The Signet Ring

Ryse Versus Cassidy

Cassidy is not even shaken by Ryse's blast, which made Ryse angrier. Cassidy is just there bravely standing not even changing her place. She did not even flinch. How come? Ryse wonders. Then she prepares for another attack. She touches her sword with her flickering palm. And the ordinary sword that she's holding suddenly illuminates light. Cassidy stares at Ryse's sword. She knows what she's doing. She's putting a sting on it. Then, Ryse attacks her ferociously, throwing a smash unto every side of her. She's flexible and she can move light as a feather, but Cassidy is better in combat. Ryse's attack can't knock her. Ryse uses her other hand to throw blade lights at Cassidy as she smashes her with her sword at the same time. But Cassidy manages to avoid every blade and the sharpness of  sting of Ryse's sword. Ryse once again growls in anger. She throws her sword on the side and made another  blast. This time it's stronger and huge that immediately hits Cassidy and before Cassidy could notice Ryse runs fastly towards her and smashes her with her stung sword. Cassidy raises her hand in defense, which resulted a cut in her elbows. Ryse smiled. She scored a point. One hit and another hit. She thinks. But to her surprise, he sees how the deep big cut in Cassidy's elbow healed instantly. Ryse's eyes widened.

 " What are you?"   she whispers. Ryse remembers how Kapono always tells them that only those who wear the signet ring can regenerate, for the one who possesses the ring is the one whom the phoenix will acknowledge as its master. And therefore, she'll gain the power of the phoenix, and for the ringmaster, it's not just an ordinary phoenix but of water and fire. It can't be. Ryse thinks. Even the teachers and students are shocked at what they just witness. 

 " Are you done showing off?",  Cassidy asks Ryse. 

 " Now, take note of this change in history,"  Cassidy said as she motioned her hands to create an orb, showing off. What is she going to do? She's moving like she's also born with natural elements? Ryse thinks. She waits for Cassidy's next move, expecting, preparing herself for an attack. No! It cant be, Ryse's eyes widened in disbelief. She's got the abilities of the Royal Tribe's cosmic elements! It cant be, we have the same? How come? She's just a farmer's daughter! The crowd also murmurs in disbelief. Could she be a lost descendant of any of the Tribe leaders? Even the teachers are confused. 

 Cassidy throws a blast of light same as what Ryse had thrown at Raye a moment ago. She could see the surprise and confusion in Ryse's face. Cassidy cackles. She intends to pissed her more. Cassidy raises her sword. The teachers that are watching the duel, hold their breaths, especially Kapono who had just arrived. Why her sword movements giving them a feels of Deja Vu? The way she raises her sword and she has some fighting skills that are like of Cassandra! Gosh! she's a headache. Kapono scratches his forehead. 

 Cassidy made another orb but this time it's not of a different element. Wait! What? She's born with the elements of the light water Tribe? She posses two? And they were all dumbfounded. 

 Cassidy smirks. She manipulates the water in the fountain, turned it into crystal daggers, and throws it to Ryse. It's too late for Ryse to avoid, one of the daggers hit her. Then Cassidy runs at a great speed attacking Ryse with a sword. Ryse in surprise bounces herself upward like floating into the air. She avoided Cassidy's attack. They exchanges clashes. The sound of swords clanging becomes intense. Each of them seems skilled. But deep inside Cassidy is still holding back. There's a hesitation in her not to hurt Ryse. While on the other hand, Ryse is already flaring up. She can't hold his anger anymore. Once more she screams wildly and summons energy from the sun. The student gasps in a chorus as they stare at Ryse floating, weaving a greater solar force, that huge fiery light she's creating makes them want to run out of the duel area. I couldn't lose from you, Cassidy! I have to win. She said on her mind. Then she throws it at Cassidy. The people panic. Cassidy sees the huge red flaming ball coming straightly towards her a great speed. Her eyes widened. It's too late to avoid it. How could Ryse use a fatal attack in a duel? Where are all this coming from? She thinks as she catches a glimpse of Ryse's face. No, it's not hunger for power that I sense in her. There's something more. Cassidy thinks. 

