Living Flame

Chapter 1

Rhena swung her sword over her attacker's head, close enough to slicing it off clean. The attacker was quick enough to dodge it and sent a strong kick to she groin. She immediately lost my balance and landed hard on her back.

"Oww" Rhena groaned "Kira!"

"What! You told me not to go easy on you" Kira laughed as she stretched out her hand towards Rhena. She took it and pulled herself off the ground.

"That was too hard" Rhena scowled at her as she dusted the dirt off her clothes. So much for staying off the ground today, she thought.

She sheathed her sword as they walked to a bench to rest. Kira was her friend and her training partner. Rhena was only good with bows as well as kira with swords so they settled on training each other. Since the war that occurred 2000 years ago, the king had made a program to train all youths at the castle. Why train youths when the kingdom is free from war, this was what puzzled the people but there had been rumors of an upcoming war fortold by an old prophecy.

"Rhena" a familiar voice called her name, and she could already feel the anger building up in her.

"What do you want Jovas" she said through clenched teeth, giving him a death glare that could frighten basically anyone.

"Cant I talk to a friend?" he seated himself in between the ladies, with a playful smirk on his face.

"Friends?" Rhena chuckled. They both knew they were nothing close to friend. " What do you want" she said, a stern look on her face.

"I saw you on the fighting ground, you're really an expert" He said, his voice dripping sarcasm.

"I really don't have your time Jovas" Rhena said as she got off the bench with Kira, leaving him alone.

"He likes you that's why he always troubles you" Kira said as they walked.

Rhena couldn't help but laugh, the thought of Jovas liking her was absurd. He clearly hated her and was jealous of her since when she was selected among the best archers.

"I need to head home since we're done with our training" Rhena said, hugging her friend. "See you tomorrow" then walked away.

***

When she got home, she met her father reading a book. He was among the few people in Athras that could read. There was already a bowl of food for her on the table as usual.

"Thank you" she said right before digging into it.

"How was training today?" he asked her, his eyes never leaving the book.

"Im getting better with swords" she said mouth-full, making her father chuckle.

"Some skills are just not inherited" he said, with his head held up high causing Rhena to roll her eyes.

"I'll get better than you, you'll see" Rhena said, determination in her voice. He only laughed as he read his book. She was amused as she looked at her father. He already had tints of gray hair on his ebony hair and aging lines were starting to appear on his face, but he was still very handsome as ever. He still had scars from the fire incident that had happened a long time ago but that only attracted more women to him.

"So how is the farm?" she asked as she took another spoon of soup, staring at him as he read.

"The crops are thriving fast, time for harvesting is near"

"That's good now that market day is close"

"It is"

When she was done eating, she headed to her room and took a bath. When night came, she turned off the fire lantern. She was scared of the dark but more scared of the fiery light. The past had left scars that couldn't be healed and a painful memory.

As she shut her eyes to sleep, she felt the darkness slowly pulling her into its abyss. She was losing herself in it but had to ensure. After all, it was better to be lost in a vacant darkness than to be found in a flaming light.