I triple-checked that the door of the bathroom was locked before stripping. As much as the years of Sun Knight training had been hard I had been rewarded with a strong body. While most girls my age were weak and fragile, I was toned. My muscles were subtle, but they were definitely there. Still, as I looked in the mirror and thought of the days events I couldn't help but feel a little hopeless.
I focused on my task as I slipped into the practice gear, sliding the pliable fabric on swiftly. I discarded the belts meant to keep the outfit tight, instead only relying on one around my waist to keep the shirt from coming up. I always wore a binder, but I still had to be cautious. I always had to be cautious.
I put my hand on the cold door knob, breathing in slowly before I opened the door and stepped out, bending down to pull on my black leather boots, "This stays between us. I don't want to risk angering teacher."
"Of course," Ryder said, opening the door for me with a grin, "I can't wait to see you kick his pompous butt. Although you'd look better if you wore the outfit I made..."
I rolled my eyes while walking down the hallways with him casually. It was late at night, and I wasn't worried about being seen, "It was too impractical! And if I had torn it..."
"I would have been furious," He said seriously.
"If you understand then why'd you make it," I muttered.
"Passion," He replied lazily.
I pushed open the doors of the practice room, surprised to see Brandon wasn't alone. Off to the side Jaylen, the next Blaze Knight, stood looking serious.
"Why'd you come?" Ryder asked, frowning.
"I wanted to make sure it was a fair fight!" He said loudly, jabbing his chest with his thumb.
"Too bad," I said, glaring at Brandon, "I fight how I like."
Ryder chuckled at Blazes confused face and he walked over to him, slapping him on the back, "You'll want to see this."
"I'm surprised you didn't bring Ice to act as your shield," Brandon sneered, "Or maybe that Earth? Although I suppose he's too small to be good for anything!"
Seriously, you should have become Metal or something... what's with a jerk like you doing being the Leaf Knight?!
"Listen," I said coldly, crouching into a fighting pose, "After this you leave us alone, okay? Unless you want everybody to know how badly you got beat?"
He grinned and copied my lead, snarling, "Likewise."
"Okay!" Blaze said in his booming voice, "Ready, Set... Go!"
I let him leap forward, instead using earth magic to ground myself and wind magic to glove my fists. When he got close enough to strike I flung out my hand, grabbing his arm and spinning him (with the help of some more wind magic) before throwing him.
He landed on the floor clumsily while struggling to get up, "What the- Magic! Cheater!"
I grinned, releasing the earth magic and bouncing on my toes, "I told you, I fight how I like, pretty boy."
He ground his teeth, glaring at me, "Youre not the only one who can use magic!"
I yawned. Even if he did know a few parlour tricks, I knew how advanced I was. I could beat him.
At least that was what I thought.
He stood shakily and balled his fists. And from them came.. Fire.
I froze. I couldn't move. I couldn't see. I couldn't breathe.
From somewhere far away I saw him run at me, fists clenched and fiery arms pulled back, ready to punch me. I heard a shout, and then the world went black.
It's hot, I struggled to breathe, I can't see. Somebody save me. It's hot. I can't breathe. Somebody-!
I sat up quickly, my back straight as a board, eyes wide and my nails digging into my neck. Slowly I drew in a breathe, then another. My whole body was shaking as I lowered my hand, leaving bloody scratches.
"Caelan you're awake- What did you do?" Somebody rushed at me, reaching forward and grabbing my hand. I struck out wildly retreating to the corner of the platform I was on, burying my head in my knees and shaking, "What is it?"
"Shush," A quiet voice sounded nearby, "Caelan. Caelan it's me, teacher. Youre scaring him. Calm down."
Caelan. My name is Caelan.
I breathed in deeply, looking up slowly. That's right. I had a bad dream. I'm the Sun Knight, I'm okay.
I was sitting in my room, in the corner of my bed. The sheets were a tangled mess around me, laced with ice and snow, while Teacher was standing to one side, arms crossed and brow furrowed in worry. Next to him stood Ryder, looking absolutely terrified.
