11. TEN

TEN

B right lights illuminated the training room, a black mat surrounding the entire floor of the two-step stage. It was one of the simplest training rooms, on the lowest level of the castle, near the entrance of the fortress. Today, they would all be going through a test at the request of Chief Leaders Isaiah and Amir, and Master Abigail. Hundreds of blades, swords, staffs, spears, bows, arrows, shields, and throwing weapons lined the walls of the training room.

Davina had her hands on her waist as she looked at the designs of a specific throwing knife. It had a circle at the center with sharp figured flames extending out.

Master Abigail entered the common training room, hands behind her back. Feet quickly shuffled toward the center of the training room for formation. Davina turned and followed the others.

"As we all may know by now, an evil has tormented our islands for many centuries. She has terrorized us for far too long. She has killed our family, she has taken the fertility of our lands, and she has disrupted the peace that our King gifted us in the beginning." Master Abigail paced in front of the Soldiers with her hands behind her back, her sharp hazel eyes scanning each one of them.

Ron, Beacon, Caleb, and Leilani were at the front line of the formation while Davina stood behind them, alongside Snow and Valerie. Amir and Isaiah were set at the left corner of the training room, beyond Master Abigail.

Davina was thankful that she hadn't been in the front, near Ron. They still hadn't spoken about their argument the day before.

"Raven is old, which means she's experienced. She's cunning and smart."

What was the point of Master Abigail's speech? To feed the fear that had already been harbored in their hearts? To put doubt in their years of training? For Davina, it was months, which caused her anxiety to spiral out of control as she stood in line.

Davina's eyes flicked to the large white scars that marked Master Abigail's jaw and neck. She wondered about the story behind the cicatrix that stained the Master of Castellum.

"It may seem as though the King has been silent to all of Bellatorm for four centuries but you are all wrong. He has never been silent to those who are loyal to him and their abilities. To prove that, he has chosen exceptional Bellatormans to fight on the front lines of the upcoming war against the Dark Mistress. You do not need to fear because if our King is with us, then who can be against us?"

Davina's brows furrowed. She leaned to her left, where Valerie and Snow stood.

"Do you know what she means by that?" Davina whispered.

The cousins shook their heads in unison.

The King was living in isolation for over four hundred years. Even though the Leaders, Soldiers, and Apprentices remained loyal to him, no one heard from him. Others have claimed that the King was dead, and few stated that anyone who activated their powers in Castellum after the King's departure believed in hopeless dreams.

How could he possibly choose them even though he continued to live in silence?

"Hello," a soft voice said through Davina's thoughts. Every eye in the room turned to the young girl who stood by the entrance. Davina identified her as the Basalan girl from the day of the attack, Cara was her name.

"I'm one of the Prey that came to the event a few days ago. A Soldier—her." Cara motioned to Davina. "She told me I could come to Castellum. As soon as I entered, there wasn't anyone in the hallways, and well… I didn't know where else to go."

It warmed Davina's heart that Cara believed her to be a Soldier even though she was just an Apprentice.

"This room is only—" Isaiah began before being cut off by Master Abigail's glare.

"You're in the right place, child. Head over to that side of the room. Today, you shall observe the Apprentice and Soldiers in this room," Master Abigail ordered softly.

What was happening? Davina thought that the Chief Leaders called for just the seven of them. Davina watched as the girl in pink slowly stalked to the wall on Davina's side. As Cara straightened, she sent a sweet smile to Davina. She didn't fail to return it immediately. The Aurisan faced forward and found Leilani scanning Cara with a little bit of… contempt.

"Are you trying to kill her with your glare?" Davina hushed as she leaned closer to the front row of Soldiers.

"She shouldn't be here." Leilani returned her gaze to Master Abigail.

"Master Abigail approved of her presence here. Leave the girl alone," Davina said.

"You only say that because you know the girl."

"I don't know her, Lani, I met her the day of the ambush by your Bridge."

