King jakre was watching his daughters progress with the eyes of a hawk, making sure that she didn't fail once. Before they started, he told her that if she were unable to utterly defeat every one of her opponents, she would be banished just like her failed brother. The King was patient and could always take another wife that would sire him more children.

"She is doing quite well, Vance. That training schedule that you put her on seems to be working quite well." The King was smiling, happy that his daughter was dominating her opponents. He needed to put the nobles in their place. They had been getting bolder in their defiance in specific criteria.

"Yes, I made sure that she was properly being taught. But, besides your daughter, my lord, what do you think of the other young contestants?"

"The boy that used his dolor-kai was interesting. He didn't look too badly hurt either, which means he has done it a few times before and is getting used to it. I think it would be best if you kept an eye out on him. I have a feeling he will be fighting my daughter. And as you know, she also knows how to use dolor-kai and that could cause some issues when they fight. I don't want her killing him.

"Yes, my lord, it will be done. I will make sure that boy doesn't die." Vance excused himself.

"Good, he has talent. I could use him in my personal army." The King was smiling while he watched Drakai, who was waiting for his next fight.

****

Drakai had two more matches after he defeated ven. Tomorrow he would have three more, and then he would fight the other top fighter. "Dad said I can use Aura if I make it to the final fight, right?" So with the way things were going, Drakai figured that he would be fighting the kings' daughter.

After he asked around about the girl with the purple hair, he was told that she was the King's daughter. Drakai wasn't really surprised since she was strong, and rather tall for the kid at 5'2, almost as tall as ven but not quite there.

Drakai was actually looking forward to that fight. He wanted to use his aura in a fight. He wanted to test its limits. The feeling while using it was utter ecstasy, almost like a drug but with no withdrawals.

Right now, he was walking back home with his parents. The fighters for the day were over, and they were all hungry more drakai than his parents. They were all looking forward to a nice slab of spiced meat. "I can't wait to see ember. She must have missed me." Just thinking about his furry friend put energy in his steps, making him want to go home faster.

***

Later that night, after eating his fill with his family, they were getting settled in for bed. He was putting on a cloak with a hood. And was getting ready to sneak out for a couple of hours. Putting the rest of his stuff on, he was about to jump out the window when he felt a tug on his tunic. Ember was there with a concerned look on her face.

"Go away, ember. I will be back in a couple of hours." Drakai shooed ember away. A couple of minutes later, he was walking down the street with ember walking right next to him, drawing a large amount of attention from the city-goers.

Ember was happily trotting down the road and looking around. She was growing pretty fast and was slightly taller than Drakai himself now. Not only was she tall, but she had plenty of muscles. He paused when a thought passed his mind. An excellent idea that made him smile.

Walking up to ember with a straight face and simply hopped on her.

"..."

"..."

Drakai just stared at the unmoving ember, not even affected by his weight, and she stared at drakai, who was on her back. Then she started to trot forward and then run. Gaining speed, Drakai began to smile and then began laughing at the top of his lungs, startling many of the ordinary citizens.

It seemed as if ember didn't get tired at all, and she kept running. Finally, he pulled on her coat. She stopped and turned his head at him. He then pointed down a road that would take them to the bookstore. Ember seemed to understand and started galloping down the road.

"Not only is she strong, but she is brilliant. She will be a useful friend to have around in the future." it didn't take long for them to reach the book store. Ember was relatively quick. And they made it in less than 10 minutes. The book store was lit up inside, signaling that it was still open, and a few women could be seen inside.

Walking, he garnered the attention of everyone present. It was rather odd seeing a young boy with a deer. The standard choice of travel is Ramliks.

"Sir, what can I help you with? Are you lost?" A cute young woman asked him from the counter.

Drakai laughed. "No, I know where I am. I am here just to browse; pay no attention to me."

The young woman was confused. This was the first time she had ever seen a male in her shop out of willingness. "A-ah o-okay," The young woman stuttered as she watched the young eldrasie boy look at the books and actively open and read through them.

"There is nothing here! These are all romance stories." He looked at the ladies around him with a pained expression on his face. "Are there any more book stores in this city?" The ladies around him nodded their heads no.

"What bullshit, no wonder they looked at me like that. The only book store in the biggest city in one of the three kingdoms is fucking romance book store. One day I am going to beat the kings' ass purely for being an idiot."

Drakai rode home on ember, his face full of frustration. The setting sun illuminated his face and his blood-red eyes, making them shine.