Monster Fight

"So, you're my partner for today." Isabella said. She wore just a metal breastplate, unlike others who were roaming around like zombies in full battle armour. A sword hung on her waist. Her light auburn hair were pulled back in a ponytail. Her radiant face gleamed with cheerfulness. She looked like a war goddess. Looking at her, I couldn't believe she was related to the goddess of love but rather to the god of war.

"Yep. I guess I am." I said.

Just then, the kid in the purple T-shirt announced.

"Now if you have found your partner, one person from each team shall come to know the name of your opponent."

I looked at Isabella and signalled her to go. She nodded and went near the kid in black T-shirt. She took a piece of paper and upon seeing what was written...her brows creased.

"What is it?" I asked anxiously. She lifted her face and looked at me. And I stepped back in disbelief. Her cold gaze sent a chill back my spine. Her face was devoid of any emotions which made it harder for me to understand what was the matter. Her expression was frightening.

"It's nothing. We have to fight a drakon." she said and her expression came back to normal. But I could still sense nervousness in her voice.

Drakon? I searched in the good-for-nothing brain of mine for this word. Nothing. Completely clueless as always. I hated myself. I turned towards Isabella for answer.

But before I could ask her anything, Hecate came forward and everyone in the ground fell silent. Apollo was leisurely sitting on a chair, drinking something I had never seen before.

"My dear children, it's time to use the skills you have been learning until now. Show me what my children are worth." Her serene voice echoed in the silent ground. "Prove yourself. Be confident. Emerge victorious." With her last sentence, the crowd cheered.

' 'Learning until now.' what is this oh-so-clever goddess talking about. This is my first day here and she literally hadn't taught me anything yet. Still, she wants to toss me to my death and expects me to 'emerge victorious'. Very godly.' I thought.

Just then, the ground where Isabella and I were standing, split apart. And we fell in the chasm. I screamed but Isabella remained calm, as if she was used to all this. I thought this was the end of my short miserable life but I was wrong. Even Death seemed to think that I am not worthy of it's attention.

Then the chasm opened into a huge room. Well, calling this place a 'room' was an understatement. It was of the size of a football stadium. Massive columns rose to a domed ceiling. The field was surrounded by a tiered structure, made for the audience. Actually, it pretty much was a stadium.

I was sitting in the tiered structure made for audience.

"It's okay. That all was Hecate's magic." I looked beside me and found Isabella, smiling.

When I looked around, everyone who was in the training area, were here.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Until our turn comes, we will watch the fight as audience. Look it's gonna start." she pointed to the field. Two boys were standing the middle, holding swords.

"Who are they?" I said.

"Ethan and David. Both are the descendents of Ares." she said.

Then I heard wings flapping and out of nowhere, a pegasus emerged. It had a white stallion body and really big, strong and beautiful feathery wings. It circled the stadium and then landed in front of the two boys.

It whinnied angrily and attacked them.

Seeing all this shocked me to my core. I couldn't believe my eyes. Even when I didn't know that the Greek mythology was true, I always liked pegasi (singular: Pegasus). It used to be my favorite creature and I always wanted to be their friend but now... when I can finally do it, I get to see a calm, friendly and affectionate creature as a hostile being.

"This is not right. Pegasi are very friendly creatures." I said. Isabella looked at me with surprise but when she noticed my dejection, her expression darkened.

"I know what you feel, Adrian. Pegasi are friendly but they are also extremely loyal and if their loyalty goes towards someone with evil intentions then we can't possibly rely on their friendliness. Can we?" she said. I hated it but she had a point.

I looked at the pegasus, trying to crush Ethan with it's hooves. Ethan rolled to the left and David attacked the pegasus from the back side. The pegasus lost control and collapsed on the ground.

The crowd cheered like crazy and clapped. The two boys exited and the pegasus on the ground disappeared.

One by one, the fight continued. Isabella and my turn was the eleventh one. As time ticked by, my heartbeat accelerated. I was so uncertain about myself. I had never fought anyone before, much less use a sword and I was so uncomfortable in that heavy, goddamned breastplate!

And our turn came. Suddenly I was standing in the middle of the field. What? How did I teleport here? Never mind. The laws of physics wouldn't work here anymore, better I get used to it.

Then a terrifying thought crossed my mind. I didn't know what a drakon is. The turn of events was very fast so I couldn't ask Isabella about it.

Before I could ask her, the domed ceiling began to tremble and I heard a wild, frightening roar. I guessed it was the roar of a drakon and it didn't seem happy to meet us. The stadium became deadly silent.

The ceiling shook again and a giant serpent emerged, making a huge hole in the ceiling.

The audience gasped in astonishment. They were shocked, too. But at least they were aware of the present. My condition was worse, I was completely dumbstruck. I even seemed to forget how to breathe.

The monster in front of me roared again and the walls of the stadium shattered. Thankfully, we had the goddess of magic on our side. She just lifted her hand and everything was restored.

"Isabella, please tell me something... anything about drakons." I pleaded

She looked at me with astonishment and the message flashed clearly across her face : ARE YOU KIDDING ME!

"Look, drakons are like giant serpent." she explained.

"Yeah, I can see that too." I said and she rolled her eyes.

"This is a Lydian drakon, they can breathe fire..." Just as she said that, the monster in front of me flared, as if proving Isabella's words.

Isabella ducked sideways and moved backwards.

"And their scales are harder than titanium." she yelled from across the field. She was running towards the monster's back and I understood what she was trying to do.

I decided to borrow her some time. Not able to think anything better, I drew my sword and charged the creature with my new-found craziness.