The Hathway Kingdom. (Book 1)

Chapter Thirty-Three.

~Thirty-Three. ~

Larissa told no one about what had happened between her and Isidore the night of her birthday. She wanted no one to know about it as she was humiliated by the fact that she had let him get the better of her.

She sat back in her chair, elbow resting on the arm of her chair and her chin in her hand. She stared blankly at the paperwork on her desk before she cursed and slammed a hand down on her desk and pushed her chair back, standing up. She walked over to the window, stopping, and leaning against the window frame as she stared out it. She reached up and fiddled with the necklace that Romulus gave her absentmindedly.

She stopped as it caught her attention in the reflection of the window. It had developed a glow to it ever since they had shared their kisses and she had no idea why. She bit down on her lip as the pendant grew warmer and she looked out the window once more. She felt herself growing calmer as she continued to look out the window before she closed her eyes and let out a sigh.

Something brushed her mind, the touch so light she thought she had imagined it at first. She opened her eyes again and looked out the window now, white clouds slowly began to appear. She looked at them before she turned away from the window and walked out of her study.

Larissa didn't see Elissa as she walked out of her study. She did hear her hurried footsteps as she tried to catch up with Larissa once she had passed her. She didn't look at her as she continued walking away from her study.

"Princess? Princess, where are you going?" Elissa asked as she reached out and stopped Larissa by taking her arm. Larissa stopped and she looked at Elissa for a moment.

"I am going to the training grounds. And not to be disturbed. Is that understood, Elissa?" she said to her and Elissa let go of Larissa's arm, stepping back.

"I...Yes, Princess," Elissa replied as she bowed to her. Larissa then turned around again and began walking towards the training grounds once more.

When she reached the training grounds, Larissa unbuttoned the cuffs of her sleeves and began to roll them up to her elbows. She looked around the training grounds, watching as the last few soldiers left the grounds, seeming to sense that she wanted to be alone. Once the last soldier left, Larissa walked over to the weapons stand and drew out her sparring sword and walked to the centre of the grounds.

She stopped in the centre of the grounds, her sword resting at her side. She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly and she continued doing that until she felt herself growing calm again on her own. She opened her eyes again before she twirled her fingers of her free hand slightly.

The barrels at the weapons stand shuddered, but instead of bursting like they had in her spar with Romulus, the water inside came floating out of the top of the barrel instead. It floated in the air above the barrels for a moment before it floated over to her. When it reached her, it circled her before it began to form into a circle around her feet. Once the circle had formed, Larissa then began to move about, going through her sword actions as she began to train.

She trained for hours, not noticing anything other than what she was doing. By the time she eventually came to a stop, Larissa was covered in sweat and panting heavily. She stood for a moment, her sword thrust out in front of her, in the centre of the grounds once more with the water surrounding her in a dome and her eyes closed. She took in a deep breath, slowly regaining her breath. When she opened her eyes, they were glowing the brightest green anyone had ever seen.

Her eyes darted about the training grounds, watching carefully to see if anyone was there. Seeing that no one was, Larissa closed her eyes and the dome of water around her disappeared. The water returned to the barrels before Larissa twirled her wrist again. This time, it was the flaming torches, scattered about the grounds, that flared to life.

Her eyes snapped open and the flames from the torches jumped from their holders and flew towards her. She raised her free hand in time to catch some of the flames, whilst the rest flew to her sword, igniting it. She looked down at it before she smiled some and once again began to go through her sword actions.

Just as she went to bring her flaming sword down on the ground in front of her, Larissa felt a burning pain in her hands. She froze, dropping her sword and it clanged when it hit the ground. She gasped as her chest felt like it was in a vice and she fell to her knees, a hand on her chest and the other now on the ground, as she fought for breath.

The flames leapt away from her before they began to circle her, just as the water had. But it circled closer than the water had, licking at her skin each time it flickered towards her. Larissa closed her eyes against the pain, gasping for breath as she fought against the pain.

Tears formed in her eyes now, rolling down her cheeks freely as the pain became too much for her. She whimpered before she let out a cry and the fires soared high into the sky. When the flames died back down, they leapt back towards their torches and left Larissa alone.

It was hours, almost dark, when one of the maids thought to check the training grounds. They had been told not to disturb the Princess whilst she was training but she had missed the days meals and they were all worried. The maid came to a stop at the entrance to the training grounds when she saw that the torches were still lit, and she frowned.

"Your Highness?" she called out as she stepped forward slowly, looking around carefully. The maid looked about as she walked forward slowly before she came to a stop as something in the centre of the grounds caught her eye.

"Your Highness?" she asked softly before her eyes widened as she realised what and who was in the centre of the training grounds and she ran over to her.

"Your Highness! Help! Someone help!" the maid cried out before the sound of running footsteps could be heard coming towards her.

"Silvia! What is it? Did you find her?" Tristan asked as he hurried over before he skidded to a stop when he saw them.

"What happened?" he asked as he knelt beside them and light touched Larissa's shoulder.

"I...I'm not sure, General. I found her like this..." Silvia replied as she looked down at Larissa unconscious form on the ground.

Tristan frowned as he looked down at Larissa as well. He watched her for a moment before he reached out and slightly brushed some of her hair away from her forehead, his fingers grazing her forehead and he stopped. He frowned before he pressed the back of his hand against her forehead now.

"She's burning up! We need to take her to see Rosaleen," he said as he handed Silvia his sword before he leant down and scooped the Princess up into his arms.

"What?" she asked as she looked up at him and stood up as he began to walk away.

"Hurry!" he said as he all but ran towards the medical wing.