Chapter Text
“No, Mel! There’s no way I’d sign up for that.”
AJ said they walked down the alley.
“Well why not? You’d have a way into the castle, you’d be near Princess.” Mel, which was short for Melink, was following right behind AJ.
“Maybe I like admiring from afar. That’s if that story was true.” AJ stopped and grabbed onto a pipe, using her careful skills to climb up the back of a townhouse.
“I don’t see a problem with you getting closer. You’re a good fighter so I think you’ll make it in the tournament.” Mel followed the same path up the pipes, fumbling the last pipe but catching herself on the grate of a window.
AJ got up on the roof with ease, reaching her hand down to help Mel. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me in the last two minutes. But no. If I left, who’d be around to help you?”
Mel took her hand and AJ pulled her up with ease.
“I’ll figure it out. Don’t let me stop you from being the greatest you that you can be.” Mel brushed off the dirt off her skirt.
“Don’t think I’m great enough to begin with?”
“Well I didn’t say that now, did I?”
“Hm, more or less.” AJ walked atop the terracotta roofing, the tiles grinding against each other.
“Just think about it. AJ.” Mel said as they hopped down onto a balcony.
“We’ll be in and out, alright? Then we’ll be home before dinner.”
AJ crouched down to the lock of the door and pulled out her personal lock picks. Something that was given to her at a young age.
“I thought we went over this, you live with us now so I don’t see the reason in you thieving anymore.” Mel was looking at the flowers on the balcony, admiring their bright beauty.
“Eh, call it habit, call it the addiction of the adrenaline rush, when you don’t have any gems you tend to reach to last resorts. Plus the shop is running under isn't it? Anything helps.” AJ finished her sentence with the sound of the door unlocking.
“We always offer you a job at the shop, but you never take it.”
“Well, if you’re always offering it, then it would feel like a pity job.” AJ opened the door slowly and walked in, inspecting one side of the room. It was nice, tidy, something about the room looked like it was trying to seem like it was a lower class apartment, AJ saw right through it.
Mel followed along,taking the opposite side of the room. “We should be careful, I saw some knights a few streets away off the balcony. But this place is nice.” She picked up a roll of blue sewing string and stuffed it in her pocket.
“I’m a bad influence on you,” AJ chuckled after witnessing that stunt, “for how much you criticize me about this, you shouldn’t come along with me anymore after doing that.”
“It’s nice to break rules once in a while.” Mel looked at the other knick knacks around the room.
AJ shook her head and turned back to the dresser she was looking at. Wood carved animals, drawings of plants, and a box cracked half open trying to hide behind the wooden figures. AJ opened the box slowly, the items inside glimmering and glinting from the sun’s setting rays through the balcony window. "Wow, this person is stacked." AJ extracted a gold shining necklace from the box. Emerald gems engraved at the bottom.
"You think the princesses like thieves?" Mel looked over AJ's shoulder observing the jewelry.
"Who cares what those royals think." AJ slid the necklace in her pocket before moving onto the next dresser.
"Don't you care about what Princess Ros would think of you?" Mel lingered behind AJ not bothering to look anymore than she had at the other side of the room.
"Shut up about that, Mel! That was years ago." AJ grumbled, not wanting to remember her past childhood crush on the first princess. "I've grown up."
"You say that, but you get so defensive about it makes it seem like you're lying." Mel walked over to the door, listening for footsteps. Melink was not one to sugar coat her words. That's one of the reasons why AJ still sticks around her.
"Say all you want, Seamstress. It's not true, it was never true in the first place." AJ found a few more valuable looking items and shoved them into her keepers pouch.
"Hmm, okay. But we should go, someone’s coming." Mel warned AJ, as the tinkerer was inspecting a dagger with engravings she'd never seen before.
"Shit," AJ put the dagger back into its sleeve and pushed it into her back pocket. AJ grabbed a nearby chair and shoved it under the handle of the door. "Let's go. Now. Melink." AJ ushered in a stern voice as she quickly paced her steps back to the balcony.
"H-hey! Is someone in there? Don't touch anything!" A muffled female voice came from behind the door. AJ assumed the owner of the apartment.
Melink and AJ took the same way up the balcony and onto the roofs, but this time they went farther, to different townhomes, streets, alleys.
