* IRA EMERSON ELYSIAN *

Upon my father's final declaration, another strike of gong was heard in the air, making me frown at the noise. I waited for the sound to subside, while the Ezèrian approached me and unsheathed her sword from the scabbard, now holding it firmly, her eyes stern.

I did the same and just when the town crier made the sign to begin, the Ezèrian stroke first. She was fast, but not enough, as the moment her sword was about to clash against mine, I attacked back, catching her off guard as her eyes widened and backed off, breathing heavily.

I didn't give her any chance to attack me again as I lunged forward, pressing my sword against hers. Her feet dragged her against the swift soil, making her slowly back away as dust erupted from the ground. She frowned hard, trying to move away the sword but I only pressed even firmly until she finally gave all her strength. I stepped back, standing straight while she huffed, breathing heavily, her sword facing downward as she held it loosely.

She cracked her neck, now gripping her sword and coming forward. Raising her sword high, she attacked, trying her best to make my sword fall but the only thing that seemed to fall was her own sweats and heavy breaths due to exhaustions. I hadn't attacked yet, I was only parrying all her attacks and observing her movements, the way she held her sword and the more I noticed it, the more I frowned.

She holds her sword like Elliot, she strikes like Elliot and she defends herself like the way Elliot does.

She grunted, taking my thoughts being lost as a chance and striking me by lunging towards me, her pace suddenly so nimble I couldn't think at all and suddenly I found myself sending thrusts after thrusts, fearing she'd parry them but couldn't due to my quick attacks. She only dodged them and backed down. She didn't give herself a chance to rest and came forward again, flourishing with her sword as she sent thrust now, while I parried all her attacks smoothly.

Her expression was getting sour by each second -- she knew she was about to lose -- there was no chance. Her attacks were getting slower by each strikes, her movements weren't quick anymore and her grip on the sword was getting loosened.

"Who taught you to battle with a sword?" I asked as I executed a riposte for the first time, taking her by surprise as she dodged again and blinked at me, her sword still ready to strike me despite having no strength at all.

"My cousin," her answer was hesitant, as if she knew what I just realised as she began to strike again aggressively, her breaths still uneven while I attacked back calmly, nodding my head.

The sword battle continued like that for half an hour, and the more intense it got, the more I realised that the chance of the Ezèrian winning was getting lower and lower. The Ezèrian seemed like she'd fall anytime soon while I continued to attack her like it was nothing for me. The Ezèrian gave her best, but it was still not enough and I'd promised her that I would not go easy on her -- we would battle fairly.

But the moment the Ezèrian clashed her sword against mine, steel crashing against steel, she seemed like she was really about to fall along with her sword and by instinct, I made myself be attacked by her, my sword about to fall beside me but I grabbed it again.

The Ezèrian realised what I did. "We were suppose to battle fairly, Your Highness. Please don't let me win in this manner. I would rather—"

"I can not let you lose!" I whispered, hoping my voice wasn't loud and hoping my strike was light enough for her to take me down -- except it wasn't and she only dodged my attacks, not having any energy to attack me any longer. "I can easily take you down now. I can easily lunge and make your sword fall. I can—"

It happened quick -- really quick.

The Ezèrian lunged towards me, aiming at my neck with her sword raised high and I immediately caught up with her, about to attack her back when she suddenly clashed her sword against mine, giving me no chance to parry, dodge or even attack back. She pressed her sword against the steel of my own sword, her face too close to me, all my rational thoughts suddenly flowing away along with the air and dust around us, my grip on the hilt of my sword slowly loosening when a lock of hair covered her eye.

She grinned, clearly aware of what was about to happen next but was she aware of what she was doing to me? To my body and its sudden reaction due to her fingers grazing my own ones?

"A feint, Your Highness," she said cheekily as she pressed her sword even more firmly, leaving my fingers numb in pain and that was it before I realised I'd dropped my sword.

