Gwyneth spent most of her free time in her room, away from the princess. She would have preferred to be away from Fern and Cedar as well, yet they seemed to cling to her like glue. Whether out of pity or for a more sinister reason, she knew not. She couldn't believe she let the Fae play her like that.

"I brought her here to gain some clarity."

It was never about her, only about them. Everything had been a carefully laid trap to get her to reveal what they wanted to know. To think she actually thought she was befriending them. Because of her, Isla would die.

Gwyneth slammed her head into the vanity as she heard the door open. "I'd like to be alone right now."

"No, you wouldn't." Fern placed a bowl of soup next to Gwyneth's head on the vanity. "I've read that humans don't like to be alone and that nobility is too lazy to cook. So, I brought it upon myself to ensure you don't starve!"

"Thanks..." Gwyneth said slowly, unsure what to think of the backhanded comment.

Fern let out a quick and heavy sigh. "Camellia is a good person."

"Princess," Cedar corrected.

Fern rolled her eyes. "She was just fulfilling her duty as a princess. Don't hold this against her-"

"She knew what she was doing." Gwyneth interrupted. "Her duty is to her people, and I understand that. However, my duty is to my people. I cannot put them in harm's way, and I must avoid any opportunity that may result in just that."

"She will be given a trial. Your friend, I mean." Cedar spoke up.

Gwyneth's eyes lit up, if only for a moment. How was she supposed to convince the Fae that her friend's life is more important than the hundreds — if not thousands — of spirits that were forcefully sent to the afterlife?

---

Isla and Elric had made considerable progress in their training. While they were nowhere near as skilled as their mentors, the progress they had made was well above what they had expected. Isla was able to successfully aim while moving, even dodging close combat while doing so. Elric on the other hand, became proficient at deflecting arrows and even guarding another person.

Perhaps it was because they spent more time training than sleeping and eating. Unlike the Aecerian barracks, food was not prepared for them. They were shocked to hear that everyone handles preparing their own meals. While Isla and Elric had opted to eat raw vegetables to save time, they had taken advantage of the Fae's strange pills. Isla seemed to stomach them better than Elric who became queasy after half a week.

At last, it was time for Aston's final test. Gwyneth, Isla, Elric as well as the Fae prince and princess were ordered to attend. The final test would be a match against Florian, witnessed by the king. Why the king had ordered that the fight take place in the throne room, Aston would never understand.

The king closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "Acamansec Tpohost if icd, Cynacca, Ticyt, end daeh fhoand, wa ciik si uiy fih gyodenla. Sriygr ina if uiy meu ba phasans eming yt uas dihmens, wa ricd srot meslr si dasahmona sra wihsronatt if uiyh vattac. " he paused. "Begin."

Florian remained perfectly still, waiting for his opponent's move. Aston predicted this but also knew if he waited too long or acted too rashly, Florian would attack. Instead, he began casting an earth spell in his head. If he wanted to win this match, he would have to play by the Fae's rules; that meant not using fire. This particular spell took quite a long time to cast, so he hoped his opponent would be patient.

Naturally, he was not. Florian summoned a gust of wind that Aston tried to dodge but alas was too slow. No big deal. He allowed the gale to carry him away, his spell casting right before the wind dissipated. His eyes glowed brown as vines rapidly sprouted from the ceiling, his opponent narrowly dodging them. Thus, he relied on the second part of his training: only casting the amount needed. He pushed himself off the floor, and within five seconds, he cast a wind spell knocking his opponent into the vines that curled around his left leg and arm. It was an awkward position to be in, having half of his body suppressed. Nevertheless, he had a solution in mind.

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Aston began casting another wind spell hoping to subdue his opponent, but Florian was faster. His eyes glowed a grayish blue before a blade of ice appeared in his free hand. Using this new blade, he cut himself loose from the vines. Aston silently cursed. He should have known it would not be this easy.

Fine, if his opponent had a sword, so would he. A real sword. He summoned a replica of Elric's blade to his side. His mentor had always been hesitant to teach him about magic besides the elements. Perhaps he simply wanted Aston to focus on magic he was familiar with, or he hoped to gain the upper hand during their match. Whatever the reason, Aston knew he couldn't rely purely on elemental magic.

Florian glided to his opponent at high speed. Aston quickly and clumsily blocked his strikes with his own sword. He only needed one good swing and he knew he'd be able to break that sword in half.

If he was ever given the opportunity to attack.

