*Three Weeks Later*

I signed up two weeks ago and I am part of the 128 contestants in the Alpine Temple’s courtyard I saw our new queen, 11 year old, Queen Furia Nyle, her parents, Lord Kivu and Lady Faye Nyle, and her brother, Sir Kai Nyle who is the same age as me; 15. The safekeeps that have been chosen for Satori, Oreads, and Haliae are up there with them; 21 year old Senuo Mika who looks like an adorable little kid, but is a grown adult, 16 year old Landon Endreas who is cute, but is already taken as a husband and a father; kudos for his wife, and 23 year old Hanchia Gabura who has an hourglass figure and a smile that… doesn’t look genuine to me. Also, there’s the advisor. A 53-year-old elven woman by the name of Yenish Darsha who looks… paler than any type of elf I’ve met. The queen gave her speech wishing us all good luck in the tournament. The way it looked, I was to perform tomorrow so I had much time to breathe and practice.

*Next Day*

I have to perform my showcase, how well I use a weapon, and hope to Alpha I win the battles that come my way and stay in the final four for that day. All my friends cheered me on as I showed what I could do in my showcase with my Karyo along with my swordsmanship. The battles I was in were actually a breeze and I claimed my spot in the final four.

*Fifth Day*

The day before, Lee had told me Mia was also in the tournament and she made it to the final four yesterday. I can’t believe she also entered in this tournament as well. I have a feeling she did this because I was in it, but I could be wrong. Maybe she also wanted to become Safekeep for the same reasons I do. I heard the queen say her name, for she was about to fight another contestant. An hour later, she won. There was a lot of anger in her eyes, and I know she still held the grudge towards me. My name was called to enter the courtyard to fight, and I focused on my opponent.

***

Two hours had passed after my victory, and I was preparing for my fight with Mia. Mei and Xion told me how ruthless she fought, but how reckless she became. When it came to our dances, we always took our time with our choreography to make sure we never had slip ups. That’s what I based my fighting on. My fighting is like my dances; flawless as possible and keeping my eye on the prize and that’s what we were taught when the Hinoko Sisters was formed; disciplined and we could come up with our own style. This is what made us unique. I know when she’s sees me, she will have tunnel vision; I just need to focus.

“Xianchi Soule!” I heard the queen call out my name.

I walked out of my tent onto the courtyard with a cheering audience with my friends right up front along with my family. Nice that they finally took the time to come and see me in the tournament.

“Mia Slater!” The queen called out.

I saw Mia walk out her tent and onto the courtyard to face me. When she did, she glared at me.

“Xianchi.” She stated.

“Mia.” I responded back. “I apologize for making you feel the way that you do about me. The problem is why not tell me?” I asked.

“It’s because you wouldn’t understand how I felt.”

“That’s a lie. I’ve always asked you about your problems. You’ve always answered me; I did understand. With this, I don’t understand why you would have malice now. Are you jealous, or are you unsure of how you feel? And this time, answer me, Mimi. Please don’t stay silent this time.”

Mia didn’t say a word and readied herself.

“I don’t need to answer to a prude and sleazy bitch like you.” she replied in a snarky way.

She now has crossed the line with me. No more trying to reason with her. I readied my stance and the first time in a while, my smile had to wait.

“If that’s how you feel, a hypocrite such as yourself will have to be taught an eye-opening lesson.” I stated sternly.   

The queen asked if we were ready; we nodded, and our fight started.

*Weapons*

I won the hand-to-hand portion, I’m sure. She was swinging wildly at me and did not hit me. She was an open book and I had to pluck out the pages. Now we’re in the weapons portion. My weapon of choice was a sword, Mia’s weapons of choice were duel katars. She began to glare at me once again.

“Looking at your face makes me want to shred it apart.” She stated menacingly.

“That’s your reason for entering this tournament? Just to try and humiliate me? That’s it?” I asked her.

“What’s it to you?”

“You didn’t think about what would happen if you did win? Is your heart even in it for the people of Alpine? Or is your heart only in for the hatred you have for me?”

She didn’t answer me. Of course.

“Also, you don’t really know why you’re doing this. Do you? You’re doing this out of impulse, not instinct. It shows in how you fight. I have a feeling something is taking place within you psychologically.” I added.

She actually growled at my remark. That’s a first.

“Like you would know. This time, I will wipe the floor with you.” She stated as she readied herself.

I shook my head in annoyance. She didn’t have a defense, she was in denial for sure, and my sympathy had already waned on her. I readied my stance.

“You’re going to have to try harder to do that. Try to strike me if you can.” I dared her.

*Karyo*

I think I pissed her off. I made her lose her grip on one of her katars. She tried to hit me with the other one, but I knocked it out of her hand too and made her submit. Now we’re in the Karyo portion. As I look at her now, I see her sanity is not there. I’m positive now that it is psychological and obviously, I’m her vendetta. Her flames covered her whole body making the audience sound concerned. My friends were also scared but remaining calm is key because I know what I have to do. She was not in the mood to speak. She just glared and took slow, deep, deliberate breaths, didn’t ready her stance or anything like that, but I did.