"Hey," I said weakly, smiling at him.
"Are you okay now?" Teacher said, interrupting whatever Ryder wanted to say. I nodded and he turned to Ryder, saying, "You, leave now."
Ryder looked reluctant but I nodded to him firmly. In the end he left, and I was left alone with teacher.
"What happened?" I asked softly, rubbing my head.
"What happened," He said in an irritated voice, "Is my student went off to beat up one of her fellow Knights in the middle of the knight, and when I arrived-!"
He stopped with a sharp sigh and I looked up at him cautiously. He looked tired.
"I'm sorry," I said softly, "It's just-"
"I know. The Young Metal told me," He clenched his teeth, "I can understand. But these aren't just Knights, Caelan. They're your knights. How can you lead them in the future if you cant even stop them fighting amongst themselves, if you can't even stop yourself from striking them?!"
I looked down, ashamed, "I don't know. I know I'm a disappointment-"
"I didn't say that I-"
"No!" I said loudly, "Let me finish! I know I'm a disappointment but I will fix this! It's my responsibility!"
When I looked up he was smiling fondly, "Youre not a disappointment, Youre my student. And no student of mine could ever be a disappointment."
I nodded, smiling in earnest now. Without another word I leapt off the bed, running to the bathroom to change. When I came out teacher was still there, looking down at his hands thoughtfully.
"I'm off!" I said, hand on the doorknob before his voice stopped me.
"You can't keep running forever. Youre going to have to face it eventually."
I hesitated, squeezing my eyes tightly before throwing open the door and walking towards the Judgement Complex.
"Young Sun Knight," Seriph said, looking surprised. We were in the training yards outside the Judgement Complex, both in our standard practice uniforms, "What do you need?"
"Cooperation," I said, striding forward and thrusting out my hand. He looked at it like he had never seen a hand before.
"And that means...?" He said quietly, arching an eyebrow at me.
Damnit! I wish I could arch my eyebrow! Stop looking so cool and calm!
"We're the Twelve Holy Knights," I said, trying to sound confident, "It's not the Twelve Holy Knights if we're divided like this. As their leaders we have to set an example."
"I feel sorry for a division that follows your example," He said, turning around and continuing to attack the wooden practice dummy.
I clenched my teeth, refusing to lose my cool, "Please."
He froze and turned to look at me curiously, "Excuse me?"
"Please," I said.
"So you finally learnt some humility," He remarked before turning around, "No."
"Yes," I glared at his back, "I'm willing to show humility for them. My own matters aside, they can't be the Twelve Holy Knights if they're divided!"
"If you want to be a good leader try practicing fighting more," He replied calmly.
"Leading is not all about strength!" I announced, grabbing his shoulder and spinning him to look him in the eye, "It's about caring! Which is why you fail as a leader!"
He looked insulted, "I do not fail as a leader. I care."
I shook my head fiercely, "No you don't. You don't care enough to learn our names! To know that Earth is too shy to gather information! To know that I will never stop until we are all cooperating! You know of the people we have been chosen to become, but you don't know us. How can you expect to lead when all you know about your subordinates is the masks they wear?!"
He slapped my hand away, "I don't need advice from an amateur."
"Then are you just the Judgement Knight?! Do you not have a face of your own! Tell me then, O' Judgement Knight," I snapped, "Do you relish in torturing criminals? In hearing them scream? In-"
"Shut up," He growled, losing his temper. It was a frightening sight, but I bulled on.
"Are you really so heartless-"
He took a step forward and punched me. Let me tell you, he didn't win all those duels for nothing! He was strong damn it! But most importantly, "Are you so cruel?"
He punched me again and I stumbled backwards, driving my feet into the ground to stop myself from falling. I turned and spat blood onto the ground before continuing, "So lonely?"
He moved to strike again but I grabbed his fist inches from my face, stopping it, "Don't look down on us! Just like you we're alive! We want to live in happiness! How do you expect to do that when you're all alone!"
All of his yelling and hitting didn't stop me, but the sight before me did.
