some form of revenge against her. If they had all rushed her at once, she would have been in seriously trouble. Thankfully, one of them got jumpy and charged at her.
She spun on the ball of her left foot, using the turning motion to deflect the cutlass so carelessly swung in her direction. The attacking pirate stumbled forward unable to catch himself now that all of the energy in his attack was directed downward. Once his balance was gone, the young dragon jumped on top of him and planted each one of her weapons on either side of his neck. The sharpened edges were turned inward, towards his flesh. Risen looked up at the Princess, then to the man holding her. The Guardian's sharp eyes narrowed, her jaw tightly clenched. She needed to be careful from here on out, as every single move she made would affect whether or not the Princess lived through this situation or not.
"It seems like we're both at a disadvantage here. I would rather not see anymore blood spilled here today, so I ask of you, what would it take for me to get you to unhand her," Risen asked. She was not going to reveal that Kiara was elven royalty, especially not to these human pirates. Though there could be little doubt that the elf was of some importance in such a high class cabin on a large, expensive ship. The situation wasn't looking good.[/list:u][/list:u]
The man seemed to just press himself closer to the princess, breathing down her neck and towards her ear. It twitched sensitive to touch, but also out of irritation. This man really needed breathe mints, as it was not something she enjoyed having scented around her. But upon her Guardianâ??s words, she heard a soft negotiation through a firm tone. A small part of her forgave the Sky Dragon for rushing off, just because that meant that the other woman was learning. Another part of her wanted to throw Risen out onto the desk and have her whipped for her stupidity.
She wasnâ??t sure which side was going to win out by the end of this encounter.
â??You have nothing I want, woman. Why sail the seas and board other ships if one was fearful for their own life?â? he laughed, the knife perilously pressing harder against delicate flesh. A small line of red formed and before Kiara was able to lean closer to her captive to prevent it, a dribble of blood came spilling over the silver blade. Vibrant in color, the droplet slithered down the blade like a loverâ??s caress, before mingling with the sweat on the pirateâ??s hand.
The blonde princess took a shallow breath, telling herself that there was no need to fear, as there wasnâ??t any reason for him to kill her yet. Elves were killed by two ways: a broken heart or slain in battle. For her, she was almost sure that sheâ??d prefer the later, but she wasnâ??t too keen on it happening so soon in her life. â??Then why are you aboard this ship, if you did not want something?â? she asked, eyes hooked on Risenâ??s own, as if she was talking to the Dragon. In truth, she was watching what her Guardian was going to do, and if the dark haired woman understood how much she needed to be willing to give and take from situations like this.
â??Now, now, weâ??re not here to rape and pillage, thatâ??s for sure.â? came a rather feminine voice. Just beyond their left sat a rather young and delicate looking woman upon the rail of their ship. The wood seemed to pale in comparison of her fingers, shaded in the caramel coloring that adorned every inch of her flesh. Obviously this woman was at sea or outside often, but no where did it look like she was roughed up and harsh with her body. Bangles and necklaces wrapped around her ankles, wrists, and neck, some even adorning her head, over a small shawl that appeared to half weave into her long and chestnut locks. They both seemed to be wavy, silken like if one was given a feel.
All in all, she almost looked comparable to a modern day, if a bit stylish, gypsy. â??But I do have to wonder, what does this lovely Elvin ship carry that there are so many trained warriors present?â? vibrant green eyes shifted towards Risen and raised her eyebrow, taking in the sight of one of the more different ones. She gathered that this one wasnâ??t an Elf by image, and had only been on land over on that side of the waters a few times enough to know that Dragons served Elves. [/list:u][/list:u]
Risen looked from Kiara, to the man standing behind her, then, up to the strange dark skinned woman sitting up on the railing above. It's not. . .they couldn't have risked boarding a heavily guarded ship like this for the sake of satisfying their own curiosity, the Sky Dragon thought. I need to think of something. . .quickly. What should I do? What should I tell them? This is bad. . .
She had to think, what could they possibly be transporting that would require so many people and so many heavily armed guards? There were at least three detachments, one on every single ship. And. . yes, yes that was it. No, it was only a start. There was also the presence of Kiara to consider as well. She wasn't a combatant per se, but she knew how to fight and how to defend herself. Not necessarily a master, she was sure, but then what could she be? Well. . .yes, that would, perhaps, work too. These people were pirates though, and they had seen their fair share of ships. Risen did not doubt that they probably knew more about the trade routs and the activity of the ships than she did. This was going to take some considerable skill to get through, but she had to push through it for the sake of the Princess and her safety.
"We are merely transporting weapons and armor, some of the finest that the smiths of the forges in Sable have to offer, to supply troops elsewhere. Each of these ships carries a group of soldiers that were supposed to help support other troops, but your attack has caused casualties that will ultimately hinder us. To top it off, you have taken milady hostage, someone who doesn't even hold a weapon nor has one hidden on her person, and have drawn her blood. She hasn't even done so much as touched one of your men. Such a thing is something I am willing to overlook if you would withdraw with your men quickly," Risen said. Her sharpened optics looked down to Kiara, then back up to the dark skinned woman above. It was taking every ounce of self control she had to remain where she was. "If you feel you are in need of a hostage to ensure your safety until you can depart, I would be more than willing to trade places with her."
On board the same ship, there was another dragon. Had the contest continued any longer than it had, it would have been he who faced off with Risen. Yet Bosch held no ill feelings towards her. It was the decision of Kiara to make, and the decision that she made could not be overturned by anyone other than her. He was, thankfully, close enough to hear the exchange between the Royal Guardian and the Pirates, and felt that speaking up would help in some way. They might have been skeptical to believe her, but if the others were able to hear what Risen said and followed his lead, there was a good chance that they would be more inclined to believe what the Guardian said.
"Commander, I can not allow your to put yourself in such a position," he said dropping the man that he had been choking. Unlike the other soldiers around him he was wearing light armor, and carried no weapon. His specialty was hand to hand combat, and such holds as the one that Kiara was currently in was nothing to him. He could have easily gotten out of it, which was something that both the man and the apparently leader would perhaps see. He wasn't the best candidate, but he was pushing Risen's lie forward considerably with his actions. "Have them take me instead. I'm expendable."
