Sticks And Stones

"Will you be alright?"

"I'll be fine"

He followed the guard and left Hazel with the three women. "First of all, I'm going to test your determination and the skills you probably possess. You will spar with Charlotte who is a red blood like you. Then, you will spare with Nazu, she's a full blooded Silveran. You tap out once you feel like you can't go on any longer, do you understand?"

"I understand"

Nazu's gaze met Hazel's and at once, Hazel knew that this woman was a nasty threat. She was just as tall as Hazel and she was perfectly toned. Her silver eyes were menacing and she wasn't smiling. Nazu was beautiful, just like all Silverans were, but there was just something about her that was off.

Charlotte and Hazel soon stepped into the sparring arena. "Fight" Tyr ordered, her voice cold and unforgiving. Charlotte made the first attack, her fist missing Hazel's jaw by a few inches. Then, Hazel struck next. A single kick to the side of Charlotte's head knocked her out immeadietly. Surprise crossed Tyr's features. A guard standing by, took Charlotte away from the sparring arena. Then, Nazu stepped in.

"That was easy. Let's see how well you can fight" Nazu said to Hazel who clenched her fist and straightened her spine.

"Nazu, you must fight fair and square. No magic required!" Tyr said and Nazu nodded.

The fight began. They were both skillful in the defense area. Most of the time, Hazel dodged Nazu's relentless attack and Nazu did the same. Tyr was impressed. She had trained Nazu since she was a child and she'd never seen anyone block Nazu's attack so effortlessly, especially not a red blood. Thirty minutes soon bound by and Nazu was seeing red. Charlotte had awoken and was watching the fight with wide eyes. Hazel didn't look like she could pack a punch but Charlotte guessed she was wrong.

Suddenly, Nazu punched Hazel in the stomach, knocking the air out of her lungs. Taking advantage of the fact that Hazel was winded, she channeled her magic into her fist and punched her in the face. Tyr hadn't noticed the fact that Nazu had used her magic and she also wasn't aware that hidden among the shadows, stood prince Yuka. He watched Nazu with a look of anger on his face.

Nazu struck again and again, her fists brutally connecting with Hazel's ribs and stomach.

Hazel fell to the ground, unconscious and Nazu smirked. Despite the fact that Hazel had been knocked out, Tyr was impressed. Perhaps, Caden had chosen the right queen.

***

"What did you think you were doing?" Yuka demanded, his eyes burning with fury. Nazu rolled her eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about"

"You know what I'm talking about, Nazu. I know that you have no dignity, but how could you stoop so low? You used magic on a red-blood!"

"She deserved it. She took Caden away from me" she hissed.

"Let's face it. You don't deserve to be queen. Someone as hateful and murderous as you are, does not deserve to rule a kingdom. The fact that you're of a noble lineage does not make you noble"

Nazu clenched her fist in anger. "What's it to you anyway?"

"If you use your magic on Hazel again, I'll-"

"You'll what? Kill me like you killed Lyraine?"

Yuka's eyes went cold.

"Maybe"

***

Hazel lay on her bed, her left eye swollen. She was pissed. Of all the injuries in the world, she detested having a black eye. She'd been so close to knocking out Nazu. Hazel hated defeat. She felt both angry at herself and Nazu. She heard a knock on the door and sat up with a wince, holding a hand to her injured ribs. "Come in" she said and the door swung open. Caden walked in with a worried look on his face.

"That looks like it hurts like a bitch" he said as he sat down by her bedside and took her hand in his. "It doesn't hurt that much" she said and he sighed. "My beautiful Hazel, always trying to act all tough even when she's hurting badly" he said and embraced her. "I'm going to send a Sapphiran to you, shortly" he said and she nodded slowly. He pressed a kiss to her head and left her chamber. Shortly after he left, Hazel noticed the adorable white cat staring at her from her window. She frowned, noticing the cat's violet eyes. Her eyes widened when she realized that it was...

"Yuka!" She said, her voice tinged with excitement.

"Come over here!" She whispered and he jumped down from the window and came to her side.

"You're so cute!" She gushed as he crawled onto her bed and curled up on her lap. She grinned and stroked his fur with a smile on her face.

"Were you worried about me, Romeo?" She asked and he looked at her as if to say, 'Romeo?'

