The blonde princess didnât move from her position for the entire time that it took for Risen to gather her wits. It seemed like the entire stadium didnât move, the breathing synchronized in being one motion that was low and quiet. Amara just shook her head and sat back down, knowing that ultimately, the fight was not over until it was over. Which meant that even if this physical test was over, Risen was not out of the woods just yet. After all, just because she had won this round, did not mean she won the battle.
But Kiara didnât seem to be ready to attack or seek revenge. She just smiled up at her Guardian and held out a hand to be helped up, grasping it tightly into callused hand of the other woman. She didnât speak though, as she stood and brushed off imaginary dust particles from her. Straightening out really, before she gave the Sky Dragon a short nod of her head. âI suppose this is over for now. Shall we retire?â
âYou should.â Amara spoke up, rolling her eyes before waving towards the stadium to let them know that this was truly the end of their show. The crowd half booed and half cheered, glad for the show and disappointed in the lack of bloodshed as well. Many were still half watching though, noting that perhaps later, they would hear the bloody screams of the Dragon that dared to mar the Elvin Princess.
The said princess just tilted her head towards the water princess. âCome, I need tending to, to unwind.â Kiara ordered of Risen, a hand brushing against her own neck juncture to feel the welt of blood there. As she walked out of the stadium area and further down the resting hallways, she stared at her hand, wondering on many things. âIt truly is fascinating. How many years have you had to honed into your skills, Risen?â she idly asked, rubbing her fingers together to feel the substance that looked too harsh and too majestic.[/list:u][/list:u]
The crowd wanted more bloodshed, and perhaps a death or other such gruesome event to transpire before them. Risen knew how blood thirsty these crowds could be. But she was happy that things ended when they did. If they fight continued, it was certain that one of them would not have walked away from the fight.
Seeing the smile of the Princess surprised the young Dragon though. It wasn't common that she had seen such a look on her ruler's face. Especially after a test of some sort. This one was over, and the Elf didn't seem to be the least bit upset or even agitated. Risen hoped that this meant that her ruler wasn't angry. In the short time that she had known Kiara, she gathered that her ruler was the type who would punish her in front of a massive crowd like the one in the stadium and take great joy in exercising the power that she had over the dragon in any way possible. Once the Princess collected herself, she and Risen both left the stadium with mixed reactions from the onlookers.
As quietly as ever, Risen followed after the Princess who declared that she needed to be tended to so that she could unwind. It was the job of her Guardian to take care of 'tending' just as much as it was the Guardian's task to ensure her safety. The attention of the said Guardian was captured by her ruler when she was asked about her experience. "It's been. . .twelve years now," Risen said softly. Yes, it had only been twelve years. Her answer would certainly shock the person she was protecting. There were other dragons who practiced and refined their skills for decades to get to the level where the young Dragon was now.
As surprising as the answer was, it was what left her mouth next that would, perhaps, truly surprise the Elf. "That's more than half of my life," Risen said.[/list:u]
Silence laid heavy between them, despite for the small words they were exchanging. The sounds of their footfalls were light and unnoticeable, while their breathing almost matched to keep the quietest pattern possible. Kiara didnât seem to mind the silence, but she did wait for Risen to answer her question. A curious question that she felt perhaps she should have asked when they first met, but didnât arise until now.
And when the Sky Dragon answered? It made the princess stop walking briefly and just stare at the other woman. She was young⦠very young. Skilled in her own right, but no older than a child in Elvin years. âMore than half of your lifeâ¦â she muttered in repeat, her brows frowning as she analyzed the woman in a different light. Doubt suddenly fluttered over her crystalline eyes, unconscious and unwilling. But it was there. Youth, though no fault of their own, had less experience. It would explain why Risen wasnât apt in the bedroom; she was rather young to have learned the skills that Kiara had.
But also, it made her realize that Risen was not a skilled warrior â not in the sense that she had assumed so.
Kiara hated being wrong. With passion.
Nothing to do now though, other than realize that Risen did not have years worth of skills. It would all be ground up from here. âI suppose you have plenty to learn then.â she simply nodded, turning and continuing her trek towards their rooms.
Once inside, she shed her armor and brushed a hand against her wound again. The blood wasnât flowing as freely any longer, but it still left a red stain against her fingers. âTend to me.â Kiara ordered, remaining still in the center of the room with most of her clothes still on. âAnd while youâre at it⦠tell me about⦠how you got to where you are. How you got to where you were able to join the tournament.â
Because wasnât that the clutch of things? Almost four hundred years ago, the Elvin King had ruled that only those above a hundred years were allowed to join the tournament. So how did a youngling find her way into it?
And more importantly: did this change things between the building relationship of the Elvin Princess and her Sky Dragon?
Well, of course not. Age gap or not, Risen was still above moral consent.[/list:u][/list:u]
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