My sword touched the ground while I stood there, still not being able to believe that the Ezèrian defeated me, fair and square -- just by doing a simple feint while I watched her like a moron, while I watched her make my sword fall.

Loud eruptions of applauds filled the air as I watched everyone stand up and among them all, there was my father, too, standing up and clapping slowly, clapping for the person who defeated the strongest swordsman of Elysia and showing her respect.

I suddenly found myself smiling.

It was unlikely of me, smiling even though I was the one who was defeated. The me that I knew would be fuming in anger right now, he would storm out from the field, he would be punishing himself for losing -- but this time I found myself smiling at the Ezèrian's victory.

I turned to her, ignoring my fallen sword. "Miss Echethier," she looked at me, her tired eyes fluttering, as if trying their best to not fall asleep. "You did well. This was a well deserved victory—"

I was cut off when she suddenly lost her footing, her head landing straight into my chest, taking me aback. My eyes widened, my chest suddenly thumping loudly, making me wonder if the Ezèrian heard it or not. I did not move at all. I simply stood rigidly, waiting for her to raise her head, apologise for this sudden act but when she did not, I found myself being relieved that she remained that way -- her nose nuzzling against the fabric of my clothes, slow steady breaths brushing my chest, her own chest heaving up and down swiftly.

And soon enough, her sword fell from her hand, her sword falling on top of mine, clashing just one last time before the two fallen swords laid parallel to one another.

"Miss Echethier?" I called, my voice quiet, waiting for a response but I didn't get any.

All the people who were applauding for her were now mumbling to one another, bad mouthing the Ezèrian for being so weak, for doing what she just did but that all stopped when my father raised his hand. They all quieted down, now waiting for me to proceed.

The town crier who was about to strike another gong for the Ezèrian's victory now came to us, his eyes softening when he saw the Ezèrian's state. "Poor girl," he clicked his tongue. "She's been giving her all since dawn. I don't blame her for passing out," he now looked at me, and bowed his head. "Your Highness, this must be really uncomfortable for you. Let me send servants to carry—"

"There's no need for that," I said immediately. Sending her to the servants would be risky -- they would find out that she was wearing a hairpiece and her eyes would go back to normal by the time she woke up, considering Zenix's limitations of his magic. I would have to take care of her by myself.

"Then, what. . . should be done with her?" He asked as I noticed several maids already making their way to us, about to take the Ezèrian and tend to her.

"I will take her to the palace. Send a carriage," with that being said, I lifted the Ezèrian from the ground, carrying her in my arms and before I could even realise, my renèi was released in the air, my wings hoisting up and flapping against the air, some of the weather falling in the ground. It wasn't unusual -- my renèi Possession sometimes released itself whenever I was in a strong emotional state -- this time the reason was perhaps the Ezèrian and I didn't seem to mind that.

"No need for the carriage. My wings are enough," I said, holding the Ezèrian gently while her head was tipped down, her eyelids twitching slightly. I levitated myself in the air using my wings, both Ezèrian and I now a few feet high from the ground.

I cleared my throat, my wings still fluttering against the wind and holding me up, a few feathers raining down in the ground while the people watched in awe, some sighing dreamily and some catching them and quickly slipping them down their pockets. The women seemed busy admiring my wings but I still cleared my throat once again, to grab everyone's attention.

"Miss Echethier has proved herself worthy to be a knight by passing all the trials. Not only she passed the trials but she did them all by one day — something that no other knights have ever done in the history of Elysia," I said, keeping my voice loud enough for them to hear. My knees weren't even in the ground but they still went week when I felt the Ezèrian holding her face close to my chest, sending shivers down my spine.

"She has defeated me in the duel — causing her exhaustion due to the long term hard work from the whole day. We have all seen what she's capable of and I hope this minor inconvenience will not change your opinion on her expertise skills,"I drew a breath, intending to finish the speech.

