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Cayden walked along a tree lined road. His long black hair blew in the wind. His hands were rough and scarred. They were the hands of someone who had fought many battles. He was wearing worn plain leather armor. He had wanted to become a knight all his life. When he was a child he started saving his money so he could afford a steel sword. That steel sword he bought when he was just thirteen hung from his back. It was a heavy sword, the blade was dull and the design was simple. He practiced with it everyday since he bought it. In that sword was his hopes and dreams, and he worked hard on his swordsmanship. When he turned sixteen he started to fight in the Cuallacht arena. The arena was an old building in the middle of town, built for a city that was destroyed long ago. He fought everyday hoping his talents would be noticed by the guild. He was headed there today for the Guild tryouts. He entered the arena and looked around. It was very busy. People with weapons of all shapes and sizes were going every which direction. He spotted a guard in all the chaos. "Excuse me, where are the Guild tryouts?" The guard looked down at him and laughed a deep hardy laugh. "Son, no offense but go home. You see all these people? They are here to try out just like you. And as far as I can tell, most of them would whip you into oblivion!" Cayden gave the guard a dirty look and turned to walk away. "Son, when they need more people a man will come out of the contestant waiting room and round up a group. I suggest you wait over there by the door." The guard pointed to a door on his left. People were flocked around it, apparently the guard had told them the same thing. "Thank you." Cayden walked over to the crowd just as a small scrawny man was emerging from the door the guard had mentioned. The man was extremely short with a long pointed nose. One was reminded of a goblin when their eyes fell upon him. The room fell silent in the presence of this man. This must be the person picking contestants The man cut through the crowd inspecting the warriors as he walked through. He stopped at Cayden. He looked him up and down and turned away. He picked three contestants out of the crowd, their faces filling with excitement. He turned back to Cayden. "And why are you here boy?" Cayden was awestruck that this man was talking to him. "I want to be a knight sir." The onlookers shook with laughter at this statement. "YOU want to be a knight? Do you honestly believe you could hold your own against men such as these? How old are you boy?"
"Eighteen sir."
"And you think you can win in the arena? There is a training dummy over there," the man pointed with a long bony finger. "Show me what you got and I might consider letting you compete." Cayden took his place in front of the training dummy and took the sword from the holster on his back. The crowd was spewing insults and jokes out at him. He pointed his sword at the dummy and he yelled, "splanc thintrí!" A bolt of lightning shot from the point of his sword and crashed into the dummy. The crowd fell silent. The dummy had a huge chunk taken out of it from where the lightning had hit. "Amazing. You mastered magick at such a young age. Usually it takes decades of devoted study to hone those skills. Alright boy I'll give you a chance. It's dangerous out there boy. You can run home to mommy anytime you need to." At that the man turned on his heels and walked to the the door. Before entering he yelled "Contestants follow me," without turning around. Cayden could not believe his luck. He pushed through the crowd. He felt the pressure of their stares and he couldn't feel happier. He entered a small dark room. Benches lined the walls. It smelled strongly of blood. There was blood everywhere on the walls, benches, and floor. "Take a seat," the short goblin looking man said. Cayden took a seat on the cleanest section of bench he could find, even through the blood was all dry. The goblin looking man walked across the room to a large door and turned around to face the new contestants. "This is the door to the arena. When it is your turn to try out for the guild you will go through here to fight. I will call you individually when we are ready for you. Until then wait patiently here." The goblin looking man then walked through a door opposite of the one they had came in and slammed it behind him.

Cayden listened to the cheers from the crowd outside. They sounded distant and far away from within this stone room. The small room gave him the impression of being in a dungeon, he did not like that feeling. He looked at the blood that covered the room and the strong older men with their bulging muscles and started to feel unconformable. He was a very scrawny boy. He was about 5'10, the men in this room towered over him. The ambition that drove him to be here was gone. He was actually frightened. The man that looked like a goblin made his first appearance since he brought them there. He looked at all the contestants and pointed to the man sitting the closest to the arena door. "Your up." The man jumped up and wielded his weapon. The goblin man led him out into the arena. The crowd roared with applause. Cayden looked out into the arena and for a split second he saw a girl wearing armor covered in blood and dirt before the door was shut. A girl?! They are having us fight women?! Cayden felt a little better about himself. If he had to fight a women he would certainly win. She didn't look that strong either. That man will make short work of her. She should have staid home. Cayden heard the crowd gasp and cheer. The doors suddenly flew open. The man who was just sent out was being carried in by two other men. He was bleeding heavily from his stomach. Cayden jumped up from his seat in shock. Had that women done that?! No, it must be a mistake. There is no way a man such as that could be struck down by a women. The goblin man came into the room following the injured man. "You boy! Your next. Follow me." Cayden looked at the man with uncertainty. "Did that women do that?"
"Yes, she is very strong. Brought here by mistake so I hear. She was wearing Ridire armor when a Eligere brought her in thinking she was a man. When she took off the armor they found out she was a woman. Woman or not, she has proved herself in the arena. Your her last challenger. Come now." The goblin man motioned to the arena entrance waiting for the boy to go in first. Cayden walked through the large door into the arena. The bright light blinded him after sitting in that dark dungeon like room. When his eyes adjusted he saw that the arena was packed with people. Some cheered and some laughed at his size but he did not care. He was not here to impress them. High on the arena wall was a viewing box. He assumed the guild master was watching from there. He had heard a lot of things about the guild master. He knew that he was a famed archer in his youth by the name of Aidan. Before retiring to the position guild master, Aidan fought endless battles at the boarders fending off enemy invasion. Aidan was quickly promoted to captain of the Ridire. Cayden couldn't think of anyone better to learn how to be a knight from. Caydens focus switched to the girl standing in the middle of the arena, his first opponent. She looked tired but determined to win.

Cayden looked at the woman in her battle stance. This isn't happening! How was she able to take that man down? She won't beat me, I'll make sure of it! Cayden didn't say a word to her. Just gave her a grave look and nodded. He quickly drew his sword and pointed it at her. "Tine!" The man yelled and his sword glowed red. It was as if the blade had burst into flames. He charged at her ready to take her life with one swing.

Cayden returned to his starting position. He felt embarrassed as the crowd laughed wildly. He had let himself get caught up in the moment and acted without thinking. He had fought in the arena before so he knew the rules quite well. He never displayed his talents in magic. That was something he practiced when he was alone. He stood there quite awkwardly in no specific stance waiting for the gong to sound. The moment before the gong sounds always feels like forever to him. Suddenly the gong sounded and he waved his sword in the air again. About ten long think spikes made out of ice meterialized in front of him. With one thrust of his sword all ten flew toward Eriya.

He quickly swung his sword and it glowed red in an instant. The ice melted before it even touched him. He then charged at her with his blade red hot with fire. He swung it low at her torso.

Blood splashed to the ground. She had cut deeply into his arm with her spiked gloves. He made an angry pained face. He took his sword into one hand and yelled furiously as he pointed it to the sky. Lighting crashed down all around the arena. Big think bolts struck everywhere.