"Fight..." Valkori and Mai circled each other, clutching their staffs in their hands, the students around them had their hearts racing, some in excitement, others fear, but all knew they were in for a spectacle Mai attacked first, leaping at her opponent, Valkori easily blocked the strike with her own weapon, not even looking in her direction. Mai groaned, spun around Valkori and lashed at her from the other side, all her attacks were swiftly batted off by Valkori, who hadn't moved from the spot she was standing on Mai was pissed, she grabbed Valkori's staff and whipped a kick to her obliques, Valkori dropped her elbow to stop Mai's foot, passed her staff in between Mai's legs and flung her off the ground, Mai used her right hand to break the fall then did a backflip and got back on her feet, she pointed her staff back at Valkori again. The students began to clap, amazed by Mai's acrobatics, and Valkori noticed this of course "What's the matter princess?..." Mai said and sco

Valkori stood on a dock in Hendrick's bay port, named King Hector's great grand father that lived three hundred years ago. Seagulls and pigeons littered the skies, sailors and passengers loaded cargo into other ships and boats. She gazed at the ship which was meant to carry her, it was enormous, but the sails were small and triangular, very different from the images she saw in books. They were purple like her father's cloak and displayed the sigil of House Vernon, the shield and the shining star. Ships of nowadays had begun using steam engine technology which was developed a few decades ago hence reducing their dependence on sails. She felt her skin crawl as a cloud of uncertainty suddenly came over her, she really wanted this she thought, to leave the capital and see other worlds, to experience all of it, but something didn't feel right anymore, she thought she'd be happier, she knew she was supposed to be but for some reason she wasn't. Maybe it was because she always imagined

Lightning and thunder lit up the stormy night sky over the ocean where Valkori's ship sailed, the waters and horizon were pitch black in all directions and the strong waves of the turbulent ocean rocked the ship from all directions as the storm grew more violent, but it was nothing the powerful vessel couldn't handle Valkori sat at a table in her cabin. It was covered almost entirely with open books, her room was well lit with yellow light lamps and her pegasus Dahlia curled itself at a corner and slept, using it's huge wings as a blanket. Valkori seemed to be actively searching for something in these books, it was almost midnight but the storm couldn't let her sleep even if she wanted to. Alora opened the door of the room and stepped into it, staying silent, waiting for Valkori to say something, but also wondering whatever she could be searching for that required so many books "You sent for me..." Alora stated, breaking the ice, Valkori had her back to the door as her seat face

The sharks drilled harder and the mages blasted at the barrier relentlessly, the cracks grew even larger and it seemed like it was about to fall apart "YES!!" Taichen shouted Lord Shiro rode his horse forward as well "Cannons ready!!" he commanded The soldiers loaded and charged up their cannons, they blasted shells powered with spirit energy at the already collapsing barrier and tore holes open within it, they now had an opening, this was the time to strike "ADVANCE!!!" Taichen screamed, the Soldiers and combat sorcerers rushed towards the holes that they had opened on the barrier, Taichen grabbed his war hammer from a soldier who carried it beside him and charged on as well- A huge explosion burst out of the ground right in front of the opening, wiping out a huge chunk of the frontline and flinging men, horses and body parts into the sky, Taichen was thrown off his own horse and saved by a sorcerer who quickly casted a barrier to protect both of them. Gerald was frozen

The Baron moved towards the soldiers, his great sword peeled into the earth he dragged it along, leaving a trail of purple flames. Taichen and Gerald watched him approach them, Gerald was frozen in fear, Taichen just looked upset. The Baron was over twenty feet tall and had more than enough muscle to fill up that frame, Taichen noticed Gerald pissing himself, he slapped the young man on the back to get him alert "READY THE CANNONS!!!" Taichen shouted Only three cannons were left, the soldiers mounted them and replaced the shells and spirit orbs, cocked them to the ready and aimed at the Baron, he exhaled and black fumes blew out of his many teethed mouth. The ground soldiers and sorcerers pulled back slowly to get behind the cannons, but still keeping their eyes at the Baron "FIRE!!!" Taichen screamed The cannons blasted three mighty shells at the monster, the explosions nearly blinded the men, they didn't stop, they cocked the machines and fired second rounds, again and agai