"My Princess," the young man across him bowed gracefully. "It is an honour to receive you. And-" He rose once more and coldly studied James. "This is the Earth-Born who rescued you?"
James pursed his lips. For some reason, that man seemed so eager to make an enemy out of him. Yes, yes, he was a- the Earth-born. But not like he asked to be one. In fact, it was ironic, because the only reason he was one was because he sacrificed his life for someone, and left everything else he loved behind.
So this was where bravery got you. Great.
"The one and only," James muttered with contempt.
If the man across heard it, he made no sign. "Doesn't look like much," he commented indifferently.
"Respect him," Myrrh commanded coldly.
The Misterian only bowed curtly once more. "To the best of my ability, Your Highness."
"You will train him," Myrrh said shortly. "Understand?"
"To the best of my ability," the Full-born Misterian repeated reluctantly. "The Queen informed me that he intends to participate in the Tests?"
"Yes," James said firmly, earning a sneer from the man. He ignored the Misterian, before side-glancing Myrrh and mouthing. "So he's my trainer?"
"The very best," Myrrh mouthed back, sighing.
"Oh happy day," James muttered sarcastically. He had a feeling he wasn't going to enjoy training one bit. Why couldn't Myrrh have trained him? Then he remembered the Queen's words: 'I shall ensure that you are well trained for it at the very least', and it struck him that this young-winged-man must be pretty professional then. Besides being a stuck-up git, he must be quite good.
James sized his trainer up. He was attractive- well to be precise, all of them were. He would have been extremely handsome (even for a Misterian) if only his eyes weren't staring at James in such a condescending manner. The Bastard. Seems like that were both Earth and Angelic Bastards.
"So?" James challenged, his previous human self kicking back in. "Bring it on."
"I am assuming you know nothing about flight," his trainer said. And it dawned upon James that it was meant as an insult. He remembered what Myrrh said about the Misterians looking down on those unable to fly.
"Wrong again," James snapped. "I fly as well as an... eagle."
His trainer smirked - not a good one. "Eagles do not fly well," He pointed out. "But go on, let us see if you can even fly as well as a paralyzed eagle."
James bit his lip. Mistake. He liked flying, but couldn't actually fly with his own wings, he realized. Uh oh.
"What a fool" His trainer remarked coldly before shoving him forward.
The floor of the arena underneath him shifted and retracted to the sides, to reveal an an even bigger arena, the floor a thousand feet below him. If you were thinking of some sort of platform, there was none. It wasn't any ordinary arena. But an 'airborne' one; an area soley meant for flight. If one fell from the air, only a thin layer of... CLOUD??? all the way at the very bottom was to catch him.
Also, the arena was pretty crowded with Misterians. If he fell, he would probably crush one of them.
James was sent falling, falling, falling. It took a second or two for him to regain his senses. And another second to spread open his wings. And by the time he managed to actually 'titter' upwards weakly, he was about five feet from hitting the ground head first.
"You could have killed me!" James yelled. "What the bloody-"
"I recall someone boasting about their flying skills."
"Well..." James muttered. "But I didn't expect you to push me off-"
"You're such a fool," His trainer interrupted. "Such cowardice. Truly pitiful."
James felt extremely inclined to give him the finger, but it occurred to him that his trainer's little push had been a blessing disguise. For he was airborne! Airborne and free as the wind!
James was, is, and always would be The King of the Skies. Even a Mysterian couldn't beat him if he tried.
He did the only thing he could think off. "Catch me," James challenged. "If you can!" And with that, he zipped off.
Perhaps his trainer hadn't bothered to give him the chase, because he probably thought it wasn't worth it. But it didn't matter, James was thoroughly enjoying it. That sensation... of the wind against your face; That sensation... of freedom in its purest form.
A dark shape swooped down after him at high speed, and it occurred to James that his trainer had taken up the challenge.
James smirked. He would make that man swallow his insults no matter what.
The shape zoomed to James left, and James ducked and swerved underneath it, narrowly missing a Celestial Pillar.
"You can't ever catch me!" James laughed triumphantly. "Tell you what: I'll catch you!"
And with that, he changed direction without warning, in pursuit of the blur shape before him.
James pushed himself forward.... Nearly, nearly there.... So close that he could picture the man's narrowed eyes, and his look of sheer awe. James smiled, and reached out...
The man dodged, and executed a beautiful, dazzling, amazing ninety-degree plunge in mid-flight. In normal situations, for normal people, they would hesitate, before turning the other way. But for James, he was different. He was the King of the Skies. Without a word, he followed, trying his best to keep control of his wings against the raging wind.
And in this manner, James Walker became the first New Earth-Born in history to complete a Ninety-Degree plunge.
Everyone stopped training in the arena and turned to watch, dumbfounded.
And as the 'cloud-lined' ground drew near, James fought to maintain his balance as he changed direction, gliding forward instead of downwards. The plunge wasn't perfect. His wings felt sore from the pressure, and his thighs from scraping the 'floor', but nonetheless, he was alive.
Or at least he thought he was alive.
James paused to catch his breath, and his instructor landed before him soundlessly.
"Are you... alright?" His instructor whispered in awe.
The adrenalin left James completely. "I... Yes," He replied, before grinning. "Better than ever. Want to try again?"
His instructor just gaped, before holding out his hand. "I am Shadorn, known as Shadow."
"About time you bothered to introduce yourself," James muttered, refusing to take his hand.
The instructor merely shrugged uncaringly. "You have earned a tiny portion of my respect, Young Earth-born. It is your decision to accept it."
"Only a portion?" James asked. "Where's the rest?"
"Only a portion," the instructor agreed firmly, his hand still hanging out loosely.
Hell, James thought. What was with the Misterian's honour, respect, virtues, all that rubbish? Look, he risked his life to perform a ninety degree plunge, and what? He only won a portion of his respect? Who cared for his respect anyway?
The instructor put down his hand. "Alright," James finally decided. "I'll shake your hand."
"Too late," the man replied tautly, before spreading his wings and taking off from the arena. James stared after him smugly before taking off after him, wondering where the instructor would lead him.
"Where are we going?!?!" James yelled after his instructor.
"Never speak while in flight," the instructor scowled at him.
James rolled his eyes. Myrrh never said so. And she was princess. "Tell me where we're going!" James insisted once more.
"Little fo-" The instructor changed the subject realizing that it was no longer applicable. "Little weakling, we are heading to the Weaponry."
"What?"
"You have no longer a need to learn to fly," the full born Misterian forced out, his 'honour' apparently hurt in the process.
"So?"
"So we are moving on to choose your weapon for The Tests," the man snarled back. "Now, shut up."
The Tests... James shivered at that thought. Oh yes, he had yet to sit through that.
And of course, the weapon he were to pick would play an important role. It would determine his win or his loss.
He wondered what weapon would be suitable for someone like him.
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