First Lessons: The Swordsmanships Class

“My child! What happened to you? Why are you covered in scars?” Lady Armella Cora, the birth mother of the second, third, twelfth and twenty-fourth princess twirled her daughter torso who's completely bled persistently.

“Mother! I think I've caught some bad luck from the Crown Princess.” Princes Ashlyn wept on her mother's lap. The injury stung so much but there's nothing else the other could perform except provided her medication and bandaged up her wounds. Nonetheless, the wounds didn't cease bled and made all the bandages soaked with her fresh blood. This impelled them to continually change the case.

“Bad luck? What do you mean and did you visit the Crown Princess?” She obliviously inquired as her hands brushed the second princess hair.

“Right after I visited her, I've stridden on a pile of animal waste and I instinctively held my leg elevated to not make it imprinted onto other thing but then I staggered five floors straight. When someone assisted me to surge, I've trudged on my own dress and tumbled once again until my head slammed the ground. My head bled badly and I've severed my leg. I rise after that but then I accidentally slipped on the edge of the lake and nearly submerged into the deepwater where there's no attendant around except mine that chased me when I tumbled down the floor.

I held onto a single branch that was about to broke so that I wouldn't plunge into the lake. Unfortunately, my two maids couldn't swim and sought help from others. When the attendants arrived, the branch oddly cracked and I subsided into the lake. Accordingly, when the servant fetched me, I'm freezing cold and my clothes were hugely torn that it barely covered my body. The accident enticed others awareness but my body was nearly uncovered. Lots of others snickered at me. Mother, it hurts so much but my dignity was more painful... It must be the work of the demonic crown princess!”

“My poor daughter... Don't worry, Ashlyn. We would definitely have our revenge but not today. We could do anything to her as long as you became the Empress, right? Oh, and keep seducing the idiotic crown prince. He would definitely take you in when he became the emperor.”

“But mother, he rarely sees me now...” She appeared to be slightly blue when supposed about the crown prince of the Madise kingdom which was under the Sophronia Empire. He was Aubrianna's betrothal and rumoured to be the next ruling emperor of Sophronia. She required to seduce him so that he would accept her in when he became the emperor and abandoned the crown princess. That's the actual plan she had with her ‘genius’ mother.

“Maybe because he's busy, dear. Just be patient and you'll be the next empress.” Lady Armella consoled her with the usual and typical words.

“That's right. The naive princess would never get the throne.” She ultimately got the grip and ensured herself.

***

“Aubrianna, my daughter, what are you giggling about?” Empress Adrianna inquired of her as Aubrianna conserved cackled as she gawked something through the valuable sphere ring. It had a lot of beneficial uses to the owner and was incredibly valuable.

“ I apologised for my rude behaviour, Your Majesty. Would you be interested to take a look at our successful plan, Your Majesty? I could guarantee your enjoyment.” She positioned the ring on the top of the table as she received the empress approval.

“Of course, I'm interested.” She slightly nodded, looked like she had quite the curiosity of the ring content.

“Please take a good look at the tape, dearest mother.” Aubrianna unlocked the ring and enabled her mother to watch the bad lucked jinx that fallen onto the second princess when she wore the unremovable bangle that she embezzled. She was courting for her own death as long as the bangle was on. Nevertheless, eliminated it was not as simple as it seemed as it was already none removable which mean it was inconceivable to be discarded. Solely, the curse creator was able to remove it which implied on Aubrianna. This would alleviate her a lot in getting rid of the second princess.

“Pfftt... You are the only one who could keep me entertaining around here.” The empress chuckled from the humorous records of the princess terrible fortune.

“I'm right, ain't I?” She grinned jovially. Deliberately, she would reap her revenge for Aubrianna that passed away from their cruel greeds.

“You should be prepared for their surprises with a surprise so that that exact surprise would eat them in silence.” She reminisced as she touched the cup of hot tea on the table.

