"Ouch! Please don't.....!", Cascon screamed in pain as a white fireball slammed his ankles compelling him to fall backwards into a nearby statue exquisitely made of polished stone while his opponent, Agius swiftly prepared for a final blow that would grant him victory as winner in the last round. The intrigued spectators were all spell-bound as they gazed on openly with wild interested as this last round created an atmosphere of suspense as they watched Agius while he perform his swift combat moves with great agility although he was quite extreme in his attacks giving Cascon no room for a counterattack. Each of the ten trainees had chosen an opponent amongst themselves to duel with which formulated five rounds of physical combat with each opponent whom according to Syclar, should be treated as a foe in an open battlefield.
Sermia emerged as winner of the first round after defeating Piopar with an Antox combat spell which she learnt from the library of spells while Damus and Selon emerged winners of both the second as well as the third round after beating their opponents, Harcus and Ginarus respectively. Although Agius was a bit aggressive and brutal in his attack against Cascon, the spectators still looked on with fascination regardless of his ferocious attacks which luckily missed Cascon. He was about to deliver a final blow on Cascon in order to triumph as winner of the last round when Syclar interrupted him, "Agius, that's enough. You have already proven your valour and agility in hand to hand combat". Then he told them to gather together once again on the right side of the courtyard and concluded the last session of training. Afterwards, he told them to follow behind him to see the council members inside their chamber, for the final instructions which will be given to them by Makom. They followed behind him while he led them past the two guards at the entrance and towards the council chambers after passing through many doors along the corridors.
Kaesus and the other guard named Lynas quick opened the large doors of the chamber allowing them to pass through as they trampled consecutively in series of two behind Syclar who walked over, and sat down on his seat on the left side facing the other members in the opposite direction. There were ten knapsacks neatly arranged on ten red stools, with each having a sheathed silver sword that lay beside it on a platform before the council.
Makom stood up without delay and spoke out, "This crucial mission you are about to embark on is fraught with hidden dangers and ferocious hazards which you likely to encounter during the journey. So if anyone of you isn't prepared well enough for the task and is quite afraid of it, then you may leave now or otherwise remain still", Makom said looking around to see who have changed his mind already but no one moved a muscle. Then he continued,
"Okay, it's really good to know that you all are willing to carry out this task but let me remind you that the ancient city of zoa, which was once a prosperous city our ancestors built after they were given the sword by the Sargesus, the seven guardians that founded this realm, and which is now in ruins, isn't a place for you to underestimate since that place is now desolate but filled with a lot of monstrous creatures. Aside from this, you have been given a knapsacks that has a lot of items that will enable you to guard against those creatures and a silver sword that will protect you against any attack", Makom said and conjured forth a small map in the hands of Selon and a golden scroll which he held while he continued,
"That map is what we forged using the energy from the clues your father gave us and those ones we extracted from your body which will pinpoint the exact location of the map as you transgress further in search of the sword. You all will take each of the Trynasus we have prepared for you outside the entrance which make your journey less stressful after making this vow that will seal your fate as well as those of the sects in realm". Then he opened the golden scroll and read aloud,
"Do you vow to henceforth protect and defend the realm of Asteria with your life before and after completing this mission and importantly, keep the secret task from others by sealing your lips?",
"Yes, we solemnly vow with our lives depending on it and never to break this vow until we all perish either in the city or in the battlefield", They chorusly replied with sincerity.
"Alright, then our fate is sealed never to be broken but if it is broken, disaster will befall on the individual who do so", Makom said immediately as particles of the golden scroll scattered in the air and alighted on each everyone present in the chamber printing an Aqualis sign on all, "You are hereby dismissed to fulfill your destiny", he said as he slowly moved closer to them with all the council members following behind him while the trainees, after taking their knapsacks and the sheathed sword, paved way for them to pass as the large door opened for them all to leave the chamber. When they had gone outside the entrance of the building, they saw ten Trynasus awaiting them with ten guards which held the bridle while they stand on the ground.
"How do I fly that creature?", Selon whispered to Sasan who had attended the meeting earlier,
"All you just have to do is merge your energy together with its own, then wait to see whether it accept you or not", Sasan mumbled out to him in a whisper.
"And now for my own test, we didn't include this in your training because we believe this is what you should do on your own since the bond between every rider and his Trynasus is bound for life. These are ones you will share your fate with the moment you bond with them", Makom said looking at the creature while Agius, followed by the other trainees moved towards the creatures and bonded with them after sealing their energy together as one. Selon was hesitant at first but after gazing into the large eyes of the blue Trynasus who return his gaze with a mild look, he felt an emittance of energy which flowed from his body into it which he had placed his right hand on its forehead merging their energy to become one. Then he climbed into the large saddle and controlled it to take flight which it did as it flapped its wings taking to the skies and following behind the other riders who flew into the clear sunny clouds while the council members watched as they disappear into the white clouds.
They continued their flight during mid-day towards the southwest regions of the dry terrain that stretches far wide encompassing many mountains and green valleys. As they covered great distances, things begin to change as they including the Trynasus began to grew weary of the journey while they came across a serene waterfall covered with dry trees.
"Selon, let's alight on bank of that stream below the waterfall in order for us to refresh our energy including our new pets", Cascon implored caressing the neck region of his green Trynasus after much endurance of the heat.
"I don't think that's the best option even if the heat is unbearable right now", Agius said gazing forward,
"I agreed with Cascon beside there is something I need to discuss with all of you especially with Agius when we reach down there", Selon said as he pulled his bridle in order to glide towards the direction of the waterfall
"And what would that be?", Sermia asked looking quite confused about what he just said.
"Don't worry, you will find out once we get there", Selon said as he glided downwards sailing past two dry trees and alighted with his Trynasus on the wet ground beside the narrow stream which flowed slowly while the others landed consecutively on the ground.
"Okay, now that we're here, what do you have to tell us?", Piopar impatiently asked after coming down from his saddle.
"Please be patient with me since we need to refresh ourselves and Cascon will do that for us by fetching us something to eat while I tell you something of great importance", Selon replied warmly as he signaled Cascon to scout for some fruits which they would use to quench their hunger.
" And what is that?", Damus asked from behind since they had greatly surrounded Selon.
"Without wasting much of our time, what I want to say is about the map given to me which was to find out the exact route which will lead us to the city of zoa where we all believe the sword is located and that we've taken the wrong course away from the actual route which we took by sunrise earlier", Selon said as the others looked appalling before Selon because of what they had heard.
"When did you find out about this?", Agius asked feeling totally devastated,
"Few hours ago before Cascon spoke up which gave me an opportunity let all of you be aware of it", Selon answered him and said, "It's indicated here in the map that we should have moved southward from this point towards the ending of these tall mountains that is slightly connected with a bridge made of rope which will lead us past this sloppy cape into the city of Zoa", Selon said as he showed them the map which confirmed his deciphered co-ordinates as it began to reveal each point to be taken with a red ink that continue to run its course through the exact route to the city as explained by Selon.
"So now that we know the way to go to, shouldn't we get going now?", Agius asked impatiently,
"We'll after we're done resting here, while we wait for Cascon to arrive with the food", Selon replied as Cascon came with a bunch of fruits which he wrapped in a blue cloth. They shared it amongst themselves equally and gave some to their pets while they rested for some time. Then they left the waterfall with their Trynasus which conveyed them southwards and led them through those routes as indicated on the map bringing them purely into the land of Zoa which were covered with excavation of dry stones while dark energy obscure their movement in a thick fog that stretches far into a complex ruins of the ancient civilizations of Zoa.