He'd never understood what Kieran's fighting style was, nor the element he used. In a way, this was an opportunity to get back at him for all of the condescending remarks and snide comments. However...

Kieran's been training with Master Azerael for six years, he thought, recalling a fact that Azerael had brought up the week prior. He's sure to be leagues beyond where I am right now...

On the one hand, Alex was reassured knowing that he was protected by the enchantment Azerael cast. On the other hand, however, he also knew that Kieran would take that safety net to the extreme. He didn't need Kieran to tell him. Just his demeanor alone was enough to give Alex the hint. As he approached the opening into the center of the arena, he tried his best to shake away his fears and doubts. Even though those efforts were largely in vain.

"Begin!"

Alexander attempted to start the same way he had before, tensing his muscles and filling his legs with energy, until-

"Thunder Step..." Alexander recoiled at the pain in his stomach, flying back into the wall behind him as Kieran's foot returned to the ground, and a deafening clap reverberated through the air. Alex gasped, struggling for breath as he tried to climb back up onto his feet, using the wall as support.

"Don't waste time," Kieran griped, Alexander now breathing heavily in his fighting posture. Adrenaline pumped through his body at a mile a second, making the world around him appear sluggish as he noticed small arcs of electricity beginning to surround Kieran's body. In what felt like the blink of an eye, Kieran was right in front of him, his fist reeled back as Alex made a desperate attempt to block it. Kieran's fist connected with his forearm as Alexander's entire body tensed up.

"You're inefficient!" Alex winced at the blow to his right leg. "You're slow!" He coughed at the impact on his chest, losing the breath that he had worked so hard to regain. "And you're weak!" Alexander took a kick to the side of his head as he tumbled to the middle of the field, the rank taste of iron filling his mouth. His vision was doubled as he raised his head, watching Kieran make the same slow, cold, calculated steps toward him. He somehow found the strength to stand, his ear ringing as he just barely made out Kieran's next words.

"Some 'Chosen One' you are... If you're the one person standing in the way between peace and destruction, then we're already dead." Time felt like an illusion as tunnel vision set in, Alexander's heart pounded, overtaking the sound of his heaving.

He's right, he thought. How in the hell am I supposed to be the 'Chosen One' if I can't even stand up to him? His breathing sped up as the world grew darker around him. Darker, until a vision of his mother flashed through that darkness. Followed by his father. Then Taber, Emily. Somehow, it felt like everybody he ever knew in his entire life flashed before his eyes in that moment. If I don't snap out of it...

"Thunder Step..."

Alexander's vision returned just as Kieran flashed toward him. Fuelled by pure adrenaline, he saw Kieran's next move, as well as his opportunity. Alex channeled just enough energy in his legs to side-step his opponent's attack. His hand exploded into flames as he reached out and grabbed Kieran's arm. With a guttural shout, Alex focused more energy into the flames as he slammed Kieran to the ground.

Kieran quickly got back up, dashing backwards as Alex charged ahead, throwing punch after punch, kick after kick, keeping up a barrage of attacks so that Kieran had no option but to be on the defensive. Kieran took a blow to the cheek as he stumbled, then another blow to the chest making him skid across the ground, uprooting the grass beneath his feet. 

Kieran's glare became even more menacing than before. Wiping the blood from his chin, his hair raised slightly as his eyes began to glow, as if on their own. Alexander tensed, his face painted in an expression of disbelief, as Kieran's body soon became engulfed in a continuous surge of yellow electricity.

Alex attempted to anticipate Kieran's next move, shifting to the side. However, his collar whipped him in the opposite direction as Kieran threw him into the ground. He was caught off-guard. His opponent was moving quicker than he could register and fatigue was beginning to set in. At this rate, Alex knew, he wouldn't be able to take much more.

Alexander made a last-ditch effort to push off the ground with as much energy as possible channeled into his right foot. As he took off, he touched his wrists together as fire sparked to life in his palms. "Fire Magic... Searing Jet!!"

The last of his energy exploded out in a fiery beam that engulfed Kieran. Alexander's back slammed into the ground, knocking the wind out of his lungs once again as he tumbled for a couple of meters. Breathing heavily, he tried to focus his vision enough to see if his attack had done anything. If at all. And of course, as he had expected, Kieran was walking toward him in that same unnerving manner. 

He stood over Alex with a bone-chilling glare, before clicking his tongue and walking away. "You leave a stain on my Master's name..."

