20 Final Test

Lord Callaghan came back from the woods, who checked up on Oizys after the immense energy light that appeared by the treetops. Looking unsure if what he brought along was good news, he went straight to Lord Harlan, a bit confused.

"What's the situation?", Lord Harlan asked.

Lord Callaghan whispered to Lord Harlan while the three Paladin knights stood by to listen. "There has been a transformation. Oizys wants to be called Euphrosyne, the goddess of merriment", he softly said.

Lord Harlan smiled as if he knew. He smacked his lips and made a sigh of relief. "So, the time has come, my friend", he said as he held his colleague on his arm.

"What are they talking about?", Vesta asked Stellan and Alesso who's more bewildered than she is.

"I have no idea", Stellan sucked his teeth as he fixed his eyes on the two Lords of Brandenburg.

"Alright! Time is up for me. I better get going. It's my shift to look after the palace tonight. After the attacks lately, the King wanted the palace to be guarded at all times", Vesta said as she went out. "Let me know if my bet gets in", she added. Starting tonight, the Paladins will take shifts on guarding the imperial palace.

The four participants to catch a beast came in one by one. Two more minutes left and the test will be finally be done. Suddenly, somewhere high up, the wind started swirling, the trees were rustling and the grass began swaying.

The Lords and the two Paladins stood guard with their weapons, as an unexpected beast landed on the ground in front of them. Backing away slowly at the sight of an ancient beast, the participants closed their fists to face the one-of-a-kind creature that appeared.

The chimera landed gracefully on its four paws. Majestically showing its three heads and large wings on the men gaping in fear and awe. Only when Haelan descended from its back, the frightened men relaxed.

"Here's my beast! It's my beast", Haelan said as she made a few steps forward. She glanced on each men as she wave with her hands in the air.

"I never thought you'll be very specific", Lord Callaghan chuckled at Haelan who arrived with a vicious chimera.

"Wait", Haelan saw the dead creatures the other participants brought in. "Does it have to be dead?", she asked being the only participant who brought a

living creature to pass the test.

"Not neccesarily. But this is glorious", Lord Harlan said as he gestured his hands.

"Well done, squirrel", Jac lifted his brows at Haelan. "You keep surprising us", he added.

Stellan and Alesso stood on guard in front of the chimera. The beast is known to be breathing fire, that can burn them all in an instant. "Haelan, could you tell your mighty friend to leave the premises", Alesso said as he was feeling a bit threatened.

"Unless it wants to have it's three heads as Brandenburg's breakfast", Stellan squinted his eyes at the goat head. The chimera grunted lowly at the Paladins before looking back at Haelan.

"Thanks Chichi! Now fly", Haelan patted the heads of the chimera which purred before it drifted up in the air.

"Chichi?? That chimera.. has a name?", Stellan could hardly believe what he heard. The last time he faced this kind of beast, it almost burned an entire village.

"Way to go tiny", Alesso thought that the baby chimera imprinted on her.

"Congratulations! And now we will go to our final test", Lord Callaghan said as each of the participants put their game face on.

"And then there were five", Stellan said as he leer on Haelan.

*****

BACK TO THE CASTLE

The remaining five participants were ordered to follow the Paladins back to the castle. Through the courtyard, up the tower to the parapet walk, the towering pair of dashing Paladins swiftly made their way through the maze-like hallways of Brandenburg.

Haelan tried to keep up with their big steps and long strides, as she ran from the back of the tall grumpy men with her short weak thighs. Then, they reached a long corridor surrounded with walls of large stones and windows covered with black and gold trim drapes. They trudged the dark empty halls resounding their footsteps.

The Paladins led the participants to a wooden door where Umbriel is waiting. "All yours, Um", Alesso said as the Paladins walked on a different direction away from the participants.

"I will be expecting your success, Tiny", Alesso looked back with a smirk.

Haelan curved her lips up, as she took a quick look at Stellan whom she thought looked divine. Whether admiration or persistent quizzing, Haelan is certain that there's something undefined about Stellan's presence that make her feel warm yet restless. "Don't keep your hopes up", she humbly replied as she try to hope they wouldn't her heart beating like a drum.

As the two leave for the parapet walk, Alesso can't hide his growing curiosity. "That one is odd, don't you think?", he asked Stellan.

"He is. So don't expect too much Alesso", Stellan said as he notice how concerned Alesso with the tiny participant. "Why are you so connected with that man?", He asked.

"Nothing, he just remind me of someone. Want to make a new bet?", Alesso asked. "Bow or sword?", he added.

Stellan paused as he face his cloaked friend. "No doubt, it's Swords", he answered.

Alesso bursted into laughter. All along he thought that Stellan hated Haelan. "So after all, you think Tiny is getting in the chivalry… as a Knight", he said.

"Just like what you said, there's just something arguably intriguing about that man.", Stellan said with a straight face.

******

The participants stood before Umbriel for the last test of their admission to Brandenburg. Amongst the many aspiring candidates who dreamt to be part of the chivalry, all comes down to five brave men of different places in and out of Nether.

"Welcome everyone to Brandenburg's Armory. And this is your final test", Umbriel said as he welcome the exhausted participants. "Each of you will be called one by one to get in. The task is easy. Just pick up the weapon that you see inside the chest.

May it be a sword or a bow, the chest will tell you which domain you'll likely go.", Umbriel explained as the participants listen closely.

"What if there's none?", Atrius curiously asked.

"If you don't see any weapon inside, it means you have failed the final test", Umbriel said at the stunned participants. "You will enter in this particular order: Atrius of Gr.. Nether. Jacomus of Nether. Falco of Beourg Mountains, Ottis of Nether and Haelan of Greco", Umbriel said. "Shall we begin?", he commenced.