Exaltation:
The second day of resplendent fire; It was seven years after I had begun my training, and not long before I would be knighted. I knew by now that I would never become more than a mortal; However old I was, I was too old to have any hope of receiving the power of the Five Dragons, but I had fought with The Order in numerous battles now, and was becoming very skilled with both sword and spear. I had learned to ride and joust too, and I had taken first prize in the jousting tournament only weeks earlier. Of course, that was only in the mortal tournament, the God-Bloods and Terrestrial Exalted of The Order having a category all to themselves. Some of the squires, Linas especially, felt envy at this, but I knew that the essence-users couldn't help their parentage, and their powers were a blessing upon then entire order. When I had ridden into battle beside Milari, she would share her powers with me, the strength of Creation itself flowing through my being to help me smite its enemies. I felt no envy towards them, only respect and awe.
That day, we were not far from the chapter house, fighting a band of barbarians who had started plundering the surrounding villages. We had never known them to be this bold before, to strike so near our temple. But regardless, we marched against them. Little did we know what we would find waiting for us.
The enemy had lined up on an open plain, and we saw now that they were lead by the fae. I knew about the powers these creatures wielded, but the glamour their warriors projected about themselves was no less terrifying for it. Nonetheless, I was able to bury my fear in the essence that flowed through me as Milari took my hand.
The charge of The Order's knights followed the first volleys of arrows, and many of the barbarians fell to our lances as the footmen closed at the flanks of the enemy. The barbarians fought fearlessly, and the fae warriors seemed to revel in the deaths on both sides. The battle was long, but the enemy eventually began to flee. In the confusion, Milari failed to notice one of the fae warriors coming up behind her. It slew her horse in a single blow, and set upon her.
Horrified, and overcome with concern for my friend and mentor, I leaped from my saddle as I drew my sword, striking the monster as it landed what looked like a killing blow on Milari. By some miracle, I managed to add to the wounds it had received already, enraging it further. It swatted me away, sending me backwards through the air as it turned. I rose unsteadily, ready to die avenging Milari's death, when I felt someone behind me grabbing my arms, holding them in place.
"She is all yours, Majesty," came Linas' voice, in the tome of one overcome with glamour.
"And glory at my side shall be yours in return, young warrior," the fae replied, smiling as it advanced. In the heat of battle, nobody noticed what was going on. I struggled against Linas' grip, desperately trying to free myself and grab for my dropped sword.
As I stood there, helpless but defiant, the fae drew a gossamer knife, and narrowed its eyes.
"So beautiful," it whispered, "but I will not be surpassed."
With those words, it plunged the tip of the knife into my eye. I screamed; the blade seemed to burn with a pain that no mortal weapon could ever achieve. Blinded, and with blood flowing down the right side of my face, my head dropped as my strength left me. But even them, I knew that I if I would not live to become a knight, I could at least die like one! Summoning all that I had left within me, I lifted my head to look my enemy in the face as it picked up a discarded spear. Wordlessly, it drove the point through my shoulder and lifted me into the air like a grisly banner. Then, as I hung there, gripping the spear's shaft to stop the point penetrating further, I saw Milari pull herself to her knees with what must have been the last of her strength, and pick up the dire lance she always carried into battle. With a final cry of defiance and a flaring of her anima, she drove the blue jade tip through the creature's back. The fae let out a shriek, and dropped me to the ground before dying. Then, with a warm smile on her lips, Milari closed her eyes.