Alexander's vision began to fade once more as the blood pooled from his mouth and nostrils. However, unlike with Taber, instead of feeling like he'd simply lost a battle, he felt like he'd failed the entire world.

A couple of days later, Alexander jolted awake to a knock on the door. He struggled out of bed, his mind still floundering over the events of his second spar. It didn't help that his defeat affected the other two as well. Taber versus Kieran ended about the way one would expect, and Emily bursted into tears just from the anxiety of the thought of going against Taber, much less Kieran.

Alexander groggily reached for the door knob and twisted, Azerael meeting him on the other side of the threshold. "Good morning," Azerael greeted. "Do you mind if I come in?" Alex nodded as he strolled gracefully into the room. "Please," he gestured to the chair by Alexander's cluttered desk. "Sit down for a bit."

Alex sat, placing his arms on the backrest. "What's the matter, Master?"

Azerael chuckled as he waved a hand. "Nothing. I just noticed that you've barely left the room since the other day, that's all." Alexander's eyes drifted to the ground, traced the outlines of the wooden planks that made up the wall, then let out a sigh and returned his gaze to Azerael, who patiently awaited Alexander's next words. Words that never came.

"Don't pay him mind," Azerael consoled as he stood up, picking up a small wooden sculpture that sat on the desk and fiddling with it briefly. "I'm sure you've heard that several times from me over the past month. He means well, I'm sure. He never was very good with talking to other people his age, at least since I met him. Just give him time. I'm sure he'll come around."

"And if he doesn't?"

"Then I'm wrong. But, he's been my apprentice for six years now. I'd like to think I knew him a little better than to get him misunderstood." Azerael placed the sculpture back down onto the desk, returning to his seat across from Alexander. "However, I'm less concerned about his angst as I am about you, Alexander. I haven't known you for long, but it's been long enough for me to know that isn't like you to shut yourself in. What's on your mind?"

Alexander sat with his fingers laced, rubbing his thumbs against each other. For a few minutes, he had taken his mind off of everything that happened the other day. But now with Azerael blatantly asking his thoughts, there was no way to prevent them from exploding back to life. The feeling of defeat, the feeling of inadequacy, made its way to the forefront of his mind, feeling like an elephant pressing down on his chest.

His mouth curled into a frown, gritting his teeth as he tried to get out the words.

"I just-" Alexander gasped for breath as a tear ran down his cheek. "I just don't know how I'm supposed to do this, Master!" He heaved once more, leaning into the emotion he had fought off for days. "I'm just a kid, damn it! I don't know anything about this place, and just when I thought I had a decent grasp on my abilities, I was beaten within an inch of my life!! You say I'm the only one who can take down this Anxor guy, but look at me!

"I can't stand even a bit of a chance against Kieran! How the hell am I supposed to stand against somebody far more powerful?!" Alexander's sobs grew in intensity as he dug his eyes deeper into his palms. "I'm no "Chosen One!' I can't fight, I'm not fast, I can't use a hundred different Magics, and I can't do anything right! I'm a failure!!" As he continued on with his intense cries, Azerael placed a hand on Alexander's back, remaining silent over the next several minutes. Eventually, Alexander's sobs died down into sniffles as Azerael began.

"Young Alexander, I understand your frustration. It's difficult, being told the whole world is relying on you. It's a lot of pressure. Especially for somebody your age. I could never imagine. But look at me..." Azerael knelt down in front of Alexander, gazing into his puffy, bloodshot eyes. "You may have had some setbacks so far, but you are not a 'failure.'"

Standing up, he continued. "You have only been here for a month, Alex. No matter what is expected of you, it would be cruel of me to expect you to master anything in that time. Sure, you aren't that fast, that strong, and maybe your combat could use some work. But you have a determination that I've only ever seen from..." Azerael pondered for a moment, before deeming it a bad idea to bring up the name of the one who had Alexander so upset right then.

"Your determination- Your dedication, is your strongest asset. It doesn't matter if you can't use more than one element. Hell, it took me three decades to master three elements, even with my Curse." He stood up, placing a hand on Alex's shoulder. "We still have time before things get dire. And rest assured, Alexander, I will take you to heights that you wouldn't think was possible in a few months."

Alexander's head slumped down slowly. "Listen, young one. Your journey is just beginning. Don't let this one defeat defeat you."

Alex picked up his head, meeting eyes with Azerael before nodding. Azerael smiled in relief. Then, he placed a hand on Alexander's head as he drifted past, making his way to the door and leaving the room. He didn't say anything, but Alex knew what he'd meant.