Beyond the towering gates of Alykarn, the capital of the kingdom of Pythonia, two alicorns stood on an open field, their breaths fogging in the chill morning air. The younger of the two, a Fulmenian of sandy coat and boundless spirit, squared off against his opponent—Velzael, a seasoned Ruby-ranked Virtusian with the weathered air of experience etched into her every movement.
Velzael's voice carried the cold edge of tempered steel as she laid down the terms of their test. "Feyn, your worthiness as my apprentice depends upon this moment. Your task is simple: land a hit upon me, and you will have proven yourself worthy." She watched him closely, keen eyes glinting like embers beneath a night sky.
The young Fulmenian, Feyn, nodded resolutely. "Understood. Any other rules I must heed, Velzael?"
She shook her head with the faintest hint of a smirk touching her lips. "None. Use whatever skills you possess. And, as I've told you, call me Vel."
With that, they took their stances, each measuring the other with an intensity born of duty and ambition. Velzael stood with a poised calm that bespoke her cycles in battle, yet even she remained wary. She had faced many adversaries, and if there was one lesson that she held above all, it was to never discount the unexpected. Feyn, young though he was, radiated confidence borne from many mock skirmishes with his sister. He had honed his magic, perhaps more than she suspected, and was eager to prove it.
With a surge of energy, Feyn's magic sprang to life. His signature spell, 'Lightning Walk,' crackled as his speed magnified tenfold, his form becoming a streak of light as he tore toward Velzael. He veered to her side, his paws buzzing with arcs of blue lightning.
But the seasoned Bounty Hunter's ear caught the subtle crackle of his approach, and with graceful precision, Velzael sidestepped, leaving Feyn darting past in a bewildered flash. A yelp of surprise escaped him as he skidded to a stop a few paces beyond her, the realization settling in like the cold bite of dawn that his first strike had missed its mark entirely.
He whirled around, catching the swift glint of Velzael's chains just in time to dodge her attack. The young Fulmenian didn't back down; instead, he repeated his assault, aiming to test the Virtusian's reaction speed. But his efforts were to no avail. With each attempt, Velzael danced aside, evading his every strike with infuriating ease.
It was clear he'd have to change his tactics. Abandoning his initial approach, Feyn pivoted to a barrage of ranged spells, weaving his 'Lightning Walk' with nimble precision to dodge the counterattacks she sent in his direction. He summoned bolts of lightning in rapid succession, casting them from his horn with the practiced accuracy his father's training had drilled into him.
But Velzael responded with water shields, upright barriers rooted to the earth, skillfully redirecting his attacks. She refrained from using her chains, aware that they'd only make her a target for his lightning. Pure water, her signature Virtusian magic, became the perfect defense against his spells, channeling the energy harmlessly away. In swift, fluid motions, she evaded the bolts that rained down from the sky with calculated ease.
"Is that all?" she called, her tone laced with mockery, a slight smirk tugging at her lips. "You think that qualifies you as worthy of my teachings?"
Feyn's eyes narrowed, determination hardening his gaze. "I have far more than that!" he shot back, his voice a determined growl. Channeling his magic, he unleashed a fresh wave of attacks, his spells flaring in a rapid, relentless succession. Yet, each bolt fizzled against her evasive maneuvers, her veteran skill leaving him grasping for more effective methods.
With a frustrated resolve, he shifted tactics again, tapping into another form of Thunder magic. A surge of power burst from him, a thunderous sound wave rolling outward, crackling through the air like an approaching storm. The spell's intent was clear—to push her back, to knock her off balance.
But Velzael stood unfazed. With a deft flick of her horn, she moved her chains to form a shield, the barrier absorbing his wave effortlessly, and she held her ground, unmoved by his best attempt to shake her.
Frustration simmered within the young Fulmenian. In a flurry of sound spells, Feyn attempted to draw the Virtusian's attention away, sending echoes and phantom noises to mislead her focus. Yet Velzael merely cast a fleeting glance toward the sounds, unmoved by the distraction. She knew this technique well from battles with Fulmenian Rogues and wouldn't fall for such a ruse. Her shield held firm against the barrage of spells Feyn hurled her way, and between her defenses, she retaliated with ruthless precision. Her chains lashed toward him with terrifying speed, and he dodged each strike by a hair's breadth, nearly caught with every swing.
At last, a grim realization washed over Feyn. He was facing an opponent far beyond the foes he'd known, and unless he unleashed every bit of his power, this challenge was already lost. Taking a steadying breath, he closed his eyes. When they opened again, a golden, translucent flame flickered to life around his left eye, igniting with an otherworldly glow. His gaze now bore into Velzael with a fierce, unwavering intensity, and the aura that radiated from him shifted—stronger, sharper, filled with an untapped force.
Velzael's keen instincts picked up on the change immediately, and a hint of caution crept into her own gaze. She watched him closely, noting the way his attacks transformed. His spells shrank in size, becoming subtler, more calculated. His precision sharpened to a near-blinding level, as though he'd climbed a rank within mere moments. Caught off guard, Velzael found herself forced to adapt, each of his attacks closer to landing than the last.
Yet Velzael was not so easily overwhelmed. Regaining her composure, she dodged his newly refined strikes, her experience guiding her every step. Still, she had seen enough. This sudden surge of strength had shown her what she needed to know. The time had come to bring their clash to an end; she would let the young alicorn's power rest—for now.
