Rian and Ria had finished all their preparations to leave for the Gnome Kingdom on the continent of Celesta. Equipped with the powerful magic items from their mother, Elena, they were mentally ready to embark on their new adventure. But just as they were about to depart, two figures stood in their way.
Lisa, Elysium's mighty warrior, and Serena, leader of the intelligence-gathering unit, were waiting for Rian and Ria. Lisa looked at the twin siblings with a resolute expression.
"I am glad that you are leaving as the guardians of Elysium. But before you go, I will test what I have taught you." Lisa commanded in a stern voice, "Unpack your things and come down."
Rian and Ria were surprised by Lisa's firm demeanor, but they understood that they had to pass a trial before leaving as guardians of Elysium. They took up their weapons again and, once prepared, headed to the training grounds where Lisa and Serena were waiting.
When the twins were ready and standing in the training grounds, Lisa met their eyes. "This training is to confirm how prepared you are, and whether you have the qualities of true guardians. Serena and I will not send you off lightly."
Serena smiled from beside Lisa. "We are going to attack you. You'll have to show us everything you've learned in Elysium. Ready?"
Rian bowed his head for a moment, closing his eyes, then gripped his sword with a determined look. "We're always ready. If it's to fulfill the mission given to us by our mother and father, we will pass any trial." Rian's voice was laced with strong resolve and a hint of tension. He wanted this trial to prove he was truly qualified to be a guardian.
Ria stood beside Rian, preparing her magic. She took a deep breath to calm her anxious heart. The worry, 'Can I really help Rian?' flashed through her mind, but she soon fixed a determined expression on her face and said, "We will show you everything we have learned. As the guardians of Elysium, we will prove we can pass this test."
Lisa nodded solemnly and drew two swords. In her right hand was the 'Sword of the Sun,' which radiated a brilliant light and heat, and in her left was a powerful sword developed on Earth. Lisa's Sword of the Sun was a weapon that maximized her combat power, while the twin sword from Earth offered solidity and precision.
Lisa raised the Sword of the Sun high and charged toward Rian. "Show me your strength, Rian! These two swords shall test you!"
Rian prepared for Lisa's attack, gripping his own greatsword and settling into his stance. As the powerful strike from Lisa's two swords came at him, Rian instantly transformed his greatsword into twin blades. His twin blades were weapons developed in Elysium, possessing both powerful offense and defense.
"With the weapons of Elysium, I will protect Elysium!" Rian shouted with resolve, crossing his two blades to block Lisa's strike. The intense heat from the Sword of the Sun and the sharp force of the Earth-made sword struck Rian's blades, but he summoned his strength and endured the impact.
As Lisa's assault continued, Rian nearly lost his balance for a moment but quickly composed himself and began his counterattack. 'I won't fall from something like this,' Rian vowed internally. His twin blades showed skilled movements, parrying Lisa's attacks while looking for an opening to strike back. Rian read the trajectory of Lisa's swords, adjusting the rhythm of his defense and offense.
Lisa, though surprised by Rian's defense, smiled with satisfaction. "Good, Rian. But it's not over yet!" She continued her fierce assault, swinging both swords in succession. The Sword of the Sun radiated brilliance and heat, while the sword from Earth delivered precise and sharp attacks.
Rian faced Lisa's continuous assault, skillfully handling his twin blades to block every blow. He controlled the rhythm of his defense and attack, momentarily transforming back to a greatsword to absorb Lisa's powerful strikes, then switching back to twin blades to counter with a rapid flurry of attacks.
"Rian, focus!" Ria shouted, casting an ice spell to support him. She drew on the power of her Necklace of Ice to create a barrier of ice between Rian and Lisa, neutralizing the sun's heat. As the powers of ice and sun clashed, a thick fog temporarily enveloped the area.
Ria used the opening to cast a spell to block Serena's attack. Serena moved with agility, throwing a sharp dagger. Ria generated a shield of ice with her necklace to block it, then followed up by creating and launching arrows of ice at Serena.
