Author's Note: The video to the side is of the song "Elements" by Lindsey Stirling, which I think suits the theme of my story perfectly. Please check it out. Lindsey is a very talented young lady.

Sucking in a deep breath through her nose, Eva struggled to settle her nerves. Just relax, she encouraged herself. You can do this. You're ready. Just breathe.

A soldier gestured her forward, and then she was moving, stepping out onto the sandy beach. Cheers erupted behind her. The roaring merged with the crash of the ocean's waves into a rolling sound that nearly drowned her senses.

She forced a her lips to curve upward in a grin as she turned to face the crowd watching from atop the cliffs, but when she spotted her mother's encouraging face, her tense expression melted to a genuine smile. Eva gave a gracious nod before glancing to the section occupied by the royal family. Lowering her head and pressing a fist to her heart, she offered them a respectful bow before returning her gaze to her surroundings.

The temporary arena she found herself in had been set up at the foot of the cliffs below the Ataran capital city known as Elysia of the Fae, or more simply Elysia. This site had been chosen many years ago for the Trials "to provide the elements of wind, water, and earth for the competitors to manipulate," Eva recalled from one of her many lectures. Fire could be created from the heat in the air; although, to do so was slightly more difficult than if a flame were already present.

Five accomplished warriors, one woman and four men, spread out across from her on the side of the field nearest the ocean. She recognized them as the Officer Superiors from each division of the Ataran Army-the Royal Guard, Palace Guard, Capital Sentry, Keepers of the Realm, and Boundary Patrol. Each was fully armed with a variety of weapons from short knives to broadswords to staffs. The sunlight glinted off their silver chain mail, and their red sashes rustled slightly in the breeze from the ocean. They stood ready with hands clasped behind their backs and faces void of expression.

Several others had already faced them in the arena over the previous years. Many had left victorious while some had left with heads low and another year's training ahead of them before they could make another attempt. More than one challenger had lost his life in this arena in the past. As the first to take the Trial on this day, Eva was more than a little nervous, but she grit her teeth, determined to be one of those walking away in victory instead of defeat.

Trying to occupy her mind without appearing anxious and fidgety, she flipped her long, dark braid over her shoulder then checked the pair of knives hanging from her belt to make sure they were fastened tightly but could still be pulled free quickly when needed. Next, she tugged on the strap that ran across her chest and over one shoulder, ensuring the sword on her back was secure and wouldn't shift or bounce when she moved.

Gradually, the crowd of onlookers began to quiet down in anticipation for her challenges to begin. Closing her eyes, she took a moment to collect her thoughts and focus on the task at hand, shutting out everything else and disconnecting from her emotions. At twenty years of age, Eva was now old enough to take the Trial for the first time. Should she pass, she would be declared master of both the elements and combat and would be free to begin her life in whatever class of warrior she was deemed best suited. If a challenger performed well enough, more than one of the five division leaders might choose to claim him or her for their ranks. In that instance, the victor had the privilege of choosing between the classes.

I intend to be one of those select individuals who gets to choose for herself, she resolved silently.

From atop the cliffs behind her, the booming voice of the Warrior trainer, Master Brogan, interrupted her thoughts, "Eva, daughter of Eileen, you are here to face the final Trial of your training. The first wave of your challenge will be composed of elemental attacks from four of these five warriors in which you will attempt to defend and counter these attacks. After you have sufficiently proven your abilities with the elements, the second wave will begin and you will face the fifth warrior in combat. You will only win this second phase if you manage to remove the red sash from your opponent. Merging is permitted during this phase so long as you remain inside the arena. Are you ready?"

She gave a firm nod. "I am."

"Then let us begin."

A horn sounded, signaling the beginning of the first round. Eva shifted one foot back and widened her stance. With knees bent and hands raised in front of her, she waited for them to make the first attack. For the space of two heartbeats, nothing happened. No one moved. No one blinked. No one breathed.

Crack!

A jagged rock from the cliff behind her broke loose and flew towards her as the Officer Superior from the Boundary Patrol manipulated it with the movements of his hands. Reacting swiftly, she rolled across the sand to her right and regained her footing just outside of its path. Instead of continuing on its current route, though, the rock fragment changed course and raced at her once more.