"Do you two ever shush?" Beacon hissed. Leilani remained silent, with her back facing Davina. Davina sighed and fixed her posture. Staring ahead, waiting for Master Abigail's orders.

"I need to know the level of your abilities, so today, each of you will be presenting to me the potency of your powers. This way I'll be able to see your progress and if there is any need for improvement," Master Abigail stated, her gaze assessing each one of them.

Davina observed her poise. It wasn't prideful or arrogant like she usually saw in other Leaders of Soldiers. It was confident and strong with a hint of humbleness.

Her eyes found the back of Ron's hair, the muscles in his shoulders tightened at the mention of the test they were to undergo. She held her breath as she realized the pressure he must've been feeling at the thought of having to present his abilities in front of everyone.

Master Abigail crossed her arms and said, "Beacon, you'll be going first. The others, please join our new friend off the stage and by the wall."

"Yes, Master," All seven of them replied at once. Beacon walked to the center of the stage, facing them as he steadied his footing.

Master Abigail, Amir, and Isaiah followed the Soldiers, stepping off the stage and setting their eyes on Beacon who wore his brown training gear.

Valerie was the first to approach the new Basalan recruit.

"I'm Valerie," Val said with a smile as she leaned against the wall.

"I'm Cara, from Basalt."

"Nice to meet you, Cara. This is Caleb." Valerie motioned to Caleb, who ruffled his brown hair. Caleb gave Cara a toothy grin and an awkward wave. Cara smiled.

"That's Ron." Valerie pointed at Ron who leaned forward and raised his hand.

"This is Snow, my cousin," Valerie introduced Snow as she nodded with a smile, enhancing her icy beauty.

"How is that possible? You're from Auris and she's from Neptulus," Cara asked.

Valerie chuckled, "Our mothers are sisters. I inherited my father's sunlight abilities, and she has her mother's powers."

"Does your mother have ice powers too?" Leilani asked.

"She has water abilities," Valerie chuckled. "Anyways, this is Leilani."

Valerie motioned to Lani. Leilani sent Cara a forceful smile. None of them noticed the way Leilani grimaced, but Davina did. Davina watched her intently.

"That's Beacon over there, and I'm sure you already met Davina."

"Yes, how could I forget Davina?" Cara asked with a smile. Davina broke her gaze from Leilani and turned to Cara with a grin.

"I'm glad you're here, Cara," Davina said.

They all directed their attention back to Beacon who had his eyes closed. He held his arms out as the wind began to pick up inside the room. Snow and Leilani struggled to keep control of their flying strands. Davina and Val scrunched up their noses as their hair flapped around them. Dark gray currents circled the entire room before flying toward Beacon, engulfing him completely beginning from his legs.

The swirls began to grow wider and wider into the room, it danced around him. Davina put a hand over her mouth as she laughed at how Amir and Isaiah stumbled from the air currents, yet Master Abigail remained still and unmoving.

"Beacon, stop!" Valerie yelled.

"Yeah, Beacon, this is a bit much don't you think?" Caleb asked.

Beacon's eyes flashed open as he curled his fingers into fists. The gray air sucked inward into his body, the tornado disappeared in mere seconds.

"I see that talent runs in the Levina bloodline. Your brother, Bane, is just as gifted as you. Callaghan, up next!"

Valerie turned to Davina with a look that pleaded for encouragement. She nodded as she beamed at Valerie, a small gesture, but she was sure Val understood the message. As Valerie walked past Beacon, he rubbed her shoulder quickly.

The black-haired Aurisan walked to the same spot where Beacon had been. She cleared her throat and then held out her hands, creating a ball of light. The sphere glowed as it converted into knives. Valerie flipped the sunlight daggers in her hands before twirling and slashing the air. Light swirled all around her as she twisted and turned with her makeshift knives.

Then she extended out her hands, throwing the daggers into her sleeves when light began to emerge from her body. It was as if she was the sun, and she was gifting them a glimpse of her shining light to everyone in the room.

