As they arrived at the royal training grounds, the air buzzed with the rhythmic clash of weapons and sharp commands echoing across the field. Soldiers in forest-green uniforms practiced in perfect formation, their bodies glistening with sweat under the golden sunlight.
At the sight of Elowen, a captain—who doubled as the drill instructor—hurried forward, stiffening with nervous formality.
"W-welcome, Princess Elowen. It is a great honor to have you here," he stammered slightly, bowing deeply.
Elowen responded with her usual stoic poise, barely sparing him a glance. "Yes, yes. Carry on. And prepare two or three sparring partners. My junior needs a proper warm-up."
The captain snapped to attention, bowing slightly. "Understood, Princess. I shall make arrangements immediately!"
Elowen gave a small nod. "We'll be heading to the royal museum first."
"As you wish, Princess," the instructor replied, bowing once more.
Elowen gestured for Liora to follow her as they made their way to the Royal Museum, which was conveniently located within the same complex as the training grounds, Liora followed closely behind.
She offered the flustered captain a polite smile and a gentle bow, her manners impeccable even in the most unfamiliar settings.
The museum was quiet—a sanctuary carved into the heartwood of the Royal Tree itself. The scent of aged wood and polished bark filled the air.
Just past the entrance, an old bark slab greeted them with etched words, catching Liora's attention instantly:
"The bark of an old tree carries every scar, every season it has survived. To touch it is to learn. To ignore it is to be lost. For history, like the forest, remembers all who walked its path."— Thorne Verdantia
Elowen paused beside the artifact and explained, "This was left by one of my ancestors, King Thorne Verdantia, the fourth ruler of Verdantia. He had a deep appreciation for history and was the one who established this museum."
Liora ran her fingers lightly over the engraved words, feeling their weight and significance. She admired how each inscription seemed to carry not just a message but a fragment of the kingdom's soul.
"Come," Elowen called from deeper inside. "It's time for your Verdantian history lesson."
Liora hurried to catch up, entering a rectangular hall whose walls were lined with bark panels, each etched with elegant, swirling engravings. The scent of polished wood and lingering magic filled the air.
They stood before a panel that depicted the legendary. Elowen traced the grooves reverently as she recounted their legacy.
"This figure represents someone incredibly important to our kingdom—one of the Ten Saints, Saint Theodore Verdantia. After the great battle against the Demon Race 500 years ago—a victory for humanity—Saint Theodore came to this region with many followers and his beloved partner, whom he later married."
"Together, they started a lineage that strengthened ties between Verdantia and the Kingdom of Mindhaven through generations of intermarriage."Her voice faltered slightly. Pain lingered beneath her words.
Liora listened intently, her gaze fixed on the carvings. Elowen continued, her tone softening slightly as memories surfaced.
"When they first arrived, they settled on the ground below. But over time, trolls began attacking them repeatedly. Though few in number, these trolls were immensely strong, with incredible resilience and regenerative abilities."
"Back then, there weren't many fighters available to defend the people. Yet, they survived thanks to Saint Theodore's immense power."
Liora's fingers brushed the bark, awe radiating from her expression.
Elowen moved closer to another section of the wall, tracing her fingers along the engravings that depicted the creation of the Royal Tree District. "Realizing they couldn't live under constant threat, Saint Theodore decided to carve out the Royal Tree itself, transforming it into a habitable space."
"It sounds absurd, I know, but with his mastery of wood-element magic, he made it possible. Slowly but surely, he created a livable environment, and from that point onward, the people of Verdantia relocated to live atop this ancient tree."
As she spoke, Elowen walked slowly along the carvings, her hand brushing lightly against the engraved images. L
iora followed closely behind, captivated by the depth of the story unfolding before her.
"Under Saint Theodore's guidance—a man known for being disciplined yet rigid—the community learned to coexist harmoniously with nature. They formed a symbiotic relationship with the colossal tree, ensuring mutual prosperity."
"Over time, Verdantia flourished, producing scholars, warriors, mages, and merchants, allowing its people to live peacefully and prosperously. This legacy continues to this day."
Reaching the end of the carvings, Elowen stopped and turned to face Liora, her expression thoughtful. "That's why the people here are so welcoming, Liora. Like leaves sheltering those beneath them, they extend kindness naturally." Her tone shifted slightly, tinged with regret.
"But the other side of Saint Theodore's legacy is his rigidity and stubbornness—Like the trunk of a tree—unyielding, proud."
"That's why when something unpredictable happens, something not written in any book... we hesitate. We stumble."
Her gaze darkened. "We make the wrong calls. And regret them forever."
Sensing Elowen's sorrow, Liora stepped forward and embraced her friend gently. Elowen leaned into the hug, drawing comfort from Liora's presence.
After a few moments, Elowen broke the silence with a playful smirk. "Alright, enough of this history lesson. Let's head back to the training field and show these soldiers what we're made of!"
Liora laughed nervously, still amazed by how fast Elowen's mood could shift.
Back at the training grounds, Elowen asked, "Are you ready, Captain?"
"Yes, Princess! I've prepared three warriors for sparring," the captain replied sharply.
"Good," Elowen said. "They'll fight my junior."
Liora blinked. "Th-three? At once? You're serious?"
Elowen tilted her head, pretending to ponder. "Hmm... you're right. I'm not sure. Captain, add three mages too."
The captain blinked in disbelief but saluted. "Y-yes, Princess!"
"WHAT?!" Liora yelped. "You're not serious!"
Elowen grinned confidently. "If you can't handle this, then all our efforts up until now have been wasted, Liora."