***

She is absolutely relentless. She struck me a few times which made me get a bruised left shoulder, a bloody lip, a swollen eye, and limp to my right leg. She was showing signs that she was tired as she kept charging at me. Every time she missed; it made her angry. I decided to end this. She decided to fire the last of her Karyo at me. I decided to absorb it with mine and fired it right back at her. She was unable to handle the flames and screamed in pain. I decided to stop and breathed heavily from fatigue. Mia was on the ground and was slightly singed. I guess her Karyo charm couldn’t handle my Karyo flames. She wasn’t moving which worried me along with the audience, so I ran toward her calling her name.

“Mia?! Mia!”

As I got close, I kneeled down to sit her up. She was still breathing, but unconscious. The guards of the queen along with a doctor came to the courtyard while the other guards had to move me away from her. I was distraught. The girls walked onto the courtyard to get me. Xion and Lexia had to walk me to my tent and had to console me. I felt like I overdid it. I tried to talk sense into her, but she didn’t listen. I did what I had to do… did I?

*Aftermath*

Due to the condition Mia was in, I won by default, and she had to go under evaluation. From what her parents told me, she was acting erratic at home, not making sense in conversations, talking bad about me once again. So, what she was dealing with is psychological. Something must’ve made her act that way. I’ve treated her the way she would treat me, fair and like a sister. Since I am now Safekeep of Fire, I’ll absolutely fund the people who are dealing with mentality issues. Witnessing them, it is no joke, it is serious. I have to help her along with others in Alpine, and that is now part my job. I’m devoting myself to my people and Elem as a whole along with the other upcoming safekeeps in the other lands.

*Initiation*

I gave my essence to the heart of Alpine, Alpia, a blessed stone made of Alpie volcanic glass. My weapon of choice was a sword I called Forged Flame. The beasts I chose to join me were Ovi, a phoenix, and Rashi, a salamander. I asked if I could finish my schoolyears, luckily the queen said I could so I can graduate with my friends.

*Two Years Later*

Everything in Alpine is great. Homes heated during our cold nights and restaurants serving good and hot Alpie food. Also, graduation is upon us. The girls and I did our last dances for our school and had our prom as well, and we promised to still dance after graduation. The promise I made in honor of Mia is holding up very well. She now has the care she needs. I actually visited her; she was at home with her parents. After the fight, she sadly suffered from amnesia, but her feelings toward me now are of positivity. We were talking about old times and now, and she apologized to me of how she acted since her parents and our friends had reminded her of those days. I told her she didn’t need to be. Like I said, I was always the problem solver of our group. I solved what was wrong with her and now she has her smile back which makes me so happy.

I keep up with Alpine as best as I can and luckily, no complaints have come my way. I keep Alpia fueled once a year, even though she’s supposed to be fueled every two years. If dear Alpia doesn’t get fueled within two years, Alpine would turn into an unyielding cold winter land and uninhabitable until a new heart is found. And I refuse to let that happen. Every safekeep knows who the example is for neglecting a land, Hanchia Gabura, former Safekeep of Water from Haliae. She was greedy and kind of… out there. She was far worse than how Mia acted. Water was scarce in Haliae and my share along with the others was extremely limited and we kept asking and negotiating with her, but she wouldn’t budge. Then the incident with her in Bura, Elienta happened, and she was stripped of her title and imprisoned in Tanz, Elienta. Also, Yenish, Queen Furia’s former advisor, was acting weird to the point where she disappeared with made Elientian soldiers conduct a search party for her, but she was never found.

*Our Lives Changed*

As I and my friends were in the common area talking about how what more we were going to do after graduation, one of my soldiers came in, bowing his head which I told all of them not to do, but oh well. He looked serious.

“What’s the matter, Jonas?” I asked him.

“There’s an ambush happening at the castle in Nora. The queen is in danger. You are needed at the castle. We might all be under attack.” Jonas stated.

I was concerned and I stood up.

“Sound the alarm for our people! Go on lockdown and inform our people to stay in their homes! And escort my friends home. I’m going to Nora.” I instructed.

“Yes, Ma’am.” Jonas replied.

As Jonas left, I looked to my friends as the got up from their seats.

“Well girls, I got to go. You all be safe. Okay?” I told them.

All of them came together to me with a group hug.

“You better be careful. Alright, Xianchi?” Lee told me.

“Make sure you kick some ass!” Xion stated.

Xion’s comment made us laugh.

“Wish me luck on that. And don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Now, my men will take you all home. You all stay there and be safe. Promise me on that.” I told them.

The girls had their thumbs up, promising me.

“Alright. I’ll see you girls soon.” I stated.

They all were escorted out of the temple as I went to where Alpia was, beneath the temple. I went down to the antechamber and looked to Alpia.

“Pray that I make it back here alive. The doors are closed until I come back. I’ll see you soon.” I told her.

I raised my hand.

“Tanzo!” I shouted.