Davina covered her eyes before she was blinded by Valerie's glowing figure. Beacon was the first to clap, which resulted in every Soldier following. Davina clapped for her friend, she did wonderfully.

Through her closed eyes, she felt Valerie's light dimming. "Dunbar!"

"Which one?" Leilani and Caleb asked in unison.

"Both of you," Master Abigail's voice boomed.

Leilani and Caleb walked together to the center of the stage, brushing past Valerie. Val skipped off the steps and immediately beamed when she looked at Beacon.

The twins faced each other, reaching for each other's hands and closing their eyes before taking a deep breath.

The room was silent until a song of crunchiness emerged into the training room. Vines began to slowly grow from the entrance. They curved and stretched across the stage. The glass window beside Leilani and Caleb exploded into little shards then branches crept deeper into the room, curling around Davina, Cara, and the Soldier's legs. Ivy twisted itself onto the gray walls of the training room.

Her eyes reached Beacon who was trying to pull away from the branches that seemed to be growing tighter at his every pull.

"Enough!" Beacon yelled.

As the twins freed their hands from each other, the ivy that wrapped around Davina and the others immediately loosened. Without removing his gaze from Leilani, Caleb flicked his wrist and made a vine grow high enough to tickle Beacon's ear. Beacon slapped the vine away from himself and glared at Caleb.

Caleb and Leilani snickered as they stepped toward the wall.

"Morozov."

Snow nodded and marched to the middle of the training room. The icy Neptulan turned on her heel with her hand extended toward the room. Ice began to surround all the vines that Caleb and Leilani had grown.

Davina saw how Leilani and Caleb frowned. Snow held a fist and the frozen vines exploded into little ice shards, scattering across the stage. The ice shards then flew to Snow's hands. She held onto them tightly before they grew into sharp daggers.

She threw the daggers up. The weapons floated midair as they multiplied into different versions of swords and knives.

Snow flicked her fingers out and the ice shards became shiny blue snowflakes which fell with a fresh icy breeze upon the others.

"Good job. Youngest Levina step forward."

Any bit of resentment that she held against Ron for his irritating comments from the day before, shattered completely.

Davina felt her world stop moving as she slowly turned to him. Ron lowered his gaze as he walked onto the stage. Davina wondered whether the others noticed the slump in his shoulders and the tremble in his fingers.

A small part of her wanted to go to him and embrace him, to be able to comfort him and remind him that she believed he was capable, but she remained in her place. That would only embarrass him more, even if they were the only two people in this room.

Davina glimpsed his cheeks reddening as he centered himself on the stage. Ron was so brave to step forward despite how much he struggled with his abilities.

He held his hands out with his eyes closed.

Whispers between Amir and Isaiah caught her attention. Isaiah covered his mouth as he spoke into Amir's ear. Amir only shook his head. Were the Chief Leaders capable of making fun of someone who struggled with their abilities? Weren't the Chief Leaders instituted to be helpers for those who struggled?

Davina scoffed before turning to Ron, whose fists began to glow a very bright orange. Did he have the power of fire? But then where did his fire powers come from? If both of his parents were from Mistral. If Beacon and Bane, Ron's other older brother, had the ability of air.

For his sake, she prayed for the fire to come forth, for him to finally be successful in demonstrating an ability other than a pair of heated hands, which she knew he was desperate to escape from. She watched him as he strained for the fire to appear.

"Almenara." Master Abigail's voice cut through the air. Davina watched the defeat in his eyes, his chin held slightly low as he walked off the stage.

Davina was quick to walk past him, letting her fingers graze his. He jolted as she smirked at him. She didn't care if the others saw, this was about him because he needed to know that she believed in him. Even if it was something so small as the touch of their fingers. It was something. It meant far more than words ever could.

Hopefully, he received that message through the look in her eyes. She walked to the center of the stage.

"You did great out there, man." Caleb set his hand over his shoulder.

"A grump like you will have their fire manifesting at every hour," Beacon laughed.

