Chapter 41: Back To Training

Back to the Newlaphaine kingdom, the Crusadia team chose this place to train for the upcoming battle with Urizen and Lamalia stayed in the Sandx kingdom to train. After two days of sleeping to restore magic, Emanda woke up and ate a lot, in her room there was always someone bringing food constantly. Eva, Belle and Julia were sitting in Emanda's room and were amazed at the amount of food she was eating. Emanda said while eating:

"What are the girls coming to see me for? I'm eating."

Eva replied:

"Uhmm, Emanda, we need more training."

Emanda said:

"Huh, I've already trained you all in the most basic of spells. It couldn't be any better."

Eva replied in confusion:

"But Belle learned more powerful magic."

Emanda said:

"Yes, that's right, since Belle is a very powerful and talented wizard, she can learn powerful spells. And you're just an apprentice wizard."

Eva replied:

"Now I'm ready for more difficult training. Please, continue to train me."

Emanda sighed, she drank another bottle of wine and said:

"Ha, listen, it's okay to want to train harder but it's going to be very difficult. You won't complain, once you start, you won't stop until you succeed. It will take a long time, but when training is successful, you will become very strong, maybe stronger than me but I don't think you will be stronger than me."

Eva said:

"Okay, I agree to start the training."

Emanda took out a contract through a magic circle and held it up in front of the three, she said:

"Sign here."

Eva gulped and grabbed a brush, she squirted ink and signed the contract. Suddenly Julia and Belle also signed her, Eva was a bit surprised, she said:

"You two..."

Julia replied:

"I won't leave you alone in training Eva. Besides, I want to become stronger, like Zed used to protect you."

Belle said:

"I also need to become stronger with you guys, what's the point of being a queen and being weak."

Eva replied cheerfully:

"Okay, let's get started."

Emanda said coldly:

"Read the contract again to see the terms, you just signed it and didn't read it."

Eva, Julia and Belle reread the terms, it included:

"For all wounds, even death, wizard Emanda Hamony will not be responsible for them. The tuition fee is one thousand gold coins a day per person. Submit by the end of the day."

Eva, Julia and Belle shouted together:

"What the hell is it?!"

Then the training of the three of them began. With Elastor and Grim, they train together and by sword fighting. Elastor and Grim stood on the meadow and summoned their weapons, they bent their thighs to prepare to attack. Elastor said:

"Another rematch, why do you always like fighting?"

Grim replied grumpily:

"I want to become as strong as a Horseman, stronger than the Horsemen of Famine."

Elastor smiled and said calmly:

"You're the same as usual even though you're the king of a kingdom."

Elastor and Grim rushed into battle with each other. Elastor swung his sword at Grim but he immediately blocked it. Elastor slid his sword down sharply and Grim pushed it up. Grim quickly parried the blade and stabbed Elastor. Elastor immediately rotated sword sideways and blocked the stab. Grim pushed up making Elastor back down, he spun the blade like a drill to push harder. Elastor quickly slid down to dodge and swung his sword at Grim's feet. Grim immediately jumped to dodge, he also kicked Elastor in the shoulder. Elastor slid and stood up, he circled his shoulders to relax and said:

"You're faster than me you know. When not using elemental spirits."

Grim shrugged and replied:

"That's true."

Elastor said:

"Your advantage is speed, what about attack and defense?"

Grim replied:

"I attack with both speed and attack. I'm very weak on defense but those wounds are nothing."

Elastor said:

"So it doesn't matter if I hurt you, come here."

Elastor and Grim continued to charge and fight each other. Both slashed at the same time and their blades clashed. Elastor and Grim continued to slash forward and they shot out behind each other. Elastor and Grim immediately turned around and swung their swords at each other. Grim quickly parried Elastor's slash and pressed the blade to his neck. Grim said:

"Don't you think using the greatsword will slow you down?"

Elastor replied:

"That's right, but I like things that put more attack power."

Elastor instantly pried Grim's blade from his neck and thrust the sword straight into Grim's chest. Grim immediately dodged but Elastor quickly slammed the blade into Grim's chest and knocked him down. Grim coughed and said:

"Ahh, great game. You've got a bunch of cool games."

