Àskériàn watched as Sekke left the angry angel on the sparring floor.

Pai placed his ringed hand on Àskériàn's shoulder. "Alright, time to prove you can be knight material."

Àskériàn gave him a confused look. "What do you mean?" He asked. "How?"

"It's simple." Lady Seraphina said as she approached them, arms folded over her chest, attention still glued to the sparring pit. "You must fight the queen in her angry state." She explained.

His brown eyes were full of confusion "If that is all, then okay."

"It's a test." Sekke added as he made his way to them. "Yesterday you were the only person who managed to calm her temper. You also kept her from going to Gaia. Your test to be a knight of the Ardent Table is that you have to defeat the queen in a sparring match." He finished.

Àskériàn gave them all a dumb founded look. Surely it couldn’t be that hard.

"Come on." Seraphina said with a smile as she hooked her arm with his and pulled him toward the pit. The other ten knights watched in anticipation.

"I don't understand your logic Miss Ham. " Àskériàn complained in protest. “ Surely, I can defeat your queen, but why do you want me to do so in front of everyone?” He asked following the crowd with his calculating eyes.

"Sorry dear.” She smiled, “ It was decided by the entire Ardent court, all the people who stand here now are those who make up the court. They really want to see this match." With that she gave him a gentle push onto the floor. He stammered forward, fumbling over the stone steps. "Do your best now!" Ham called after with a smile.

He turned around to meet Ardent’s glare. The angered girl looked at Àskériàn. "Hey what gives?!" She yelled to Ham. Her wings flared out, showcasing her irritation.

"Your next opponent is Àskériàn." The female knight called from the spectator's loft with a smile. Ardent gave the young man a concerned look.

"Hello Miss Angel." He said in greeting.

"Hello, Mr. Àskériàn." She replied.

"Alright." He started. "Introduce your sword to me."

She gave him a confused look. "For a sparring match?" She asked.

"Does it matter?" He asked. "Tell me the name of your sword miss."

"Very well." She said in agreement. She held up her sword, pointing its blade tip in his direction.

"My sword's name is Illuminara. It is the sword of light and purity. Its element is of fire that burns and purifies everything it touches. A flame that burns in the shadows illuminating the dark."

Smiling he unsheathed his own sword. "We are similar, you and I." He replied.

"My sword is Moria. It is named after the place where it was found. An underground city in the land of Gaia. Its element is also a flame, but this flame tends to injure and conjure up shadows in its wake."

"Well, that was unexpected." Sir Weslo spoke, his timber cutting through the anticipation of his fellow knights. He was standing next to Rain on the spectator's dais. His shoulder length brown hair cascaded in waves over his white-tiger-fur-lined pauldrons.

His blue eyes, the same color of Rain's, hinted at their shared royal blood, were full of curiosity. He wore a crystalline blue tunic, embroidered with sapphires that matched the color of his pants. His feet were dressed in black leather boots also lined with white tiger fur.

His cape on his back was a golden color and was clasped at the front with the same emblem Rain wore, a crystalline trinket with the outline of a tiger engraved on it. At the top of his head sat a spindly golden crown with light blue crystals and in the center a deep blue sapphire. The same light blue crystals dangled from his long elven ears, gleaming off the light from the quartz below.

"They counter each other." He said, his voice heavy with amusement.

Rain gave him a smile.

"This will be interesting indeed." The humanized Amaterasu said in agreement, half hidden by the stone pillar as he leaned against it with his back to it.

"Amy why are you trying to hide?" Rain asked. "Do you not like your human form?"

He was garbed in his red and white kimono meant for fighting. His Samurai attire gave him an almost feminine look. His long black hair flowed down his back from atop his head in a Samurai ponytail, his black tipped fox ears stuck out, red fur at the base that bled into the darker color. His uniform brought out the color of his golden eyes. His red tail flared out behind him from the base of his back, also tipped in black fur.

He chuckled and although his back was to her and pressed against the stone column, she couldn't miss his signature smile. It was always devious..

A scarlet katana lay against his waist along with a black quiver filled with scarlet arrows on his other side. A black cross bow with scarlet ribbons and white string hung on his back.

The other knights observed the scene below. Renfred had come out from the research lab, their body, like Lady Storm's, was hidden behind a cloak. The dark sage green material dipped in a triangular shape at the hood, casting their face in shadows.

Lady Zoe stood a few feet down the platform. She summoned a ball of light that rested in her palm.

"Does that work?" Renfred asked with curiosity, turning their attention to Zoe.

"I don't know for sure. It's the first time I will have tried this." Zoe replied.

"Do let me know if it does. I would like to set up some kind of way to record events instead of using paper." Zoe nodded in agreement. She had been trying hard to record things with stars using her space magic.

Renfred, Seraphina, Storm and Zoe were the head of the research department. They worked in tandem with the other knights. Together they uncovered many of the realm's mysteries. And there were a lot.

Several of the realm's citizens stood about the mix of Ardent Knights. Doseishy, one of the Seelie Fae, leaned against the pummel of his Warhammer, his black hair, yellow tunic, brown pants and verdant boots blended into the shadows of the stone roof above. His green eyes alighting in the gloom.

Lady Storm stood nearby, hidden in the shadows of the crowd, her dark gray cloak kept her body hooded, adding to her ability to remain unseen. Somewhere nearby in the crowd Golem stood with Hiem and Kimmy in tow.

Sir Knight and Sir Sean also waited with interest from the other side of the arena. Maxxthebrave, Kerbien, and a few others stood with them amongst the crowd.

