The Trainings!

"These are the strongest Everhart knights!" Edward said, he pointed at the knights lined up before us. There were five of them. "Each possess different magical ability; water, plant, wind, sand and silver!".

"Silver?" I asked staring at the last knight, he stood still, his expression was like the others, indifferent.

"He controls silver, he can create, use and manipulate silver to his will!" He explains.

"Wow! So he must be very rich then!" I said comically.

Edward laughed for a bit before turning to me bearing a serious look. "Let us begin! We will start with water, a fire wielder's greatest enemy!".

The knight at the far end stepped forward.

"I have already informed him on the rules, I just want to let you know that he will not go easy on you!" Edward informed and left with a pat on my shoulder.

I inhaled as he approached me, his eyes held no emotion as he began his attack. The knight drew out his sword, swinging his sword around him in a swirly motion. I noticed the ground beneath us quiver. Out of the blue, water shot up from beneath him, it followed the swirling movement of his sword, surrounding him like the movement of a snake when it curls itself around its victim.

Once it reached a few inches above him, he shot it at me. Instinctively, I created a wall of flames protecting myself from his attack. I grunted a bit, I was being pushed back by the immense power of the attack. Steam enveloped the air around me as the water he brought forth hit my fiery wall.

It was difficult holding up against him, beads of sweat formed on my forehead and ran down my face as I tried to maintain my wall. I grunted each time the wall was hit with his attack, my hands grew weary and my wall began to dissipate.

I panted heavily, gasping for air. The wall faded as it couldn't be maintained any longer. Due to the steam, it was difficult to discern where he was. Vetting around I tried to figure out his location but I couldn't. I clenched my fist, enclosing them with my flame, prepared for his next attack.

Before I could grasp when it will be, a gush of water from no where directed at me, sent me flying.

I coughed out the excess water, breathing heavily. My head felt hazy, not a single plan on how to defeat him was coming forth.

"I don't know where he is, how am I going to find him?" I said whilst getting up from the ground.

Like a whistling sound, something pierced through the air, instinctively I avoided it, missing it by an inch. It cut through my hair sending tendrils to the ground and landed a few feet from me. My eyes widened as I stared at it.

"An arrow?" I said softly. It was an arrow created from water, it dissolved into a puddle as soon as it landed on the ground.

I was still shaken by it and soon enough more flew to my direction. Quickly I materialized my sword, swinging it in mid-air I slit through them.

I gasped for air.

He truly was strong how was I ever going to defeat him?.

A gush of water tore through the steam, I materialized another sword in my other hand. In time, I sliced through it, turning it into puddles and a bit of steam.

I panted heavily as the steam slowly faded. There he was standing before me, he wore a strange menacing smile as he stared at me.

My sword faded as I clapped my hands together, generating an eruption of scorching flames and swiftly unleashed it at him.

His movements were light as he avoided them, he leaped to the air.

Great! He can fly too. By his sides water arrows with an unknown number materialized, with raised hands he directed them at me.

In a haste I materialized my swords and cut through most of them. A few slit through my skin. I yelped at the pain as I was brought to my knees. My tied hair became loose and fell to my shoulders, it was ruffled and disheveled. I definitely didn't look ladylike at the moment.

As soon as my hands touched the earth, a plan unfolded in my head.

I smirked. All I needed was for his feet to touch the ground.

He sent another batch of arrow as he suspended in the air, once more I created a wall, most of the arrows transposed to steam as they kissed the wall while some of them cut through, a few slit the skin of my arms I hissed in pain at their sharpness. Lenora is going to be furious and pissed when she sees me later today.

The attack suddenly stopped. I quickly materialized a sword in one hand with the other I slowly dissipated the wall.

He wore a menacing grin as he slowly landed on the ground.

"You are wide open!" He yelled. With his hands stretched out, what seemed to be like portals of water rippled through space and encircled me.

I smirked. He was the one that was wide open.

Quickly, I hit my fist on the earth. Closing my eyes I concentrated. I could feel the energy around me as I created the spells and I made sure that they were more than enough to defeat him.

"Now!" I yelled. I shot a beam of flame into the spell imprinted on the ground a few feet before me.