Davina watched him struggle with the thoughts in his mind, pulling on a mask to hide his shame from the others. "It's whatever. I don't care," Ron responded.

He played the part of being careless, acting as if it didn't bother him when it was in the inner core of every Bellatorman to activate and practice their abilities. A spark of magic was planted within their souls. Each had the choice to reject or accept the gift, but the spark never left. It was much like receiving a gift box and never opening it.

Now it was her turn to show her abilities. But truthfully, she was afraid about how far her abilities could go. She didn't want to figure out how much further the fire could take her because sometimes it felt like it would consume her completely. All ten of them watched her intently as she positioned herself in the middle of the stage.

She lifted her hand and created a mild purple flame above her palm. Abigail held no expression on her face as she spoke, "You can do better than that."

Davina sighed, allowing the flame to grow in might.

"I know you can do better!" Abigail yelled. The Master's tone made her heart accelerate, not allowing herself to flinch at the volume of her voice.

Davina glanced at her friends. Each with a confused look, including Cara. Davina lifted her other hand with brighter violet flames that were beginning to ignite her forearms. What if those wings came back? What would her friends think of her then?

"You hold back then Raven will take everything from you!"

What was Master Abigail doing?

"Is that the power you're going to use to defend your siblings?" Abigail questioned.

Davina's lips parted as she realized how much her siblings were depending on her to give her very best in this war. If she had to give in to the fire to be able to protect them, then that was exactly what she was going to do.

An image appeared in Davina's mind. Her siblings lay over the broken floorboards of their home with lifeless eyes. Black ink spilled from their lips, coating orange attire and their hands. Their perfectly tanned skin had become an ashy gray. That was Raven's goal. To rip out the life of Bellatorm and fill it with death.

Davina shuddered with rage, every muscle in her body trembled with fury. Raven would not succeed. Davina pulled harsher onto that string of heat in her chest.

Davina was going to end her the same way she ended all those innocent Bellatorman lives. Raven acted as if they were nothing. No doubt, she would have no compassion for Micah, Genevieve, and Emmy. Davina had to truly become their protector.

She opened her eyes, they burned a bright violet. Flames escaped her pupils, sparks sizzled onto the mat below her. A scowl formed on her lips as the image of the Predators presented itself to her.

Tingles rushed down her spine, welcoming the strength that rushed into her shoulders. The new set of wings she had mysteriously acquired appeared. Her wings stretched across the entire stage and pulled her upward. Before she knew it, her feet departed from the matted stage, and she floated midair.

The tips of her brown curls flared up with purple flames. Her vision was surrounded by a lavender glow as they continued to spark out flames. Isaiah and Amir held a hand over their gaped lips.

Leilani, Valerie, Snow, Beacon, Caleb, and Cara stared with widened eyes.

But Ron's expression was different from the others.

He seemed… amazed, and proud. He smiled widely. It wasn't his usual smirk, it was an actual smile. She even saw creases in his cheeks, without shame, portraying his dimples.

Davina set her feet over the mat, slowly allowing her wings and fire to dim. Abigail had a pleasant grin. "The test is finished. I'll be preparing new training specifically for each one of you and we shall commence tomorrow. You are all dismissed."

Master Abigail walked out of the training room.

Davina exhaled before walking off the stage. Cara immediately approached Davina. "You did amazing out there."

"Ah, thanks. It means a lot," Davina grimaced.

"I happen to agree with Cara. I'm completely amazed by your new abilities, Vivi," Ron said from behind Cara, hands behind his back and dimples showing. Davina grabbed a strand of her coils. Cara looked between Ron and Davina.

"I think I should go," Cara chuckled.

"No, stay, you don't have to worry," Ron said.

"Yes, stay," Davina agreed.

"Are you sure? I don't mean to intrude."

"You could never, Cara." Davina smiled.

"If anything, it was me that intruded into your conversation. I just wanted to let you know, Davina, that I was surprised."