Eva ducked and rolled to the side again, allowing the projectile to whiz by as she quickly skimmed through her options. Rising and turning back to the threat, she settled on the best plan she could think of at the moment. Reaching inside herself, she summoned her magic and used it to connect herself with the air around her. She concentrated it as much as she could into a large, rotating orb of violent wind. Just as the rock was turning to charge, she released the blast. The rock was hurtled back by the impact and smashed into the cliff, shattering into hundreds of pieces.

Applause broke out above her and Eva pivoted around on the balls of her feet back toward her opponents. After her back was turned to the rock fragments, however, they quickly began pulling back together into the shape of a flat boulder and rising into the air. Sensing that something wasn't right, Eva's eyes shifted between the five warriors. All at once, a large shadow loomed over her and she looked up in time to see the huge rock falling towards her. Quickly, she dropped to a crouch and threw her arms up, battling for control of the earthen object. The sand around her stooped position surged outward in a rush as their energies collided. The rock halted just above her palms and wavered there, caught between two opposing forces of magic.

After a couple strenuous seconds of laboring, Eva shifted tactics and allowed the stone to lower onto her palms. Concentrating only on keeping it from crushing her, she focused her magic into the boulder's center and began super heating it from the inside out. Anxiously peering over the edge of the cliffs to see what was happening, the onlookers noticed the stone had begun to glow. Suddenly, it exploded and bombarded the beach with a shower of molten rock, but despite the falling debris, Eva rose unscathed from the crater formed around her and lifted her head with a satisfied smile.

The crowd erupted with shouts and cheers and Eva turned her attention to the five warriors once more. As soon as her blue-green eyes connected with the man in the center, the Keepers of the Realm officer to the left of him spun forward and thrust his hands, palm out, towards her. Immediately, the air in front of him began to twist and swirl faster and faster until two perfectly shaped whirlwinds were formed, their howling growing louder with each passing second. With a flick of his wrists, the windstorms spread out and moved to either side of her. She whipped her head from one to the other, realizing she was trapped in the middle.

As they begin to close in on her, she had to shield her face and eyes with her arms to protect them against the sand kicked up into the air. Dropping to her knees, an idea formed among the deafening roar of the wind. She thrust her hands deep into the sand and released her magic, causing the ground beneath her to rise up and cover her in an earthen dome.

Above her shelter, the two twisters collided and combined into a larger, more violent one. The debris it flung about forced those spectators nearest the arena to shut their eyes and cover their noses and mouths with their clothing. As the whirlwind reached the peak of its fury, the ground began to rumble and the ocean began to thrash and churn. Those still able to see watched transfixed as the sand directly below the twister shot up into it. Almost at the same time, a column of water rose from the sea and wrapped itself around the spiral of air and sand. The rotation of the wind caused the water to mix with the sand until it created a muddy tower similar to that of a sandcastle. Unable to continue revolving, the air around the pillar faltered and dissipated into nothing.

The crowd opened their eyes only to stare at the giant column of wet sand as it teetered precariously before crashing back to the beach in a crumbled heap. Eileen leapt to her feet with clenched fists as her eyes searched frantically for her daughter. Suddenly, an area in the sand stirred, and the dome where Eva had hidden herself fractured and burst open. Brushing the sand from her hair and clothes, Eva climbed from her shelter to stand facing the cliffs before lifting a fist towards the onlookers who gushed with enthusiasm at her outstanding display. Sighing with relief, her mother sank back into her seat.

King Justian, watching from his special seating, flashed a smile of pride as he commented to his queen, "She is quite clever."

"Yes, a very impressive counter. She shows a great deal of promise." He nodded in satisfaction at her response.

After relishing in the small victory, Eva quickly sobered and returned her focus to the task at hand. "Only two more elements to go," she reminded herself and turned back to the five warriors.

This time the woman on the far left stepped up and Eva recognized her to be from the Capital Sentry. Looking over her shoulder, the woman reached out to the ocean with one hand, causing a dozen globes of water to rise from it. With only a thought from the female warrior, the globes flattened out and sharpened to a point before freezing solid. Eva's eyes widened in horror and her heartbeat rose rapidly when the bladed ends all turned in her direction.

