User:Nextoy/Rookchester/2

"Alright, Rowan. I now declare you a Sage for you immense studies of the arts of both magic and science!"

"Thank you, Gran Deval. This is what I've always dreamed of!"

"Oh no, it's my pleasure. Really. Now here's your seal of mastery and your robes."

"Oh... I can't wait to try them on!"

"I can't imagine you wanting to anyways!"

"What can I ever do to repay you?"

"Wake up and earn it yourself."

"Wait... you don't mean... DAMN IT!" Suddenly Rowan snapped awake. "Why does that dream always end like that!? Gahahaha!" Gwen lazily woke up from all the screaming.

"Did you have the Sage dream again, brother?" She asked, yawning afterwards.

"Yeah... I did..." He told her, pouting a little.

"Don't worry brother... you'll be a sage one day..." She reassured him in her tired, yet optimistic tone. Suddenly Gerald came into the room.

"We're heading out in an hour. I'd suggest you two get ready to go." He told them. They quickly yet lazily changed into more appropriate traveling gear and packed their stuff back up. They both went into the bathroom and took turns brushing their teeth and combing their hair. Since they were poor they shared many things with each other, even down to clothing at times. Gwen was often given odd looks for wearing men's clothing, and especially clothing that was a few sizes too big for her. She didn't really care though, as she knew very well why she did it. Simply put, it was all she could wear half the time. She had a few skirts and a dress, but those were saved for formal occasions usually. She still didn't like how many people judged her for it, she really didn't think it was all that fair at all. Course, she had yet to learn how unfair life can truly be at times. When their hour was up, most of that time spent playing a hand game their parents had taught them, they went into the carriage and continued down the road to Hazara Nevasa. It was fairly uneventful at first, but the road to the royal city was lined with bandits and thieves. They met one such thief, and infamous man by the name of Razcoon, along the way there. Now Razcoon was very good at blending into the party he was stealing from, but not good enough for Gwen's keen eyes.

"Oh, hello. I don't remember seeing you join us back at Saperia. What's your name?" Gwen asked innocently. Razcoon knew he was caught, but he continued his disguise to see what might happen.

"Oh... so you caught me... I just needed passage to the royal city... my son's in there, you see, and I need to visit him to make sure he's alright." Razcoon told her. This was his usual ploy, and it rarely failed him. Of course, this is when Gerald saw him.

"Ah hahaha. A stow away? Your not coming!" Gerald grabbed him and threw him out. Gwen went to him and defended him.

"Why not? He just wants to see his son!" She helped Razcoon up, a sly smile growing on his face.

"Yes, my son. I just can't stop worrying about him..." Razcoon said slyly, but his words were hallow to Gerald.

"Now you just wait. I know you from somewhere..." Gerald told him, with Razcoon's sly smile quickly fading. "Your that thief Razcoon, aren't you?"

"Oh look, you caught me." Razcoon quickly pulled out a revolver and held it to Gwen. "So, wanna start negotiating?" At this point Rowan came out and decided that he needed to play hero. Again.

"Alright, how about this. You get to keep those bullets, and I get my sister back. Deal?" Rowan casually told him, expecting Razcoon to say no. And Razcoon smiled, and asked him why he shouldn't shoot her right then. "Well simple, because your gun's filled with blanks!" Rowan challenged. Razcoon tried shooting, only to fire a blank. You see, Rowan decided to cast a spell on the gun the moment he saw it, changing the bullets inside it to blanks. Razcoon fired a few more times to get more blanks. "So. Want your shells back?" Rowan asked arrogantly, confident in his ability to take this famed thief down. Razcoon threw Gwen aside and came in to pistol whip Rowan, but Gerald slammed the pommel of his sword into Razcoon's gut. Razcoon got the wind knocked out of him and took a few steps back, soon to catch the full fury of a royally pissed off Guenevere Rookchester.

