I tried to get this done beforehand. I really did. Thanksgiving was insanity and - once that was over - I got sick with a fever and was NOT wanting to write anything. But here it is. And it's a tiny chapter again. And I hate that it's so small.

At least, it's a little bigger than the last update... kinda...

Well, enough about me. Here comes Dryden.

Stepping into the under-cove, Hitomi lifted a hand and scratched the back of her head with a small groan. The ever-growing strands of her red hair flipped up at her static touch and crackled lightly on top of her scalp. She shook her head with a hopeless sigh and inwardly chided Rutilus for insisting she have long hair. Didn't the River realize she had electricity problems? This obviously was going to be a big issue the longer it got.

"Millerna might have been easy for you, but don't get too comfortable, Kanzaki." The old man's large body leaned against the back wall. His foot thumped in a sporadic rhythm on the dirt floor. Glancing at Balgus with a short nod, she made her way back to the small chair and sat with a relaxed pose.

"You remember what I said about Dryden, correct?"

"I remember." Hitomi answered immediately, folding her hands on her lap patiently. "I've got this, Balgus. Don't worry."

"I'm not the one who should be worrying. You should."

Hitomi shifted as the old man straightened from the wall. "Dryden's a weapon changer like you. He uses strategy to fight, Kanazki. He can't be tripped like Gadeth or knocked out like Millerna. He will use what he has to his advantage. True, he hangs around that green lunatic all the time, but that just means he's learned how to survive around him. And that in itself is no easy feat. Take it into account that this is someone who is just as skilled as you when it comes to his personal weapons. It also doesn't help he's had time to study you and find a weakness."

"A weakness?" The redhead turned her head sharply and a too common pang of fear flipped in her stomach. "What weakness do I have?"

"Must I point out the obvious, imbecile?" Balgus crossed his thick arms over his chest and exhaled shortly. His beady eyes narrowed further and she felt a sense of dread mix with the fear.

Here it comes…

"You realize you have two, not one, but two weapons at your disposal and you continually drop them! Continually! Gadeth could have been taken over with the trident long ago. Millerna was open half the time with your sword. You didn't take the initiative! You aren't thinking properly, Kanzaki! Those wins were luck and nothing else! You might have thought it was brilliant, but they were the spawn of idiocy! Those battles had easier wins."

"Easier?"

"You took them too far! You overthink!"

"So, you're saying don't think when I fight?!"

"Dryden has two weapons just like you. And you can bet your swirly armor he'll use them in every way he can. Keep it simple and make it easy on yourself. Remember what you have on your side. And use it this time!"

"He's a long-distance fighter, Balgus. He's recurve archer and lance. All I have to do is get-"

"Stay away from him!" The old man barked. Hitomi's mouth dropped open slightly in surprise. "Do not under any circumstances get in his short attack range! Get out of his way and keep your distance. Watch for his ghost-shot from the recurve. He sends two arrows back to back. You see only one coming, but not the second. It's his specialty."

"You've told me all of this already!"

"And you obviously need reminding! This is the Trials, Kanzaki! I complimented you on Gadeth, but I won't on Millerna. It was stupid and risky and flat out sloppy!"

"Sloppy!? Sloppy!? I knocked her out with her weapon!"

"You should have knocked her out with your weapons! Don't rely on your sparkle armor for everything! Use some common sense and think rationally and simply. Dryden will do the same thing."

"How do you know?"

"Because I trained those morons you're fighting! I know them!"

Hitomi sat stiff, her back straight with indignation. Vaguely, she was aware the crowd was beginning its loud roar from the stands. Van was back in the arena.

Balgus huffed and uncrossed his arms. Taking another step closer, he reached out, grasped the redhead's shoulder armor, and pulled her ungracefully to her feet. "It's almost time to go." Despite her irritation, his hand remained on her shoulder and she felt her body relax slightly. The old man was so annoying and completely wrong, but… there was something comforting about that small gesture.