The world around Eva seemed to slow to a crawl as her opponent rotated her arm forward as if she were throwing a ball. Simultaneously, the shards all lurched forward and Eva watched them fly toward her in slow motion. Milliseconds passed with her mind tripping over itself trying to formulate a defense. At the last moment, Eva's instinct surged up and overran her jumbled thoughts. She lifted both hands and called forth fire. It flared out in a burst of heat and clashed with the blades of ice, sending a soft hissing sound into the air as the water rapidly changed from solid to gas.

Eva blinked as time returned to its normal speed and a few drops of water splattered her face in testimony to how close she had been to serious injury. In a huff, she released the lungful of air she had been holding and took in a few deep breaths in an attempt to get her pulse rate back down. Before she could fully recover, though, she caught her attacker's eye. The woman gave an eerie smile that made Eva stiffen with a sense of dread.

Almost before she could blink, a wall of water shot up out of the sea and molded into the shape of a hand. She only had enough time to take one final breath before the hand reached out, wrapped itself around her small form, and lifted her off her feet.

Overwhelmed by a rising fear of drowning, Eva frantically used her magic to fight against the watery hand, trying to take control of the element. As panic neared, she realized she couldn't overcome the warrior's hold on the water. Desperately, she scoured her memories for any lesson, training, or battle that might hold the key to her escape. Within moments, though, her vision began to blur from lack of oxygen. While fighting against the encroaching darkness, an idea managed to push to the surface of her bleary mind. As the only hope she had left, Eva clung to it and forced herself to regain composure long enough to recreate the tornadoes the second warrior had used.

After a few more precious seconds, the air around her prison began to rotate, growing in strength until it created full-force tornadoes. She brought them in toward her until they begin pulling on the water, siphoning it off. She continued concentrating until, at last, a whirlwind broke through and caught her up in it. Gasping and sputtering, she directed the wind to lower her back down to the ground. Once she felt the earth beneath her, Eva put a hand to her chest and sucked in more of the sweet, precious air before looking up to see the tornadoes she had created. For a moment, she simply stared in shock. She had only pictured two when conjuring the whirlwinds, but instead, she saw four!

Shaking her head to pull herself out of her stunned state, she waved out a hand and all four disappeared. Then with a slight tremble, Eva pushed herself up onto her feet. Although she had managed to escape, the adrenaline that had dumped into her system left her feeling jittery and sluggish. This is why I have been pushing myself so hard in training-to build up my stamina, she reminded herself. I won't quit now. I can do this. Taking another deep breath of oxygen, she resumed a defensive stance and awaited the final elemental challenge.

Once he saw she had settled and was ready to continue, the Officer Superior of the Palace Guard gave her a nod and prepared to attack. Unclenching his fists, he summoned a flame in the palm of each hand. The flames reshaped and grew until they become perfect spheres the size of large melons. Then, without any further warning, he hurtled them at Eva's head. She leapt out of their path but was then forced to duck, somersault, and roll as he bombarded her with fireball after fireball. Eva spun to the left to avoid one aimed at her chest only to graze her arm with another. She grabbed her injured arm and grimaced as she dove to the ground. Frustrated and in pain, she sent out a ripple in the sand that, upon reaching him, surged up into the pyromaniac's face.

Rushing to take advantage of his temporary blindness, Eva dug her fingers into the soft sand and began to heat it. As it radiated outward, she molded and shaped the white-hot heat into the form she had pictured in her mind. After a few seconds, the heat subsided, and she grabbed hold of her creation. Lifting it free of the loose sand, the crowd was surprised to see a glass shield glinting in the afternoon sun. Satisfied with her work, Eva slipped her burned arm through the rings on the back. She had to grit her teeth as the heavy glass weighed on her tender skin, but she managed to hold the full-length shield steady in front of her as her attacker finally cleared his vision enough to glare at her.

Instead of resuming his game of dodge ball, though, he went to work conjuring up a flaming serpent. Eva cautiously took a few steps back as the snake-like form rose up and towered over her. In true serpentine fashion, it coiled up then sprang at her. She brought her shield up and braced herself as the impact and heat knocked her back. She managed to keep her feet, but the next strike was swift in coming. Sweat dripped from her chin and ran down her back as her arms began to quake in fatigue.

