Chapter 19 - Firehorn P-1

Ravenna's eyes widened as she watched the monstrous creatures breathe in and out. With each inhale, their massive chests expanded, and when they exhaled, instead of air, flames erupted from their nostrils.

The fire was intense, a vivid orange and red that flickered and danced in the hot desert air. It was like watching a furnace breathe, and the heat radiating from them was noticeable even from a distance.

These monsters were known as Firehorn Behemoths. Ravenna remembered the name clearly from her childhood lessons. Lumina, hovering nearby, seemed surprised. "You know their name?" she asked, a hint of mockery in her voice.

Ravenna rolled her eyes and smirked. "Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. I might not have learned magic or how to fight, but I did attend classes on monsters. As a princess, it was part of my education."

Lumina's light flickered, as if raising an eyebrow. "Classes on monsters? Tell me more."

Ravenna sighed, her mind drifting back to her childhood. "As royalty, I had a rigorous education. It wasn't just about etiquette and diplomacy. We had to learn about the various threats to our kingdom, including monsters like these Firehorn Behemoths."

She began to explain in detail. Every morning, they started with history lessons, learning about the great battles fought by their ancestors.

Then came the etiquette classes, where they practiced how to greet dignitaries and host banquets. But the afternoons were the most interesting. That's when they had their lessons on monsters.

Their royal teacher, a grizzled old knight named Sir Alden, taught them everything about the creatures that roamed their lands.

They learned about their habitats, their strengths, and their weaknesses. Sir Alden had this huge, dusty book filled with illustrations and notes. It was fascinating.

They'd gather in the great royal library, surrounded by ancient tomes and scrolls. Sir Alden stood at the front, his voice booming as he described each monster in vivid detail.

He told her about the Firehorn Behemoths, how their skin was tough as armor, their breath hot as fire. He showed her pictures of their horns and tusks and explained how they controlled fire in their feet.

Ravenna had always been fascinated by the monster lessons. When she was just a child, her eyes would widen with the glow of happiness every time Sir Alden opened his massive, dusty book.

She'd sit on the edge of her seat, completely engrossed in his tales of fearsome creatures. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and she'd often imitate the knight, pretending to slay imaginary monsters in the grand halls of the palace.

With a wooden sword in hand, she'd run around, her small, delicate frame bouncing with each step. She had an innocent charm, a cute little princess with golden curls that framed her face like a halo.

Her laughter echoed through the corridors as she acted out brave battles, declaring with unwavering confidence that she would vanquish every monster when she grew up.

"Take that, you monster!" she'd shout, giggling as she thrust her sword at invisible foes. Her excitement knew no bounds, and she'd often rally her friends and even some of the palace guards to join in her playful crusades.

Her parents and the courtiers would watch with fond smiles, seeing in her the spirit of a true leader even in those early years.

Ravenna's youthful innocence and boundless energy painted a picture of a future queen who, despite the harsh realities awaiting her, held onto her dreams with a child's pure-hearted determination.

Ravenna paused, a nostalgic smile playing on her lips. It was like living in a storybook. But it wasn't just for fun.

These lessons were meant to prepare them for the realities of ruling a kingdom. Knowing about monsters was essential for her safety and the safety of her people.

"What was that?" Ravenna muttered, squinting up at the blazing sun. Her eyes flickered with the discomfort of trying to look directly at the bright sun, her vision dancing with spots.

"Those distant past memories, they seem so real," she mused aloud, almost reaching out as if she could grasp the fleeting images with her hands.

It was like trying to hold onto smoke; no matter how hard she tried, it slipped through her fingers.

"It was just a formality? Lessons without practical knowledge," she mused aloud. Ravenna had been given every lesson imaginable about the kingdom, monsters, and etiquette, but never truly learned how to fight. It was like being given a map but never taught how to read it.

Her heart was in turmoil as she reflected on these past thoughts. She had been taught so much about monsters, how they were cruel and dangerous, how they deserved to be killed without mercy. Sir Alden's lessons had painted them as the ultimate enemies, to be hated and destroyed.

But now, standing here with the knowledge but not the experience, she felt a deep conflict.

The hatred she was taught to feel for monsters seemed hollow without the real-world understanding of combat.

It was easy to say "kill every monster" in a classroom, but facing them in reality was an entirely different challenge.

She knew their weaknesses, their behaviors, but the act of fighting, of taking a life, was something she had never been prepared for.

"Lumina, can I truly kill them?" Ravenna asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty as she raised her first foot and leaned back slightly, hesitating.