When he spoke, something else happened as well. With his wind magic, and his other voice, he was able to send a message to all of the other knights on the ship, informing them of what was acting and what they would need to do to help make Risen's lie that much more believable. Thankfully, only they would be able to hear him.[/list:u][/list:u]
Crystalline blue eyes went skyward for not the first time since she had met Risen. The blonde princess wouldnâ??t say that she regretted choosing Risen, but she had to wonder what she was thinking. Clearly, looks was not the only thing that the Sky Dragon had on her side, and it was even her strength, as that was easily trained into any Dragon she would desire. Brains? She desperately hoped that it was why she had chosen the Guardian, because at the moment, she had to wonder why the Guardian would attempt to negotiate with seemingly pirates. Criminals of the sea that could easily take what they want without negotiating. But she supposed it was Risenâ??s first time outside of their continent, so the other woman just didnâ??t have a firm grasp on dealing with hostage princesses and the situation that followed.
It seemed that there was something up there though, because the story that the Sky Dragon had given was a good cover story. All but one detail; why would they have a noncombat woman on board?
â??We have no need for hostages of lower rank.â? the brunette woman stated, brushing her hair towards her back and off her shoulders. Her emerald eyes gazed up and down Risen, before shifting her eyes over to the voice. The male wasnâ??t interesting to her either, but she had to admit that the small curiosity of knowing that at least two Dragons boarded this ship, was helping her draw her conclusions. â??Assuming that there are few women on the ship, as well as the fact that everyone seems to be wielding a weapon of some sort why she does notâ?¦ may I conclude thatâ??people from Sableâ??you are the their princess?â?
Kiara raised an eyebrow at that, as the knife near her throat loosened only a fraction so that it wasnâ??t cutting into her flesh. For someone who traveled the seas and pirated, she wasnâ??t surprised that this woman was able to garner that much from little clues that were traditional to see. But at the same time, she didnâ??t seem like a pirate of the regular sort. A simple glance around them told her that these people werenâ??t malnourished like most people out at sea for long periods of time. Their outfits were well taken care of, their very beings were presented fashionablyâ?¦ royal.
â??Merpeople?â? she asked, a shot in the dark truly. But it garnered a soft, nearly barked laugh from the woman that seemed to command those around her. The green eyes that glittered with mirth seemed amphibian for a moment, slitting and then widening the pupil.
The brunette didnâ??t seem to say anything, as she turned her gaze towards Risen and her grin turned a bit salacious. â??Weâ??ve never captured creatures of the sky before.â? she stated, allowing her eyes to roam over both Risenâ??s and Boschâ??s form for a moment. Raising her hand in the air as if catching something, a faint glow emitted, before a strange bubble-like field surrounded all three ships. The ship closest to them, the one that the â??piratesâ?? had came upon, seemed to dissolve into bubbles and rejoined the seawater; seemingly where it came from. â??Now, shall you join us to our world peacefully?â? she asked almost sweetly, as if she was inviting and not capturing the Elvin and Dragon group before her.
The bubble-like field was surely to keep them there and safe on the journey downwards into the sea, but whether they were prisoners or guests didnâ??t seem to matter in the way that the brunette spoke to them. â??Tell me, Dragonâ?¦ are you afraid of being below the surface?â? the brunette asked, as the world seem to sink as the moments passed.[/list:u][/list:u]
Risen cursed under her breath. Perhaps it was because she was of lower birth, but she couldn't fathom what was going through the brunette haired woman's mind. Why command troops to invade a ship and cause such heavy losses on both sides, only to turn around and talk about things like this? There had to have been a more straight forward diplomatic approach she could have taken in this situation. Even more than that, if they knew who Kiara was, why was that man still standing there with the knife to her throat? He moved it, only slightly, but Risen didn't let go of the breath she was holding. Rather, she responded to the gesture in kind, only slightly shifting the razor sharp blades from the neck of the fighter she captured.
"I've not the luxury of fear," Risen replied, doing her best not to let her personal feelings show. It hard to hide the fact that she was very annoyed, and even a bit on edge. These Merpeople, as Kiara called them, were a people that she was quickly coming to dislike. And the brunette? Risen definitely disliked her. Soon, the surface was above their heads, and the ships ventured lower and lower underwater.
"Likewise. We have only our duties to worry about now," Bosch said, openly agreeing with the Royal Guardian. He too questioned the motives of these Merpeople. It made very little sense to do something like this unless they planned on capturing all of them and holding them prisoner. If such were the case, he would definitely be busy working to keep as many of them alive as possible. Even the younger dragon would have a time, trying to protect the princess and get her to the surface safely. Their advantage was almost completely lost now that they were underwater. Bosch lowered his fists slightly, not wanting to drop his guard, but not wanting to appear too aggressive fearing the notion would leave them in an even less favorable position.
Risen's eyes shifted from Kiara up to the woman sitting above. Even she could read the situation - she knew that things were growing increasingly bad for them. Strategically, all advantages that they had up above on the surface were gone. At the drop of a pin, the protective bubble could be dropped and they could all be drowned before they could even blink. These Merpeople had just taken three of the ships from the Royal Fleet of Sable, taken the Princess, her Royal Guardian, and several platoons of knights. Even they had to know that if they did anything to bring harm to what they had taken, they would fall under the full wrath of the King of Sable. With a group of water dragons who were experienced in fighting underwater, even these people would be in serious trouble.
"If I may be so bold as to ask. . .what are your intentions in bringing us below the surface? And, if you have figured out that is indeed the Princess you have captive, why have you not released her," Risen asked. The situation was dire, and though she was growing increasingly uneasy about being below the surface of the water, her priority was still ensuring the safety of the Princess. A mistake had been made before, leaving her side in the first place. She absolutely couldn't risk something more happening to her now.[/list:u][/list:u]
The said princess didnâ??t seem fazed by all of this, as she just relaxed and watched the Sky Dragon with apt attention. The other woman was strung rather high for someone who was supposed to keep her cool, but other than that, it seemed like Risen was not going to do something stupid. Glancing over to the brunette that rested against the shipâ??s edge, she titled her head and took in the sight of this newcomer. The brunette wasnâ??t in any hurry it seemed like, as she just brushed unnoticeable dust off of her skirt and adjusted herself for a comfortable ride downwards.
A shadow of some sort passed by them, and it took her a moment to realize that it was a coral reef. The rocky edges and sponge-like surface seemed fascinating to her, as they sank lower and the reef appeared to be growing taller. Sea creatures of all sorts were lingering around there, living inside the reef or fishing around there for food. Kiara appreciated the seaweed the most, mingled with other plantsâ??the colors that blended together made a beautiful sight. Her eyes shifted over to Risen at the last sentence though, causing her to roll her eyes skywardâ??or surface-ward in this case.
â??All but right on one account, Dragon. Doth the princess want releasing?â? the brunette stood up and turned her amphibian green eyes towards the blonde, flashing what looked like to be cat-glowing shades of yellow, before walking towards Kiara. The men around them, both guards and mermen, were tense as the two women grew closer together. Elves were strung on high, as they watched with a brave face, with their princess near a suspicious woman. â??Youâ??ve chosen a lovely Guardian, Princess Kiara. I apologize for not being able to go to the viewing.â?
