Alex glances over to Candy kneeling next to him and winces at how exhausted and battered she looks. They have been continuously training in how to protect their owner, whoever that may end out being. So, now they can identify the different methods used in direct protection while on foot, to understand the different roles of a protection team and the use of formations for general security. Thankfully, they had stayed in the same assigned teams, although he had Briava and Mihlora, it was better than them being with Candy. Nonetheless, Candy was still suffering multiple injuries each day.

Alex reflects on what else he and Candy do that makes them so tired. They continue to do physical training and improving their swordsmanship along with other combat-related skills during the day. In the evening they not only continue with literacy but train in other skills that Mistress Lyrei considers essential. They study the care of armor, swords, clothes, boots, shoes, gloves, and the art of repairing them. They learn to put out all the things in readiness which may be required for walking, or socializing, or any other activity throughout the day. They are taught how to assist their master to mistress to dress on all occasions, also in taking off their things on their return. Candy is also training in how to do hair-dressing and makeup and the styles elven ladies prefer.

Mistress Lyrei insists they practice polite manners, as well as a modest and respectful demeanor. She perpetually lectures that they must always be faithful, obliging, and ready to do anything, not only for the master or mistress, but also for their guests. They train to be quiet and unobtrusive when near their master and mistress, anticipating every whim or want and ensuring it’s fulfilled.

Alex’s attention snaps back as Master Ardreth strides from a building and stands in the center of the courtyard hands clasps behind his back dressed in blue pants and a jacket. Alex and Candy bow and then sit up but with their gaze lowered, they are the only ones present. Alex watches as ten elves arrive in ones and twos and when they see Master Ardreth stood waiting they rush to kneel on the flagstones and bow then each calls out. "Good morning, Master Ardreth."

They are waiting for the last two elves and a few minutes later Alex observes Briava and Mihlora arrive together. He winces at recent memories as the pair have not forgiven the injuries they sustained and try at every opportunity to inflict pain in retribution.

Once they have all arrived Master Ardreth gives a disdainful look. "You have all been polite in greeting me this morning. I doubt any of you really wish me anything good after the last four tendays of training." He says as his gaze traverses those present. He smiles, or maybe it's a snarl. "You’ve now all had training and time to acquire the required skills and today you get to demonstrate your competence.

“Remember if you fail this test, you will leave humiliated as two of you already have done. If you pass, you'll become members of an elite team protecting the Baroness and the nobles of house Yegella. The one thing I can promise is that everyone's going to finish today in varying degrees of pain. I’m going to push you to your limits and make your head's spin, so much so you are going to feel like throwing up. But, you had better not do it in my presence or you’ll live to regret it.

“You will be called out in pairs. You will then accompany your Principle and proceed through the doors behind me. Your objective is to take the Principle to the other side of the test area and exit. There’s no need for you all to suffer any further delay, so let’s begin.” Master Ardreth states and then calls out two names and the nominated elves stand and head toward the large doors where they are met by one of the guards. The trio then disappears through the doors.

Master Ardreth moves over to the large doors and facing away talks with a few of the guards one of whom hands him some form of device. There was silence for a few minutes and then the other elves begin to talk quietly amongst themselves.

Alex talks in a low voice to Candy while still looking forward. “You okay?”

After nearly half a minute Candy replies miserably. “I suppose.”

“What’s the matter?”

Candy again pauses before replying. “I keep thinking about those goblins and whether we will end out the same.”

Alex goes silent as he thinks back to the recent training they had gone through for emergency medical treatment. They had been trained in how to treat wounds, whether from guns, knives or even lightning. They had progressed onto managing people in shock or having difficulty breathing. All this had initially been classroom-based but then at the end of the training one of the senior healers had announced that they were going to practice what they had learnt on real patients.

They had then had been brought injured goblins and when they finished treating a goblin another would arrive with an even worse injury. Candy had coped well until a goblin girl was brought in with an arm missing and a stab wound to the stomach. The girl had pleaded in goblin and then in broken elven for its mother. Candy had failed to save the young goblin, but had been complemented by the senior healer for how long she managed to keep her alive. Candy had broken down in tears and sent to Mistress Lyrei.

“No, we won’t. I still believe that we’ll manage to escape and get back home.”

Candy takes a shuddering breath. “Will, you really take me home?”

“I’ll try my damnedest to make sure both of us get home.”

“I’m not sure how much longer I can keep this up.”

“I’m down on my knees begging you to please keep strong,” Alex whispers with a smile and Candy snorts.

“Alright, I don’t care what happens when I’m dead, but while I’m alive, I will try my best to help you get us home.”

“Good, you've got to find that inner bitch, the thing that really makes you angry, and use it. For now, we’ll just take it one day at a time and seize any chance that comes our way with both hands.” Alex takes a deep breath. “Any news on what’s happening after this?”

“I’ve been packing clothes and other stuff ready for a trip. I’ve heard that it’s just a few days until we leave for the ball where we will be gifted to some elven noble.”

“If we are taken from here I hope were taken to a council-controlled area.”

“Why would where we go make any difference? Unless it’s Earth.”

