Paladin

...alone?

It took barely a day for the Guild to come to an agreement on what they should do with her.

"Guild member, Vera has asked for your permanent residence and for you to be a fully-fledged Guild member if you win the duel," Immediately the air was imbued with screeches, howls, and growls, they desisted when Ameon continued, "On the other hand, Guild Member and Dragon Prince Theodeas, has asked for your immediate death if you lose but there is a possibility of your death either way."

"Is there a third option?" Illyria said lightly.

"If you chose to agree, you will have to duel a guild member to be a guild member. If you do not wish to duel, you will be roasted alive and devoured by the whole tribe. Do you need a minute to decide?"

"Well with that ultimatum," She said dryly, "I'm at a loss with what to do. Fine, I'll duel whoever."

I will take the pleasure of dueling you, unwanted bug, Theodeas snarled, plodding forward threateningly and Illyria only raised my eyebrows.

"As all potential guild members, she gets to decide which guild member she wants to duel," Ameon said reasonably.

Illyria refused to be weak, I would gladly like to take you down a peg, dragon Princeling.

"Let's move to a- "

But it seemed that Theodeas was eager to get started by the way he sailed a short distance to get to Illyria. Illyria stopped him by throwing him off his course by raising a hand. She couldn't help but wonder where her strength was when she needed it Seni. Eventually, he broke free from her hold and came bounding towards Illyria again. She teleported behind him as his claws expanded. Fighting a dragon was harder than a mortal, especially when they were a bloodthirsty monster who wanted your head on a platter. When spinning around, his tail whacked Illyria to the side without him meaning to and she fell to the ground. While Illyria was still knocked over, he hovered over her and she gaped up at him as his line of pointed teeth was just an inch away from snapping her in half. She used all the force she had and made him soar by shooting him up to the air. By the time he got control of his wings and came rushing back, Illyria stood on her own two feet and he stayed back. They went back to circling one another. Illyria made the next move, spearing him into his difficult flesh and causing wounds using telekinesis. She then choked him using her ability until finally he was reduced to a disarrayed huddle of quivering limbs and blood.

I yield, he said through the pain.

"Can someone please medically assist him?" Ameon respectfully asked.

But by the end of Ameon's request, there was no need for any medical treatment; his limbs were already healing and eventually they reduced to tiny scars. He snarled once more, clearly intended for Illyria, and flew off.

What a sore loser, she thought to herself, even though she was terrified and on the verge of pissing herself. She couldn't quite believe she was alive and that she had beat an actual, fire breathing dragon.

"Well done," Vera said in obvious relief, when Ameon and she ventured to Illyria, "Now as a Guild member, there's just the Truth Mountain to face."

***

At twilight most of the tribe had gathered, a significant number of the tribe shunned Illyria by not turning up. She scanned the faces of the centaurs, mermaids, Pterippus, and fairies who attended solemnly. Even those who were present were uncomfortable around her.

Illyria kneeled on one knee before the surviving Guild and waited as Vera cut her hand and let it bleed it into an empty coconut shell, dipping two fingers into it and painting two lines onto Illyria's face as she kneeled before her.

Illyria raised her chin to promise, "I solemnly swear my allegiance to the tribe and intend to never expose anyone who has come here to seek refuge."

A unicorn came silently behind her and pressed his horn to the base of her throat. Illyria's collarbone burned and the tribe and the Guild silently spectated as a small tree was emblazoned onto her brown skin in gold.

She was one of them.

The air shifted and everyone knew it was time for the most daunting task. Illyria rose to her feet as all the members of the Guild surrounded her, escorting her to the peak of the Truth Mountain. She could feel Theodeas' hot breath against the back of her neck, making Illyria break out in a sweat.

"To be a Guild Member, you must face your past to care for our future," Ameon said, his eyes kind and pitying, "We need to know you're strong and honourable enough to be one of us."

With that, they all but one turned their backs to her and abandoned her to the Truth Mountain, leaving her to await twilight. Vera gave her a lingering look, conveying what she had to do, and Illyria nodded reluctantly.

She had nowhere else to go after all.

***

They came for Illyria at dawn. She didn't feel any stronger, capable of bringing justice, but she did know what she had to in that moment. And that was to make right by the creatures that her brother had wronged.

Vera made no attempt to come near Illyria; this was not the time for coddling or babying.

Kirades, a notorious Pterippus gave his approval and voiced his support, Well done, little mortal.

Illyria bowed her head in respect, Thank you.

I had my doubts, but you'll do, he finished, and Illyria resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

You will now be accepted into the Guild. A unicorn said, shortening the distance between itself and the new member when he thought appropriate.

A fairy bobbed energetically, so be it, the little fight that had occurred previously was long forgotten. please make the oath.

Illyria knelt to the ground before them and wondered if she knew what she was actually doing. She cleared her throat, "I solemnly swear to uphold my duties as a member of the Guild, to protect all those under my care and who wish to seek refuge. They are my priority. I swear it on my name, my power, and my life," She hesitated, and they waited patiently for her to finish, "The tribe comes first."

Illyria got up and ventured near the eleven trees that had remained standing, the life forces and the protection of the tribe. Each tree was different as they were planted by every member of the Guild and was tied to them. By a bonsai tree, Illyria planted her hands into the dirt and waited for a cherry blossom tree to take root.

She felt the tree on her collarbone sting at the action and she ignored it.