Serena Aquilas gulped before she stepped into the shadowy chamber, her heart pounding in a symphony of excitement and determination.
"You are brave, Serena. You are brave." She whispered with intent, reminding herself that she has been through a lot, and this thing right here is nothing short of an uncanny way of proving her prowess to the Kingdom.
They were raised by their mother to be modest.
Rumor has it that her mother was a creature of the sea who became human when she fell in love with Lord Aquilas when they were younger, but the noble family never confirmed this.
Common city folks who had never been to the Tidespire Islands simply brought it to life.
After all, unlike other Royal Regions in the Kingdom of Elaria, only the House of Aquilas ruled the entirety of these islands.
As the door closed behind her, Serena was enveloped in the soothing ambiance of distant water sounds, a subtle reminder of the elemental prowess coursing through her veins.
From the darkness, a deep, menacing growl reverberated, sending a chilling echo across the room.
Emerging from the shadows was a beast of monumental size, its scales glistening under the scant light like damp cobblestones and its eyes, two orbs glowing with a spectral luminescence.
Serena inhaled deeply, the moisture in the air swirling in anticipation around her.
With an elegance born of fierce resolve, she called forth a stream of water, enfolding herself within its protective embrace.
The beast, with predatory swiftness, lunged. Serena gracefully pivoted, manipulating her aqueous shield to repel the creature's advance.
"Your might is formidable, but my resolve flows deeper," she declared, her voice as clear and commanding as a mountain spring.
The air crackled with tension as she wove her hands through the air, the water mimicking her movements with lethal precision.
The undeterred beast unleashed a torrent of roars, its body a mass of muscle and fury against the calming gush of water. Each attack was a test, each defense a dance in the waters — Serena was always a step ahead!
As the beast mounted another fierce assault, its claws rending through the air towards her, Serena raised her hand, summoning a towering water barrier.
"This is my domain," she breathed, her eyes locked on the beast as it struck against the liquid barricade, its ferocity meeting her indomitable will.
Realizing brute force alone wouldn't suffice, Serena employed her ingenuity.
She danced around the beast, her movements fluid and mesmerizing. With a flick of her wrist, she conjured water into the best technique she had ever practiced for years... A large spear made of water!
"Is this all you possess?" Serena taunted, her words laced with challenge.
The beast, now seething with ire, responded not with words but with renewed vigor in its attacks.
Yet, for every move it made, Serena was its echo, her grace in the face of danger a ballet of power and poise.
The climax of their encounter was nothing short of spectacular. With arms raised to the heavens, Serena called upon the very essence of the water.
"Yield, creature of shadow! The tides turn against you," she announced.
Then, the massive Ocean Spear skill, summoned from the depths, answered her call, crashing down upon the beast with the weight of an ocean!
As the dust settled and the water calmed, the beast lay subdued, its breaths coming in shallow gasps.
Serena approached, her victory undeniable, yet her eyes bore no malice.
"Return to the shadows, lear, and remember the power of the water," she whispered.
Serena's ballet of water and might had not only subdued the beast but had also woven her legend into the annals of their lineage. Her footsteps echoed as she exited the room. Ivana's looks almost picked her modest self.
"So you are the best among your sisters?" Lucius smirked, his arms now crossed.
Hearing this, it seems a vein from Serena's head surged quite some blood. "Do not underestimate my sisters, my prince. Watch them."
---
Zorina had always felt overshadowed by Serena's prowess, but today was her chance to escape that shadow. The chamber door closed behind her, and she faced the darkness alone.
The beast appeared, its eyes glowing menacingly.
Zorina took a deep breath, summoning her water.
Unlike Serena, her control was less refined, but her determination was no less fierce. She conjured a stream of water, wrapping it around her hands.
The beast lunged at her, and she raised her hands, sending the water forward in a sharp jet.
The creature dodged, but she quickly followed up with another attack, her movements more frantic but no less effective. The water sliced through the air, striking the beast and pushing it back.
"Ugh, why is it tough?" She hissed. But Zorina knows well that now is not the time to feel defeated!
Zorina's eyes narrowed as she focused, trying to channel her frustration into power. But then, the beast roared, charging at her again.
She sidestepped, her water forming a barrier to block its attack. The creature's claws met the barrier, and they were locked in a struggle momentarily!
With a cry of determination, Zorina pushed back, sending the beast stumbling. The girl knew this could be the only chance she'd get, so she seized the opportunity, raising her hands to summon a wave.
The water surged forward, crashing into the creature and knocking it off its feet.
The beast roared in frustration, struggling to rise. Zorina stepped forward, her eyes filled with determination. She raised her hands again, summoning a water vortex around the beast. The water spun faster and faster, trapping the creature within.
