Chapter 59 – The Cavalry is Here

Meanwhile, within the arena, the two massive elephants were closing in on her, their tusks aimed at her with deadly intent. Selena’s breathing was ragged, her mind racing. She knew she had to hold her ground. She narrowed her eyes, calculating the moment. Just as one of the beasts neared, she gripped her spear tightly and swept it in a wide arc across the ground, stirring up a thick cloud of red sand that exploded around her, forming a dense, concealing veil between herself and the elephant.

The creature bellowed in frustration as it slowed its speed, but the momentum still drove it forward, grinding against the red sand and entering the obscuring cloud. Selena and the beast vanished into the swirling haze, while from the back, the other elephant stopped and made a resounding call, stamping its feet in agitation. Prince Enthril leaned forward, his gaze sharpening with interest as he watched, eager to see what would emerge from within the smokescreen.

As the smokescreen gradually dispersed, a massive shadow loomed within it, followed by the elephant’s towering figure emerging from the haze. It let out a thunderous call, eyes darting around in confusion—Selena was nowhere to be seen. Both elephants paused, visibly disoriented, their gaze searching the ground. Even Prince Enthril, though initially startled and intrigued by her sudden disappearance, then leaned back in his seat, sipping his sake with a smug smile, murmuring, “That’s smart”.

The elephants shifted uneasily until one of them spotted her—a small figure balanced atop the other elephant’s broad back. With a bellowing cry, it signalled its companion, alerting it to Selena’s location. The 2nd elephant close to her raised its trunk, trying to reach her, but she deftly stepped out of its grasp. She crouched low, remaining steady as the creature below her began to sway, trying to shake her off. The second elephant circled closer, positioning itself to use its trunk to catch her. Selena saw that and used her weapon to fend off, but at one point, she made a slash that cut off the trunk of the other elephant that was trying to reach her.

The elephant whose trunk had been severed circled wildly in agony, trumpeting a furious cry that shook the arena. Beneath Selena’s feet, the beast she stood upon thrashed in panic, its massive frame jerking violently as it tried to shake her loose. Selena gritted her teeth and gripped her hand around her spear, and with a decisive thrust, she drove the blade deep into the thick muscle at the top of its neck. The steel sank in with a sickening resistance, and the beast roared, legs buckling under the weight of its own pain.

Blinded and staggering in pain, the wounded elephant lurched forward, dragging its heavy bulk across the red sands in a half-charge it couldn’t control. Its momentum carried it straight into its companion, the one still writhing from its severed trunk. Unaware of the oncoming mass, the second elephant wheeled too late. The collision was brutal—tusks tore into flesh, rending deep gashes down its flank. The impact drove into the already-weakened beast—the one whose trunk had been severed—sending it toppling onto the crimson sand. Its body crashed down with bone-shaking force

For a brief moment, Selena felt the rush of victory, thinking the battle was finally over. But just then, the creature beneath her gave a final heave, rearing backwards in a desperate attempt to stay upright. Caught off guard, Selena yanked her spear free and leapt from its back, rolling hard across the sand. Before she could fully recover, the beast’s massive body crashed down faster than she anticipated, slamming into the ground with earth-shaking force.

A thick wave of dust and sand burst outward from the impact, stinging her eyes and clinging to her skin. In the haze, Selena’s escape faltered—her leg was caught beneath the elephant’s collapsing weight. She gasped, a sharp, blinding pain tearing up her body as her limb was pinned against the arena floor.

Her breath came ragged, each inhale sharp and panicked, as she clawed at the ground in vain. The crushing weight left her immobilised, agony radiating from her trapped leg with every heartbeat. Just when she thought her struggle couldn’t grow worse, the heavy iron gate groaned open, its echo cutting through the dust-choked air. From the shadows stepped a third elephant—older, broader, its scarred hide and battle-worn tusks marking it as a veteran of countless wars. Its presence filled the arena like a living storm, and the sight alone sent a chill crawling down her spine.

Prince Enthril leaned back, a smug grin spreading across his face. “I wonder what she will do now?” he murmured, his voice dripping with amusement. The new elephant made a sound that echoed in the fight pit as it saw Selena pinned down and lowered its massive head, preparing to charge directly at Selena’s vulnerable form. Panic surged through her as her mind raced, desperately searching for a way out. Yet her body remained trapped beneath the weight, immobilised and helpless. She could see her spear just out of reach, glimmering tauntingly in the light, a weapon she desperately needed but couldn’t grasp.

A whirlwind of thoughts invaded her mind, swirling like a tempest. “Why did I enter this trial? Why did I follow Shawn and Makara through that portal instead of returning to Atlantis? And why had I left Atlantis in the first place? All of it has led me here… was it only to end like this?” The questions echoed relentlessly, each one weighing heavily than the last. The realisation that her life might end here, in this arena, flashed through her as the imposing elephant charged closer.

The beast’s thunderous steps reverberated in her chest, drowning out her frantic thoughts. Selena squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, bracing for the inevitable impact. But then, out of nowhere, a shadow swept overhead. The owl, the vigilant ally, swooped down with fierce determination. Its talons dug into the elephant’s thick hide from its side, forcing the creature off course with a sudden, powerful movement.

