Crowned in Flames: The Rise of the Queen

The Art of Battle

*Scarlett's POV*

"Listen I will try my best to get this as a matter of importance but I don't think that will happen. Sorry." Caelum said unlocking the door, "It's fine, some day they will make a mistake and then we will be winning." John reassured Caelum, I said nothing and walked to my room. Once in my  room I locked the door  and slumped against it, crying softly.'Why is it that every time I try to do some good I end up becoming hurt or injuring my friends.' my thoughts raced through my head. Eventually I got up from the floor and collapsed onto my bed closing my eyes.

I've never had vivid dreams before, but ever since I've gotten these powers my dreams have become more and more intense, 'Let Me GO!'  I hear hunter yell and then visions and my mind flash of Exile hunting him down beating and bruising Hunter before taking him away. The memories of Exile's fight with John and I flash through my mind but feel more and more intense but one thing is always present 'You. Are. Weak.' Exile's voice pounds in my head. Then the nightmares begin, BEEP Beep!! 'What the heck!' My thoughts yelled hearing the fire alarm in the house going off. Panicking I look around and then hear voices down in the kitchen "Put it out." Ash yelled, the beeping stopped abruptly as Caelum hit the fire alarm with the broom.

"I thought you said you knew how to cook." Ash scolds Caelum, "Don't give me the attitude I never said that, I only said I'm not good at it." Caelum said, catching me in the corner of his eyes. "Oh Scarlett sorry if I woke you, after last night I wanted you to rest." Caelum said, walking towards the kitchen. A knock on the door catches my attention and Caelum, we just stood there before a voice through the door came in "Sir I know you are in there, I have a letter from the council." Tyler said unlocking the door with his spare key and entering the house. Caelum swiftly ducks into his bedroom getting into the uniform he is already supposed to be in. "What is this about?" Caelum asked, walking out of his bedroom in full uniform, "I think it has to do with Cadet Week." Tyler said, looking towards John.

*Third Person POV*

John's face begins to turn to excitement, "Are you enrolling? You know your father has to know you are worth your weight in medals." Tyler asked the only other male in the room, before John can answer Scarlett speaks up "That is so sexist." She doesn't make eye contact with anyone but just sits at the counter. "Scarlett, I have told you it is against the law." Caelum said, adjusting his belt before fully opening the letter. "But what if that is what this world needs. A bit of change." Scarlett says turning to face Caelum, "It won't matter what you say, it won't make a difference, look what happened last night. You wouldn't survive-" "And how do you know that just because I am FEMALE!" Scarlett shouted slamming her fist into the counter. Silence filled the room, before Caelum just left "Scarlett, you're right you are female and that's what makes you different. Maybe Exile was right you're weak." He said before leaving. 

John and Ashley followed behind Caelum, as Scarlett just walked to her room. When Scarlett entered her room she picked up a small ball of paper, and threw it roughly at the wall. 'Damnit! If I wasn't born a female I would be treated differently and if they won't listen I will make them.'  Grabbing her phone off the dresser in her bedroom, she looked at the time "Hmm, 12:30 in the afternoon, Caelum won't be back until late it's thursday so John and Ash also stay late. Perfect." Scarlett said walking out the door of her bedroom before heading towards the front door of the house. "Sabrina I'm going out, I will be back later." She yelled through the house before leaving.

*Scarlett's POV*

I know Caelum is looking out for me but I want to try and if it leads to my beheading then so be it. 'It doesn't really matter if you die you will just be reborn into a different realm.' Atlas says his voice echoes through my head. I'm currently standing in the library, I keep looking around me thinking I'm about to see a...'Atlas what the hell am I looking at.' I respond seeing a ghost-like figure standing beside me. 'I thought you knew.'  He says, only confusing me further, 'When you lived in Rosewood you changed your fate, after the fire you ignited-'  He watched as I came to  realization I burned my old powers of ice and ignited the flame.