â??Youâ??ve dwindled my numbers down by quite a handful, Amara.â? Kiara muttered, glancing over to the mess of injured and a few dead.
â??Iâ??ve merely eliminated weaklingsâ??customary when bypassing Atlantia, donâ??t you remember?â? of course she remembered. After all, wasnâ??t she the one who told the captain to steer this direction? Garrick, whom had been leaning against the steering wheel the entire time, gave a salacious smirk in their direction, before winking at Risen as if to congratulate her. After all, she had not been one to have fallen pray to slaughter like the weaker warriors, nor had she done something stupid to get the princess killed.
If it dawned on Risen at any time, she would have realized that this was all part of a test. Then again, Kiara half expected Risen to know this, as the Merpeople and Elves were but distant alliesâ??if that. The two princesses were friends from long ago, and that was enough for friendly relations, seeing as Elves often traveled into â??the new landâ?? before death. Elves had to have met water-beings before.
Amara merely grinned and recognized the older male Elf, as he had been on a previous journey as well. Not with the princess, but with one of the other princes in Sable. Kiara herself had never experienced this trialâ??mainly to weed out the weaker, often new, warriors that would only hinder or false-step during battleâ??but she had been forewarned by her father in the earliest of mornings and the slightest of Elvin whispers. â??Iâ??m excited thoughâ??this is the first time I get to watch a Sky Dragon fight underwater.â? the tone of her voice was obviously excitement, but the undertone was a bit of worry for Risen. After all, that had to be a disadvantage, and from the sounds of it, Risen was going to be tested in combat once they got to Atlantia.
â??I have no doubt sheâ??ll exceed expectations. Sheâ??s a resourceful woman. Arenâ??t you, Risen?â? the blonde spoke up, as if talking about a stoned warrior rather than someone who could talk for herself. Crystalline blue eyes stared hard at Risenâ??s direction, as if to warn her not to tarnish the princessâ?? decision in guardians.[/list:u][/list:u]
As the two Princess' conversed with one another, the newly selected Guardian stood completely and utterly dumbfounded.
Kiara and the other princess, Amara she thought she heard her ruler say, were conversing like old friends. The captain of the ship they were on looked and her and winked, as if to say 'well done' or some other such thing. Her copper eyes flashed with surprised as she scanned the deck, watching all of the Elven knight's around them all calmed themselves down as if this were something that they had been expecting. Risen shook her head. There was no way that such a thing was right, was there? She wasn't the only person who didn't know. No, even Bosch stood just as confused as she was. From what little of the conversation between the nobles she heard, Risen gathered that this was customary, a test for the warriors brought on such voyages with them. Which meant that they all did know that this was going to happen. The Guardian felt as if she would have a heart attack when she saw the knife pressed up against Kiara's throat, and honestly feared for her well being. She honestly had every intention of killing both the man that held her back and the young woman who sat above, their apparent leader.
Risen suddenly felt anger rumbling through her form, from the pit of her stomach to the tips of her toes, fingers, and the top of her head. This was custom? Kill warriors who served the country as a test to make sure that they were strong enough - worthy - of accompanying whoever they were charged with protecting? What kind of stupidity was this!? Even if they weren't as strong as others around them, they dead had a part in protecting the Princess. A smaller group could have very well moved around more easily than a larger group, but shouldn't every sword have been there to strike down those who were foolish enough to make an attempt on the life of the Princess? Shouldn't every should have been used to protect their ruler from any harm that could befall her?
And what the hell was this about her fighting underwater?
If not for the words of her Princess, Risen probably would have just exploded right then and there. She slowly looked over to her ruler. "I-I-I. . .I would like to think so," she replied modestly. Risen was shocked, and reasonably so. After what just happened, and learning that this had all been a test, she was reeling and would need some time to recover. What was more, there was a part of her that was greatly angered and frustrated. The young dragon certainly needed to speak with her ruler once they arrived at. . .wherever they were going.[/list:u][/list:u]
She could see the fire within her Dragonâ??s eyes, alit with anger and injustice. There was a hatred inside of them, burning to be released, and Kiara had to wonder if that hatred was aimed towards here. This, like all else, was a test. There were plenty, both to test the Guardianâ??s strength, endurance, and limits. Her mentality was just, if not more, important than her physical strength. The princess was well prepared to test them all, sending loops and circles for the Dragon to jump through, fly and even swim through. Glass grounds to walk over in the metaphorical sense, with flames that would rip the very barriers of the Sky Dragonâ??s being.
Not many Guardians survived her tests, not many survived overall, but of those that did, she wondered if they had endured it with a stony face, or if they truly understood. The Elves were a proud race that treasured life, but there was also a weakness in life that they understood. Those that died today, though few in number compared to how many she had expected, were meant to die. Not that they didnâ??t fight hard enough, or that they were weaker than the attackers, but it was their time. Life comes and goes, no matter what one plans. If things had not worked out as planned and she had been killed, it would have been a lost that they had placed as a casualty. The man had been ordered, that if Risen had made the wrong move, he would slit Kiaraâ??s throat. Princess or not, that would have meant it was her time to join the well of souls. So with that in mind, she felt no remorse that there had been deaths today, despite them being of her planning.
â??You really have that much confidence in your Guardian, Kiara?â? Amara asked, eyes focused on the bubbled dome rather than the said princess. Finally, they gently docked against the edge of Atlantis, sealed within a larger magical dome that protected them. A rush of wind burst through the ship, signaling that the two air pressured areas had merged.
Kiara turned her gaze away from Amara as well, as she turned her eyes towards the large stadium that had been built for such an occasion. â??Temporary.â? her tone almost distant as she remembered losing a Dragon once, this early in the â??gameâ??. The blonde princess hadnâ??t elaborated on that though, as to whether or not she meant that Risen was temporary her Guardian, or if she temporary had that much confidence in the Dragon.
Shifting away from her spot, she moved towards Risen and smiled. â??Join me in a rest before your trial?â? she held out her hand, waiting for Risen to lead them off of the boat. There were mermen and maid guards waiting at the edge of the ship, ready to show them the way to resting quarters as things were prepared. The journey wouldnâ??t be long to the rooms, but she would observe Risen during such a walk. Letâ??s see how well the Dragon observed her own surroundings in a new area.
