Fearfully Awakened (1/2) || Ruith

[ August ]

Spring pushed the sheath into my hand. My skin buzzed, reacting to what lay beneath the wood.

My gaze narrowed, inquiring. "An iron sword?"

"It won't be any different from the spear you manifest with your magic. You can wield it similarly," Spring lectured. With a fine powder, he created a massive ring on the ground.

The space he created was limited, and it bewildered me why it was necessary when we had the entire arena to move about freely. The spacious stretch of ground was cracked and surrounded by imposing white rocks that protected the thousands of seats from flying debris. Rarely used anymore, the arena was neglected. Only the moon acknowledged its needs and generously poured its refreshing silver light onto the ground.

I raised the sword pointedly. Regarding my teacher again, "My spear, I can disperse. I could hurt you with this." 

Blatantly ignoring me, Spring stood and dusted the powder from his tan palms, and I sent a tentative glance to Taegen, who oversaw my training from one of the tallest rocks. Nonchalantly leaning, he smiled down at me, effectively pacifying my nerves from a loud stream to a small current. However, the curious tilt of his head indicated that he, too, desired to know what training Spring had in mind. 

I was annoyed that Spring had kept me waiting. He'd dragged me here this late hour upon my father's command when I'd been prepared to miss sleep and visit the human world. I worried for my friend, who'd grown to favor keeping his distance from me.

  "Master—"

His annoyance trampled mine. "Relax, boy. It isn't the blade but the skill of its user that deals damage. It is not me you will be fighting anyway."

Taegen sat forward, a bit wary as I'd never sparred against anyone but Spring. "A challenger for Ruith?" The entrance to the arena endured his curiosity.

My guardian was too calm for my liking while my skin itched with worry. Even if I were to drag my nails across my bare arms, I wouldn't be relieved from it. Looking at my guardian again, my frown was deep and imploring. Taegen simply shook his head. You needn't worry about anything, it said.

  "My father said you'd be training me tonight," I directed at Spring.

With a current of wind, the heavy arena gates opened. I felt something ominous tickle my spine. And the greeting wind had been so formidable that I acknowledged it would have knocked any unprepared elf off balance. In came two figures, one significantly daintier than the other. The taller of the two was cloaked in dark armor resembling black diamonds that drank the moon's light and scattered dimly what remained. 

Spikes protruded from the armor everywhere that was vital. As heavy as it looked to move in, it was fitting a brawny man commanded it.

Taegen flew to his feet, every muscle of his appearing tense from where I stood. His hand tightened apprehensively on his own sword. "Why have you brought the military here?" 

His reaction inspired the quickening of my pulse. 

"Who is he," I asked. 

Spring began walking to join the mysterious pair. "She," he corrected. "That there is Commander Bermin's daughter of your father's personal guard. Verena is her name. Your father sent her here to gauge your strength." Pausing, Spring scratched his head. "It appears I'm too soft on you."

It was unusual to see female warriors as elven women were acknowledged as intellectuals and astounding strategists. Because of these strengths, it was traditional that they assumed leadership and advisory positions. Their dynamic minds were valuable to anyone who wished to succeed, hence why they were protected from the front lines. My father would tell me that fighting was too barbaric for women, and he believed women should not even rule nations as they were entitled to.

A menacing aura trickled through the gaps of the woman's armor and reached me. She stopped in the wide circle Spring had created and dropped her war hammer from her shoulder. It hit the dry ground with a rumble, scattering all ounces of dust from the crevices. 

"Taegen," she greeted with a displeased noise that seemed to hum in her helmet. "I should have known the prince's keeper would be here." Verena removed her helmet, tossing a wave of black hair behind her. The strands picked up on the wind, giving her hair the wispy appearance of smoke. She aimed her narrowed eyes above.

Taegen regarded her with a grimace. "I do not believe the king sent you. You came of your own volition intending to torture the prince, haven't you?"

Verena arched a brow. "Afraid I'll break him?"

"He is not that weak." Taegen's voice crackled like fire, searing, powerful, and persistent as if he'd threatened her. 

My gaze flitted between them, my mind swirling with curiosity about their antipathy towards each other. And I felt anxiety awaken in my gut, then rush to my throat. 

With a huff, Spring ignored their confrontation, instead setting a table to the side with the other woman who had accompanied Verena.

I scrutinized the white cloak over her clothing with a familiar red embroidery. "A doctor?"

"Come down here, Taegen. You look like a coward glued to that rock," Verena shouted, although her voice had been powerful enough to climb the wind and reach him.

Taegen fought to keep his expression passive. "Naturally, I wouldn't spar a woman who'd lose to me. Or do you take me for a bully?"