I won't be able to do this much longer...I'm running out of strength and I still have the combat round to face. I have to finish this now and save what's left of my endurance.

Peering around her shield, she managed a glance at the ocean as its waves crashed on the shore. An inspired smile grew on her face and she quickly ducked back behind her protection as the fiery snake opened its mouth to spew a stream of fire. Calling forth her magic, Eva pulled on the water. The strain from the mass of water caused her to grunt with the effort, but she clenched her jaw through the struggle and pulled harder. In response, a large wave gathered itself up high into the sky before crashing onto the snake, consuming the flames and throwing up a blinding amount of steam.

Without even a moment to recover, a horn sounded, signaling the end of the first round and the beginning of the second round. Eva reached over her right shoulder to grab the hilt of her sword and pulled it free. She twirled around it a few times, relishing the weight and feel of it in her hand as her eyes searched out those of the fifth and final warrior. As the steam began to lift, she found him, Officer Superior Willem of the Royal Guard, standing in the center of the other four. When their eyes connected, he began to stride towards her, pulling his own sword from its sheath at his hip. His armor clinked with every step, making Eva self-consciously readjust her grip on her shield since she only wore a light chain mail.

"That was a good trick making your own shield by melting the sand," he taunted, "but I wonder if it can handle a little pressure?"

With those words, he swung his blade in a wide arc toward her left shoulder. Eva deflected his attack with her shield but was careful to avoid taking a direct blow with it. She offered a counter to his attack by slicing at his midsection, but he stepped back and avoided it completely. Their efforts became fiercer then as the two increased the speed and power of their assaults.

They lunged, parried, struck, blocked, and dodged back and forth around the arena. The sounds of steel clashing with steel drowned out the sound of the waves breaking on the shore. After already battling the other four warriors in the first round, though, Eva's body was fatigued and her movements were not as quick as her opponent's. More than once a strike broke through her defenses, earning her several knicks and cuts.

As the two moved closer to the foot of the cliffs, the more experienced warrior saw an opening and lashed out at Eva's head. She tried to step to the side and block it, but her foot caught on an outcropping of rock and she fell. Her shield smashed against the jagged stones and shattered. Never letting up, Willem raised his weapon high before bringing it back down on top of her. Eva managed to scramble out of the way just in time then rolled back up onto her feet a few paces away. Thrown off balance from missing his target, the warrior stumbled forward across the rocks where she had just lain.

While he struggled to right himself, Eva glanced up to see a couple of seagulls circling overhead. She reached out to one with her mind and called to it. Immediately, the gull changed direction and dove for her. Turning back to the officer who had regained his footing, Eva pulled free a knife from her belt and flung it at him. He dodged it easily but it distracted him long enough for her to rotate on her heel and sprint to the top of a nearby pile of rocks. Just as she pushed off from the ledge and leapt into the air, the seagull swooped down and collided with her chest. A brilliant flash of light hid both the young woman and the gull momentarily, and when the light subsided, only the woman remained. Her appearance had changed slightly, however, in that a set of black and white wings had emerged from her upper back, flapping softly to suspend her in the air.

Eva directed her gaze toward the sound of someone clapping. "A very impressive display, though perhaps a bit theatrical." The seasoned officer gave her an amused smile as he spread his arms wide. "Merging it is then." At those words, a hawk zoomed by her head and she had to duck to avoid its razor sharp claws. It raced for the warrior's chest and both were absorbed in the same bright light that had previously enveloped Eva.

She closed her eyes against the light but that quickly proved to be a mistake, for as soon as his merging was complete, the officer used his new, brown wings to thrust off the ground and rush up at her. She had only just opened her eyes when he reached her with sword raised. Quickly, she banked to the left then pumped her wings vigorously to gain more altitude. The officer followed closely as they soared high above the arena. Turning suddenly, Eva reengaged her opponent. Metal once again rang against metal as the two winged combatants traded blows.

After several strong attacks, their swords connected and became entangled at the cross guard. In an effort to pull hers free, Eva twisted their interlocked blades around and down, but her hands were so sweaty and slippery that she accidentally sent both swords flying through the air. As she paused in stunned disbelief, her opponent took advantage of the distraction and punched her in the face. She tumbled backward from the blow, and he lunged forward to grab her by the wings, preventing her from escaping as he drove her toward the ground far below.

