The Extra Wants Control

Seraphina exited the building, a radiant smile gracing her features.

The day's graduation festivities had left her heart brimming with 'warmth'.

As she walked, students clustered around her, their youthful faces lit with a mixture of awe and affection.

"Saint Seraphina!" a young man squeaked, clutching a hand-drawn portrait towards her.

"Here! It's for you!"

Seraphina crouched down to his level, her eyes sparkling with genuine warmth. "Oh, this is wonderful! Thank you so much!" she exclaimed with a beautiful smile taking the drawing and examining it closely.

The picture depicted her amidst a swirling vortex of magic, it was a good picture.

"You're the most amazing mage ever!" a shy human girl piped up, a single red rose clutched tightly in her hand.

Seraphina's smile softened even further. "Thank you, dear. That's very kind of you." She gently accepted the rose, its delicate petals a stark contrast to her fiery red hair.

A gaggle of boys, their voices cracking with excitement, shuffled forward.

They made out compliments, some about her magical prowess, others about her great beauty. Seraphina chuckled, her presence radiating an aura of kindness that disarmed even the most awkward of young men.

"Thank you, boys," she said, her voice as warm as a summer breeze. "It's lovely to hear such kind words."

As she continued on her way, the whispers followed her. "Isn't she beautiful?" one girl sighed dreamily. "And so kind," another chimed in, her voice filled with awe.

Seraphina, with her graceful movements and 'genuine' warmth, had effortlessly captured the hearts of the students.

In their eyes, she wasn't just a powerful mage or a renowned Saint; she was an embodiment of everything good and admirable.

She could tell what they were thinking and she just made an eyeroll...

" The things I do..." She said.

Then with a playful wink, she turned a corner, leaving behind trails of whispered admiration and a lingering sense of magic in the air.

This outpouring of affection, this unwavering belief in her, fueled Seraphina's annoyance. But she never got tired of putting up an act.

In this personna, she was a 'good' person that she would not let them down.

She knew it was necessary... These were people who she would take advantage of when the time was right.

***************

*Creak*

*Creak*

*Creak*

*Creak*

The heavy door slowly opened...

"Sir," came a muffled voice, "It's almost time."

Axl straightened his posture, the soft sheets slipping from his broad, muscular chest.

He dismissed the man.

He then walked towards the immense window, its panes offering a breathtaking view of the landscape below and far into the horizon where the sun's beams were colouring the dark clouds as it was preparing for it's rise.

The wind calm and cool whipped around as it entered the room hitting it's walls making sheets and curtains flutter, tugging at his hair and hitting at his skin with a touch of icy chill.

He inhaled deeply, the fresh air as anticipation filled his lungs.

"Three years," he muttered, his voice low and gravelly.

Three years of temporary exile, of plotting in the shadows, of biding his time.

He had endured the whispers, the mockery, the doubt from his fellow blessed who after the Neveah incident their respect for him took a hit. They looked at him like he was a fool.

"But no longer."

The fire within him that was surpressed roared to life.

"I've been silent long enough," he declared, clenching his fist so tightly his knuckles turned white.

"It's time to remind them why I'm the Dragon Prince." Axl's eyes burning red as scales formed on his face and skin as if ready to engage in battle.

He wasn't seeking forgiveness, nor reconciliation.

He craved dominance. This wasn't just a return, it was a declaration.

He would seize his birthright, secure his rightful throne, and make the entire kingdom tremble at his roar and might.

He clenched his fists tightly as he he grit his teeth.

"Everyone will bend the knee, especially that arrogant Draven who thinks he is better than me." Axl snarled, his voice echoing in the vast chamber.

"The Dragon Prince is back, and his reign will be unlike any other."

**************

Astrid slammed her Warhammer into the wooden training dummy, splintering it with a satisfying crack.

The room resembled a warzone – broken puppets lay strewn about, broken weapons littered the floor, and several unfortunate sparring partners were sprawled unconscious, those who were conscious were groaning as they breathed heavily.

Pushing a stray braid of her hair from her eyes, Astrid turned and faced the imposing golem that had started materialized from the ground moments ago.

