Tears

Part 21~Knight Bluethorn

The knights hesitated, staring down the fires. After a long pause, the red knight charged in, running across the oil at a speed to stop him from sinking. When he reached the fire rings, he grabbed on, pulling himself on and jumping to the next.

"He's avoiding the oil," Tom observed as Marco nodded.

Solar gave them both a look. "You say that as if you would run through it... right, you're both fireproof."

Marco chuckled, wrapping an arm around Solar's shoulders as they watched the black knight jump between two hoops.

As Red reached the peak of his jump, an oil monster burst out of the oil, snapping its jaw down on the knight as he screamed.

Knights black and purple rushed to his aid. One used a metal pole to stab of the creature as the other pulled red out.

Red was in a bad state as Eris stood. "Knight Jovian, do you forfeit."

Red nodded as she nodded her guards that flew down on some native bird and took the knight, flying him to the hospital.

"Continue."

Black and Purple stayed away from the oil as the monster swam around. Knight Pink and Knight Blue had pulled out items; one used a bird call, climbing onto the creature that responded and flying over the tar. The over put on some magic boots, floating above the far as he ran to the other side.

The last was Knight Bluethorn, who walked into the oil, the fire not affecting him at all. The oil creature tried to push him under, but when it did nothing, it returned to black and purple.

"Prince Rathi, knight Tolic, do you forfeit?" Eris watched the knights as Purple screamed, throwing black into the oil as the monster snapped up. He took the chance, barely getting to the other side before the creature reared on him. "Bolious, halt."

The oil monster stopped as Eris smiled at it.

"Drop." The oil monster did not look too happy. "Drop."

The oil monster opened its mouth, spitting the last knight out.

"Take him to get care. The rest of you will continue to the next trial."

~~~

"The second trial is the Trial of Heart." Eris paused as the cage opened, and the giant monster charged out.

It was almost like a bear but much larger, blue, and with eyes everywhere on its body.

"Get the beast of Overthorn back in her cage without dying. Knight Kanin, you will go first."

The blue knight walked out, drawing his sword as he stepped inside the ring.

The beast instantly focused on him as he screamed, charging at it. The beast rolled to the side, kicking the knight to the side.

Blue was not happy as he tried again and again, but he couldn't strike the beast. Each time, the beast hit the knight aside, knocking off pieces of his armour.

Finally, the knight got in a hit, driving the sword into the beast's shoulder. The creature roared in pain, biting the knight almost in half and throwing him into the crowd.

"Do you forfeit?"

The knight let out a few pained sounds as Eris nodded to the guard. The beast keeper walked out, pulling the sword out as Star healed it, and the monster turned back to the next knight.

The pink knight was up next. He pulled out a rope, staring down the beast. The crowd was at the edge of their seats when the two charged at each other.

The pink knight tried to wrap the beast but had to roll out of the way. He spun, throwing the loop around the beast's neck as he pulled.