She smirked, her shiny lips pulling taut in the moonlight. She was dangerously beautiful, and the stars admired her. "I hear your power isn't what it was when I faced you before. I am sure I could take you on."

That was no ordinary spite. Anyone who recognized Taegen knew of the unsurmountable power he'd once reached, magical prowess to rival a great king. For he was a descendent of the late King Som, who'd ruled over the Eastern Province for two centuries in place of the ill queen who'd had no family to succeed her. King Som's bloodline consisted of rare lighting magic users; a difficult power not native to any of the four provinces. 

Before assuming his royal guard status in the Meadow Province, Taegen had been a powerhouse intellectual Commander in the Eastern military. Missions had been guided beneath his fingertips, pupils in his care, and with his prodigious strategies, he'd even offered advice to the current queen. He'd gone from someone great to a rumor the people no longer whispered. 

No longer was he menacing, strict, and mysterious, but my gentle, sweet, and loving guardian. 

He was rarely recognized for what he'd been, but I would always acknowledge him. 

Taegen's eyes fell on Verena, his gaze narrowing as some of the harshness from his past returned. His gaze ignited with a vibrant, stinging green, and the intensity of his glare defended his name, his pride. His magic might not have been what it once was, but he was still who I recognized as one of the best combatants I had ever seen. With his ability, he could challenge my father's guard and strike them down should he desire to.

"Don't challenge me, Verena. Your father will not like that I've sent you back with no limbs," he pushed through clenched teeth.

"That's enough, the both of you." Spring sighed and knotted his curly ponytail to the back of his head. "Argue on your own time. The preparations are ready, so Ruith is to be trained now."

Sweat gathered in the palm I had dispassionately curled around my sword. As Verena readied herself in the circle, Spring's hand met my back, pushing me forward to join her.

I desired to stand my ground, by my voice betrayed me, sounding weak as I opposed this style of training. "Master, I also don't think I could fight a woman."

Spring huffed. "That is an insult to her, boy. She is older and far more experienced in combat than you are."

"Then why has my father sent a doctor with her," I inquired as I reluctantly entered the circle.

With incredulity and subtle humor, Spring chuckled. "The doctor is for you, Ruith, should you require her."

My feet were anchors again, attached to my limbs but sinking me further into the ground. Spring abandoned me in the circle while my breath stuttered and fought. Violence repulsed me—made me dizzy with anxiety. I could hardly will myself to strike a fish. To attack an elf with a real sword was against my morals. I had only ever used a real weapon to combat the wind or straw forms. 

A prince that cannot swing his sword? Disgraceful, my father would certainly say. But violence had never been in my heart, and Elion had always encouraged me to command all the goodness that swelled in me. Don't let others try to convince you of what's right. Only God can tell you, and only you can know what he puts in your heart. Elion had spoken those words to me years ago, and they'd been the lesson I followed continuously.

"This is a battle, Your Highness," Verena said to me. Her voice was smooth, silky even, which seemed fitting for her appearance but not her aura. It looked like molasses in my mind. Then, up came her war hammer, its spiked metal whistling in the air. "I will fight with the intent to kill. You may not survive if you hold back."

  No…

My hands trembled, and the hairs on my neck stood. I did not fear for my well-being but for the severe harm I could deal should I be forced to give this fight my all. Neither was I arrogant enough to believe that I was defter than the warrior before me, but anyone wielding a weapon, even myself, became dangerous. 

So even if it'd result in broken limbs, and even if I'd have to suffer lashes of my father's disappointment, I would not fight her because even while defending myself, I could harm her. The image of her blood on the sword I held made me shiver.

Magic and combat ability contained levels of diversity. Could I not learn how to wield strength in ways that did not require violence? Defiantly, I let my sword fall from my fingers and kicked it far.

Facing Spring outside the circle, I mustered confidence in my voice. "I said I will not fight her. Master, please teach me how to use my magic to protect others. Not harm—"

An angry gust of wind tangled in the roots of my hair. I snapped my gaze to the sky, where Verena blocked the stars above me, her iron hammer lifted above her head with the intent to strike. Disbelief and shock had me rooted in place. I wasn't ready! Had I ever agreed to this? 

If following the conditions in my heart and preventing harm to her meant sacrificing my limbs, then there was no reason for me to wonder where I'd kicked my sword.

Instinctively, I shielded my face and shut my eyes. 

A loud metal clang rang in my ears, an almost deafening sound. My heart raced noisily above it. I peeled my eyes open, and I gasped with a strange shiver. Taegen stood before me, his sword unsheathed and withstanding Verena's hammer.

He'd just protected me.