Raven AU volume 1 final week day 5
Leaderboard:
1st place: Myrves-8 lives, 6 rings
2nd place: Kelsal-7 lives, 3 rings
3rd place: Aljos-5 lives, 6 rings
This was it; the final day of he quest. All 3 female warriors who had made it to this day were all doing something different after having had breakfast. Myrves was writing in her journal, Kelsal had just finished packing up her belongings, and Aljos started lifting weights. They knew it could be any of them that won and were all equally determined to do well. When they saw Raven had returned, they immediately stopped what they were doing and listened to what he had to say.
"Warriors, after Evlar's departure yesterday, only the 3 of you remain. All of today's challenges will be familiar to you but still difficult nonetheless. Do you feel you have the skills and the courage to complete them?" Raven asked them before listening to their thoughts.
(Raven's Eye confessional)
Myrves: I'm glad that I am in first place and I intend to stay there throughout the day as I've come too far to go home now and I think I do have a good chance of winning.
Kelsal: I'm right in the middle of the leaderboard so I know I have to be very careful to not fall into last.
Aljos: I may still be in last place but I did make it to the final day and I am hoping to do my best here.
(End Raven's Eye confessional)
Now Raven had stopped listening to their thoughts and was asking each of them a question he wanted responses to verbally. "Myrves, you have improved in both skill level and confidence despite considering giving up during your qualifying week. What made you change your mind and remain in the tournament?" He asked the nerdy looking, blonde haired, American warrior.
"I think it was the fact that I would have been disgraced and disappointed in myself if I had gone through with it but I think that the title of Ultimate Warrior is worth fighting for so I didn't give up then and I'm not going to give up now." Myrves replied honestly.
"Very well, my friend." Raven then turned to Kelsal. "Kelsal, you have been close to Myrves in the standings throughout most of this week, have learned to conquer your fears, and have also gained more confidence. Do you feel you can remain in this position and avoid the final run of Way of the Warrior?"
"Yes; I think I can do that since I am less shy than I was before and I have shown that I can handle myself pretty well in many different situations." The other blonde haired girl replied.
"We shall see if that proves true in the challenges ahead." Raven then addressed Aljos. "Aljos, you have remained near the bottom of the leaderboard most of the week yet you have managed to escape elimination despite this. Do you feel that luck played a bigger role than skill in that regard?"
"I think it was both luck and skill that played an equal role since I have shown I have enough skills and courage to make it this far in addition to having better self-control than I did before." Aljos said. "I am just going to do my best today and continue applying everything I've learned so far in the tournament."
"Well then young warriors, we shall see how that works out for all of you. For now, the sun is still young in the sky and we have many miles to travel to meet our first challenge of this final day. Come, let us walk together one last time." Raven led the final 3 warriors away from camp, everyone eager to see how today would go for them.
They soon came to the Stone Soldiers challenge and all 3 warriors were hoping to somehow avoid being the warrior who lost a life here.
"Once again, our path is blocked by demons. You can not go around them and so instead must rebuild these soldiers who sacrificed their lives in battle long ago. Should they be rebuilt correctly, their latent energy will destroy the demon and you may then pass safely by. Be warned that only 2 of you will be able to do this while the remaining warrior will be claimed as the last demon's victim."
The girls were soon each standing by a different solider: Myrves near the left one, Aljos near the right one, and Kelsal near the middle one.
"Warriors, are you ready?" Raven asked them.
"Ready!" All 3 of them replied.
"Then let the challenge begin!" He declared and left them to it.
Kelsal and Myrves had each found their first piece but Aljos was hot on their heels and all 3 girls were neck in neck as they found the pieces they needed and put them together in the correct order. Kelsal however was the one who completed her soldier first. Then the demon in front of the wave emblem bearing girl was destroyed and she ran to safety.
Aljos somehow pulled in front of Myrves and also finished her soldier. The second demon was then destroyed by the soldier's latent energy and the tree emblem bearing girl ran to join Kelsal in safety. Myrves had just been about to slide the spear into her soldier's hands when the final demon took her.