"Easiest money grab of the century." AJ grinned as they made their way down a different alley and walked into the busiest street in the kingdom.
This wasn't the first for AJ and Melink, they've done this multiple times before, the money was the objective for AJ; Melink on the other hand? Who knows.
The two expected the day to have the same outcome as everyday since AJ showed up, they'd greet the owner of the sewing shop, and sort out their findings from their latest steal.
Not today. Today no one expected the shop owner to be lying on the shop floor in a cold sweat and pale.
+++++
Years ago, AJ was a child roaming the streets of Thornreach. She had no where to go, no place to call home. She found that it was easier to keep to herself than beg for money and mercy from the well off classes. She'd seen what that had done to people.
Once, she had stolen bread from a bakery stand after days had gone by with no food. She was criticized for it, hated, beaten. Not just by anyone, it was townspeople, the drunk, the angry. But the worst of all? The knights.
Melink had witnessed it happen. She didn't know what to do, only thought 'Maybe this is how life is for some people, they can't help it.' She believed those words her whole childhood.
Until one day, she had passed AJ, sitting in an alley with a black-eye. Beaten and bruised, her clothes ripped and covered in soot. She didn't think anything of it, only that maybe, just maybe, she could help it.
That day, Melink ran back to the shop grabbing the owner by the sleeve and dragging her out the door. Running the man all the way back to the same alley and bringing him to AJ.
"Hi there, I'm Hector. From Hector's sewing. We can help you if you come with us." The owner introduced himself to AJ, and with nowhere else to go, she obliged and was carried on his back all the way to the living quarters on top of the shop.
Hector wasn't Melink's father, not related by any bit. She had shown up on his doorstep as a newborn and he took her in willingly with his late husband, Gerard.
AJ was fed, clothed, and cared for her wounds. She wasn't used to this treatment, so it wasn't unusual that she still had her guard up.
She only learned that she could lower it once Gerard showed her the ways to be loved as a family even if not through blood. He gave her things she never had, toys, a pocket knife, and for her fifteenth birthday, a crow that she named Flick.
Then everything changed again. Gerard passed the year before AJ turned eighteen. She put her guard back up, she let herself be isolated from the world. She learned to be the complete opposite of what Gerard wanted her to be. But she didn't let that ruin her relationship with Hector and Melink, of course they weren't as close anymore, but to keep someone around is better than not having them around at all.
+++++
The two girls rushed him to his bed, tended and cared for him. When they realized his conditions were past their abilities, they visited the town apothecary for assistance.
"His illness is treatable, but the medicine is going to be a hefty sum. A total of eight hundred gems. Four hundred for the medicine itself, two hundred for the labor, and two hundred for the doctor to inject him with the vaccine."
"You're kidding, right? Where do we even find the money for this!" AJ yelled at the apothecary.
"AJ..." Melink whispered.
"No! Eight hundred? If I sold the shop I still wouldn't even have the gems for that!"
"Then I'm sorry, you're going to have to find a different shop for this, it's out of my hands. For now, we can only give you this medicine. It'll slow down the rate of the illness spreading, but it'll hurt him, and he'll need to work with the medicine to help stop the illness where it is in his body currently."
The two left the shop with the cheaper medicine in hand, AJ in anger and feelings she couldn't explain. Mel in disappointment and fear.
The walk home was silent, the voices of the townspeople surrounding them.
The second they got home, the door was slammed shut, "It's outrageous! Eight hundred gems for labor, medicine, and doctor! The necklace can get me fifty gems at least-"
"AJ." Mel spoke in a tone she rarely used. There weren't ever words to describe it besides terrifying. "There's only one way to obtain that many gems."
"What? No. I already told you, No." AJ realized the words she was saying.
"Why not? You can do this, you're worthy of doing this. I know you can, you know you can." Mel pleaded.
"You know I can't, you know what they did to me, you saw what they di-"
"It's for my dad!" Mel yelled. She never yelled.
AJ froze, why can't she do it? she's grown past it. So why couldn't she do it?
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't- I didn't mean to yell like that." Mel covered her mouth, realizing what she did.
"No, no, I know- I know you didn't mean it. I'll...decide in the morning." AJ sighed. "Just...leave me alone, just till morning."
