Chapter 10

Torrent's Test

Cye and Kento were walking to Rena's room when she meet them. She was practically stumbling down the hall. Sage was right. Rena did sleep for two days. The boys rushed to her side. Kento was the first to speak. "Hey now, should you even be out of bed?"

- I'm fine. -

"You really should take it easy," Cye added.

Will you two just back off? Rena narrowed her eyebrows.

"That's not very nice to say. We're just worried about you," Kento said. Rena looked at him in shock. It soon hit Kento too. "Wait. You can't speak."

"What happened?" Cye asked.

"I don't know," Kento shook his head. "I think I just read Rena's mind."

"How?"

"I don't know," Kento continued to stare at Rena. He always was able to sense things from her but not like this. It was different. It was like he really hear her speak with her voice. "Try that again! Rena, speak to me through the mind!"

- Ok. - Rena nodded. Um...Kento? Can you hear me?

"Yeah! Yes! I did! I just heard you!" Kento pointed like a little child pointing at a toy he wants really badly.

"But how?" Cye asked.

"Because they are bonded through the gems," Lira answered from no where. The group looked at her. "Look at the gem on Sir Hardrock's forehead and the one on Princess Rena's tiara."

The group did as she said. "See how they are glowing? That means Sir Hardrock has passed his test and had bonded with the princess in our magic's way. You all will become like that."

"Does that mean that we all with be able to read her mind?" Cye asked.

"In a way. It's just like she would actually be speaking, but without actual words," Lira replied.

"Did you want something, Lira?" Cye asked.

"I was sent to retrieve you three," Lira replied. "It's time for the next test."

"So soon?" Kento asked. Lira nodded before turning and heading back down the long corridor. The three followed after her. They entered into the throne room where everyone else was. Rena walked up to Sage. The two smiled but didn't speak.

"So, who's the next test for?" Rowen asked.

"The next one of you to go is Sir Torrent," Lucio replied.

"Right. What do I have to do?" Cye asked.

"Sir Torrent, Princess Rena, take my hands," Current stepped forward and held out her hands. The two took her hands and with a swirl of water the three disappeared from the room.

"Where'd they go?" Mia asked.

"Don't worry. Current just took them to the ocean," Sky replied.

"Sure he gets a free lift there," Kento crossed his arms.

"Everything we put you through is part of your test. You had to ride to the mountain. Cye has to swim to get to where he needs to be. Get over it," Rin shrugged as she walked out of the room.

"What is her deal?"

"She's just like you, Kento," Ryo mumbled.

"What was that, fire boy?" Kento went to grab Ryo but he was already diving out of the room.

Current, Cye and Rena reappeared at the edge of the ocean. There was nothing around for miles. No civilization, trees, animals, shoot Cye wasn't even sure if there were sea creatures below the surface of the calm water.

"Sir Torrent, enter the sea from here. Ye must go under the sea to a swirling portal that ye will enter into another part of this world. The breath from the lips of an ocean lover will get the princess to breathe the ocean breath. Be as one with both the sea creatures and the sea. None will harm the if thou not harm them. Even the great beast of the ocean will be thou trusted ally," Current spoke shyly as she pointed to the waters. "Heed the warns as before. Be not a destructive force or thou shall not pass this fateful test. If thou fail Princess Rena will no longer exist in the world of the living. Be not hasty. Think on this journey to the center of yourself held within thou armor bestowed."

After giving them their warning Current disappeared. - Now what? -

"I'm not sure. I really didn't understand much of what she said," Cye sat down on the beach. "If we are to go under the sea then we have to breath since we have a long way to swim. If I had my armor breathing underwater wouldn't be a problem. I wonder...if I can breath underwater without it."

- It's worth a try. -

Cye nodded then got up. He walked over to the water and entered. He cast Rena one last glance before disappearing into the water. Rena stepped out of her shoes as the water lapped up at her feet. She jumped back at the coldness of the water. A few minutes later Cye emerged from the ocean with a big grin on his face. "I can! I can breath under the water without my armor!"

- That's great Cye! - Cye ran up to her and hugged her. - Now we have to figure out how I can breath underwater. -

"Yeah," Cye released her and both sat down to ponder on what Current said. "The breath from the lips of an ocean lover will get the princess to breathe the ocean breath? Uh...OH NO!"

Rena looked at Cye. He was blushing bright red and refusing to look at her. She tapped his shoulder. - Cye? -

"R-Rena...I...I-I think...IthinkIhavetokissyou!" Cye screamed. Rena's cheeks turned pick as Cye looked like he had a really bad sunburn. She had to turn his eyes to her. She smiled.

- It's ok. -

"Huh?"