Aljos and Kelsal were standing by the standards, worried about Myrves but relieved that they were safe.
"Kelsal, Aljos, it seems you both have not forgotten how important it was to complete this task in a timely manner. Kelsal, you gained 2 rings here. Aljos, you gained one. Place them on your standards." Raven said to them. Once they had done so, he brought back Myrves. "Myrves, you were very close but not fast enough. I have restored you but at the cost of a life."
Myrves sighed. She hadn't fallen behind but the gap between her and Kelsal was narrowing.
"Come my friends; we must now venture to great heights once more." Raven lead the young warriors away, the 3 girls guessing correctly that they would have to do the High Walk again.
Leaderboard:
1st place: Myrves-7 lives, 6 rings
2nd place: Kelsal-7 lives, 5 rings
3rd place: Aljos-5 lives, 7 rings
(Raven's Eye confessional)
Aljos: I'm really happy that I was able to win a ring even if I haven't moved ahead of Kelsal and Myrves.
Myrves: I was shocked that I came so close yet didn't quite win this challenge this time. Hoepfully I can win the next one though.
Kelsal: I'm happy I got two rings and now I am only one ring behind Myrves so I have to be careful.
(End Raven's Eye confessional)
Now the remaining 3 warriors were at the High Walk and listening again to the explanation.
"Warriors, I am aware some of you may be wondering why you will never get to do the Leap of Faith; unfortunately, the tree that must be climbed for that challenge was struck by lightning in a storm and toppled over. As such, you must once again face the High Walk, climbing the tree to reach the narrow beam and then crossing it to gain the rings you seek." Raven said. "At the end of the beam is a red handprint, which you must touch in order to return to Earth. Remember should you fall from the beam or fail to attempt the challenge at all, you will lose a life. Myrves, as our current leader, you will go first."
Myrves was tethered and got a helmet on and put any nerves she had out of her mind. Her competitors were by the standards and out of sight as they awaited their respective turns.
"Myrves, can you complete this challenge a second time and remain our leader? We will soon find out. Are you ready?" Raven asked her.
"Ready!" The cloud emblem bearing warrior answered, eager to get started.
"Then let the challenge begin!" He declared.
Beginning the ascent, Myrves began recalling where the handholds and footholds were as she carefully climbed the tree. She was glad she was tall at this point since she knew that it would help her here. When she got to the beginning of the beam, she took a moment to catch her breath and then began walking. She grabbed the first ring and put it in her bag and then she made her way over the teeter totter carefully to get the second and third rings. Now she had only one more ring to get and she was smiling as she got herself underneath it and grabbed it. She placed it in her bag and then made her way over to the handprint and touched it, transporting herself back to the ground in front of the standards.
Moments later, Kelsal had gotten a helmet on and was tethered. She was smiling unlike the last time she had tried this; she really had come far in conquering her fears.
"Kelsal, you can not beat Myrves' score but you can match it. Are you ready?" Raven asked her.
"Ready!" she answered, feeling confident.
"Then let the challenge begin!"
As soon as she heard Raven say that, Kelsal began her careful climb. While she wasn't afraid like last time she was still being cautious nonetheless. She made it to the platform and made sure she was balancing correctly as she started the walk. She soon had gotten the first ring and put it in her bag, then climbed over the teeter totter to get the second and third ring. She was doing this almost as though she were an expert as she got the fourth ring and finally got over to the handprint and touched it, bringing her back to the ground.
Finally, Aljos was now up to take her turn. She was tethered and had a helmet on and hoping that she could complete the challenge this time.
"Aljos, you were not able to complete the High Walk the last time you attempted it but can that change this time? Are you ready?" Raven asked her.
"Ready!" The brown haired girl replied, trying to sound confident.
"Then let the challenge begin!"
Aljos began her climb, her fear not as great as the last time but still present nonetheless. She reminded herself that she had completed the other height based challenges this week so she could certainly do this one. She made her way up to the beam and this time, did not look down. She just balanced carefully and got the first ring as she began crossing said beam.
