The Jewel of Orlegon

Chapter 25: Preparing their weapons

" Alteria, focus!" Camexen yelled from the barrier where he was sitting. "At this rate, you'll be the one served roasted tonight."

Alteria let out a low whistle between her teeth while trying to maintain the ice shield that protected her and Rymian from the unending geyser of flames Saosa had been unleashing at them for several minutes. She felt her sapphire power weakening as she grew exhausted, her control over the water slipped away bit by bit, and she couldn't do anything about it. Rymian, on the other hand, seemed lost in thought, unable to move and seemingly unaware of the danger he faced if the ice gave way entirely to the inferno.

"Now would be a really good time," Alteria grumbled, reducing the surface of the shield to focus her strength where it was needed.

"Try finding a crack in the mind of someone who has been taught since childhood to hide their thoughts, and then we can talk," the young man replied without even opening his eyes.

"You can always try!" Saosa called out over the roar of the flames. "My mind is like a fortress! You'll never get in!"

"Saosa, you should also stay focused, or..." Their nahori didn't even have time to finish his sentence before Rymian abruptly lifted his head towards his twin with a smile on his face.

"I've got you."

The torrent of flames stopped abruptly, and Saosa staggered as if struck by a sudden illness. Alteria didn't give her a chance to regain her composure. Releasing her grip on the Nolensat controlling the ice, she allowed the shield to turn back into water and then projected it onto her opponent, trapping her in a prison that solidified upon contact with Saosa. Immediately, Saosa began struggling to break free from the icy grasp.

"And that's what happens to braggarts," Camexen declared as he left his perch to approach his students. "You had the upper hand until you decided to ruin it all."

Alteria quickly released her comrade from the frozen grip and drew upon her last reserves of strength to extract as much water as possible from Saosa's soaked clothes. Her comrade rewarded her with a genuine smile and then wrapped her arm around Alteria's shoulders.

"Look at how much progress you've made since that evening when you weren't sure if you could thaw my arm," she sincerely admired. "I wish I had such explosive progress!"

"If you didn't always do your own thing and listen to the advice we give you, maybe that would happen," her brother suggested sarcastically.

"I don't want to hear anything from someone who relies entirely on their physical abilities in combat and makes no effort to use their gifts."

Rymian sighed and began to walk away to retrieve the water flask he had placed near the barrier. However, that didn't stop his sister from continuing to lecture him on his lack of involvement in using his powers in combat. Alteria, on the other hand, had leaned on the wide windowsill of the Imperial Guard training yard, which Merim had offered for their use as much as they wished. The spectacle often attracted the youngest guard recruits, who came regularly to admire the Enartians at work. The large training ground, located within the palace grounds, was one of the places that offered the best views of the surroundings of the Imperial residence.

The capital of Orlegon, Xephios, was built on the northern bank of the vast Lake Nezpi, which had formed there on the bed of the Nezpidi River like a pause in the river's course before continuing on to the ocean and ending its journey in Nirbo. The city had then expanded along the shores of the lake like a tentacular embrace seeking to encircle the immense indolent mass. In its center, built on the great cliff that rose to overlook the lake's expanse, stood the imperial palace, a monument of white and ochre stone that dazzled those who looked up at it from the city below. The view that Alteria had was worthy of what the tales she had heard as a child might have described, and Rymian hadn't taken long to make the window she was leaning on one of his usual painting spots.