"AJ...you know I care about you, right? You're like...a sister to me, I don't want to lose you." Mel mumbled in a soft spoken voice, she was never very quiet so to say.
"I...I care about you too. Goodnight, Mel." AJ climbed up the stair like ladder to the attic which Gerard had turned into her room.
"Goodnight, AJ." Mel stood in the kitchen, leaning back against the counter.
+++++
AJ climbed out of her window and sat on the roof, the town quiet with the occasional sound of drunks being kicked out the bar.
"Hey, Flick." Flick peeked out the window looking for AJ, and flew up to her when she said her name.
"The pay is good if I join them. Three thousand gems a month, it'll be enough for his medicine, to pay for rent, for food." AJ dragged her knees up to her chest.
Flick cawed as she flapped her wings around AJ.
"It's only that...if I leave, you're not allowed with me, and I can't leave to visit Mel and Hector. So what's the reason for going if I can't see the reason I'm going for!" AJ flailed out her arms and laid back on the roof in the shape of a star.
Flick pecked at the reflection of lights on AJ's goggles.
AJ ignored the feeling, part of the reason she was stuck in thought, the thought of...meeting an old friend that had become a knight.
She lost contact with him years ago, only hearing the news upon the town board that he had been promoted.
"Who knows if I'll see him again. He's probably doing way better without me around, maybe it should stay that way."
Silence took over the town, crickets and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore filled the air. For the first time since a long time, AJ felt relaxed.
Moments go by before Flick pecks at the clay tiled roof.
"Alright, Alright. Let's go back in." AJ got up and lowered herself back into her bedroom, Flick following after.
AJ let Flick back into her cage before pacing around her room.
"Okay, Flick. I know what to do. But it'll be a long journey."
+++++
"AJ?" Mel knocked on the attic door, holding breakfast in her hand. "Look, I- I didn't mean to push you like that last night. But whatever decision you make, we will find a way to get through this." she knocked again.
With no answer, Mel pushed the attic door open. "Hey, I'm coming in-"
Flick chirped at the sight of Mel.
Mel looked around the room, no sight of AJ. "Hey, Flick. AJ left already?" Mel sounded calm as usual, but this time...somewhat...hurt.
Flick chirped again, then pecked at her cage door.
"Yeah, I'll let you out, hold on." Mel climbed into the room and left the plate of food on AJ's desk.
She walked to the opposite side of the room where Flick was and unlocked her door.
"Was at least hoping she'd stay for breakfast. Or left with at least a word." Mel gave a hurtful laugh, then something at the bottom of the cage caught her eyes. It was a letter, a letter from AJ, to her.
"Well, go figure." Mel lifted the letter and sat on AJ's bed.
To Mel, my dearest unblooded sister,
I've left for the arena where they're holding The Tournament of Knights.
I've sold some of my stuff for some gems to purchase armor and weapons.
I'm sorry I couldn't make it for breakfast, I don't think I could leave if I saw the look on your face.
Take care of Flick for me, will you? She's family now, she's always been. She eats anything just not chocolate, don't kill her.
I have also left the leftover gems in the drawer under my desk, use it for food and medicine.
I bought more sewing thread for you, I left it under the counter in the shop.
Do not miss me too much, learn to live without the thought of me around.
I'll be back once I make it to be the princesses personal knight. I found I get more freedom in town in that position.
If Hector asks where I am, tell him I visit Gerard's grave during the day, and work during the night.
Don't let him worry about me, I don't want to cause him any more stress.
I'll miss home, which means I'll miss you.
Your best friend forever for life, AJ.
Mel sniffled, wiping back a tear.
She wasn't sad, no, not at all.
She was happy. Happy that AJ left on her own terms.
+++++
The arena was loud, packed. It irritated AJ in a way.
"Hey there." Someone tapped AJ on the shoulder. Everyone had Armor on, it was hard to tell whosits and whatsits from each other.
AJ turned around to be faced with two knights who she assumed were men, from their stature and build. "Hi."
"I'm Oli, this is my friend Legundo, otherwise known as Legs."
"I'm, AJ." AJ kept her responses short and firm. She was here for the money, not for friends.
"Well, nice to meet you, AJ. You from here? We're from Psephos, and came here for the tournament."
'Well obviously.' Crossed AJ's head, but she couldn't say that.