Raven was watching from below and wondered could the tree emblem bearing warrior actually get all of the rings on this second attempt? He would have to wait and see.
By now, Aljos had to stop and take a deep breath before carefully going over the teeter totter and reaching up to get the second and third ring. Okay, I'm almost there, she reminded herself, feeling more confident and holding her nerve as she made her way to the fourth ring and grabbed it. Now it was just a short distance to the handprint and she touched her right hand against it and got herself back to the ground.
Now the three girls no longer had safety equipment on and were smiling as they listened to what was being said to them now.
"Warriors, all of you held a steady nerve when completing that challenge, gaining each of you four rings. Place them on your standards." Raven told them.
Once all 3 girls had done so, they were smiling when they realized what would happen now.
"All of you now have enough rings to exchange for a life. Congratulations." Raven said, removing nine rings from each warrior's standard and adding a feather to each one. Then he had one more thing to say. "Now we must travel onward to our 3rd challenge. Come." He led the group away and towards Dead Man's Gorge.
Leaderboard:
1st place: Myrves-8 lives, 1 ring
2nd place: Kelsal-8 lives, 0 rings
3rd place: Aljos-6 lives, 2 rings
(Raven's Eye confessional)
Myrves: I am very happy that the positions haven't changed much but I am nervous about completing Dead Man's Gorge since I failed it last time due to being too scared.
Kelsal: I'm no longer afraid of heights and that's the best feeling in the world after that challenge seeing as Myrves and I are way ahead of Aljos.
Aljos: I am very happy I was able to complete the High Walk this time and I just kept going and didn't look down in order to do it.
(End Raven's Eye confessional)
The 3 warriors all looked at the river running through Dead Man's Gorge and the rings hanging above the water. They also remembered well that there was a demon they had to worry about.
"Once again, you must surrender yourself to the running water in Dead Man's Gorge as you attempt to collect the rings along the way." Raven said to them. "Remember that if you fail to gain any rings, the demon that stands guard over this place will claim you as it's victim. Myrves, you will be spared a long agonizing wait and go first."
Myrves had a lifejacket on moments later and was standing where she would need to jump in and attempt to grab the first ring. She hoped to not fail on her second attempt at this.
"Myrves, if your fellows can conquer their fears than you are capable of conquering yours. Are you ready?" Raven asked her. He was once again holding onto her glasses for the duration of this challenge.
"Ready!" Myrves shouted over the rushing water, trying to sound confident.
"Then let the challenge begin!" he declared.
Myrves jumped up and successfully grabbed the first ring. She tried to reach the other rings as she was carried down stream and got the last one. Two out of four was a big improvement over last time and the cloud emblem bearing warrior allowed the current to take her past the demon as she held up the rings to distract it, preserving her lives. She was now smiling at her success.
Next Kelsal got a lifejacket on and stood where she needed to jump in. She had a determined look on her face.
"Kelsal, Myrves has gotten 2 rings here. Can you better her score? Are you ready?" Raven asked.
"Ready!" The wave emblem bearing warrior shouted over the current.
"Then let the challenge begin!" Her guide declared.
Kelsal jumped and grabbed the first ring. As she landed in the water and was carried downstream, she reached up for the second ring. She missed the third one but got the 4th one at the very end, saving herself from the demon's wrath. She felt proud of herself; she had caught up to Myrves and they were tied once more.
Last but certainly not least, Aljos was soon standing in front of Raven and had a lifejacket on. She wouldn't catch up to her fellows but she could still end her time here on a high note and just go as far as possible in Way of the Warrior after this.
"Aljos, while you can not catch up to your fellows, you can keep yourself from falling further behind. Are you ready?" Raven asked her.
"Ready!" She shouted in reply, determined to do well here.
"Then let the challenge begin!"
As soon as Raven had said that, Aljos jumped and grabbed the first ring just barely. She did her best to reach the others as she went past them and like Myrves, she missed the second and third rings but got the fourth one, giving her 2 of four and saving her from the demon.
Now all 3 girls were in front of their standards once more, sans lifejackets of course, and listening as their guide addressed them. Myrves also had her glasses back on.
