A few hours ago
Aldric's mouth dropped in awe as lights shot up to the sky to indicate the number of winged Princess Marina had slayed.
Watching with a gleeful smile at the increasing number, Aldric didn't notice when a winged bounded his way but once the winged stepped on a fallen branch, Aldric quickly created a wind spear and sent it through the winged.
"That would be 10 for you." Aleron said as he stepped out of the shadows.
"And 15 for you." Aldric said with a cheerful smile.
Lights shot up to the sky in quick succession and Aleron said "She seems to be going all out."
"She is." Aldric said as his eyes glowed in awe but when he heard a terrifying cry like the one all contestants heard when they had first stepped into the plains of Dracia, Aldric began to run without knowing it.
"Aldric!" Aleron yelled as he chased after him.
"It's her battle." Aleron said, emphasizing each word.
"Going there will make us look like thieves!" Aleron yelled as he tried to catch up with Aldric.
"I am just making sure she is alright." Aldric said as he turned a corner.
"Nothing more." Aldric said with a small smile to ease his brother's worries but once he noticed the blackbirds in the distance, Aldric sprinted with even more urgency.
Breaking the tree line into an open field, Aldric yelled "Princess Marina!"
Seeing her barrier cracking and cursing the distance between them for being so long, Aldric increased his speed with the wind but the moment her barrier cracked, Aldric screamed Princess Marina's name in panic.
"Why?" Aldric thought as he ran forwards
"Why is she always getting hurt?" Aldric thought as he looked at Princess Marina's tired state.
Flashback
The Coming of Age ball
"Can you do that?" Aldric asked Aleron in awe as Princess Marina created and froze a willow tree in the center of the dance floor.
"Hmm." Aleron hummed as he shrugged.
Few minutes later
"Everyone knows that you have a better chance of being a Makarios if you are blessed by the spirits of water, wind and earth." The little boy said towering over the little girl now.
"The only thing you are good for is making my weapons and armour." the boy said with a hiss and Rassera Dawnspire shouted "Hey!"
Turning around with a glare to look for who interrupted him, the boy took one look at Rassera Dawnspire and shut his mouth with immediate effect but what made him fall to his knees and apologize was the deadly look on Princess Marina's face.
"I don't know about party tricks but that expression is something I can appreciate." Aleron said, referring to the cold stare on Princess Marina's face but what Aleron couldn't see that Aldric could, was the hurt look under it all.
The Kidnapping Accident
"It will heal." Princess Marina promised Aldric and all he could think of was "Why?"
"Why would you go so far?" Aldric thought as she used her body to block him.
"Can't you see that you are putting yourself in needless danger?!" Aldric thought in anger as a picture of his mom flashed through his mind.
Flashback end
"Think! Think!" Aldric whispered to himself as he saw Princess Marina put up a feeble wind barrier.
"What can I do?" Aldric thought as the blackbirds circled Princess Marina.
"What can I do?" Aldric thought as Princess Marina's wind barrier vanished.
"Why isn't the bell ringing yet?" Aldric thought in frustration but the second he heard Princess Marina's scream, the air became still, the trees stopped rustling and the light breeze in the plains of Dracia stopped blowing.
"Aldric!" Aleron yelled as he tried to stop him but Aldric raised his right hand and the blackbirds were pushed upwards by the wind. Creating numerous wind spears as the blackbird tried to fly away but couldn't, Aldric brought down his hand and all the blackbirds simultaneously fell onto the wind spears.
In the Arena.
The stands shook as everyone roared at Aldric's display of power.
"Unbelievable!" the announcer said in awe.
"A commoner with no noble status has managed to slay a total of 12 blackbirds without help!" the announcer said and the arena shook.
"Wasn't he a support type of character?" someone asked in shock.
"Since the beginning of the hunt he had been in the shadows of his twin brother but who knew he held so much power?" another person said in shock.
From another part of the Arena, a man asked "Wasn't he blessed by the spirit of water?" in confusion.
"There are two of them," a woman said in excitement before saying "Look!" as Aleron moved towards his brother.
Under the canopy of the royals
"Commoners?" The Marchioness asked the Earl and the Earl gave her a sly smile.
"They are not recorded under the family tree so they are as good as commoners" The Earl said with a laugh and the Marchioness stared at him for a long time before relaxing in her seat.
"You might not need my congrats" The Marchioness said with a hum.
"But congrats to the Earl for fathering such strong talents." The Marchioness said, as she watched the screen.
In the plains of Dracia
Running towards Princess Marina who was cradling her side, Aldric was inches away from offering help when a Makarios swooped down from nowhere and landed in between their midst.