I stood in the same line as everyone else, but it had a few new creatures joining in. Every warrior had a wolf behind them, sitting peacefully and respectfully at their commander's orders. In contrast, I had a hyperactive pitbull, who was behind me, fooling around in the grass. I could feel the slightly concerned and confused eyes that looked at me from everyone; Arthur was the only one able to say anything.
"Are you.. are you okay now, Vienna?"
I turned to him, a smile stretching my lips to have someone concerned about me. "I am. I'm no longer in pain."
"You were very brave."
My face felt slightly warm at the compliment. Unable to say anything, I nodded my thanks until Apollonia came out to speak with us. To our surprise, Arden was following her; they stopped just in front of us.
"I know you're all probably confused. You succeed in your companionship." Arden spoke proudly, sending me a side eye that I turned away from. "But if you thought that was all it took to pass, you were wrong."
The young warriors gasped loudly, murmuring to one another in surprise at the revelation. Arden glanced at Apollonia, who confidently swung her dreads back and offered the young ones a proud smile. "Your final step is far more important than you realize. You would never have guessed it."
She turned her head, her wings swinging behind her proudly. We followed her gaze and saw a group of large angels descending from the sky, their figures illuminated by flashes of sunlight. I shifted my weight on my legs, feeling the force of their impact as they landed gracefully on the ground. They stood in a straight line alongside us, but their faces were obscured by their helmets. Maintaining their stance, they displayed their immense power and strength.
Apollonia turned back to us, "you all will have to have a one-on-one with someone here. That will be your last task to prove your bravery and strength. Fight against someone stronger than you." She walked around, the older warriors keeping their backs straight. At least one warrior stood feet in front of each of us.
"For this fight, you will not have to win," Arden said, following on the opposite side of Apollonia. "This is not about winning. Yes, you would want to; that's the point."
"You give your hardest, the best you can do." Apollonia finished. They both circled back in front of us, the warrior thinking for a moment. "Do you know who would want to go first?"
The warriors beside me glanced around, their hesitation evident. A tense silence stretched on for a moment. Just as I was about to raise my hand, Apolonia burst into laughter, her giggles breaking the tension. "I'm just joking! You'll all be going in order, starting with whoever got their Heaven Wolf first and proceeding to last."
I heard a collective sigh, and I could hear Casey making a sound on the other side of the line. Arthur looked down at him, his wings sagging slightly in response to his boyfriend. A slight pricking in my heart made me wish I could leave early, get it over with, and elevate myself. But I knew that I would be last.
The pink-haired warrior began to give out orders, making the clearing open with only one warrior standing still. She then motioned for Casey to go, presenting the rules that had always been told. Casey stopped for a second. "Can our Heaven Wolves help?"
"They will have their own opportunities to train with the other Heaven Wolves. You will all have your chance to train alongside them, but it will be against your own pack." The warrior shook her head and flipped her wings back toward Becklewood, who stood ready for her command. "Get the other wolves back to their dens."
The wolf made a chuffing sound as it sprinted into the sky, where all the other wolves followed. Casper stayed still by my feet, and together we stood at the edge of the trees alongside the others. We would be watching the one-on-one confrontation here, standing next to the older angels who still wore their helmets. Their mere presence made not just me but the others tremble. They were intimidating, and their silence felt both heavy and loud.
Arthur was beside me. His shoulder jumped up to his ears, and his expression was clear. He looked scared, maybe worried for Casey.
"Hey…" He looked at me, his eyes wide. "He's gonna be alright. That warrior doesn't know how to give up." I tried to reassure him, seeing him smile shyly. But when he turned back, the fearful look was back, masking his features.
We all turned our attention back to the front. Casey took his position, pushing back his poofy hair. The angel grasped the Branchie and Pedal tightly, prepared for anything. His opponent also got into position; while they had secured the ground, although it wasn't as solid as Casey's. They appeared relaxed despite the tension, and I could sense their confidence, just like Casey's.
If he was nervous, he was skilled at concealing it. The angel gripped the sword to its hilt, standing at an angle in the dirt. There was a moment of silence as they both prepared for battle, each waiting for the other to make the first move. Casey was eager to begin, but he decided to hold back and let the other warrior strike first.
Apollonia and Arden were speaking to each other on the other side. I could hear the impatience in both of their voices.
The warrior facing Casey glanced at the two higher-ranking officers, and then Casey charged forward to attack. Taking advantage of the older warrior's momentary distraction, Casey managed to hurl the Branchie at his chest. The warriors quickly stumbled back but swiftly regained their stance, drawing out their Pedals for defense.
The clash of the Branchies shook the ground, echoing in silence as Casey grunted under the pressure. Even though both of the warriors were the same height, the older one was much superior. They ducked, catching Casey by the feet to knock him over. He rolled around, pushing the Pedal into the ground to get a grip.
