First Real Fight

I can feel my body trying to knit the side where the dagger went in. Daniel is facing the would be assassin. I'm just really confused someone tries to kill me. The wound isn't healing like it would in the arena. Either the aura is different or I was hit with something more than just a dagger. I couldn't guess which.

I close my eyes checking for flowing blood. No. It's clotting kinda, but the healing isn't happening the way it needs to. "Poison?" I look at Daniel. "Callie? Is the blade poisoned?"

Callie sends a new spell at me letting the healing to truly happen. So she can use an antidote spell. Glad she picked one that would work. Not all poisons are the same. And she'll know if that blade reaches blood to send another. Is the aura hers?

I call the flyer to me. It will take a bit for it to show. I pull out my bow and aim, but am not confident with the target. Daniel is keeping the assassin actively moving. I need to have distance.

I wasn't the same level of support that others could be. If anything I should be taking the brunt of attack. So I switch my bow for my sword. Moving into position has the dagger shifting out to me. I'm not skilled with battle, so I can't be shocked this person pulls off denying us flanking.

They manage to parry our attacks. I back off letting Daniel handle the main of battle. Maybe I can get to flanking position? No. They're not giving me a chance.

I grunt and back off. The rituals... Don't work well with my sword, but because it was a royal gift, it can do something. I focus on Daniel for the protection.

Before I can go through the ritual, though, the assassin comes for me again. They got away from Daniel? We're new to this. As I parry the dagger, I notice something...

Lucas isn't battling. He's watching from the sidelines.

We're... Having the graduation test. In the middle of the capital. With a would-be assassin.

Is... This an unknown knight or an actual would be assassin. Will they stop battling if we go down? Will Lucas handle things if needed. We're being given a chance here.

When Daniel can get the assassin back on him, I notice my flyer. I hop on and move out of the easy range of the assassin. I can assume I'll be safe here. Distance matter though. I aim to be above them and hope that assassin can't jump high. I center myself and try for the ritual again.

How many of the royal rituals do I know?

I pause after offering the protection to Daniel. The sheen of gold is something I expected. We're being watched as if a knight demonstration. As if this is planned. If Lucas was joining our battle that wouldn't be how they respond.

I close my eyes and recall the ritual book. I was required to learn all of them. But it's not just in defense. There is one... I key in on the assassin. This is the only real option. It is supposed to be all enemies of state get hit, which may include people technically on our side, so we're only supposed to use it if the invasion has reached the castle walls. It will give us a real chance to escape while leaving our battlers in the capital to handle any aftermath.

I move through the movement focusing on the assassin. This will stop the battle. We'll be able to get away. How long would the spell last even if I succeed?

I the final swing of my sword has me focusing on the target. The stone pieces are slow to work, but also it feels as if no time at all passes before the assassin is a statue. I blink realizing that...

I did that.

Daniel backs off and drops to the ground exhausted. "Unfair, Lucas."

Callie moves in to offer healing.

I watch the statue. "It won't hold. The ritual is only for thirty minutes before the spell breaks. It's meant to let us flee."

"Although it also gives us time to shatter the statue." Lucas walks forward. He waves his hand making the aura disappear. Wait... He can use magic? Or did he use an item? "That's what your guards are told to do. You are told to flee while we handle the capital." Lucas touches the statue. He blows on the face. The rock breaks giving the enemy freedom of movement. But Lucas is there with handcuffs. He's cuffed easily enough.

I watch as Lucas reads the assassin their rights. It's just... I hop off the flyer and stare at the person who hurt me. "What just happened?"

Lucas offers me a smile. "Time to head back."

"That would be perfect." Daniel gets up.

Following Lucas back to the halls has me ignoring the chatter and cheers of the crowd. It looked like a play fight. But...

I want to ask Lucas questions. But if the assassin was our real reason for wandering the capital... And Lucas noticed them. It really should be seen as weird if someone doesn't look for me. People get excited over me standing there. Some are shy, but everyone watches me.

I'll need to keep in mind how the assassin acted. I wasn't being noted or watched. I doubt it was me they were after. Could it be the same as before?

I have too many questions. With no way of getting answers. We're stuck walking the enemy into the halls. Several others show up once we're past the booth. Lucas offers us smiles before telling us to wait here.

That's it.

"What just happened?" Callie asks.

I think of everything. What happened? I don't know.

"I'm going with the assassin from before and this time are after the same person." Daniel rubs his head. "I... Thanks for healing me, Callie. Those hits hurt."

"Glad you didn't stop trying even while bleeding heavily." Callie eyes me. "No offense, Thomas."

"I'm not ready to be facing someone like that. I wasn't expecting it at all. I couldn't manage flanking." If anyone asked if I was useful in battle, I wonder if I could say yes.

Callie pats my back. "We won because of your spell."

"Glad it worked." I exhale. We practiced the rituals with my sword before. I knew it wasn't going to offer the same as what the artifacts do. But either it was my magic helping the case or the ritual plus my royal sword were enough. It doesn't matter. It worked and that's enough. "I never thought about what everyone did while we fled. My task was always to flee if that ritual went off." I close my eyes recalling each ritual and why they'd be used. The statue one is for an invasion that reached the castle already. "I... I need more practice."

"We all do." Daniel watches where the group went. "But for now... We need to wait for Lucas."

"Hope he can answer some questions." Callie rubs her arm. "I can't believe I didn't even draw my sword. Thanks a lot, Daniel."

Daniel gulps. "I... It reminded me of my uncle. I told you, I've picked up a wooden sword before. But I was never skilled. If... I hope that wasn't my uncle." Daniel shakes his head. "No. Has to be someone testing waters like the last one who showed. We need to assume a more dangerous person will be coming soon. It's not us being tested as much as someone in the halls."

Yeah. I sit down out of the way. We thought it may be a test, but it became literal recruitment. Only to have it turn into a battle. Lucas should know more. I hope.