With a playful slap to Liora's backside, she added, "Now go to the center of the field and show me everything you've learned."
Liora grumbled as she walked to the center, three warriors armed with weapons and three mages clutching their staffs stood ready to challenge her.
Elowen and the rest of the soldiers formed a circle around the field, watching intently as the bout was about to begin. As the combatants saluted each other, the captain yelled, "FIGHT!"
The field hushed. Liora stood alone. Three armored warriors charged from the front, flanking her from different angles. Behind them, three mages chanted, their staffs glowing.
"Wood Javelins!" From the gaps between the warriors, sharp wooden spears whistled through the air. The wind hummed with their deadly promise.
Despite the chaos, Liora remained composed, casting "Prismatic Barrier!" Liora cried the spell, her staff slicing through the air. A dome of light shimmered around her, and the javelins dissolved into harmless dust.
But in a short time, running hard, the three warriors closed the gap—now just four strides away, their weapons already raised, ready to slash their target.
With swift precision and calm focus, Liora swung her staff in a sweeping half-circle, unleashing the spell. "Gale Force!".
Three dense pillars of wind—each no larger than a human head—erupted forward, slamming into the three warriors charging toward her.
The force hurled them backward, away from their intended target. Though Liora had held back her full power, the spell's impact was brutal: blood spewed from their mouths as they crumpled to the ground, unable to rise, writhing in agony.
Watching their three comrades crippled, the trio of mages pressed on.
In unison, they unleashed, "Artichoke Bombs", hurling dozens of spiked, artichoke-shaped explosives toward Liora.
Before the first volley even landed, they chanted their next spell: "Thornyvine Snakes."
Serpentine vines bristling with razor-sharp thorns surged across the battlefield, slithering relentlessly toward her.
Trapped between the raining bombs above and the advancing thorny serpents below, Liora swung her staff again… "Wind Cutters"—dozens of crescent-shaped blades forged from condensed wind, glide with very high accuracy and speed.
They sliced through the incoming bombs, detonating them mid-air. Dust and smoke erupted, shrouding Liora in a choking haze.
Yet she stood unwavering, her focus locked on the creeping vines below.
But as she moved to counter them, a sudden wave of dizziness and tightness in her chest staggered her.
The smoke wasn't mere residue—it carried a potent poison, its effects instant, even from the faintest breath. Her vision blurred, and her grip on the staff faltered as the toxins clawed at her senses.
With little time to spare, Liora acted swiftly. She cast—"Golden Ray"— on herself, and a concentrated beam of holy light enveloped her body.
Instantly purified of the poison's grip, she straightened, her resolve renewed.
Without hesitation, she cried the spell… "Prismatic Barrier". The thorny serpents met the same fate as the earlier javelins—disintegrating into dust, swept away by the wind.
The three mages and the entire battlefield froze, stunned into silence, caught between awe and confusion.
The mages, still standing at the field's center, frantically calculated their next move. But Liora gave them no chance to strategize.
In one fluid motion, she unleashed "Dawn's Embrace" —a wide-area light spell that rained down searing beams of radiance, engulfing the trio.
True to her restraint, Liora had dialed back the spell's lethality. Instead of incinerating them, the mages were struck by a searing heat that scorched their senses without burning their flesh.
They collapsed, slumping to the ground, writhing alongside their warrior comrades in a chorus of pained cries.
The crowd stood in stunned silence, witnessing what resembled a performance more than a battle. Even the captain gaped, his usual composure shattered.
Elowen broke the quiet with a slow clap, her voice cutting through the air. "Brilliant, Liora… Truly brilliant." Her praise snapped the spectators back to reality, and applause erupted across the field.
Elowen continued, her tone edged with dry humor, "Now heal them, Liora—before they're permanently crippled… or worse."
"If they die, the captain will have far too much paperwork to enjoy."
Liora chuckled sheepishly. "R-right… Dawn's Embrace." The same spell that had scorched the mages moments ago now cascaded over them and the still-groaning warriors.
Instantly, the six combatants began to recover, rising unsteadily as they brushed dirt from their clothes.
They blinked in dazed confusion, their bodies moments ago wracked with agony now inexplicably whole, strength seeping back into their limbs like a forgotten tide.
Elowen, who had seen the spell before, frowned in quiet bewilderment. 'I thought only Golden Ray had dual effects—damage and healing. But this spell can heal too? Do all light-element spells work this way?'
On the field, Liora approached the mages and warriors, her smile gentle and posture slightly bowed. "Are you all alright? I'm truly sorry—I never meant to harm you."
The group hastily bowed back, shuffling away nervously. "N-no need to apologize! We're fine, really!" one stammered.
As they exchanged awkward pleasantries, Elowen strode to the center of the field, cutting through the chatter. "Enough small talk, Liora. Your training isn't over."
Liora turned to see Elowen already in combat stance, her voodoo doll hovering inches above her palm, spinning lazily. "Wh-what are you doing, Elowen?"
Without answering, Elowen muttered, "Seeds Bullet." The doll flared to life, whirling violently as it unleashed a barrage of glowing, pressurized seeds toward Liora.
Liora reacted instantly. "Prismatic Barrier!" The shield dissolved the projectiles into harmless dust. The six recovering fighters scrambled to the sidelines, joining the crowd now fully engrossed in the impromptu spectacle.
At the field's heart, Elowen and Liora locked eyes—one tense and wary, the other grinning with unbridled glee. Around them, the troops leaned forward, eager for the next act of this free, front-row battle show.