Varian and the Seven Kingdoms (Varian's Seven Trials)

Light Magic

Yong wandered the ruins, climbing piles of crumbled bricks and disappearing behind stone walls. Something caught his eye as it blew in the wind; a banner hanging lopsided on the wall of one of the broken buildings. The boy climbed carefully over rubble until he reached the wall. Curiously, he held the banner down to stop it flapping in the wind. Upon it was an emblem bearing what Yong thought looked like an arrow head pointed upwards with three feathers sprouting out either side.
The young boy tilted his head, narrowing his eyes at the symbol.

"Admiring the emblem of my people?" A man's voice spoke and Yong spun around to see a green-eyed man with long brunette hair, pulled back into a bun.
"Uh...hi. I'm Yong- do you live here?" Yong asked with a friendly smile.
"My people used to." The man drew a sword and Yong's eyes widened.
"Oh. I think...I'm gonna go." The young boy jumped through a window on the broken wall beside him and a large man with tattoos and a big beard stopped him.
Yong huffed and took some firecrackers between his fingers, standing defensively.
"Maisie, get him!" The same voice from before called and before Yong could assess the situation, a woman with dreadlocks dropped down from atop the wall and knocked the boy to the ground.

"Not too shabby, huh?" Varian nudged Hugo, who had just finished checking over the wheel.
"Not bad, Goggles, not bad at all." The blonde grinned, adjusting his glasses.
"A compliment from you? I must've done a good job." Varian smirked.
"You fixed a wheel, V. I hate to say it's not that impressive."
Varian rolled his eyes then looked around, "Where's Yong? We need to get to the next village before sunset."
"He went exploring- I would have thought he would be back by now." Nuru looked off into the ruins.
"Let's split up and look for him." Varian looked between Nuru and Hugo and each of them nodded.

The group searched for Yong to no avail. Varian checked an empty stable for the boy then looked to the setting sun on the horizon. He hadn't heard from the others so it was unlikely they had found Yong either. Varian sighed and thought about heading back to the camper to regroup when something caught his attention from across the ruins.
He squinted his eyes at the red banner; he had to be sure he was seeing it correctly. He ran to it, tripping over rubble as he went. The boy smoothed his hands over the cloth and his eyes widened at the symbol upon it.
"Uh oh." He let out under his breath.
"Varian!" Yong yelled from behind him and the boy turned to see a group of Saporian's restraining his friends. Nuru was fighting against the woman with dreadlocks and a grey haired man with a top hat. Hugo had been lifted off of the ground by the large tattooed man and Yong was restrained by a little lady with a big hat covering her grey hair.
"Long time no see, friend." Andrew walked out from among the others and Varian looked between his friends,
"Are you guys ok?" He asked.
"I've been better." Nuru replied.
"Seconded." Hugo added.
Varian finally met Andrew's gaze,
"How did you...?"
"Escape? Well, luckily for us, we were being transferred from Corona's dungeons and managed to overthrow the prison barge."
"Let them go." Varian spoke again, reaching for his staff.
Andrew pointed a sword at him, the tip coming very close to poking his nose.
"If you know what's good for you, you'll surrender." Andrew told Varian, who stared back at him with unwavering bravery.
"Fine- I'll stand down, but let my friends go. This is between me and the Saporians. Leave them out of it."
"Why would we listen to your demands? We have you cornered." The small lady, Clementine, laughed.
A smirk flickered across Varian's lips, "Do you?" Varian whistled and chemical bombs began raining down on them. The Saporian's moved to dodge the attacks and Andrew caught sight of a raccoon with a rucksack running across the stone walls, dropping colourful orbs on them.
Hugo fought against the man restraining him, but he wouldn't put the boy down.
Nuru had been pushed by the man in the top hat into the trajectory of a pink orb and was now trapped, watching the little woman levitate Yong into the air, frozen in place, with the use of magic.
Andrew pulled back his sword, aiming at Ruddiger and Varian ran towards him as he threw it,
"Ruddiger!" The boy cried as the sword's blade graced the side of the raccoon, causing him to fall to the ground.
Varian ran to the animal as he laid in the rubble. Ruddiger chittered and the boy could see he was in pain,
"You'll be alright, buddy."
"Give up, Varian." Andrew retrieved his sword and pointed it at the boy once more. Varian glared and lifted Ruddiger into his arms as he stood.