Tumbling Tower

This chapter is unedited

She didn't see or hear from either Vicente or Hoaqin afterward.

The former she didn't want to see. The latter she couldn't find wherever she searched. It seemed as though Hoaqin had disappeared altogether.

Thus Ana focused on what lay ahead. There were more important matters at hand. The priest didn't let her rest for an instance. She went through grueling training after grueling training. Test after test came her way.

Opponent after opponent she beat until she lost count of how many she fought. They all blended together as just one obstacle after the other. Time passed. She wasn't sure how much time. Time just passed in a flurry and before she knew it she couldn't fit into her clothes anymore.

She got new ones the day after. A new black sweater, shirt, and shorts. They didn't have black shows or boots. Instead she had to opt for a pair of white sneakers to her distaste.

And on the tests went. With it, another victory came for her. Her opponent smashed against a stone pillar. She didn't even bother to look her way. She was one step closer to the end goal. That was all that mattered.

But the real question to her was… how much longer?

But each time she asked the geezer's lips remained shut. He would simply say. "You're one step closer." What he hoped to accomplish by that now she could only guess.

Ana grit her teeth at him. "That didn't stop you from telling me before!"

His lips tilted up in a smirk. "You will know when the time is right. Now rest there will be another trial coming soon."

The clear dismissal made Ana's fist clench until her knuckles turned white. But it was to no avail. He wouldn't budge however hard she pushed.

So instead she focused her anger on the training dummies that he provided her with. She slashed furiously at the stone dummies that moved about with swords whilst he watched from the side.

He stroked his beard. His deep eyes zeroed in on her. "Reign in your temper, child. It won't do you any good to lose focus during a fight."

She cleaved the incoming dummie in two. The other rushed at her from her side. But she was quick to parry its strike before decapitating it. "So what?!" She snapped turning to him. "I'll just beat them to a pulp!"

She could see a deep furrow appear on the geezer's face. He vanished in a flash. Before she could react she was hit to the ground. She looked up into the priest's gaze.

His staff bored into her shoulder blade making her wince. "You'll listen child to what I say! What I say and do is all meant to further your chances of success. That is my sole role." His staff dug deeper. "Are we clear?!"

Ana's eyes flashed but she nodded nevertheless biting her tongue. The priest lifted his staff. "Good then do the exercise again. This time… concentrate!"

She stood up sword in hand. Another pair of dummies appeared in front of her.

She balanced on the posts that the priest had once again set up for her. She felt his prying gaze through the blindfold but paid it no heed. Ana concentrated on the target in front of her. She heard it swinging in front of her. The subtle sound of the wind accompanying it.

She stepped forward. Her foot found the post with ease. She felt the target approach. She swung herself around doing a pirouette. One, two, three. She hit it whilst she dodged. She found her footing before continuing.

One, two, three. Again she dodged. Even with the blindfold on her feet moved swiftly about. When one looked it almost looked like a dance. A very deadly dance. The priest Ana with kneen eyes.

He nodded in satisfaction. "Stop." Ana halted balancing on one foot.

"What?" She asked turning around to him.

"That's enough. You clearly have mastered the excersise. Come down."

Ana nodded. She did a flip backward landing on her feet. She took off the blindfold. She took her sweater from the ground wiping sweat off her face.

"What is next?"

"There is nothing next." The priest said.

Ana furrowed her brow's at him. "What do you mean?!"

"It means this is the end of your training. Today is the last day. The last trial will be held tomorrow."

Ana stared at him hard. "What?!" She cried out in surprise.

She grabbed the hem of his robe. "What the hell?! Why didn't you tell me sooner?!"

He grabbed his robe taking it from her. "I'm obliged to not reveal anything until the day before the final trial."

Ana squinted her eyes at him. She doubted that. The geezer tugged at his beard.

"I would advise caution against your next opponent." He explained. From my analysis, she is the candidate that is the biggest obstacle to reaching your rightful title. She is by far the strongest out of all other candidates." He explained.

A line appeared between her brows. "What is her name?" Ana asked.

"Her name is… Arie Hagipherione."

Ana stood in front of a pair of marble double doors.

She took a deep calming breath to slow her heartbeat. She inhaled through her nose before exhaling. Still, a slight shiver went down her spine. Whether it was anticipation or nervousness she could not tell.

The pair of double doors opened inward. She took a look around. A huge open battleground opened up in front of her surrounded by white rows of stances. She supposed it was a fitting place to decide the next Jahad princess of the Arie family.

