Sophie sat quietly, her eyes casting subtle glances at Nathan, not wanting him to catch her gaze. The guys here are all so athletic, Jake looks quick, but seems a little scrawny in comparison to Nathan. She was captivated by his eyes, the blue right eye seemed pure and fresh, while the dark brown left eye seemed to hold mystery and intrigue. Something about Nathan made her feel at ease.

The other candidates had all stepped up and entered the test area one at a time, but still nobody had come back out. It had been just her and Nathan for a while when Hyung’s voice broke through her thoughts.

“Sophie. You may enter the chamber now,” his gaze serious, causing her heart to speed a little faster.

She slowly rose to her feet, but before she could move, felt Nathan’s hand lay upon her shoulder, his mismatched eyes intensely gazing into hers. She felt her cheeks flush and was aware of his hand landing lightly on her shoulder.

“You will be fine. Just do what the dragons tell you,” he said calmly.

Tears were forming in her emerald eyes. “Nathan I'm scared,” she whispered. Lower lip shaking, holding in her hysterics, “I’m not a fighter like all of you… I am not even allowed to own a sword!”

“It's going to be fine Sophie,” he repeated, “You can do this. I believe in you.” He pulled her in for a hug and Sophie, though surprised, melted into his embrace.

She felt safe. His arms were strong and warm. She wanted to remain with him, not stroll towards certain death. He eventually released his hold, stepping back he noticed the tears streaming down her cheeks.

“I will see you when you get out,” he offered encouragingly, helping her relaxed a little.

Sophie wiped away a tear and drew a deep breath in through a nervous laugh, “Ok. I will see you when I get out.”

Hyung walked over, slowly guiding her away, “Come Sophie. It is time.”

Even though she knew this was coming her hands were trembling as they pulled at the door.

She stepped into the guardians’ room, the large doors sealing shut behind her. The ground rumbled as she walked uneasily towards the center.

“Who are you?” a low voice grumbled.

Sophie looked around but could see nothing, “I am Sophie Nixon,” her voice was shaky.

“Sophie Nixon... Why are you here?” the voice seemed closer now.

“I was brought here to compete for one of the swords,” her own voice kept her from panic.

The earth shook violently as the earthen Leviathan burst out of the ground, a mass of dirt and rock shooting high up into the air, he was just as large as the other leviathans, coiling around the room. Sophie jumped backwards from fright, landing hard against the grassy ground on her butt. The creature examined her from a distance, dust swirling violently around the room, mixing with the nervous sweat, trickling down her forehead.

“That is not the reason you are here Sophie Nixon. Only death awaits you. You are just a scared little girl who wants to be more then she is,” the earthen beast spat.

Sophie took a deep breath while she took in the huge behemoth.

The earthen head continued, “The earth door holds too much power for you. You are weak. The boy that was in here before has more power in his eyes then you have in your whole being.”

As it spoke a vine started creeping around the giant boulders that created its body, slowly entangling it. As the creeper covered half the leviathan, it suddenly noticed, trying desperately to break the hold. The vine tightened and continued to creep upwards, “Be gone Gaia. I do not have the patience for you now.”

“Who are you to judge who will live and die Titus? This girl has as much chance as anyone. Your power has gone to your head. I bet you wouldn’t even stop her if she bowed to you,” a female voice called out.

“I am not fallen,” was all Titus replied.

The female’s voice was annoyed, “Please, you are the only guardian to have given yourself a name.”

The earth grumbled. Sophie watched the great dragon with interest, shivering as she felt a presence touch her. It was warm and inviting. Like sunshine after months of rain.

“Sophie my dear,” it whispered, “time to face your test. Be strong and believe in yourself. Remember, even in the darkest of places you must not give up hope,” the words danced in her ears. “Take this with you on your test,” Gaia parted one of the vines, it lowered and presented a near two meter long Bō.

Sophie took it in her hand and examined the staffs beautiful craft. A few strange symbols were grown into the shaft halfway down, artistic, flowing carvings covered the rest.

Sophie looked up after examining it and noticed the room was empty. The large creature and the female voice were no longer around. The room did not move. The sound of the rushing waterfall echoed across the vast space. She stepped lightly, further into the room and gazed up at the ceiling, it had changed. It now stood far above her, tiny specs of light looked like millions of stars from where she stood. The candles around the walls flickered in the small breeze and for a while, everything was at peace. The peace was broken by a small tremble, slowly growing into a deafening roar as the ground cracked and splintered, rock and dirt getting tossed in to the air.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Sophie moved backwards, gripping the Bō tightly.

Her eyes grew wide in terror as an earthen snake slithered from the ground, it raised up and was twice as tall as Sophie.

“Titus?” Sophie whispered, her heart thumping in her chest. The creature lifted its mighty tail and slammed it down with force. The room trembled and Sophie fell to her knees. She winced as rock bit into her delicate skin

“I am not Titus,” the creature roared. The stars on the ceiling hid themselves in the dust. “But by the time I am finished with you, you will wish I was,” and with a throaty chuckle it let out a roar.

Sophie could see the difference clearly now. This snake was a lot smaller. It was also a much darker grey, as if it was made out of coal.

“How do you hope to survive? Look at yourself, you are nothing but a little girl,” it taunted. It’s sinister voice echoing of the dark walls. The candles had extinguish and even the air had come to a standstill. The only sound besides the splitting of earth was the waterfall but even that seemed dim in comparison.

