The Champion's Shadow

The Voltaris Master

Thalleous

    Thalleous looked up at Inditus, or was that even his name? All he knew was that his markings matched that of his greatest rivals, the Voltaris. As Thalleous was making his way back to his feet, Ardoni on the sidelines roared at Inditus, calling him foul names like "murderer" and "traitor". Inditus just frowned at their response to his grand unveiling. The Sendaris master waved to the arena guards, signaling for them to surround the Voltaris.

    "I'm sorry that I wasn't honest about my clan at first, but what can I say?" Inditus said with a slight chuckle. "You would have killed me on the spot with no warning or second thought."

    "Silence,  Ingressus Voltaris," the Kaltaris Master ordered. "After what your clan has displayed in the past, you have no place here. Your exile has not been finished and yet here you are. If you ever thought that we would just hand over the Primes to any of your kind, you thought wrong. Now, it's best that you should be taking a leave. Guards, make sure that he finds his way to the exit." They nodded solemnly in response.

    "Ha, you haven't changed a bit since I last saw you! It's such a pity that you and your clans are so reluctant to transform your ways. I would've made great allies with you as Champion. I don't think this runt will amount to anything I could have been at your side," Ingressus retorted while gesturing to Thalleous, who was finally standing up. Thalleous narrowed his eyes at the remark, but kept his mouth shut. "This won't be the last time that you see me." After his short monologue, Ingressus allowed himself to be taken away with the guards. Their procession led off of the arena floor and up the nearest route out of the caverns. Thalleous's attention directed toward the masters, who were conversing amongst themselves.

    "So, what shall we do next?" he inquired. The masters stopped their conversation and Master Malezina turned to answer him.

    "Thalleous, you have shown great promise and bravery, especially at such a young age. Do you think you have what it takes to represent the clans as Champion? The Prime songs are a heavy burden and take a toll as well as give you great power so I understand if you decline our offer," she stated with a sad smile. It dawned on the masters what Thalleous's life could look like if he was exposed to these powers at such a young age, but the quicker he could master them, the more useful he could be to them.

    "Of course I will accept! I promise to live up to your standards as a great asset on your side," Thalleous responded, perking up. His head swarmed, bustling with excited thoughts of his future.

He pictured himself at the head of an army of Ardoni with his  newly enchanted sword and the feeling of great power surging in his veins. Ardoni of red markings ran at his forces with menacing scowls and weapons drawn. To his left was the ghost of Jadeus, the previous leader against the Voltaris. Her head slightly nodded to him, giving him a boost of confidence. With his sword drawn, he lunged into battle, moving at alarming speed. One after another, the enemy fell and Thalleous was triumphant. After his victory, he snapped back to the present.

"... now, Thalleous, do you understand your role that you will have as Champion?" Master Malezina questioned.

"Yes, I do, Master Malezina," Thalleous confirmed with a slight nod.

"Then you are to report here tomorrow at noon. We must begin planning what we shall do to stop the rise of the Nether's presence here in the overworld. Everyone is dismissed!" The last statement was directed toward the crowd, inciting Ardoni all around to begin to shuffle out of the crystal cavern and back to where they came from.

Achillean

    "May I speak to him, Zulius?" the Nestoris asked politely.
   
    "Achillean, this traitor here is not worth your time. He is leaving right now," a Kaltaris guard answered.

    "I only have to tell him a few words, and it doesn't have to be in private," Achillean responded, trying to persuade them into letting him have a simple conversation with the Voltaris.

    "I suppose that doesn't violate any of the masters' orders, but do make haste," Zulius stated, finally obliging. The four guards stood off to the side to let Achillean through to Ingressus.

    Achillean looked Ingressus straight in the eye and stated, "You fool, how could you dare come into this tournament and expect that everyone would just accept you like that? Your clan has tortured ours for centuries and coming to us at such a crucial war time is irresponsible! You're a delinquent and I'm sorry you ever hoped to get that much mercy! You should be killed, but we at least have the heart to let you go." In a much lower voice so only Ingressus could hear, he gave a quick message, "Meet me at the dolphin beach at midnight."

The Voltaris stood his ground and only narrowed his eyes at Achillean, "Thanks for your input, but I don't listen to lame fishermen." He then turned away and marched off, causing Zulius and the guards to pick up their pace. Achillean folded his arms as the procession went out of sight.

Daria

    "I can't believe that you fought fully grown male Sendaris!" Oxavia spat, rambling about the tournament. "That move was well contradictory to what you are supposed to be doing!" Daria looked at the ground, not focusing on her mother's words, but on another matter dealing with the tournament. She was tidying up the sugarcane, wrapping them with string in neat bundles. Her hands wove around the crop mindlessly and was taken by surprise when the lump of string ran out.

    "Listen to me, Daria!" her mother ranted with a loud, harsh tone. She had to evacuate the younger ones to protect their ears. "You know very well what harm it has done to be in that sort of foul horseplay, especially to the honor of our family!" Daria let out a sigh and laid down the bound sugarcane gently.

    "I'm sorry, Mother. I just feel so..." Daria paused to think of the right word, "... restricted here at home. I never do anything fun-"

    "Fun?! You think fighting is fun!? You ought to be ashamed of yourself for believing that violence is some crude manner of fun!" Oxavia fired back. "I have been slaving away, day and night, to keep this family together. The least you could do is pitch in and not go galavanting off and inserting yourself into dangerous situations. I already heard that the one Nestoris girl hasn't fully recovered yet from her fight with the Voltaris. Oh yes, and don't get me started on all of the dangers with the presence of the Voltaris master at the tournament!"

    "I get it, Mother. I really do," Daria sympathized. "What I did was wrong and I should be working." Her head hung. Admitting that she was wrong boiled her blood, but she couldn't show it.

    "No, you must be off to bed," her mother ordered, but her tone of voice was not nearly as harsh. "I heard you got hurt during the fight. I wouldn't want you working while having a headache. What good would that do?" Daria nodded and walked away from the crops and toward her sleeping space. The mention of the blow to her head that she received during the tournament brought light to a growing pain in the left side of her head. Daria rubbed her temples as she laid down to rest. The adrenaline from the tournament was wearing off.

     After she quickly fell asleep, it wasn't long before she was awoken by her mother's screams, and intense heat...