"Yes, Romeo. It's your nickname now" she said and he closed his eyes as she continued to stroke his fur.

"You don't have to worry about me, Yuka. I'm okay" she breathed and he purred.

"How can you be so adorable?" She cooed.

There was a knock on the door. "Your highness? Can I come in?"

Hazel sighed and stroked Yuka's fur one more time. She watched him as he jumped down from her bed and was soon staring at her from the window.

"Come in" she said, still staring at Yuka's cat form.

"I'll see you later" she whispered and he jumped out of the window right before the door was opened.

Violet stepped in. She was dressed in a white blouse and white pants, her blue hair in a ponytail. Hazel's eyes widened when she saw her. "It's good to see you, Violet" she said and Violet grinned. "How is the royal life treating you?" Violet asked, smiling at her.

"Adapting to it isn't as easy as I thought"

Violet squeezed her hand gently and set to work. A bluish glow appeared on the tips of her fingers and spread further to her upper arms. She gently touched Hazel's black eye and healed her. By the time she was done with healing the future queen, Caden walked in.

"How are you feeling?" He asked and Hazel shrugged.

"I feel great. Thanks to Violet"

"Wait, you two know each other?"

"Yes, your majesty" Violet said and Caden nodded slowly. After Violet had left, Caden sat down beside Hazel's bed and gazed at her.

"Is there something on my face?" She asked, giving him a smile. "Yes, there is" he said and she sat up.

"What is it?"

"Your beautuful eyes, your pretty nose..."

She couldn't help but laugh.

"I really don't know what to say to you, Caden. For a prince, you're so weird" she said and he chuckled.

"We're all weird in our own unique way. But that's beside the point. I want us to go on a date" the prince said and Hazel stared at him, wide eyed. 'Oh no, please no. A real date? I've never been on a date before. It's going to be a disaster!' she thought.

"When are we..."

"Right now" he said and she blinked.

"Now?"

'This is not good' she thought.

"Wait, have you never dated anyone?" the prince asked and her cheeks turned pink from embarassment.

"I haven't dated anyone" she responded and he grinned.

"It means, I'm going to make sure your first date is going to be memorable" he said and she forced out a smile.

"I'm excited" she said, even though she was no where near excited.

A few minutes after Caden and Hazel's conversation, they both went to the garden for their date. Hazel was wearing a yellow dress that accentuated her curves and was long enough to cover her feet. Just as they began to eat, a royal servant walked up to them and bowed. "What is it?" Caden asked, his voice tinged with annoyance.

"Your father is presently having a meeting with the generals and the seven council members" the servant said and Caden frowned. "The council members? Why would he be having a meeting with them?"

The seven council members were the pillars of the kingdom. They were young men with shaved hair and bright silver eyes. They didn't have pupils but they could see beyond.

They all lived isolated in the center of Silvera. But they were also the eyes and ears of the king. They had strong psychic powers that could bend the will of a whole army. This was what made Silvera very dangerous. The king wouldn't have a meeting with the council members if whatever that was going to be discussed was something of meagre importance.

"What's really going on?" Caden asked and the servant bowed again.

"Your majesty, the royal sceptre has been declared missing"

Prince Caden went pale instantly. Hazel stiffened in her chair, nervously fiddling with her fingers. When Yuka had told her that he was going to steal the scepter, for a moment, she hadn't believed that he would take such risk. But now, she realized what kind of person he was. He was brave, fearless and formidable. How was she supposed to hate someone like him? How was she supposed to stay away from the man who was so selfless, he'd stolen the scepter just to help her.

"Hazel, I'll be right back" the crown prince said and stormed off with the servant who was struggling to catch up with him.

A dreadful thought came to Hazel's mind and she rose to her feet, panic quickly overwhelming her.

What if they found out that Yuka had stolen it? Would they kill him this time?

"Hazel Spiers?"

She froze when she heard the queen's frosty voice coming from behind her. She slowly turned to look at her with a blank expression.

"Aren't you ashamed of yourself?" the queen asked.

"I don't understand. I did nothing wrong" Hazel said, clenching her fist.

"I can't believe my son chose someone like you. You do not deserve to be queen, Rubian. I've been watching you. You have been going to the East wing very frequently, haven't you?"

Hazel's fingernails dug into her palms as her annoyance began to surge within her.