Ana entered. Hands stuffed into her sweater she walked ahead. The priest behind her. Opposite to her a sea of white entered. Ana raised an eyebrow at the entourage. But quickly her eyes focused on the girl that walked in front of them

Long flowing white hair flowed down her back. She wore a white robe with light blue accents. But what caught Ana's were her eyes. A pair of striking azure blue. Arie Hagipherione strutted towards her head held high. Their eyes met. Hagipheriones eyes glinted at her. The corners of her eyes crinkled upwards as her lips pulled into a fleeting smirk.

Ana's face scrunched up. What an annoying face. She turned her attention to the others that were accompanying her.

Her brow's shot up in surprise when soon her eyes came upon two very familiar faces. They stuck out like a sore thumb among the sea of white hair.

"What the hell are they doing here?!"

Hoaqin and Vicente strutted in with the others. When Hoaqin eyes spotted her his face lit up. He waved enthusiastically at her.

"Hey, Ana!" He shouted. He broke away from the crowd running towards her. Many looked after him with disgruntled expressions.

Ana didn't have time to process what was going before Hoaqin had her in a tight headlock making her stumble. He leaned heavily onto her. Had Hoaqin been always this tall?

"Haha, how are you?! You've made it all the way! Not that I ever doubted you!" He said rubbing her hair.

Ana tried to pull herself out of his lock but to no avail. She glared up at Hoaqin who smiled down at her. Then she frowned.

"What are you doing here?!" She asked.

Hoaqin lips fell. His forehead creased.

"You think I would miss this?!" Hoaqin smacked her shoulder excitedly. He smiled "No way in hell! This is a once in a lifetime chance!" He rubbed her hair.

Ana's brow twitched. "Stop that!" She hissed out

She shoved him off with a bit of force. She pulled out of his hold.

She pointed at him. "And that still doesn't explain how you are here!"

Hoaqin blinked a few times. He crossed his arms behind his head before he pointed behind him. "Oh, that! I came with Vincente!"

Ana looked past him at the other boy. Vicente still stood beside the other perplexed family members. Their heads turned to him, eyes narrowed. Ana opened her mouth however she was interrupted when somebody else spoke up

"Do you know her, Vincente?" Someone asked. Ana paused. She looked towards the speaker. Hagipherione's blue eyes stared her down before eyeing Vincente from the side. Ana's brow knitted together at the two of them.

Vincente gazed uncomfortably away to the side. He said. "She's a friend…. Sister."

"Huh?!" Ana did a double-take. "Sister?!"

Hoaqin tilted his head at her. "Did he never tell you he had a sister?" He leaned forwards whispering into her ear. "You know Vincente doesn't like to brag but actually he is from a pretty strong direct line. It's no surprise that they post a Princess candidate! I sure would like to try my blade on her!"

Ana grimaced. "Is this what you wanted to tell me?"

She searched his gaze but Vincente avoided looking at her.

Hagipherione smiled. She turned amused to Vicente. "Well, this is certainly a surprise. Who would have thought you hold such friends brother. Well, no matter. We are here for something far more important, aren't we?"

"Indeed. Well-spoken, daughter." A soft melodic voice echoed through the arena.

Yet with it's words the room suudenly felt much colder. A shiver went down Ana's spine as she felt a familiar presence looming. She wasn't the only one everyone's shoulders tensed. Even the geezer seemed at unease.

Ana's eyes shot upward to a box in the stands where she heard footsteps approchaing slowly. From the shadow emerged his figure, two swords at his side his long white hair framed his face his bangs covering his eyes. Body poised and head held high their family leader walked into the arena.

Ana's fists clenched. She glared upwards. "That bastard. What is he doing here?!"

Ana heard hurried shuffling beside her. She turned to the side. Everyone except her and Hoaqin had fallen on one knee. They bowed their heads in unison not daring to look up.

"Oh father, we welcome you!" They spoke.

Arie Hon strutted on in silence. He didn't turn in their direction. Never once did he acknowledge them. He took a seat in the marble throne that overlooked the whole arena. Even then when he turned to them never once did Ana have the feeling he actually looked at them.

A few seconds passed in silence. He shifted his weight. His head rested in the palm of his hand.

Finally, Arie Hon lifted his hand. "Rise my children."

At his behest, everyone lifted themselves up. But none dared to utter a word.

It was the geezer that walked forward. He bowed deeply at the waist. "It's an honor to have one of the 10 grace us fickle beings with his–.

"Don't patronize me lackey of Jahad. I merely wished to observe which one of my daughters would succeed this time. It's been a few hundred years after all. Continue."