“That would be my priority, Your Majesty. Please rest assured. I won't ever let my guard down.” She convinced her promising. They should be well equipped for the throne conflict between the princess for Sophronia glorious monarchy.

“That's good but please remembered to find the infamous Elemental King as soon as possible.”

“Yes, mother.” She conceded. The Elemental King... where did the headmaster spot her when she inquired him to enable her to confront the Elemental King? She attempted her hardest to distinguished the place but it came off like an undetectable niche, a place that was clearly out of the world. Would she be eligible to greet him again?

“I remembered that you still need to finish your learning in The Royal Academy of Sophronia... just a year left, isn't it?” Empress Adrianna interrogated for verification to her knowledge that she collected recently. That directly meant that relatively restricted time was left.

“Your Majesty is correct. I would finish with the academy and assessed the throne right away.” She substantiated her statements.

“We shouldn't waste any more time just waiting for them to take action.” Empress Adrianna assumed and kept reckoned about a strategy to be out of the trapped crisis. If Aubrianna were to convene her end, then, it would be indicated that the new empress to be would be elected. That signified that the throne might plunge for the second princess.

“Your Majesty, can I ask your help in something?”

“What is it, dear?”

“...”

“That's a good idea. If the emperor won't allow you to do that. I would.”

“Thank you, mother.”

“You're my daughter, after all. Our thoughts linked together...”

***

“Are you serious, Lucas? After all this year, you only came back to be heartbroken. She's a human, a mere human! It's normal for her!” He was about to crack his mind from overthinking. The conclusion that Lucas would prefer to seize was way too risky and flatly difficult.

“I'm serious. It's the same cause... the curse.” Lucas clarified chillily.

“Don't you remember how it actually went?” He implored, recalled back all of the death she upheld. Countless period of being listed for her short lifetimes inside their world.

“I realized that clearly but, whichever the path I took, she would still be the same...” Lucas let out, there's an insufficient sorrow scrutinized in his sullen voice. Each effort arose in the equivalent end. Absolute death.

“She won't remember you, Lucas... It's what we called the time reverse... Her remembrance of you would already turn into ashes.” He resisted insisted him from accomplished his reckless moves as one wrongdoing would make it tougher to hunt for their goal or precisely his only meaning in life.

“But I do. I would do everything it takes for her to eventually recollect me.” Lucas retorted with that confidence that arrived out of nowhere. He knew that there might be a probability that time would only be reversed once again by both of them if their plan wasn't working.

“Greatest King, you can't! If you couldn't, who else might possibly?” He was devastated from having a verbal talk with a man who knew no meant in lost in primarily anything.

“But what is she actually regained it naturally?” Lucas indicated his ideas that they haven't speculated about as it seemed preposterous.

“But she obviously didn't.” He dismissed that only wishes of him to be concurrently like the old times.

“What if one day she recovered all of it?” Lucas kept insisted the same. Not aimed to back it up just because of a single denial from him.

“It might be impossible... but if she did... her lifeline might change.” He commenced assuming the impossible possibilities if that might be true.

“If it changed, won't she be able to avoid the curse?” Lucas implored him. Gradually convinced him to struggle together.

“To avoid absolute death... Would it work with our limited time?” He asked.

“There are lots of possibilities...” Lucas gazed back at the relaxed pond that established back all of their recollections onetime again.

***

“Your Highness, are you sure about going back to the academy?” Charlotte kept inquiring her with identical concerned over and over. It might be the twentieth times of her endless quests.

“I am. Don't worry, Lotte. I would definitely be back frequently to meet you.” Aubrianna persuaded her for who knew how much time already.

“I'm fine, Your Highness but I'm a little concerned about you... Would you be alright?” Charlotte couldn't appear to let her take off calmly. Regardless, her intention was clear and pure, simply apprehensive about her valued princess that was about to reside at her academy which was a complete battlefield for her.

