Paige had been quietly fuming over not being allowed in first, her foot tapped impatiently on the floor. “I can’t believe that giant freak was allowed in there before me,” she grumbled, eyes scanning the people left waiting quietly in the room. They were all silent. Staring blankly out into space, “The jerk probably died anyway.”

Nathan, who was watching Sophie curiously, jumped slightly as Paige sidled up next to him, her hand resting gently on his forearm flirtatiously.

“Hey Nathan…” She smiled coyly, tearing his attention from the raven haired beauty across the room, “How about once we get out of here we have a duel, just the two of us?” she mused impishly, fluttering her eyelashes.

Nathan stilled, blood rushed to his cheeks as he stood uncomfortably within her grasp. Hyung interrupted their moment by announcing the next test, a strange hush descending upon the small room. “Nathan, you may enter the room now.”

“What’s going on? Where’s Jake and Ben?” Nathan asked, his eyes darting around the room. No one had come back out from the dragon doors. Nathan felt a string of fear coil up in the pit of his stomach.

Hyung merely shrugged, “I do not know.”

Sophie, who had been very quiet, approached the pair. Her voice was clear, with a strain in her tone, “Why didn’t they come out Master Hyung?” she asked respectfully, the old man gazed at her kindly.

“If they succeeded, they will be waiting in a different room,” He explained.

“It is destiny whether or not they come out. To live or die is decided by the test,” Hyung sighed, removing a pipe from his cloak. Bringing it to his lips and lighting it, he took a deep drag before letting out the smoke in a small grey stream.

“Yeah? Well I will show you what I think of your destiny,” Nathan snapped angrily. Nobody moved as he strode towards the large doors.

Hyung merely smiled while Nathan ripped the doors open with force.

“I will show you what destiny is like,” Hyung whispered as Nathan stomped into the glittering room. The last thing Nathan heard before the doors slammed to a close was Sophie’s pleads for him to come back.

“Show yourself!” Nathan bellowed, his voice echoing around the empty cavernous room.

Silence.

There was no noise except for the rush of the waterfall in the distance. He stomped angrily to the middle of the room. “Where is my friend?” he screamed, rage pulsing in his veins.

Without warning a large torrent of water burst out of the pool and into the air, while molten lava began to flow down the walls. A large gust of wind blew out of holes in the ceiling and the very earth beneath him rolled like an earthquake. Nathan staggered back wide eyed, fear now taking hold. He watched, awestruck as the four elements spun in a whirling vortex, ducking and weaving and eventually combining. A monstrous body grew of crumbling rock and molten lava. Water dripped from the magnificent creature’s thick, tubular, entwined body, talons formed from ice sat beneath the body at the base of the huge elemental neck. Wind surrounded it like a force field, circling the great creature, buffeting Nathan and jerking tears from his eyes. Four large heads grew from the single body, each taking its form from a different element. One of water, one wind, one earth and one fire.

“Who are you?” the flame head hissed as though it had been greatly disturbed.

Straightening, Nathan took a step towards the beast looking boldly into his eyes, “My name… My name is Nathan… Nathan Cross.”

Moments of silence followed his statement.

“Are you a Priest?” the water dragon asked, its soft voice soothing, as if it were nothing more than a bubbling brook.

Nathan looked confused, “No?”

“You are not supposed to be here, Nathan Cross,” the earth head rumbled in a deep voice, “Get out!” The floor shook with the final words and Nathan staggered backwards.

“But I was told to come in here and take your test!” Nathan cried angrily, his feet unsteady on the rumbling earth.

“Let him stay,” the winds gentle voice whispered. A warm breeze touched Nathan and held him steady on the rumbling floor. “We should test him anyway,” the gusty head turned to her counterparts. Her head a vortex of silver mists and wind.

“We do not have the authority to test this one,” the earth rumbled, baring its diamond canines at the wind who merely ignored him.

