Chapter Five

In a few hours, the fighting was over, and everyone had left, all except Ember, who stayed behind to speak with the captain. “So you should be starting actual magic classes soon correct?” She asked.

“Yes, though I do know quite a bit of magic already,” Ember responded.

“Well, I will speak to some of the magic teachers to move you up to a higher level magic class, maybe even with the soldier, as they will be taking magic classes as well. Most of them did not get the chance to learn any.” She kindly offered.

“Thank you. It would help greatly in my fighting.” Ember said, Smiling. She nodded her head, and waved goodbye, walking out of the building.

“Oh look who it is,” Sorrel called out from a few meters away. “Our little Ember who thinks she is so cool because she is training with the guard. Well, it just proves that they think you need more practice with fighting.” He mocked. Ember rolled her eyes. She already knew that she wouldn’t actually be getting extra practice because the guard training was right when their sparring class happened. Also, with her magic, they would replace it with the advanced magic as well. She let out a sigh, smiling at that thought for a moment.

A short while later, she walked towards her room, thinking to study a few more of her magic books. She would have to visit the library again for more, but she always dreaded those trips since the current librarian hated her. The reason was that she kept taking the advanced books. The former librarian loved her because of her advanced abilities in magic, though he had gotten an offer in the main kingdom’s library. She did miss him quite a bit, though she could manage with postponing her magic book replacement until the last second.

When she sat down at her desk, she opened up one of her books and began to read, and had her palm faced up next to her, practising some of the elemental magic in her hand. It was peaceful for the first few minutes, though soon after, she felt a rumble in the ground and yelling. It was muffled, but she made out the words, “Drake attack!!!” Through the roaring. She rushed outside and then towards the front gate, where the drake had appeared. She saw the drake clearly, as it was much larger than most, with its dark red scales, and beady black eyes.

It roared once again, and Ember activated a teleportation spell, and teleported to the bridge above the gate, blocking its tail that came down with her sword, her arms straining against the weight of it. Soon, she pushed it up and off of her and it slashed the drake, but the blow barely fazed it. Her armour was soon on her body, and she hurled herself into the air using air magic to launch herself onto the drake. Soon after, her two swords were digging into the flesh of the beast. It whelped, trying to shake her off, but it failed, her swords cut deep in the flesh.

She then swung herself up onto the back of the monster, and pulled her swords out of its side, making a deafening scream, that made the pain apparent. Its attention was now focused on her, making it easier for the others to thrust magical blows onto the monster. She then ran up to its head and then grabbed onto its horn, and jumped off the edge, swinging her weight towards its neck as the horn broke, then deeply plummeted her swords into the drake’s chest, and burst its lungs, bringing out a gurgling yell. Her weight swung to the side, and the drake went with it, now lying on the ground. It was barely alive, and Ember got up to stab the mighty monster in the heart, ending its misery.

Ember was breathing heavily, but felt at peace, being able to let some of her energy out. She then replaced her swords in her necklace, as well as her armour, and stretched her arms up. When she turned to walk back, a few of the guards surrounded her to welcome her victory. They were impressed with her skills, but Ember wasn’t really paying attention, hoping she would be able to get back to her magic. She did feel a lot better though, being able to freely use her magic in a true fight. She almost wished her parents were there to see her.

“I must get back to my studies,” Ember said after they had all finished talking. As she walked away, she heard thank you’s coming from behind her. She was slightly disturbed by her sudden thoughts of her parents. She hadn’t thought of them in a very long time and regretted it profoundly.

Once she got back to her room, she decided to open her closet and took out an old picture. Some of the guards had brought it back from the ruins of her village when she was younger. It was of her sister, brother, and parents, along with her in the middle. It was taken right before the attack. She was smiling, with no idea how much would be taken away from her. She looked at her desk and opened a drawer. Inside was a few picture frames that she had never used. She picked one and put the picture inside, then put the picture on her desk. She put her hands on the surface of the desk to stop their shaking.

What happened, happened, and she wasn’t going to back to those memories now. Her fists clenched, and she decided to leave her room to take a walk to clear her head.

