"Promise me, Drake," I said as me and Drake started walking over to the rest of the teams. Drake was limping slightly, but he was pushing through the pain, and told me that he had to compete in the battles. There was no talking him out of it.

"I promise I'll try not to, how's that?" Drake asked at he lifted his sword out of his holster with his bad arm, testing the weight. His eyes flickered with pain, but he did his best to conceal it.

"No, I need a promise," I said as I took his sword away from him. He reached for it, but I backed away. "I'm not giving this back until you promise."

"Cara..."

"Promise."

Drake sighed and said confidently, "I, Drake Aleron Fallingvail, promise not to die in this battle or the battles after." I smiled and gave him his sword back.

"I feel so much better now," I said as I grabbed his hand and played with his ring. Drake started laughing.

"Since, I gave you that ring, you seem way more cheerful," Drake said.

"Um... you mean since you asked if we can be married, I've been way more cheerful... yes, I have been. Drake! We are going to get married!" I said, glancing at my ring, then back at his. My smile grew.

"You seemed shocked," Drake said as he looked up at the sky.

"Um... yes, because I was still processing you falling in lava, and then randomly asking, and then because I am sixteen, I was not expecting you to ask... But who cares, Drake? Oh, wait..." I gasped and looked at Drake. "Did you...?"

"I did."

"You talked to my dad? How long have you been planning this?" I said as I stared wide eyed at Drake.

"Um... lets see... when did I come over to comfort you when Mira attacked you?" Drake said smirking. I started laughing.

"No way. I thought you... wait. You stayed after I fell asleep to ask for my dad's permission to marry me?" I asked, baffled.

"Yep," Drake said as his smirk grew bigger.

"Wow..." I whispered as I saw the other teams coming into view. "You are good at sneaking, mister."

"Why, thank you, my lady," Drake said as he jokingly kissed my hand. We laughed the rest of the way to the game field. We saw teams there panting. They were scared and bruised. Mira was among them she was looking at the ground. She looked up and saw Drake and me. She gasped and a tear fell down her face. I looked at Drake's face and saw that he was looking at Mira as if she wasn't there. Mira disappeared behind other team members.

Everyone looked at me and Drake.

Oara, Lyrra, and Lux ran up to us. They were the most bruised of all. I looked behind them and saw Lynx helping Phibi jog over to us. I suddenly felt a pang of guilt wash over me. The five of them had to fight without me, along with Phibi being injured, she still had to fight.

Oara threw her arms around Drake and then pulled away and said, "I realized that probably hurt... sorry. But you're alive!" Oara yelled as she jumped up and down. She winced from the motion but didn't complain. "I've missed having my brother like friend, either ways you're on a different team... but still!"

Drake laughed as the rest of my team gently hugged him and messed up his already messy hair. "I miss being on the Thunderviles..." Drake said as his eyes wondered around everyone.

"Well, we missed you," Lynx said as he tussled Drake's hair. Oara, looked at me and then glanced at me and Drake holding hands. She stared at our hands and then slowly looked at me. Her eyes sparkled. I gave a small nod and she squealed and clasped a hand over her mouth.

"Excuse us, Drake, but I need to have a word with Cara," Oara said as she yanked my away from Drake and the team and pulled my into the woods. "WHEN?" Oara screamed.

"Earlier today... like an hour ago," I said as Oara snatched my hand and stared intensely at the ring.

"This is insane! Oh my goodness, you must let me help you pick out your armor gown for the wedding!" Oara said as she jumped up and down.

"Alright, I promise," I said as I gave Oara a hug. She smiled and then hugged me back.

"Let's head back," Oara said as she squeezed my hand and pulled me back out of the forest.

"What teams have been eliminated?" I asked as I stood again next to Drake. His facial expression changed... I couldn't pin what he was feeling. "What's wrong, Drake?"

He didn't respond and shrugged.

"Drake?" I asked. He smiled knowing I was worried.

"It's nothing, Cara, don't worry about it," Drake said as he squeezed my hand. I quirked a brow at him. "I'm being serious, it's nothing." I nodded slowly and turned my head away from him but kept my eyes on him. He looked worried.

"Drake—"

The gong was hit for the next challenge to start. Wait, what? Did I miss the rules?

Drake looked at me and gently touched the burn marks on his neck then immediately recoiled. He pulled me into a hug.

"Drake... are you okay?" I asked worriedly. Drake didn't respond, but I felt his head nod on my shoulder. He then pulled away and gave me a quick kiss.

Drake wiped his eyes as he looked at me... Was Drake crying?

He then said, "Don't die, okay?"

"I promise," I said as I hugged him. I then whispered, "Who do you think is gonna win?" It was something we used to ask each other back in training. I hope it cheers him up.

Drake laughed and replied, "How much you wanna bet?"

"Hm... lets see, I've got five silvers that Thundervile is gonna win," I said.

"That's my girl," Drake whispered as he kissed my forehead and backed away from me. We then split up to our teams. The leaders were in the front, so I watched as Drake walked—slightly limped— to the front of his team's line. I also watched as Mira walked to the back and stared at the ground.

Mira.

There's my target.

I then turned my head and looked at Drake... or technically... my fiancee.