Elastor replied:

"So what, little brother? Still underestimating me?"

Elastor pulled Grim's arm to pull him to his feet, but Grim grasped Elastor's hand and raised his sword and said:

"Not yet."

Elastor smiled and their battle continued. Back with the girl group, Eva, Julia and Belle were meditating under the waterfall again to clear their thoughts. Julia sneezed and said:

"How long have we been sitting?"

Belle replied:

"It's been an hour, we need to clear our minds to train ancient light magic."

Julia grumbled:

"Oh come on!"

Eva said:

"Oh that's right, where's Master Emanda?"

Belle replied:

"Look in front of us."

Emanda was sleeping and pretending to be watching if they were lazy or not. Julia said:

"Let's take this opportunity and escape from here."

As soon as she finished speaking, Julia realized when the other two had disappeared. Julia surreptitiously got up to hide, but suddenly Emanda spoke:

"Sit there until I wake up. Don't hide."

Julia shouted in her head:

"Why did you leave me here!"

Eva and Belle escaped to the grasslands where Elastor and Grim were training. Both of them were breathing heavily and looked at the other two who had also finished the match with a draw result and were resting. Elastor and Grim looked over at Eva and Belle, Elastor said:

"Hey, where have you two been and look so tired?"

Eva replied:

"The three of us have been training for a new lesson this morning but haven't done much training other than sitting in cold water all day. It's exhausting."

Elastor said:

"Uhh, it's just the two of you."

Eva and Belle turned around and realized that Julia didn't make it in time. Eva said:

"Julia's also in, but she'll come later."

Belle, standing in front of Grim again, is seriously injured and says angrily:

"You're seriously injured again! The previous wound hasn't healed yet, but you're fighting again."

Grim grumbled:

"I don't have time to heal, I have to start training now."

Belle cracked her fingers and said in the most terrible force:

"Don't talk back to me!"

And with a brutal punch, Grim immediately fainted without understanding. Thanks to that, Belle was able to bandage his wound. Eva said dejectedly:

"I can't clear my mind, unlike last time I could only temporarily clear it to fight better. But this time Emanda forced us to really clear our mind. I'm overthinking and can't focusable."

Elastor replied:

"So what are you thinking about?"

Eva was thinking and haunted by Zed's death, Urizen's tragic past and noble purpose, worrying about an evil force out there looking to the Highland Continent and whether she will one day become queen, will she really become a worthy queen like Lamalia, Belle and Grim? Eva said:

"There's a lot of complicated things in my head you don't understand."

Elastor replied:

"Just say it, everyone's sitting here. Yeah, except for Julia and Lamalia but they'll understand."

Eva said in concern:

"Well, I'm still a bit sad after Zed died, the moment he chose to stay and we were teleported out of there. I can't imagine what Zed's final moments will be like, what did he feel?"

Elastor sighed. Eva said:

"Aren't you upset when you talk about Zed?"

Elastor replied:

"Of course I do, I was sad when Zed died, too. But part of me was happy because I finally got The Dream Workshop when we both swore to be brothers while drunk."

Eva shouted angrily.

"What kind of brothers take advantage of each other like that?!"

Elastor replied:

"Calm down, he's agreed too. Rather, the night before our journey began. Zed foresaw his journey of redemption that could only truly end with his death. So Zed trusted me and entrusted The Dream Workshop to me as a wish that it was part of his dream to live in peace was fullfilled. Zed fought to protect you until his death, he also no longer fighting like an animal but for a great purpose. Zed has completed his journey of redemption, we should be happy for that, not crying. You understand that too, but I also understand when an important person in us dies, no matter how strong we are, we can't cry and sad. But Zed said you are the hope that he protected and believed in until the end for a the kingdom is more beautiful than he's ever known, don't be sad, do it if you want Zed to be happy after his death."

Eva said:

"How can you know and say so many things?"

Elastor thought in his mind:

"Because I'm the author's real favorite child."