She was leaning on the railing on the outer wall of Nabarmena, breathing in the cool, fresh air, her eyes shimmering in the dark. She opened her hand, and a tear fell into the centre of it, a black flare coming from it. She had seen this many times and always made sure no one ever perceived it. When she first saw it a few years ago, she decided to research it, and found out that they were what many people used to call potentials, the only people able to match a silver in a fight, though the first silver potential went mad, corrupted by power, and destroyed cities, but when they decided to challenge the dragons, they were destroyed. No one speaks of the potentials, in fear that another will rise again, and do the same exact thing, and possibly even beat the dragons one day. She became scared and didn’t look into it further.

She heard footsteps behind her and turned towards the noise. A few guards were just patrolling. They noticed her and walked towards her. “You were the one to take out the drake, right? Thanks for that. I don’t think It would’ve been so fast otherwise. We might’ve also had to rebuild the wall again too. It was really appreciated.” One said.

Ember replied, “I had to. I couldn’t study, and it was good practice too. I won’t get much practice fighting actual monsters until next year anyway.” The guards chuckled and walked away while waving to her. Ember smiled to herself and turned back to the forest in front of her, enjoying the peace until it became dark. She then decided to go back to her room to get some sleep. On the way, she sensed something near her once again but found nothing there. From there, she walked a bit faster to her room.

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A few weeks after that night, she was in the courtyard outside Nabarmena with her classmates. Nimue was standing on a small platform so everyone could see her. “Soon the new year will begin in the light kingdom. Our allied school, Tirith, will be hosting four of you to learn about their culture and their fighting styles. Today, you will all be excused from your classes, and instead, we will be hosting a tournament. We will have pairs fight each other, the loser will be out of the tournament. The winner fighting the next person. The last four people will be able to go to Tirith for the year.” Nimue announced. Everyone was excited.

The Light Kingdom was their neighbouring kingdom to the East, the Forbidden Kingdom to the North, and the Last Kingdom in the opposite corner is the Torian Kingdom. Their ally is the Light Kingdom, though they are at general peace with the other kingdoms, as the Forbidden Kingdom is ruled by the Dragons, Griffons, and Phoenixes after their war long ago, though their wishes to be left alone have been respected not just because of fear, but also because they are the reason Nephiadroma exists at all, because they pushed all the continents together in that war. Ember snapped back to attention as Nimue began to speak once again. “You do have permission to not take part if you do not wish to leave the star kingdom, after all, you will not receive the option to visit your family.” She looked at Ember. At that, five people stepped away, knowing they would not be willing to do that. “I believe we can now begin.”

Ember’s fights were fast and uneventful. She defeated everyone with ease, and she was now in the last 8, all of them being paired up for their last battle. Ember stood in front of her final opponent, him tired, herself unfazed. She heard a go from the crowd, but only barely, as her opponent shot at her. She stood unmoving until the last second when she sidestepped his attack. He dove into a role, scowling at her. He then dashed at her again, but this time, Ember summoned her sword, and blocked the attack, pushing his sword away, and then she slashed back at his stomach, making him stumble to try to avoid her attack. He tripped and ended up on the ground, her sword at his throat. He was supposed to be the second-best sword fighter in their year, and what had happened. She grunted. She was not impressed, though it did mean she might get a challenge in the Light Kingdom, after all, she would be going.

Ember was sitting on the train to Tirith, but she wasn’t exactly happy with who was coming with her. They had potential and were decent, but they were the most annoying three people at Nabarmena. Sorrel, Tori, and Phaelet. Phaelet was known to like Sorrel, and of course, Tori was her best friend so she was always by her side. The three were all talking amongst themselves while Ember was sitting by a window, looking to the fields passing by. She let out a sigh and looked forward, noticing out of the corner of her eye that Sorrel was walking towards her. Instead of looking at him, she decided to read her book instead. “Wow. You must have really gotten lucky to be able to make it onto the train Ember. Or maybe he was blackmailed into going easy on you. I wouldn’t put it beneath you.” He sneered.