As Kiara stared at her Dragon Guardian, Amara just rolled her eyes and moved to disembark as well. The Elvin Princess always played such confusing gamesâ??it was a wonder if anyone lived long enough to capture her heart.[/list:u][/list:u]
When it came to such things as formalities, etiquette, and academic matters, Risen was completely useless. Even when it came to such things as brute strength and power, she was merely average. But when it came to skill? When it came to instinct? Those were things that she was best at. Both had been shown twice already, in the selection trials where she faced a man twice her size, and fought an elder dragon who ruled over her own elemental weakness. Also, during the recent attack on the deck of the ship. She had surprised herself with her quick thinking, coming up with an almost believable, almost iron-clad cover story to get them out of the situation. If they had just been normal pirates, she wondered if they would have believed her. As soon as the thought popped up in her mind, she dismissed it. There was no use in thinking about such a thing. What mattered was that her Princess was still alive and that they both, fortunately, still drew breath.
The fire that was ablaze within her was not something that she could extinguish. It burned so brightly and so intensely that she couldn't hide it, especially from and elf who had seen more days than the days that everyone in her family lived. And that was a rather long time, much longer than any lesser being could hope to live. Instinct drove that fire - instinct told her that things would be dangerous, not just for her, but for everyone. There was no telling when one of these tests would come about, or when one would fall because of them. But, by the same token, there was a chance that there were different kinds of tests. Such things were things she wasn't sure that she could handle. Fighting was really all that she was good at. Her fears for her future, and for the future of the others were very real now. Even more so for Kiara now that she had seen that the Elven Princess was putting herself in the middle of these tests, risking her life alongside that of her Guardian?
Maybe that was the thing that upset Risen the most - Kiara was so willing to put her own life on the line for the sake of seeing if the person protecting her was worthy. Risen might not have been smart, but such a thing seemed much more foolish to her than taunting a dragon and daring them not to react.
As the Princess approached, Risen forced a smile to greet her, after all, it would have been rude to greet her any other way. "Of course," Risen replied. She escorted Kiara down the ramp and to the merfolk who were there to greet them. The two were being escorted back to the room where they were be resting for a shot time, from what Risen understood. As they walked, her eyes quickly darted about taking in their surroundings. They were in a "safe zone" for now, safe meaning that they weren't in direct contact with water and she could use her magic without consequence. Or at least, without killing herself and the Princess. The walls looked sturdy enough to hide behind should they need to put something between them and potential attackers, while the doors seemed strong enough not to be broken down too easily. Risen suspected that she would be able to cut through a door with her blade should she have to. The entire time they walked, she kept her hands at her sides, but close to the hilt of each of her weapons. The dragon would take no chances when it came to protecting her ruler.
Risen thanked the guards who brought them to their room, and quickly closed the door once they were both inside and settled.[/list:u][/list:u]
As they wandered down the hallways, the rooms seemed to be endless in lineup, enclosing them further and further into the expansive palace of Atlantis. Of course she understood what dangers she was putting herself through, as the blonde princess had gone through this many times. It hadnâ??t always been the same, but each unique difference had been worth it, in her opinion. Sable was known to be a strong and proud kingdom, composed of not only the gentlest of sirens, but also of the strongest and most brutal warriors. After the unification of Dragons and their Elves, Sable had been predominating above other kingdoms surrounding. That, of course, had a certain effect on requirements of what the people were made of and what the skills each person had to learn and be able to do.
After a few moments, they retreated into an empty room, devoid of servants, but filled with armory and weaponry. The walls were lined with weapons and the center was filled with rows and rows of armors. It was almost visible from center to corner, the four divisions of how they were set up, molded towards the genders and race. As if she had been in this specific room before, Kiara didnâ??t think twice about where she was moving towards, as she walked over towards the further left corner, where the weapons and armor for female Elves were situated.
â??Do you have any questions, Risen? Now would be the best time to ask them.â? she voiced, keeping her thoughts at bay for the moment. The Sky Dragonâ??s performance earlier had been less than expected, but not completely unsatisfactory. Risen had reacted swiftly, with an agility that she admired for situations that sprang up unexpectedly. There was only one flawâ??that she had left Kiara unguardedâ??but if it hadnâ??t been a planned attack, she wondered if that would have mattered. If on land, she wondered how powerful the Sky Dragon could become, and suddenly, as she untied her hair and began to retie it into a stronger ponytail, Kiara wondered how Risen would look in her Dragon form.
The expanse of wings and sheer raw power in the larger body was breathtaking with any Dragon. The princess was always interested to see her guardiansâ?? forms, but she rarely had the chance.
As she waited for Risen to respond in any form, she finished tying her hair up and began to brush fingertips along the armory, touching and feeling the surface of metal.[/list:u][/list:u]
When Kiara said rest, Risen had been expecting a room with chairs, perhaps a bed. Somewhere where they would be able to sit down and relax. Integra, the room that they went into was filled with armor and weapons. It looked like an armory. But why were they in an armory? It didn't make any sense to the young dragon. Such thought's disturbed her, she had just been asked a question by the Princess.
"Was that last test really necessary? I understand that you need to make sure that the people guarding you are strong enough to fight for and protect you, but isn't it a bit. . .reckless to stage an attack like that? To have the ships invaded like that, if even the slightest thing had gone wrong, the ship we were on could have been destroyed. And many men lost their lives in the attack. Testing is one thing, but to lose men weakens your defenses. I am to protect you and keep you safe, I know, but. . .the knights as well are too. Every shield and every spear has it's uses, even if the men aren't strong enough to survive the surprise attack, on a ship no less, they could be more useful on land, or if we know the time has come defend ourselves.
"Our task is made that much more difficult now that we've lost so much support. That man. . .the one who grabbed you, he intended on taking your life. How could you put yourself in such a position," Risen asked. The last trial shook her up, more so than it appeared to at first. The Sky Dragon wondered how many more trials there were, how many hoops she would have to jump through. She was not perfect, she knew. She lacked self-confidence, and she wasn't nearly as powerful as many of the other dragons were. Not only that, but she was young and inexperienced when it came to many things. Since she arrived in Sable, she felt as if she had done nothing but fail over and over again, her lack of proper etiquette and general lack of knowledge of Sable and it's customs were obvious.
This last test? This one made her feel more inadequate than anything. She was to fight, to protect. There weren't many people on the ship that she knew, but now, she wouldn't get the chance to know them. Their lives were lost in what she felt to be the most foolish of tests she had ever seen. Perhaps it was because of her common birth, or the fact that she was so upset that she didn't know how to react to what happened, but Risen just could not see how it was useful.
[/list:u]
Of course she had expected something along the lines of what the Sky Dragon had asked. Surely, it wasnâ??t a surprise, since Risen had been circling that subject for quite some time now. Then again, anyone in her position would have, as it did seem reckless and pointless. Perhaps it was, but what was done was done. Kiara probably should have felt guilt at the lost of the few men, a dozen or two really, and felt fearful of the death she could have been dealt with today. But neither feeling surfaced, as she continued to play around with the armory and weapons around her.