Eva continued:

"I'm also worried about one more thing, is that when I become queen, will the people accept me? You see that people's life under Urizen is also very peaceful and unchanged, even forming a common alliance with the four kingdoms is also widely accepted. Although Urizen stole the throne illegally, but he was smart enough to convince them to make all of them despite being the most loyal to my father to follow him.When I become queen, will anyone follow me when the benefits and things Urizen has done is very good for the kingdom?"

Belle replied:

"We're here, always trusting you."

Eva said:

"Thanks Belle but I mean, I don't think I can be queen. Unlike you, Grim and Lamalia have long understood your people and have been respected and chosen by everyone. I have never been surrounded by people outside the castle to meet. It is all just a story about a beautiful princess waiting for a prince to propose, a fairy tale. At The Dream Workshop, I also didn't know much about life outside because I had to hide inside. In the Sandx kingdom, I understood the poverty of the people there and helped motivate me to regain the throne to help my people but whether how will the people feel when an princess in fairy tale ascends the throne?"

Elastor replied:

"Are you gonna leaving your journey? We've come too far and only one battle left. Can't you see what you've accomplished? You've formed a common alliance between the four kingdoms before Urizen and we are all ready to follow you to the final battle."

Eva said:

"I wanted to form an alliance because of Urizen's idea. But when I have an alliance I can't lead them because I don't have the ability."

Elastor became angry, he replied angrily:

"Then don't be queen if you can't do it or aren't worthy enough! Zed died in vain because of you!"

Elastor drew his sword and left in anger. Eva stood up and said:

"I can't be the queen."

Eva recalled Urizen's reminder, she had only fourteen days left to defeat him or else the Highland Continent's location would be revealed without a plan of defense. Eva thought to herself:

"Urizen only has fourteen days left. Can I make it..."

Eva said nothing more and left. Belle and Grim also split up to train. Grim went into a cave to train, he thought to himself:

"To defeat Exos will be a difficult task, he is the one with the least number of battles but the most powerful of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse."

Grim went into the deepest part of the cave and said:

"This place should be fine. The Predator!"

The Predator was summoned, Grim continued:

"The Predator, destroy this place wide for me."

The Predator growled in protest, Grim grumbled:

"Oh come on, why are you so lazy?"

The Predator replied:

"I want to eat, I'm hungry."

Grim said angrily:

"You got to eat last night, why you!"

The Predator said:

"Then I want to eat more."

Grim said angrily:

"Damn you, I have to sneak prisoners to feed you again. Why do you still want to eat people when we're on the good side?"

The Predator pissed off and turned its tail into a smoky chain saw and said angrily:

"Since that's who I am, you think being cold and pretending you don't care about Belle can win her heart?"

Grim summoned the Hollow sword and angrily said:

"Shut up you idiot, I don't need you to tell me."

Grim and The Predator rushed in and fought each other. The chain saw blade and the blade crashed into each other and emitted sparks. Grim and The Predator backed away and charged again, swinging their weapons at each other. This was Grim's best training at the moment, fighting even his Elemental Spirits in a cramped space. This was the way for Grim to develop his speed power, to be able to be faster than Exos. Grim and The Predator slashed at each other repeatedly in midair and landed on the ground. The Predator launched saw blades at Grim but he jumped and dodged. Grim immediately ran up the stone wall and ran along to reach The Predator. Grim leapt forward and slashed down at The Predator, it quickly dodged but was slashed by his right front leg. Grim's right shoulder was also injured. Grim smirked and said:

"You see? I get hurt, you get hurt too, that's exciting. Get ready to go The Predator, we'll fight to the end even if we die."

The Predator dragged the chain saw on the rock and replied:

"Bring it on."

Grim and The Predator charged and continued fighting. Eva returned to the waterfall where they were training, Julia and Belle continued to meditate beneath the cold waterfall. Eva thought to herself:

"If I want to change, I need to work harder."

Eva also began to continue meditating under the waterfall. It was very difficult time right now, but they needed to do their best. Julia thought to herself:

"I've had some time without training. It's time for me to catch up. I've let everyone protect me for a long time, especially Zed. Now let me protect everyone."

