Kano Trials

The Unnamed Queen

Jayce

As she steps into the room, it goes silent. The children stop playing, the air becomes still, harsh, and cold. No one knows her real name, nor what she looks like. The only thing we knew for sure is that she is the rightful queen. She is different, I can feel it. Everyone bows their heads as she walks through the Grand Snow Hall, her almost black-like dark blue cloak gleams because of the Alyeon-glass chandeliers raised almost a hundred feet above us. Her parents died at a young age before any of the previous Margendoir (The group of graduates from training) group even set up at their final trial; which used to be held when we reach the age of 17. These days, there's only one trial, but it's even more dangerous than all of the past trials combined. This year is our Trail, which includes me, my friends, and a couple of other people, and her; The queen. She was to be queen, the council took her in, but never let her take the power.
Someone taps me on the shoulder, and I come out of my inner thoughts. It's my two friends, Sira and Jacob.
"What are you thinking about now?" Sira asks
"huh... nothing!" I say, as if she doesn't know me already.
"Oh, shut up. You act differently every time she walks through the room." She points out, and Jacob nods in agreement. He has uneven black hair that's singed at the edges, darker skin, and fire-green-like, but much darker eyes.
"Does anyone NOT act differently?" I tell her back, but I know her yellow-brown eyes, which suit her shoulder Length black hair perfectly, I can see past all of my lies. Her skin looks to be made of light-caramel, and her clothes are an old white shirt with a worn-down black leather jacket paired with ripped jeans which had some black leather stitched above her knee, it's like the pants are made for the jacket. But I still wonder if it is appropriate for this occasion.
"Jayce, It's not the same!" Sira seems to be at the edge of snapping, "Everyone changes in a traditional manner, but your reactions are different, strange, even!"
"Are you two seriously going to argue while we are in The Grand Hall!" Jacob starts. "Not to mention we have the trials!"
I completely forgot about the trails.
"Who do you think we are going to fight?" Jacob asks randomly with utter curiosity.
Sira decides to step in. "It's not who anymore. Some say it's not a person this year. Not Even the queen knows what it is. Speaking of, some say she is taking the trial on her own, but no one knows for sure."
Then, just on cue, the fireworks started going off. So, we decide to save our conversation for another time.
It's a couple of days until the trial, and I decide to head to the training yard since I don't have my own equipment. I use the local swords class' ones for now. My mom and the instructor were friends in their Kano (Guards) training. I start using my sword since it's my main weapon. When I'm working on archery, I see a shadow-moving silhouette. For a split second, I thought I saw her. The strange thing was the air did not change. I look along the walls when someone decides to yank me around, and there were Sira and Jacob once again. Sira's trying to get me to flinch.
"Guys," I say, annoyed, "Do we have to do this every time?¨
"Yes, and there is no stopping it." Sira replies. "So, Jayce, how's your training going?"
"It's ok," I answer, "But I don't think it will be enough."
"Remember" Jacob says "you won't be the only one fighting, whatever or whoever it is"
I try focusing on my archery, but we kinda got distracted and decide to head to the Kahino (café) near the Kano school. The school was also close to the guards' station, which is very convenient.

When we reached the Kahino, we ordered our usuals and sat at the table, waiting for the orders to arrive. No one decided to talk, I sat with the others in silence. Awkward. I thought.

Our orders arrived, and, Meria, the waitress said: "Here are your orders guys, I heard about the kano trials Jayce good luck" that broke some of the ice between us. I looked at Sira in the eye as if to say-