“I would don't be worried like that, Lotte. It would totally be fun at the academy or so.” Aubrianna surely asserted the word fun that wasn't meant for fun. It implied for another kind of fun which would be her unlimited fun but misery to others. Adequately, the late Crown Princess too had been on that suffering and despair period and presently she loves absolutely loved to bestow that back to the genuine owner who had kindly granted her the lovely suffering.

“Fun... But please take good care of yourself when I'm not with you.” Charlotte pleaded once again.

“Sure-sure... You would wait for me, wouldn't you?” Aubrianna strode onto the royal carriage which she would use to traverse to the Royal Academy of Sophronia.

“I'm the Crown Princess personal maid, chosen by His Majesty himself to serve you and only you. Your command is my wish.” Charlotte reasonably bowed in admiration. She had served the royal family for so long that the emperor himself trusted Aubrianna to her but the poor princess was constantly tormented by the others that made her awfully guilty for not to be competent to take any effort to evade her suffering. At the very least, this would lessen her regrets.

“See you later, Lotte.” Aubrianna waved at her.

“Yes, Your Highness.” She kept bowing as the carriage strode for their trip.

The journey to the academy by carriage took time but she had to shift a few things back to the academy and it would be relatively wasted her energy for that. Furthermore, she would dawdle at the dorm for the rest of the year which suggest until the graduation day which also the year she would become the next empress. Supposed that there's not honestly ample time left after all...

How did she wish that time would freeze and conserved motionless... When you shut your eyes tightly, rested your whole body, listened to the soft sounds of the living organism of the big world made its own extraordinary sound, the sweet smell of the bloom fallen unstoppably on from its peaks to the walkway, the gentle sounds of the soft breeze that chills... This aspect that constantly being neglected for its significance less worthy.

We eternally chased and chased for a thing that we never comprehend ourselves, the future itself, erratic motions that preceding hastily without us realised it. What did we honestly wish for? Even if the world was ours we might not even be fulfilled. That's one harsh but valid truth of humanistic instinct. Nonetheless, we would all knew one day that the one you desired for had always been in front of your eyes... Opened your eyes widely and alleviated your mind slowly... The real meaning of life would one day be there when you're prepared to discern what it was.

It will come willingly to you but trackless... entered your life as silent as the wind...but provided the bright source like the sun and conveyed hopes in the dark like the twinkled stars up in the gloomy sky... That's when your life was wholly fulled... regrets, hatred, sadness was swept away when you would completely understand your destiny but your destiny would only come on a destined day where the world was colourful, the air was aromatic, the feelings were terrific, unimaginable but its the exact experience that would take you on a new journey full of remarkable meanings...

***

“Students of all various departments, I'm your headmaster. As you might have heard about, our academy would hold the annual department's expeditions, as we've always held every year. This expedition which would be a big fair competition with each department, champion of the comp would be able to be to have one-time access to the private library in the royal palace!” The headmaster was delivering a speech for all of the major of the academies.

“Ceh, if that was the prize, I wouldn't want to compete.” Few of the lads grumbled with a clear unsatisfied voice.

“No, no, no... Don't worry! That's only part of the present. This year, we were luckily supported by the royal family of Sophronia. Fifty thousand coins and full academy scholarships were also from the donation of our pride empire.” The headmaster's speech shook all of the students. The prize appeared to be a little overboard and too abundant for the minor event.

“What?!! Fifty thousand coins!!! And academy scholarship!!!” The students conserved whispered and murmured regarding the stunning winner gifts. It's once in a lifetime chance for all the students.

“Wow!!!”

“Then, I wished all of you good luck.” The headmaster's speech halts there, left all of his students in awe of the award.

Fifty thousand coins... seemed like the empress were reasonably considerable about the petition she brought about on the day before. Her mind was set back on the time;

“Your Majesty, can I ask your help in something?”

“What is it, dear?”

“The royal academy would be having annual departments expedition and I would wish the royal family to donate a few goods to the academy as a donation gift. Can you help me, mother?”