Belle thought to herself:

"I have become a queen but I still can't be as great as my mother. Please God Horux and senior queens help me, give me strength to protect my kingdom, fight with my friends for me. the battle is coming and please protect them. Although we have only just met, they have trusted me as a friend and helped me to this day, I must trust and fight for them."

Eva thought to herself:

"Zed trusted me, I let him down. But this time, I will fight for everyone's faith for me. Not only for the Gloria kingdom but for the Highland Continent."

Elastor climbed the mountain to charge electricity for The Star. Lightnings struck him, but the current was so overwhelming that Elastor exploded in his chest and rolled down the mountain. Elastor was badly wounded and could hardly sit up, he thought to himself:

"I'm too weak, I have to become as strong as Zed."

Elastor was so tired that he had to lie down and rest. At night, Grim was dragged out of the cave by The Predator with slash marks all over his body. The Predator withdrew and Grim excitedly said:

"Ha, looks like I'm still alive. Next time must be more terrible."

Grim slowly walked back to the Dark Elf village to rest. Elastor was also walking towards the castle, his body burned black from being struck by lightning. The two brothers nodded and continued on. Emanda finally woke up, she said dejectedly:

"They'll escape anyway, I don't need to look to know."

Emanda looked back and saw that Eva, Julia and Belle were still meditating and were no longer shivering from the cold. The three released a blast of elemental aura of all three. Julia released the green aura, Belle released the white aura, and Eva released the golden aura. They had successfully unleashed the aura of power on their own by meditating and clearing their minds instead of having to summon the Elemental Spirits. Emanda smiled proudly and said:

"It's good for the first day, but the fun is behind."

With Lamalia, she also started training after the funeral. She had bathed in hot sand all day to strengthen her skin, control the flow of elemental aura within, and closed her eyes so as not to feel pain at all. Lamalia released a brown aura, she opened her eyes and stood up from the sand. On her back was a tattoo of the Sandx kingdom flag, all the heads of the Sandx kingdom at some point will had this sacred tattoo. Lamalia continued to be painted by shamans with spells and runes all over her body. Lamalia was then wrapped in bandages like a mummy and buried alive in the desert. Because according to the beliefs of the Sandx people, Lamalia needed to be freed from her flesh and unleash the true power within her, so the spirit and elemental powers really returned to their strongest and its predecessor. Lamalia was sleeping while thinking:

"Zed, I'm sorry we have to part again and forever. But we'll meet again in the stars. Please help me and Eva get through this."

Lamalia released more brown aura and lit up a large spot in the desert. And finally Alata, he created a new armor from the vortex that covered his body. At this time, Alata had become a psychopath and the most evil like Reaper. He laughed maniacally as he tortured and used prisoners as shooting targets. While Sansa was still alive and locked in a cage, she watched Alata laughing hysterically as if she were watching her worst nightmare. The younger generations were becoming stronger for their upcoming battle. In Urizen's room, he, Exos and Laura were having a secret conversation. Urizen said:

"Only fourteen days left, but Eva isn't ready yet. We're running out of time."

Laura replied:

"I know, Your Majesty. But can you find another way? Princess Eva has been educated to become a queen but she has never been popular with the people, that would be the princess's biggest weakness because she can't unite people."

Urizen said:

"No, only Eva can. She has successfully united all three kingdoms into a lasting ally. I believe Eva can defeat me but she needs to hurry."

Exos said:

"What about the warriors who follow the Princess? Apart from Zed Whitney, the former Horsemen of Death, the remaining warriors cannot have enough power to fight the Grand Generals of Kraton Empire."

Urizen said:

"Daughter of the most powerful king in the history of the Sandx kingdom, half-elf son of Queen Eculida and King Halazar, son of King Halazar, son of the Horsemen of Plague and a most loyal maid of the princess. They are young generations but a hope that remains after the oldest and strongest generations are gone So Exos and Laura, it's your duty after I die to train them, make them Grands General of the Highland Continent."

Exos and Laura nodded in agreement. Urizen looked at the glass jar containing King Arthur's soul and said:

"Wait there, your daughter will come."