The wind whistled in her ears as she plummeted from the sky helplessly, and terror stole her breath as the beach rushed up to meet her. No! her mind screamed. I can't lose this way. I won't allow it! In a final effort to save herself, Eva gathered what was left of her wits and released the seagull from within her. As the bird separated from her in another flash of white, the wings Willem had been gripping disappeared. With time running out, she twisted around to face him, grabbed a hold of his red sash, and sliced through it with her last knife. Realizing he had been defeated, the head of the Royal Guard spread his wings to disentangle himself and stop his free fall. Eva reached out with her magic to the wind around her and used it to slow her decent enough that she landed safely on the beach.

An eerie silence filled the air in the few moments it took for those in attendance to realize that it was over. In the hush, Eva searched out her mother's face before raising the torn sash high over her head. Tears of relief and pride filled her mother's eyes at the sight, and the spectators released a deafening roar that shook the cliffs as they celebrated her victory. Landing behind her, the fifth officer along with the other four joined in the congratulating with a heartfelt applause. Eva turned to face them with a slight blush and beaming smile before clapping a fist to her heart in a salute.

"Honor and devotion to the throne," she called to them.

They returned the gesture with fists over their own hearts as they gave the response to the Warrior's creed, "Strength and integrity to the people."

Officer Superior Willem gave her an approving nod while adding, "Well done, child. You will do great things in service to your king."

Before she could reply, a strong hand engulfed her shoulder and gave a firm squeeze. "Congratulations, Eva. I knew you had it in you."

She grimaced at the pressure but then hid it by smiling up at the familiar face of Master Brogan. "Thank you, sir. I cut it close a couple of times, but all of your expert teaching paid off."

"Well of course it did. Did you think I was put in charge of warrior training for my looks?" He raised a gray eyebrow as though expecting an answer, but the mirth in his blue eyes belied his serious demeanor. "Ah, I believe someone is coming who can see to your injuries."

She followed the direction of his gaze to see a middle-aged woman dressed in a simple, yet elegant white dress approaching. The woman gave a small curtsey to the group before addressing Eva, "Hello, young one. I am Sorlene. May I be permitted to mend your wounds?"

"Yes, of course. Thank you." With the permission given, Sorlene gently placed her hands on Eva's chest and back. A warm glow began to spread throughout her body as the gentle woman started using her magic to erase any signs of battle. In a very short time, Eva began to feel her strength and energy returning to replace the fatigue, and in the back of her mind, she wondered how this woman was related to the king since only those of Royal lineage had the power to heal.

After a few moments, Sorlene removed her hands and the radiating warmth faded away. Eva looked down to discover that all of her wounds had been cured. Stretching this way and that, she noticed the stiffness and pain had disappeared as well.

"Better?" Sorlene asked as her soft smile caused the corners of her eyes to crease, revealing a life prone to joy and laughter.

"Yes, very much so. Thank you again."

"I would say that you are welcome to the same treatment any time, but I sincerely hope you do not require healing often."

For the first time all day, Eva's quiet laughter bubbled up. "I agree wholeheartedly."

Stepping forward to cut off any further conversation, Master Trainer Brogan commented, "Well then, it's good to see you back to rights again. Now, let's get the rest of this ceremony over with. Come and face the crowd."

The refreshed victor promptly did as instructed. She stood at attention, shoulders back and spine straight, while awaiting the question each successful challenger heard: "In which division of Warriors shall you be placed?" In answer, one or even all of the five warriors the challenger faced that day might step forward to claim him or her for their numbers. Eva's mother was a unit leader of the Palace Guard, and she knew her mother would be thrilled if she were to be placed at that level of honor.

Personally, though, I'd rather be accepted into the Keepers of the Realm so I can roam the quiet countryside away from the busy capital.

Shaking herself from her reverie, Eva looked to her former teacher who had at last managed to quiet the crowd and gain everyone's attention. "Lords and ladies," he began, "every Junior Warrior that comes under my schooling endures the same monotonous instructions, the same grueling drills, and the same daunting trials. In these, some students have proven more skilled than others. I am pleased to say that this young woman has been one of those who continually impressed and surprised all her teachers, including me."