"Yeah, I'm from here. The town just down the road."
"Hey, cool! Hear that, Legs? New friend, AND a tour guide!" Oli turned to Legs and punched him on the shoulder.
'I didn't agree to bullshit. Friends and tour guide my ass.'
"Good morning, knights. I am Commander Juniper, to my right is Lieutenant Commander Sunny, and to my left is Lieutenant Pyro. We are your unit directors for this Tournament of Knights. You all are now considered ‘Royal Knights in Training.’ That is how you will greet those with higher authority, like those you see before you.”
"Pyro..." AJ's voice whispered in fear.
"You know that guy? Can you get him to advance us?" Oli whispered to AJ.
AJ froze, the words echoing in her head, nothing sticking. She was shaking, losing grip of her sword.
A hand held her shoulder.
AJ turned, it was Legundo...
She could see his eyes through his helmet, they were green, cold and dark. But also...warm and comforting.
He nodded his head and she returned the gesture before looking back at the commanders.
"Now." Commander Juniper’s voice lowered, and became more serious. "From this list is a hundred and fifty three knights. You will be split into three groups among the commanders. The Tournament of Knights will go through two fortnights. From this point on, knights will be eliminated."
Gasps formed around the crowd of knights. Whispers jumbled together in loud masses.
AJ watched as the Lieutenant Commander whispered to the Commander.
"Apologies. You will be eliminated from the tournament. Though, you will be put on standby for the kingdom's army."
Sighs of relief gathered amongst the crowd before they let the Commander finish.
"But!" This was a male voice, from the Lieutenant Commander. "There are slight chances where you may encounter injuries or less fortunate fates while in the tournament." He paused and continued on the scripted paper. "From this point on, your unit size will shrink from a hundred and fifty three, to the final twenty five."
Breaths around AJ hitched, the energy in the air shifting from confidence to fear.
"Ain't nothing too much to worry about now, I'm sure this trusty trio will make it to the end." Oli threw his arms on Legundo's and AJ's shoulders, whispering in between them.
'This guy's full of it.
"From the twenty five knights left." AJ knew this voice. A voice she knew too well...Pyro's. "One of the knights will come on top and be hand chosen by the second princess herself to be her personal knight." He paused. "Uhm, you will be sorted into groups, group one led by Commander Juniper is the Gold Unit. Led by Lieutenant Commander Sunny is group two, the Silver Unit. Led by me, Lieutenant Pyro, is group three. The Bronze unit." His voice was shaky, AJ remembers that much.
Commander Juniper took over the speech. "Your units and unit directors do not define your abilities to be a knight, it does not define your worth as less than or greater than. We are all equal as knights."
Everyone was waiting to hear that. The honor of being the princesses personal knight was a dream to all.
Lieutenant Commander Sunny spoke again, "You will all line up into single file lines in front of the podiums, through this you will be asked your name, race, and receive your key to your dorm and group. All knights are permitted access around the kingdom. You are not to leave the kingdom and you are most definitely prohibited from entering any level of the castle past the ballroom."
Pyro took the last word, "Good luck to you all, blessed be the king."
The crowd chanted back "Blessed be the king!" as if it were a cult. It sent shivers down AJ's spine. It always did.
“Alrighty, hope we’re dormed with you, AJ!” Oli punched AJ on the shoulder. So hard she wobbled.
Even if the armor was blocking the hit from hurting, man were Oli’s punches strong.
“Oh. I guess.” AJ muttered.
“Which unit do you think we’ll get, Legs?” Oli was surely the talkative type.
‘I sure hope it’s a unit not with you.’ AJ turned her back to the two as they talked. Or well, as Oli talked.
The process was fast and quick, lines shortened over time. Then it was AJ’s turn.
“Name?” It was an old lady with glasses. She looked like a librarian “Hello? Name?”
“Sorry, it’s AJ.”
“Last name?”
“It’s…just AJ.”
“Hm. Race?”
“Uhm, human.”
“Dorm Twelve. You will be rooming with three other people, a total of four. You are in the Gold Unit under Commander Juniper. Your dorm mates are also in this unit. Next!”
AJ took her key and walked with the crowd towards the Castle.
It seemed everyone had a friend to talk to on the way to the castle. This was the time when AJ missed Flick and Mel most desperately.