“I’ve been told that if you can get to a council area you can claim you’re being mistreated, as it’s illegal, even for merchandise. Once you are in council custody you can then claim you have not been convicted of any crime so can’t be sold as merchandise and you‘re set free.”

“How do you know this?”

“A dwarf told me. Didn’t you know?”

“I know there are numerous factions and one is called the council. We are kept separate from other merchandise if they’re not from Earth, so we don’t really get outside information – ”

Master Ardreth turns around holding a small device shaped like a shallow bowl and calls out two more names, A tall female elf and a shorter male elf rise, then walk towards the door as a guard joins them and they all enter. Master Ardreth looks over for a few seconds before his gaze returns to the device he’s holding and then turning back to the guards.

Alex waits a few minutes before whispering. “The dwarf gave the impression that this is an illegal slavery operation rather than legit merchandise. He got scared when I told him I wasn’t a convicted criminal. It seemed like it’s a really big no-no, so I don’t understand why they are doing this?”

“It’s obviously for profit.”

“No, that’s what doesn’t make sense. They open portals to Earth snatch a few people and then train them as slaves. Opening that portal takes a great deal of prana, and they seem to go to a great deal of trouble collecting it in the first place, so it must be valuable. And they don’t have prisons for criminals they just make them into merchandise, so plenty of supply.”

Candy pauses in thought before continuing. “Until you came I used to teach Elven to all of the new girls I was told were valuable. There were quite a few that I had to teach, and they were usually those with professional or technical skills none with the other skills such as art or music.”

“So what skills do you have that’s so valuable?”

“I was studying modern languages and on occasion gave private lessons, so I just seemed to pick up Elven really quick. Languages are a valuable skill as are professional or technical skills, which would make anyone having both these skills prized.”

“I still don’t buy it. You know the languages from Earth that aren’t used here and it’s the same with any technical skills. I haven’t seen any technology here that’s even remotely similar to Earth’s, even the guns operate totally differently.”

Master Ardreth abruptly turns around and looks over to Alex and Candy. Master Ardreth then calls out two more names, then Mihlora and Briava stand and walk briskly forward towards the doors and a guard rushes over to join them.

Alex mutters. “What is it with the tall women around here? Mihlora must be nearly two meters and Briava is taller than me and I’m one meter eighty-five.”

“Elven women are larger and stronger than the men, it’s why their society is matriarchal.” Candy whispers back.

“That explains some things. All of the guards are normal height, so are they all men?”

“Yeah, they are. Men are considered inferior, although they hold most of the military posts as well as some high government and advisory positions. Elven women generally control the moral authority, social privilege and the ownership of land and businesses. They also hold the vast majority of leadership positions; however, they must have had two children before they are allowed to take control.”

“Why the two children rule?”

“Don’t know, but it’s what’s expected. They also don’t have marriages as we do, they have polygamous relationships, but not long-term as they live so long.”

“How long do they live?”

“Most reach two hundred years without the golden apple, at least seven hundred with it.”

“Golden apple?”

“It’s a rare fruit that they use in a potion which extends their life expectancy. They have to take the potion regularly for it to be effective.”

“Is it difficult to get hold of?”

“I don’t know.”

Alex lapses into silence when he sees Master Ardreth walk over to another group of guards while occasionally looking at the device in his hand. Just as he’s about to ask another question Master Ardreth turns to face them and calls out two more names. A pair of male elves stand and joins up with another guard then pass through the doors. Master Ardreth moves closer to the last pair of elves while still facing Alex as he occasionally looks up from the device.

After nearly ten minutes Master Ardreth turns to the remaining two male elves and nods. The elves both nod back and then stand heading to the large door and the guard waiting for them. Alex risks a glance out the corner of his eye at Candy.

Master Ardreth waits until the other elves left before he looks at Alex and Candy. “I want to be clear about this test. You are allowed to make physical contact for the duration of the test. The usual rules for not touching do not apply and there will be no punishment for breaking this rule. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Master.” They both reply.

Master Ardreth stands a few meters away using the bowl-shaped device. Alex recognizes that it is some form of video feed but with some form of three-dimensional representation. It’s difficult to see what it shows but he imagines it’s of the other tests currently underway. Master Ardreth seems to occasionally tap at small buttons around the rim of the device. Alex watches his facial expressions and witnesses several frowns and grimaces.

After about another ten minutes Master Ardreth turns to Alex and Candy. “Alright, it’s now your turn.”

“Yes, Master.” They both reply and then stand moving towards the large door. One of the other guards detaches from the group that Master Ardreth was approaching and moves to stand next to the door waiting.

“I’ll take point,” Alex says quietly to Candy who nods.

Alex strides past the guard and opens the door then dips his head in and out quickly to ensure there is no one waiting. He had not seen any of the previous pairs do this. He then stepped into a broad corridor that was only about ten meters long and ended in another door.

Alex turned and nodded to the guard who is acting as the Principal. “Please follow me, Master.” Then walks down the corridor to the next door. Alex repeats the procedure of opening the door and dipping his head in to check before stepping through. This time there is a large room with three corridors that each leads to yet another door. He moves into the center of the room and waits for the guard to arrive with Candy.

