.Elementals.

-91-

The midnight gong echoed through the cavern as I sat in what was a small waiting room of an arena.

Even Ethan told me off for accepting the trail but I needed as many people on our sides as we could get to assure success.

This seemed to be a big deal as it wasn't a one on one fight but everyone that fit into the sitting area and up on the bridges passing over it were there to watch.

I placed with the lace of my corset before sighing as I stood and exited the small room, through a hallway entering the shineless yellow granite with orange and brown speck covered arena.

The walls were several meters high and it was circular, a big arena, at least one hundred yards so this place was built for big events.

The man that faced me surprisingly was an elf but his complexion pointed his mixed blood.

Skin almost as dark as Calypso but still visibly lighter, white lines swirling around on his skin with shapes to accompany them, from his wrists up his arms and to his shoulders, a sun shape on his chest and a few others around his eyes.

Unlike usual elves, his body was well developed, muscled in all the right places but just half a head taller then I am.

His black hair possibly shoulder length, slicked back and pulled in a tight pony tail.

His eyes shone an amber gold fill with same determination hidden in me.

He didn't wear much, some brown fabric was wrapped around his foot  and ankle but left his toes and heel uncovered with a leather-like material from which his pants were made, and the same fabric around his wrist and fists.

I almost felt.... Challenged just by the way he held himself with pride and power and only such as an outfit.

I lifted my arms to my necklace and untied it, dropping it off to my side before untying the bracers and dropping those too with the hidden blade, expertly kicked off my boots and socks will taking my corset and undershirt back off leaving me in my pants, binds and gloves, I do not need anything more then he does and I am not scared to show it.

He lowered his eyes, one foot sliding back and lock behind the other, arms crossing in his back as he lowered himself, bending at the waist, in a bow.

I steadied my feet at shoulder lengths apart and straightened myself, resting right fist over my heart and the other arm just bent in my back to be out of my way and bowed my head.

A warrior's greeting to another.

I ignored the shuffle of someone taking my stuff away from the ground and rose as he did.

His stance shifted lower to the ground, feet apart and arms bent at his side, a strong and solid stance good for the element of earth.

I slid my left foot back and stood diagonally with my knees slightly bent, left fist and arm raised right up by my face with the back of it turned against me while the right hand was held out straight in front of me, lower at breast level, hand opened and loose, palm facing the ground, a light stance but one with promise of a powerful strike.

The words of the king, the worry of Audrey, the cheers of the crowed, they faded from my ears as only him and I remained.

I feel this will be a full on magic battle.

And the gong rang.

I dropped from my upright stance, right foot sliding forth onto one knee that hit the ground, a boulder the size of my horse passing over my head.