Cracks of molten lava glowed along its rocky surface, and its roar vibrated through the room, sending tremors through the floor.

Undeterred, Astrid raised her massive Warhammer, its weight a testament to her dwarven strength.

"Still not enough," she muttered, her voice laced with frustration. Sweat dripped down her forehead.

"Father…" she began.

"I know I've worked hard, but I… I just don't feel ready. But I won't stop. I'll secure the future of our people!" She declared.

The golem lunged towards Astrid with a thunderous stomp.

Unfazed, she dropped into a low crouch, her Warhammer poised like an extension of her own arm. With a battle cry that echoed through the training room, Astrid leaped into the air, meeting the golem's massive fist head-on.

The ground trembled as they made their blows which swung and generated heavy winds that blew away the training dummies broken debris and the bodies of her sparring partners.

Then the fist met the hammer. Astrid felt the shock vibrate through her arms, threatening to rip the Warhammer from her grasp.

But she held firm, gritting her teeth as she pushed back against the golem's overwhelming strength.

For a moment, it seemed like an unstoppable force met an immovable object (which by the way would result in nothing)....

But that wasn't the case here... One had to be weaker than the other. So for a moment it was quite.

So with a mighty surge, Astrid forced the golem's arm back as it roared in defiance not accepting this at all.

She used her earth affinity and made the ground soft that momentarily off-put the golem.

Seizing the opportunity, she planted her feet on the golem's fist using it as a platform to spring her body and she swung the Warhammer in a devastating arc. The weapon whistled through the air, catching the golem's chest with a resounding clang.

The golem stumbled back, smoke billowing from the cratered impact point on its chest. It roared once more, but the sound was tinged with a heavy whine, indicating a malfunction in the core.

With a final shutter the core broke, the golem collapsed into stone and lava.

Astrid landed heavily, breathing hard. Her muscles exerted.. but a resolute smile spread across her face.

It had been a brutal fight, a mere taste of the battles to come. But she had prevailed. Tomorrow, she would face the real challenge tomorrow and she thought she would do just fine.

However, Astrid, Princess of the Dwarves, would be ready.

For the sake of her people, she would stand firm like the dwarves mountains.

***********

Fists, kicks, claw swipes....

Each punch sent a resounding sonic boom echoing through the room. Sweat beaded on her brow, clinging to the short strands of her hair that she stubbornly refused to tie back.

Long hair, she had d discovered, was an unnecessary nuisance in a fight. It whipped at her face obscuring her vision or hindering her movements. She was unsure how her aunt Kali managed with her hair.

Today, however, not even her wet hair would get in the way of her focus.

With a final, earth-shaking kick that left an indentation in the 'training dummy' (yet another casualty in her daily war), Kim collapsed onto the floor in a meditative pose.

Her voice pitched as she made short, sharp gasps, the exertion turning her usually pale skin red.

Steam rose from her body as sweat evaporated, creating a hazy cloud around her.

A faint blue light flickered for a moment in her eyes before fading.

"It's tomorrow," she muttered, a hint of a smile playing on her lips as she leaned back on the flow... behind her the pile of slain training dummies.

These weren't your average punching bags. Each hulking beast was a colossal monstrosity, some easily reaching seven or eight stars in power.

Yet, despite their imposing size and supposed strength, they were no match for Kim's raw power and honed skills.

The beasts, spotted in suspicious dents resembling when one squeeze an avocado to determine its ripeness.

Some had no heads or even had gapping holes in their bodies. This was Kim's daily training as each of these beasts were her unfortunate training dummies.

Excitement thrummed through Kim's veins. Tomorrow wasn't just another event day. Tomorrow was what she worked towards... of all her blood, sweat, and literal beast-battering.

Tomorrow, she would step into the real arena not just working with her brain to manage her faction or read what she was forced to by her aunt.

Kim closed her eyes, picturing the upcoming battle.

She saw herself dismantling her opponents with the precision and ruthlessness. A satisfied purr came from her as she stood up and closed her mouth with a blush.

She then coughed her embarrassment away.

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