“Which way does Master wish to go?” Alex asks with a bow.

The guard promptly replies. “To the left.”

Alex moves ahead and walks to the door and again repeats the procedure of opening the door and dipping his head in to check. They emerge into a wide well-lit corridor next to several stores, into something that looks like a cross between a mall and a hotel. The Principal walks towards the closest store’s display without hesitation. Alex and Candy move into position, with Candy close behind the guard and Alex a few meters in front.

The guard moves towards the store entrance and Alex quickly moves in front entering the store first. Inside he notices a single elf behind a counter with a doorway behind and no one else present. There is a multitude of items scattered on shelves around the store with very little space between each set of shelves. As the Principal moves towards shelves next to the counter, Alex positions himself just behind. Candy moves into the doorway of the store blocking it.

Two elves appear from a different store next to Candy, a broad female and a small male, they head directly towards her without any hesitation. The male appears drunk and waves a bottle trying to distract Candy.

“Incoming.” Candy calls out as the female gets close and tries to push into the store. “This store is closed.” Candy states and blocks the woman with a flattened palm to the chest. On hearing Candy’s shout Alex begins to cycle his prana as he turns to stand between the Principal and the store's entrance watching. The male elf staggers then abruptly dodge to the side throwing the bottle over Candy’s head.

"Bomb!" Candy yells as loud as she can, and at the same time pushes the female elf in front of her as hard as she can back into the male. The female elf takes an instinctive step backwards and this gives Candy enough time to step into the store and shut the door. Alex hears the yell and swiftly turns pushing the Principal to the ground and then he shields him with his body as he pushes his prana into the skin on his back. There is a crash as the bottle smashes when it hits the counter. Candy quickly moves around the shelves in front of the door and pushes them over blocking the entrance just as the female elf starts to push the door open.

Alex quickly gets up and pushes the prana from his skin into his arms and legs feeling their strength increase. He looks for the elf behind the counter but see’s he has gone. Grabbing the guard by the arm he pulls him up and turns towards the front door where the two elves are trying to get in.

“Candy, let’s get moving.” Alex declares indicating the other exit. Candy rapidly jumps over the counter, avoiding the broken glass, disappearing through the doorway.

“Clear.” Candy calls out.

“Coming through,” Alex responds then quickly pushes the remaining shelves over. He then pulls the guard around the counter and through the doorway. He emerges into a room that is bare except for a couple of chairs. Candy is stood in an open doorway opposite looking out. Alex releases the guard's arm.

“Clear.” Candy calls out again.

“Master we must leave this area.” Alex declares and the guard nods. “I’m point.” Alex strides past Candy and finds himself in a narrow corridor with one way a dead end, he turns and quickly moves towards the open end. As he gets near the exit three elves with wooden swords block the corridor.

“Two hostiles on our six.” Candy calls out

“Three hostiles on our twelve,” Alex responds as he rushes forward and kicks the leading knee of the first elf as he reaches out to grab his arm and hears the scream of pain. The elf drops his wooden sword and falls to the ground clutching his knee.

Alex watches as the second elf moves into the space and swings his wooden sword at his head. He does not leap back as the elf expects but lifts his arm and takes the blow to his chest then drops his arm trapping the wooden sword. With his forward momentum continued bowling into the elf and pushing him into the third elf that did a spin around the second and swing his sword in a looping strike.

The two behind rush forward and slam Candy into the wall. She strikes out hitting one of the elves in the face and leaving a gash on his cheekbone. She then grasps at hair trying to force them off balance while kicking out her legs in a frenzy. The second elf repeatedly punches her in the stomach and chest working her over as the first holds her pinned against the wall.

Alex ducks under the strike then gripping the sword trapped under his arm he slashes and catches the elf in his wide-open right rib cage. With a loud crack of bones snapping the elf is thrown sideways into the wall. Alex continues forward after the second tumbling elf who hits the ground with a satisfactory grunt of pain and follows through with the sword to deliver a blow to the elf’s head knocking him out. Alex turns and completes a kick to the face of the third elf as he begins to stagger to his feet laying him out onto his back.

"Get off! Stop fighting!” Candy screams pleading then they turn into a wild screeching. Then after a minute the scream turn sounds grow guttural and end in desperate sobs. Goosebumps rise on Alex’s arms and he turns to rush back and help Candy, but instead he crashes to the ground as his collar activates and his world turns into a sea of pain.

The next thing Alex is aware of is being helped to his feet by Candy who he notices is sporting more bruises and a cut lip. She guides him towards a nearby door and when they reach it she releases him, as they stagger through the door.

A drop of sweat dangles from the tip of Candy’s nose as she looks at him, gasping. "Do you think we passed?"

“Does it matter? The elves do this for honor, we do it to survive.”

“Yeah, your right, but I just want to go through that again.”

“It’s nearly the end of our time here and pass or fail we go to our new owner. That thought should keep you going. We may even get a chance to escape when we travel to our new owner.”