Elucard dropped his emerald mage robes onto the ground, showing his scarred and toned body. He huffed and panted, wiping a film of sweat from his brow as he sluggishly raised his fists into a guard. Elucard had been sparring with Cade on the Gem of the Waves for the last three hours. The burning sun and warmer winds of Dragon Realm Scorch made for a harsher training environment. He hadn't needed to do battle in Scorch for years now and so the wall of oven-like heat was not a welcomed feeling.

"Had enough?" taunted Cade. Unlike Elucard, he wasn't drenched in sweat.

Elucard bent over, nearly completely exhausted, but he was determined to finally win a round against Cade. "Let's just fight," spat Elucard.

Cade put his hands on his hips and shook his head. "As you wish."

Elucard barely had a chance to react as Cade exploded forward with a side kick. He dropped down and swept for Cade's legs with his foot. However Cade sprang backwards with several flips using reflexes too uncanny for Elucard to keep up with.

Elucard sprinted after Cade and tried to ram him with a sharp elbow, but the hydro shroud grabbed his arm and a tuft of hair and struck him with a series of devastating knees to the ribs. Cade finished his combo with a powerful uppercut that sent Elucard reeling onto his back.

Elucard groaned as he struggled to get to his feet. His bruised side ached, but he had broken his ribs enough times for them to heal stronger than the average soldier's bones. However, despite all of his hard body training as a Black Rabbit and Anti-Rogue Operative, Cade's strikes dealt more pain than anyone else that he had encountered in the past. Perhaps even more than the Silent Master.

Cade steadied his sparring partner. "Are you okay? I didn't mean to hit you so hard with that last punch."

Elucard cracked his jaw. It sounded like stomping on broken glass. "I'll be fine, nothing that a good night of sleep won't fix."

"You fight well, though. If you were a bit faster, you could be a real threat."

Elucard shot him a glare. He wasn't used to critiques on his fighting style. He was always the one that was quicker, more skilled, and harder hitting. What would Malady think if he saw his miserable performance today?

Elucard growled as he imagined Malady's jab to his ego. "What's wrong, whelp? Grown too soft?"

"I could train you," offered Cade, tugging Elucard back to reality.

"Huh?"

"Give you some tips. Show you how I got better. I had a really good teacher. Several actually," said Cade.

Elucard reached for his robe and rested gingerly on an apple barrel, favoring his back. "Was one of your masters a Black Rabbit? I could definitely see Rabbit influence in your style."

Cade paused.

"I am a former Black Rabbit myself," revealed Elucard. "Sometimes I am ashamed of that fact, other times I still see pride in it. Like an—"

"Like an achievement," finished Cade.

Elucard's eyes lit up. "Yeah, like that."

Cade hopped on a shipping crate next to Elucard. "M-My master was a Black Rabbit. One of the best in his day. He often spoke of the hardships of his training, but—"

This time it was Elucard's turn to finish a sentence. "But there were good times too."

Cade lowered his head and let a small smile peek out. "There were some good times."

Sometimes I wish I could go back to it too. Elucard fiddled with his hands, too lost in his own thoughts and pleasant memories to notice Cade's comment. He took a glance at Cade. The forest elf was handsome. Elucard’s eyes lowered down to Cade’s firm pecs and hard abs. His ears blushed and he cracked a smile.

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Cade caught Elucard’s eyes and returned the smile. "Your arm?" Cade pointed Elucard’s glowing green limb. “Is it a prosthetic?”

Elucard rubbed his shoulder, not sure how to answer. “In some ways.” He combed back his hair, which stood in place from the salty sweat. “I’m still getting used to it.”

Cade hopped off the crate and rotated his shoulders. “One last go?”

Elucard chuckled. "Don't take it easy on me, I want to earn a win!"

***

Koda rested his book on his chest as he caressed the soft quilted blanket. Wildeye sat at the writing desk next to his bed in the small king's cabin. She flipped through the final pages of Angels of the Abyss and let out a long yawn.

"How was the book?" asked Koda.

"A fascinating read," Wildeye replied. "It not only recounts every sighting of the possible aquatic angels, but the author also fabricated his own theories about where they came from and also why they are there."

Koda crossed his legs on the bed, now intrigued. "Why are they here?"

"To serve as the Dragon Realm Abyss equivalent of Arcane Guardians," said Wildeye.

Koda rubbed his chin. "Does the book, by chance, have a theory where the Abyss’s seal is hiding?”

"The book never mentioned a seal, just the dragon realm’s life matrix. Even then, that location remains only a theory,” answered Wildeye.

"Wildeye, how is it that you already know how to read?" asked Koda. "You've only been a kanis for less than a month. I know I never taught you."

"Didn't you, though?" Wildeye gave the confused Koda a smile. "My friend, we've been connected by the mind for over a decade. Any knowledge that you had has been shared with me. It is how I can speak common and elven so proficiently."

"I-I hadn't realized it worked like that," said Koda in amazement. "I know very little about the origins and inner workings of the magic behind familiars."

"Secrets that may never be revealed," Wildeye mused.

"I suppose so," giggled Koda.

Koda looked up as his cabin door creaked open and Stryneth appeared.

The hydro mage wore his traditional cerulean robes, accented with a pointed black mantle. A long violet cape draped down his back and a pair of leather belts holding over twenty small vials wrapped around his waist. Koda examined the vials. They were filled to the brim with various tinted liquids. Could they have been potions of different effects? One to heal and mend wounds? Maybe a potion to refresh his endurance? Perhaps a polymorph potion, or even a luck potion to hedge his chances with gambling. The possibilities were endless.

"My king, we are to arrive at Kir Port within the hour," Stryneth reported.

"Thank you for the update, Master Stryneth," said Koda.

"If I may make a suggestion?"

"You may," replied Koda.

"You will have an opportunity to battle both for a brown sash and a red sash in North Isa..."

Koda understood Stryneth's point. "Whom should I face first?"

"Azeva Emberwake is a very accomplished mage, not just in color, but with her mastery over her magic," said Strife.

Mastery of magic? Does he mean with the Magi? pondered Koda. He put his book away and pressed his fingers against each other. "I am listening."

Strife adjusted his brass monocle and tucked his cape to take a seat in a nearby armchair. "Azeva has accomplished what most other mages have not: tap into her Tamed Magi and perfect her control over fire and flames. Stronger than any other red mage. She rivals even you when it comes to her use over her own Magi."

The young king nodded with each word.

"How would Koda even overcome a fire mage with just plant life?" asked a concerned Wildeye. "It seems like a very difficult match up."

"As I said before," said Stryneth, "there is another color Koda could battle for."

"Earth," said Koda. “Would earth provide the defense needed against Azeva’s fire magic?

“It might,” Stryneth said.

"Have you battled this particular school, Master Stryneth?" asked Wildeye.

"No, but I know of the Emberwake twins. Ezevan and Azeva are well known mages within dueling circles."

Koda looked to Wildeye and then to the hydro mage. "Do you think I can win?"

Stryneth let out a long chortle. "My master, Alifinster Fen wouldn't seek you out if he thought you couldn't win a few mage colors."

A cry from above deck sounded rang across the ship, "Land Ho!"

Koda looked out his porthole and sure enough, the roaming dunes of North Isa came into view.

Stryneth stood and clapped his hands. "Worry about duels later, for now you must deal with the Queen of Chains."