Gemstone Knights (Dead)

Spoiler

Apologies for the earlier infraction.

Ellis Aune | Training Grounds

I focused on my archery, feeling the restrung bow react against the arrow that I notched against it. There was something about the balance of the two that was reassuring and relaxing. I released the arrow smoothly, watching it sink into the red bulls-eye 100 meters from where I stood. I ran to the target and pulled out the other three I had shot earlier that had landed in the same spot. I went back to my position and went through the process once more. I had steadily improved and finally felt competent enough with it. I, instead of aiming at the target, pointed it carefully at a drifting leaf that flew about 200 meters diagonally from where I stood. I carefully calculated the trajectory of the angle, appreciative for all of the extra mathematics I had taken in secondary school, and went through the motions again, striking the leaf through the centre. Once more I notched an arrow and aimed at a hanging walnut in a nearby tree but just as I was about to release the arrow a resounding explosion echoed from the castle, causing me to shoot the arrow into the ground towards another knight.

"Watch it Ellis, what are you trying to do?" Terrence berrated me, brushing it off easily.

"You didn't hear that?" I asked him, realising that I had not necessarily heard it, but felt the vibrations in the air.

He shook his head and raised his eyebrow at me. "I would ask you to spar but you don't do swords do you?" He said changing the subject.

"No sorry, you can find Sam for that," I replied, almost relieved I had no business with a sword, as I felt solace in practising alone.

I walked away lining myself up to the targets once more. I had to regain balance. Ever since I was given the Amethyst, I had become hypersensitive to the movements of the air around me, which proved to be an advantage, but it was still something I had adapt to. I wrote off the explosion and slung the bow across my back, pulling out my set of throwing knives. They were specially adjusted to my left-handed grip and they Amethyst inlays caught the sun. I didn't feel quite adept with them yet, but there was time to improve. They had a similar dynamic as the arrows and I found myself easily hitting the small red circle. I collected them and headed towards Kiara who was surrounded by translucent forms that swirled around her.

"Hi Ellis!" She said cheerfully, which I found mildly strange given the eerie spirits that she could summon. "How are you doing?" She smiled, but suddenly turned as she saw a bird land on a tree. "I love birds, they're so...free!" she remarked as an afterthought.

"I'm alright. Kind of tense but...who isn't." I met her smile reluctantly.

"Don't worry, it's such a beautiful day, there's no need to worry about the future, enjoy yourself while you're here!" She grinned again and it was hard for me to understand how she could be so happy.

I walked away and felt the air brushing through my hair. I started feeling the separate currents and manipulated them slowly, feeling them swirl around me and lift me into the sky. This is what I enjoyed most, and it almost made me forget why we were here. I lost focus and fell to the ground as I recalled our true purpose. I took a knife and tossed it in front of me, guiding it with the air, and watching it plant itself neatly into a wooden fence divider, splitting it into two.

As I walked to recover it, I stopped to talk to the other Amethyst knight.

"We're scheduled to spar soon." I reminded him distantly. If anyone, he was the one I most uncomfortable around. He never revealed any emotions and it made him hard to know.

Spoiler

Hope this is okay

Sam | Training arena

He lingers around the back of the crowd, doing what needs to be done and then waiting for new orders. One of the others walks up to him after a few minutes and Sam flashes a smile and straightens up, hoping they weren't just passing.

"How about a spar?" They ask.

Sam sets his hand on one of the hilts of his swords and nods, waiting for them to lead the way.

Spoiler

Also, leaving this open ended. Whoever wants to spar with him can spar, since there isn't another emerald knight...

Angelus Pacis | Castle (His Chamber)

I stopped myself from crying when I heard Terrance ask if everything was okay. I wiped my tears off my face, adjusted my hood to keep my face hidden, and went to the door. "Everything's fine, Terrance. Just a little snag, but everything's just fine." I opened the door. "Shouldn't you be with the others?"
Terrance scurried away without another word.
I sighed. "One of these days and one way or another, I'm going to make a man out of him." I closed the door, went to the window, and watched the rookies from above. Just watching them from my room reminded me of when I used to be one of them- newly recruited by the Emerald, knowing the Master Knight was watching to see if I did something impressive, struggling to find and build the courage to tell Nabaat I love her...
Nabaat...she...she attacked me before I even had a chance to confess my love for her. I knew she loved me and I was so close to confessing that I love her back when she attacked me. Now I sent her to the modern world, breaking my heart even further than she already did. What have I done? Good gods, what have I done? Tears fell down my face again as I thought about her. I had just one shot to confess my love to her and I missed because she attacked me. She could've given me a chance to confess, then I wouldn't have to be alone in my room ever again. My chest heaved as I silently cried. I regreted sending Nabaat to the modern world, but all I wanted to do was finally confess my love for her and take her as mine. Even the Gemstones themselves knew I would cling to her image in my mind until I have her at my side for the rest of my life. I didn't want to die alone.