“Hey, AJ! Wait up!” Said an annoying, agitating, grating voice.
AJ stopped and turned around, to see that Oli had taken off his helmet, Legundo kept his on.
“Which dorm are you in? Me and Legs are in Twelve”
‘god fuck.’
“That’s awesome, me too.” AJ forced a sarcastic voice.
“Really? We are so lucky!” Legs kept silent as Oli shook him back and forth.
‘If all the stars were to align, I’d want them to kill me now.’ The walk to the castle was a short one. But excruciatingly long with Oli tailing behind.
The castle greeting wasn’t much, mostly because there was no greeting. The knights were rushed down into the basement, forty rooms, twenty down each side.
“You will have twenty minutes to settle in your dorms, choose your bunks, learn your dorm mates name, and sort your belongings that have already been delivered in personal trunks inside your room.” Commander Juniper announced from the other end of the hall.
“Well, roomie, let’s choose our bunks!” Oli threw his arms around Legundo and AJ walked together to their dorm.
“For being sober, you act like a complete drunk.” AJ mumbled after they came to a stumbling stop in front of dorm twelve.
Oli pushed the door open, and for being in the basement of a castle, you could still tell it was in a castle. “Ooh, I got top bunk!”
AJ followed in after him, looking around and someone catching her eye. They sat on the top bunk and wore cream colored clothing with a matching bow. AJ spent so much time at the shop she could tell there was embroidery within the dress, what sewing technique was used, and how easy it would be to take it out and replace it. Without it—it would look blank and boring.
“Hello? Are you, our dorm mate?” AJ proceeded carefully.
“Huh, oh! Oh yes, blessed bells! I’m Graecie!” The girl spoke, turning so quickly she almost fell off the bed before AJ caught her.
“Well, Graecie, I’m AJ. I don’t know these two.” AJ carefully let the girl down.
“Say, Graecie, where’s your armor?” Oli asked, at least he was attentive.
“Ah, so, each unit is granted a unit healer. That is, that is me.”
“Ain’t that nice.” Legundo mumbled.
“I’m not so sure what that means but, AJ, thank you for catching me, you are truly a knight in shining armor.”
“You flatter me.” AJ smirked.
This Graecie was much more enthusiastic than Oli is. But somehow more tolerable than he was. Maybe because she is a woman and he’s a man.
“Well, healer. You wouldn’t happen to know the schedule today, would you?” Legundo asked, setting up his bunk below Oli’s.
“Well, indeed I do!” Graecie squealed, “you’re headed to lunch after this, then training, and then dinner at dusk, then you’ve got wash up time, but you only have half an hour for that so be quick. Then after that is personal time before bedtime.” Graecie had seemed to have gone through this a couple times.
“Hm, got it.” Legundo grunted.
AJ did the same as everyone else, looked through her trunk to see if everything she packed was in it.
Before the four knew it, the bells of the kingdom struck twelve. It was time for lunch.
They headed out the room, Oli ranting to Legundo about what he’d do when he’d be honored a royal knight, Graecie in her own world walking beside them, and AJ left trailing behind.
Not soon after leaving the dorms they were led to the dining hall.
“I heard that this dining hall is right under the main one upstairs.” Oli announced.
“Oh, indeed it is! It’s a shame there’s no light down here.” Graecie seemed to know a lot about the castle, and she didn’t look anymore younger than AJ was.
AJ kept silent as they talked. It was cramped, and hot. It was nice they got to take off their armor, for the rest of the day, the armor wasn’t necessary for today’s training.
Lunch was far from similar to home. A baked potato, boiled carrot, and a chicken leg. It was bland and sad, a cup of milk to only wash it down.
But AJ didn’t make word of it, she was here for a reason and it wasn’t to complain. She ate her food before everyone else and walked back to her dorm.
She grabbed her sword from her trunk, as well as the pocket dagger she had stolen.
Not bothering to wait for the rest of her unit, she left for the training grounds first. It was a short walk over the bridge, right outside the forest.
There was no doubt that she liked it better at home, near the docks where the water met the shores.
She sat in the shade of a maple tree, facing the castle. The castle point was so tall the tree leaves had blocked the rest of it.