- You can kiss me. -

"But what about Sage? And Lucio?"

- What about them? -

"Don't you...I mean...You are so..."

- Cye! - Rena signed then grabbed Cye's shoulder to calm him down. He relaxed and looked at her. - Kiss me. -

"Uh...O-Ok," Cye turned his body into a more comfortable position. His heart pounded as he braced himself to kiss her. Rena waited patiently. She could tell Cye wasn't really comfortable with this. Just as Cye leaned in a little Rena pushed forward and pressed their lips together. Cye blushed even brighter, if that was possible. Cye looked in Rena's eyes. She was still waiting patiently for him to kiss her. She closed her eyes. Cye calmed down a bit before he closed his eyes and kissed her back.

Both felt something, some power, flowing from Cye into Rena. Cye placed a hand on Rena's face, she placed hers over his just before the kiss broke. The two smiled. - You ok? -

"Yeah. That was...,"

- Your first kiss? -

"Yeah," Cye nodded.

- I'm sorry I had to steal it. -

"Huh? You didn't. I'm glad it was you," Cye said then covered him mouth. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean...I was...Sorry."

- It's ok. You're a good kisser. - Cye relaxed. - We better get going. -

"Right," Cye stood up and they walking into the water.

- Cye? -

"Yes?"

- Other than being kissed by magic...that was my first too. - Rena signed then dove into the water. Cye blinked as he watched her go. He smirked. If only the others knew. Or maybe not. Cye dove in after her. He swam up to her side.

"Rena?" She looked at him. He must have forgot to tell her he could speak underwater too. "Let's keep this kiss to ourselves. Ok? I don't want to get pounded by the others. They are still tense about you getting kiss by magic. I'm not sure who'll be more upset, Rowen, Kento, Lucio or Sage."

Cye looked up as his mind conceived different scenarios of what could possibly happen to him. He shuttered. - Alright, Cye. It's our little secret. -

The two shared one more smile before continuing on their journey. It was after several hours of swimming that they decided to stop. They sunk down to the bottom to rest. Cye looked around. Still nothing. Just the typical underwater rock formations and ocean plant life. "I wonder where all the fish and other sea life are. I've seen nothing but plants since we've started. This is odd. I don't really sense any sea life either."

- Well, Current did mention a sea monster. Maybe they fear it? Or maybe we're suppose to fight it? That would be odd. I mean, we're not suppose to harm any sea creatures. So, what? We get eaten? How are you going to protect me if we're eaten? End of the world. -

"That's for the pep talk, Princess Rena," Cye said sarcastically. Rena shrugged. "I wonder how long until we get to this swirling portal thing."

- Me too. Not that I'm enjoying the scenery. -

"We better...Huh?" Cye noticed something moving in the distance. It was close enough to see that whatever it was it was huge. However, it wasn't close enough to tell what it is.

- What is it, Cye? -

"I don't know. Let's get out of here," Cye took Rena's hand and pulled her off the bottom of the ocean. The two started swimming again and the thing Cye saw passed in front of them. Cye put out his arm to stop and protect Rena. Both their hearts started pounding. "Now I know how a fish feels when a shark is stalking it."

Rena grabbed Cye's arm after that sentence. He had scared her. He patted her hand to assure her she was safe with him. The thing that was in mirky water swam right at them and tried to take a bit out of them. Cye, being the water lover he his, was able to swim up to get them out of biting range. "That was close!"

- What is that thing? - They looked at the creature. It was long and slithered through the waters like a hot knife through butter.

"It looks like a classic sea serpent, a quadrupedal. Only it doesn't have the humps the classic sea serpent has. Definatly not like any of the sea serpents of human mythology,"

- Well, this is a magic world. Things aren't suppose to be like Earth. -

The serpent charged again. They dodge it again. Only this time Rena saw something on the creature's forehead. It was black and glowing. What was that?

"We've got to get out of here," Cye looked around. There was no where to hid. They dodged another attack.

- How? We can't out swim this thing. -

"I don't know. I don't know. If I only had my armor," Cye shook his head. No. He had to relax. He had a job to do. Stop it Cye. Just calm down. You can do this. You have to find that gem and protect Rena. You can do this. Just relax. Remember what Current said. The ocean will help. Help. Please, help me protect the princess.

Cye closed his eyes and started glowing. The glow from him stopped the serpent from attacking. Several fish of all shapes, sizes and species appeared out of no where and swam around the serpent. Cye opened his eyes. Two dolphins swam up to him. They started echoing at him. "Rena, let's go!"

Cye grabbed her hand but she pulled against him. "Rena? We have to go."