"Warriors, the demon claims no victims this day. Aljos and Myrves, you each gained 2 rings. Kelsal, you gained 3 rings. Place your prizes on your standards." Raven said. Once they had done so, he continued speaking. "Now, we must go to our next challenge and there we will say farewell to one of you before the Last Stand. This way."
The 3 warriors followed Raven, Aljos dreading the Way of the Warrior and knowing that this time, she could not escape facing it.
Leaderboard:
1st place: Myrves and Kelsal-8 lives, 3 rings
2nd place: Aljos-6 lives, 4 rings
(Raven's Eye confessional)
Myrves: When I completed Dead Man's Gorge, I felt really proud of myself because I finally conquered my fear of rushing water and didn't panic this time.
Kelsal: I'm tied with Myrves once again and while I'm disappointed at not having a time advantage in the Last Stand, I'm still going to do my best there.
Aljos: I'm upset that I now have to face Way of the Warrior but I will try to get as far as I can.
(End Raven's Eye confessional)
The warriors all felt the same sense of dread they had before when they came to the Way of the Warrior once more and stood in front of their standards.
"The Way of the Warrior not only strikes fear into the hearts of even the bravest warriors, it was built with only one purpose; to eliminate a warrior from the quest." Raven reminded them before addressing Aljos. "Aljos, you have only 6 lives left, 2 less than your fellow warriors, who each have 8 lives remaining. It is your fate to face this challenge. Will you make it through the portal and to the Last Stand? We shall see."
Aljos got on the armor and had a determined look on her face. If she went out in third, so be it. She would go down fighting though.
"Remember Aljos, should you make it to the end of the pathway and through the portal, you will take part in the Last Stand and then it will go to the black feather draw to see if Myrves or Kelsal will face this trial next. Fail and you must return home. Are you ready?" Raven asked her.
"Ready!" The tree emblem bearing warrior shouted.
"Then may the luck of the Raven's Eye be with you. Let the challenge begin!"
Aljos crawled through the tunnel and slowly made her way past each obstacle. Kelsal and Myrves were waiting to see what would happen. Sadly, Aljos did not get quite as far as Verko had as she got knocked off the path by the shields and disappeared in a flash of blue light.
Myrves and Kelsal were both in tears as Aljos was brought back and addressed.
"Aljos, there is no shame in failing such a terrible trial. You should be proud of all that you have achieved. As you head homeward, remember all the lessons you have learned here and hold your head high. Farewell my friend." Raven said.
Kelsal and Myrves both hugged Aljos tightly in a group hug and said goodbye to her.
"Say 'hi' to Verko for us, okay?" Myrves asked.
"I will." Aljos assured them as she picked up her bag and walked towards home, holding her head high.
(Raven's Eye confessional)
Aljos: I'm really disappointed that I could not complete Way of the Warrior but I am glad to get to third place. I learned so much on this quest and it's an experience I definitely will remember for a long time. I wish Kelsal and Myrves the best of luck.
(End Raven's Eye confessional)
"So, only two remain. Kelsal and Myrves, you have both done well to come this far but only one of you will raise the Staff of Power in victory. Let us go and find out which one of you will have that honor." Raven led both warriors towards the Last Stand.
Little did they know that they were being watched.
Nevar looked through his magical bowl of water to see Raven leading Kelsal and Myrves towards the Last Stand. He growled in anger and immediately went to try and stop them at all costs.
Both blonde haired warriors were looking around the Last Stand, knowing that this time only one of them could succeed in it.
"Warriors, I will not welcome you back to the Last Stand as it is a very unwelcoming place in general. Many warriors have fallen here in an attempt to become champion. The agent of their demise? The enemy of all that is good and true, Nevar." Raven said.
Nevar was now on top of the portal and using his Staff of Power to try to blast both warriors.
