A gentle breeze blew through the Territory of Wind.
The picturesque, cerulean sky shone a brilliant azure hue, the firmament free of clouds and bad weather. Sunlight cascaded gently down from above, warm and soft. Alden sighed as he sensed his serene surroundings lifting his spirit.
The Keeper's Apprentice wore a simple tunic, dark, and navy-blue beneath a set of leather armour, paired with loose pants and a leather scabbard on his hip. Alongside his eye patch and dirty-white hair, he looked the part of a young warrior, a hand resting on the hilt of his sheathed sword as he strode through the Territory of Wind.
Around him, people milled, going about their daily tasks; some carried lumber, others carried baskets filled with cotton and wool, while a few others dragged carts laden with crops, fresh milk and eggs. The soothing song of Zephyr wafted out from an open window of an establishment, adding an idyllic touch to the scene.
The further Alden ventured inside the Territory, the more space appeared between the light-green buildings, until eventually, he veered right, onto a dirt road. As his feet traced the path, he saw small fields stretching out, slowly growing in size, until a vast meadow rolled out in front of him, a tree line glowing with an ethereal, golden glow on the horizon.
Pens of sheep, cattle, and goats littered the field, in addition to a couple of stable barns for the few remaining steeds alive in the Sanctuary. Several green-robed figures tended to the needs of these animals, while some others stood guard, watching over the Zephyr Clan's precious glade, and protecting a large part of its revenue.
To the side, contrasting starkly against the lush, short-cropped grass was a barren area, the press of footprints both old and new, so abundant that it had killed the green, transforming the area into a small, barren field.
A rack of wooden weapons had been set up at its edge, indicating that this was where the members of the Zephyr Clan and its vassals come to train.
…This was also Alden's destination.
Almost two weeks had passed since the Festival.
There were only a few days left before the Tournament, and the time had come for him to take part in the first half of his Paladin Exam: the combat assessment.
Alden had been hard at work every day, especially during the lead up, training and "condensing" more of his core, as well as mentally shrugging off what had happened during the Festival, so that his focus would be cold and sharp today.
He had done all he could, and would find a way to make Celeste's assaulter pay.
Now, however, it was all about action.
Just then, Alden paused.
He spied three figures standing in the middle of the barren field, each different, yet similar at the same time. A dark cloak shrouded the features of the leftmost one, a long, thin blade resting casually in their grip. Alden felt their gaze lock on to him, a promise of torment and mischief etched within.
He couldn't help but shiver.
On the other side, the figure on the right wielded a long staff affixed with a gem on its tip. Looking closer, Alden noticed braided hair, and tranquil, feminine features, completely at odds with the armour she wore.
Lastly, there was the figure in the middle, who stood a half-step in front of the other two, arresting his attention.
The figure wore armour that glowed with a soft, golden hue, and held a terribly sharp, gleaming estoc in their grip. They also wore an elegant half-mask, black striations running parallel across the gold. Wavy, shoulder-length brown hair fluttered behind them like a mantle.
However, all that paled in comparison to the figure's eyes.
They were hynoptic, pulling in him deeper with every swirl, every change in colour - grey, blue, and purple. A sense of wonder and awe instinctively surfaced within Alden, before he shook off the spell, and stopped gazing into the figure's mood-ring eyes.
He inhaled deeply, the fresh air travelling through his system. In the same breath, he walked forward, and soon came to a halt a fair distance opposite the three figures. Up close, Alden noticed their auras were even more pronounced, giving off the air of Experts.
Strangely, though, they felt almost identical… as if only when combined, did they become whole. Recognition finally dawned on Alden, and he couldn't help but mutter a curse.
His opponents were from the Noble Guild.
…More accurately, the Noble Sisters in charge of it.
Alden had heard tales of their battle prowess, particularly the Guildmaster who's estoc had cleaved through many Defiled. It seemed Morrigan was intent on pushing him to the limit, pulling out no stops for his Paladin Exam.
Alden sighed, a worm of anxiety and doubt breaking through his fortified mental cloud.
'No, I can do this. I don't have to defeat them, just impress them. Besides, Morrigan said I can't attack with the intent to kill, the same probably applies for them.'
"Alden, the Keeper's Apprentice?"
The Guildmaster spoke, her voice sweeping through the barren field, commanding respect, and imbued with boundless authority. She was someone who understood her position, and the power and weight that came with it.
The white-haired young man simply nodded, resisting the urge to cower under the warrior's imposing presence.
"Are you aware of the rules?"
The cloaked figure on the left suddenly intervened.
"Are you sure you can take on the three of us at the same time? You know, there is no shame in being scared, especially to someone as awesome and powerful as me."
She slowly rolled her shoulders, amusement evident in her tone.
Alden just stared at her blankly, unimpressed.
Even when her aura flared, and a heavy weight bore down on his chest, he remained disinterested.
"Oh, come on! The last guy almost wet his pants. This is no fun!"
Contrary to her complaints, though, she still set her feet.
"Ignore her. She gets like that when she's bored."
The staff-wielder shook her head.
A kind smile then split her face.
In the next moment, the cloaked figure vanished.
…And a wave of peril immediately engulfed Alden.