'Great so I have a bounty hunter on me, and now I have to fulfill some magical destiny.' I said aloud in my head. 'Scarlett I can help you with getting into the army to take down Exile but you need to do something for me in return. When I think it's the right time I will tell you.' Atlas said, extending his hand towards me. I quickly took his offer knowing I could trust him. "Good now follow me." He said walking towards the door, we walked for many kilometers outside of ColourKore before entering deep woods. "What are we doing here.'' I asked him before he struck me with a sharp blade of Glass scraping my shoulder.

"What the hell was that?" I yelled, "I told you I will get you into the army, and for that you need to know the Art of Battle." He said before disappearing between the trees, "You don't have the experience to face me." Exile's voice behind makes me react and quickly move before tripping to the ground. "Pretty convincing right, when you can beat me as Exile, Sheath, and somebody you haven't met yet you will be ready." he said transforming between the green haired lady I know now as Sheath. We battled until the sun was almost setting I was covered in bruises and dirt and scrapes as Atlas corrected my every move while in the form of Exile, "You have fought Exile twice now, yes. You studied battle strategy but he has years experience. Compared to him you are weak." He said launching a dagger similar to Exile's daggers but this was different I deflected it.

 "The reason behind the sexism on the continent is because they believe men are built to withstand physical attacks, but what they don't realize is you can too you just need to learn the right way to defend." He said before firing multiple blades at me, everything seemed to slow down and through my tiredness I was able to predict their movements and quickly dodge and make a finale attack grabbing exile and slamming him to the ground using his wrist. "Congrats you passed the Exile round, also something you should note is Exile is fast, agile, but when angered loses control easily, keep your cool and you will win. Also you win a prize." He said as I released him before he swung his heel hitting me in the back trapping me to the ground. "Oh yeah and Exile won't go so easy on you neither will the cadets, meet me here tomorrow we are doing something different." He said snapping his fingers making my bruises and dirt on me disappear before disappearing with a smile. "Every time you win something I will heal you so Caelum never finds out about this."

Even though I had left hours ago somehow Caelum still beat me home, "Where have you been all day?" He asked, "Well if I can't join the army then I have decided to find a job in town." My response shocked Caelum as his brows furrowed before he turned back to face the tv. "Just be safe with you know who around I don't want you getting hurt." he said before I walked off to my room. But before I could close my door Sabrina snuck in and closed it right behind me making me jump, "What were you really doing all day? Scarlett I know you, we're literally twins I know when you are lying." She said to me her eyes staring into my soul, "Okay fine I was training I know that going through with this means that I could beheaded for defying the law but-" "Scarlett I get it and You know that I will support you all the way but if this goes to far I will get Caelum involved." I just simply nodded and she opened the door and left.

***

Cadet week for the Army bases that surround ColourKore essentially means that teens, and younger kids get to prove their chance that they are worthy to join the ranks. They have months to prepare with their Dads and Grandfathers, I have four days to be ready and figure out how to get in without being noticed. "Scarlett focus!" I snapped back to reality as Atlas(In Sheath's form) fires green blade after blade at me, "How is this supposed to help me? daggers are only used by 43% of examinees. And weapons are only used in the final trials if I even make it that far." I protested against him Atlas just stood there before hiding behind a tree and changing shape.

Now he stands as a tall older male at least six feet tall packed with muscles, his striking appearances are what caught my attention. The person Atlas changed into had dark midnight blue eyes, and with matching azure blue hair. Caught up in my shock Atlas used this and attacked quickly drawing a black blade from where a sheath would be, and pin me to the ground. Before he could do serious damage I sent the heel of my foot flying into his stomach sending him flying, but he quickly recovered attacking with his sword fully drawn. But after three days of constant training my instinct kicked in and I launched my counter attack and drew my crimson blade but Atlas knocked my blade out of my hand. "The cadet trials supply you with wooden weapons-" "Right." I said, "By learning with iron you will get stronger." In the Dark form he said, "You haven't met me yet but you will." Atlas voiced changed to a dark rasp as he continued. Went drilled everyday up until the day of the contest.