Serena dodged Ria's attack and quickly closed in, brandishing her dagger. Ria reacted swiftly, creating an ice foothold to move through the air and evade Serena's strike. But Serena continued to press Ria, closing the distance, and Ria drew her own dagger to meet Serena's.
As Serena's attacks intensified, Ria used a combination of magic and her dagger to defend and attack. She parried Serena's dagger while attempting to counter with ice magic. A sharp spear of ice flew toward Serena, but she quickly spun away to dodge it and approached Ria again.
Ria used everything she had learned to respond to Serena's swift movements. She defended against Serena's attacks with her dagger while simultaneously using ice magic to bind Serena's feet and restrict her movement. Serena smiled, impressed by Ria's growth. For a moment, she saw a strong will in Ria's eyes. 'This kid, she's not afraid anymore.'
"Alright, Ria. Now this is a real fight," Serena said, parrying Ria's dagger and taking a step back. Ria didn't let her guard down for a second, assailing Serena with both ice arrows and her dagger simultaneously.
Rian and Ria exchanged a look, preparing to counterattack while fending off their opponents. Rian leaped into the air with his greatsword to draw Lisa's attention, and Ria created an ice foothold to help him move more freely in the air. Rian attempted a continuous slash with his twin blades from the air to disrupt Lisa's defense, while Ria simultaneously fired an ice arrow at Serena.
Lisa and Serena momentarily strengthened their defenses, but Rian and Ria's coordination was incredibly powerful. Lisa swung her Sword of the Sun, but Rian blocked every attack with his twin blades and Ria's ice magic. Lisa stepped back into a defensive stance, but Rian's swift aerial movements and Ria's magical attacks continued to pressure her.
Rian deflected Lisa's Sword of the Sun with his greatsword, then quickly switched to twin blades to attack her defenses. Ria, in sync with Rian's movements, cast a barrier of ice to control Lisa's movement, successfully continuing their joint assault. Serena dodged Ria's dagger and tried to attack again, but Ria used an ice foothold to block her movement and countered with her dagger.
Lisa sheathed her swords, smiling as if acknowledging Rian and Ria's growth. "You two have truly grown into the guardians of Elysium. Your strength and teamwork are more than reliable. I think you are ready to leave now." Lisa's voice was filled with strong trust and pride. She seemed convinced that the twin siblings could bear the future of Elysium.
Serena also smiled. "That was excellent. With skills like that, we can trust you to go." She gently patted the twins' shoulders in encouragement. "More difficult trials await you outside of Elysium, but with the strength you showed today, you'll be able to overcome any challenge."
Rian and Ria listened to Lisa and Serena's words, let out a sigh of relief, and bowed their heads. They had passed the trial, proving their skills and reaffirming their qualifications as guardians of Elysium.
Lisa approached the twins one last time and patted their shoulders. "No matter what happens on the continent of Celesta, never give up. You are strong. And don't forget that we are always behind you."
Serena waved to the twins in encouragement. "Have a good trip. And let's have another match when you get back."
Rian and Ria, buoyed by their encouragement, prepared to depart with resolute expressions. They were now ready to begin their journey to the continent of Celesta. As the guardians of Elysium, they were prepared to move forward, having passed every test. Countless challenges awaited them, but now their hearts were filled with a confidence and sense of mission greater than any fear.
***
Episode : The Airship that Parts the Skies
To journey to the continent of Celesta, Rian and Ria went to the port of Elysium. But their mode of transport was no ordinary ship. Before them was a fantasy airship, combined with a massive hot-air balloon. The airship was adorned with silver wings, an exquisitely carved wooden deck, and brilliant metal decorations. Ready to ascend into the heavens, the colossal vessel was both magnificent and beautiful.
The airship was a product of cutting-edge technology, created through the collaboration of Elysium's Dwarves and Gnomes. This vessel, a fusion of magic and mechanical engineering, could traverse the skies and travel swiftly to distant places. A large hot-air balloon floated above, supporting the airship's body, while silver wings stretching out on either side controlled the airflow, enabling stable flight. Small propellers on the underside of the hull adjusted its speed and direction, and various magical devices on the deck emitted a soft glow.