It wasnâ??t until she had on the knee brace did she pause and stood up to her full height and stared at her Guardian in the eyes. Such a lovely shade: dark and yet vibrantly bright, expressive and clouded by emotions at the same time. She wondered what her own appeared like, her emotions half amused and half dulled at the question. â??Youâ??re veryâ?¦ empathetic for those who are weakerâ?¦ less prepared than you.â? the princess stated, their gaze broke once she turned back to the task at hand in gearing herself up.
â??Itâ??s not a bad trait, mind you. But when in the larger scheme of things, I donâ??t see it being useful if it extends towards your enemy. The test earlier has been done much before my time, only on land before the party departs on any trip. Ours, unfortunately, is located overseasâ??or in this case, underseas.â? a half twisted smile crooked over her lips, as she fastened the leather belt over her forearm and tightened it. â??Prepare yourself for battle with what you see here, Risen. And make sure youâ??re well covered; Iâ??d hate to scar such a lovely creature.â? she smirked, a finger reaching out and smoothing over the soft cheek of her Guardian.
Morbid, twisted, uncaring, unfeelingâ?¦ those were not words that would be associated with the Princess of Sable, but it wasnâ??t like it wasnâ??t there. Kiara had plenty of places to be like that, but deep down, there were two sides of the same coin in her. Schizophrenic would be one way of putting it, only she knew that it wasnâ??t just two opposite personalities she had or moods, but it was the same being. She could be nice when she wanted to, but everyone had a darker side to them. Hers wasnâ??t so much as dark, as it was the ability to just let go and move on. Death was only the beginning after all, so she saw that those who had died hadnâ??t died for no reason. No, she had a different purpose for those souls whom had died in her service.[/list:u][/list:u]
Risen had been hoping to find some trace of emotion in the Princess when their eyes locked. Some since of guilt, or remorse, or fear. . .something. However, she only seemed to be amused, slightly so. Her words were flat and even, sparing not even the slightest bit of compassion for the lives of those that had fallen in battle. Her own question was a test to the person that she had been sworn to protect, to see if she were capable of feeling anything for the ones who were lost. But there was nothing, nothing at all. She did not seem to care for the lives of those who died at all. This was tradition a test that was always preformed apparently. Seeing the way she smiled as she prepared stung Risen's heart.
The dragon was so wrapped up in her thoughts, she failed to really understand what was going on around her. She had been told that there would be another test when they arrived, but she hadn't been expecting to see her Princess preparing for battle as well. Would she be taking up arms and fighting as well? As unlikely as the notion seemed, she would be. And her words. . .she'd hate to scar? Did that mean that. . .they were going to do battle? In a situation such as this one, where the Princess had just lost a great deal of respect of her Guardian, was it wise for them to raise weapons against one another? No. This was a test, and rightfully so.
"I am not empathetic towards those who raise weapons towards me. The empathy I feel is for my comrades, and for those I protect," she said softly. It didn't matter how strong or weak her opponents were, she lost her ability to feel bad for them once they swung a weapon in her direction. For those who fought alongside of her, or for the one whom she fought? She held a great deal of compassion for. In this situation? The person she was protecting would be swinging a weapon in her direction. That made the matter complicated. Once the Princes withdrew her hand, Risen took a look around the armory, examining the weapons and the armor within. She was comfortable with her weapons, and with the light armor she was already wearing. She did grab two items though - a pair of armored gloves. Depending on how the fight went, she may or may not have needed them at all.
"I am pleased with my arms, and prepared to begin when you are ready," she said.[/list:u]
Empathyâ?¦ it was something she understood on a different level, but the way Risen made it sound, she wondered if she was feeling it â??wrongâ??. For the blonde princess, she knew that the deaths caused due to a mere test wasnâ??t exactly the most ideal way to end oneâ??s life, but their â??comradesâ?? werenâ??t lost. They merely joined a different group to protect Sable, and those were the Soul Guards. Those who joined Sableâ??s army were forever bound by both life and death to Sable forever, and for a brief moment, she wondered if she should ask Risen if she knew that. After all, one day, Risen would join them.
But the moment passed, as she found no need to burden the Sky Dragon with more knowledge than she required. They were to battle in just a few short moments, so it was best not to drag down the other womanâ??s mind with unnecessary lessons. Later, when they had time to study less important facts about the guards, would she offer the information; if Risen hadnâ??t obtained it by then through her self studies. If she was doing her self studies.
Kiara opted to not speak at all as they prepared themselves, adjusting her armory as she observed what Risen was doing. The Sky Dragonâ??s beauty still captivated her as it had on the first battlefield she had spotted the woman, the curves articulated well with the armor that Risen chose to protect her body. Muscles just toned lovingly underneath the flesh, providing an image of stealth and compact power. It made her desire to just hurt the Dragon and allow her to take control at the same time. Either emotions was tempting to indulge in, but now was not the time.
Smiling in response to Risenâ??s declaration, she motioned towards the doorway and begun to briskly walk out of the room. The hallway further down led towards large double doors, the awing feeling of being small against something so big a reminder that they were nothing but perhaps entertainment in the eyes of those viewing them on the other side. Servants, large serpents of the sea from what it appeared like, opened the doors for them as they neared. Kiara didnâ??t even bother to take not if Risen was following or not, as she was pretty sure the Sky Dragon knew to follow.
Passing the servants, beasts larger than she was by ten times, the Elvin Princess bowed her head towards them as a greeting. Upon entering the other side of the doors, it was obvious that it was a large arena. One that was situated inside of the city they were in, almost as if it was inside of the palace itself. The domed room was wide and â??openedâ??, reflecting a Roman stadium where the audience sat in a circular fashion, while those to battle were at the center. The shimmer of magic that separated the audience and the battle arena fluttered into place, to protect those viewing, but to also keep those fighting within the designated area. It was obvious that this place had often been used for â??death battlesâ?? to take place, wherein no one left the battle arena unless they were the last one standing.
Today, she wondered if it was be for the trial or for death that Risen and her self would be battling. Today, Kiara had a final test of strength and endurance for her Guardian, wanting to know the extent of the other womanâ??s abilities. She didnâ??t attempt to predict the results, because either way could be viewed as a good or bad thing. â??Do try your best, Risen.â? she said in the passing, before taking her stance opposite facing of the Sky Dragon. Her body relaxed and waiting, no bells to be rung, no announcer to tell them when to start. The double doors from which they entered in slammed shut, sealing them within the area to finish what has yet to be started.[/list:u][/list:u]
They were lead into the middle of an arena. And there were people everywhere, waiting and watching the two of them. There was no cheering, but an eerie calm. The eyes of many of the mermen watched them both, and for a moment, Risen watched them. And then, her eyes fell upon the princess who stood before her. She was armed, ready, and poised - not to attack, and not to defend. Her stance was a flawless combination of both options, and truly the type of stance that an inexperienced fighter would jump head on at. It was easy to mistake it as something that could be easily charged into and broken, where the genius of it lie. And, since the princess said to try her best, Risen would have to do just that. Taking a step back, her lips began to move as she prepared to cast a spell.
