Chapter 58 – Coral vs. Colossus

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Day 8

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As dawn spilt soft, golden light over the palace, the quiet morning embraced the grounds. The scent of fresh dew mingled with the faint aroma of distant jasmine blooms. Birds chirped their gentle melodies, and warm sunlight streamed through the thin door, spilling over Selena’s sleeping form and stirring her awake. She blinked, disoriented, before her eyes settled on her spear, gleaming beside her. Rising slowly, she moved toward a mirror above a bowl of water, her fingers dipping into the cool liquid. She splashed her face, her reflection staring back at her with a mix of focus and unease, the sense of impending trial heavy in her gaze.

The silence struck her. It was strange, absolute. She glanced around, noting that no voices echoed through the halls, no murmurs, or shuffling footsteps—nothing. Her brow furrowed. She crossed the room quickly, glancing into Makara’s quarters. He wasn’t there, though the scent of rich sake clung to the air, lingering like a memory confirming it was his room.

She took up her weapon and retraced her steps, moving through each corridor with deliberate caution, her footsteps the only sound, echoing softly through the vast, deserted halls. Her intuition guided her toward the southern wing of the castle, where she discovered a winding staircase concealed behind an unmarked door. Descending carefully, she reached the bottom and stepped into a familiar arena—the arena where Prince Enthril was training yesterday, its red sands stretching before her. She moved to the centre, glancing around warily.

Then, from above, Prince Enthril’s calm voice broke the silence. “Good morning, Princess. I trust you slept well?” he called, seated casually in the viewing area with a cup of sake in hand, his expression almost playful, as though he’d been waiting just for her. His gaze was steady, eyes glinting with intrigue. “So nice of you to join me.”

Selena’s eyes narrowed, her expression tense. “Prince, might I ask—where is my colleague?”

Prince Enthril’s lips curved in a faint, amused smile. “Ah, your rather unconventional friend, the lively one. He’s off on an errand of his own,” he replied smoothly, his tone laced with casual nonchalance. “But worry not—he’ll join us soon enough.” His gaze lingered on her, assessing. “Now, shall we begin the trial?”

Selena’s mind spun, trying to balance her thoughts. Could she win the trial alone? Without Makara, her chances dimmed. And Shawn was not here at the moment. Asking for time might offend the prince, perhaps even appear disrespectful. As her mind raced, Prince Enthril interrupted her thoughts with an indifferent flick of his wrist, gesturing toward the looming iron gate at the far end of the pit. His tone was casual, almost dismissive. “Your trial is simple,” he announced. “Fend off whatever emerges from that gate. That’s all.”

Selena’s expression hardened, her resolve solidifying with each second. She reached back, retrieving her weapon—a seemingly simple rod. With a practised twist, the rod extended into a long staff, and another twist revealed the sharp blade at one edge, the weapon unfolding into a deadly spear. The finely carved shaft felt familiar and steady in her hands, a reminder of her heritage and the pride she held in her skill. With a firm grip, she assumed her stance, every muscle ready and taut, her eyes locked on the gate ahead, her mind sharp and resolute.

‘This time,‘ she thought, ‘I carry my own weight.‘ She had relied on Makara and Shawn since the day she left Atlantis, always counting on their support in the most crucial moments. But now, standing in the stillness of the arena, she knew she had to prove herself, not only to them but to herself.

Above, Prince Enthril watched her intently, his cup of sake resting lightly in his hand, his gaze calm yet piercing, as if assessing her very soul. High above, an owl circled in slow arcs, its eyes gleaming as it tracked the unfolding scene below, silent and watchful. Nearby, on the floating rocks, Shawn lay deep in slumber, unaware of the tension building in the southern part of the castle. And Makara was still nowhere to be seen.

The gate groaned, shadows flickering behind its bars, and Selena steeled herself, her grip tightening, ready to face whatever awaited her on the other side.

The iron gate groaned as it opened, and from the shadows charged a massive, tusked elephant, its trumpet echoing across the arena. The sheer size and force of the creature made Selena’s heart race, but her grip on the spear remained steady, a steadying reminder of her vow to carry her own weight and prove herself as a true Atlantean warrior.

The elephant barreled toward her, eyes wild, tusks aimed like lethal spears. Selena held her ground, breathing slow and steady, every muscle coiled and ready. She waited, timing her move perfectly, and at the last second, she leapt aside, rolling to her left in a practised motion. Mid-motion, she twisted, slashing a precise cut across the back of the elephant’s leg. The beast cried out, a thunderous roar echoing across the arena, stumbling but undeterred, swinging its tusks in a wide, furious arc. The whish of the tusks cutting through the air rattled in her ears, mingling with the crackle of displaced sand beneath their feet.