“You are just a lowlife that doesn’t even have a real family anymore,” Phaelet remarked. That made Ember snap. Her book closed and she rose to look at them, her hand behind her back.

“What? You got a problem with us?” Tori taunted. Her three daggers were now in her hand. Ember let her air magic carry them up, and to their throats. “It would be quite sad if a great beast suddenly attacked the train, and everyone aboard suddenly died due to the impact, me being, once again, the only survivor. Wouldn’t it?” She proposed. Her smile scaring them.

“Whatever,” Phaelet grumbled, trying hard not to stutter. The three walked away, trying not to show the deep fear they truly have of her. Ember sat back down and continued to read. This trip wouldn’t be as bad as she thought.

“It is a pleasure to have all of you here today!” The headmaster boomed. He was a large and portly man with purple eyes.

Ember stepped forward, making sure that none of the others could answer. “The pleasure is ours. My name is Ember and they are Sorrel, Tori, and Phaelet.” Ember said, smiling.

“I shall take you to the 7th year class. They should be getting ready for sparring at the moment.” He thundered. He walked back through the door to his office, and the four followed. They soon reached a large room, with mats and weapon racks everywhere. On the opposite side of the room, there were approximately twenty students lined up. They were all in a uniform, that was a pure white, and a dazzling ruby red. The style was much like their own old one, though they do not need to wear it anymore.

Everyone in the class seemed excited to have four students from another kingdom coming. “Welcome students! It is good that you have come from the Star Kingdom to come and see us today. My name is Elizabeth Fernow. Before we start our class, I would like one of you to fight against one of our students so we can figure out your general capabilities.”The instructor said. She looked at one of the students, and the student walked forward, and in turn, so did Ember. Both girls put their hand to their chest, making armour gather around them. Both smiled. “My name is Fiorei.” The girl revealed.

“And I am Ember.” She said. Fiorei picked up two swords from the ground, but Ember did not move to summon hers. “GO!!!!!” The instructor yelled. Both girls risked leaping at each other, Fiorei slashing with her swords, but Ember dodged, her knife in her hand, and going into the girl’s leg. Fiorei yelped in pain, and pulled out the knife, making it clatter to the ground.

Ember now had the other two knives in hand, throwing both of them to either end of the arena, confining their space even more. She then summoned her swords, ready to strike. Fiorei had realized she underestimated her opponent, feeling the cold pain running through her body. She then used a spell to get rid of the paralytic poison in her system and keeping her nerves alive. While she was doing that, Ember pushed off of the ground and launched herself at her opponent. She turned midair, using her momentum to smash her swords to the ground, aiming at her legs. Fiorei dove out of the way, standing up a second later.

Ember moved back to the place she was earlier, staying low to the ground, but made sure she was not vulnerable. Fiorei now launched herself forward. Pushing her feet towards Ember's chest. Ember wasn’t fast enough, and fell to the ground, Fiorei landing next to her. Ember put her hands next to the girls two feet, and summoned her bow, pulling it towards her to trip the girl. She then swung herself up as she was falling, put her foot on her chest, and aimed her sword at Fiorei’s chest. “Ember wins!!!!” Elizabeth announced. Ember put her swords back in her necklace and moved her foot from Fiorei’s chest. She then offered her hand to her former opponent, smiling. Fiorei took Ember’s hand and began to silently laugh. They now stood next to each other, Elizabeth smiling at them. “If you have time after your classes, I would like to speak with both of you,” she said.

The felt a pulse through the earth, and everyone moved to grab their belongings. Both girls looked at each other and smiled, tapping the pendants that decorated their chests, their original clothing returning to their bodies. “Lead the way. I have no idea where I am going.” Ember confessed with a smile.

“Well we can’t have that now can we?” Fiorei laughed. The pair walked to rejoin the group, leaving behind the other three. Annoyed, they followed them down the halls to their next classroom. Ember, for the first time in her life, felt like she fit in. Like she was normal. The only thing nagging at her mind was the figures she always sensed following her. Suspecting there might be more than what she might think.