Her head snaked out, dipping lower to Nathan, her body winding around him in small gusts. The Fire and Water heads shot down with heads bobbing closer, inspecting Nathan. They were silent as they surrounded him in a web of fire and water, steam hissing out each time their bodies touched.

“We do not have the authority. He cannot take our tests,” they chanted in unison, withdrawing slowly after reaching their conclusion.

“If we cannot test him, then why is he here?” the Wind asked. The other elements seemed to ponder this, causing Nathan’s anger to return full force.

“Where is my friend?” he demanded, interrupting the dragons’ musings.

Earth responded, his head moving to within an inch of Nathan “Well Nathan Cross,” He rumbled, dirt crumbling and falling from his lips. “As you can see, there are no friends here. Only us.”

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“Shall we be your friends?” the Wind asked, winding around Nathan once again.

“He needs to leave us,” the Earth barked, causing the wind to recoil slightly.

“But why does he stand before us?... Why do you search for your friend at the risk of your own life?” The fire asked drawing nearer to the trio. Water held back watching the scene unfolding with interest.

“Because I do not want him to die in a place like this,” Nathan spoke, eyes shining with fierce loyalty and determination.

“You care for your friend Nathan Cross? I like your heart,” the Wind whispered, her refreshing breath tickled his ear.

“Your resolution is strong. Yet you are afraid,” mused Water thoughtfully. “Your friend was afraid when he took his test. But the question is, did his fear consume him?” the Water’s rippling head cocked as she posed her question.

“You must leave now Nathan Cross. We do not have the authority to test you,” the Earth rumbled, ending any further conversation.

The Wind sighed, a soft breeze meeting Nathan as she withdrew, joining her counterparts.

“The wind is right to have taken an interest in you however,” The earth continued. “You are indeed a special human. Do you realize you’re the first human to come before us and not foolishly bow?” he laughed along with the other dragons at their own private joke.

“Go Nathan,” the wind whispered, “There is nothing for you here at this time.” She gently nudged him towards the giant doors but Nathan resisted. He watched dumbfounded as the elements separated flying off in different directions. The giant body deconstructing, heads sinking back to their respective homes. Nathan stood staring. A large blast of wind came from the wall ahead of him, hitting him like a tidal wave. The wave of air carried him through the great doors he had entered through, minutes before, tossing him like a rag doll to the hard floor on the other side.

He could hear Sophie yelling his name, but his mind was spinning, everything seemed like he was in a dream. With blurred vision, Sophie’s face began to form.

“Nathan!” she screamed. The beauty ran over, dropping down and tugging him upright. “What happened to you?” she cried, staring in dismay at his gashed forehead.

Reaching up, he swiped at his forehead, his fingers came away, tainted with scarlet blood. He groaned. Behind her, the rest of the group stared curiously. Even Paige was bug eyed, silent and unmoving.

“Who were they?” Nathan weakly directed the question towards Hyung who still sucked happily at his pipe.

“Depends,” The old man shrugged toying with his beard, “Which one did you met?”

“I met a large creature. It had four heads. One for each element,” Nathan mumbled and Hyung’s silver eyebrows rose in surprise.

“You met all four of them?” He sucked on his pipe, “Interesting.”

“What does it mean?” Nathan slowly got to his feet, his body ached from the fall.

“Well… That all depends, what did they say to you?”

“They asked if I was a priest...” Nathan said confused. “Then they said they didn’t have the authority to test me.”

“Hmmm,” Hyung frowned, taking the pipe from his lips, “That is very interesting,” He concluded. “Paige. It is your turn,” He added as if an afterthought.

The small girl full of confidence walked slowly to the doors. Her eyes flicked between Nathan and Hyung once, her determination apparent. “Please enter the room now,” Hyung said, airily dismissing her with a wave of the hand. White faced, the tiny girl disappeared into the gap in the doors.