 Fire-Bird. Signet ring. Cassidy utters their names in her mind that even her heart whispers of it. Cassidy closes her eyes. I can't let this all out. I can't hurt her. She whispers. Just when Ryse's huge fiery solaric ball is about to hit her, a luminous bluish light appears, surrounding Cassidy as if shielding her. As when the fire touches the shield, drops of water float and Ryse sees how the ball of fire she created is gently suck up, causing it to fade slowly. Cassidy looks magical in that shield of her, yet once again she felt like something is burning at her back. Ryse glares at Cassidy. She rushes towards her pointing the sword, holding it with her two hands. Ryse smashed the shield that is surrounding Cassidy. But when the sharpness of her sword touches it, the shield suddenly blows up. And Ryse is thrown away by a great force. Wiping the blood on his lips, she tries to stand. Wait! What was it in her? She asks in her mind as she looks at Cassidy from a distance. The shield that had exploded formed into a shape of a bird. Was it a phoenix? But it's not flaming, it's transcending light! A bluish blazing light form of a bird! How could she possess that kind of power! She's not the ringmaster! She's not wearing the signet ring! The crowd murmurs. And they are all astonished and at the same time confused. All eyes are at Kapono seems seeking an explanation. It's like they're asking. Here is the girl who posses the natural-born elements of Royal and Light Water Tribe, yet she's just a farmer's daughter? And she possesses the power of the water phoenix, yet she's not the ringmaster? They all have the same question. Who is she?

 " Ryse!", Cassidy shouts as she watches her being blown away by the shield's explosion. The force that pushes her up farther is strong that it might break Ryse's bones once she landed back on the ground. God! She's falling like whirlwind now! Cassidy stretches out her hand as if stopping the gravity that pulls Ryse down. Then the force that pulls Ryse down, stops before her body nearly touches the ground. Cassidy drags her the gently landing Ryse on the ground. Ryse coughs. It's obvious she struggles greatly. Cassidy runs towards her to help her stand. What is that? Cassidy is stunned. Where did she get that scar on her neck? The coat that Ryse's wearing was ripped off. Cassidy extends out his hand at Ryse. Ryse notices Cassidy's stare on her neck. She fixes her clothes, snobs Cassidy, and walks out.

 " Ryse!", Cassidy hears Raye calling her sister. He followed her.

 Meanwhile, hiding at the corner is Ashane. He witnessed everything. No doubt you will be representing your class. So I'm sure I'll meet you at the next level. Ashane thinks as she stares at Cassidy. She's one of a kind. She's mysterious. Ashane wonders what Cassidy has that they still don't know. It's shocking to see the water phoenix in her. A while ago was not just a good show. But history to remember an event to be puzzled at. Ashane's hands clench. I should defeat you. I have to. He thought Ryse is her strongest contender to the ring and the Royal throne. Yet, this girl from a shabby farm is blocking his way. Ashane is sure that his father will be disturbed by this, knowing that the phoenix is with that girl. But he'll be delighted if I beat her up. He thinks. Meanwhile at the Royal Tribe's Castle. Zair hurriedly enters the chamber throne together with the other Tribe Kings and Kapono.

 " What?! a student in your Academy, which you think has the soul of the water phoenix? ", Neji's eyes narrowed

. " Are you all sure of that?", he glances at each of them. Neji looks at the signet ring on his finger as if inspecting it.

 " Hmmm, ", he murmurs. 

 "Let's see if it's really a water phoenix once she get to me in the last round", Neji said. These kings must not waver at him. They must feel that he's still the greatest in Velaris.

 " How can she have the water phoenix when I'm wearing this ring?",  Neji said, showing his fingers at them. 

 " But what puzzled me is that why she have the elements of your tribe Lumus, and ours too? Only the Tribe leader's descendants are naturally born with elemental powers" Neji asked. Then he looks at Lumus, " Are you sure you've been faithful to your wife?"  Neji inquires. 

 " Of course!",  Lumus laugh. Neji tried to recall who could it be in their clan. Yet, he could not think of any. "It's impossible also in our Tribe", Neji said. Regardless, I need to find out who she is. 

 "Anyway, I was attacked last time by a girl in a purple cloak, she has the cosmic elements of the Royal Tribe. I think that girl and Cassidy are the same people"     Neji said. 

 The tribes are surprised when they heard that.  

 " If they are the same, what is her reason to attack you?",  the Tribe Kings ask. 

" I have to find out", Neji said. That's all he could say for now. Cassidy you must win until the last stage. I'm rooting to have a match with you. I need to find out who you really are. He hadn't feel threatened ever since, even by Cassandra's twins. How could an outsider give me this kind of feeling? He thinks.