The older warrior flung their wings out, jumping up with their Branchie itching away from the younger warrior's face.
Unable to dodge the brooding weapon, Casey raised his Branchie in defense. They clashed together, and the warrior above Casey forced him into the dirt with their strength.
Casey grunted as his Branchie was pushed aside, a move executed by the older warrior, who then knocked it away completely. The warrior raised the weapon once more, poised to deliver the decisive blow. Clenching his teeth, Casey rolled onto his side just as the Branchie struck the ground, burying itself in the dirt. Seizing the opportunity, he managed to grab the Branchie, his hand gripping the hilt with determined strength.
"You got this, Casey!" Arthur encouraged, his face beaming in anticipation.
The warrior ran at him, and Casey held his Branchie out for the attack. But the warrior saw it coming, their wings lunging out to push them into the sky at lightning speed.
They used their Pedal to bash into Casey's raised weapon. He flung back, trying to steady his feet in the dirt at the harsh hit.
The older warriors didn't wait for him. With their arms folded back, they hit the ground and rushed forward, their wings angled behind them to gain speed. From my vantage point, I could see how effective this tactic was in catching Casey off guard. The boy could only press his feet against the ground and use the Pedal for defense when the warrior made contact with him.
The pristine metals hitting one another made me cringe, my feet trembling slightly at the strength the older warrior had.
Casey rushed to the side, throwing their pedal at the opponent's open legs. Just as I expected, the older warrior leaped into the air, their wings already positioned to catch them. They landed and kicked Casey in the chest, where he was unguarded. He was thrown into the dirt, his wings bending beneath him.
Arthur flinched, his eyes wide with worry. Although they couldn't feel pain, he was clearly anxious.
The boy managed to roll over to his side, but he had lost his defense, let alone his Branchie. The older warrior gave no warning, rewinding their wings before sprinting on top of him.
Casey wasn't quick enough to take flight. His wings trembled under his weight, straining as he attempted to fend off the more powerful warrior above him. The warrior held the Branchie in a firm grip, flipping it around until the end was level with Casey's head. With his helmet obscuring his eyes, Casey could only gasp as it came crashing down on him.
But the warriors did not plunge it through his head; they only pierced it right through the dirt on his left. It was only inches away, causing a shuddering gasp from the boy.
Arden stepped forward, clapping her hands to signal the end of the session. The older warrior stood up, pulling their Branchie out of the floor. They looked down at Casey, who was struggling to lift himself from the ground. When he looked up, he saw the older warrior extending a hand towards him. He hesitated for a moment before accepting it. The warrior pulled him up, and Casey was clearly astonished by their strength.
"You did good, Casey!" Arden nodded to both of them, turning back to us.
She continued to speak, instructing the next two in their positions for their one-on-one. Casey came over to us, looking slightly frazzled at the interaction.
Arthur rushed forward, pulling him into a hug. "You did great!"
Casey chuckled, hugging him back. "Thanks."
The bodies released each other, Casey turning to his opponent who had moved back to the other group of warriors. He took off his helmet, his hair puffing out at the release, but he kept his eyes on the older warrior.
They caught each other's eyes, Casey narrowing slightly at them.
The older warrior dropped their guarded shoulders, pulling their helmet off as they stepped back in front of Casey. They stood at the same height, but all of our eyes widened at the reveal of this stronger warrior.
She held her head high, the triking color of her moon-purple eyes glaring back at Casey. Her hair was held in small ponytails below her shoulders in a musty white. She gave him his hand again, the smirk clear on her lips.
"You're a skilled fighter," her voice was smooth, revealing a hint of a Russian accent.
Casey shook off his shock, shaking her hand in return. "Thank you, but I'm nowhere near your level."
She smiled, her teeth slightly sharp. "You weren't meant to be."
I trembled slightly, my feet firmly planted on the ground. I could hear Arthur take a sharp breath. We both felt somewhat intimidated by the warrior. She exuded such strength that we couldn't help but take a step back.
She turned back to her group, waving to the boy. "But you will get there."
With that, she put her helmet back on and stood back in line. Her back was straight, and her wings curled stiffly to her back. Casey turned to usand I could see the shock and bewilderment in his eyes. He stood beside Arthur, gulping slightly.
Arthur shook his wings. "She's scary. Are they all like that?"
"Most likely," I replied to Casey, earning an annoyed glare from the boy. Arthur looked back at me, seeing how I motioned to the two fighting in the field. The older warrior beat the young female warrior in a matter of seconds.
The young boy stiffened, fear coursing through his entire body.
While Casey was reeling from his fight and Arthur shaking in his armor, I couldn't help the excitement building in my chest. It made my legs tremble, and my wings bristled, but my body shook with anticipation.
It was nowhere near the proper reaction to what I have seen.
But I couldn't help it. Something inside me was jumping for joy at the upcoming fight. However, I could sense something lurking behind that excitement. I feared it might be doubt.