"How dare you treat a lady like that!" She yelled as she turned him around, quickly slapping him. "You think that just because I have breasts means I'm some sort of meat puppet!?" She asked as she elbowed him in the chest. "Next time you decide to treat another woman with the disrespect you gave me PRAY that she's much more meek then I am!" She nearly screamed as she pulled him in, kneeing him in the groin and then headbutting him to the ground. She sighed and calmed down. "And now because of you I have to do my hair again. Jerk!" She stepped inside to leave Gerald standing there half confused and half horrified.

"Well it's a good thing we didn't wait a week, isn't it?" Rowan half-joked, trying to lighten the mood a bit. Gerald just nodded and they both entered the carriage. Gwen glared at him As he entered.

"I heard that you know. And you should know of all people that it's NOT that time of the month yet!" She scorned him, expecting him to back down.

"That's why I said that, because your already a little scary. Last I want is sweet little sister growing horns and a tail..." Rowan added, quickly getting smacked across the head for it. He just stopped talking and stared at the road, waiting for the moment he says something and get's hit again.

"That's better." Gwen complimented, still in a bad mood from the thief holding her up like that. She took out a pocket mirror and started to fix up her hair a bit, eyeing Rowan occasionally to make sure that he wasn't doing something stupid. About a mile and a half later she was finally calm. "I'm sorry for getting mad at you like that..." She apologized.

"No, no. Don't be sorry. Sometimes I need to be reminded that I need better brain filters..." Rowan said, being very careful with his words incase it is that time of the month.

"Either way people don't hit those they love... so I feel really bad about it..." She said, lowering her head and retreating back to her insecurities.

"It's fine, really." Rowan told her, finally making eye contact as he lifted her head up. "Even if I get slapped sometimes, I still love you." He told her, with a glisten in her eye appearing. He grabbed her hand and smiled a bit.

"What are you two, married?" Gerald asked mockingly, his joke obviously not all that funny to them as they both glared at him. "Heep. This'll be a long ride..." He said to himself as they focused back on each other. "Still looks like those two are on the verge of kissing..."

"You would like that!" Gwen yelled at him, shutting him up quickly. Called it... Rowan thought to himself, quickly bringing his eyes back onto the road as Gwen started ranting off.

The road there was a slow one. Only a few miles off, but not in a strait line. They passed through a few small villages, but nothing worth notice. About an hour after their meeting with Razcoon, they finally made it to the gates of Hazara Nevasa. There the city stood, polished pure white and shone like pearls. Upon the gate stood one guard, known simply as Hazava. He the most powerful man in the entire city, and deadly accurate with a bow.

"Halt. State thine name." Hazava called out in his most commanding accent.

"This is Rowan and Guenevere Rookchester, summoned by the Grand Chastiel. May we seek entrance?" Gerald called to him.

"Aye, Gaius has been expecting the three of you. Come in!" He calls as he turns the wheel to open the gate. As it rose the carriage went into the city. Everything was in tints of white, yellow, and green. The carriage stopped at a stable close to the gate and they hopped out.

"Well, here we are. Hazara Nevasa." Gerald told them as they hopped out. "I'll escort you to the Chastiel Palace." He told them as he started to walk out. They promptly follow him and went into the massive city. Many kinds of places pasted by them. Shops, hotels, libraries, and many other things. However, they were lead to the market place instead. "Stay here for a bit and look around while I report to my superior." They both nodded and started looking around, eventually settling on a particular booth to investigate.

"Come round, come round! Ivuar's Trove of Trinkets has just the right accessories and rarities for every occasion!" The woman behind the booth called out. She then noticed Rowan and Gwen, and called them over to her. "You two! Come, come. I believe I have just the right thing for each of you." The two looked at each other, shrugged, and then walked over to her. "Now for your lady friend here I believe that this necklace might do her good." The woman said as she pulled out a beautiful seashell necklace. Gwen was astounded by how it shone in the evening sun, but Rowan was weary of how expensive it looked. "And for you, good ser, I have something equally special." At this she pulled out a pair of gloves with a runic markings on them. Rowan instantly knew the power of it, and could tell that these gloves were designed to manipulate the water in the air to aid the wearer. "I'll give you two both of these for a simple trade, the ring that the lady is wearing." Gwen looked at the ring, knowing her ties to it. You see, this was the ring that Rowan's mother had given her when she was adopted into the family. It was to remember that even with her parents dead, that she would still have a family in the Rookchesters. Gwen looked at Rowan and he merely nodded in acceptance, telling Gwen that the choice was hers. She carefully took off the ring and gave it to the trades woman, who handed them her end of the deal. Rowan helped Gwen with the necklace, and then put the gloves on himself. The moment they were upon him he could feel his hands grow cool and moist, as if water was seeping through the gloves. It relaxed him quite a bit, as the last few days have been stressful for him.