Within seconds, beams of flames shot up from the ground around us. His expression will forever be imprinted in my head. It was etched with worry and fear. I made sure that the spells extended more than a ten meter radius.

Doing the spells took a lot of my power and it will take days or even a week for it to replenish but if that is what it will take to defeat him I am willing to take the risk.

I yelled as I channeled more flames into the spell, the more flames I added, the more powerful and intense the spells will be. I stared at the knight wearily, he had a horrified look on his face as he searched around, the flames shooting out from the ground seemed to extend towards him.

I think instinctively that he thought leaping to the air would save him from the flames, the moment he soared to the sky, the spell beneath him activated, creating a blazing inferno extending as far as the heavens, he flew farther than any human ever had. My hands grew weary as the last spell was activated.

I watched as they faded slowly, something which resembled a burned bird fell from the sky and landed on the ground with a mild thud.

I wore a jaded smile, finally I did it. I defeated him.

"I won!" I said softly. I fell to the ground, the sound of rushing footsteps approached me.

My eyes grew weary as I heard my name being called, slowly they closed shut.

"Rosalind! Rosalind!" These were the last words I heard.

* * * * * * * *

"Send the healers, quickly!" Edward ordered.

"Yes, Young Master!" The knights yelled, scurrying about.

He rushed to her side, she had a few cuts on her arms and some scratches on her face. With not much effort, he picked her up.

"I can't believe that you did the spells, Rosalind!" He said whilst staring at the burned figure of his knight. "Hopefully, the healers will be able to get him back to his original form!".

He turned around and exited the training grounds.

>>>> "How is she?" Leo asked.

He placed her hand on the bed and turned to him.

"She is alright, young Master. She just needs a proper rest!" He responded.

With a sigh, he stared at her. She was different from the real one. If she kept acting too out of character, she will be discovered.

"I will be leaving now, young Master!" He said with a nod and exited the room.

Once the door was closed shut, he turned to Edward angrily.

"What the hell were you thinking, fixing a duel between Rosalind and the maniac?" He asked.

"I didn't think that it would go this far!" Edward replied defensively.

"What?"

"Look at the bright side, she defeated him!" He pointed out.

Leo stared at him like he was the dumbest man alive "She barely defeated him!".

"I know!" He replied whilst rubbing the back of his neck, nervously "but she has improved a lot!" He added.

Leo didn't say a word, he looked at her, concern clouded his features. She looked fragile as a glass, as she laid there unconscious. He felt torn apart as he pondered if he really wanted her to get in, if she had to risk a lot to win this fight what would she do if her opponent was ten times stronger than the knight she fought.

He sighed. "Do you think we made the right decision?".

Edward didn't say a word at first, he understood his brother's concern. "Well, I have no idea, but. . ." He paused and gazed at her, a soft smile formed on his lips "I know that she is extremely strong and her attending the school will aid in unlocking her full potential. I know that she may not see it now but her flame is unusual!" Leo squinted his eyes at him.

"What do you mean?" asked Leo.

"Have you not noticed it?" He asked "It is impossible for someone's power to grow once realized and her flame was extremely weak when we were younger but these days the more I train her the more I notice how strong it gets. If she continues to train she may become the most powerful flame wielder ever!" He stated.

Leo stared at her once more, Edward's words ringing in his head. He was puzzled as hundreds of questions reeled in. Was she someone, whose power continues to grow?. That question, he pondered most on.

"If what you are saying is true then I can't wait to see how strong she becomes!" He said.

>>>>She finally awakened after what felt like an eternity of rest. Rosalind continued her training once again when most of her powers were restored. It wasn't easy defeating her opponents but with each one she fought, she discovered new strategies and moves to defeat them, even though most of the strategies had to do with her almost losing a limb which always made Lenora fret whenever she returned from a duel but one thing was certain, she felt stronger after a fight and her wit grew sharper than ever.

Days flew by and soon the anticipated day arrived.

She took in a deep breath as she stood in front of the huge golden regal gates of the institute around her were several candidates each aiming for the same goal as hers.

The gates drew open and the candidates trooped in. She looked back and spotted them, they beamed at her mouthing words of encouragement, she shot them a firm nod and turned around walking into an unknown place where most of her adventures lie within.