Chapter One
A young lady entered the room as she stared at the man sitting on a white marble throne, the lady approached the man and bowed. "Father, I have come to report that a large number of people are protesting within the city."
The man sitting on the throne looked at his daughter with amusement as he rubbed his chin. "The peasants are complaining again? I have already sent enough resources to them seven days ago, now they come back to my doorstep to ask for more…"
"Father, they are starved and are in immediate need of food, some of them are even living without shelters, please father you have to help them."
The man stared at his pleading daughter as he contemplated her words, he then made a stern expression as he clasped the armrests of his throne. "We are currently in a campaign, I cannot spend any more resources for it will weaken our forces, I know full well of the situation of our people but the campaign must be prioritized. You know this well, Anryn, even if I wanted to I wouldn't be able to, for it will jeopardize the upcoming campaign. Our soldiers also need to be fed my child, I'm sorry but there's nothing I can do."
Anryn lifted her head as her eyes start to redden, she then knelt on the ground and shouted her plea. "Please father! They are your people, you must help them!"
The man had enough of his daughter and rebuked her. "Enough! I told you already that I cannot help them but you insist! Guards, send her away!" Two soldiers within the room took hold of Anryn and dragged her outside of the throne room. "No! Let me go! You must help them, father! You mu-" Anryn's voice was cut off as the doors of the throne room sealed shut.
A man wearing full armor that was beside the king spoke to his liege. "My king, I believe you went too hard on her." The king looked at his guard and chuckled. "That may be, but she needs to understand that there are some things that cannot be done. She must grow for I am already becoming old, sooner or later she will be the one sitting on this throne."
The guard opened his mouth but immediately shut it close as he thought of the words of his liege. The king was right, his daughter needs to grow and must discover the horrors of this world, the world is not always sunshine and flowers, the harsh reality must be taken into account, darkness is everywhere, it has become more prominent as a force is about to return.
Anryn heads out of the keep as she descends the stairs and walks to the open bailey. A man approached her from behind and clasped her shoulders. "You look awfully discontent," Anryn turned around and faced the man who spoke, she then sighed and turned around once more as she walked away. "Father doesn't want to help the starving people, uncle, he likes his so-called campaign more." The man caught up to Anryn and spoke. "I already told you that your father wouldn't agree and he is right since the army is needed somewhere."
Anryn stopped and asked her uncle. "Needed somewhere? What do you mean?" The man walked past her as he faced the barracks. "You'll know soon, but for now you must meet your instructor, he's been waiting for you." He then walked away as he headed towards the castle hall. Anryn stood there and contemplated the words of her uncle. 'Needed somewhere? Why? What caused my father to send his army somewhere? There has to be a reason.'
Anryn ran towards the barracks with a question in mind, she went around and headed to the courtyard to meet a certain old man. There she saw a figure executing a series of moves with his sword. Anryn watched the man perform his strikes as she observed exuberantly, the man swung his sword for the last time and stood straight. He huffed a breath of air as he stabilized himself and stared at the sky, he sensed a figure to his side and turned his head and saw a girl. "Ah Anryn, I've been waiting for you."
Anryn walked closer to the man and bowed. "Anryn has arrived, Teacher," Said Anryn. The man stared at the action of the girl and laughed. "You don't have to be formal with me Anryn, just call me uncle or old man. I already told you this many times." Anryn doesn't reply as she remained silent and held her bow. "Sigh… Fine, I won't force you any longer, at ease now, we'll start your training." Anryn raised her head and stood straight as she shouted. "Yes, Teacher!" The old man chuckled at her antics and headed towards one of the weapon racks and selected a wooden sword.
The old man threw the sword to Anryn which caught the gullible girl off guard. "Focus! Your reaction is too slow, we'll need to work on that." The old man faced Anryn and readied his sword, Anryn does the same and raised her weapon as she prepared for combat. "Come, show me what I've taught you." Anryn gripped her sword tight and ran towards the old man as she swung her sword diagonally, the old man bent his knees and blocked her strike as he used the flat surface of his sword to redirect it away. "Hah! What was that? You hit like a baby." Unperturbed, Anryn sent another strike to the old man, this time intending to hit his legs. The old man directed the tip of his sword to the ground and successfully blocked the strike. He then counter-attacked and sent an overhead strike to Anryn as he lunged himself forward, Anryn barely blocked the strike and felt her hands ache due to the force of the blow. She then backed away and raised her weapon once more as she prepared for another confrontation.
The old man charged at her and sent a strike aimed at her right shoulder, she reflexively moved her body and narrowly avoided the strike. The old man then backed away as Anryn attempted to send a kick but failed. Anryn charged at the old man and performed a series of strikes as she tried to overwhelm him. The man deflected all of her blows with ease as he skillfully moved his body while receiving her attacks. Anryn stopped her attack without notice and attempts to kick him once more, the old man saw her intentions and dropped his sword, Anryn sent a kick to the side of the man as it connected but noticed that she couldn't move her leg. The old man caught her leg and held it firm, he then pushed her leg away which threw her off balance. "Nice try, but you're too predictable."
Anryn caught her breath as she faced the blue sky. "At least I tried." The old man walked off and picked up a leather bottle located near the weapon rack, he then threw the bottle to Anryn as she caught it with two hands. Anryn opened up the bottle and drank its contents empty. "That was refreshing… Thanks, Old Man." The Old Man then laughed at what he just heard, "Hahahaha! You finally called me Old Man, took you long enough." Anryn rolled her eyes at the man's words, she then stood up from her feet and threw the empty bottle at the man. "Rested enough?" Anryn nodded at the man and gripped her sword as she moved her body and performed a sword stance. "Say, Old Man, do you know why my father is building up his army?" The old man bent his knees and raised his sword as he prepared for the next fight. "If you beat me, I'll tell you about it."