"I'm sorry we had to pawn off the ring..." Gwen apologized, her voice trailing off towards the end.

"Don't be, look at what we got!" Rowan said, trying to be optimistic.

"I know but... it was from Mum..." Gwen told him, her voice trailing off again.

"Listen, Sis. You got what could very be the closest thing we'll ever get to being at the coast, and I got these enchanted gloves. I say that it was a fair trade." Rowan told her, losing his happy, cheery voice until the very end. Gwen looked at him with sad eyes, but he looked away. "Please don't look at me like that... it's not like we've given away the memories or anything... right?" Rowan asked, unsure of what she was thinking.

"Yeah, that's true... but it still feels wrong, you know?" She asked, with Rowan simply nodding. "Do you think, we did the right thing?" She asked again, although she saw Rowan grow his classic little "Mr. Mischievous" grin.

"I think... that your over thinking things!" Rowan teased her, and promptly getting playfully smacked in the back of the head for it. About this time did Gerald come back to get them.

"There you two are, the Grand Chastiel is awaiting you." He told them, walking off before they can respond. All they did was follow, since they felt that they really couldn't do much else. "Tonight you will be briefed on your trials, and in the morning you may start them. Don't worry, they will all take place within the city walls. Well, except for the last one anyways." Gerald warned them, although neither of them were paying any attention to him. Gerald merely sighed at this and sarcastically commented to himself. "And yet again I'm the center of the world." When they finally got to the palace it was nearly dusk. They walked through it's corridors and made their way through the maze of a palace to the Grand Chastiel's study, where he waited with book in hand.

"I see you're a little late, as the stories have told me." The Grand Chastiel commented. "My name is Gaius, and you must be the famed Rowan Rookchester correct?" He asked for conformation. Rowan merely nodded, a little nervous to be in the same room as him, and Gaius continued on. "So then you'll know of my trials. There will be four, three inside the city and the last outside her walls. Since it is at sundown I will give you a full briefing in the morning, but for now I wish to say that because of her situation I will bend the rules and let your sister aid you. The both of you may use anything you personally own in the trials, and what the trial gives you. Now I have arranged sleeping quarters for each of you, but you may sleep in the same room if you so please. Either way I'm glad to have met both of you and I'll be awaiting morning when we can speak properly. Good night, young rune masters, I'll inform you of your first trail in the morning." Gaius finally finished. Damn, he talks more then I do... Rowan thought to himself, although he dare not say it aloud. They both made their way to the sleeping quarters they'd be sharing, and Gwen started to get ready for bed.

"Now your not going to sneak out in the middle of the night tonight, are you?" Gwen asked, glaring at Rowan.

"So you learned about that, huh?" Rowan asked, dancing around the question.

"Well my first hint was you being in the other bed." Gwen pointed out.

"True, I can see that being a factor..." Rowan thought aloud.

"Now are you going to answer my question?"

"Nope, place is too big. Probably get lost trying to find the restroom." Rowan happily said, putting a smile on Gwen's face. He started to get ready for bed at this point and Gwen laid on the bed, waiting for him.

"Well then come join me when your ready." Gwen happily told him, with Rowan chuckling at it.

"You know, if anybody was watching they'd probably get the wrong idea." He pointed out.

"True, but that's why nobody watches anymore."

"Well... except for the crazy fangirls..."

"Well yeah, but they're everywhere!" Gwen reminded him. At this time Rowan was ready and laid down right next to her. "Cuddle time?" She quietly asked.

"Yeah... cuddle time..." Rowan told her, cuddling in close to her. The two had the best sleep they'd gotten in a while, due to a spell placed on the bed to help renew their stamina and vigor.