He was crying.
Ah damn. I stepped forward and pulled him into a hug, patting his back in a comforting manner, "You really have one hell of a punch, do you know that?"
He laughed then pushed me back, staring up at me, frowning with a slight smile dancing on the edges of his lips, "Youre weird. But... Thankyou. Caelan."
He turned and walked away, leaving me rooted in place. Was that a yes to cooperation?
I shook my head, All the Twelve Holy Knights... were we picked for our weirdness!?
"Ah whatever!" I mumbled, turning and striding in the other direction, "I'm hungry..."
I was sitting in an empty prayer room, lounging against one of the walls and leisurely popping dumplings into my mouth. Life is bliss~
"Of all," A voice startled me out of my reverie and Ryder closed the door behind himself, looking at me with exasperation, "The places I thought you'd be, this is not one of them."
"It mushh be feite," I said around a mouthful of dumpling before swallowing and grinning up at him, "Or the God of Lights will?"
"Neither," He said wryly, walking over and sitting beside me, "Graytian saw you come in here alone and called me to comfort you. He figured you were coming in here to pray or something."
"I pray before I eat," I said lazily, "Youre too late."
His smile faded and he looked at me seriously, "What happened yesterday?"
I began tearing apart a dumpling absently, my long fingers pulling apart the soft dough easily, "You were conscious, you tell me."
"Brandon attacked you and you blanked. Completely. You could have been seriously injured if Young Blaze knight hadn't jumped infront of you and stopped him."
My eyebrows rose and I whistled lowly, "That I did not expect."
"Now you tell me. What happened there?"
I turned my head to the ceiling, "Ahhhh. I don't know entirely myself. When I'm around fire I just..." I bit my lip hard, drawing blood and squeezing my eyes tightly, "I just can't take it, okay?"
"... That's what you were avoiding telling me?" He sighed and put his hand on my head, patting me softly. It felt familiar and warm, and it made me want to cry, "Don't sweat it! Your secrets safe with me."
I smiled bitterly, still not opening my eyes.
"Um. Your secrets safe, so could you stop trying to freeze me to death?"
I opened my eyes and laughed. Around us ice was webbing out, and it had already turned Ryders lips blue, "Sorry."
"Geez! You'd think-"
He was interupted when the Young Moon Knight pushed open the door, frowning at us, "Meeting."
"Hey Rhett," I said, standing up and brushing snow off of my pants, "Why are you always the one sent to get everybody?"
"Its work that needs to be done," He said simply, shrugging and turning to walk away.
"Workoholic," Ryder and I muttered, staring at him with pity as he lead up to the meeting room.
Inside everybody was sitting patiently, all except for Brandon who was tapping his finger on the table incessantly with a foul look on his face. When we pushed the door several of our friends turned to smile at us, even under the tension of the room. I quickly moved to my place at the head of the table, sitting down with a smile to Seriph.
"And what," I started, leaning back and yawning, "Is the meaning of today's meeting?"
"Cooperation."
I froze. It was Seriph. I stared at him blankly, not quite sure I had heard right, "Cooperation? That was a yes?"
He nodded seriously before turning to the rest of the table, "I've come to realise that I'm lacking as a leader," He said steadily, "We both are," Did you have to add that last bit? Sob... "I may have strength and experience, but I lack understanding and caring. And visa versa."
They all looked confused, so I quipped in, "What he's trying to say is that together we hope to make a good leader for yous. But we can only do that together," I turned to him and smiled, "We are the Twelve Holy Knights. But only when we are united. That means from now on we work as a team," I looked to them and they began to nod in agreement, "So; first order of business."
"We recently found out that the rebel group plans to attack the palace," I froze, when Seriph said palace, "As you all know the young Princess will be holding her birthday ball soon, and that is when we believe they will attack."
Seriph is definitely better at the information side! I admit defeat wholeheartedly!
"So we're going to be there when it happens," He finished seriously, hitting his fist against the tabletop.
Sob... This is going to be a disaster...
