Marcia's Challenge

A cooling breeze passed through the torches around the training yard, causing the shadows to dance. The Lost Sons gathered around, many of the newbloods looking around in confusion, whispering to each other. The veterans formed ranks at one end, many with knowing smiles or grim expressions.   Marcia walked into the arena, eyes wide and confused. She looked over her shoulders at the Sons surrounding her. The other Lucapena sisters were lined up near the arena's edge and watched the littlest one with glittering eyes. Their faces were difficult to read, but Aurelia couldn't hide the slight upturn to her lips.   The Old Man and Shade made their way into the yard as the whispers of the mercenaries died away. The breeze felt a little colder as Shade moved to the center and her voice echoed through the crowd.   "This is the ordeal. Where you, soldiers, have to go through training to hone your skills, we are different. For those of us who control the elements, we must be tried differently"   "We are here to witness the ascension of the youngest Lucapena, Marcia. She will be the youngest in centuries, but for her trial, she must be victorious in this battle. Before, we would have someone of her level to compete against but since we have no one," Shade paused to look disapprovingly at the Sons, "I must make a challenge for her. It will be more difficult and dangerous, but we are going into war and she must be tempered; what doesn't bend will break."   "Student of Wriothesley, of Shade, I have curated something from the ancient past of my home. From the world I once walked under the twin moons, he may be the last of his kind. He has grown weak but still more than a match for most. You must defeat him with spell and flame." "Nothing is off the table, hold nothing back. If you lose control and your magic consumes you I promise I will, with my own hands, make sure it doesn't bring harm to your brothers and sisters."   Shade looks at the Sons, her mouth set in a stern, cold line. "No one can interfere. Such interruption will result in failure. And failure means you will never be a sorcerer of the Lost Sons." She stares, unblinking, for a long moment at Marcia before glaring suspiciously at the mercenaries. Her gaze lingers on the old veterans and the Lucapena sisters, some of whom have the grace to act chastened.   "Prepare yourself."   Marcia bit her lip, looking almost on the verge of tears before she shook her head and began to look around for her gear. From the crowd came a shout. "Wait! Marcia, your package arrived!"   Levi came striding up with slow and steady steps. Behind him lumbered Swiftfoot, the unusual tortoise that followed Levi everywhere. Shade glared at Levi as he started unloading packages from Swiftfoot's back. Levi shrugged and said, "I tried to deliver them earlier, but since I have you here..." He winked at Marcia and then casually walked back into the crowd.   Pots and Smiles boldly walked into the arena without so much as looking at Shade. Smiles leaned over with his characteristic grin and put a necklace around Marcia's neck. He whispered something in her ear as her eyes welled up with tears. He ruffled her red hair and then stepped back. Pots handed her a bandolier heavy with powders and materials.   Many of the veterans seemed on edge, jaws clenched, arms folded. This was a bigger deal than it ever had been before.   Marcia's hands trembled as she reached into her pouches and began putting on her gear. She put a silver and brass diadem on her brow, one large earing into her right ear. On her hands, she placed several crude rings that she had clearly crafted herself. One of the rings held a sizable arcane crystal that glimmered in the torchlight. Finally, she grabbed several small stones and tossed them into the air, where they hovered; revolving around her head. Shade was unable to hide the look of pride.   She took a deep breath and moved to the center of the ring.   Shade stepped forward and tossed a black figurine onto the ground. Her words rushed through the air like a freezing wind, crackling like thunder as the figure erupted in smoke and revealed a pale, emaciated creature. It was shaped like a man, but the needle teeth and blood-filled eyes suggested this was no human.   The creature spoke to Shade in a voice like bubbling mud. Shade chastised the monster with a whip crack from her tongue. "Hear me, Lor, and obey. Speak the tongue of this world. See this young sorcerer before you. Defeat her with whatever power and cunning you've left to you and you will win your freedom."   Lor cringed from Shades voice but as she spoke his smile grew far too wide, revealing numerous rows of fangs and grey gums. His eyes glowed red as he focused on Marcia and he whispered in a gutteral tone.   "I know you, Marcia Lucapena. You will not defeat me."   Marcia trembled, doubt etched on her face. Still, she began to make her gestures, summoning little fires around her. She hesitated. "Yes, little one. I will consume your soul. Then, I will devour your sisters. One by one. I will-"   What, exactly Lor planned to do after remained unknown as Marcia grit her teeth in fury and threw a jet of dark flame into the monster's face.   The battle began as Marcia dashed to the side. Lor recovered quickly, leaping at Marcia with claws gleaming. Marcia wasn't quite fast enough as the creature's talons dug into her shoulder and ripped through her armor.   The two danced around each other. Marcia scorched Lor with her flames. Lor tore bits and pieces from the girl's limbs and face. But Marcia was gaining ground. Her fire crawled over the enemy like a hungry thing, eating away at his pale flesh. In a desperate bid to end him in one blow, Marcia threw an enormous fireball that hit Lor square in the chest, engulfing him in flames.   For a moment, it seemed as if she had won. The Lost Sons held their collective breath.   A chuckle echoed from the smoke.   Lor stepped out of the dissipating haze, too-wide grin firmly in place. The flames skittered off his body. Marcia fell back, eyes wide.   The Old Man stepped forward with his hand on his sword but Shade stopped him.   Lor faded and rippled into shadow. Faster than the eye could follow, he was beside Marcia. He drew a rapier and brought it down in a flash. The blade cut into Marcia's cheek as she lept back.   Aurelia and her sisters tensed, each ready to rush in the instant they felt their sister might perish.   But Marcia smiled as she drew ash and crystal dust from her pouches and summoned a new flame. This one took the form of a beautiful woman.   Lor shook his head, laughing. "Your flames can't touch me, little one." He roared with laughter as he charged but the laughter died away, replaced by screams, as the flame-bound woman collided with him, searing his flesh.   Marcia and the elemental merged into one. Now faster and stronger than before. She formed a blade of fire and renewed her attacks. Back on the defensive, Lor hissed and spit sizzling acid onto his blade. Both combatants dashed in and out, taking and giving blows in equal measure.   Little by little, yet again, Marcia's attacks became less effective. Lor's laughter washed over her again. He pushed Marcia back with each attack. Several wounds bled freely on her face, arms, and chest.   Marcia slowed. Her fire dimmed. It was clear she struggled for breath though she grit her teeth and attacked again and again.   The creature sucked in a great breath before spewing a dark wind in Marcia's face. She fell back, gaging, her eyes rimmed with black tears. The Sons grew restless, all looking to one another.   Lor stood over Marcia, gloating. "You could never have beaten me, pig. I will have my freedom. Who do you think you are, that you could have won against me?"   Gasping, Marcia grabbed the necklace and whispered, "I am the daughter of Helena and Bardas, sister, Son, apprentice to Shade and Wriothesley." She looked up, baring her teeth. "And friend of Carver."   Marcia threw the necklace on the ground and spoke a word of power.   A groaning of an otherworldly wind drew everyone's attention to the banner. It whipped as if in a tempest, manifesting its full length into the real plane. When they all looked back, there was a new figure in the arena. He was lit from behind, like a halo of an eclipse. Though he was far younger than many had seen him, there was no mistaking Carver.   "One more time, old friend."   Lor and Carver flew around each other, trading blows faster than the human eye could follow. The creature drew on power from the void but it was no match for the Banner and the Son. His attacks, strong as they were, did nothing to Carver.   Marcia pulled the light from all the torches, gathering thousands of motes of fire to her. Her ring of arcane crystal shattered to dust.   Lor seemed to know he was beaten. Desperate to survive, he turned to mist and tried to flee.   "You threatened my family. You tried to steal my fate. This is my judgment." Marcia's voice echoed with a dozen voices. "My friends, I promised you a feast one day. Now is the time."   The motes of fire rushed in, surrounding the fleeing mist, eating away it his very soul. With a scream that filled the void, Lor was destroyed. Marcia collapsed to the dirt as the Sons erupted in cheers. Carver's shade stood over her. She looked up at his face, smiling through her tears. "Sorry to call you like this."   The shadow reached a hand down and patted her head as he slowly faded away. "A true Son never dies," whispered on the breeze.   The wind died down, the banner faded again and stilled.