3. The Battle Begins

Melinda is helping Olivia into her armor, starting with the Chestguard Of Echoes, then Olivia stepped into the Greaves Of Benevolent Fortunes, and finally, she slips the Heavy Mail Bracers onto her wrists, now fully adorned in her armor, Olivia looked very much like a Knight, the only thing was a sword.

"Olivia, this sword can cut through anything, it's called the Dragonbreath Steel Sabre." Tatiana explains.

Olivia enters the arena to jeers and boos, Melinda took her seat, she couldn't wait to watch Olivia fight.

Alexandra swung her battle ax, intent on decapitating her Step-Sister, but Olivia dodged the strike expertly. Every blow Alexandra threw at Olivia, she managed to counter. Tatiana found herself cheering Olivia on, marveling at how polished and refined her Step-daughter's technique with the sword was.

Alexandra roared in frustration, she wasn't expecting Olivia to be putting up this kind of fight.

The blonde Princess decided to enact her plan at this moment.

Olivia charged Alexandra, poised to strike, but Alexandra was ready for Olivia, producing a small vial from beneath her armor, and opened it. A wicked smile spread across Alexandra's as she blows the powdery substance into Olivia's eyes.

"Gah!" Olivia screams in pain as she stumbles away from her Step-Sister, partially blind.

"No." Melinda says, worry etched into her delicate features.

Now emboldened, Alexandra went on the offensive, attacking Olivia without mercy. Seeing her daughter's underhanded and cowardly move made Tatiana furious beyond measure.

This continued for about ten minutes, until Olivia was able to adjust to fighting without her eyes.

The Amulet she wore began glowing and her aura and stance totally changed, this shocked and unnerved Alexandra and surprised the other spectators.

"Ah, she's done it." Tatiana said,

"What has she done, Tatiana?" Theodore asked his Wife.

"Activated her Relentless Enduring Flame."

"What is that?" the King asks.

"The amulet Olivia wears is special, the Shimmering Eye Of Troc, it can unlock all of a Dragon's, or in this case a half-dragon the conditions were just right for this activation."

"How is she doing this!? I blinded her, though she moves as if she can still see me."

Alexandra barely dodges Olivia's blade, as it just misses her face. Unnerved now by the clear gap in their strength, the blonde decided it be best if she surrendered.

Alexandra did just that, she dropped her battle ax and knelt at Olivia's feet and surrendered.

Overjoyed, Melinda leapt for joy from her seat. Olivia's victory however had silenced the other citizens of Televaria, as many of them had never seen her as anything but a nuisance, a dirty, filthy secret that needed to stay hidden. Now however, with this decisive victory over her Step-Sister, the clear favorite Olivia had made everyone acknowledge her as a person and a warrior, and not merely the product of an illicit affair between her Father and Mother.

Vulwin Yllahana and Lilian have come to see the Tests Of Valor, Lillian spots Melinda leaving the arena with Olivia, it angers Lillian to see the Human that she had personally selected to be her servant in the company of a miserable half breed.

"Vulwin, I want the Knight dead and the servant girl returned to me." she hissed.

"I will see what I can do, dear Wife."

Olivia and Melinda returned to the farming village where Olivia lived, Melinda instructs Olivia to disrobe while she prepares a bath for the weary Knight, Olivia tried to protest, but Melinda's warm gaze and soft hands won her over in the end.

Once Olivia was out of her armor, she walked over to where the wash basin was and stepped in, Melinda then strips down herself and joins Olivia. Effortlessly moving behind Olivia, Melinda began to gently rub Olivia's back. The combination of the soothing water and Melinda's gentle hands did wonders to soothe Olivia's battle-weary muscles and joints, Olivia leaned back against Melinda and settled into her embrace.

"Lady Olivia, might I be so bold as to ask something of you?"

"What is it that you desire of me, Melinda?"

"Could you...buy my freedom from my Master?"