The Princess Test

Chapter 23

"And next I call out Raven!" Eryn announced.

Raven walked out, her head held high, filled with confidence that she would do well. She walked over to the weapons table. "Choose wisely girl, for you can't come back once the battle has started." Eryn secretly said to her. Raven nodded and looked at her options. She contemplated multiple weapons but ended up choosing two dual katanas, several throwing knives and a whip. But as she left, something else caught her eye. It was a black bow with the shaft carved into a raven. Beside it was a quiver of 24 arrows.

Without a second thought, she grabbed the bow and slung the quiver onto her back. Before leaving, she grabbed a pair of strong gloves by the table and put them on. The audience voiced their confusion at her choice of weapons and what she was wearing. All except those who had trained with her and knew her strategies and fighting styles.

"What is she doing?"

"Is she mad?"

"Maybe we're rooting for the wrong person."

General Callira laughed as Raven approached her. "Really Rae-rae? No armour? not even a helmet to protect that pretty face of yours? And seriously, you don't even need a shield? That clothing of yours will be easier than paper to cut through." She taunted. "Taunt while you can Callira. I intend to win this thing." Raven replied with confidence which made the general laugh even harder. "Your confidence will be your downfall. Not one of your brothers have even been able to make a scratch on me, and they were wearing armour like the dickens." She said. "We'll see Callira." Raven replied as the signal for the battle sounded.

Before anyone could blink, Callira made the first strike. Her spear charged at Raven who dodged as easily as she were dodging a stankball. Surprised, Callira made more strikes, each either dodged by Raven or blocked by one of her katanas. The moment she had a shot, Raven moved as far from Callira as she could and brought out her bow.

"Please Rae, Envy couldn't beat me and you know what a shot he has." Callira taunted. Raven nocked an arrow into the bow. "Well I'm not Envy." She said, releasing her arrow. It flew straight to Callira who in turn dodged it, what she didn't see coming however, was the arrow rebounding off the arena walls, it flew straight into her leg. "Well played Raven." Callira said, pulling the arrow out. She targeted her spear at Raven.

Raven looked shocked for a moment but at the last minute, used a trick taught by Robin one evening when he was bored. She split down and bended her back as the spear flew straight through her. However, she hadn't dodged completely and it drew some blood from her head. Getting up, she wipped the blood with her sleeve while Callira was on the offense again.

Callira swinged her spear back and forth trying to draw blood but Raven's response was quick and she managed to dodge most of her attacks, countering with some attacks of her own. The battle lasted hours and mid-way into the battle, both had sustained multiple injuries. Raven got up, gasping for air. She was injured in multiple places and had used up most of her arrows as well as having only 4 throwing knives left.

'This is turning into a very big issue. We're both on the same level in terms of combat and strategies. However.....yes. That's it.!" Raven thought.

A/n: Wanna know what Raven got? Read the next chapter.