"Was it a good surprise or a bad surprise?" Davina asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Definitely a good one." Ron's smirk returned. Davina couldn't help but blush.

However, a small part of her felt guilty for showing her new abilities when he struggled so much with his own.

"I'll see you later, love. Enjoy the rest of your day," Ron said before following Beacon and Caleb, walking out of the training room.

Cara and Davina walked out of the castle side to side with one another, behind Leilani, Valerie, and Snow, who were deep in their own conversation. The boys led them out of the common rooms. "So, Davina, how long have you been coming to train here?"

"Since my activation ceremony five months ago."

"Activation ceremony?" Cara asked with a raised brow.

"Yeah, on an appointed night, the Chief Leader of your island and Leaders, Soldiers, and Apprentices of your island reunite in Castellum. The Master is to ask you whether you accept or decline your gifts, if you accept, the Master consecrates you with oil. The oil was blessed at the beginning of Bellatorm's time, before the Revolt. Once the oil touches the top of your head, your powers will be activated."

"Did you know what powers you would have before the ceremony?" Cara asked softly.

"I guessed they would be fire powers since my mom is an Almenara and every Almenara has had fire powers since the beginning." Davina shrugged. "Do you have any idea about yours?"

Cara shook her head. "My family hasn't attended their… activation ceremony for almost three generations."

"It's fine. Mine hasn't attended their ceremony since the Revolt," Davina said with guilt laced in her tone.

"Yeah, I heard about the Almenara family and what they did in the Revolt," Cara said.

"Trust me when I tell you that I hate thinking about what my family did to the King." Davina sighed.

"You shouldn't feel ashamed for something your ancestors did. To me, you seem like the complete opposite of them."

"Thank you, Cara," Davina said.

"Bellatormans," a voice said. "Come up."

"Did you guys hear…" Davina began.

"Come up now!"

"I heard someone," Ron said.

Beacon stopped walking, his eyes scanning the corridors of the castle. Valerie breathed in, Leilani furrowed her eyebrows, Caleb turned to his sister, Cara looked at each Soldier that surrounded her. Davina looked at Ron, they remained still.

"Where is that voice coming from?" Snow asked.

"Come to the top," the voice commanded softly.

"Should we—?" Caleb began.

"Of course not, you idiot. What if it's one of Raven's Predators?" Leilani snapped.

"This voice… it's not like the Predator voices that I've heard," Beacon stated.

"This voice was different," Ron agreed.

Out of thin air grew a sparkling dove with majestic wings, each flap of its wings rippled a transparent glow. It danced in the air before it headed down the corridor to the right.

Davina turned to each of her friends and simultaneously they all headed toward the corridors of the fortress. She looked back and saw that Cara had stayed behind.

"Cara, what are you waiting there for? Come on." Davina motioned for her to follow as she kept walking.

"I don't think I should go with you guys, I just got here." Cara shook her head while rubbing her neck.

"Don't be crazy, come on," Valerie responded.

Cara smiled and picked up her pace.

As they turned to investigate the hallways, there had been no other Leaders or Soldiers bustling around.

"I do think it's a bit weird that there isn't anyone else here. Cara, you mentioned there was no one in the hallways earlier, right?" Davina asked, turning to Cara.

"Yes," she answered.

"I don't know about the other Soldiers and Leaders. All I know is that we must obey that voice," Beacon responded.

"I feel the same way," Davina said. Torchlights lit up as they neared the hallway.

They watched in wonder as they paced toward the direction of the igniting lights.

"We're making it to the King's warded section of the fortress. I think we should stop here," Leilani said with worry.

"We'll be fine. Quick, hurry, Lani, before we lose the dove," Davina said with her eyes fixated on the white dove which occasionally looked back at them as if it were making sure it was being followed.

Davina and Ron rushed up the staircases that brought them and closer to the King's throne room, the others on their trail. She had never been this close to the throne room before, but the dove continued to fly. It would stop and look back at them and then continued to flap its wings.