"Tch. Im not your daughter!"

At his words the geezer looked lost for a few moments but he quickly gathered his bearings. He turned around lifting up his hands staff in one.

"We will proceed now with the trial! Everyone, please leave except the participants!"

Ana nudged Hoaqins shoulder. "I think that's your cue to leave!

He looked at her for a few seconds. He tapped her shoulder with his fist. "Alright, go kick her ass!"

Ana allowed herself a small smile as she saw him off. She then looked at the other members that were leaving for the stands as well. Vicente looked at her. They observed another for a moment. Then he nodded. Ana unsure how to respond nodded back.

Ana then focused on the opponent in front of her. Hagipherione stared at her. "I do really wonder what Vicente sees in you."

Ana tilted her at her brow raised. "Didn't you just say it doesn't matter?"

"I suppose I did. Still, it piques my interest. Would you mind indulging me for a moment?"

Ana's lips turned downward. She took her scabbard pulling out her sword. "You're really annoying Hagi, you know?

A thin line marred Hagi's face. "That's not my name."

"Yeah, but to be honest your name is a real mouthful!" Ana commented, shrugging.

"You seem to have a pretty foul mouth," Hagi stated. She started to draw her sword as well, a rapier.

"You're righft, I'm not one for elegance." Ana smiled "Now, let's do this!"

She readied her blade Hagi mirrored her.

"On that, at least we agree!"

The priests each had taken their place on opposite sides of the arena. They both held their staff in hand. They raised them and with a thunderous strike struck them downward.

"In honor of his majesty King Jahad we shall now decide the fated candidate for Jahad Princess. Both participants will fight in a duel until one is not capable of fighting anymore! Now… Let the trial begin!" they bellowed.

Both of them stared at the other as they slowly started to move sideways, circling each other. They were waiting for the other to strike.

Hagi stopped halfway. She smirked at her. She stretched out her hand. She gestured for Ana to come. "On your mark... sister."

Ana's brow twitched. She gripped the handle of her sword tight. She jumped forward crossing the distance in between them. She slashed downwards in a horizontal arc. Hagipherione lifted her rapier to meet her blade. They clashed.

Hagi let Ana's blade slide alongside hers. She shifted her weight to the side letting Ana slide past her. Sword in one hand she rounded on Ana who's side was now exposed. Ana caught her balance in time to block her strike.

She struggled against the blow before throwing Hagipherione off with a yell. She stumbled backward. Ana took the offense. She unleashed a furry of slashes at her opponent. Each of her forceful blows was met by skillful strikes by Hagi. She evaded, deflected to the side, and even countered by poking at her.

Ana had trouble avoiding these strikes. She then was cut by a strike forward that grazed her arm. Ana took a step backward. She paused as she scanned her arm. It was a scratch but first blood had been drawn. Hagi's eyes glinted at her.

Ana huffed out. She ran forward. She pretended to hit from the right. Hagi lifted her sword to meet her again however at the last second Ana pirouetted her body around. Now she aimed at Hagi's exposed left side.

Hagi's eyes momentarily widened. She swung her rapier hastily around. She blocked Ana's sword inches from her skin. Ana then took the opportunity to thrust at Hagi's face. Her opponent barely managed to dodge to the side.

Hagi broke away. She checked her cheek. Her hand came away with a smudge of blood. Her eyes turned to her. "It seems like you can not only swing around like a brute."

Ana readied herself again, "You'll see that I`ve got plenty of tricks up my sleeve."

However to her surprise Hagipherione then relaxed her stance. She straighted herself pushing a strand of hair out of her face

"Let me ask you, something sister. " Hagipherione stated.

Ana's forehead furrowed. What was this now about? "What'are you playing at Hagi?"

She lifted her hands. "Oh rest assured sister I'm not trying anything here! I have but one simple question!"

The line between Ana's brows deepended futher. Finally she said. "Hmpf, you sure like to talk!"

Hagipherione smiled. Despite her answer Ana didn't once get out of her stance.

"Then I want to know… What do you desire by obtaining the title Jahad?"

Ana's brows shot up at the question. "What I want...? Why do you ask?!"

Hagi eyed her. She pointed her rapier at her. "The title Jahad isn't easily given. I want to see whether your desire matches its weight or not."

Ana blinked at her confused. "The hell are you on about? Why would I tell you that?"

Hagi lips tilted at her "Oh, but it is but a simple question really sister. Is it so hard to answer it?

Ana's eye twitched. "Stop calling me your sister!"