With a tremendous crash, the massive beast stumbled to its side, crashing into the red sand. The owl perched atop the elephant, flapping its wings wildly, drawing the creature’s attention away from Selena. Blood began to seep from the wound the owl had caused, staining the ground beneath it. The elephant cried in pain. Just then, from behind the bird, Shawn leapt down, landing gracefully between Selena and the enraged elephant. His presence was a burst of life amidst the chaos, and for a brief moment, Selena felt a surge of hope, seeing Shawn. Tears started flowing through her eyes, but she tried to avoid them.

In the viewing area, Prince Enthril’s eyebrows lifted in surprise, his amusement quickly transforming into curiosity. He leaned forward, captivated by the unexpected turn of events, wondering, “Who might this be?” Prince Enthril sensed a warm resonance inside his chest, felt more like his heart was racing fast, but his excitement about the newcomer and being drunk said otherwise.

As Shawn dismounted, his eyes immediately sought Selena, trapped beneath the fallen elephant. Strain etched her face, and worry flickered across his own. He rushed toward her, but even as he moved, he felt the resonance of the fragments within him tugging faintly toward the viewing area. Kneeling beside her, he saw the weight of the beast pressing mercilessly against her leg.

Selena’s eyes widened. She quickly wiped away the trace of tears, hiding her frustration behind a mask of resolve. Inside, doubts spiralled like a storm. I swore I’d finish this trial on my own… Yet here I am, saved by Shawn. Am I truly capable of carrying my own weight?

From the viewing area, Prince Enthril’s gaze sharpened, his intrigue mingling with irritation as he watched the unexpected newcomer enter the arena. He placed his sake cup on the edge of his platform once more, a silent signal to test this stranger’s strength and to satisfy his growing curiosity.

“Are you alright?” Shawn’s voice brought Selena back to the moment. He was close, concern etched across his face as he examined her.

“I… I think so,” she replied, voice faltering as she looked down. “My leg… it might be hurt.”

Without hesitation, Shawn braced himself and pressed against the elephant’s side, lifting just enough for Selena to drag herself free. She tried to stand but winced, struggling to put weight on her injured ankle. She stumbled, and Shawn’s arm shot out, steadying her and helping her sit back on the arena’s sandy floor.

“Where’s Makara? And why on earth are you fighting elephants?” he asked, glancing up at the regal figure seated in the viewing area above. “And who is that?”

“That’s Prince Enthril,” she replied, a note of bitterness seeping into her tone. “The third child of King Azure. He promised to give us the fragment if we completed his trial, but now…” She trailed off, unable to hide the doubt in her voice. “And Makara… I have no idea where he is. I haven’t seen him since yesterday night.”

Shawn shook his head “Knowing Makara, he will be safe; on the other hand,” his eyes narrowing as he glanced up at the prince. “Do you really think he’ll let us off easy after I showed up uninvited?”

Selena gave a weak smile, looking away. “There’s only one way to find out.”

As Shawn carefully inspected her ankle, removing her boot to check the swelling, a piercing roar broke through their conversation. Both turned to see yet another elephant emerging from the iron gate, this one larger, with an air of ferocity. It stomped the ground, lifting its trunk high as it sounded a battle cry that echoed through the arena.

Selena, in pain. “Looks like the prince is not happy with your arrival.”

Shawn looked back at her, calm. “I figured. You stay here; I’ll handle this.”

With a protective glance over his shoulder at Selena, Shawn took several steps forward, putting distance between them. The massive elephant lowered its tusks, its gaze locking onto him, and for a moment, it seemed as though the entire arena held its breath.

Prince Enthril leaned forward slightly, curiosity glinting in his eyes as he watched the scene unfold. Selena’s breath caught, fingers clutching the sand as the elephant charged toward Shawn, tusks glinting with lethal precision, closing the distance with terrifying speed. Her gaze never left him, silently willing him strength.

At the last moment, Shawn rooted his stance, jaw tight with focus. He stretched his arms forward and seized the tips of the elephant’s tusks with his bare hands. The force of the charge slammed into him, driving him backwards a few steps and carving deep furrows into the red sand beneath his feet. The arena seemed to shake with the impact, dust rising from the ground, but he held firm, absorbing the raw power of the beast. Slowly, the momentum ground to a halt—the massive elephant stopped, locked against his strength, unable to push any further.

Shawn held the elephant’s tusks with an almost casual strength, his face calm as if he knew precisely the amount of force needed to counter it. Despite its desperate attempts to push him back, trumpeting in frustration, Shawn held firm, his feet barely shifting in the sand. From her spot on the ground, Selena’s eyes widened, a mix of awe and understanding settling over her. She was no longer surprised by Shawn’s power—she had witnessed it before, each time unravelling in new, unexpected ways.

In the viewing area above, Prince Enthril’s eyes narrowed, his surprise turning to intrigue as he went near the edge. He stopped himself from entering the arena as his heart raced from some unknown force pulling him, but he resisted and thought it was excitement. “He’s stronger than I imagined,” he murmured to himself, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Perhaps this will be worth my time after all.”