Breathing deeply as the familiar nervousness coursed through her, she swallowed thickly and asked, "So, if I can't get close to him, how do I take him out? He's long-distance fighter so it would only be normal that I get in his short-range."

The old man was quiet for a moment. "That's what he'll expect you to do. That's what everyone tries to do to a long-range fighter. You want my advice? Set traps, use your weapons, and find a way to stay on your feet. He'll get tired from switching. That's when you should strike. Just be patient. Dryden is a persevering man, but he has his limits. Just... play it simple and he'll fall."

"Play it simple, play it simple, play it simple" Hitomi repeated quietly. She exhaled slowly and turned her head to give the old man a small smile. "Regardless if I win this or not - thanks, Balgus. For everything."

His thick eyebrows raised a fraction in surprise and then crunched down on his small eyes in a frown.

"Get out there, you lazy-"

Laughing softly, she stepped forward and out of the under-cove. His heavy palm fell away. Her shoulder was warm where his hand had rested. He might be a crabby old goat, but… he really had her best interests at heart. Maybe that's why she could never stay mad at him for long.

Walking closer to the middle, Hitomi was only loosely aware of the miniscule cheers that trickled from the masses at her appearance. Her vision was solidly fixed on the tall king standing in the middle of the field. He gestured to the circle like always and she stepped in obediently.

"And now for the third challenged, Dryden Fassa, The Knight of the Wise!"

The brown-haired man strolled out from the south under-cove. Despite the loud cries of the crowd, he seemed deaf, his deep brown eyes focusing on the ground instead of the multitude chanting his name from the stands. This was the first time Hitomi had really had a chance to study Dryden all on his own. Most of the time, Gadeth took the limelight. The man was stockier built, his hair flowing loosely down his back in waves of curls. She noticed he wasn't as graceful as the green man, but walked bit duck-footed. With his back hunched and a concentrated frown on his face, he looked serious. He was the counter-part of Gadeth's half-nude entrance.

Very stoic, boring, and - thankfully - fully clothed.

Long-range attacks, but you can't get in his short-range either. Hitomi sucked in a cool breath and blew it out slowly. How am I going to pull this one off? Think simple? Much easier said than done.

The redhead could almost hear the old man's snarling voice in her head, "You have two to choose from! TWO!"

That's right. She had two weapons.

As the brown-haired man stepped solidly into his circle, Van disappeared and the drums began. Hitomi braced herself. He wasn't Gadeth and he wasn't Millerna.

But he was still in her way to Van.

The drums slowed slightly. Dryden looked up with his brown eyes blinking slowly behind his spectacles.

"You nervous, Lady?"

She was surprised. He was talking to her. Was he trying to distract her?

"Orange is close to gold. For the longest time Gadeth was convinced I'd be the Pilot."

Hitomi heard the crowd laugh and thought up a quick reply.

"Your hair is really pretty. Maybe she'd think you were a girl?"

No one laughed.

Those bias, pieces of-

Dryden's snort interrupted her mental curse. A smile stretched widely on his whiskered face and he nodded his head approvingly. "Are you kidding? That's what I was going for."

The masses erupted into peals of hooted laughter.

"You should probably shave the beard then."

Instant silence. Her green eyes swept the quiet crowd with indignation.

Really? No one thought that was funny? Really!

The bored man's now orange eyes flicked to the ground and back up again. Hitomi didn't notice.

"I just wanted pretty hair. Is it a crime to be a man and want nice things?"

"Watch out. I might accidently miss with my sword and wack off a curl or two."

"You have to summon it first."

A shiver of ginger burst from Dryden's body and instantly compacted into an intricate bow. Swiveling back with a gasp, Hitomi's core burst open in her surprise and she raced the hot magic to her hand for the sword.

The circles had long disappeared. He had been distracting her!

She knew she was too slow!

With a twang of his bow, the arrow hurtled towards her body.

Dryden's Trial.

Next update tomorrow.

Be prepared.

blue...