Guardian Vs. Hybrid

Shopping and Combat

In the capital Ja-kkar of Ros-Titan Lands.

                “These are beautiful, Bell! Look at the ruby in the center.” Daphne giggled as she held the expensive necklace up to her throat.

                On days like this the Elite I wished for at least a drink while I followed the Princess around like a dog on her shopping adventures. Everyone around Ja-kkar knows that I was always within sight of the girl, so no one local usually tired anything stupid. It gave me a short reprieve from always being at my wits end because of a threat. I could breathe without feeling like my world might end at any moment.

                Then I shivered, a sign that that there was a power shift in the air. Quickly, I glanced around for a sign of where it had come from. I saw a man staring at me from across the market, but before I deemed him as a threat he looked away to continue walking around. Relieved, I sighed and returned to what the Princess was doing.

                “Look how beautiful this dress is, this color of grey will go great with your hair.” Daphne said skipping over to display a slate grey, low cut, silk dress and then draped it over my arm with the handful of other garments and was off again.  

                My powers flickered inside of me on edge from the earlier shift, they told me that someone above average strength was approaching closer to Daphne than I would like. Within a second I vanished and reappeared behind the Princess.

                “Don’t’ move, my lady.” I saw the man from before watching me from where he stood thirty feet away. With a flick of my free wrist, a wave of pure energy washed over his soul, sucking the air straight out of his lungs before exiting out of his back.

                It was only a warning that he was testing dangerous waters getting close to the Princess without trying to address me first, he knew it too. I shifted the clothes on my arm to stay on better while I held out my hand palm to the sky, and built up pure energy in a devastating glowing ball. This was not a warning shot, this one was meant to kill. All around the people dispersed seeing me in fighting stance with my energy swirling around me in a light green wisp. They knew this meant ‘get away now’.

                “Who are you, and what’s your business with the Princess? If you refuse to answer you will die, I’m not in the mood for this today.” I said, stepping a little forward. Something about him looked strangely familiar as I got closer.

                The man’s entire aura changed as he put his hands up before using one to pull back the hood of his cloak. “Don’t be that thrilled to kill me we’ve only just met, well maybe not. But we will be spending a lot of time together from now on. Rosabell the Bloody Beauty of Stein.”

                I gave a dry laugh at what the people had started calling me throughout the land, but slightly recognized the man’s voice. “Fine, don’t answer my question, it’s your life.” I was just about to release the ball that would fly at roughly 300mph through the air at its target, but a hand lightly touched my back. I could feel the Princess’s uneasiness behind me that told me she wanted me to yield.

                “Bell, that’s my betrothed Prince Zohar Incoy-Wencroft your about to kill.” Daphne said smiling with her hand still on me.

                Instantly, I dispersed the energy ball and bowed like a soldier to him. “I’m truly sorry about this misunderstanding, General. I honestly didn’t realize it was you. You look…different than you looked in the war.” I addressed him by military status, not by my Lord. Soldiers were required to call others in service as their ranking rather than their royal status unless it was a king or queen.

                Zohar was still debating on whether or not my ball of energy would have severely wounded him or killed him when he answered. “I do…faintly remember you serving in the war, and I can be assured you are the best Elite in Ja-kkar? What level are you again?” He now remembered my beauty next to him as I sliced through my foes with ease, but he still felt like there was more to our relationship than that. He just couldn’t remember all too well since he was in the Haze of his first Turning.

                “I’m a Halo Elite and a Corporal in the Veliam army, General. I served your father in his personal regimen after he saw my skills and we…anyways, I serve the Stratfield family with my life. I can also assure you that I’m the best around.” I said before turning around to address the Princess. “Lady Daphne, we should escort the Lord General back to the castle to inform your mother he has arrived.”

                The Princess smiled, “Yes, we probably should. Oh, and Lord Zohar it’s best not to doubt her abilities. My beauty here is the best Halo and Energy User in almost all the Lands, Rosabell is just perfect and utterly lethal too. Let me show you the way, my Lord.”

                He smiled and held out his hand. “Lead on, Princess. If you want Corporal you can go ahead of us and drop off those wears back at the palace.”