Terrance | Moving towards the training grounds

"I was just trying to help," I grumbled, kicking a loose pebble. "But what happened, I wonder? Hm." I still didn't know the extent of the diamond's power, so I closed my eyes and tried to see the past. All I saw was darkness. My eyebrows knit together. Was that ... Nope, still nothing.
Opening my eyes, I kicked the pebble along the path. I grumbled some more as I walked over to the other diamond knight. I took a breath and smiled. "Right. We were about to try White Flash, weren't we?" I held out the diamond. She laid a hand on it, and we got in the zone again. Focussing on a straw dummy not too far away, I called out the name of the spell. The arena dissappeared for a split second in brilliant white, and when it reappeared, there was a pale stripe across where the dummy's eyes would have been. "Awesome!" I cheered.

Nabaat Graveborn - Emotional cool down

As I exited on the other side of portal an emotional wreck, I got to my feet to see I was just outside of the Realm of Knights doorway. Guess Angelus didn't have much energy to transport me further way like most knights would do when they couldn't beat me. The voice remained silent in my head knowing I would only command it to shut the heck up, wonderful Angelus hates me now. How much of a fool was I to listen to that stupid voice in my head, casting black explosion and attacking Angelus, god of I'm a fool. I waited by the doorway trying to recompose myself before heading back in and look for something to do, I officially had an assassination mission to do. Those damn diamond knights were going to pay dearly for causing me all this pain of being away from Angelus for these last two years. Maybe even take out the diamond knight rookies while I was at it, nevertheless I was bound to head back in and face the Gemstone Knights, all of them in battle. Prove my power and willingness to prove myself that I was for Angelus' love.

"Forsake him." The voice whispered.

"Oh shut up you." I reply in my head.

"YOU WILL FORSAKE HIM!" It replied with a thought shattering voice.

"This is my head, my mind, my heart. Your my gemstone, mine to command." I retort harshly.

"You need my power for without me you'll be weak and powerless!" It hissed.

"I an easily forsaken you, take back the white pearl, and return you to your pedestal in which you cry out continually for a new knight to claim you. And from there I'll guard you so no new knight can claim you." I retorted.

It remained silent after that, I made my will heard from that point on. I was not about to let what happened with Angelus, happen again. I grabbed the handle of the door and pulled it open walked though and the door disappeared.

Sam - Headed Towards the Castle

After the sparring, questions swirl around in his mind. He decides that, if anyone would know the answers, it would be the Master Knight.
He breaks from the path of the arena and starts towards the castle, keeping his eyes on the gravel below. He runs through the questions, more branching of each one, and confuses himself for a moment.
Shaking away the clouds that threaten to mix him up, he heads into the castle and towards the Master Knight's quarters. He knocks on the door and wonders if his questions were already answered at the beginning.
Probably...

Angelus Pacis

I saw eating a piece of red dragonfruit when I heard a knock. At first I thought it was Nabaat- my heart soared at this- but was disappointed when the Crystal informed me that the person at the door was Samderson, an Emerald Knight rookie. I sat down and made the door open by itself, still eating my platter of dragonfruit. "I almost thought you went off to the modern world on your own when I couldn't find you among the other rookies and predecessors. What brings you here at this time of day, Emerald rookie?" I took a piece of chocolate and ate it rather slowly. It was enticing, since it was darker than the chocolate I used to eat in the Realm of Knights. Within the shadow that my hood cast over my entire face, I was red-eyed from crying. In any emotional breakdown that I kept to myself, I had to eat dragonfruit and modern-world chocolate to calm myself.

Sam - The Castle

Sam nods in respect at the Master Knight before stepping into the room.
"I just have a question, sir." He says.
He pauses, taking the time to look around, and almost forgets what he was going to say. Turning back to the Master Knight, he remembers and straightens up, slightly embarrassed about it.
"Poison Dart," He speaks of the power, realizing that he'd rephrased the question to not be a question, "I just don't get it..."

Angelus Pacis

I almost chuckled at this. Poison Dart was relatively easy for me back in my rookie days. "It's not really that difficult. The trick is to think of animals of the modern world that have poison that's used for kill. I know so because I once was an Emerald Knight like yourself. My personal favorite animal in use for the Poison Dart was the dreaded massasaga, a lethal serpent that can kill if you provoke it. The effects of Poison Dart can be very lethal if the target takes one too many shots from you. Could kill a Knight within an hour's time, maybe less if more darts are shot where it hurts the most."
The rookie looked confused.
"You'll know soon enough. My advice to you as a former Emerald Knight is to focus on a venomous creature to increase the power of your dart. But a word of warning, Emerald rookie. Too much poison in one dart could cost you your life if the dart gets bounced back to you." I knew that from personal experience. I almost died when I was aiming at a foe who refracted my Poison Dart at me. The dart itself had way too much poison and Nabaat had to quickly rush me to the castle infirmary where the predecessors of our generation's Knights healed me from the lethal venom. I wouldn't have been alive now if Nabaat didn't act back then.

