Chapter 281 CHAPTER 281

Chapter 281 CHAPTER 281
The sky was unusually brighter as we all stepped out of the Throne room, or maybe it's my power eliminating the tension I would have been feeling.

Sometimes I am aware that I'm not really myself anymore and I don't know if I hate it or not but in this moment, about to go face to face with the King, I'm grateful for it.

I would have been shaking like a leaf in a windstorm.

He led us, his officials, my men, guards and a lot of other people that were joining the entourage towards the back.

He was discuss with Caelen as we walked but I couldn't pay attention to it.

I didn't know how he expects me to show him this power and I was running through all my training drills as I usually do when about to face an opponent.

But then Draco took Florian's place by my side and took my hand.

"Do you remember what I said earlier?" He asked, his voice barely above a whisper but still carrying the power that was all Draco.

"Don't make a fuss, yes, but it's the King asking me to show him what I can do. What's my crime?" I replied with a frown.

"I know and I'm just saying it's a tricky situation. Don't.. disgrace him."

I scoffed, "thanks for your confidence in me Draco but I need my mind back," I snapped, taking a step further away from me.

He let me walk away and then I felt Zade's hand wrap around my shoulders.

"You'll do great," he assured me and I sent him a smile before continuing to walk behind the King.

Soon, we came to a large, green space that spread on for a long distance.

Trees grew further down, and flowers decorated the fountains scattered in random places in the ground.

Like a giant garden.

I hope he's not about to make us ruin this beautiful view.

He got to the middle and made a clicking sound in his throat and then continued talking to his son in low, harsh tones.

We all stood, waiting for them to finish.

But the sky darkened and I realized we weren't in fact waiting for him but his massive dragon.

Solvarion circled around and everyone bowed their head immediately.
I joined despite my power trying to get me in trouble.

Despite my tiff with Draco, he does have a point. The King is at a tipping point with this whole war thing and him not being able to lead his own army.

So I needed to control myself and the chaos burning under my veins, threatening to spill.

Solvarion began landing and I had to rush back as it was as though he was trying to grind us all to dust.

By the time his clawed feet landed powerfully on the ground, his head was right above me.

That was too close.

I moved further away until I felt him poking into my head. I let him in in a heartbeat.

"Daughter of Zhar," his voice filled my being, wise, old and powerful, "I see you have accomplished what many doubted you could."

"Thank you," I replied, being able look at him a bit better now.

"Your sacrifice will be rewarded," he said before turning around, not caring what he broke or destroyed.

And I gritted my teeth because if one more person says anything about this sacrifice business again, I might pull my own teeth out.

I did all of this because I didn't want to accept that reality yet everyone keeps acting like it's a done deal. Madam Vespera insists it's either me or one of them.

Since she chose to abandon the supposed love of her life because she didn't want to lose her daughter in the future, it tells she doesn't love the way I do.

I'm not sacrificing anymore than I already have.

Before I could focus back on the present, Zorath and Orealeus flew out from behind and I smiled instantly.

They were almost as big as Solvarion but I never noticed until now.

Side by side, they're quite formidable.

"Now that the dragons are here," the King's voice called out as the green twins landed far behind where Solvarion settled, "let's begin."

Prince Caelen cleared his throat and began explaining the spar style we'll use to determine my abilities.

"Each rider carries one sword and one quiver of arrows," he began, his voice getting steadier as he spoke. "The sword is for defense — you use it to slice incoming arrows away from your dragon before they land. The arrows are for offense — you throw them, if it sinks into your opponent's dragon, you win."

Oh.
I don't know what I was expecting but that was far from it.

"You can do it, Troublemaker," Zorath encouraged me and I nodded.

As the King picked the arrows and shield handed to him by one of the guards, I turned to another giving me my weapons.

After, I headed to the twins.

"Who's in the mood to get nicked by the King?"

"Orealeus has been itching for a fight, take him."

"What? Zorath, you petty liar!"

I chuckled but still climbed Orealeus, he was slimmer in a way, which allowed him move faster.

Right as I adjusted my stance on my dragon, the first arrow came flying.

"Shit," I cursed, reaching out to catch it.
That was close, but the next was worse.

The King wasn't giving me a second to adjust and I realized he never would.

So I needed to get my shit together and stop being so scared of him.

He asked to see me in my full glory, so I pushed forward, standing on Orealeus' back slowly while deflecting all the arrows flying to me.

At this point, he had dropped his shield and was throwing arrows with both hands.

"You're not allowed to lose, Alira," Zorath warned me.
"I know, I know!" I hissed, struggling to get my hand to cooperate.

Finally, I was able to predict his throws and I left that job to my left hand.

Then I pulled two arrows, and sent them in a curved motion.

Instantly, he picked his shield, but that one second gave me the space I needed to adjust.

The battle was balanced now and I attacked with a deranged precision that had him waving his hands around and struggling to keep up.

Thank you Momma Cora for making me play tennis when I was younger, because that was literally what I was using now.

Gradually, the balance shifted, he was throwing lesser and lesser arrows, and I was throwing more.

His grunt of frustration fuelled me and I bent over, pushing Orealeus to fly sideways, giving me a wider range since his dragon was bigger.

Soon, he was only defending and I was about to get the arrow into Solvarion when I suddenly felt a sharp, familiar painful tug on my neck.

"Ow!" I yelled, eyes flaring in pain.

My arrows fell first and then it happened a second time, sharper and my claws extended as my knees wobbled and I lost my balance all in a matter of two seconds.

Then Orealeus howled in pain and I couldn't tell if it was because I was tumbling to my death, screaming, or because the King had struck him.

And Zorath was too far from me.
Oh well..