"The trials are done and all there's left is for her to be anointed as my knight officially. I will be waiting for His Majesty and the royal court's final assessment on the trial," I said, keeping my eyes firmed at my father and I noticed how he hadn't made any expression at all. He was staring at me, thinking about something and that was when I realised that everything about me today was wrong.

Whatever I was doing, it wasn't like me at all.

And father was finding that concerning.

But it was too late now. The Ezèrian was in my arms, I was about to fly to the palace with her in my arms, I just gave a speech, something I never did unless I was told to and I just declared to almost all of Elysia that this Ezèrian was to be my knight.

I let out a breath, my hold on the Ezèrian gentle as I bowed my head to the king and after that, I let my wings take me.

***

The Ezèrian woke up with a jolt.

I was sitting beside her in a chair, startled by her sudden movement. I adjusted in my posting and let the Ezèrian take in the situation: we were in the guest chambers, she was lying in a bed, her white hair was set loose, her eyes were back to their natural colour — gray as the skies.

She ran a hand through her hair, realising her natural hair was exposed and her eyes immediately darted to the door, relief washing over her when she realised it was closed and it was only me and her.

"Miss Echethier," I broke the silence between us before it could settle in. "How are you feeling now?"

The Ezèrian gave me a look, frowned and then realisation dawned upon her and her cheeks immediately flushed red, making her cover her mouth. "The last trial . . . ." A small gasp escaped from her mouth. "They didn't disqualify me for what I did to you, did they? I swear it by the gods ruling the skies that I was exhausted to death and I didn't know what I was doing and I just couldn't help-"

"Miss Echethier," I sighed. "It is quite alright. They won't disqualify you. You were excellent in the field. You think they will disqualify someone who defeated the best swordsman of Elysia?" I tilted my head to a side, a small smile playing in my lips.

She sunk in the information. "I should still apologise. That wasn't right of me at all. I shouldn't have just passed out like that. . ."

"You were tired. It was understandable," I assured her.

She nodded her head, white locks of hair falling in the sides of her cheeks, making me unable to see her expression. I rolled my fingers in a fist, resisting the urge to tuck the hair behind her pierced ears.

"You did well. The sword battle I mean. . ." I said as she turned her head to me, her gray eyes bright with pride as she smiled and I tried, within every fibre of my body, to stop my heart from beating so speedily, for wanting to get out of its place but it did not pay any heed to me.

"You didn't expect that feint from me, did you?" she asked teasingly, eyeing me amusingly.

"I did not. I was too busy worrying you might lose that I didn't even realise when I was losing myself," I said honestly.

She sighed and dropped her head back, looking at the ceiling. "I was scared for a moment. I knew you were good with swords but I wasn't expecting you to be this skilled but I'm sure I'd have failed if it wasn't for you letting your guard down," she pointed out, now looking back at me, her eyes softening and then I realised I didn't hear anything she said — I was too busy looking at her.

I bobbed my head, pretending I heard everything.

"I'm a bit embarrassed now," she laughed lightly and that seemed to erupt something inside me — a tinkling feeling that I was never aware of. "I'm the one who's suppose to protect you and aid you but here you are, taking care of me instead,"

"Miss Echethier," I said firmly and looked her in the eyes — grey clouds colliding with the soil of nature. "I am your protector as much as you are mine."

She didn't say anything for a while, her eyebrows raised and neither did I and I also didn't seem to mind the silence. I cleared my throat, now standing up from the chair.

She stood up along with me, bowed her head slightly, her hair falling in the sides again.

"I put your hair piece in there," I pointed to the wooden drawer beside her bed. "Rest for now. You will knighted officially tonight. I will send Zenix to change your eye colours," I walked to the door, my steps steady and slow, waiting for her to speak and when I almost lost all hope, she called one last time, her voice barely hearable.

"Your Highness. . ." I waited for her to speak. "I will not disappoint you as your knight," she hesitated to say the next words. "And as your Healer."

I turned the doorknob, giving her a glance. "And I expect nothing less from my knight."