Eva tried to keep a blank expression and maintain a steady gaze straight ahead throughout his praises, but her efforts were undermined by an increasingly pink tinge that continued to develop on her cheeks as he continued. "Even here today in the arena, she has proven herself to be a step above her peers. She found herself in many situations in which other competitors might have failed, but still she charged ahead to victory. So, it is with great satisfaction I bestow upon her the title of Warrior, for she has more than earned it."

Turning to face her, he clapped a fist to his heart and bowed, a sign of great respect. Eva mirrored his gesture with her own bow, and once again the air was filled with the thrilled cheers of every person present. After straightening, Eva lifted her eyes to her mother's tear-brimmed gaze for a moment then to the king and queen who were leaning into each other and exchanging words in private. Queen Linarra looked up at that moment and winked at Eva, causing the young warrior to look away in embarrassment at having been caught staring.

After allowing sufficient time for everyone to show their enthusiasm, Master Brogan raised his hands in a request for silence. Eventually, the commotion died down again as the people tried to hear the rest of his pronouncement. "Thank you. Now it is time to determine what class of warrior she is best suited for. This decision, as you well know, is based in part on her performance today but also on her unique skills as displayed throughout her training. We will also take into consideration which class has the greatest need for new recruits. So, at last we come down to the final question: Eva, daughter of Eileen, in which division of Warriors shall you be placed? Officer Superiors of the five divisions, which of you would have her as one of your own? Step forward to make your claim."

As one, all five stepped forward to signify their willingness to have her join their ranks. Eva's eyes widened slightly at their response, but she quickly recovered and replaced her stoic mask. With a small smile to show his delight, the Master Trainer turned to Eva.

Just before he could ask her which class she would choose, the king rose to his feet and interjected, "Master Brogan."

"Yes, my lord," he quickly replied with a start.

"Forgive my interruption, but before you allow the young warrior to select a class, I have a proposition for her. Eva, my wife and I have just been discussing a mutual concern of ours. Namely, the safety and well being of our daughter, Nadia. After watching you today, however, I believe we have developed a solution. We wish to offer you the privilege of acting as the princess's protector and companion. You would be under the command of Officer Superior Willem as a member of the Royal Guard but would operate separately and exclusively as Nadia's guardian. What say you to this? Would you take on this charge and lay our worries to rest?"

Suddenly, all the eyes that had been focused on the king now turned to Eva. A torrent of emotions bombarded her already overwhelmed mind-surprise, shock, delight, pride, and anxiety. As she automatically dropped to one knee with head bowed and fist over her heart, one sensation surpassed all the others-excitement.

"My king, it would be an honor to be entrusted with Princess Nadia's care. I humbly accept your most generous offer and vow to ensure she is kept safe at all costs so long as my heart beats."

"Very well, then," the king replied with a pleased smile. "I believe it is customary for victors to receive two full days leave to celebrate their success. After your two days are completed, you will report to Willem to begin your new assignment."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Seeing that the two had everything settled, Master Brogan took advantage of the crowd's stunned silence to finish the formalities. He gestured for Eva to rise and stand beside him before facing those watching once more. "Lords and ladies, with nothing further to address, allow me to present to you Warrior Eva of the Royal Guard, servant to the Ataran throne!"

Once again, Eva clapped a fist to her heart in thanks amidst the commotion raised by the ecstatic crowd. After a few more uncomfortable minutes of being the sole object attention, Master Brogan at long last nodded his head for her to be dismissed. Finally relieved of both duty and ceremony, she hurriedly made her way across the arena and up the narrow cliff trail to the open arms of her mother.

"Have I ever told you how proud I am to have you as my daughter?" her mother asked in her ear.

"Not since breakfast," Eva chuckled.

As she pulled away and swiped at some stray tears, Eileen added, "Come on. Let's get you cleaned and freshened up for the banquet tonight. I'm sure you've had enough of all this cheering for one day."

"You read my mind."

As the two pushed their way through the mass, people all around stopped them to congratulate and compliment Eva on her successful Trial. Smiling and nodding, she pressed on until eventually they were able to escape the boisterous throng and head for the quiet bliss of home.

Author's Note: Whew, that was exciting! This chapter was a lot of fun to write, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on it in the comments below. Also, if you enjoyed it, don't forget to hit the vote button :)