Though Feyn's attacks grew more precise and swift, his defense waned in the heat of his newfound strength. With a quick, fluid motion, Velzael's chain struck his side, knocking the air from his lungs. She raised a hoof, signaling the end of their bout. "The fight is over," she declared, though a glimmer of curiosity lingered in her eyes. "But I must ask—what was that magic you used at the end?"
Feyn looked up, catching his breath. "It's similar to the Eye of Saburia…a spell that allows me to see the magic veins within an alicorn's body, and even the mana hanging in the air," he replied, his gaze steady.
Velzael's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Interesting…yet, it's not quite the same. I've crossed paths with Saburians before—they use that sight primarily for healing, not combat. And your eyes glowed differently." She sounded impressed, and her tone held an unexpected note of respect for his skill.
The pride faded from Feyn's face, however, as he absorbed his defeat. "And here I thought one could master another kind of pure magic," he whispered to himself, disappointed. He also knew well enough what this likely meant—that he had not earned his place as her apprentice. As he bowed his head, his thoughts raced: how would he find his way into the Guild now? And how could he still deliver his father's message to King Fulmen?
But his brooding was interrupted by the low, steady voice of the Ruby-ranked Protector. "I noticed you didn't summon a Soul-weapon…have you unlocked it yet?"
Feyn shook his head, a trace of disappointment in his voice. "No…unlike my sister. She had a gifted teacher. My own desire to become a Protector is recent, as is my dream to join the Academy here in Alykarn."
At that, Velzael's ears pricked with interest. "And who trained your sister?"
"My mother—the Third Paladin," he replied, his tone tinged with pride. Velzael's eyes widened at this revelation. This young Fulmenian was the child of the Third Paladin of Equestera—Leyla the Lightning herself? The possibilities churned in her mind. If she were to train him, perhaps she might have the chance to meet this legendary figure, to learn from her…and perhaps there was more to gain here than a simple apprenticeship.
While Velzael's thoughts whirled with possibilities, Feyn continued, oblivious. "But I was trained by my father, too! He's well-respected in the Academy and holds the rank of Sapphire as a Protector. He's the one who taught me all my spells, and he even showed me tricks for pranking my family, like the time he…"
He trailed off, noticing the even greater surprise on Velzael's face. "So your magic—you learned it from your father, an alumnus of the Academy," she said slowly, her curiosity deepening. "And your mother is the Third Paladin of Equestera?"
Feyn nodded, and Velzael's expression turned contemplative. Her eyes lingered on him a moment longer, as if measuring something he couldn't quite name. A flicker of unease tightened his chest, but he held her gaze, trying not to fidget. At last, she spoke. "Alright, Feyn. Although you lost our fight—honestly, I expected as much—you showed bravery in standing against me even as I fought in earnest. That alone is remarkable for any ordinary alicorn, much less one unarmed against a Bounty Hunter. I've decided: I'll take you on as my apprentice. Not because of your parents, of course, but because you showed skill beyond typical Fulmenian magic. And your spells held real strength despite your lack of a Soul-weapon."
Feyn's eyes grew wide with realization, and he stared at her, nearly dumbfounded. He had done it—he had won her acceptance. Velzael went on, her tone sharpening to seriousness. "However, you should remember what sort of Protector I am. While your interest lies in academic study, my field is bounty hunting, dealing with renegade alicorns. You'll learn things that won't be covered in the Academy's halls. Fortunately, your father seems to have taught you the Harmonizer's ways well enough already."
As Feyn moved to thank her, a wave of dizziness washed over him, sudden and unsettling. His limbs felt leaden, his vision dimming at the edges. The prolonged strain of Thunder magic had drained his mana reserves near empty, and a creeping hunger gnawed at him, deepening the weariness that clung to his bones. Velzael's sharp gaze caught his unsteady stance, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
"It seems, my dear apprentice," she observed, "that you'll also need to learn to control the magic you use, though you'll probably also need to train a bit more to increase your reserve of mana. Though I'll admit, I'm impressed—they're already considerable. You sure trained a lot with your father." A trace of pride flashed in her eyes as she regarded him.
With a smooth motion, Velzael reached into her satchel and took out a small vial, its contents a thick, blue-green liquid that gleamed like polished jade. "Take this," she said, handing it over. "A must-have when I travel to Pythonia on a hunt. It's a mana potion, brewed from the leaves of the Azureleaf woods—handy when you really need to restore your strength quickly."
Feyn took the vial without a moment's pause, tilting it back and swallowing its contents in one swift draught. The taste caught him off guard—a crisp, invigorating freshness, touched with an unexpected sweetness that lingered pleasantly on his tongue. As the potion settled within him, a cool wave coursed through his body, chasing away the fatigue and sating the gnawing hunger that had crept upon him.
"Thank you very much, Miss Velzael—uh, I mean, Vel!" he said, a spark of pride lighting his voice. Despite her intimidating demeanor, he was startled by how at ease he felt around her. For one so unaccustomed to strangers, he took some pride in speaking normally to another alicorn outside his own family.
The Virtusian's lips curved in a faint smile. "Then let us begin. Our next stop is Fulmenia. You still have a message to deliver to your king, and we should not delay any longer."
With that, she turned, striding ahead, and Feyn hurried to keep pace as the city of Alykarn slowly faded behind them.