At the first sign of action, the crowd roared. Risen could not longer hear them though. This was a battle between herself and the one she was sworn to protect. This was another trial, one that she needed to pass. Not like the last one, but like the first. She would prove her worth, and she would continue to get better so that she could protect the life of this person, her Princess. It mattered not what her own thoughts about Kiara or her actions were. This was her life, and she would live the rest of her days sworn in service to the royal family of Sable. Or, she would be shamed and returned home, perhaps even killed. That made this more than just another test, this made it a fight for her life.
Without a word, she threw forward the lightning that formed around her hand, aimed directly at Kiara's feet. She didn't care to hit the Princess at all, she just wanted to break the stances. The dragon lowered her body, then rushed forward. Her hands did not move towards her weapons, rather, they curled tightly into fists. If at all possible, she wished to end the fight as quickly as possible, and aimed to do so by disarming and pinning the Princess. It was an optimistic plan at best, but the one she would stick to until she could accurately measure the abilities of the one she was fighting to protect. As soon as she was close enough, she let loose a powerful strike toward the hands of the Princess. What mattered wasn't if the blow hit, but if it made that weapon move. If the blow did hit, it would merely be enough to jolt Kiara's hands.
More important than her attack was the fact that she was left completely open by her choice of strikes. It was also another way she was aiming to test Kiara. Would she attempt to counter? She certainly had the chance to deal a serious amount of damage if she wished to do so. Perhaps even strike the young dragon down. And the crowd? They were loving every single moment of it all.[/list:u][/list:u]
When the crowd around them roared into life, a small spike of thrill raced through Kiaraâ??s veins. It had been quite some time that she had been in this specific arenaâ??the last time being with her last Guardian. It brought back bittersweet memories of the other Guardian, one who had been strong and passionate. There had been a bond between them that still lingered as did every Guardian she took under her. It was also the reason why she had yet to break this tradition, but perhaps it wasnâ??t something that any of them understood until they survived it.
If they survived it.
Licking her lips, she relaxed her stance even further. She took note that while Risen had skillfully analyzed her beginning tactic, it seemed that the Sky Dragon was going to make the first move after all. The magic that seemed to swirl around Risen caused the hairs on the back of her neck stand upâ??the air crackling with soft electrons gathering. Movement seemed to be an out of body experience, as she barely even thought about it. One moment, she was standing there, relaxed and waiting for the other woman to make a move, and then the next, her fluid shift to the side narrowly avoided the hit that would have occurred.
Just a shift really, as she had merely flipped onto one of her palms and one cartwheel to the left, before she righted herself. Once in motion though, it was best to stay in motion. Instead of pausing, she kicked the ground so she was pushed backwards. Magic snapped into play quicker than even Risenâ??s had. The ground underneath them was made of thick soil, the sea bedding really. Ripples of magic sent spikes of the bedding up, each spike racing towards her Guardianâ??s form and each getting higher and sharper. They would chase her if she were to move, unless she countered the earth magic.[/list:u][/list:u]
Earth magic. Risen wasn't surprised. In fact, it was to be expected. Kiara was an elf, it only made sense that she would use Earth magic. Her timing in casting it was perfect, so much that it caught her Guardian off guard. The young dragon barely had enough time to jump away before the continuously forming spikes raced toward her. As she lifted up into the air, she could feel the sea bedding rip into the flesh of her leg. She landed a short distance away, knelt down toward the ground. The wound isn't major. . .but it will slow me down, she thought. There was little time to actually think, as the spikes were quickly moving in her direction. Immediately, she jumped back once more. Her hands tightly gripped the hilt of her swords.
The swords she had been granted were enchanted, made so that they would amplify any magic pushed into them by about half of it's original power. It was helpful in this situation, as it would help her conserve a bit of her magic so that she didn't have to use so much in stopping the spell. Risen slid to a stop, aiming not to continue to flee, but to stop the spell that chased her. When it neared her once more, she took a step forward and drew both of her weapons. With a swift, inward swipe of both of the blades, she met the power of the spell with what she thought was an equal amount of force. Upon impact, the magic in the weapons was released and the spike before her was destroyed.
That was a high level spell. She's much better than I was expecting. The dragon was not expecting a push over, but she certainly wasn't expecting for Kiara to be as good as she was. Which meant that she would have to rethink her approach to the battle. Rather than waiting for another attack, Risen decided that she would take the offensive. Her attention immediately move away from the remnants of the spell and directly towards the princess. Instinct pushed her body, spurred the feet beneath her into motion. The dragon was quickly in pursuit of the Princess with her weapons drawn and at the ready. Risen was slower than she had been initially, as she was doing her best not to tear the wound on her thigh open anymore than she had by jumping around.[/list:u]
When the Earth spell was disbursed, she took a step back and dropped her arm to the side. The sensation of the magic still rippling along her flesh teased her, heightening her adrenalin. It was even furthered when Risen dashed towards her, clearly not going all out. It made the princess wonder if that was because her Guardian still didnâ??t think she should be rough with Kiara, or because of the less parent thigh wound. The slightest limp really, in the motions that she had expected to be smoother, more graceful.
Everything was done in short seconds though, as she had barely time to think all of that, before she swiftly dashed to the side and away from Risenâ??s path. She wondered briefly if this would be an all out battle, if one of them would be injured or diedâ?¦ maybe, if she pushed hard enough, her lovely Dragon would crack and even injure her. Of course, Kiara wasnâ??t that much of a masochist that she wanted to harm herself. But she did want to find Risenâ??s limits. Both on the battlefield and in bed.
â??Youâ??re underestimating me. Didnâ??t they teach you to never underestimate your opponents?â? she asked, rhetorically really, as she changed dashing directions once again. This time, she was on the offense once again, angling herself at a ninety degree angle from Risen, before stomping one of her feet. The ripple of magic glowed from her crystalline eyes and down her body, almost smoothing over her body like a loverâ??s caress and flattening her clothes. It seeped into the ground and rumbled fractionally, before the roots of plants under the seabed began to writhe.