- Look, Cye. - Rena pointed to the serpent and the fish surrounding it.

"What is it?" Cye looked too.

- I think they're protecting the serpent. -

"What? What do you mean?"

- Don't you see? They're not in a defensive mode. - Cye looked back over to them. She was right. How did he miss that? The fish were swimming around the serpent like they were trying to sooth it.

"Why would they be trying to sooth it?" The dolphins nudged Cye. "What?"

One took his shirt in his mouth and swam over to the serpent. It echoed and chirped at him. That's went Cye felt the pain from the serpent. "It's hurt."

The serpent let out a sharp screech. Cye saw the black glowing thing on it's forehead. "That's it! That's what's causing it's pain! Rena, I have to remove that thing from it's forehead!"

Rena nodded. Cye tried to swim closer to the serpent but it kept swinging its head everywhere. "Easy now, fella. I'm not gonna hurt you."

Cye jerked back as the serpent tried to chomp down on his hand. "It's no good. I can't get close enough."

- Cye! - Rena tugged on his shirt. He looked at her. - Kento had to become his element to get through his test. You have to do that too. -

"Become my element? How?"

- I'm not sure. It just happened. -

"Ok. I'll try," Cye moved away from the fish and closed his eyes. Slowly he felt the sea life and sea world open up to him. He could see everything under the surface of the ocean.

Rena watched quietly as Cye concentrated. Her eyes widened as he started to glow. The serpent let out another screech then broke free from the fish circling it. Rena turned just as it rushed towards her. She tried to get out of the way, but being out of her element, she wasn't fast enough and the serpent clamped it's teeth down on her left shoulder. The dolphins chirped and began to slam into the serpent.

Cye's visions turned to Rena. The serpent clamped it's teeth down on her. Rena! Cye's eyes snapped open. "That's enough! Let her go!"

Rena look towards Cye's outburst. He was glowing with new power. He did it. He's just like Kento know. Rena followed his lead and used her own powers to bust free from the creature's iron bite. Rena had to throw up a shield to keep the serpent from biting her again. She used her left hand to hold the shield while throwing energy blast around to the serpent's back to try and get it off her while trying not to hurt it.

Cye's body turned into water and he completely disappeared into the ocean. He reappeared at the serpent's head and grabbed the black glowing thing from its forehead. The serpent screeched again as Cye pulled it out of its forehead. The serpent went back to normal and shook its head. Cye looked at the glowing object in his hand then crushed it. "Rena?"

Cye went over to Rena. Her shoulder was bleeding and she looked exhausted. "Rena! Hold on! I'll get you back to the palace!"

Rena shook her head. - If we leave you fail the test. -

"I don't care! You're hurt and I have to protect you!" The serpent snaked its head up to Rena's shoulder. It seemed to sniff the blood then licked her wound. A soft glow formed on her wound. "What? Is that some kind of bandage?"

The serpent then rubbed its massive head on the two teens before lowering itself so it could pick them up on its back. Cye held Rena close to him as the serpent began to swim farther into the ocean. They covered great distance within seconds and came upon the swirling portal. The serpent didn't hesitate and swam right in. They came up on land. It was a lush green paradise with indescribable beautiful creatures of all shapes and sizes inhabiting it.

"Wow. This place is amazing," Cye said. Just then a small, child size, elfin creature with fuzzy purple skin coat, pointy ears, big bright blue eyes with messy hot pink short hair hopped up to him. She opened her hand to reveal the light blue gem destined for Cye. The gem began to glow then placed itself on its rightful spot on Cye's circlet. "Thanks. Thank you all for your help. But we must go. The princess needs medical help."

Cye looked down to find Rena had fallen asleep in his arms. A butterfly creature flew over to him. It had the wings of a butterfly, multicolor wings, with the body of a bear and cute little antennas poking out of his head. It sprinkled some of the dust from it's wings over the teens. The two started to disappear. "Thank you. Thank you all for your help."

The sun was going down by the time Cye and Rena reappeared in the throne room. Lira and Sky were the only ones there at the time. They immediately had Cye take Rena to the healer then went to get the others. Cye stayed by her side as the healer dealt with her wound. Once the others enter Cye told them what happened.

"Congratulations, Sir Torrent," Current smiled. "You have passed your test."

"Yes," Cye nodded as his eyes returned to Rena. He began to wonder if this whole ordeal was really worth it.

Notes: I don't think this chapter flowed very well, but here you go, Chapter Ten. Tell me what you think. I was unsure about having Cye and Rena kiss but I wanted them to bond more since I really haven't dealt with them together in other chapters. Cye seemed more of a so so friend to Rena. So that's why they kissed. It was to bring them together more as real friends.