The morning dawn came into the small guest room, shining Gwen right in her face. She hid herself on Rowan's chest to get the sun out of her eyes, but quickly found that he wasn't there. She got up and looked around, slightly panicking.

"Morning, Sis." Rowan called from the bathroom, grabbing the clothes he packed special for this day.

"Brother... you need to stop worrying me like that..." She whined, but then realized that he just got out of the shower. She quickly looked away and blushed slightly.

"Yeah, I know..." Rowan told her, completely unaware of her embarrassment. "But hey, at least today we finally get to see the Grand Chastiel Trials." He walked back into the bathroom to get changed.

"True enough, but you could also do me a favor and tell me when your going to be..."

"Undressed?" Rowan filled in.

"Yeah..." Gwen confirmed, trying to hide her embarrassment.

"That's fine, you can look now." Gwen turned around to see him in a white vest on top of a silver robe. She was amazed that he could of came across something that marvelous, but he quickly ruined her daydream. "Isn't it neat? The Grand Chastiel said that I had to wear it for the trials!"

"Wait... he just gave that to you?" Gwen asked in surprise. "How much does he actually know about you?"

"Obviously not much, so I hope he has spares!" Rowan was as carefree about it as he was about everything else. Gwen giggled a little at his comment, and agreed with him. "He gave us one for you too. Here." Rowan tossed to her a folded up silver dress with a similar white vest. She went into the bathroom to change into it, although she came out somewhat flustered.

"It's been too long since I wore a dress... it feels so... weird to not have anything on my legs..." She complained, although Rowan merely complimented her to cheer her up. After a while they heard a knock on the door. "That must be the escort." Gwen told Rowan as she opened the door.

"The Grand Chastiel is ready to see you now. Follow me." The escort told them, and so they did. The long, maze-like halls of the palace was a little intimidating to Rowan, as he had never been in a place anywhere close to that size. Granted, he thought to himself, this is the Royal city after all. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if they had super sized chickens here. When they made it to the study Gaius immediately began speaking. "Good morning young Rookchesters, I do hope you slept well. Either way today is the first day of your trials, and here is what I have planned for you. Somewhere in this palace is a trap door that leads down into the cellar. In the cellar lies an orb containing very powerful magic. You must retrieve this orb, bring it here, and leave the guardian to it alive. Is this clear?" Gaius finally finished with a simple question. Both Rookchesters nodded their heads, Rowan actually having a serious look upon him for once. "Good. When you have gotten the orb and made it out of the cellar then blow this whistle and an escort will come get you. If you do not return by sundown then we are to assume you've ran off with it and your names will be posted as bounties. Now then, you may begin." Rowan and Gwen shared horrified looks as Gaius finished, but they began immediately. It was a large palace, however, so most of their time was spent wandering around. It was not till three hours had passed that they finally found the trap door, and what lied beyond it was a fiend of immense magical power. Gwen drew her dagger and Rowan drew a sword that he had found with the robe. Gwen went at it as a decoy while Rowan enchanted the sword, allowing whatever powers the gloves had flow into the blade. The sword immediately began to slowly drip water onto him and the ground. Gwen was able to dodge the creature's attacks, as it was very small. Looked no bigger then a hound, and was shaped like one as well. Rowan came at it from the side and swung his sword down upon it. The hound quickly dodged, yet Rowan could feel the blade smooth out from the attack and followed it up with a spinning strike. The hound dodged again, yet it found Gwen waiting for it. She smashed the pommel of her dagger into it's skull before it could go in for a counter attack, and it collapsed in front of her.

"Oh crap! Did I kill it?" Gwen asked in a panic.

"No, the magics casted upon it will keep him alive. But he'll wake soon if we don't hurry." Rowan told her. Both of them went into the next room and saw the orb. Gwen went to grab it, but Rowan grabbed her arm. "Don't, it too has magic flowing from it." She nodded and backed up. Rowan touched the tips of his fingers together, then made half circles with each hand going in opposite directions. He grabbed the orb and made sure not to have it touch any part of him but his hands. When they got out Gwen blew the whistle and an escort arrived shortly.

