She is the Strongest

Chapter 4: She is the Strongest

Five years had passed since the fire, and I was no longer a timid child clinging to my mother's side. At the age of five, I began my official training as a prince, a path that included swordsmanship lessons. While my brothers dueled with reckless abandon, I approached my training with a quiet intensity.

Joseph, my ever-patient mentor, had advised me to focus on swordsmanship for now. My fire magic remained an untamed beast, a constant source of fear and anxiety.

My swordsmanship instructor was Roselia, a woman with eyes as sharp as the blade she wielded. Her reputation as the kingdom's finest warrior preceded her, and I held her in awe.

During the day, I learned the art of swordplay under her watchful eye, the clang of steel a counterpoint to the quiet hum of magic that pulsed within the palace walls. By night, I retreated to my room, where Joseph patiently unraveled the mysteries of healing magic, a subtle art often overshadowed by the flashy displays of fire and earth manipulation.

My interactions with my siblings had also improved. Gone was the self-imposed isolation of my earlier years. We sparred together, laughed together, a tentative sense of normalcy blossoming within the gilded cage of our lives.

One crisp autumn morning, the news arrived – an invitation from the neighboring kingdom of Phili. Excitement crackled through the palace. For the first time in my life, I would be venturing beyond the familiar walls of Alina.

I bade farewell to my siblings, their cheers echoing in the hallway as I climbed into the royal carriage with Mother. Accompanying us was Roselia, her stoic expression a stark contrast to the nervous flutter in my stomach.

The journey was long and uneventful. As twilight painted the sky in hues of orange and purple, a tremor of unease snaked through me. The approaching darkness always triggered a flicker of fear, a haunting echo of my past life. Mother sensed my anxiety and squeezed my hand reassuringly.

"Don't worry, Daniel," she whispered, her voice a soothing balm. "You're safe with me."

We reached the border crossing just as night fell. The carriage halted, and Roselia exchanged a tense look with the driver, who swiftly disappeared beneath the carriage. A knot of dread formed in my stomach.

"There's trouble, Your Majesty," Roselia said, her voice grim. "We're surrounded."

Panic clawed at my throat. Mother met my gaze, a flicker of steel in her cerulean eyes. She knelt before me, her touch gentle yet firm.

"Stay here, Daniel," she said, her voice leaving no room for argument. "Roselia will keep you safe."

With a reassuring pat on my head, she exited the carriage, a determined glint in her eyes. I squeezed my eyes shut, the sound of clashing steel a terrifying symphony in the night. Tears welled up, threatening to spill over. But then, a new resolve steeled my spine.

I peeked out the window, a sliver of the fight scene visible.

Mother, a whirlwind of silver and moonlight, danced amongst the black-clad figures. Her movements were a blur, her sword a deadly extension of her will. But it wasn't her swordsmanship that left me breathless.

With a flick of her wrist, a blinding light erupted from the ground, engulfing the battlefield. When the light subsided, the attackers lay motionless, defeated.

My breath hitched. Mother, the gentle queen who sang me lullabies, was a force of nature, a warrior wielding light itself. She was the strongest, not Roselia, not my brothers, but my own mother. A wave of awe washed over me, mingled with a newfound sense of security. With her by my side, I could face anything.

I clambered back into my seat, a silent promise forming in my heart. One day, I would be strong like her. I would be a prince worthy of the Alina throne, a warrior who could protect not just himself, but his family and his kingdom.

As dawn painted the sky in hues of pink and gold, the carriage finally rolled into the bustling capital of Phili. Exhaustion weighed heavily on my eyelids, but a spark of excitement flickered within me.

This was just the beginning of my adventures, and I was ready to face them, hand in hand with the strongest woman I knew – my mother, the queen.

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