"Fine! If you want to know so badly! Once I have the blood of the King I'll finally rid myself of this stupid family! And then I'll come back and back everyone of you pay including him!" She pointed the tip of her sword at the man that sat quietly observing them in the box.

Hagi looked at her unimpressed. She sighed out. "So the abandoned child of the family wants to get revenge against the family. Honestly, I'm not surprising."

She stared at Ana. "But in one aspect at least I can respect your desire however narrow minded it is."

"Oh, yeah?!" Ana stated. "And what will you use it for then?!" She asked angrily.

She turned gazing towards the same direction her blade had pointed a moment ago. " Similarly to you, I too want to surpass the "Sword" of the family. That's what I'll use the gift of the king for."

"Oh yeah so what makes your goal any better then mine?"

"I never once stated so. I said your desire is narrow minded. If you truly think you can take down the entire Arie Family in the position of a Princess… I would say it makes you a fool.

Ana gripped the handle of her sword knuckles turning white. "What would you even know!"

Hagipherione smiled. "Not much…. But I think this is enough. Let's finish this now." With those words she was upon Ana in an instant. Ana barely had time to take a stance before she was upon her, she hastily blocked, but the sheer force of the strike made her wince.

She was pushed onto the defense as her opponent attacked her with a speed and precision that she hadn't shown before. She thrusted her rapier in quick succession at her. Ana blocked and weaved to the side but to no avail. Though she escaped fatal injuries Hagi still managed to inflict minor cuts on both her arms and legs.

"Shit! I need to use it!"

She gathered her Shinsu. She let it flow through her blade. She let it become the space around.

She struck. Instead of one strike, there were multiple that surrounded Hagiphirone from all angles. Hagipherione eyed the blades coming her with narrowed eyes. She fell backward. Ana saw her chance and readied herself to follow through with a strike of her own. But then as she moved forward she felt something tug at her construct.

In the next second, to her surprise it wasn't her opponent that was entrapped but Ana herself. Suddenly she was encased by a flurry of fast passed poking strikes from all sides. "What?!"

On pure instinct Ana managed to weave her swords around herself. Her swords managed to fend off most off the incoming blows however it wasn't enough. Ana felt something cold pierce her leg! Then she was sent flying back by a kick. Her back hit a wall.

Ana coughed as she got up. But she staggered and fell backwards. She looked towards her leg. It oozed blood from a stab wound that had pierced straight through her upper leg. She grit her teeth. With a pathetic grunt she forced herself up.

She looked up to the wry smile of Hagi. "Don't assume sister you're the only one who can use Arie swordsmanship!"

"Ugh!" Ana grunted out. "Shut up!"

"And stop calling me that!"

She stood up, biting through the pain. Hagipherione went on the offense again, all Ana could do was barely block her strikes. Blow for blow she was forced backward until her back hit the wall.

Hagipheriones rapier started glowing white, she slashed the air. A white wave was hurled towards Ana. She staggered and rolled herself to the side. She lifted herself up, blocking the incoming strike.

Hagi glinted down at her. "Is this all?!"

Ana gritted her teeth, assembling her strength she knocked her away. She assembled Shinsu. With a shout she unleashed a white wave similarly to Hagi's.

Hagipherione chuckled. "Hmm, seems like you werent' done after all but—" Ana felt pain exploding across side.. Ana cried out. She held her left side, collapsing onto her knee.

Hagipherione turned around from behind her. "—You should give up, you can't hope to match me." Ana clenched her hand around her sword handle. She supported her weight, breathing heavily.

"If you give up now I'll spare your life."

Ana stood up, "I have come too far for that!" She declared heatedly.

Hagipherione sighed. "Very well... let's end this."

She bent her knees, rapier at the ready. Ana lifted her sword. With bathed breath she focused. Hagi dashed towards her. At that moment everything slowed to a halt as Ana aiming for the incoming Hagi. She concentrated on the sword in front of her. She ducked underneath it then she aimed for her foe's head.

But when the tip of her blade was about to graze Hagipherione she suddenly disappeared. Then Ana felt pain explode across her throat, stunned she looked downwards, her hands coming hastily up to her neck.

When she lifted her right hand to her face her eyes widened in shock, her hand was full of blood, her blood.

"What...?"

She started to choke coughing. Ana felt her knees giving out beneath her as they hit the ground. Her blood stained the ground.

She heard shouting, she turned to the side. Glazy eyes focused on a figure running towards her.

"Vincented—" She wanted to speak out but couldn't find her mouth being able to form the words.

The next second everything was dark.

Early merry Chrismas everyone. :) (Or not so merry after all ;) )