"Again!" The instructor bellowed as I retrieved my wooden sword from the floor, determined to face my opponent. However, she moved with lightning speed and incredible strength, effortlessly evading my reckless strikes and striking me in vulnerable areas. I crumpled to the ground, coughing up blood. Laughter and whispers filled the air among the onlookers.
"Are you even making an effort anymore?" My opponent, a slender woman with short orange hair, taunted with a sly grin. "Lyra was right; you don't belong here."
I forced myself back onto my feet, clutching the wooden sword once more, ready to attack. But once again, she deftly sidestepped my strike and delivered a punishing blow with her own wooden sword, sending me sprawling in pain.
"That's enough for now," the instructor declared. "You all may break for lunch and return in the next fifty minutes."
The collective groan of disappointment rippled through the onlookers as they slowly left, leaving me alone with my opponent who scanned me from head to toe, her eyes filled with disdain, before muttering, "Useless," and walking away.
The instructor, a stern figure with years of experience, approached me with a measured tone. "Athena, the girl you just fought against, joined us five days before your arrival, and yet she's already surpassed you in skill, Celeste." She paused, her gaze searching mine, and then she continued, "Are you genuinely putting any effort?"
No, I'm not. There's no burning desire within me to excel in this. I'm not cut out to be a fighter, and the thought of committing to this training holds little appeal. My only yearning is for freedom.
Freedom.
It was a beautiful concept, a distant dream that seemed unattainable in this Kingdom.
"Yes, ma'am, I'm giving it my all," I replied, masking my true feelings with a lie.
She took a deep breath, her expression filled with concern, and asked, "If that's the case, how often do you find the time to practice on your own?"
Ermm... I stammered, struggling to find the right response.
She sighed before stating, "If you want to excel at something, you must put in the effort." She placed her hands on my shoulders and added, "Now, go and eat. Consume enough to become healthy and strong."
"Yes, ma'am," I replied as I walked away. I entered the dining area, where the trainee typically dined. Food was served at the counter, and we each took our portions before finding a table.
I located an unoccupied table in a quiet corner and sat down to enjoy my meal. However, it appeared that peace wasn't in the cards for me that day, as an unwelcome voice disrupted my meal. "We want to take this table, get lost""
Corvus perched on my shoulder, offering me a clear view of the individuals surrounding my table. Lyra and her two companions stared at me sternly demanding I leave the table.
"Why do I have to stand up when there's an empty seat?" I asked, clearly confused.
One of them scoffed, rolling her eyes dismissively. She said, "Do you wish to meet your fate before the duel even begins? Step aside, Vedan, while we're still asking nicely."
By this point, all eyes in the dining area were fixed on us, eagerly waiting for the unfolding drama. Unwilling to get myself into unnecessary trouble , I reluctantly rose from my seat, ready to leave. However, a strong grip on my wrist abruptly yanked me back into my chair.
Corvus redirected his attention to the new intruder, who turned out to be Veronica, or rather, Sapphire. She smoothly settled into a chair next to me, placing her food on the table, and then calmly addressed Lyra, "I'd like to sit here, and I'd like her to stay. You can leave."
Lyra scoffed once more, her eyes rolling in exasperation. She fired back, "How dare you speak to me like that? Are you seeking trouble?" However, Veronica simply ignored her, focusing on her meal instead.
"Perhaps we should just leave. There's no need to start a fight here," I reluctantly suggested, eager to avoid getting involved in a conflict. Veronica glanced at me and replied, "If you want to go, be my guest, but I intend to stay at this table." Her gaze shifted to Lyra as she added, "Let's see who dares to challenge me."
This woman seemed determined to drag me deeper into trouble. Knowing Lyra's aggressive nature, it was much safer to distance myself from her. I didn't want any involvement in this mess, but my curiosity about the unfolding situation kept me seated.
"You should probably heed the advice of this foolish Vedan," Lyra warned, "or you won't like what happens next."
Veronica continued to eat, completely ignoring Lyra's words. This blatant disregard infuriated Lyra, causing her to snap, "I'm talking to you!" She reached out aggressively, grabbing Veronica's ponytail, but her actions quickly backfired as Veronica seized her wrist firmly.
"What are you doing? Release me!" Lyra shouted, her grip on Veronica's hair weakening. Without hesitation, Veronica twisted Lyra's wrist and forcefully yanked her entire body forward with it, causing Lyra's head to collide sharply with the table.
The room filled with a collective gasp of shock, and I couldn't hide my own shocked expression. Lyra staggered backward from the impact, while Veronica simply resumed eating, seemingly unfazed.
Lyra touched her bleeding forehead, her anger intensifying. She exclaimed, "How dare you?!" As she prepared to launch an attack on Veronica, who remained focused on her meal, consumed by anger. But before the clash could escalate, an authoritative voice interrupted.