Selena’s eyes flicked to the spinning elephants, her body moving with exacting agility. Planting her spear firmly into the sand behind her, she used it as a pivot. With a swift, fluid motion, she launched herself upward, one leg pressing against the lower shaft, the other against the upper. The spear flexed under her weight, bending backwards and sending her soaring just as the tusk whistled past, brushing the air with a near-miss that made her pulse spike. Timing flawless, she let the spear spring back, propelling her over the elephant. It recoiled lightly off the ground, ricocheting above her. Mid-air, she twisted, gripping her weapon once more, feeling the vibrations run through her arms as the spear absorbed the impact of the bounce and landed with precision. She immediately raised her spear vertically, ready to intercept the elephant’s next twisting strike.

The tusk struck, but Selena’s spear held firm, the tension running through her arms as she braced against the elephant’s force. The beast, wounded in its leg, could not stabilise properly; its movements faltered, and its strike carried less force than intended. Realising its attack had failed, the creature lowered its tusks and attempted another spin to face her, preparing to charge. Selena shifted, plunged her spear tip into a sensitive joint near its front leg. The elephant cried out again, a guttural roar amplified by the hollow arena. Sand and dust erupted around its feet with every movement, clinging to her boots and the hem of her clothes. Seizing the moment, Selena unleashed a flurry of slashes across its upper torso. Blood spattered the red sand, glinting under the fading sunlight, and the elephant stumbled forward, visibly weakened, each step trembling as its strength faltered further under her relentless assault.

As it sank to its knees, Selena moved in front of the creature, her chest tightening at the sight of its pained eyes. She hesitated, feeling the weight of her actions. Placing her hand gently on the elephant’s massive forehead, she whispered, “I’m sorry… but this must be done,” her voice soft, eyes closed in respect. The elephant seemed to understand, releasing a heavy breath that sent a cloud of sand billowing outward.

Despite her warrior’s resolve, the task tugged at her heart; she was still young, still learning the depths of the strength she bore. But she knew her duty. Steeling herself, she spun her spear once more, gripping it tightly and aiming with deliberate care. With a final, merciful thrust, she drove the blade deep into the creature’s skull, ending its suffering in a single, swift motion.

The elephant’s body went still, and Selena withdrew her spear, breathing heavily, feeling a potent mix of pride and solemnity as she accepted the responsibility and the weight of her actions.

Prince Enthril watched from the viewing area, his expression unreadable as he took in Selena’s determined stance. As her spear found its mark in the first elephant’s skull, a glimmer of admiration crossed his face, but his eyes filled with the sadness of his favourite animal lying down. Under his breath, he mused, “I thought she would be like calm waters—steady, controlled. But there is a tempest within her. Impressive… yet still, not enough.” He sipped his sake cup and then placed the cup on the platform’s edge, sending a quiet signal forward: “This trail is far from over.”

Selena barely caught her breath before the iron gate groaned once more, spilling shadows across the arena as two colossal elephants emerged, their tusks gleaming in the morning light. With a thunderous roar, they surged forward, their sheer power shaking the ground beneath them as they raced, nearly colliding with each other in their drive to reach her.

She steadied her footing, feeling her heartbeat in her throat, her chest heaving with the strain of the first battle. As the first elephant closed in, it lowered its head, swinging its tusks in a wide, deadly arc. She spun low beneath it, narrowly dodging, but as she rose, the second elephant’s trunk was already upon her. The trunk crashed into her side, but with quick reflexes, she wedged her spear between her and the massive limb, attempting to shield herself. Despite her efforts, the force of the blow was immense, sending a tremor up her arms and pushing her back. She anchored herself with the spear wedged firmly into the ground to stop her backwards as she came to her knees. The strain was evident as her muscles tightened to regain her stance, pain rippling through her arms, but her resolve unshaken.

There was no time for reprieve. In the corner of her eye, she saw the first elephant preparing another charge, dust rising from its thundering steps as it bore down on her. Gritting her teeth, Selena gripped her spear, the weight of the next encounter already settling on her shoulders.

Above, the owl watched intently, its sharp gaze tracking Selena’s every movement. Observing her struggle against the two massive elephants and noticing that Makara was nowhere to be seen, the owl shifted restlessly. Recognising that she might need help, the bird veered away from the arena, heading swiftly toward Shawn, who was still fast asleep under a nearby tree.

Landing beside him, the owl fluffed its feathers, hoping the gentle beat of its wings would wake him. But Shawn lay still. Cocking its head, the owl carefully nudged him with its talons, but to no avail. With growing urgency, the owl began to peck at him, its sharp beak tapping rhythmically until Shawn finally stirred, covering his face against the morning sun as he squinted upward.

“Wha—ow! Okay, okay, I’m awake,” he mumbled, rubbing his eyes. Blinking, he noticed the owl’s distressed movements, its head twisting rapidly from side to side as it fixed him with an intense, imploring gaze and made a screeching noise.

Shawn’s brows knit in confusion as he sat up. “Alright, I don’t exactly speak bird, but I get the idea—something’s up,” he muttered, rubbing his eyes as he shook off the lingering drowsiness.

In one smooth motion, he climbed onto the owl’s back “Let’s go”. It wasted no time, its powerful wings spreading wide as it lifted off, cutting through the morning air with a determined swiftness toward the arena where Selena is.