Raven however easily blocked it with his own Staff of Power. "I am sure you did not need that reminder of what he has in store for you. To protect you from Nevar's wrath, I will arm each of you with a shield that can be used to reflect his fire onto the demons he will place before you. Remember also to collect the tokens for the shield for without all of them, you can not access the portal. Once one warrior has gone through the portal, the remaining warrior's shield will disappear and they will be left to face Nevar alone. I wish both of you the best of luck."
Soon both warriors were in their starting cages after having given each other a hug. Myrves in the one on the right and Kelsal in the one on the left as the middle one was blocked off.
"Warriors, your rings and lives are of vital importance here. Myrves and Kelsal, you will both start at the same time as you both have 8 lives and 3 rings. Warriors, are you ready?" Raven asked them.
"Ready!" Both blonde haired girls shouted, determined to win here and feeling confident and focused.
"Then may the luck of the Raven's Eye be with you. Let the challenge begin!" The warlord declared, pointing his staff at both their starting cages to open the doors.
Myrves and Kelsal were both getting their pieces of their ramps at the same time and once they each had all of them, started fitting the pieces in after a demon had been summoned in front of each pathway. Then Myrves completed her path, grabbed her shield and put the first two tokens on it and held it up to Nevar's fire, reflecting it towards the demon and destroying it.
Kelsal was not far behind though; she and her rival were remaining neck in neck in the crawl through section and each got their next two tokens and destroyed the demons in front of them. Then they began busting down the walls that needed to be broken and then the gates and collected all their tokens in the process. Now it was a straight race to the portal and Myrves held up her shield to keep Nevar's fire from destroying her and ran through it, having beaten Kelsal by half a second. Kelsal herself was unaware until she saw her shield disappear before being blasted by Nevar.
"So, a very close Last Stand but we now have our champion. Let us not forget her less fortunate comrade." Raven said. He brought back Kelsal with his Staff of Power. "Kelsal, to fall at the final hurdle is a loss that can be difficult to comprehend but you should not be ashamed. You have accomplished much here and should be proud of it. As you head homeward remember that you will not be alone. By day, you may glimpse my shadow and by night, you may hear my call. The spirit of Raven travels with you. Farewell my friend."
Kelsal had a mix of happy and sad tears as she began her journey home. She was trying to hold her head high as best as she could.
(Raven's Eye confessional)
Kelsal: I am a little disappointed that I didn't quite win but I am very happy for Myrves and I am glad that I was able to make it so far. I enjoyed my time on Raven and learned I am stronger than I thought I was at the beginning of the quest.
(End Raven's Eye confessional)
"Now we have a new champion. Let us go and greet her." Raven headed to where Myrves was waiting for him to address her.
Myrves was standing near the stand the staff she would get was laying on and she had a mix of happy and sad tears on her face. She had won and it was very unbelievable at first yet there her guide was to address her.
"Myrves, you have learned much during your time on this quest and have come so far and not just in distance in order to win the title of Ultimate Champion. You have proven yourself worthy of this staff of power. Use it wisely and it will see you safely through the many trials that lie ahead." Raven said, handing the new staff over to the cloud emblem bearing warrior. "Your name will be written in the hearts and minds of those that are good and true and your deeds will be remembered. As the sun sets on this quest for the final time, a new light shines across this troubled land, banishing darkness and bringing hope to all who see it. Come Myrves, let us celebrate your achievement as we face whatever adventures may lie ahead."
Myrves happily followed the warlord who had been her guide and mentor throughout this quest. She was the first cloud warrior, first American warrior, and first glasses-wearing warrior to become a champion and she knew that she still had much to learn but would be able to handle whatever future battles she would fight alongside the previous champions.
(Raven's Eye confessional)
Myrves: I did not think that I would win when I came on this quest but I am very glad I did and I am very happy with myself for becoming Ultimate Warrior. I did so many things I didn't think I would ever get to do and I hope that other warriors from my homeland also decide to try to compete on Raven since it's a really fun experience even if the challenges are sometimes more difficult than one might think.
(End Raven's Eye confessional)
Author's note: I hope you enjoyed this whole series. The first installment of the After The Tournament series, focusing on Myrves' first year as a champion, will be published on here in the future.