The Signet Ring

Battle of the Contenders

Seeing events of her past lives Cassidy almost breaks down. If only he had known before, that it's Neji who had killed his firstborn son, he would not give way for him to become her successor. Now, she has more reasons to take back the ring from him. She never knows that a weak innocent guy will be consumed by greed. I made a mistake in my judgment, she thought. She remembers before when she was still Cassandra how she set her anger aside, thinking that Neji is far different from his father.She should have killed him that day when they invaded the Royal Tribe but she choose to exclude Neji  from her wrath. She's always been gentle and forgiving like revenge has no room in her heart. But now there's this raging fury inside her she might not contain anymore. Yes, she has risen from the ashes but not as the same old person. A finer, stronger, and wiser version of her emerged from that emptiness and fire. Now, in this time, she's no longer the forgiving Queen Cassandra, but she's now Cassidy and she comes back to life to take back what really belongs to her - the signet ring and Velaris. 

 At Netiara Academy

 "What's wrong with you today? when does a high collar suit your taste?",    Raye asks his sister. Ryse is wearing a green army, vintage high collar cardigan today, a short skirt with fitted trousers beneath, and pair of boots.

 " I know that kind of looks....seems familiar",  Raye teases,   " Isn't it the same with Cassidy?"  he added.

  " Will you please stop? "   Ryse gives glares at his brother annoyingly as she fixes her collar.                         She catches a glimpse of Cassidy entering their gothic medieval walled classroom. Why she's always wearing fitted trousers and a coat? She's silently pissed off.

 "Okay class, the subject for this hour is elementum and after is gladii. There was a bit of change in your schedule because we have to focus on the selection of candidates for the coming tournament"      the students heard the teacher speaks. Ryse glances at Cassidy. She's serious and quiet at the corner. She's always been different and anti-social. Anyway, she's excited to have a duel with her, glad that their class schedule was changed.

 " You already learned in your Historia class about the elements right? And that only the descendants of the tribe leaders are born with the natural abilities of those elements in Velaris, "   their teacher glances at them under her big round glasses.

 " But then, greater power than the elements arose in the land, and that is the signet ring. It's not enough that you just possess the element's abilities, but to become the ringmaster you must master all the gladii and the elementum",   the teacher explained. There's one thing you forget to teach the students here. Cassidy thought as she stares at her teacher. The teacher notices her kind of staring. 

"Yes? like to say anything Cassidy?"  the teacher asks. Cassidy hesitates for a while if she's gonna speak her mind out. 

 " Moralis is the most important thing to learn here, teacher",   Cassidy answers. The teacher's brow crosses in curiosity.

  "Why did you say so?" her teacher asks. "   because an enlightened heart is what holds us into not becoming a monster, not all who becomes great ends up in the light, some are swallowed by darkness" Cassidy answers.

 "Uhmm, "   the teacher clears her throat and looks around at the students in an awkward manner. 

  " Yes, you have a point on that",  she replied. 

  "Anyway, let's get up and proceed to the duel area.",  dismissing the topic. The students proceed to the wide quadrangle at the far back part of the school. Ryse gives a threatening look at Cassidy as they walk towards the duel area. But Cassidy just ignores her. You're not my enemy. Stop flushing a scene. She thought as she stares at Ryse walking ahead of her. 

 At the dueling ground The gladii teacher is also present. He's holding a horn that would use to give a signal for the duel to began. 

 " Okay, the first to volunteer can choose his opponent",   the gladii teacher said.

" I'll go first!",  Ryse raises her hand with so much confidence.

 " Okay, choose your opponent",   the teacher replied. Her eyes move unto every classmate's that are present, she stops at Cassidy...

 " Ryse, if ever you win in this match you have the right to choose again an opponent"   the teacher added. Ryse smile naughtily and snobs at Cassidy, then she turns to Raye.

" I'll choose you first dear brother", she said. Raye burst into laughter and shook his head 

" I never expected this huh?", he  seriously replied to her twin.  

The twins proceeded at the center of the quadrangle. Positioned themselves, getting ready for a fight. 