“That's a good idea. If the emperor won't allow you to do that. I would.”

“Thank you, mother.”

“You're my daughter, after all. Our thoughts linked together...”

That's quite the discussion she had with the empress a day before. Her following class would be the Swordsmanships class from instructor Eugene Norman. Though, there's one single thing that had been concerned her about the male instructor, he had a nifty unpleasant personality. Yep, it meant that he should never exist in the first place... just kidding... how did he even manage to become an instructor in the first place?

As today was the swords training class, she had to wear a tuck-in shirt and leather pant and not a dress anymore like always. That's an insufficiently convenience, to be honest. Currently, the only stuff that was left to deal with was that man. Would it either be a pleasurable experience or the exact opposite? She stepped to the training field with a sword that she regularly dragged around as she began attained the academy and it's apparently for the safety purpose.

Sufficiently, it's reasonable as she, the next in line of the throne, the next raising monarch, was attending an academy that would be full of life-threatening snakes without a single knight assisted her. At initial of the suggestion, even the empress was concerned about that but submitted at the verge after convinced of her power that could straightly take supervision of the whole empire.

She's literally wondering that if the empire could be protected by herself, how powerful would the Elemental King would be? He was undoubtedly extraordinarily strong if he was the strongest among the strongest. That's just stunning to be visualized.

***

She confidently walked to the open training field. The swordsmanships class was prominent with men and there's hardly two female major inside the class which is the crown princess that was labelled as a vulnerable and fragile princess that couldn't actually handle a sword and her third sister, the third princess, Princess Caroline Morina Jekyll. She was exceptionally granted in sword fighting and invariably bullied Aubrianna that couldn't wield a sword. Emerged in her being endlessly beaten despite being their crown princess.

The nauseating snickered, wicked whispered, silents mocked and deep hatred. She had been through that a lot when she was diagnosed with autism in her past life at fourteen years old. Honestly, autism in her caused others to commence to distance themselves for the justification that she was odd... not normal and had a disability. It hurt, hurt a lot but it would unfold your eyes to something new. Something more significant and more valid.

Bullying was an unforgivable crime, hurt the royals despite being a royal themselves and it's similarly an inexcusable trick from the presumptuous princess. Apiece has its own natures which meant a distinct weakness in which enabled her to plant the venom right on their soft spot.

“Good morning, students! Today, we would be practising the real swords. Who would like to be the first participant?” Instructor Eugene turned up that retracted all of the attention back.

“Me, Instructor Eugene.” One of the major lifted up her hands. It's the pompous girl, who loved intimidated her.

“Ah, I wonder who it is if it's not the gorgeous and competitive Princess Caroline. However, princess, you need to choose your partner in sword fighting.” Instructor Eugene smirked that already revealed his true motive. What a fool.

“A partner? Hmm...” The third princess deluded to conserve thought in ordinance to let the others propose their assistance despite her already set her eyes on her hated sister. She was an actual attention seeker for God sake.

“Me! Chose me, princess!” The crowds continuously required their help precisely as she had anticipated earlier.

“No! Me!” The other conserved fought with each other to be appointed by their adored princess.

“I'm the best! Assign me, princess!”

“I would like to invite my older sister, Crown Princess Aubrianna.” Her statement effortlessly made the other despised and resented her for being selected when they're not. That's a certainly clever move, to be honest, but not excessively clever enough to assign someone, not on your own level. Sufficiently, simply stated the truth regardless.

“Why? She can't even handle the sword.” One of the youth taunted her for her memorable fragileness.

“Thank you for your invitation. I would gladly accept it.” Aubrianna accepted her offers that lured even more suspicion to the student's senses, believed that she had completely gone nuts after all the animosity she obtained.

“Is that the crown princess?”

“Did you hear that she broke the crystal ball?”

“She's so different from the third princess.”