Àskériàn made the first move. He rushed forward and leapt into the air, bringing his sword down on Ardent.

She blocked his blow with her sword, sparks flying at the impact, the court clanging with the sound of hissing metal.

She held her ground and then used his own weight against him, she pushed forward, sending him back a few feet. He gave her a surprised look. "You're much stronger than you look." He complimented.

She gave a small laugh. "What did you expect Mr. Àskériàn? I am the leader of the Celestial realm." She said matter-of-factly.

He smiled at her remark. "Alright then Miss. Don't you dare hold back." He ordered.

"The same goes for you." She cried, charging at him.

With each blow they blocked each other. The Ardent court watched in amazement as their movements seemed to mirror each other.

"It's almost as if they're synced." Ham said in observation.

"Indeed." Replied Amaterasu.

"What if he can't win this?" Weslo asked, looking at Ham.

"He has to. He has no other choice." She replied. "It was decided by the Ardent court. He has to win a fight with her to become a knight."

"Is that all you got?" Àskériàn's teasing voice echoed throughout the arena.

"Ha. I'm just getting started." Ardent replied. She lunged forward again. He was ready to make his move, then she used a move he hadn't expected.

She was close to him, and she spun around almost as if in a dance. She had almost got him, then he found an opening and blocked it. Trapping her and her sword between himself and his blade, her back to him.

"Looks like you're stuck again Miss Angel." He said amused by her reaction, she was both bewildered and embarrassed.

Heaving a heavy breath, she let up on the pressure of her sword. Sensing her give in, he lightened his grip. "Yo. I'm not really trying to kill you. Don't let up.".

He fell for it and she thrust her sword upward, knocking his back as she dipped low and spun around to face him.

"An angel who bluffs in combat? I've seen it all now." He said stunned and confused.

"Yeah, and you fell for it." She replied with a smirk.

"How dare chu!" He yelled, but his protest was met with her laughter.

"Ah do you feel that?" Welso asked Rain whose eyes were lit up with happiness.

"Her soul's pressure is rising." She confirmed. They all felt it, the warmth from the Ardent flame that slumbered deep inside their leader's soul and powered all in the celestial realm, was starting to blaze once more.

"Alright Mr. Àskériàn." Ardent cried distancing herself from him.

"Please... no need to be formal Miss Angel." He scolded.

"Oh. Alright, Àskériàn. Get ready to feel my flames." She warned.

She readied her stance, feet spread evenly, shoulders steady, both hands gripped her sword. She smiled as the white sword glowed a brilliant golden light. Flames appeared at her feet. They danced in a circle encompassing her.

He stared. "Oh." He replied. "Well, that's strange." He dropped into the same stance. His sword glowed a deep purple color and then black flames danced at his feet echoing the flames around the angel.

"Well, what do you know?"

The spectators above watched, their interest growing. "Same abilities?" Rain gasped in shock.

"I don't think it's quite like that." Amaterasu reassured her taking in his own observations.

"They aren't the same." Weslo explained, "More like two ends of a spectrum. They mirror each other, but they are complete opposites."

The flames danced up both the angel and Àskériàn until the tendrils of heat were on their swords. They both lunged forward.

"You must stop them!" Adam huffed out a breath as if he had run a marathon, suddenly appearing out of nowhere. "If those two collide the whole arena will collapse."

"You can't be serious!" Ham exclaimed.

"I got it!" Yelled Sean as he readied his spear, took aim and let loose, sending the enchanted spear barreling towards the sparring pit.

Ardent stopped in her tracks, catching the sight of the spear out of the corner of her eye, her flames faded in an instant.

There was no time to react, both Àskériàn and the spear were upon her. Metallic sounds echoed throughout the hall, and everything grew silent.

Ardent opened her eyes to find Àskériàn standing in front of her, her heartbeat wildly in her chest. The spear was on the ground.

"YO! WHAT IN BLAZES ARE YOU TRYING TO PULL?! THAT IS TWICE YOU HAVE ATTACKED US." Àskériàn roared at Sean from the pit, his dragon aura making the arena shake.

The scene caused the whole arena to fall into stunned silence.

"There is no need to yell!" Adam retorted. "If you both had used those attacks you would have blown the whole building away." He explained, trying to find footing from the quake.

Àskériàn glanced back at Ardent whose face had paled, her breaths were ragged. She pretended she didn't notice him watching her.

"Congratulations!" Ham exclaimed patting Àskériàn on the back. "You passed. You are now a knight." He stared at the ham humanoid with immense confusion and irritation.

"What did you say?" Ardent asked, stepping from behind her sparring partner, her breaths were now heavy pants.

"It was decided by the Ardent Court that if Àskériàn could fight you in a sparring match and win, he would be knighted for the Ardent Table." Ham explained.

"You.... decided this.... without me?" Ardent asked as she forced herself to breathe.

"Sorry Milady, but it is our duty to look out for you. Besides we already kind of figured you would knight him eventually, we just wanted to give him a test." The other knights gathered around them.

"Now then!" Squealed an excited Rain as she joined them in the pit, "It's time to celebrate!"

Ardent watched as the spectators began to disperse and the dais became vacant, she glanced down at the golden spear on the pit floor. The green ribbon sprawled out. She looked up to find Àskériàn watching her. She met his gaze, something flashed across his features and then it was gone.

He sent her a smile just as Sean reached down and picked up his weapon. Without a word, she spun on her heels and left the sparring pit.