"I see you have the orb," Gaius stated. "Very good! Now then, you have the rest of the day to yourselves while we prepare the next trial. I will see you again tomorrow." Rowan and Gwen were both shocked that he said so little, but bowed before him anyways. "Oh, and one more thing." He called to them. "What are those gloves of yours?" He asked.

"Oh, these? They are just a pair of gloves I bought in the market yesterday. Why do you ask?"

"I sense power within them, would you mind telling me which merchant they belonged to?" Gaius asked, with Rowan unaware of what he planned to do. The Chastiel were known for buying out shops with rare or powerful artifacts and sending the merchant who owned it to another city. Fortunately they only did this in Hazara Nevasa, but it still happened more often then anybody liked.

"Oh... I forget her name now... do you remember Gwen?" Rowan asked her. She thought for a second before responding, equally oblivious to what was about to happen.

"Ivuar, I think... Yeah, I'm pretty sure that was it..." She told them.

"Thank you, both of you. You are now dismissed." Gaius told them, aware that they were in the dark of the inner workings of the city. And he planned to keep it that way. "And if you would like to go into town, feel free to ask one of the guards to escort you to the gates." He added on, putting up a face of kindness for them. They both thanked him and made their way back into town. They were given a pouch of 18 silver pieces and 4 gold. They decided to go back to the market for the day and see what they could spend their money upon. They first went back to Ivuar for their ring back.

"Ivuar!" Gwen called out. "I have came to pay you for the ring I traded yesterday."

"Your lucky, child. That is one of the few things that hasn't been traded yet." Ivuar told her. "If it is cash you use then I'll accept it for but a single gold coin. A fair trade, no?"

"Indeed, yes." Gwen got into the pouch and took out a gold coin for her. Ivuar handed her the ring and then took the coin. "Thank you so much." Gwen thanked her, with Ivuar giving her a smile.

"By the way, the Grand Chastiel asked about these gloves." Rowan told her, finally making his way through the crowd.

"You didn't tell him that you got them from me, did you?" Ivuar asked in a slight panic.

"Yeah, I did. Why?" Rowan asked her. She quickly told him what the Chastiel did to people like her, people who sold magical artifacts. Both Rowan and Gwen were enraged by this. "Here, take the rest of our money and leave town as soon as you can." Rowan told her, motioning to Gwen to give Ivuar the pouch.

"Thank you both, I will someday repay your kindness." She told them as she began to pack up. Around then Chastiel guards arrived.

"Ma'am, we believe you to have magic artifacts for sale." The guard told her, but Rowan and Gwen stood before him. "Young Rookchesters, please stand aside." They, however, did not. Instead they stood their ground and Rowan placed a hand on his sword and stood sideways towards him, the sword in front.

"And if I say no?" Rowan asked, a completely new kind of arrogance within him.

"Then you, too, shall be arrested. Now stand down or draw your weapon!" The guard ordered with a thunderous voice. Rowan took the second option, and finished the rune he drew in the air behind him. The guard came in with a hook, and Rowan grabbed it. The rune took effect to make the guard easily off balanced, but Rowan overestimated his own strength and nearly fell over from the impact. As he was regaining his balance Gwen swept the guard's feet out from under him. They both then stomped on the guard's back, but he rolled over before they could touch him. As he got onto his feet he drew his sword, with Rowan and Gwen drawing their weapons in response. The guard came in with a horizontal slash. Gwen ducked under it and stabbed him in the gut when Rowan trapped his blade to the ground. Blood oozed from his gut and he gave out a grunt of pain. He fell over and called for help as Rowan and Gwen left him, Ivuar long gone already. They went to the palace and took shelter there, knowing that they would be let in unsuspectingly.

They had spent the rest of the day exploring the palace, and had found it contained many different kind of rooms. Some for relaxation, a few studies, a couple spare kitchens, even a room filled with machines from the eastern continent, and this was just the first floor alone. I cannot stress just how big this palace truly was. All this exploring had made them tired, and they only got the first two floors. They spent that night the same as they spent the last, and like the day before were called into Gaius's study.

