The Real Ironhold Prince

The chamber of trials within the Thornwood Academy buzzed with anticipation as Headmaster Zelbus zoomed Professor Elara's magical viewing screen to the men of the Ironhold. 

Lucius, alongside the surviving students, could not help but watch how these tall and strong teenagers were faring. 

The two imposing figures of the Ironhold boys, Cleagor and Talon, moved forward as if propelled by the very earth itself. Cleagor, with his towering frame and imposing muscles exuding strength, and Talon, equally tall but with a lean and agile build, formed a striking contrast. 

However, there was always something in Talon that hid behind Cleagor's leaner muscles. This was something that Jaime, with his eyes squinted every time he found the Ironhold boys around, would have noticed. "I wonder who goes out first?"

--

Cleagor entered his chamber with a sense of unwavering purpose. The massive stone door groaned shut behind him, sealing him inside a cavernous room that was dimly lit by flickering torches mounted on the ancient walls. 

The ground beneath his feet felt solid and comforting, a familiar canvas eager to respond to his formidable earth magic. With that, the biggest man in the 21st batch of Thornwood Academy smirked.

From the enveloping shadows, a beast emerged—a hulking creature covered in jagged rocks with glowing red eyes that pierced the dim light. Cleagor clenched his fists, the air around him thickening as the earth beneath his feet whispered promises of power.

"Boy, I might as well be bigger than you." Cleagor's voice boomed across the chamber, his words a mix of disbelief and excitement.

The beast answered with a guttural growl, a sound that seemed to shake the very stones around them. Cleagor smiled, a flicker of anticipation lighting up his rugged face. 

"Let's get this right on!"

With a powerful stomp, he summoned a boulder from the ground, hurling it towards the beast with a shout. The rock struck the creature with a resounding crash, sending shards flying, but the beast barely flinched, shaking the debris away and charging forward with increased ferocity!

Cleagor's grin widened, his heart racing with the thrill of the challenge. He raised his arms, summoning a series of stone pillars that erupted from the ground, creating a formidable barrier between him and the rampaging beast. 

However, Cleaagor's focus on his magical energy with the Earth element is far from perfection. He was always strong, but magic simply was not his best feat. No matter how many stone pillars he could send out, the beast was still able to crush and penetrate them!

The creature, undeterred, smashed through the first pillar with brute force, sending rubble scattering.

"Damn it," He hissed, swiftly motioning to send another boulder hurtling toward the beast, striking it squarely in the chest. Luckily, he sent this so fast and hard that the beast was not able to evade the attack!

"GRAH!" The beast roared in anger, its eyes burning with an infernal light.

With a growl, it lunged at Cleagor, but he was ready. Sidestepping with practiced ease, he conjured an earth barrier to deflect the beast's assault. The creature's claws scraped against the stone, creating sparks but failing to breach the defense. Seizing the opportunity, Cleagor raised his hands to summon a massive boulder from the depths of the earth. 

"Urgh..." Cleagor groaned. "ARGH!" His muscles tensed as he launched it at the beast with all his might, the rock crashing into the creature and sending it sprawling.

"Is that all you've got?" Cleagor shouted, his voice echoing off the walls. Surely, the big guy was tired, especially when he saw the beast's response!

The beast, enraged beyond measure, got up, its wounds seemingly forgotten in its wrath. 

"NO!" 

Cleagor didn't give it a chance to recover. Stomping the ground, he caused a tremor that knocked the beast off balance. With a fierce cry, his stomps all loud and clear even to the audience outside his room, he hurriedly pushed himself towards the beast.

When he reached the chest of the beast, Cleagor's huge fists embedded with earth aura landed on them three... no four, maybe even multiple times! 

"Screw you!" Punch here, punch that, the creature roared in pain, thrashing wildly against its earthen bonds.

"This is where it ends!" Cleagor declared, his voice resonating with power.

With a final, earth-shattering stomp, Cleagor summoned a massive stone slab from beneath the ground, slamming it down on the beast with unbridled force. The creature let out one final, pained roar before succumbing to the crushing weight of the earth. Silence fell over the chamber, broken only by Cleagor's heavy breathing as he stood victorious over his defeated foe.

--

Talon entered his chamber with a mix of determination and apprehension. The door closed behind him, and he found himself in a room similar to Cleagor's but with a softer, more malleable ground. 