However, Zorina barely has enough magical energy to pursue such a technique. The vortex was unstable, and Zorina struggled to maintain control.
The beast thrashed against the water, its roars echoing through the chamber. Zorina's face twisted in concentration as she fought to keep the vortex intact.
Suddenly, the beast lunged, breaking free of the vortex and striking her with a powerful blow!
"Nyah!" Zorina cried out in pain, stumbling back.
Blood trickled from a wound on her arm, and for a moment, she felt a wave of despair.
"Damn it... damn, it. DAMN IT!"
The only thing in her mind right now was her sister's face. Oh, how much it angered her... The pitied look from Serena as if her younger sister would never be able to defend herself... She hated that so much!
"I cannot let her see me weak again. Not now, not ever!"
But then, something incredible happened.
She felt a warmth in her hands, and the water around her responded. She looked down to see a faint glow as her wound began to heal. It was a small, tentative healing, but it was enough to give her hope.
With renewed determination, Zorina raised her hands, summoning her water again.
The beast charged at her, but she stood her ground, sending a powerful jet of water forward. The creature staggered, and she followed up with another attack, her movements more confident.
The beast roared in frustration, but Zorina didn't falter. She raised her hands, summoning a wave to crash down on the creature. The water surged forward, knocking the beast off its feet.
Zorina stepped forward, her eyes glowing with determination.
With a final push, she summoned her water vortex around the beast!
The water spun faster and faster, trapping the creature within. Her control was more stable this time, and the beast struggled against the vortex in vain.
With a cry of triumph, Zorina closed her hands, collapsing the vortex in on itself. The beast let out a final roar before completely submerged, the water crushing it into submission. Zorina stood there, panting, as the water receded. The beast lay motionless on the ground, defeated.
Zorina laid down on the ground, too, following the monster from her exhaustion. Yeah, maybe she'd lie down for a minute or two as she imagined the look on Serena's face.
---
Cirana, the youngest of the Aquilas sisters, entered her chamber with a mix of excitement and fear.
She had always looked up to her sisters, and now it was her turn to prove herself. The chamber door closed behind her, and she faced the darkness alone.
The beast appeared, its eyes glowing menacingly. Cirana took a deep breath, summoning her water. Her control was less refined than her sisters', but she had a unique skill that set her apart!
Just like what she did from the first trial, Cirana conjured two water animals, her signature Pisces!
"Come, Pisces, let's put this monster into its deepest sleep!" She cried adorably, something her fishes really like to hear.
The two fish swam around her, their bodies shimmering with a faint blue light. The beast lunged at her, and she raised her hands, sending the fish forward. The Pisces darted through the air, striking the beast and pushing it back!
Cirana's eyes narrowed as she focused, trying to channel her fear into power.
"GRAAH!" But the beast roared, charging at her with full speed head-on.
But Cirana, quick with her hands, used her water bending to order Pisces to come back in front of her. The beast thrashed against the water, its roars echoing through the chamber. Cirana's face twisted in concentration as she fought to maintain control. The fish swam around the beast, their bodies shimmering with a faint blue light.
Suddenly, the beast lunged!
"No!" Cirana shouted as the beast broke free of the fish and struck her with a powerful blow.
"Ngh!" The young princess cried out in pain, stumbling back. Blood trickled from a wound on her arm, and for a moment, she felt a wave of despair.
In a moment of astonishment, she sensed a gentle warmth spreading through her hands, and to her amazement, the water seemed to heed her call.
Looking down, she witnessed her fish undergoing a wondrous metamorphosis, their forms expanding and reshaping into majestic dolphins!
The look in her eyes can definitely say how happy the girl was. In fact, a lot of things are running through her mind right now! Yet she could not bear to be sidetracked. Her future plans with this newfound advancement of her power will have some time after this battle.
Filled with newfound resolve, Cirana lifted her hands, beckoning forth her cetacean companions. The menacing creature advanced menacingly, but she held her position, directing the dolphins into action. With graceful arcs, the dolphins launched themselves through the air, delivering resounding blows to the formidable adversary.
With a final push, she summoned her dolphins to encircle the beast. The water creatures swam around the monster, their bodies shimmering with a faint blue light. The beast struggled against the water, but it could not escape the coordinated assault.
The dolphins, agile and determined, used their speed to their advantage, darting in and out, keeping the beast disoriented. As the monster tired, its movements grew sluggish, and its attempts to break free weakened.
Finally, the creature ceased its struggle, subdued by the relentless energy of its marine adversaries.
The beast, now calm, understood it was no match for the unity and strength of the sea's inhabitants.
At that moment, the water conjurer won.