"So today begins your second trial. Now I must warn you that yesterday there was a murder of one of the guards, so I ask you to please be careful." Upon saying this Rowan and Gwen did their best to not exchange looks, and instead managed to look worried. "This trial is one that requires you hit certain check points. At each check point there will be a man waiting for you that will hint you to the next check point. The guard at the gate will give you the first hint. You are dismissed." Gaius finished, keeping the explanation short. Everybody in the room knew that this was out of character, but they didn't question it. Rowan and Gwen were escorted to the palace gates, where one of the guards handed them a rolled up scroll. Gwen untied and opened it, and saw that it was a map of the city. In one of the southern districts was a star, which they assumed would be the next check point. They soon learned, however, that it was atop a building.

"How do we get up there?" Gwen asked, half whining. Rowan could tell, however, that the gears in her head were turning much faster then the ones in his. But this time he came up with an idea first.

"Why don't I just use the "spider spell"?" Rowan asked. Gwen didn't much like the spider spell, since it made her feel weird and "icky" afterwards, but it would be useful for them. She nodded, and Rowan drew up the glyph. Circle, down to the center, and then eight "legs" connecting to the center line and the circle edge. "Revasera, cusheyo, kazai." He chanted while drawing it up. The two then grasped onto the walls of the building and started crawling up it with little difficulty. When they reached the top Rowan more or less erased the glyph and helped Gwen to her feet.

"I hate feeling like that..." Gwen whined.

"So you must be the new rune masters!" A cheery guard called to them, walking towards them.

"Well, kinda. I'm his apprentice, actually." Gwen corrected him. In fact, the reason why Gwen is allowed to accompany him on the trials is because they think she's Rowan's apprentice.

"Oh, well you certainly show potential!" The guard complimented. "Anyways, I'm supposed to draw something on that map of yours." Rowan handed him the map and he drew some lines on it. "There you go. And remember, stay on the roof tops!" The guard happily told them in an almost sadistic fashion. Rowan faced the direction that the first arrow pointed, and saw that it cut through a construction zone.

"Well now what?" Rowan whined, but Gwen grabbed the map from him and sprinted in the direction shown.

"Free run, that's what!" She yelled at him as she gracefully leaped off the building and rolled onto the next. Rowan casted a small spell of agility on himself and did the same. They continued jumping from building to building until they reached their destination. At then another guard snuck up behind them and drew a star on their next point, which was in the middle of the market. The check points just kept coming and coming in a seemingly endless wave, until they hit their thirty-sixth and final check point. Needless to say, they were exhausted and ready to head back. It was nearly sundown anyways, so they had to return to Gaius to give him the map. When they did, he merely told them that thirty six was an average number. They were stunned, as this was a test of stamina with no end point.

"However, I do believe that you two deserve something special." Gaius told them, snapping his fingers soon after. Three servants came in and each held out a gift. "Each of you may pick one, and I will keep the remainder." Gaius told them. They had a choice between an obviously enchanted dagger, a very rare spell book, and a pocket watch with an odd insignia on the back. Rowan and Gwen shook their fists at each other, Rowan getting scissors and Gwen getting paper. Rowan grabbed the pocket watch and stared at it while Gwen grabbed the dagger, since hers was worn from years of use and ready to break. After all, it was the knife she grew up with. The one she earned back when she was on the streets, before she met the Rookchesters. You see Gwen wasn't born into Rowan's family, but adopted in after Rowan found her. It was just her and her knife, and Rowan decided to give her the loaf of bread he was sent to get, among other things. His parents scolded him for it, but he brought her to them the next day to prove a point. She lived half with them and half on the streets from then on, and slowly leaning towards them. Gwen still has the survival instincts from then, but she has became a kinder person now. "Now you are dismissed." Gaius told them, and they promptly head to their room.

"Your third trial is open combat." Gaius told them the next morning. "Now Gwen you'll have to sit out on this one I'm afraid, as this will be magic only, and I don't think you've learned any combat magic yet. If you wish I can lend you a bit of money though and you can go out into the market?" He asked, raising a hand to ready a guard.