Sam - The Castle

He listens, nodding, and understands after the second explanation.
"Thank you, sir." He nods in respect again.
His eyes wander around the room again as he takes a step backwards.
"I-I'll leave you in peace then." He flashes a smile, turning around and closing the door behind him as he heads back to the arena.

Angelus Pacis

I looked at my silver platter of dragonfruit. All that was left was a circle of red dragonfruit surrounding a few pieces of chocolate. I thought by eating dragonfruit and chocolate I could rid myself of my broken heart, but it was a vain attempt. I couldn't stop thinking about Nabaat. I yearned to hold her in my arms, have the taste of her kiss land on my lips, hear her voice tell me numerous times that she loved me, feel her hair in my bare hands, sense the blissful oblivion that all lovers feel in the modern world...
"Soon enough, your long-delayed wish will come to pass," the Crystal assured. "Soon you will have what you want and no one will say otherwise."
I never doubted the Grey Crystal, not even since I first held it in my hands as proof that I was the next Master Knight. However, I still thought about Nabaat. Many times since our last battle two years ago, I couldn't help but think of our future together. Her and me, bride and groom for life, proud parents of two or three children, faithful to one another like a proper couple. I kept crying every time I see such an image. It felt so close for me to touch, yet so far away from my reach. I wanted to take Nabaat as mine, because my heart belonged to her and I still intend to save her from being completely consumed by the Black Pearl's power. Both the Grey Crystal and the Black Pearl may be opposing forces, but that wasn't going to stop me from claiming what should've been mine the minute I became the Master Knight.
An uneasy shiver went through me. She's back, I just knew it. I knew I had to take a shot at confessing my love for her, so this time I wasn't going to back down. I started to the training arena. Duty has called on me and- like it or not- I must heed the call of duty.

Carrie- Training Grounds

Carrie stood flipping her long daggers into the air and grabbing them by the hilt as they fell back.

Her thoughts kept returning to the loud explosion that had occured only minutes earlier. "It could have been somebody messing up, trying to use their gem's power." she thought. Carrie knew it was something else though. She had a gut feeling that it wasn't good.

It might have been the White Pearl that told her this, but she knew the explosion was bad. Carrie stopped flipping her daggers and peered at her surroundings. Other people were training with their gem and weapon. The Realm of Knights, as it was called, looked just like a Medival city.

There was a large castle and various sized houses lining the cobbbled streets. It was strange here. Everybody acted liked they belonged here and this was the first time Carrie felt like she belonged anywhere.


She stood and concentrated on the white pearl hanging arond her neck. "String of Pearls!" Carrie said with force. A white rope made of pearls stretched out from the White Pearl and enwrapped the practice dummy standing thirty feet away.

"You're pretty good." came a voice from behind her.

Spoiler

I'm letting anyone come in.

Angelus Pacis | Training Grounds

I smiled. The White Pearl Knight- Carrie, the Crystal informed me- had such skill with the String of Pearls. "You're pretty good."
She jolted and turned around, spotting me in a heartbeat.
I clapped my gloved hands. "I must admit, White Pearl rookie, I am impressed with your skill. You're a fast learner, like I once was during my rookie days. It took me three to four short months to master my abilities, but I didn't make it this far in my life without the help of another White Pearl Knight back from my generation. Keep up with the excellent work and chances are you'll be the one rising above your fellow rookies to become my successor. Until that day, I expect you to work hard with your fellow rookies." I strolled among them, keeping a sharp eye out for anything that might impress me or Nabaat who might be planning to ambush the rookies under my watch.

Carrie- Training Grounds

Carrie spun around to see the Master Knight. "I must admit, White Pearl rookie, I am impressed with your skill. You're a fast learner, like I once was during my rookie days. It took me three to four short months to master my abilities, but I didn't make it this far in my life without the help of another White Pearl Knight back from my generation. Keep up with the excellent work and chances are you'll be the one rising above your fellow rookies to become my successor. Until that day, I expect you to work hard with your fellow rookies." he complimented.

As the Master Knight spoke, Carrie started to blush. She hadn't realized that he had been standing there. Before she could respond, he walked off to inspect other rookies.

Carrie turned back to the dummy still tied in pearls. Concentrating again, She whipped the pearls to the side, throwing the dummy into the air and landing with a loud crunch.

Arban | Training Grounds

He still wasn't so sure about this whole kighthood thing. In fact, most of the time he even doubted it was real. Quite possibly, he belived, it may just be another one of his daydreams, albeit an extraordinarily clear one.

His feet swung through the air, slashing the light with blades on his shins. He turned this way and that to get a good look at what everyone else was doing. It felt strange, fighting with the air. But at least it was better than feeling the sickening impact of your weapon against bone.

Arban stopped a moment, wiping sweat from his cheek, and wondered where his partner was...

Spoiler

Will post more when I can sort out my confusion