You must go. You must find it. You must unleash the Nine Relics upon the world. Break loose the dark spirit of the Nine Relics. Unleash it. Unleash it.
Esme kept moving her head sideways, trying to stop the voice in her head. Visions of a dark place with nine glowing objects, floating around kept flashing in her head. She woke up sweating profusely. She looked at the bedside clock. She had not even been able to get three hours of sleep. She tried to close her eyes, but the visions came back, this time even more intense. Ezzy opened her eyes and got out of bed.
" I guess I'm staying awake tonight" She mumbled.
Ezzy went downstairs, got a bowl of fruits, some chips and a large bucket of french fries. She went back to her room, fished out her headphones and collapsed in a giant bean bag chair. She grabbed her mirror phone from the bedside table and turned it on. Ria was up, still sending messages.
Riarielle Elaris! Ezzy thought, doesn't she ever sleep. Well I've never been more happy to see her awake.
The next morning, Ezzy came downstairs looking tired.
" Morning mom" she greeted. She was wearing a black baggy jean and a hoodie with her hair stuffed under it as always. There were black circles under her eyes and her eyes were red from lack of sleep.
" Morning baby" Griselda replied. " You look tired"
" I didn't get any sleep last night"
" And why is that?"
" I kept having really weird dreams. About the Nine Relics and unleashing it upon the world"
" The Nine Relics!" Griselda said suddenly turning pale.
" Mom are you okay?" Ezzy asked coming to her side.
" Nothing. I'm fine" Griselda said. She quickly stood up and went to the kitchen before Esme could ask anymore questions.
Esmeralda watched her mom from the dining room. Mom knows something, she thought.
She said goodbye to her mom who was still in the kitchen acting like she was busy. Ezzy walked out of the house. Her car was still at school. She had to go in another one. She got to school a minute before the first class bell went off. She quickly found a spot to park her car and ran into the school. All fourth year students had already gone to the training ground. Miss Sparkles the defence teacher was already there. Esmeralda snuck pass her and stood in the only available spot which was beside Drayce.
" Esmeralda Rhazmyra! You're tardy." Miss Sparkles said frowning.
" I didn't get any sleep last night" Ezzy whined.
" I know you don't always come late to class so I'll pardon you for today. But be tardy one more time and you'll spend two whole weeks catching toads in the lotus pond."
" Alright "
" So back to what we have today. This morning will be a test of your fighting skills. You shall engage in fist fights with no powers just any weapon of your choice"
" Who goes first?" Ranera an annoying giggly princess asked.
" I'm coming to that, Ranera" Miss Sparkles said obviously annoyed. " Don't you know a princess shouldn't be too forward"
" Sorry" Ranera said.
" Glitter and Glimmer, you'll be going first"
Glitter and Glimmer were twins who came from a long powerful line on genies. They were very competitive, competing for everything even boys.
Glitter's choice of weapon was a double edged sword and Glimmer picked a gauntlet. Glitter moved forward, attacking first. They were both strong no one wanted to give up for the other. What started as a normal fight turned into something else. They both began throwing huge fireballs at each other. The other students took cover to avoid being hit by any of the fireballs. Miss Sparkles stopped them immediately.
" I thought I clearly said that no powers were allowed." She said. " To Principal Lillian's office now. Both of you"
As they were leaving they kept on hitting each other, fighting for who would be the one to have the last hit.
Sighing Miss Sparkles said, " Ria and Racquel. You're up next"
Ezzy frowned. That was an unfair matchup. Racquel was the daughter of a powerful banshee while Ria was just a pretty gifted princess with powers. They both decided not to use any weapons. Ria curled her tiny dainty hands in a ball and Racquel dud the same.
" Fight! "
Racquel attacked first, giving Ria a powerful and unexpected kick in the belly.
" Ouch" Ezzy said holding her belly as though she was the one who received the kick. Drayce looked at her and rolled his eyes.
Racquel's movements were swift and quick, giving Ria no opportunity to defend herself. Ria pretended to attack, making Racquel lose her balance, which gave Ria an opening. She delivered two kicks in the belly and one to the head knocking Racquel out.
Ria blew a kiss to Ezzy who was grinning widely at her.
Everyone participated in the fight. There were winners as well as losers. But there were two students left. Esmeralda and Selene. Selene smiled. She had always wanted to fight with Ezzy she had just never gotten the opportunity and it seems today Lady Luck had decided to reward her. Everyone settled deeply into their seats. They knew this fight was gonna be epic. Ezzy and Selene had been enemies for a very long time.
Estevan whispered to Drayce, " I bet five thousand gold coins that Esme is going to win"
Drayce snorted, " And I bet five thousand gold coins that Selene is gonna win."
" What do you mean by Esme's gonna win?" Kairos said. " Selene will."
" Yeah. I'm actually with them on this one Stev, Selene will definitely win" Andre said.
" If Selene wins" Estevan said. " I'll pay all three of you five thousand gold coins each. But if Ezzy wins y'all have to pay me five thousand gold coins each."
" Deal " They all said.
Ezzy's personal weapon was a nunchaku which was specially designed for her. A gift from her mom on her seventeenth birthday. Selene picked up twin blades sharpening both swords together as she approached Ezzy.
" Fight "
Ezzy allowed Selene to attack first. Selene slashed Ezzy's arms and neck with the swords but the wounds sealed back up immediately they were made. She was shocked and realized that the swords were of no use to her. She tossed them aside and used her fists. Ezzy evaded her punches easily.
She hasn't even found out her powers yet. How is she so strong? Selene thought in disbelief.
She got tired and was breathing heavily. Ezzy then decided that it was time to act. She punched Selene heavily in the face making her stagger. Selene stood up. Ezzy allowed her get up before using the hard sole of her boot to smash her left leg. She fell to the floor and Ezzy kicked her in the side of her belly. Selene laid on her back in the middle of the training ground, blood oozing out of her nose. Ezzy put a foot on her face.
" Esmeralda wins! " Miss Sparkles said.
Esmeralda smiled and swaggered confidently to her seat. All the fourth year students started clapping. They had all underestimated Ezzy. Drayce also couldn't believe it. His eyes were wide open.
" Ahem..." Estevan cleared his throat. " I believe you all owe me fifteen thousand gold coins."
Without saying anything the three if them put their hands in their pockets and handed a pouch of gold coins each to Estevan.
" Nice doing business with ya. We really should bet more often" He said smiling.
The bell rang, indicating end of first class and the beginning of second class. All the students stood up and went in a single line to their respective classes.