Gwen smiled and shook her head. "No thank you, I'd rather watch Rowan." She told him, yawning and leaning into her big brother.

Gaius made a small face, but then shrugged and continued the briefing. "You will be up against one of my sorcerers, in a magic duel. Now you are each permitted to use unarmed combat at any time, but that's besides the point. I'll give you some time to prepare whatever you'll need for the test, then an escort will come fetch you. You are dismissed. Oh, and don't kill my trainee please." Gaius seemed rather upset about something the entire time, but Rowan knew better then to ask. When Rowan left he was taken to what seemed to be a magic lab. Magic labs are places designed special so magicians can test out different spells and different combinations, alchemists can study new recipes, and rune masters can create new, well, runes. Upon arriving Rowan was given three blank runes that he could use however he pleased. He decided to fill them with offensive spells, his weak point. One to blast ice out of the ground, one to make a small burst of lightning, and the third to create a powerful gust of wind. When he left the magic lab the duel was about to start, and Rowan had to rush over to the arena. It was an odd arena that magicians fought on, narrow yet long. Losing was easy, get knocked off the platform, run out of Mana, or be otherwise rendered unable to fight. When Rowan stepped onto his end of the platform his opponent was already there.

"Bout time you showed, I was getting bored!" The man taunted, with Rowan just smiling.

"Sorry about that, I was just trying to figure out how it would look." Rowan told him, purposefully keeping out of context.

"How what would look?" At this point the duel started, as the judge had called it's opening.

"This." Rowan took out one of his runes, holding it between the thumb and forefinger of each hand. He pushed it forward and a wave of wind blasted his opponent nearly off the platform. His opponent got really mad at this and shot a fireball at him. Rowan pulled out his second rune and the ice chunk came up and captured the flame. "You done yet?" Rowan asked. The man tensed up in frustration and shot out a blast of steel from the ground. Rowan jumped back, but nearly fell off himself.

"Can't you just lose already!?" The man whined, giving Rowan the opportunity to charge at him. The man shot another spell at Rowan's feet, tripping him with a vine that came out of seemingly nowhere. Rowan barely kept himself from face-planting doing a half barrel roll. He landed hard on his back, but got up right before an icy stalagmite fell from the ceiling. He enchanted his legs with runic magic, granting him a burst of speed. Rowan came in with a dashing haymaker, following a blinding fast elbow drive. The man was at the edge of the platform and used a water spout to try and knock Rowan to the side, but Rowan took this chance to us the lightning rune to zap his opponent off. The judge called the win and Rowan head back to his room.

"Oh, hello Brother." She greeted when he entered the room. Rowan gave her this odd, amused glare.

"Oh my, how polite one can become in a day." He joked, thinking that she was faking it.

"Why must you be so sarcastic?" Gwen asked honestly.

"I've always been like this. At least, I do when your acting weird... remember?" Rowan reminded her, confused at the question.

"Hey, people change." Gwen countered, a subtle hint of anger in her voice.

"Not over night, let alone in an hour and a half." Rowan joked, taking the situation much more lightly then he needed to. They continued back and forth like this, Gwen getting madder and madder, until finally she snapped.

"Fine, so I can't actually be a lady around you!? Why must you be so obstinate!"

"Calm down, your taking this way to seriously." Rowan casually told her, not realizing that she was literally mad.

"Too seriously!? This coming from the person who can't even support his own sister!" She screamed.

"Now I know that you're not Gwen. She wouldn't be able to say that with a straight face, let alone with that much anger. Or any anger for that matter." Rowan told her, unsure of how the imposter would respond.

"Then I guess I can just kill you now, right?" She told him. Right as she went to do a palm strike at him she got a throwing knife into the back of her head from the window. Rowan looked at where it came from, but saw nobody. He immediately told the guard, showing him the body, and was told that it would be taken care of by morning. He was allowed to sleep in another room until then.

Gwen never did come home that night, and he didn't see her in the morning either. But he had more important things to think about, or so he had been told. The final trial was tomorrow, and it would be one of the most difficult tasks he's ever faced.