“So what does it mean?” Nathan pressed, annoyed with the old man’s silence. Hyung ignored him, merely puffing on his pipe. Nathan sighed, throwing himself in a seat, barely registering that Sophie was beside him.

“What were they like?” she whispered, eyes glowing as they rested upon the ornate door.

Nathan placed his shirt to his forehead. “There were four,” he began. Eyes staring blankly up to the ceiling, “One made of each element. They were like giant snakes,” He recalled seeing their tubular bodies behind his eyes. “Earth seemed to be in charge,” Nathan remembered, “Fire was more curious than anything. Water seemed intellectual and the Wind… Well… She was something else. She was gentle and kind. I… I felt more connected with her,” Nathan smiled recalling the gentle giant.

Sophie looked thoughtful, “Who is Paige going to face…? I wonder who I will face…” Sophie asked nervously, struggling with the very real possibility of death. The two fell silent.

“That all depends on which blade the test is for,” called Hyung who apparently was listening to their conversation.

“When am I to be tested?” she asked, voice trembling only slightly.

Hyung smiled kindly at her, “You Sophie, shall go last,” he read a piece of paper in his hand, “Paige, Kevin, Joan, George then Sophie.”

Sophie nodded but even Nathan couldn’t miss the fall in her face.

Nathan stared at the frail girl, Why exactly was she here?

“Last eh?” he smiled, trying to lift her mood, but not a hint of amusement touched her lips.

She looked down, her beautiful green eyes remained fixed on her feet. “Story of my life,” bitterness filled her voice.

“What do you mean?” Nathan asked, somehow feeling sorry for her.

“I don’t seem to have much luck. I just thought that… Well, when I got this scroll, I thought everything would change,” Her hands fidgeted with her hair as she spoke, “There are only five blades here Nathan, chances are I will walk away with nothing.”

Hyung had still been listening and slowly walked over to them, they both looked up as he approached, “Ten scrolls are given out each year. There is usually only one or two blades on offer. Quite often at the end of the tests the blades are still on offer. In fact, we have not had someone new pass a test since Sam… That was four years ago. We now have five blades in our possession, only eight of you showed up, chances are there will be a blade left by the time you have to enter.”

The lady who had been next to Hyung earlier stepped out of the shadows, “You don’t pass a test because you want to, or because you have great ability. You pass the test because the blade wants you to wield it,” her voice was smooth and feminine, but it had a hint of darkness to it that chilled Nathan to the bones.

Hyung smiled at her, “This is Teresa. She has undergone some of the strictest training, and is one of the most competent fighters I have had the privilege of working with.”

Two Samurai swords hung at her sides. Nathan couldn’t take his eyes off them, “Where did you get them…?”

“You know Muramasa’s work?” Teresa seemed impressed.

Nathan drew one of his own swords presented it to her gracefully with two hands, “This is Masamune’s handiwork. I only have one, but it is the greatest sword I have ever had the privilege of wielding.”

Teresa stepped forward and took the blade, “Masamune was Muramasa’s sensei. Where did you get this?”

Nathans face changed as if recalling a painful memory, “My Grandfather left it to me before he died. I never knew him but my Sensei kept it for me. Weren’t Muramasa’s blades described as bloodthirsty, or even evil?”

Teresa respectfully handed back Nathan’s blade, “Maybe they were. Even more of a fitting reason why I now own them,” a smile with a hint of crazy formed on her face. This woman had a strange history, Nathan could feel a weird power flowing off her.

“Teresa, book,” Hyung spoke softly, moving back a step.

His words seemed to snap her out of some strange trance, she drew a small red notebook from her pocket and began to flick through the pages murmuring to herself.

Hyung turned quickly to Nathan and a frightened Sophie, “In the future refrain from discussion of the dark with Teresa. It does not bode well when she dwells on such things.”

They both nodded, wide eyes staring after the mumbling brunette. There was something not quite right about that woman, she was, in one word: Terrifying.