The Signet Ring

THE MESSAGE

Sitting quietly on a hill, Cassidy thinks about her scheduled duel tomorrow. She will be fighting Ashane tomorrow. She's the winner in their class and now the next level of the tournament is to fight the winner in the higher class, and that's Ashane. Cassidy looks down at her hand. She stares at her palm as if reminiscing how the power that helped her flowed out of it. With these hands, she can manipulate water and fire. She can make orbs and weapons of light. She can shake the earth. She can move swiftly as light. It's because even in her rebirth she still possesses the natural element she was born with when she was still Cassandra. But most of all, she cannot get wounded for she regenerates. She will not be needing the white horse of her father because she can now fly swiftly. Thanks to you phoenix. Cassidy puts her hands on her chest and whispered.

" Phoenix what are your reasons for staying in me? How could I know we have become one?", she said, closing her eyes. Even though the phoenix had chosen her, she's sure that the force running in her veins is not yet in full. There's one ability she loses when she was reborn - her gift of foresight. And she's waiting for other abilities to be unlocked. I will feel that kind of force when the ring is in my hands again. She thinks. Cassidy knows that at the moment the phoenix is seen in her, it created a stir in the Tribe Kings. Confusion. An unusual phenomenon. Most of all, she's sure Neji is considering her now a threat to the ring he's wearing.

A wailing woman and shouts disturb her deep thoughts. From above Cassidy sees knights about five in numbers and a woman begging. She understood the woman is a serf. And beside her is her landlord. The knights are there to ensure the trading of the woman. Cassidy's eyes narrowed. She can't stand what she's seeing.

" Please I don't want to work in a household outside Velaris", the woman begs. Her worn-out clothes and messy hair tell she's been going through a lot. But the knights are deaf. The buyer just is just concerned with what they will gain. The landlord just likes to get rid of her. Cassidy sees the landlord slaps the woman for he got irritated by her noise. But the woman is persistent.

" Quiet!", one of the knights shouted and he was about to give the woman another slap.

" Hey!", yet he heard a brazen shout from a distance. His hand freeze in the air. A girl. A teenage girl in fitted trousers and hooded suit.

" Who are?, Don't you know that your the only girl in this land to wear like a male warrior?" he said.

" Punk, don't you know? even the girl warriors wear skirts in this land", the other knight said.

Cassidy lifted her chin and smirks and flash a furious stare at them.

" Don't you also know that people are not for sale in this land?" Cassidy replied.

They all laugh.

" Where have you been? This is now a law in Velaris" the landlord interrupted.

And they laugh again. Insulting and wild.

Cassidy forcefully throw lights from her hands, zipping their mouths in pain.

Again she stares intensely at them.

" Don't you also know? I can shut the mouth that feeds on preying the weak?" she said. And they tremble at what she said.

She walks near to the knights. She motioned her finger right at their face and choked their breaths. She uses her other hand to extract water from the plants around, she let it floats and with a flip of her fingers, the harmless droplets had become blades of light.

" And don't you all know that I don't like dressing in a daydream? And now I'm gonna be your nightmare" she whispered dreadfully.

She pushes the light blades nearer to their face. Cassidy sees their eyes freeze in fear. She intends to show off some strength before them. So they'll be aware of an equal even greater than Neji has arrived. She intends to send fear to her nephew.

" Tell your ringmaster King to number the days he'll be wearing the signet ring on his finger," she said. And unsealed their mouths. Yet, before they leave, she punches and kicks them hard, leaving them bruised and nervous.

" Ashane you should not be acting lame!, You're my son huh!"  Neji shouts at his son.

 Ashane is in the training arena battling with the squires and high ranking knights in Velaris. He only has this day to practice. His dad, Neji had also invited some of the Tribe Kings to have a practice match with him. It's quite unfair to other candidates because it's stated in the mechanics that before a contender could face the ringmaster king, he or she should defeat at least 2 of the Tribe Kings. But these are the perks of being a ringmaster's son.

Raye watches at his cousin, sweating and training hard in the arena. Unlike his dad, Ashane has a strict bad guy's face that no matter how good looking he is, it's obvious he's not the knight in shining armor type, but he's the type that will probably push you to a cliff at any moment without valid reasons.

How could be these Tribe Kings be stupid as they are? Raye thought. They're all bowing done to his uncle and would just say yes to all he'll say because he's wearing the ring?

Poor Royal. Your blood is useless for you are born in a land where people bow down to no one, except to the one who wears the ring.

" Raye, your there?", Neji notices his presence.

" Come and watch my son," Neji motioned his hand inviting him to come closer.

" Isn't he good?", he said.

Raye tried hard not to laugh. Is that a joke? If not of Cassidy. He and Ryse would be facing Ashane in the next match, and for sure one of them will defeat him. He's nothing but just a ringmaster's son. Raye thinks. He just ignores his uncle's question.

"Your Highness, a message is sent for you....but...",  the court lady suddenly entered and interrupted them. She's looking uneasy and pale.

Neji is stunned by what he saw. The three knights stood in front of them as if caught in an enchantment, miserable, and this something that controls them? It feels familiar. That power... isn't it's the same from the ring he's wearing?

"Say the message", Neji commanded

" Number the days that you will be wearing the ring. The one in an ancient oracle had arrived"  they said three times in the chorus. And after a second of uttering the message. The three knights' mouths were sealed again. Neji hides pretend he's not terrified. He has to appear strong and immovable, the Tribe Kings are there watching his every reaction and waiting for his decisions. They are somewhat startled. Queen Cassandra used the same trick before when she send threats to Kingdoms who tried to invade Velaris!

And the ancient oracle? What was that? The Tribe Kings are looking at Neji like they're demanding answers.

The three knights, traders, and landlords had fallen into great sickness that even the priests, herbalists, and physicians cannot fathom the cure for them. Until it is realized that the power that touched them is from the signet ring. Tribe Kings pressure Neji to take back the of what seems to be cursed. But deep inside Neji doesn't seem to have the confidence that he can do it. He may be wearing the ring now. But some of its powers have not yet manifest. He feels like the ring is still holding back in obeying him. It still has not yet fully accepted him as his master. And that makes him feel insecure. The one who did this to the knights is sending him a clear message - an invitation into some kind of mind games.

The oracle said that the next ringmaster will rule in wisdom and power. Time to test if Neji really has it.

The ancient oracle said that a true ruler will rise in Velaris.

Who is that? Where is Neji in those?

The people and the Tribe Kings who always have solid confidence in him is now slowly becoming uncertain. Neji couldn't afford to lose this empire that he long intended to build for his son.

 "What is your decision ringmaster?" Fimis asked 

 "This is a challenge to your strength and authenticity of your succession",  he added.

 " I only see a way to let my enemy come out of hiding", Neji answered 

 " The girl in the scarlet cloak is the key,"  Neji said, which puzzled the Tribe Kings. 

 " What about her?", Zair asked. 

 " Post an announcement in the entire land invite the girl in the scarlet cloak to duel with me at the tournament where I would fight the winner in the academy" Neji commanded. He smirks.

 Let's find out if you're the same person, Cassidy, scarlet cloak, and message caster. How dare you use the power I'm wearing against me? He thinks. 

Cassidy smiles. At least you've learned something from Cassandra. Good thing that you've get the message. And very well... welcome to this trap. Yes, lets play some puzzles! A true King doesn't always need to say that he is the King. The crown is too heavy to wear that the insecure might just ruin its purpose. I guess you need to realize that nephew! Cassidy said in her mind.