The Fledgling

The Fight

Ader's P.O.V.

I sat high above an arena. We use it as a proving ground and challengers arena. It is in a giant cavern. The walls where carved out to seem like a colosseum, but with many random structures and standard poles all over. As I look across the arena, I see many of my people filling in the seats around in the cliffs. The gate to my right started to open. As I moved my attention to it, I see my daughter exit the gate in a quick but prideful manner. I noticed she was wearing light armor with two swords, two daggers, and a bow with seventeen arrows in her quiver. Her mask has a slight chip in it, but it looks like it's repairing itself. She took her bow from her shoulder into her hands, and looked across to the other gate. It had begun opening a couple thousand feet away from her. I put my attention to that gate as the boy, Garret, started stepping out. As he got out he looked around. He then set his gaze at Celeste, and was taken aback as he realized she was his opponent. Then he shook it off and unsheathed his sword with such ease for the size of it. It was 2 feet shorter than him and half as wide as him. He held it in one hand as he approached the spot where he needed to start at. He put his second hand on it and prepared for combat. Once both of them looked ready I stood from my seat and bellowed, "We are here to test Garret. To see if he has the skills and abilities to join us in our clan. He is challenging our champion in combat. The rules are to give everything you have in yourself, and don't stop until they can't move. But don't kill. Do you understand?" My voice was heard around the cavern. Both of them nodded, so I sat back down. As soon as I sat, a man behind me hit a gong behind me, signaling them to go. As soon as it was hit, Garret started running across the field towards Celeste as she nocked an arrow.

Celeste's P.O.V.

As soon as I heard the gong, I pulled an arrow from my quiver and nocked it on my string. I drew it back, as I took aim I saw Garret charging me with his massive sword. He was moving fast. When I steadied my aim I released the arrow, but as he saw it approach him, he moved his sword to block it with the flat side of the blade. I hurried and nocked another and released it. As it sailed toward him he sidestepped without breaking speed. As I nocked my third arrow he leaped high and forward. As I released, he blocked it with his foot. The arrow pierced and went through his foot, which he seemed to ignore. As he came down, he started to move his sword so he could use the momentum from his leap to add power to his swing. I realized this almost too late, as I tried to escape damage by moving back and using my bow to block. I only heard the bow break as the sword tip penetrated my armor and flesh, separating it from my collar bone down to my right breast. I heard myself cry out in pain. I look up into Garret's face, which now was masked with a pained and sad demon which also matched his eyes. He didn't seem to want to fight me, yet he's trying to kill me still, he is interesting. His next strike was completely hesitant, which I took as an opportunity to roll back and unsheath my swords. I flashed forward with my first strike, which he hit aside with his blade. Then my second strike came around, and I think I was going to hit him, but he brings his sword back blocking it with the hilt of his sword. He then brought around one of his fists to punch me in the gut. When it connected, I almost crumpled from the force of it, but only a grunt escaped from my lips as the wave of pain shot through me. In return, I kicked him in the ribs on the right, hearing the satisfaction of ribs breaking. He stumbled back, grunting, and moved a hand to his ribs. As he did this, I swung at his stomach. He started to move back, so I shifted and lunged at him. He couldn't react fast enough to take no damage. As he hit it aside, my sword plunged into his left collar bone. I heard him gasp in pain, and I watched as his armor turned a crimson color. At that moment, he swung his sword at an arch. I dove to the side just as it cut the air where I used to be. I watched as it hit the floor with such force that it cut into the stone floor like it was butter. With both hands, he pulled it from the floor. His muscles bulged as he did this. Blood flooded from his wound, covering his left arm and part of his chest. He charged me again. This time when I stepped back, I backed into a pole that was in the way. As Garret got closer, he prepared for a horizontal sweep. As I saw this, I dropped to the ground as he swung.

Garret's P.O.V.

As I swung my horizontal sweep, I see Celeste hit the ground. I cut through the pole, making it fall behind her. I was grimacing in pain as it vibrated my left arm. I brushed it off the best I could as I swung for Celeste again, who was trying to stand up. She turned and tried to block it, but I shattered her sword and cut into her arm. If her sword and armor didn't slow that blow down, she wouldn't have an arm. Hearing her screaming I grimaced, and I opened my eyes to a pole hitting me in the side of the head. I heard a metallic ringing. I feel a warm trickle and a soft but harsh sting. I dropped my sword as I stumble back in pain, holding my head with my hands. When I look up, I see Celeste swinging down at my head with the pole. I rolled sideways to avoid the blow. I hit a wall and quickly unsheathed my dagger, using it to move her next strike, so it hit the wall. Using the power of me jumping up, I swing an uppercut, connecting with her jaw, shattering her jaw and breaking random sections of her mask. As she stumbled back, I saw part of her face now exposed. I could see the shock in her face from her mouth and eye, then anger settled in as she threw a knife at me. I blocked it with my vambrace. She then unsheathed a dagger and throwing knife and charged me. I stepped inside her guard, sending my good shoulder into her solar plexus, stunning her as I slice into her arms. I cut her tendons, leaving her arms useless. She got frustrated and tried to head butt me, but I elbowed her in the nose, using the force between both of us to try and knock her out. She wouldn't go down, so I decided I was done and kicked her knees in, forcing her to hit the ground hard enough to pass out. After she was out, I heard the gong. As I started falling, the last thing I remember before darkness was a loud roar of people.

Ader's P.O.V.

The match kept me on my toes from start to finish, then completely surprised me at the end. No challenger has ever beat my daughter since she beat the last champion and took the title. To do it in such a vicious way, he will be a perfect guardian for my daughter. They're both stubborn though, so they will have to take time to adjust to each other. There is no use in having him do the second test, because I already have a role for him, and no one will object. I have a mission for them as soon as they're done healing. Their trip to the infirmary will be long. They both took an unbelievable amount of damage, even for vampires. They're lucky to be alive. Before I can visit them, I must meet with the council about his performance. But I have one stop before that.