Tons of warriors.

Lexie and yourself walk side by side from the Villa, through the Syndicate, down the stairs of the mountain, through the caverns, to the exit of the cave, into the Training Grounds. It took awhile but when you eventually got there your eyes went large, you looked around, seeing thousands upon thousands of warriors all around the Training Grounds.

"Exciting!" Lexie grips your hand even tighter "We should be ready to hit Rathkin again soon. I'm curious what the strategy is going to be!" she smiles with joy.

"Can't wait." you grumble out, happy to get back to Rathkin but still annoyed with Tianna from last night.

The two of you stay far back, by the entrance into the Training Grounds, about five hundred feet from the Plateau where Tianna is standing in the middle, walking in circles, Ashe is standing at the little walkway, guarding it with her life.

"So, you really think this is going to be a speech on our return to Rathkin?" you question Lexie

"Most likely..." her index finger goes up to her chin, thinking briefly "We've been training, recuperating and just waiting for a few weeks now. We should attack soon I'd guess."

"Yeah...let's hope we attack." is all you can muster towards Lexie as you stand side by side with the Sunrider.

Many long moments pass, Tianna still walking in circles around the plateau, Ashe still guarding, hundreds more Sunriders entering the Training Grounds and gathering around the already giant masses of warriors awaiting to hear what their leader orders.

"What is taking so long?" you mumble towards Lexie.

"Oh calm down, Darien!" she laughs at you "Guess we had time for a round two!" she chuckles at you "My bad!" Lexie wraps her arms around your bicep like she loves, pulling you close "Oh well, Darien, maaaaybe later..." the side of her head nudges against your upper arm, rubbing up and down slightly.

You're thrown out of your trance with Lexie when you hear steel clash against steel. Tianna's steel shaft of her spear bashes against the steel edge of her wooden buckler, echoing a sound through out the Training Grounds.

"It's time!" Lexie blurts out ecstatically.

"Yup yup, see what this is all about."

"LISTEN THE FUCK UP!" Tianna begins, waiting for the crowd to slowly start to simmer down "LISTEN!!!" she yells, causing the entire plateau to continue to quiet down.

Lexie grips your bicep tighter, waiting for the speech.

"TODAY..." she begins "TODAY, THE SYNDICATE WILL WITNESS HISTORY!" she throws her hands up in the air as she continues to walk circles around the plateau, causing many cheers to happen around the Training Grounds.

"What..." Lexie mumbles into you "History? Huh? What's happening?"

Waiting for the noise to die down "TODAY, I..." she pauses, taking a few more steps "LEADER OF THE SUNRIDERS, TIANNA URCHBRILL..." her head tilts side to side looking at her warriors "ANNOUNCE A BATTLE..." she starts "A BATTLE TO CONTROL THE SUNRIDERS!" she screams into the air.

"Huh?? A challenger?" Lexie questions.

Your stance goes stiff, looking onto the Plateau. "Is she really going forward with this..." you think to yourself.

Tianna comes to a stop, bashing her spear & buckler against each other once again, echoing that sound through out the air allowing all warriors to pay attention "Darien." she shouts "Darien of Rathkin!" her head scouts around the entire plateau looking for you "I CHALLENGE YOU!!!" she shouts loud.

You hear gasps go around the group of warriors as not only do they get to witness a challenge today but they get to witness a male challenger where winner takes control of the Sunriders.

Lexie's eyes go wide "What the fuck?" her head looks at you as you stare at the plateau "Darien??? What the hell!?" she questions.

Tianna continues to scan around the plateau looking for you. Finally she locks into your eyes, her spear tilts down, the tip of it pointing in your direction, "Darien, I challenge you for control of the Sunriders. Do you accept?!"

At that moment, thousands upon thousands of Sunriders turn their bodies in your direction. Looking at you, glancing over your body, wondering how a male Rathkin warrior could ever control the Sicilian Sunriders.

"It's never been done. No male has ever taken control of the Sunriders. I WILL NOT LET HIM WIN. HE WILL SUFFER FOR HIS STUPIDITY!" she shouts into the air, causing many warriors to cheer at their leader.

Almost all the Sicilian Sunriders are shocked. Everybody is standing around not saying anything, even yourself, your body is weaving back and forth, this is what you wanted but for some reason you were speechless at the moment, not sure Tianna would actually go through with your plan...

"Darien..." Lexie shakes your body, causing you to look at her "Please tell me she's joking..." she questions "She's playing with us....right?!"

You gulp hard as you look at Lexie "Umm..." your fingers rub against each other, showing non-confidence "Lexie...I, uhh..I..." you mumble out. "It's just...umm."

"DO YOU ACCEPT YOU PIECE OF SHIT???" Tianna yells once more from the Plateau.

You just look onto the plateau, looking back at Tianna, unfortunately no words exit your mouth.

"TYPICAL RATHKIN!!!" Tianna jests "SCARED SHITLESS!" causing a handful of Syndicate warriors to laugh at your expense.

That causes Lexie to snap, her head looks back up at you, looking into your eyes, the anger building within her, "Win..." Lexie states thoroughly "kick... her... fucking... ass..." she slowly states each word in that sentence as her voice snarls, "Show the Syndicate your strength. Show the Syndicate how truly powerful you really are." her hand reaches up, cupping the side of your face, her thumb rubbing your cheek slightly "You've got this Darien." she mumbles "Do this for me...." her head nods, her left lip curls up, grinning at you "Do it for yourself..." she leans forward, giving your lips a quick little peck "Darien..." both her hands get placed on each side of your head, her eyes looking at you, bearing her soul, the next words escape her mouth as her hands drop from your face, smiling at you, loving you, showing her confidence in you..."But most importantly, do this for Claire."