What could this mean? Davina asked herself, but she was too excited to even stop. Could the King finally be retiring from his silence? Could they be the generation chosen to receive the honor to reunite with their King?

As they neared a set of beautiful golden doors, Davina was able to glimpse the intricate carvings of the four symbols that represented the Bellatorm islands. The white dove headed for the doorway and disappeared completely as a white, yet transparent wall appeared before the golden doors.

This must've been the barrier that the King had set up, stopping anyone from coming into his throne room. Davina reached for the bright barrier.

"What are you doing?" Snow asked.

Davina held her hand close to the barrier as she turned to Snow. "I'm just trying to see something."

"Wait, Davina!" Caleb and Beacon shouted.

"Do you not know that you're going to be disintegrated if your hand touches the barrier?" Snow asked.

"What?" Leilani shouted.

"You guys haven't heard of all those stories of when the King first went into isolation?" Snow asked as her blue eyes scanned the others. Davina looked at Ron who seemed just as confused as she. "The Soldiers who came to inform the King about the Revolt found this wall had been lifted. As they touched it, they died immediately. This caused an increase of deserters of Castellum's army."

"I'm sure there's a reason why those Soldiers died," Davina argued.

"I heard that those Soldiers were corrupt," Cara whispered.

Snow snapped her gaze at Cara.

"We don't know if what you say is for sure. You know how our people can be," Davina said as she stepped in front of Cara.

"Davina's right, they're very talkative," Valerie agreed.

Snow rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

"There's no need for such tension, guys, maybe we should—" Leilani began before Ron interrupted her.

"Vivi, look." Ron jerked his chin toward the doors.

The grand doors were creaking open.

The Soldiers, Davina, and Cara remained frozen in place as they watched the four-hundred-year-old white barrier fade into nothing.

The forbidden throne room was being presented to them after many of their ancestors were robbed of experiencing a moment like this.

The King was behind those walls. He was waiting on the other side of that door, Davina realized. She, an Almenara, was receiving the honor of being this near to the King despite being born into the most cursed of Bellatorm bloodlines.

Certainly, the King wouldn't want to see the descendant of the woman who was the face of the Revolt.

"Are we really about to see the King?" Caleb asked with excitement.

"We are, brother," Leilani replied.

From the threshold, Davina was able to glimpse the magnificence of the throne room. The drapes hung perfectly over the glass windows, which slightly reflected sun rays. Her friends began to walk closer into the royal rooms. Ron stood beside her. "What are you waiting for?"

"I don't think he'll want to see me."

"You heard his voice?"

"Yes."

"Then, he wants you here," he whispered before passing the threshold after the others. Despite feeling anxious and hesitant, she walked right behind him, making sure to hide behind Ron's tall figure from the King's view. Embarrassment controlled her pounding heart and her footsteps.

What if it was a mistake that she heard his voice? A glitch. It could be. What if he gave her one look and then decided to throw her out? Or use his powers to disintegrate her? Just as he, probably, did with those other Soldiers many years ago.

Two of the stained-glass windows had the figures of the first families of the islands depicted in their designs. Her eyes went straight to the fire island.

Davina examined the dark-haired family that appeared to be laughing with one another. There had been a man and a woman with their three children, two girls, and one boy. Davina observed the children, they each wore different colored clothing. Why would they wear anything different other than the same orange and yellow pallet that was usually followed by the Aurisans? The boy had red clothing while the two little girls wore pink and blue kirtles.

Her eyes darted toward Beacon who had dropped to his knees. Beacon exasperated, "Your Majesty."

There he was, the King in all his glory. His bearded face had a certain ethereal glow to it. His white and gold hemmed suit fit him perfectly. His silhouette held a peace that she wanted to swim in, a brightness that removed all her fear of being rejected by him. She, too, dropped to her knees alongside Ron and Cara.

Four hundred years had passed and he seemed not a day older than thirty.

"Please, stand. I want to look at each one of you," he said calmly.

