(Moment after Kol leaves.)
Anna: So his name was Kol wasn't it? As in the Uesugi Clan Sector here in the kingdom?
Stephen: The very same. Kol, like many others within his clan are hungry for revenge. First they attacked the clan original home laying waste to it, stealing the clan's medallion and killing his father for fun.
Anna: And I'm assuming those are the very same people who attacked the kingdom too?
Stephen: Correct. They are apart of a much deeper plot. One, I too, must get to the bottom of.
Anna: I don't mean to intrude on what sounds like both very serious and personal matters, but if I may I'd like to help you in this fight.
(For an instant, Stephen begins to accepts Anna's offer, but then he thinks of the risks of putting her in danger.)
Stephen: If you're sure you really want to help, you'd have to the necessary firepower to back us up. I won't put someone under prepared in harms way.
Anna: I assure you, your highness. I've been trained by both my father and grandfather. If you wish to test my skill, it would be an honor.
Stephen:Then I ask that you accompany to the palace.
(Shocked at the thought to accompany the Prince of the Lockheart Kingdom himself, Anna gathers herself.)
Stephen: Come, take my hand.
(Just as Anna's hand touches Stephen's, they teleport to the outside sparring gardens. Anna, taken aback by the scenery of the Royal Palace, she takes a deep breath as she realizes Stephen stands across from her.)
Anna: This place is amazing...And this is just a part of your home.
Stephen: Correct. I've spent a lot of time here. Lots of sparring and training was done in this garden.
(Just as Stephen says this, he chuckles to himself.)
Stephen: How funny...
Anna: What is?
Stephen: Pardon me. I was lost in thought for a moment. When speaking of all the training that happened, I was the one standing where you are now. Enough of that. Show me what you can do, Anna.
Anna: Then I won't disappoint you.
(For a moment Stephen and Anna lock eyes, then immediately she fire a large fireball right towards Stephen.)
Stephen: So you utilize fire same as I.
(Stephen simply stretched out his hand, stops and disperse her fireball. Anna then to Stephen's surprise, changes Mara Elements from fire to lightning. With not a second gone by, Anna zooms behind Stephen for an attack, but he dodges them and jumps back.)
Stephen: Well this just got interesting. You're telling me you can shift between fire and lightning? To shift between multiple Mara elements is a rare sight.
Anna: It's like you said, I can shift both my natural Mara elements. I've mainly trained with my father and sister back in the Labyrinth Kingdom.
Stephen: Has your grandfather offered any guidance?
Anna: He has, however, since he's been busy as of late, I've been working on his lessons on my own. And I gotta say that I feel close to something right now.
Stephen: Then enough words. Show the Prince of the Lockheart Kingdom what a Grayson can do.
(Anna then immediately charges Stephen, throwing a forward kick which turned to be a trick to get close as Anna quickly spins in for a back elbow, but Stephen block it. Anna then throws a spinning kick that Stephen ducks under. Realizing that Stephen physical defense is too much, Anna jumps back fires a mix of fire balls and lightning orbs, however Stephen easily disburse of each one aimed his way. Anna then begins to create yet another large fireball slightly larger than the first one.)
Stephen: I'll stop this like I've stopped the others.
Anna: I'm counting on it.
(As Anna says this, she launches her fireball towards Stephen and just like before, he catches with his hand, but this time as he's crushing the fireball, a lightning bomb explodes. And in the midst of this, Anna shifts over to lightning and beams towards Stephen for a direct punch to the jaw that knocks him back, thus concluding their sparring match.)
Stephen: Wow I wasn't expecting you to combine the two of them so quickly.
Anna: Like I said before, I've been working on it for some time. That was the first time it had ever worked without blowing up in my face.
Stephen: Still. With your capabilities now, I think I've seen more than enough to trust you in a fight.
(Unbeknownst to Stephen, his mother walks out to the garden after sensing Stephen's Mara.)
Kate: It is more of your younger brother nature to sneak a young woman into the palace.
Stephen: Mother...It isnt-
(As Stephen speaks, Kate goes to greet Anna by taking her hand and rubbing it with her thumb which causes a warmth reinvigorating both Anna's fire and lightning as both cloak her in unison as her aura grows around her.)
Anna: Woah! Just what did you do?
Kate: I simply fixed your Mara flow. I sensed a blockage of some kind when I touched your hand. That shouldn't be an issue going further.
Anna: Why thank you, your Majesty.
Kate: Tis is nothing to thank me for.
(Stephen walks up.)
Kate: Earlier, Kol sent in a request to scout a location he believes to hides the brothers and their master who killed his father and clansmen alike. He insisted that you join him. I rejected his request.
(Feeling Anna gazes on him, Stephen realizes that he gave Kol his word to join him. However, Stephen also knows that by doing this, he'd be going against his mother wishes. A conflicted feeling comes over Stephen just before he speaks.)
Stephen: May I ask why, Mother? I mean if there is information on a location leading to the ones who attacked us at our home, wouldn't we at least send scouts?
Kate: Yes we would, however we must acknowledge the elephant in the room. This a personal matter. I don't know if I trust Kol not to go rouge and potentially put someone or worse himself at harm. He has seen this loss up close. Kol wants blood.
Stephen: So what would you have us do? Surely we have some method of attack?
Kate: For whom you ask? Rai and Kai? Or Mori and your Father?
(As Kate says this, Anna sees how Stephen's body slightly quivers at hearing mention of his father.)
Kate: This isn't a conversation nether you nor I are quite ready to have just yet. That is for another time.
Stephen: Very well, Mother. Please, don't let us take up more of your time. I'm sure you were in your studies?
Kate: I shall return. It was a pleasure meeting you.
Anna: The pleasure was most mine, your Majesty.
(As Kate turns and leaves back to her study, Anna looks to Stephen.)
Anna: So? What are we gonna do? You told him that you'd join him.
Stephen: I told him that I'd speak with him. I agree with a lot of what my mother said, however we can't let these guys getaway after wrecking our home. Something needs to be done.
Anna: Aren't you worried about going against your mother?
Stephen: Yeah, but like I said something must be done. Meet me by the palace gate at Moonrise, from there we'll go meet Kol and speak.
Anna: Alright. What a day this has turned out to be huh?
Stephen: Something tells me that it's the start of something new.