AJ pulled out the dagger, inspecting it. It wasn’t the size for a man, nor was it the size for a child. The knife itself was a beautiful pure black steel. The handle made of an oak wood wrapped with rich leather. On the blade itself were golden engravings, symbols she’d never seen.
AJ looked around her, the ground piled with twigs and sticks. AJ grabbed an average sized stick and used the dagger, carving the bark off carefully.
It was a nice blade, better for closer combat and the small things. To anyone it was just a dagger, to whoever owned it, it probably meant something to them. To AJ, it was a complete steal.
AJ put the dagger back in its sleeve as she saw people come into the area. She decided to sit and wait by the tree for everyone else to arrive.
AJ leaned back against the tree, closing her eyes to just be in her moment. Blocking out the noise to be by herself. At least she hoped.
“AJ! Hey!”
The thief groaned as she lifted her head up. “Oli.” AJ used her hand to cover the sun from her eyes.
“Nice spot you got here. Too bad we have to get with our units.” Oli had his hands on his hips looking up at the tree top.
AJ leaned over to look behind Oli to find Legundo, waiting in the sun.
‘How dreadful.’
“Where’d the uh, that other one go? Y’know the happy one with bells?” AJ grunted as she stood up from the root of the tree, dusting the dirt off her pants.
“Who? Oh! Graecie! She’s with the Lieutenant Commander right now.”
Legundo turned around back towards the crowd and started walking when he saw AJ stand. Obviously not wanting to engage in conversation.
“I see. We have to be with the unit? What for?” AJ stuffed her hands into her pockets as they walked across the flat field.
“Who knows, all I know is that this will be our first test.”
“Great.” AJ huffed as they joined the crowd behind the Gold Unit.
"Good afternoon, knights." The commander announced to the field, "I hope you all have enjoyed your lunch well. Today's training will be short, you will play a game of ‘Capture The Flags’. You will be teamed with your dorm mates, each dorm is granted one flag. The game ends at dusk, you will report back with your flag given to you. Teams who pass with three flags in hand will be granted immunity from a single challenge of choice."
"What about the people who don't have a flag at the end!" Someone from the Silver Unit yelled with a slight falter.
"You think like that, only insinuates that you don't believe you'll make it out with a flag. To those who do not make it out with a flag or more, will be given a mark. Two marks and you will be eliminated. Good luck to you all and blessed be the king."
The voices amongst the crowd responded with the same chant. AJ kept silent.
“So why’d you leave without us?” Legundo interrupted. The crowd, but kept his voice small within the group.
AJ laughed, “I’ve known you for like four hours man, getting your feelings hurt already because I left without telling you?” No one in the group spoke after that.
“Well then, who’s ready for some immunity?” Oli clapped his hands to break the silence.
AJ ignored him, she was watching the castle. Specifically a window that someone had been looking out of. They looked like a woman with brownish hair. The castle was too far to see any details other than that.
“Oh blessed bells, you’ve all made it!” Gracie’s bells chimed as she made her presence known. “Whatcha looking at, AJ?”
AJ’s eyes were focused on that one window, until Oli tapped her shoulder. “Huh? Sorry, just lost focus there, what’s up?”
The team spoke as people created a line towards the podium for their flag.
“Graecie. This is your dorm team? Introduce me.” This voice of command startled everyone. It was Lieutenant Commander Sunny.
“Oh, right. I won’t be able to join you personally as I am the unit nurse so I’ll have to stay out here with the commander.” Graecie’s voice didn’t shake under the pressure from the Lieutenant commander.
“Oh, alright then. We’ll get that immunity for us, don’t worry about us.” Oli seemed to love talking. He turned to the Lieutenant commander, “good after noon, sir. I’m Oli, royal knight in training.” His voice was much more pronounced.
“Legundo, sir. Royal knight in training.” Legundo’s voice was trained and powerful, in a forced way.
“And you are?” The Lieutenant Commander turned to AJ.
Her short stature made her look up at the commander. “AJ, sir. Royal knight in training.”
“Apologies for taking your teammate away. You will need to learn to work as a team of three for your training sessions. I hope you won’t resent us for this decision.
“Of course not, Lieutenant Commander. We understand perfectly.” Oli spoke. He was a bootlicker, he made that true enough.
“Good. Now go on and grab your flag.” He waved off the team before calling out once more. “AJ, I’d like to speak to you.”