Rian and Ria's eyes sparkled at the sight of the massive airship.
"Is this the airship we're taking?" Rian asked, his expression a mix of awe and excitement.
"Aye, it's called the 'Wind Chaser.' A masterpiece that combines all of Elysium's latest technology," said the Dwarven captain who greeted them at the port. He stood proudly, as if he himself were responsible for the ship's operation, and continued his explanation. "This ship can get you to the continent of Celesta quickly without having to cross the sea. Magic and machine are so harmoniously blended, it can withstand any weather."
Ria marveled at the airship's giant balloon, its wings, and the complex machinery installed all over the deck. "To be able to ride such a beautiful airship... it feels like a dream." She felt as if she were seeing a vehicle straight out of a childhood fairy tale.
Once boarding preparations were complete, Rian and Ria stepped onto the deck. The deck was wide and sturdily built, and Gnomes bustled about, operating various mechanical devices. They meticulously checked the ship's condition, inspecting the hull's engine and magic core, while Dwarves re-inspected the structures and equipment on deck. Rian and Ria were impressed by their technical skill and collaboration, their hearts pounding with anticipation for the adventure of flying through the sky.
As the airship slowly began to lift off, Ria took a step back to steady herself. Her heart raced and her fingertips trembled. The experience of soaring into the sky was both thrilling and unsettling. 'Will we really make it to the continent of Celesta safely? What kind of new adventure awaits us?' Ria let out a tense breath without realizing it. Just then, Rian took her hand to steady her, giving her a gentle smile.
"Let's just enjoy the feeling of flying for now, Ria. As long as we're together, there's nothing to be afraid of."
Rian was feeling a similar anxiety. The reality of leaving Elysium was a vague fear. The expectations of his parents, Lisa, and Serena felt like a great responsibility, and the weight of it was heavier than he had thought. 'Can we really pull this off?' Rian asked himself internally, but each time, he strengthened his resolve with the thought that as long as he was with Ria, they could overcome anything.
The balloon fully inflated, and the airship slowly departed from Elysium's port. Looking down from the ascending vessel, Elysium looked as small as a miniature model. The city's buildings, the castle walls, and the distant mountains and fields were all shrunken down. Rian and Ria held their breath at the sight, the start of their new adventure feeling truly real.
"It'll take a few days to reach the continent of Celesta. Enjoy your journey through the sky until then," the Dwarven captain told them. "But the sky can be dangerous, so don't let your guard down. You never know when enemies of the sky might appear. Like the sky pirates that roam out there, or giant celestial beasts."
Rian nodded with a determined expression. The captain's words made him more tense, but he did not forget his mission as a guardian. "Yes, sir. We won't be careless, even in the sky. As guardians of Elysium, we will complete this mission." There was resolve in Rian's voice, but also a slight tremor, as if he were reassuring himself.
Ria also nodded. "We're ready to fight in the sky, too. We will arrive safely on the continent of Celesta." She felt a little fear at the talk of sky enemies, but she believed that with Rian, they could get through any danger.
The airship rose higher and higher, parting the blue sky and white clouds. The wings cut through the air, and the engine's rhythmic hum echoed as it crossed the heavens. The Gnomes on deck constantly checked the instrument panels, adjusting the ship's speed and direction, while the Dwarves maintained the hull's stability, frequently checking the magical devices. Rian and Ria, beginning their first journey through the sky, were filled with anticipation for the new adventures and challenges that awaited them on the continent of Celesta.
The endless sky stretching before them seemed like a new path opening toward their future. Aboard the airship that parted the skies, the twin siblings etched their mission as guardians of Elysium deep in their hearts and took the first step on their new journey. No matter what difficulties lay ahead, they were ready to cross this sky and advance toward the continent of Celesta.
Aboard the flying airship, Rian and Ria carried with them anticipation and anxiety for the new challenges they would face, and a strong belief that together, they could overcome anything. As the guardians of Elysium, they were now soaring toward the true beginning of their adventure.