The Elementiels

The crowd in the grand arena sat on the edge of their seats, murmuring in disbelief as a towering dragon entered the ring. Jason's gaze fixed on the beast, and his heart twisted painfully as memories of Stacey's last moments flooded back. He shivered, unable to shake the dread settling in his bones. Sensing this, Grandpa Mark placed a steadying hand on his shoulder.

"It's alright, Jason," Grandpa said, his voice a gentle rumble. "They'll be fine. These students are tougher than you think."

Jason forced a smile but couldn't entirely mask his worry. All around, the spectators held their breath, eyes locked on the field to witness how the students would confront the danger looming before them.

King Arthur turned to Commander Elijah, brow furrowed. "Are you…certain this is safe?"

Commander Elijah gave a reassuring nod. "Do not worry, Your Majesty. This is a low-class dragon, fierce in appearance but manageable for those with training. Our students have been prepared for such a challenge. With teamwork and discipline, they can overcome it."

The dragon prowled forward, flames crackling in its throat. With a roar that shook the arena walls, it unleashed a torrent of fire. The students scattered, narrowly avoiding the blaze, surrounding the beast with measured steps.

"Whoa, that was close!" Mike muttered, his heart racing.

Adam called out, his voice carrying over the din, "Stick together, everyone! If we work as a team, we can bring it down! Attack from all sides!"

"Right!" came the enthusiastic response, a determined chorus. Arrows sliced through the air, and swords gleamed as students charged from every direction, their battle cries rising. The dragon growled, its eyes flashing with rage as it swung its tail, sending a few students sprawling across the ground like scattered leaves.

"Oh man, this is bad! This is really bad!" Ben stammered, eyes wide with panic.

The dragon's gaze locked onto him, its jaws opening as if to strike, but Mike tackled him out of harm's way just in time. "You alright, bro?"

"Yeah, thanks to you," Ben replied.

The students kept up their relentless assault, arrows raining down and swords biting at the beast's armored hide. Cynthia, with her calm precision, drew her bow and fired, hitting the dragon's eye. It shrieked, momentarily blinded.

"Nice shot, Cynthia!" David called, grinning with admiration.

"Thanks! Keep going, everyone!"

The dragon, furious now, opened its mouth and let loose another blast of fire. The students raised their shields, bracing against the intense heat, sweat beading on their brows as they held their ground. The dragon stumbled, assaulted from every side by relentless attacks.

Beatrix darted forward with incredible speed, her sword flashing as she sliced the beast's leg, forcing it to falter and collapse.

A counselor leaned toward the king, his voice filled with awe. "Remarkable, Your Majesty! These students are exceptional. They might even be better than last year's class."

"It's difficult to compare, really. We didn't hold an exhibition like this last year."

Below, the students regrouped, determination etched into their faces. They attacked again and again, but the dragon's scales were like armor, barely yielding to their strikes. "This thing is tough!" Mike exclaimed.

"No matter how hard we hit, it just keeps coming back!" Ben shouted.

Adam stepped forward, resolve gleaming in his eyes. "I've got a plan! Everyone, keep attacking from below, distract it! Frank and I will go for its head!"

"Understood!" The students responded with renewed energy, surrounding the dragon and driving it back. Arrows and sword strikes diverted its attention while Adam and Frank darted in, climbing up the dragon's back, clinging to its jagged scales as they edged closer to its head.

"This is insane! I can't believe you talked me into this!" Frank gasped, his grip slipping slightly as the dragon thrashed.

Adam laughed, even as he gritted his teeth. "Come on, Frank! Stick to the plan. I'll go for the head; you take the neck!"

They exchanged a determined nod. Frank reached the dragon's neck, plunging his sword deep. The dragon reared, letting out a deafening roar that echoed through the arena. Thrashing wildly, it tried to take to the air, but was held in check by the mystical barrier around the arena. Frank's grip faltered, and he tumbled off, narrowly missing the dragon's snapping jaws. Just as it lunged to swallow him, Cynthia loosed another arrow, hitting it square in the snout and forcing it back.

Frank hit the ground hard, scrambling out of the way as he shouted, "It's all you now, Adam!"