"What's going on here?" We all turned our attention toward the voice, and it was one of the instructors. "Who instigated this?"
Amid the tension, everyone, possibly afraid of Lyra and her clique to tell the truth, pointed at Veronica and me. Veronica, however, seemed unfazed, savoring her food.
The instructor took a deep breath and commanded, "Veronica and Celeste, 100 laps around the field, right now!" Her voice was stern.
"I didn't do anything!" I protested. "It was Lyra..."
"I expect my instructions to be followed promptly when I give them. Do as you're told," she said firmly. Veronica stood up and left the dining area, and I followed behind her.
We reached the field and began running, though I struggled to keep pace with Veronica. "I told you we should've just ignored her!" I yelled after her while running. She paid no attention, continuing to run with determination.
I took a deep breath and pushed myself to keep going. After the 30th lap, exhaustion started to set in. It felt like the world was closing in on me. My breathing became erratic, and my body grew weaker, while Veronica appeared to run as if she were born for this.
I admired her in that moment-her strength, her speed, her resilience. Lyra had always been one of the main tormentors here, and the way Veronica stood up to her, effortlessly overpowering Lyra, was truly admirable. She was undeniably strong, and a part of me yearned to attain that level of strength.
Determined to emulate her, I persisted, pushing myself further with each run. After the 60th round, the challenge grew increasingly difficult, yet I persevered. Every time I saw Veronica running effortlessly, her face unmarked by weariness, it inspired me to keep going. But after the 99th run, I finally collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air, unable to continue.
It felt as though I were on the verge of death, about to crumble. I couldn't muster the strength to complete that final run, even though I desperately wanted to.
"I didn't expect you to make it this far," Veronica's voice broke the silence. Corvus shifted his attention to her, giving me a clear view as she approached. She extended her hand to me, and after a moment's hesitation, I accepted it, struggling to stand once more.
"I never expected to make it this far," I confessed, still panting for breath.
She regarded me for a moment before asking, "Are you sure you still don't want Lyra dead?"
I offered a faint smile before responding, "And what if I do?"
"She'll be dead before the moon rises,"she said
I wheezed, my chest heaving as I struggled to catch my breath. Then, I asked, "And what honor is there in that?"
Veronica scrutinized me from head to toe before askng, "Why do you hold yourself back?"
"Hold myself back?" I responded, confused. "What do you mean by that?"
"Why do you restrain yourself from becoming who you truly are?" Veronica continued, leaving me bewildered by her statement. She sighed and added, "A woman capable of moving mountains with a snap of her fingers, possessing the power of the gods, a powerful warrior." She paused before concluding, "I see that woman within you, so do not hold yourself back."
With those words, she walked away, leaving me with no opportunity to delve further into the conversation. Her words lingered in my mind, leaving me pondering their meaning.
Just who exactly was she?
✓
✓
✓
✓
KIRA
My palms were clammy, and I rubbed them together while waiting for the physician's diagnosis. Part of me couldn't help but entertain the fearful thought that it might be what I dreaded, but I quickly shook off that notion.
No, it couldn't be that. I had been feeling unwell lately, which was entirely out of character for me. The last time I had experienced this was years ago when I had been burdened with a child I hadn't wanted. Now, facing the same symptoms, I hoped against hope that history wasn't repeating itself.
After what felt like an eternity, the physician emerged from his private room and turned his attention toward me.
"What's wrong with me?" I asked, summoning the courage to stand and conceal the nervousness that had enveloped me.
"Well... it's nothing serious," the physician reassured me. "You simply need to reduce some of your workload, Grand General. It seems that stress may be the cause of your recent discomfort."
I let out a relieved sigh.
It appeared that my dedication to my duties as the Grand General had taken a toll on my health. I shuddered to think of the predicament I would be in if I were indeed pregnant, especially with the king. It would be a catastrophic situation, one I wasn't prepared to confront.
"Rest is what a pregnant woman needs, Grand General," the physician continued, and for a brief moment, my smile waned as I stared at him, hoping I had misheard his words.
"P-p-pregnant?"
"Yes, Grand General," he confirmed.
"It seems you are not too far gone, so you should rest to protect your growing child," the physician advised with a compassionate tone.
My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to wrap my mind around the words he had just spoken. The world around me seemed to blur as I grappled with the possibility.
"Are you saying that I am pregnant?" I asked, my voice trembling, my hands unconsciously clutching at the fabric of my uniform. I desperately tried to convince myself that what I was hearing was a mistake.
The physician nodded solemnly, his expression confirming the life-altering news. "Yes, Grand General," he replied, his voice steady but filled with empathy. "You are indeed pregnant."
My thoughts raced as I absorbed the reality of the situation. It felt as though the ground had shifted beneath me, threatening to crumble the foundations of everything I had worked so tirelessly to build.
I am truly pregnant...