“I'm sure that the sword was for shows only.” One of them that muttered finally snagged her wrath. That one nasty aspect to be declared openly to her companion. The swords were her real collaborator, an eternal part of herself. How dare they disparaged her along with her invaluable sword that was given the name Rapid Reaper. The name itself illustrated its advantage.

“I see... Only for the show? Would like to try it?” She accordingly slashed the wood puppets for their training into two that it smashed quite hardly that all of the others were appalled.

“No. No!” He declined when she referred her sharp, shining swords edge on him. Threatened a man who was daring sufficiently to name the Rapid Reaper an exhibition object.

“One more word and the wood puppet would be you.” She uttered that developed an extensive silence included their instructor that was motionlessly in the complete awe from that.

“...Older sister. Let's start the game, shall we?” Princess Caroline preoccupied her from the crises back to their tangible battle.

“Sure.” She nodded that put everyone in solace state.

“Then, ladies. The rules are to start in the circle no matter what and a step out of the circle would eliminate you. Also, you mustn't attack your opponent in her vital organs to avoid any heavy injury. If you're ready, we would start now.”

“Ready? Start!”

She's quick at ambushing and good at dodging the sword. The motions were fast but not swift. One omission would make her stumble like this; Aubrianna deliberately shifted her body to the other side but Caroline's swords that were striking sadly didn't knock anything and her balance was dropped and ultimately tumbled onto the ground. Still, Aubrianna couldn't tolerate the complacent princess to lose effortlessly like that.

There's no actual fun in that. She supported her from footed out of the circle and made her be eligible to play against her furthermore. Princess Caroline was awfully agitated. She hastily attacked her with the swords but Aubrianna kept withstood her and barricaded the swords that made her angrier. She determined to strive to damage her leg so that she would slump but she would make it to seem like unintentional doing. Aubrianna was irritated from her wicked ideas.

She eventually struck her swords that one single slashed from her shattered the third princess swords into pieces. This virtually jaw-dropped all of the other majors to catch a glimpse of the swords broken skillfully. Aubrianna wasted no time and simply swept the third princess off her own feet and fallen out of the circle. She plainly won, however, others yet gazed with that astonished complexion on. All of them were unduly aghast to behold the sight of that unpredictable occurrence.

“This feels refreshing to warm up a little bit, sadly, you don't interest me even to the slightest.”

“Do you know what, third sister? Revenge tastes the best when you're powerful enough to wreck your foe. It would give you a satisfactory sensation. Maybe a little like this?”

Aubrianna thus sheathed her swords heretofore on its scabbard. Her aura independently would make others perceived apprehension but nonetheless, there's one man that compelled her felt odd. The only one that kept smiled during her whole fight, Adryan Aristotle. The other bizarre thing was that his thoughts were unusually clear or equally intentionally emptied. Effortlessly explained, he thought of nonentity at all. How could a human thought of nothing at all? Really strange.

“Instructor Eugene, who is your best fighter? Is it her?” Aubrianna indicated of Caroline who squirmed in pain as she plummeted onto the hard ground.

“No, not really. It's your senior, the swiftest player, Lucas Osvaldo Ethan Castriell. Why did you ask?” He clarified as his hands were rummaging for something inside his cloaks and were horrified to discern that it was gone.

“Oh, nothing. I just fancy these daggers you kept in your cloaks.” She revealed the daggers that she earlier snatched from the instructor. He actually attempted to toss this at her with the intent to analyze her fundamental skill which meant to harm her. This daggers would certainly kill an ordinary person readily based on its special structure which was developed to kill.

“How did you...” The instructor came off to be out of words. If this was how he behaved every day, her probability of getting murdered would handily be expanded.

“Then, see you later.” Aubrianna wandered away from the fields.

“Aubrianna!” Her third sister looked like she was mad from that forfeit she obtained, screamed and grunts shamelessly. Aubrianna stepped away from the training field to change her clothing. Her subsequent destination would be to the invisible-archery class taught by Instructor Dianna Clementine. The days were already fatiguing surely in the initial class. How would this go on for an entire year?

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***