Aston's eyes widened in horror when he saw Florian's glow a deep blue. Water was cast down on him, causing his hair to cover his eyes as Florian kicked him in the chest. Aston groaned as he felt the wind knocked out of him. He didn't expect that. It was as if his opponent wanted the world to end by not giving him a fair chance. Pushing the hair out of his face, he saw Florian standing over him readying his ice sword for an attack. Aston quickly summoned a dagger, something he had found in Gwyneth's drawer once. Boy, was he glad he picked it up when he did. As the sword came plummeting down, a well-timed strike from the dagger broke it in half, sending the bottom half flying a safe distance away.

Florian scowled as Aston pushed himself up, quickly distancing himself from the Fae, no doubt trying to buy himself time. Foolish boy, how many times had he taught him to focus on spells that cast quicker? He began casting another wind spell, only for Aston to disappear. Florian spun around looking in every direction before thinking about looking up. He barely dodged Aston who dove from the ceiling. He forewent the wind attack and opted for earth. Taking to the sky, he dodged Aston's frantic attacks of wind and water. Predictable.

Casting his spell, vines trailed around Aston, covering him until only his head was visible.

"I think the match is decided." Florian crossed his arms and smirked, proud of his quick thinking.

"No... It's not!" Aston shouted. To everyone's surprise, his eyes glowed a bright red before his entire body was engulfed in flames. He charged towards Florian who predicted it, sidestepping just for Aston to teleport behind him and knock him forward. Pinning him to the ground, Aston held his blade above his head, quickly casting a spell to tie his opponent's hands and legs with vines.

"Enough, the boy has proved himself," the king interrupted. Several guards quickly saw to helping Florian.

"He used fire," Florian quickly interjected.

"I hear your concerns, young one. Perhaps this is not a true victory as he would not have been able to defeat you otherwise, but it is enough to determine his ability as our savior. Fire has its time and place, after all."

"With all due respect, Your Majesty, we have always been taught that fire is strictly prohibited-"

"In our kingdom, yes. As I said, there is a time and place. Ehat is not bound by the same rules that we are."

Florian tsked, storming out of the throne room. Aston somehow had the feeling if he behaved in a similar manner, it would not go over as well. Gwyneth, on the other hand, was unsure what to make of the situation. From Aston's training, she could tell that most Fae loathed the fire element. However, the king seemed unusually indifferent. Perhaps he justified it after burning that book...

"So... We're free to go?" Aston asked hesitantly.

"Most of you, at least." Avel crossed his arms from his position across the room.

Of course, there was still the matter of Isla... Gwyneth's heart sank as she remembered her slip-up. "Please, I can explain-" she began.

"Silence!" the king ordered, snapping her into obedience before looking at his son, motioning for him to continue.

"This girl," Avel pointed to Isla, "has spoken the forbidden incantation, sending thousands of spirits to the afterlife before they were ready. It is a crime worthy of a thousand deaths."

"What have you to say for yourself?" The king turned to Isla.

Isla paled if that was even possible with how fair her complexion already was. How had they found out it was her? "I am unaware of this law," she spoke.

"Uio wiycd shu e fihaognah ognihens if iyh weut?" The king turned towards Avel.

"E lhoma ot tsocc e lhoma. Tra troycd ba racd hatpintobca!" Avel shouted; fists clenched.

The king sighed. "O em nis wihsru. Ehat lhaesad sra cew end ti Ehat trecc dasahmona rah fesa." Turning to Aston, he began again. "You will determine her fate."

"Me?" Aston raised an eyebrow, jaw slightly agape.

"Hurry up and absolve Isla!" Gwyneth shouted.

"Shouldn't we at least think about it? I mean, she did commit a crime-"

"Who cares? She's our friend!" Gwyneth exhaled, clenching her fists at her sides.

"Okay, okay. Isla is innocent."

Tears streamed down Isla's face as she heard those words. She let out a breath, unaware she was holding it. She still didn't understand everything that had just happened, but she imagined it would be explained later.

"Isla, Elric, I hear that you have performed exemplary." The king nodded his head in approval. "Elric." He summoned.

Elric stepped forward, bowing his head in reverence.

"Take this shield — a relic from the past." The king handed a cube of black metal to Elric who looked at it quizzically. "I'm sure the Cathruli have the means to restore it. You will use that shield to protect Ehat, do you understand?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Elric bowed his head once again. He always saw himself as Gwyneth's bodyguard, but he supposed he could make an exception, at least for this journey.

"Then go! Halcyone's fate rests within your hands."