All those years filled with worthless rumors about Magnar being ruthless completely shattered at the sound of his voice. His voice was so soothing and sweet and calm all at once. So sweet that she believed that not even Ron's words could be just as great.

Davina stood, but she examined the rest of the room. His footsteps drew near until she felt him standing right before her. Her eyes looked into his deep honey ones. A smile played over the King's lips, a smile that reached his eyes. It was as if he was telling her that he was glad that she was there. Davina noticed herself and the others stood tall with their hands behind their backs, exactly how Abigail taught them. Cara was doing amazing at following the stance of the Soldiers around her.

"I'm happy you guys are here. After the many years that I isolated myself from my people, it's been anything but easy to watch them waste away at the mercy of Raven. But my people decided to reject me and the abilities that I gave to them." The King began to pace before them.

So the King really was watching his people. Then that would mean he heard all her pleas for his intervention. Why didn't he ever do anything to stop all this tragedy from occurring?

"As much as I wished to intervene and help my people, I was able to see their hearts were filled with hatred for me because of the rumors Freya and her followers planted them. I waited and waited for four hundred years to find a generation that wouldn't be so corrupted by the ancient evils."

Davina felt her heart quicken even more at the mention of Freya.

"And I have found you, my little ones." He smiled again.

"You have become the defenders of our home, you have been loyal to me since the moment you realized how much your gifts were necessary, and for that I am grateful. I waited many years for you eight individuals to be ready for the mission I am to give to you. I am giving you a name. You shall be called the Island Protectors," Magnar said. "You have been chosen to be the faces of the upcoming war. You are not less, and you are not more than one another. You are each other's equals. And each other's shields in times of war."

"We will do our very best, Your Majesty." Beacon bowed his head. They all followed. If the King observed them and deemed them to be worthy to be appointed the official Island Protectors, then it must be because there would be success, right?

"But, to maintain order, I concluded that there must be a leader among you. The head of the Island Protectors. One that will be a motive of inspiration for you all and the people of Bellatorm. The one that will set the example of a brave and loving Bellatorman. A Captain."

Davina turned to Leilani. Their eyes mirrored their own shock. Surely, the King would choose Beacon or Valerie, maybe even Snow. They were the oldest, much wiser, and more experienced when it came to the military.

Surely, she would not be chosen. Especially because she was Freya's descendant.

"Davina!" the King exclaimed with a wide smile. He walked over to her, wrapping his strong hands in her own.

Davina let out a shaky breath as she looked at their interlocked hands. No, she couldn't be the Captain. Just like Ron had said the day before, she just got there. She knew little to nothing about war and strategy. No.

"I have chosen you, beloved, to lead Bellatorm into victory. I have not found your brave heart in anyone else." King Magnar looked at her with affectionate eyes.

No matter how much she truly did not believe in the words that escaped her quivering lips, she said them nonetheless. "I will not fail you, your Majesty."

"I know you won't, my child," The King whispered.

Davina gulped.

"Because you are the Island Protectors, I have hidden your own special armor in your islands. As you are searching for your armor, I will guide you through the trials you will face. Once you find your armor, you shall be ready to face the darkness."

The darkness means Raven. They shall be ready to face Raven.

"My silence has come to an end. Fight this war with me, Soldiers, because Bellatorm's enemy shall be annihilated, and harmony will be restored." The King held his hands behind his back as he looked upon each of Davina's friends with gleaming eyes. "What do you say? Are you with me?"

The entire room grew silent.

"I think I can agree for myself and my friends, your Majesty, that we agree to fight this war with you." Beacon nodded.

Davina bobbed her head. This is what she signed up for when she decided to become a Soldier. She was preparing herself for this. After all, she wanted to defend the people from the darkness, because her siblings needed to be safe because she believed herself capable of protecting those who could not protect themselves.

Because she wished someone could protect her. So, she nodded and bowed to the King then turned to walk out of the throne room. Her heart thundered in her chest as she realized that the King of Bellatorm ended his silence, and he chose her to not just be an Island Protector but to be the Captain.