Maybe all the guards are that busy with the preliminary rounds, they won’t notice a girl sneaking around? It might be worth the try, if I don’t get too close at least. I climb the last partof the mountain down, leaving my usual look out spot. My short green dress lifts up slightly, revealing my thighs, as I jump down on the grass.
I am allowed to do this.
I deserve to be free.
It is kind of a mantra and a little shove into my own back, encouraging me that what I am doing is okay. I am also a candidate, I need to prepare, see who I am going to fight against. I stroll forward, head focused on my goal.
The sounds of birds chirping around me help me relax on the last hour of the climb down. A little scream squeaks out of me when a deer jumps out of the bush, amending to cross the rocky road in front of me, close enough for me to touch it. It has white dots over his body and black, glassy eyes looking to the other side. Out of nowhere, it stops. I freeze to my spot, making sure I don’t make a sound as the deer turns his head to me, looking directly in my eyes. I slap my hand in front of my mouth, but that was already enough to scare the little deer. It hops away and I finally release one of the breaths I hold in way too long. I see a lot of deer across our home, but every time I see one up close it feels so special.
In front of me is a small brook followed by big dark trees. My feet drag me towards the brook. As I reach the water, my mind focusses on my power. I crouch down and dip my fingers gently into the water, shivering as the cold seeps through. As the water slips past my hand, it begins to glow softly. Tiny sparks of light scatter, leaving shimmering trails beneath the surface. Some fish freeze in place, while others dart after the glowing streaks. I can’t help but let out a quiet chuckle at their bewilderment. Rising to my feet, I follow the brook deeper into the shadowy heart of the forest. The lights in the brook follow me every step I take. Imove my hand in a slow swing up, palms open and upwards. The leaves of the dark trees that seemed so sad before, start to light up. As I move through the forest, more leaves light up. Every footstep of mine gives light, and I leave a trace of luminous footprints behind me.
“Whoa!” I yell, sunken so deeply in my own magic and thoughts. A bunny jumps out of the bushes, looking curious at the lights I created. “Hi buddy, you scared me. I thought you were a guard,” I whisper at the bunny. I sink to the ground, opening my arms, inviting the bunny to come over. The little white bunny hops over to me, crawling into my lap. I brush my hand behind his long soft ears. “While I enjoy petting you very much, little guy, I must go. I have somewhere to be. I already got distracted way too much and if I don’t leave right now, I will miss it all,” I whimper, looking up into the sky. I push the bunny softly off my lap. I jump up and wipe the sand off my dress.
I probably already missed much of the preliminary rounds, but I want to see something at least. That is why I left in the first place.
I kneel down, my behind touching the wet cold stone as I settle down behind a tree. I can see it good enough from here. There are young people sparring everywhere. Or at least what looked like sparring from up there. It goes far too heavy handed. It is a real fight. People, who I assume are candidates, are fighting everywhere. A shiver rolls over me. I hate that they make people do this. They might have volunteered, but they have no idea what they are fighting for.
“Noo, please no,” someone cries. “Don’t take my baby.” I turn my head. A woman runs over to a girl, a girl that is lying motionless on the floor. Everyone around the two of them goes quiet and walks away, while the boy who killed her stands there. Silent—frozen probably. Maybe he is in shock.
Why does no one do something?
My hands start to tremble.
Manes.
I have to fight the urge to run over to the woman. A guard walks over to the girl, lifting her, swinging her dead body over his shoulder. How could they? She is also human. How can they treat a body like that?
Someone’s body, a daughter, a friend, maybe even a sister.
That’s just outrageous.
The king is a fucking monster.
I blink my eyes, lost in thoughts, only to realize everyone has left the fight I just witnessed. Everyone gathers around something else. Another fight.
“Time’s up! Let him go, Braxton!” Da screams. My feet hurry towards the familiar voice.
“Braxton.”
The name rolls over my lips in a whisper. As in the youngest Prince Braxton? How does Da know him? Why is my da involved in this? As if people hear my questions, they step aside, giving me a better view of what is happening. The boy, the prince, looks bewildered. It is that there isn’t foam spewing out of his mouth or I would have said he looked like he has rabies. His blue eyes widen, looking in shock at his opponent. His jaw locks in place and his hands are balled in fists. Even from a small distance, I can see his heart pounding and his chest going up and down as he takes short, panicked breaths. He takes a step back on his shaky legs. The boy on the ground doesn’t move. A girl runs over to him. I don’t hear what she says. I am too busy with the handsome boy standing frozen in front of me. My eyes follow the boy with brown hair. His blue eyes are still wide open in shock as he lift a hand to cover his face. Before I can study him any better, he turns around and sprints away from the scene. I can’t leavethis boy behind yet, I must do something. So I run, not really after him, but I run behind the trees. Hopping over tree stumps, trying to run as quietly as I can, hoping no twigs break under my weight.
His pace slows down when a small lake comes into view. He sits down on the water’s side, and I freeze. His fingers brush through the water, his strong arms shaking with something that looks like fear. He rolls his sleeves further up, revealing big, muscular, tattooed arms. It looks kind of hot. Blush covers my cheeks, and I look away, turning around, the fresh, damp grass squishing under my feet. He must have heard me, because he stops moving.
Shit.
He really shouldn’t’t see me. He is the prince, and not the nicest one if I should believe the rumors. A monster, most would tell you if you ask them.
I don’t want to risk it, so I tiptoe away, trying to wrap my head around what just happened.
I can’t help myself completely. I want to and need to see how this day will end. I am not as close as before anymore, but I can see it better than I can from my hiding spot. The boy, or better said prince, who I left sitting at the pond, is in a fight again. A boy, dark skin tone and short dark hair, attacks him. The prince is in another fight, his tattoos still on display. I don’t really see why he has to fight this much. Isn’t he already a candidate? The prince sits on top of the other guy. He throws a punch to the other’s face. The boy under him doesn’t give up. He punches the prince hard, who momentarily loosens his grip, giving the boy a chance to switch positions. They look like they are equally strong when not using powers. The boy takes his sword and slices it into the prince’s chest. Even from up here, I can hear a gasp here and there. I hold my breath as I watch the prince every move hemakes. He hits the boy against his temple, causing him to fall to the right. The boy just lies there. The prince slips away under him, looking around. The crowd starts clapping as the prince just stands there. He grins, looking around the crowd. The smirk leaves my stomach twisting. The tension in the air seems to shift. And then I hear it.
Someone screams.
The prince falls over.
People take a step back. A ball of iron hitting the ground next to the prince. The boy after him stands up, smiling widely, ear from ear.
A metal wielder, there is no discussion about that.