The group turned before AJ waved the other two to grab a flag without her.
“Yes, Lieutenant Commander?”
“We run background checks of every knight here. On behalf of the royal guard, I apologize for your past and envy you for joining us even after.”
“Well,” AJ couldn’t just say the truth. She hated that she had to be here. “Blessed be the king. Y’know? Put the past behind me for the protection of the royal family.” She was telling straight lies through her teeth.
“Very good wit you have. You will make it far, I know that. I hope you see you as a royal knight. Blessed be the king.” The lieutenant commander waved AJ back off to her team.
“AJ! Are you ready?” Oli yelled, waving the flag in the air.
AJ sighed before putting on a smile. “Ready as I’ll ever be!”
“Good luck you three! Let the Shepherdess guide your path!” Graecie shook her bells as she went off to introduce herself to the rest of the unit.
“Alright! Now we can get to know each other even more!” Oli cheered leading the team into the forest.
AJ and Legundo shared eye contact and sighed.
‘This was going to be a long evening.’
+++++
“Anyone catch your eye?”
Drift was sitting upon her windowsill, watching the knights play. She turned to see her best friend, Shelby sitting on the couch.
“They seem like brutes.” Drift mumbled.
“Well, they’re knights.” Shelby sipped her tea slowly.
“Oh gee, really?” Drift got up from the window and sat across from Shelby.
“I heard Scott’s coming tomorrow, should we do something? Or will he hang around that Lieutenant of his.” Shelby poured out a cup of tea for Drift, dropping a cube of sugar in it for her.
“You know he only comes around for that knight. I told him to take him but he just won’t for some reason.” Drift lifted the cup to her lips, drinking the tea inside it.
Their conversation was interrupted by a knock. “Hey, it’s Ros. May I come in?”
“Yeah, come in!” Drift yelled. It was unnecessary to be blunt.
The door opened and walked in a beautiful white dress with purple fabrics. Ros is most distinguishable by her pale skin and her silver white hair. She wasn’t old by any means, though her complexion was unlike anyone has ever seen.
“Loud for what reasons, Drift?” Ros closed the door behind her. “Hello, Shelby.”
“Good afternoon, Ros. Joining us for lunch?”
“Indeed I am, Juniper is currently training the knights so I thought I’d stop by.” Ros took a seat next to Drift, pouring out her own tea.
Drift scoffed, setting her tea on the table. “Drop the act, Ros. We all know you miss her.”
“Will you be quiet!” Ros yelled in a whisper. "Mother and Father went to go visit the Physis kingdom, and my books weren't keeping me company."
“What? Not like Shelby doesn’t already know. I'm not surprised our parents didn't tell me that they were leaving either.” Drift took a sandwich slice from the tray of food that the servants had delivered to the room.
“It’s true, I do know. Juniper isn’t the best at keeping secrets with me.” Juniper and Shelby were the daughters of the kingdom’s Marquis. Lieutenant Commander Sunny, is their brother. Militarism runs in the family.
“Well, she needs to learn to keep to herself. I will speak to her later. They left this morning, right after breakfast that you didn't attend." Ros sipped her tea. Even the way she drank her tea was elegant,
Drift swallowed her food and wiped her mouth before speaking, “You chose her to be your personal knight all cause you thought she was hot, wasn’t it?”
“We do not need to discuss that in front of her sister. I chose her because she is talented.” Ros glared at Drift.
“In bed or as a knight?”
Ros hit Drift on the shoulder, as Shelby spat out her tea back into her cup. A maid who was standing at the door came over to replace her cup.
“What? I’m just saying I would’ve too. But I guess she’s a good knight also.” Drift held her shoulder like it hurt.
“You are a child, Drift.” Ros set her tea down onto the table.
“Actually, my dear sister under the laws of the kingdom, I’m considered an adult past the age of eighteen.”
Ros mimicked Drift, moving her hands in a talking motion.
“You’re one to talk about childish now!” Drift slapped her hand down.
“Guys, let’s not fight now.” Shelby interrupted.
“Right, listen to your friend, Drift.” Ros was smug, an average older sister trait when teasing their siblings.
Their evening went on as it usually would for princesses, drama with family, drama with friends. The sun was setting and the servants have replaced their lunch with tea time, then their dinner.