The crowd collectively held its breath, their eyes fixed on Adam as he sprinted up the dragon's neck. With a final battle cry, he plunged his sword into the creature's skull. The dragon screamed, a terrible sound that filled the arena as it staggered, crashing to the ground in a cloud of dust. Silence fell over the arena, every eye on the fallen beast. Was it truly defeated?

After a tense pause, Adam stood atop the dragon's head, raising his sword high in triumph. The crowd erupted, their cheers thunderous, echoing through the stone walls as if the arena itself were celebrating. The students gathered around, breathless and battered but victorious, their faces shining with pride.

Knights entered the arena, carefully removing the crystals that held the barrier in place, letting it dissipate. The students, exhausted yet triumphant, approached the royal family and bowed in respect.

Commander Elijah stepped forward with pride. "As you've seen, Your Majesty, the students have demonstrated not only their skill but their courage, teamwork, and resilience in the face of great danger."

King Arthur rose to his feet, his voice carrying warmth and authority. "You have done exceedingly well today. Without a doubt, you are ready for the final examinations. Camelot is fortunate to have such brave and capable young warriors."

The students bowed again, their voices swelling in a unified cheer. "Thank you, Your Majesty! We will make Camelot proud!"

The crowd's applause and cheers filled the air once more, a fitting tribute to the bravery and unity that had carried the young warriors through their trial by fire.

As the arena gradually cleared, clusters of students dispersed, some hurrying to meet their parents, others lingering to talk over their performance. Adam stood with his friends, animatedly discussing the match, their voices bright with excitement.

"We were amazing out there, guys!" Cynthia said, her eyes gleaming with pride.

"Yeah, that dragon didn't stand a chance against the finest knights in all of Eirene!" Mike exclaimed, raising his arm triumphantly.

David offered a gentle reminder, his tone cautious. "Alright, let's not get carried away. That was just an exhibition. The real challenge is still ahead—our exams."

Adam clapped David on the back, his easy grin returning. "Don't worry, David. We'll be fine. As long as we stick together, we've got this."

Just then, Jason, James, and Grandpa Mark approached them, carrying a basket of freshly baked cookies. Mark's face broke into a broad, welcoming smile as he reached them. "Congratulations, all of you! You put on quite a show out there," he said warmly. "And to celebrate, I brought cookies!"

The group eagerly gathered around, each taking a warm, fragrant cookie, compliments spilling freely as they tasted the delicious treat.

Jason gave Adam a nod, his tone filled with admiration. "You were incredible out there, Adam. I knew you had it in you."

James smirked, nudging his brother. "You do love showing off, don't you?"

Adam laughed, draping an arm around their shoulders. "Oh, come on. It was a team effort, you know."

Grandpa Mark cleared his throat, smiling at the group. "And if those cookies weren't enough, there's plenty more pastries waiting back at the bakery! Special day calls for special discounts!"

The offer sparked another round of cheers, and they began to follow Mark toward the bakery, laughter rippling through their group as they walked. As they made their way, Cynthia caught up to Jason, nudging him playfully.

"Hey, baker boy! Nice seeing you again."

Jason chuckled, glancing over. "Good to see you too, Miss Cynthia."

She raised an eyebrow, teasingly. "You don't have to be so formal, you know. You never call Adam 'Mister' after all."

Jason scratched the back of his neck, a sheepish smile appearing. "Fair point. By the way, you were impressive out there, Cynthia. All that practice really shows."

Cynthia smiled, giving him a nod. "Thanks, Jason. Took a lot of work, but worth it. And you," she turned to James, studying him thoughtfully, "must be Adam's younger brother, James, right?"

James shrugged casually. "That's me. Normally, I don't come to these events, but, well… I had to show up for Adam."

Cynthia's smile softened. "Aw, that's so sweet. You're lucky to have a big brother like him."

Adam threw an arm around James, grinning proudly. "Alright, alright, enough flattery. I'm starving—let's get to the bakery already."

They laughed, and the group moved out of the arena, the remnants of the crowd drifting in their wake.

Meanwhile, in a quieter section behind the arena, a more serious gathering was taking place. Commander Elijah stood at the center, his gaze sweeping over the circle of captains around him. He waited until silence settled, then spoke, his voice low and grave.

"Good. We're all here. There's something important we need to discuss."