Sophie started to run but the creature’s tail whipped out and hit her in the side of the waist. Pain shot up her body as she rolled behind one of the large rocks dotted around the room. Slowly sitting up, she lent her back against the rock and removed her blouse revealing a tight black singlet. Her hand clutched her side and found some blood had soaked through the singlet. The Bō had been knocked from her hand and now lay against another rock, further down the room. The earth started to rumble again, Sophie jumped out of the way seconds before the rock behind her exploded.

A coarse laugh echoed around the cave, “My name is Raze, as it is what I do. I demolish and destroy. Remember my name little girl, because you too will be broken down and destroyed.”

Sophie limped behind another boulder. Once again the rumbling started and the rock was soon crushed to pieces. Upon running behind the third rock, she noticed it was different than the other two. It had strange designs covering it. Beautiful lettering of a language she wasn’t familiar with. She didn’t have long to examine it though. Raze soon crashed through that boulder as well.

Sophie was becoming tired and her ribs ached. She suspected they were broken, but couldn’t be sure. Running behind the forth rock she collected the Bō from the ground. She looked around, clutching it tightly, noticing that she was getting close to the door.

I will run past the next rock and make a dash for the door. I can make it before Raze catches me. Judging by his size and recent movements, he is stronger than he is fast… I will need to get through the door swiftly, without error though… Sophie analyzed the situation quickly.

“You’re a pathetic little creature,” the beast continued to taunt, “How you ever thought you could wield a blade of this complexity is beyond my understanding.”

The giant snake sliced through the boulder but Sophie was already running full speed to the next one before cutting tightly around the boulder, bolting for the door. The creature saw what she planned and dove after her at speed. Sophie reached the door with a bit of time to spare, rattling it on its hinges, but it was locked firm. The same strange symbols from the boulder glowing across the mahogany finish.

“You’re not very smart are you?” Raze hissed.

Sophie spun, seeing the black snake rising up high behind her.

“Foolish girl. You thought just getting to the door would be all you needed to do? How does it feel to be crushed by your own stupidity?”

Sophie could feel herself getting angry at this creature. It was so cocky. Her stance changed and she raised her head to meet its unholy gaze, or vacant cavities where the eyes should have been. Tiny flames burnt inside large hollows. The creature then made the mistake of lowering down to torment her.

“Silly little insect... Squashing you will be too eas...” Raze let out a violent scream as Sophie plunged her staff into one of the flaming sockets.

Raze rose back up in torment, thrashing about, trying its hardest to remove it but the strange weapon magically only became embedded further.

Sophie bolted across the room towards the smashed rock that had the symbols. Tracing her with its good eye, Raze sped after her, staff still sticking out of the socket in his head, its undamaged eye burning brightly. She reached the broken rock, searching for any reason there might have been the strange symbols on it. Raze reached her, slamming into her side, sending her flying away from the rock. Sophie hit the ground hard again and this time, writhing in pain while struggling to suck air back into her winded lungs. She slowly clambered back to her knees as Raze rose over to her, tail lifted to crush her.

“Good bye, foolish human. Your efforts were futile.”

The staff in Raze’s eye suddenly flashed green and vines whipped out of it entangling him.

“What is this trick?” he roared as he tried to break free.

“Hurry Sophie,” a female voice echoed through the room, “I will hold him as long as I can.”

“Gaia?” Sophie said weakly.

“Hurry Sophie, I cannot hold him long,” Gaia rustled.

Sophie struggled to her feet and dragged herself over to the rubble. She could hear Raze abusing Gaia, thrashing about behind her his screams of rage echoing across the rocky cavern. Broken rocks of different sizes were everywhere. But she made her way to the section of the rock that was still intact. She could now hear Gaia’s vines snapping from the struggle. Sophie glanced back and saw Raze tossing the staff aside. He had dislodged it and was now glaring at her. She looked down at the rock and could see a green Orb amongst the jagged edges.

The rumbling of Raze was getting closer and closer when Sophie slid out the orb. The charcoal snake stopped dead in its tracks.

A smile spread across his face, “Well done pathetic girl. You have defeated me. It has been so long since someone has retrieved this blade. She chose you to be the person that holds it. Do not make her regret that decision.”

The large creature then fell to the ground becoming no more than a pile of rocks. Sophie fell to the ground breathing heavily. Clasping her side and trying to fight away the pain. She held the deep green orb and rod up to her face to examine it. It was a transparent and inside she could see a tiny tree. Sophie limped the long walk to the door at the other end. Every step sending a new burst of pain through her torso. She opened the door to see Jake, Rocko and Paige sitting quietly in a room. Sam looked like he was sleeping on a seat but his eyes opened as she entered.

“Well, it looks like we have our forth blade holder,” he said with a clap.

“Wait a second, where is Nathan?” Jake asked.

“He was rejected for the test,” Paige replied. Her seriousness commanding their attention.

Sophie collapsed onto the ground, her body finally giving way to the pain.

Jake ran over to her, “Are you ok?”

Paige let out a laugh, “How did someone so weak get to this point?”

“You don’t know what she went through,” Rocko stated.

Paige waved him away, “No one is talking to you Rocko. Mind your own business.”

“You’re a stuck up little cow aren’t you?” he shot back.

“You got a problem with me?” Paige turned to face him.

“Wow. You managed to work that out?” Rocko growled, “What gave me away?”

“That’s it Rocko. You and me right now,” Paige walked towards him with clenched fists.

The large man stood to his feet and prepared to fight her when Sam jumped between them, “You two need to cool it. Now! We have work to do.”

The two glared at each other.

Jake was helping Sophie back to her feet, “The Blades...?” She muttered.

“Yes,” Sam said, “We are going to unlock the blades.”