Present day
"Start the fight." The words were pronounced at the wave of Velaine's hand and he watched keenly, his eyes never drifting away. The knights began sending their gifts their opponent's way but it seemed they were all of the opinion of taking on the fire wielder, as they teamed up against him.
The ungifted surprised all of them as a wave of small knives flew from all directions, and he cleverly took advantage of the confusion the small cuts came with, closest to him was the air wielder and the victim to his sword as his sword almost cut his abdomen if not for his quick instinct of
using his leg to divert the sword. It saved his life but left him with a big gash on the leg, before
the ungifted could finish what he started, the fire wielder had disoriented him with a big ball of
fire which he had quickly dodged but owing to his unawareness, he lost balance and fell Landing with his
stomach on the air wielder who was still dragging his leg. That was the opportunity the air
wielder was looking for as he removed one of the small knives embedded in his shoulder and
with all his strength, stabbed the lower back of the ungifted. The earth wielder noticing their distraction started cracking the floor the three were standing on, a wicked smile on his face. He is going to bury them with one blow, his excitement didn't allow him to notice the water wielder who had finally removed the knives in his body He didn't move for a while as he started assessing the situation and with a slight nod, he started wielding his hands round and with his hand movement came water surrounding the whole battleground, they would all perish, but he will be able to get back on his feet. The strength of the storm he was making alerted everybody and they all seemed to understand the doom they were in. Be it by fire, water, wind, rocks or knives they'd all perish.
The audience began to whisper within themselves but the only elated ones were the water wielders. The family members of the knights had began wailing while some audience were consoling them. Velaine sat just the way he had when the fight started, totally unperturbed by the impending doom.
The pride of a gift is to fall in the hands of the same gift, dying by a different gift means submission which is more disgraceful than death itself.
The knights knew they were chosen to die, that summoning wasn't by their king it was by the lord of underworld. The resolution of a dead man is what the people of Ridah were about to witness this bloody evening. The men were shaking in their shoes while the women were crying their hearts out, but the warriors were bent on dying with pride and for that, they will have to avoid perishing by another gift, if they had to perish then it had to be by their own gift. The earth wielder focused his energy on breaking the wall around them. As he broke it the rocks were carried by the water around them in a whirlwind but some began to escape, either to the fighters or to the audience and the blood shed began. The air and fire wielder also rowed their gift in the same fashion as the water wielder. The force they created was impenetrable, they were baking from the heat of the fire, almost carried away by the tornado and occasionally, large rocks flew from nowhere but they stood steadfast. On seeing the resolve of the others, the ungifted, brought out his big stash of small knives and began wielding them into the whirlwind and in whatever direction he liked.
Now in the audience, nobody was elated anymore, they were stunned, they could feel the heat, the force of the water and the cracking of the walls even from where they sat and they realised something, I'f this fight continued, even they the audience will be lucky to walk out alive.
"An old woman stood up, boldly making her way to the king, she managed to climb through the stairs her eyes fixed on Velaine, her orbs in flame, the ball of fire on her hand as visible as the impending doom. She had finally reached the stairs right before the king's who watched her without making a move to stop her, he even stopped his guards from stopping her. Suddenly, blood was splattered across Velaine's face and the woman's body rolled from the stairs landing in front of the court members and lo and behold three small knives had embedded themselves in her neck and at her back. Unearthly screams erupted from the audience while Velaine sat unperturbed. Right then, as if to confirm the source of the knives, other knives including small rocks started flying out from the battle ground. When one flew to Velaine's face leaving behind a small cut, his guards surrounded him.
"Your highness, you need to
leave, it is no longer safe." Leo pleaded bowing his head. Velaine just nodded in response and stood up, on seeing him rise, the court members began to join him when he raised his hand.
"Do not mind me, you should enjoy the show." he ordered, giving them a small smile.
"Your highness!" A man in the audience screamed.
"Please save our children. Save us your highness, grant us mercy." And just like that, all the people present began to chant it like a mantra. Subconsciously, even Neil joined them, though within him he knew the knights were as good as dead. Nobody could penetrate the barrier they had created, all four elements and a whirlwind of knives!! It was totally impossible. The only mercy their king could provide them at this point is to get the audience out as soon as possible and compensate the bereaved parents. The Man is a thoughtless tyrant, how he thinks this will solve the hierarchy issue is beyond him.
"My people, I am your King, I am your protector, believe me, I will do anything to stop this fight but as I recall, the power to stop this fight is in your hands. Give your ruling and I shall save those you deem worth saving." Velaine replied sounding so sincere and compassionate in contrast to the normal commanding way he talks.
Neil almost snickered. 'Protector my behind.' He thought.
As if hearing his thoughts a not so big rock flew out hitting a child, his cries could not even be head as it was buried by the sound of the angry whirlwind of elements
'Was this the end?'
'Would they not even be able to hear their own cries?'
They couldn't bolt out even if they tried for the doors were locked from outside. They had only one option, they had to believe in the only man who stood a chance at getting them out,they had to believe in their king and to believe in a person, to prove your believe in a person is to accept his rules and take his beliefs as yours.
"Your highness, we were foolish to think one gift is better than the other and even more foolish to think the giftless is a nobody, forgive our ignorance your highness for the fighters have clearly demonstrated that what matters is the skill and determination and not the gift or the lack of it. Do not allow us to lose our children due to our ignorance. There is no winner your highness for we are all equal." One man begged crying profusely and all the others immediately began to chant.
"We might be different but we are all equal your highness."
"You took your time." He whispered to himself as he began to remove his cloak. He handed it to Leo and gave him instructions. Leo immediately bowed his head and took his leave. The audience out of curiosity all quieted down, everybody wondering what their king was up to. Loud gasps were heard and even cries as Velaine carelessly jumped into the battleField, the court members began to scream.
"What are you doing standing around, protect his highness, go down!!" The prime minister screamed pushing Leo. He caught his hand and bowed a little.
"My Lord, his majesty gave instructions. We are to stay put around the battlefield and around the audience to efficiently protect them and to get ready to recieve the knights, so please my Lord, go back and maintain your position. We can not protect you if you will not follow our instructions." He said.
The prime minister looked around, the guards had surrounded the battlefield, they had also surrounded the people and even positioned themselves in between them, they were standing as human shields. Reluctantly, he occupied his seat a sinister smirk fighting it way to his face.
'If the king dies...'
Below the stage, in the battlefield, Velaine fell too gracefully for a person who had passed through such barrier right in the middle of the battle field. Contrary to the Normal where he was to be roasted by fire, flung by wind, displaced by water crushed by rocks and stabbed by knives, the elements made a path for him carrying the knives with them. As a matter of fact, there was a change in the direction of flow of the elements as they began to move back to their sources, the already weak and injured knights began to feel the change as their gifts began to attack them. Immediately Velaine stepped on the barely holding rock, the path closed and the flow changed back taking the knights by surprise, the air wielder fell down, his legs giving up but his hand was still held out, wielding his element.
"How did he pass through?"
"What changed the flow of their elements, how is that even possible to control all the elements." They glanced at each other and then glanced at their king.
" Are you too stunned to greet your King?" Velaine asked, a beautiful smile on his face.
" It is good to see you all holding up, it is enough training for the day, It is time to take a rest right?" He asked, moving to grab the stunned ungifted.
They glanced at each other, confused at what was happening but they knew not to ignore their king.
So wholeheartedly, they greeted.
"We are sorry your highness, Thank you for gracing us with your presence." The chorused, hoping that he wasn't teasing them for no matter what, living was still a way better option than dying.