Steel rings across the palace training grounds as Princess Eden Siranteos completes a brutal halberd arc, her pink runes flashing in the morning light.
Below the carved dais, King Nazareth and Queen Araneidan descend together, their cloaks sweeping stone, veteran guards fanning out at their backs.
The king lifts one hand, and the yard stills. No praise comes.
King Nazareth
Princess. Prove the Royal Guard is ready. All of them, against you at once.
Queen Araneidan
If our strongest shield can stand, then the kingdom stands with it.
The veterans draw in a hard, practiced line. A few set their jaws. A few cannot hide the fear in their eyes.
Captain Vaelorin
At your command, Your Majesties. Princess, we fight to test, not to die.
Blades rise around Princess Eden Siranteos in a widening ring. The first step belongs to her, and the squad waits for it.
✓ Quest Accepted
Prove the Royal Guard is ready
“Knowing the brutal reputation of the army. It is best for me to take the first strike and follow through the assault with a series of relentless and brutal attacks, starting with their strongest fighters and quickly sending a message that this fight is not theirs to win.”
SUCCESS (Great Melee Weapons, rolled -1)
Princess Eden Siranteos drives in first, halberd flashing. The nearest veteran catches the opening blow, but her follow-through tears the line apart, forcing both fighters back on their heels.
She does not let the ring reset. A second sweep hammers steel aside, and a third crashes through guard and stance alike, breaking the veterans' confidence before they can answer.
Captain Vaelorin
Hold the line! She means to collapse us fast!
One soldier stumbles hard across the chalk, breath gone from him, and another yields ground to avoid the halberd's hook. The royal banners snap as dust lifts around their boots.
King Nazareth
No hesitation. She strikes like a commander already certain of victory.
Queen Araneidan
That is the edge I wanted to see. Press them harder, Eden.
The cost lands with the motion, too, as the halberd jar sends a sharp sting through Eden's shoulder and a nick of blood beads along her forearm. Still, the veterans have been broken open, and every eye in the yard is on her.
“Pain is for the weak, push onwards with the assault and let the enemy have not one moment of rest. I continue to attack with brutal precision until every last soldier is on the ground and unconscious.”
SUCCESS (Great Melee Weapons, rolled -1)
Princess Eden Siranteos presses the break without pause, halberd snapping from guard to guard. Steel rings once, twice, then the line collapses under her brutal precision.
Veteran Soldier One drops to one knee, dazed by the haft across his helm. Veteran Soldier Two stumbles into the chalk and goes limp beside him, weapon sliding away.
Captain Vaelorin
Down, hold... yield! The trial is spent!
The captain lowers his blade. No one in the yard dares rise against her now.
King Nazareth
Enough. The guard has answered.
Queen Araneidan
And answered well. The yard sees it, Eden.
Dust settles over fallen shields and bowed heads, while Eden stands alone at the center of the ring, unbroken.
Quest Complete
Prove the Royal Guard is ready
Skill Upgrade: Melee Weapons Great→Superb