 " Okay, first show us how you use your elemental abilities!"   the teacher shouts then he blows the horn telling them to begin. 

 " How are we gonna fight dear sister? we both possess the elements we got from our mom?",  Raye asks her mockingly  

 " Then let's see later who's got more skilled in sword",   Ryse replied as she moves her hand in a circular motion, drawing sparkling blue lights.

 " I summon the celestials to give me your energy",  she said with authority. Raye smirks at her sister and moves his fingers.  

 " Calling the energy that comes from every rock in the cosmic skies",   Raye said calmly as lights play in his fingers. Then he pauses and trickily glances at Ryse. 

 " Attack!",  Raye suddenly shouted. 

 Ryse was hit a bit on her shoulder. She wasn't prepared for it. She frowns and stares at his brother sharply. She flips her finger and throws light blades at Raye. Then she runs ferociously at his brother and jabs him hard. That was so strong that Raye was thrown away at the far end of the quadrangle. Seeing her brother struggles to stand, Ryse again smiles naughtily. She knows her brother is pissed off. Raye screams out his anger, he runs at Ryse and knocks her down. He slammed her hard on the ground that the ground tears up. But Ryse is so strong. She feels no pain. She hits back at Raye again using her sharp lights. But Raye is undefeatable.

 " Give up now, brother!",   Ryse uttered as she moves her hand for a new attack.

 " I know what you're going to do",  Raye replied as he watches his sister.

" what then?" she asks  " That technique will not work on me",   Raye replied. Raye smirks as she stares at Ryse preparing for another attack. That's not gonna knock me down. I am as unbreakable as the hardest rock in the sky you can't blow me up with a huge blast of yours. He thought.

 " Wrong brother coz this is actually what I'm gonna do",  Ryse said. 

 Moving speedily she suddenly clutches his brother's neck. Her eyes change it all became white an indication she's sipping his brother's energy. Ryse fights back grabbing Ryse's hands. It could be seen in his face that she's struggling. 

" Enough!",  the teacher's shout interrupted them. The teacher glanced at Raye that seems worn out at the side.

" We have seen what we need to see, would like to continue to the next round? the gladii match?",   the teacher turns to Raye.  

" I know who you really like to fight with",  Raye looks at Ryse. 

 " No, teacher, I'll get tired of that",  Raye replied. Then he walks towards Cassidy. He taps her on the shoulder.

  " I'm putting my bet on you,"  Raye said smiling.

  I waited for this. Ryse thinks. You cannot beat me up with this Cassidy. You're no royal. For sure she doesn't possess any elemental abilities. She's just a farmer's daughter. Ryse thinks as she looks at Cassidy from head to foot.  

" I'm choosing Cassidy as my next opponent",  Ryse said to the teacher. 

" And teacher, can I request that we'll have the gladii and elementum in one match?"  Ryse added.

 She means to use both the sword and elements together in the match, not a separate round. 

 " Since Raye refuses to proceed with gladii, okay you two can",   the teacher replied. Ryse smiles wide when she heard her teacher's response. 

 " Okay then, I choose her",  arrogantly pointing at Cassidy. Cassidy moves forward silently, with a stern face.

 " That's the only thing you can use as a weapon, I guess ",   Ryse said throwing the other sword to Cassidy.

 "Your parents are not Tribe leaders, nor nobles. I'm pretty sure not a slight of elementals runs in your veins",  Ryse said. The other students were silent as if waiting for the next thing to happen. Everyone there knows the usual tension between the two.

" Your guardian is the great teacher, right? Well, I think the great teacher is not really great"  Cassidy replied. 

 Ryse's face frown, holding tightly to sword she replied back sharply.

 " Your so brazen to say that", she replied. 

" Coz if he is, you should have been the ringmaster. You being Queen Cassandra's daughter is useless", said Cassidy. 

 Hearing what Cassidy said, Ryse's eyes narrowed. Her teeth clenched. She feels like she's gonna erupt in anger. She screams wildly and hits the fountain square nearby with her blasting light. Cassidy's words strike her more than hitting her ego. She doesn't know a thing. I would even hurt my brother just to get there. You don't know me. You don't know my reasons. She thought.