Her eyes clearly stated that Risen should not underestimate her. Not the Elvin princess, crowned to be the next leader of Sable. Not any Elf that had magical access to natureâ??and nature was all around them in any form. All around, and under; writhing and thrusting out from under the seabed to find its way towards Risenâ??s feet. To ground her Dragon if Risen wasnâ??t fast enough. Offense and defense were both aimed in most of Kiaraâ??s â??attacksâ??, because once she wore Risen down, she would go for the kill. Metaphoricallyâ?¦ at least, for now.[/list:u][/list:u]
The words the Princess spoke were to be taken to heart, not just by Risen, but herself. Yes, Risen was being cautious because of her wound, but she was no underestimating her opponent. This was quite different actually - a test of the Princess' limits. It was easy to just let loose and fight with her all, but in doing so, it was very possible that she could have hurt the very person she was supposed to be protecting seriously. That wasn't an underestimation of the Princess or an overestimation of herself, but a realistic look at the situation. Physically, she was stronger and faster than the Elf. In pure, raw power, it was very possible that she'd be able to overwhelm and harm the woman. When it came to magic? Kiara had the advantage - both elementally and in the amount that she could cast. Or so the young dragon guessed. She wasn't willing to drain her own reserves just for the purpose of testing that out here.
With the last casted spell, Risen could see that it was time she stepped things up a bit more. For the sake of doing so, it was very likely that she would end up tearing her wound open faster than her body could heal. It would just have to be done. The dragon picked up her pace a bit, charging right for the growing patches of roots. Instead of running right into them, she jumped. Surprisingly, her aim was not to clear the growing undersea roots, rather, it was to close the distance between herself and the Princess. Rather than running, she was going to directly approach her ruler. It was bold, perhaps stupid, but chances had to be taken
No willing to bet her life on whether or not Kiara aimed to harm her or not, Risen raised one of her arms up and used it, as well as the sword in her hand, to shield her body. In her other hand, she spun her weapon around and around and around, building up the speed and momentum. As she drew even closer, she raised her hand above her head and swung down, a single, mighty blow. Whether the Princess dared to block it, dodge it , attempt to counter it, or fire off magic, was all of interest to the dragon. It would say a lot about her ruler, as a fighter and as a person. Book smarts were not her thing, and she was rather low on confidence at times, but through a fight, Risen managed to learn, adapt, and develop at a frightening rate. Reading into the mind and hearts of her opponents was like second nature to her. Through this battle, even though it was a test for her, it was also a bit of a test for Kiara as well. Her guardian was looking to see what she was made of.[/list:u]
A bold attack, if not tactical. Risen was a seasoned warrior in her own right, rising above others that were perhaps years ahead of her. The Princess knew that this specific Dragon was more than the lowly peasant that she came from â?? at least, in spirit and ability. At least, thatâ??s what she hoped for. Kiara had hand picked several wrong Guardians before, each dying barely after a sliver of her time. Being immortal was a blessing and a curse, as she had only been able to see a few of her beloved Guardians and lovers die naturally.
Had any been slain in battle? Plenty. By her own hands? A few.
So when Risen leapt to physically attack her, she was reminded of the few that she had killed. A familiar move though, one that a lover had once shown her how to do. The blonde princess wasnâ??t the strongest of sorts, not compared to a Dragon, but her most trusted Guardians had been close enough that she allowed them close enough to teach her how to physically exert herself.
A swinging weapon, a soft, if not imaginary, battle cry. The stands roared with excitement, wanting bloodshed and wanting to see more than minor injuries. Amara leaned forward in her seat with interest, watching as the blonde princess held up her hands and slowly closed them as if she was beckoning for Risen to come towards her.
The wiggling seaweed that covered the seabed burst into life, loud snapping sounds echoing in the dome as roots were uplifted and plant whipped in the water. Like trapping vines, they latched onto the Dragon in midair, wrapping around torso, wrist, ankle, thighâ?¦ neck. The Sky Dragon was fast, perhaps faster than Kiara had given credit for. Risen had gotten so close, that she was forced to tilt her head to the side â?? the blade pressing gently against the juncture between her neck and shoulder.
A deathly blow indeed.
It was clear in her eyes that she was impressed with Risenâ??s skills, even a bit afraid of what would have happened if she hadnâ??t already honed in on the roots and seaweed with her magic. â??Fascinatingâ?¦â? she uttered softly, not loud enough for the crowd to hear, but perhaps loud enough for Risen. Like a shared secret of lovers and friends, her word caressed them as she caressed Risen.
A soft hand, delicate in the face of hardship, brushed over Risenâ??s neck, the vine there, and drifted down towards the other womanâ??s chest. Beneath the armor, beneath the mount of flesh that she cupped, she imagined a steady heart that she wanted both to beat for only her, and to rip out as a victorâ??s prize.
It was only a span of less than one minute from move to move though, from capture to a flash of vibrant green over crystalline blue eyes. The burst of magic moved the vines to fling Risen to the other end of the dome.
Kiara licked her lips, feeling her own heart racing in her chest at the rush she felt. She reminded herself not to underestimate Risen as well, as she had the slice on her shoulder to prove it. Blood welted up against the nearly paper cut thin slice, forming just a healthy bubble of a droplet that it continued the red line further down and pass her breast under the armor.
If Risen wanted to win, sheâ??d have to think of something more than flinging random magic or plainly using a head-on physical attack.
If Kiara wanted to live, sheâ??d have to think of something more than just focusing on her magic. Because the princess did not accept failure, especially from herself.[/list:u]
Risen's eyes widened as that single word entered her mind. Fascinating? She wondered what made the Princess say such a thing. Was it because the blow had come so close? Was it the attack? The woman's eyes widened even more when she felt the vine moving down into her armor and cup her chest. She was being. . .felt up in the middle of a fight? What -
This isn't going to be nearly as easy as I thought it would be, Risen thought as her body soared through the air. Kiara was strong. She had good instincts. And she was proving to be a formidable opponent. Initially, the young dragon thought that it would be easy to fell the princess. A few well placed hits and that would be that. Luckily, she had been smart enough to test the princess before trying to do such things. And here they were now, the dragon had just been effortlessly thrown across the ring and into the barrier that separated the ring from the stands. She hadn't bothered trying to force herself to land, or anything. She left herself fly the distance, hit the barrier, and then, then ground. Why? She needed the time to think.
Random attacks won't work. Random spells won't work. My last move was just stupid. . .how could I hope to call myself a Guardian at this rate? Think. . .think. . .no. That's my problem. I've been over thinking things from the start. You're uneasy why? Just because we're underwater? I've fought like this before, to get to this point. Don't let something so stupid shake you so much. Risen slowly came back up to her feet, her copper optics glowing lightly. Blood ran down the side of her face and over her left eye, and her face had light scrapes on it, but the injuries didn't seem to phase her. She concentrated on her body for a moment, allowing her scales to cover her injuries. That was what she should have done in the first place.