"So, Drift...about your knight," Shelby started, "do you have preferences?"
"Wow, Shelby! Preferences, just jumping straight to the point." Drift exclaimed in the most sarcastic shocked tone she could muster up.
"What? We were all thinking about it!" Shelby defended.
"They're gonna be my personal knight, this is not a match making- dating game!"
"Woah, woah, woah, backtrack—who said anything about dating? I meant gender wise, race wise, y'know the basic things!"
"Well, Shelby, if you think about it, those words could mean anything towards—well, anything." Ros blurted, and she had a point.
“Okay, well- you know what I meant either way!”
Of course, these three were not your average princesses and lady. Quite the opposite in private to put it mildly.
“They’re not just your…bodyguard. Unless you deem them to that specific title, they can be your friend too, Drift.” Ros was calm, she always was. Ignoring the slight outbursts at least.
“I guess, I’d want them to be strong, obviously. Preferably not a man…”
“We assumed that much.” Ros mumbled.
Drift glared before speaking again, “I don’t really mind race, as long as we can get along, and funny! They can take my jokes, I can take theirs. Y'know?”
“You make a good point there.” Shelby and Ros nodded in agreement.
“I know, I always do.”
'But I don't need a knight; I don't need someone to save me if there’s nothing to save me from.'
+++++
“From dorm twelve of the Gold Unit, AJ, Oli, and Legundo.”
“Ooh, ooh me as well!”
“And Graecie…Congratulations, you’ve passed the first training ‘Capture The Flags’ with seven flags. You’ve been granted immunity for a challenge of choice. Use it when the opportunity presents itself.”
The commander handed Oli a silver trophy deemed ‘The Gauntlet’. Which was ironic considering it was a trophy cup. There were multiple of these gauntlets as there were multiple teams who obtained more than three flags.
“Yay! Ohh, blessed bells! You all did wonderfully!” Graecie ran over to the group, jumping around wrapping her arms around all of them together.
“Thanks, Graecie. I’m sure you did amazing out here as well.” Legundo gave her a pathetic side hug back, clutching his side from a fight that occurred in the forest.
“Thanks…bright one.” AJ patted Graecie on the back slowly, a sign of uncomfort. Some would say AJ appreciated the praise from the slight smile she gave.
Graecie let go from the “hug” with the most enthusiastic gasp. “A nickname? For me? Oh, AJ! It’s perfect!” She squealed while jumping around.
“Oli, Oli! I have a nickname! Oh, how blessed this day is for me!” She jumped into Oli’s arms cheering like a kid who won candy at the fair.
"Really? That's awesome! AJ, I want a nickname too!" Oli carefully set Graecie back down onto the ground and walked over showing off their trophy.
"Oh, uh...I don't..." AJ watched as Oli's smile radiated like the sun, like a dog waiting to play fetch. "I guess..." AJ scanned his figures for something that pointed out obviously. "Goggles?"
Oli pondered the thought, before lighting up with joy and satisfaction. "Hey...I like that! W-what about, Legs?" Oli stumbled over his words, speaking so fast from excitement.
AJ's face flashed in confusement, this Oli interacting with Graecie was very different from the one in the forest.
"O-oh no, I don't need one. I'm fine with, Legs." Legundo stuttered over his words after being checked out the conversation long ago as easy as it started.
"Yep, hear that? This guy's fine where he's at!" AJ patted Legundo on the back before walking off. "Let's go get some grub, yeah? Alright, team!"
As the team walked, Oli and Graecie carried the conversation. Among the multiple topics being said, only one caught AJ’s attention.
“Oh, oh, I know one! Did you guys know that no one knows the second princess besides the royal servants? Have you guys ever wondered what the second princess is like? No one’s seen her around the castle.” Graecie announced.
Oli pondered the thought to add on, “oh, I heard about that! Apparently she doesn’t have a name! Well, she does, but people aren’t allowed to speak of it, so it seems.”
‘No one knew the princess?’ the thought lingered in AJ’s mind longer than it should’ve.
“Why are we worrying about that? We’re here to be knights, not gossip like the kingdom staff does.”
“I guess so.” Oli opened the door to the dining hall waiting for each teammate to enter. “Well then, let’s eat!”
+++++