"Even the ground is soft," He sighed, an accepting smile forming from his expression. 

Talon could not help but feel inferior once again. With how soft the ground he was standing at right now, he could not help but reminisce the days when the Ironhold kept on comparing the two young talents with each other.

Cleagor of Terravorn and Talon of House Terran — the Ironhold known for being the Kingdom's blacksmiths and rock-hard warriors, the noble family Terran has been leading the entire region beneath their large, cobblestoned castle. 

Talon was the only son of Lord Terran, as he was blessed with three more daughters instead. Talon, however, was not built strong enough, physically wise, to protect and become the family's heir... if we are to talk about passing his father's standards. In fact, even his sisters are stronger than him!

However, Lord Terran believed he loved his children equally. With such affection, he used his power and reached his hands to the lesser House of Terravorn, where the rumors of a strong boy faring the same age as his son have been ruthlessly training himself to be stronger. 

Terravorn agreed that Cleagor and Terran should be trained together, and both boys have been familiar with one another since they were kids. However, even when they were finally in the apprenticeship of the same teacher, it was clear as day that Cleagor was stronger.

All to the point that the Ironhold respects Cleagor more as their heir and not Talon himself.

Remembering his dire history, Talon took a deep breath, feeling the Earth again beneath his feet and drawing strength from it.

The monstrous creature emerged, its shape reminiscent of the one Cleagor had encountered but with a swifter, more agile demeanor. Talon realized that overpowering it with brute strength, as his cousin would have, was not an option. He needed to rely on his own agility and his mastery of the earth to gain the upper hand.

"Not all battles are won with brute force," Talon muttered to himself, eyeing the beast as it snarled in front of him.

Focusing intently on the ground beneath him, he discerned the subtle shifts in the earth's texture. With a swift and calculated movement, he caused the ground below the creature to ripple, generating a sequence of minor earthquakes that disrupted its balance.

As the creature stumbled, Talon seized the opportunity, sending a wave of earth to unsettle it further. "Feel the power of the earth itself!" he shouted.

The beast bellowed in frustration and charged at Talon, who swiftly evaded its path, utilizing his earth magic to create a series of tremors that impeded the creature's approach.

"Can't touch me," he taunted, dancing away as the ground shifted and buckled under the beast, hampering its movements and granting Talon the advantage.

Raising his hands, he summoned a set of earthen tendrils that rose from the ground.

"Bind!" Talon commanded, and the tendrils ensnared the creature's legs, pulling it down and immobilizing it. The creature struggled, but Talon's control over the soil was exact and unyielding.

"You will not break free!" Talon declared, watching as the beast roared and thrashed against the earthen restraints.

Despite its efforts, Talon knew he couldn't maintain his hold indefinitely. He needed to find a way to vanquish it once and for all. Concentrating his energy, he felt the ground respond to his command.

"I... I am strong!," he whispered, causing the ground beneath the creature to give way, creating a sinkhole that engulfed the beast.

The creature roared furiously, attempting to climb out of the pit. Talon drew a deep breath, summoning all his strength. "Earth, heed my call," he said, raising his hands high. The ground shifted and enclosed the creature, trapping it beneath the earth. The creature let out a final, anguished roar before falling silent, buried beneath the earth's immense weight.

Panting heavily but triumphant, Talon stood his ground. He had not only proven himself to his family but also to himself. As he turned and exited the chamber, he could feel the eyes of other students watching him as he trailed towards them.

Among the students was Cleagor, and what seemed to be behind his huge build and scary aura was his sudden outburst of a smile, brimming like a teddy bear being waved under the sun.

Talon smiled softly. Seconds later, he found himself hugging the best boy he had ever been with. "I did it..." his voice was starting to crack. "I did it, Cleagor!"

"You did so well," Cleagor whispered, tightening their embrace. 

Cleagor and Talon rejoined the other students, and their trials were complete. The contrast between their approaches was stark, but both had emerged victorious. Cleagor's brute strength and unwavering confidence had seen him through, while Talon's agility and precision had proven just as effective.

"You've done what we thought impossible," Jaime smirked. 

Talon, with a head held high, replied, "We all have our strengths. Today, the earth was mine." 

The Ironhold best friends exchanged glances, a silent acknowledgment of their shared heritage and mutual respect. Despite the rivalry and the differences in their abilities, they had both proven their worth. The trials were far from over, but for now, they could take pride in their accomplishments.