The King's Beloved

~ [Music Recommendation: "Track 3 - Dragonspine" by Mihoyo (Genshin Impact OST) - available in Youtube] ~ Please listen to it in loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter ~

Rania and Elliot felt alarmed. They looked into each other\'s eyes and understood each other\'s thoughts. They figured that this was a part of the trial. It happened before - their powers being locked making them unable to use magic. However, considering the situation in this city they came into, and the war that was ahead of them, they needed all the powers they could muster. For indeed, how would they join the fight if they don\'t have anything to battle it against with?

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"I\'m proficient with the sword," Elliot replied, not giving up on his idea to help and fight. "A Zweihänder would be my weapon of choice but any sword that you could lend me should be fine. I should be able to help in subduing low to mid ranking monsters". 

The platoon leader, still with his eyebrows raised, looked at Elliot from head to foot, as if sizing up his capabilities.

"You\'re good with swords?" he doubted, "with that … puny body of yours?" 

Indeed, if you look at Elliot, he would represent a handsome prince who grew in luxury more than he would a knight. He had a lean body yes, if you would compare it to the bulky and huge appearances of the knights. What the platoon leader didn\'t know was that - despite his rather slim build, it hid years of rigorous practice of different martial arts, weapon skills, and many other offensive skills - not to mention, his magical capabilities, if only his spiritual energy wasn\'t blocked.

Elliot understood he needed to prove his worth. So, he borrowed a sword from one of the knights and fixed his stance before the platoon leader, gesturing a desire for a trial.

"Very well, then. One minute," the platoon leader raised his forefinger. "If you could last a minute from my attacks, then I\'ll let you fight with us. We can\'t just let you join without knowing if you could even defend yourself. We don\'t want to increase our casualties".

The crowd, including Rania, made way for the match. They encircled Elliot and the platoon leader wanting to get a glimpse of what would happen. Most of them were curious as to how good this new face was since he was so confident with his skills even if he didn\'t have any magic.

And so, the trial match began. The platoon leader lounged quickly to Elliot, swinging his huge sword at him. Despite his bulky armor and heavy sword, he moved fast, and his blow was really powerful that it created a strong gust of wind. Surely, he didn\'t go easy with him.

The crowd coughed and shielded their eyes from the dust that the wind scattered. When they recovered, they all gasped at what they saw.

Elliot, the new face, managed to block the platoon leader\'s attack! He didn\'t even move an inch nor struggle in holding his attack while a trickle of sweat could clearly be seen on his opponent\'s face. He was just there, as if standing nonchalantly, easily holding up against him.

"H-how did he -," the other knights were amazed. They couldn\'t believe their eyes.

If holding up an attack was already marvelous for them, Elliot suddenly disappeared before them! Not even a blink of an eye passed, and he was already behind the platoon leader with his sword pointed at his neck.

"Woah!" everyone was in awe. It all happened too fast and they couldn\'t believe that their platoon leader just "lost" towards the new face.

"S-such reflexes …," the platoon leader thought in his mind, "and that strength … He didn\'t even boost himself with magic! Was that all just mere physical abilities? In that tiny body of his?"

"Well done, Elliot," Rania congratulated him ,and mischievously rummaged his hair.

Elliot smiled as he grabbed Rania\'s hands and fixed his hair with the other. Then, the platoon leader came nearer to him.

"I acknowledge your skills," he said. "I will let you join us in fighting. And as for the woman," he turned to Rania, "kindly go back inside and go to the stronghold. You may assist the others in helping the priests and priestesses".

Rania thought for a moment. Should she join the fight? Would she be helpful at all? But she decided to cast her worries and believe in herself. So she answered the platoon leader.

"No," she replied, with burning determination in her eyes. "I will join the fight, too".

Everyone who heard was surprised once more. "Was she another talent? With mad skills like this new fellow?" they whispered amongst themselves.

As they were whispering, Rania borrowed a bow and a couple of arrows to one of the weaponsmith nearby. She took a quiver as well, placing the arrows inside, and wore it on her back. Then, she looked up, searching for a target to shoot until she found three flying birds at a great distance. She quickly took three arrows from her quiver, fixed them at the bow, stretched it by the strings, and aimed at the three moving birds.

PHOOOSSK!!! In just one shot, three arrows were released high in the air, hitting all the three birds that were flying together. It was one thing to hit a steady target, but a whole lot more to hit moving ones, and three of them at the same time! It seemed all those practice in the Forbidden Forest paid off quite well.

"Woooah!" the crowd was awed once more. Another frail looking person, holding such great talent!

"Another genius, I see," the platoon leader chuckled. "Fine! Join the archers and mages in the tower".

Elliot felt proud towards his beloved. He rushed to her side and patted her head the way she did his. Rania chuckled at him.

"Thank y-," Rania was about to thank the platoon leader when suddenly, they heard an ear-splitting noise from afar.

RRRRROOOOOAAARRRR!!!!!!

Alas, the hoarder of monsters had reached the horizons!