A few fancy movements, and quick passes before her, then behind her, and to her sides, then, the Dragon sheathed her weapons. This was it - from here on out, she would be serious. Risen jumped back into the barrier, then kicked off of it and flew back across the dome, landing in front of Kiara. Her eyes, still glowing, narrowed slightly, and she stepped back into a stance. "I underestimated you, I am sorry for that. I'll get serious now," she said to the Princess. Her voice was just loud enough for the other woman to hear. Gone was the crowd from the Dragon's mind. This was a battle between herself and the Princess, no one else was here. Not the guards, not the crowd, not anything else that could have been watching them.
That was as much warning as Kiara would have before the Dragon suddenly drew one of her weapons and swung towards the Princess once more. Her move came even harder and faster than before. As soon as the first blow was thrown, she drew her other sword and spun around. The second weapon was held so that, it if connected, The princess would only be hit with the flat of the blade. Why? It wouldn't have drawn blood, but at the speed Risen had been moving, it would have been more than uncomfortable for the Elf if it hit her.[/list:u]
In the time that Risen flew across the rink, Kiara found herself wondering if she was going to either kill or be killed today. There was just something about the Sky Dragon that dragged her into being with the other woman. But in the end, it was all about skills that would make a Guardian. Skills in various fields, such as instincts and battleship; all of which she hoped that the underdog Dragon has or would learn. If she gave in and let the other woman win, it could either result in her own death â who knew how harsh Risen would come bouncing back â or could injure Risenâs spirits.
To have oneâs opponent hand the victory was not how any warrior would want to win, after all.
As soon as Risen spoke though, she saw the slight shift in effort. Suddenly, the Sky Dragon was a lot more focused and her movements were swifter. If Kiara hadnât trained with her last Dragon Guardian, she might not have honed into the skills to catch such a movement. In fact, the blonde princess barely saw the blur, before she was able to side-duck the blade that was swung at her. The breeze of that blade was still caressing her front from the narrow miss, before the second swing came hacking at her.
It would be a blunt blow, right in the head and sharp into a resulting concussion. Risen was much stronger than perhaps even the Dragon knew about herself. The sound of the blade slicing through more than just air rung throughout the bubbled atmosphere, amplifying the sound all the way to where Amara sat. The water princess leaned even further up, her hands pressed hard against the rail that was in front of her. The princess had been friends with Kiara for a long time, and every time she had to host such a battle, she was always on edge, if not worried to death about whenever Kiara was defeated.
This time it dumbstruck her.
Golden strands followed the partial air current that was created by the swing of the sword and the motion of the Elvin Princessâ body. They fluttered for a moment, before drifting down lifelessly to the seabed. Thick, loose, golden strands that were still vibrant⦠laying on the ground listlessly. And the blonde princess flat on her butt, staring in shock at both Risen and what had just occurred.
Kiara had narrowly missed being bashed in the head and her own move to avoid that had been dangerous â she could have perhaps decapitated herself upon the Sky Dragonâs weapon. Crystalline eyes were wide with the shock of the blade taking the bulk of her hair off though. The remaining blonde strands framed the peachy face, falling barely above her shoulders and bangs cupping her cheeks. Feet of royal hair just decorating the seabed and Risenâs feet.
The crowd was silent. Everyone was waiting for Kiara to just kill the Dragon on the spot for being the cause of such an unsacred act. The princess had prized her hair, after all. Spent years growing it out, tending to it, making sure it was as silken as spun gold so that it made her look all the more holy to proceed to the throne.
Instead, the now short haired, blonde princess gave a small rumbling chuckle. It started off with disbelief, before it grew into a deeper, hysterical tone. Kiara had to admit that she was barely able to escape the movement. Risen was obviously fast â faster than Kiara if it wasnât just a two step move â and would have been able to easily take out the Elvin princess physically. âWell done, Dragon.â she chortled, head tilted back with her body leaning back on her palms. The crystalline eyes were filled with mirth instead of revenge though, as Kiara shook her head. âI have truly underestimate you myself, and it is time that I apologize for that.â she gave a crooked grin.
âPerhaps your Guardian has proven her skills, Princess Kiara?â Amara spoke up, standing up straight to draw attention to her and her words. The water princess gave a quirked eyebrow, as if to ask the blonde princess to challenge her hint at the fact that perchance Risen could be called the winner. After all, this is the first time Kiara had been knocked to her ass with such a⦠nonlethal move.
The Elvin woman turned her gaze away from Amara and gave Risen a searching look. âWhat do you think, Risen?â she asked, as if the Dragon could just simply declared victory for herself.[/list:u][/list:u]
Risen stood over Kiara breathing heavily, her shoulders rising and falling as her chest expanded and contacted at an accelerated rate. The adrenaline that had been pumping through her system was slowly disappearing now, and she found herself feeling very tired all of a sudden. When she finally calmed down, everything that had happened finally registered in her mind. The Dragon realized that what said at her feet was the hair of the Princess, the silken, golden strands that Kiara had been so careful to take care of. Her eyes quickly moved over to the Princess - her Princess - whom she could have killed with her last moves. Her hair was uneven now, sheared by the blades of the swords that the Dragon held in her hands. Thankfully, Kiara was fast enough and skilled enough not to be done in by such moves, but the Dragon found herself dreading what the consequences of what she had done would be. Certainly, Kiara would not be happy with her. Or so she thought.
Then came a laugh. Of all the things that the Dragon had been expecting, that was certainly the last. Was this finally over? That much seemed to be up to her. The stadium was still, and completely silent. Everyone's attention was now on the Dragon Guardian, who seemed to be off in her own world for a long moment. It was so quiet there that, when Risen decided to sheathe her swords, the sound of the blades sliding into place could be heard everywhere. Her armor shifted as she walked to the Elven Princess who had been staring up at her for a time now. Risen extended a hand to Kiara, so that she could help her ruler back onto her feet. "I would rather this not continue. I don't like pointing my blades against the person I'm supposed to be protecting," she said softly. She didn't want everyone there to hear her voice, but only Kiara.
Even though Risen was tired, her duty was to tend to the needs of the Princess and to protect her. She would fight against her own fatigue and make sure that the Princess was safe before she bothered even contemplating relaxation. Victory or defeat, the outcome was completely irrelevant to the Dragon. The only thing she wanted to do now was make sure that her ruler was alive and well. Whatever was to happen to her later on, whatever reward or punishment the Princess had for her, Risen would just have to accept.[/list:u]
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