                “I’m fine, ser. My sole job is to protect, watch, comfort, and obey Lady Daphne until I can no longer or directed otherwise by a superior officer. I am perfectly fine where I am, please proceed with the Princess to the Queen’s keep, General.” I didn’t let any emotion come to my face, I resembled a statue with the clothes still draped over my arm.

                The military taught her well, Zo thought as he raised an eyebrow remembering how captivating I was next to him in the thick of the fighting. Full of confidence and authority that leaked into every movement I made. I taught her well, he thought.

                My head snapped in his direction. Unsure of what just happened. I could hear him, but his mouth wasn’t moving. Could I read his thoughts? This was something I normally couldn’t do. Still, I was sure that’s exactly what I heard. I had to test this new phenomena and see if I was right. If so, then I was in deeper than I thought.

                Zohar raised an eyebrow at my staring. “You have a strong sense of loyalty to your Lady. Your service is admirable Corporal.”

                “I was the youngest woman under your command, before that nothing. I do not have anything to impair me from being what I was told to do, General.” I continued, not breaking my watchful patrol. “Your friend can come out of the bushes now, I don’t know why he has been hiding for the last five minutes. Those bushes are full of Spindle Needles.”

                Zo smirked before he gestured in the direction I was talking about. “You’re good, Corporal. How did you know he was there?”

                The man stood and began towards them, I resisted the urge to be sarcastic. “I saw him walk over there and hide, General.”

                Daphne giggled. “Why do I think you are still testing my Elite, Lord Zohar? I’ve heard stories of her saving your lineage multiple times, so leave her be. Bell’s proved herself worthy at one point or another in that war.”

                 He’s expression didn’t change, still trying to remember more about me. “If she was one of my personal soldiers, I expect nothing but the best, Princess. So far she has exceeded my expectations.”

                I bowed, “Thank you, General. You honor me with your praise.” Inside, I wanted to make his stomach implode for not remembering me, because I remembered him. Everything about him from the war.

                “That’s very kind of you, Lord Zohar.” Princess Daphne said pulling him ahead.

                The rest of the way to the palace, the princess showed him the landmarks and told him about each store, while I walked silently behind them with the Prince’s friend slowly following. Surprisingly, he seemed interested in what the Princess was talking about, but I had a little payback method of my own to perform. My power test, and my mind test.

                I began to use my energy to mess with his mood, pushing out and twisting his atmosphere. Zo shook his head, clearing it and showing that he was resistant to weak energy spells. I decided on something a little more powerful, called a mood transfer. It was when I switched the persons mood with whatever I desired, causing the person to react immediately. I switched his mood for rage, and watched him carefully. His fists clenched, turning his knuckles white and making the veins in his toned arms show against his skin. But he didn’t act out anything violent.

                I snorted as he looked over to me with a lopsided smile on his face. He knew it was me messing with him, and somehow, he found it utterly amusing. Like it was on old game or something.

                Now for the true test, but how to administer it? I smiled, because if I was right, he was hearing everything I had been thinking up to this point too. With a huff, I started.

                I wonder what it would be like to be the Dread Prince? Does he feel? Does he know what it’s like to love a woman through the night? Or does he just get off and then rip them apart? I thought loudly as I watched for some kind of sign that he was listening. But nothing. He didn’t even flinch. Hmm…I was sure…

                Princess Daphne stopped for a moment to say high to a woman who was one of her handmaidens, halting the entire party. As soon as my feet stopped, I grew bored, but then something caught my attention.

                Prince Zohar leaned his head back to look directly at me with a smirk all over his lips. He froze me to my spot with a simple glance. Do you want to see how I love a woman, Corporal? I’ll give you a taste if that’s what you want.

                I sucked in a breath. He could hear me. I tried my best to regain my confidence. I knew it. You can hear me, General. Oh, and no thanks. I’ve already been down that road.

                He raised an eyebrow. What? Are you implying that-

                “Let’s continue on, my prince. I’m sorry that took so long.” Princess Daphne intervened in our mind conversation, cutting of Zo and whatever he was going to say.

                All the while, I held my head as if I won a battle. Little did I know that with that one comment, I started a war.