A large ring, the size of a football stadium was created in the center.

It was surrounded with a thick air shield from all sides that had a maze of spells of all kinds to protect the spectators. Guests were seated around comfortably. All eyes were on Kenai. There were whispers and gossips in the crowd.

"Kenai is doomed.

" Some said,

"Today Adrianna will know what a pure blood is.

" Some went on to say,

"This is ridiculous.

"

Inside the ring Kenai waited like a tiger ready to pounce on his target and kill it. He had been waiting for this opportunity every since there was hope that his master, Vikra would resurrect.

Suddenly the wall merged on the sides and someone appeared. Kenai gave a half-smile and looked up but to his horror, it wasn't Adrianna. Shocked, he looked up and saw the queen who was sitting amongst the spectators. What did that mean? He wasn't even able to register the shock when the person who emerged from the wall was Haldir.

She is cunning. He remembered Lenny's words. He looked at Adrianna with bloodshot eyes with a thousand questions in them. And then his gaze shifted to Haldir.

"Why isn't the Queen here for the test?

" Kenai's question was almost a growl.

Haldir laughed and then replied,

"Do you expect that the Queen would contest you for the post of the Military General? Are you so comical? How dare you even think that the Queen would come and fight with you and lower her status?

"

"You-

" Kenai yelled closing his fists tightly as blue veins popped in his temple. His only chance to kill her was slipping out of hand. Suddenly his face became relaxed and he addressed Adrianna with sarcasm dripping in his voice.

"Are you so scared of me that you couldn't even step inside the ring to have this small competition?

"

"Mind your words,

" Haldir snarled.

"You can be taken to the gallows for belittling the Queen.

"

Kenai didn't pay attention to Haldir. He had to challenge Adrianna and bring her inside.

"You were so afraid of me that you sent your minion to fight me? I will crack his neck within five minutes.

"

Adrianna stared at Kenai and then looked at his mother Yanga, who was shivering with fear the moment Adrianna's eyes, locked hers. Adrianna took a deep breath and thought what a fool this boy was. She replied,

"Then do so. That is what I expect from my Military General. I give you five minutes to crack his neck and kill him. However, if you can't, you will accept defeat.

" Saying that Adrianna sat back and relaxed in her chair. She placed her hand on Dmitri's lap.

"And as for me, you are not worth my time. I am doing this for Yanga.

" This way Adrianna meant that she respected the words of the Ministry Members but she also meant that they could not use their power to influence her. If they would do it, this is what she would do.

Kenai was never insulted so much in his life.

Suddenly Adrianna took her wand out and the area resembled a tropical island with sandy beaches and tall palm trees. Kenai was astonished. In front of his eyes, the ground under him was filled with lush green undergrowth including ferns, small pineapple bushes and wild banana trees that sagged with the weight of their fruits. The small island was surrounded by salty, ocean water from all sides. The rippling water was shining with varying blue and green shades. The temperature was high and Kenai took off his cloak. He was sweating profusely. All of a sudden his eyes caught dark shadow of a huge dragon like creature passing beneath the water. His mind became numb. He hadn't expected this kind of a thing. He thought that there would be a battle of spells but this was something else. This was as if he had been thrown into a live situation emulating a battle. He watched up at the audience. They looked more like people on a beach lying on towels or recliners and had come to sunbathe. This show was a bonus to their trip.

He heard the screeching sound of birds and was stunned to see that they were pelicans that were diving to catch the creature in the water.

His opponent, Haldir interlocked his fingers and cracked them. He looked at Kenai as if he was a lost animal. He was standing on sand, which was hot due to sun overhead.

"Fine,

" he muttered and took his wand out. He closed his eyes and took his wand up in the air.

"Ponos!

" he hissed and a lethal blue beam was emitted from it that was directed in Haldir's direction. But at that instant, he felt someone had tightly squeezed the lower part of his torso and pushed him down on the ground. The beam of light went straight up towards the sky and melted when it met the air shield. The push was so hard that he lost every wisp of air from his lungs as he fell on the hot sand. His body, his hair, all got covered in the prickly sand granules. He started to cough. Stunned at this sudden change of events, Kenai needed to sit down or lean against a support.

When he had closed his eyes, Haldir took the advantage and knocked him down on the ground sending his spell to the sky and sending his wand knocked far on the ground.

"You cheat,

" Kenai said as he tried to get up.

"You are supposed to cast spells.

"

"Who said so? Was there any rule regarding it?

" replied Haldir as he pinned Kenai on the ground. He intertwined his arms around his leg and twisted it. Kenai shouted in pain. But he recovered soon and kicked Haldir with all his might on his face leaving him with a bruise under his left eye. Haldir lost balance. Kenai quickly got up to fetch his wand. The moment he caught hold of it, he threw another spell at Haldir, but Haldir had already created whip of crackling yellow electricity that he swirled and swirled until it became as big as a portal. It caught Kenai's spell. Haldir shoved the spell in water. The force was so high that high waves were formed in water and the dragon was forced to jump out.

Along with the rest of the crowd, Kenai's eyes bulged at the sight.

"Will you stop throwing the spells in water?

" The dragon chided Haldir and crawled back.

Haldir grinned. He shrugged, used that swirl of electricity and propelled it in the air. He hurled it towards Kenai. The hot current spiraled around Kenai within a few seconds leashing him tightly. Kenai's mind became numb at this sudden turn of events. The electric around him was as if it would cut him into pieces.

The audience fell into complete silence. It was a view to behold. Haldir had so easily managed to bind Kenai.

Adrianna stood from her place and started to clap. Everyone else followed the Queen. Soon the crowd exploded into cheers. With cheers came fists in the air. Some laughed as they cheered while some applauded. When the cheers died, Adrianna used her wand to bring back everything back to normalcy. She walked up to Kenai who was dirty, disheveled and looked like a sewer rat who wanted to scurry into the hole.

"Do you want to know who is capable of becoming my Military General?

" she said in a calm rage.