Rayne Eternal

Chapter 2

Today, I am attempting to fend off two attacks at once. Instructor Benedict has Olympia and Odelia in the Training Arena with me, while Andrew and Tennyson were running drills on the track. We are training alone today, as this is a national holiday, and very politically based. Children of Councilmembers usually train with us as well, but it appears that they were not given word of today's change training schedule. Everyone looked just as drained as I felt–physically and mentally. Andrew trips over three hurdles while doing sprints. Olympia fails to hit every single strike she takes, and Tenny and Odelia aren't much better off themselves.

Training with the twins is always scary. Both girls are light manipulators, while Odeliea's abilities are honed for light magic, Olympia's are honed for dark magic. This on its own is okay to battle, although it can be tricky. Odelia can manipulate light to turn herself invisible, while Olympia can travel from shadow to shadow. What makes the twins absolutely terrifying is their brain connection. They can share thoughts, dreams, ideas, and often finish each other's sentences. And so far, there's no distance limit to their connection.

Odeliea and Olympia go for a dual strike, as I dodge and Odelia's hand slips and her sword swipes across my cheek. I drop to the floor to prevent further injury and bring my hand to my face. When I pull away, I see crimson blood on my fingertips. "Time!" I call out to Olympia and Odelia. Before I can stand up, Odelia's already on the floor with me inspecting my wound. Even at age 15, she's one of the most skilled medics we have.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Raynella! I didn't mean for this to happen; I'm not sure where my head is today."

"Everything's alright, it's just a little scratch. In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have dried to deflect both of you with one blow."

Instructor Johnson sulks over to us, clearly upset. "What the hell happened over here?" he fumes. He looks angry enough to turn red from his ears to his toes. I'm slightly surprised to not see steam billowing out his ears. I know I have to speak up or else he'll probably try to hurt Odelia, or something worse. "It was my fault, sir. Olympia and Odelia were both coming at me, and I tried to lean into Odelia's strike. It backfired and ended up with a slash to my cheek." He simply rolls his eyes at my explanation, he knows I'm better than that. "Go into the Infirmary, I'll meet you in there to help you get patched up," he says montioning for me to go to the MedBay attached to the Training Arena. "Everyone else, get cleaned up. Apparently you've all forgotten your training overnight. We'll be done for today, but you're all running tomorrow until you get your lives back in working order."

As I walk to the Infirmary, Andrew puts an arm around Tenny and pulls him into a hug. I see the way my kid brother grips Andrews training shirt and it brings tears to my eyes. Today has always been hard for the Beron family. It might as well be a national holiday from work, seeing as almost the whole country shuts down. We always take a day of rest and a day of mourning for my father.

He was a benevolent king who tried to help those below him. The entire country has felt the effects of his death, as the Royal Council tried to repeal my father's progressive laws. This is why it's so important for me to become a strong leader like him, to carry on his legacy. Tonight, both my mother and I will address the whole country, as we do every year. This will be my first time speaking tonight, since I am to be queen in a month's time.

I push open the double doors that lead into the Infirmary and walk over to the nearest cot. I sit gingerly on the side, waiting for a medic to check me out. There is no one here, seeing that training was supposed to be canceled today.

I must speak with Mother about the change in tradition. I think to myself as I bring my hand up to my cheek again, and find that most of the blood has dried. I shouldn't need stitches or anything, but I'll have a nice scratch for a couple weeks. Pulling me from my thoughts, Instructor Benedict walks through the door. He silently walks up to me and pushes my shoulder so I'll lay down.

"I know you're just covering up for Odelia. Your protection for your siblings is admirable, but it shows your weakness." He says, turning my head to get a closer look at my scratch. "You won't be able to protect them forever, especially with Andrew and Odelia leaving for the front lines of the Chordania in a fortnight." I bolt upright faster than I thought possible. "They- they're going where now?" I stamer. Instructor Benedict just chuckles as he gets up to get alcohol wipes. "What about Odelia's internship with Nurse Bailey? And Andrew's lined up to be my Senior Advisor! They can't leave before my coronation; I need them here!" At this point, I'm almost in tears, trying to comprehend my family leaving. "I wonder if there's a reason why they haven't told you yet, my dear." He says pushing me back to flat. He begins cleaning my wound while tracing a hand up the inside of my leg. "Maybe you should evaluate that first, before you get all up in arms."

There was a knock at the door that interrupted my response. Instructor Benedict jumps off the bed at lightning speed and practically runs over to the door. When he opens it, I see Andrew, Olympia, Odelia, and Tenny. Andrew has his arm around Odelia's shoulder, and Odelia is holding Olympia's hand. You can tell both twins have been crying, as has, by the looks of it, Andrew, too. It breaks my heart to see my siblings so torn up. Andrew speaks up before Instructor Benedict can yell at him. "Instructor, can we speak with Raynella alone? If you're done treating her, that is." Instructor Benedict looks only slightly disgruntled, but I know better—he's fuming. "Let me put a few steri-strips on her cheek, then you guys may speak with her. You may come in, just please stay out of the way," he responds, trying to cool himself down.

My siblings pile in the Infirmary, pushing over to an open cot next to mine. I turn to Instructor Benedict when he touches my shoulder. A cold sensation as he pulls three white strips onto my cut. "These will hold the cut together while it heals. Try to keep them dry as much as you can." He removes his gloves and washes his hands. "Well I'll leave you for your Beron sibling time. Remember you must be ready for the press conference at 1700. See you all then."

As soon as Instructor Benedict closed the door, Tenny and Olympia climb over to my cot, and Andrew and Odelia stand next to me. Andrew grabs my hand and pulls me into a side hug. "Guys what's going on? Benedict said you and Odelia were going to the front lines soon. Please tell me this isn't true!" I look into Andrew's eyes, begging him to say it's false. He looks down, avoiding my gaze. I round on Odelia, putting a hand on her arm, trying to get her to look at me. She refuses my gaze as well.

"I am to be queen in a month's time and you mean to tell me I find out—on the anniversary of our father's death—that two of my siblings won't be at my coronation because they're going to the front lines of a century's war! Someone is going to tell me what's going on right now," I try to say this as queenly—just as I can just as my mother would have. Perfect and poised as ever, she was practically raised for royalty. Try as I might, I can feel my fake facade falling fast, as a single tear tracks my face. Andrew seizes my shoulders to keep himself from the same fate. "Mother and the Council seem to think my diplomatic efforts would be better served on the front lines. Something about inspiring restless troops." Andrew scoffs and rolls his eyes, but continues on. "I leave with the Eleventh Legion in two weeks."

Mother has a good point; Andrew's always been blessed with the gift of diplomacy and public affairs. The two of us had always planned for him to be my second in command, my Senior Advisor. Those plans have now gone down the drain, along with my plans for Odelia to be on my Royal Council, as well. I look towards her for an explanation, to see that she is in tears as well. "With the Council pushing the Eleventh Legion to the war front, they need more medics. Nurse Bailey is going, so I have to as well." We all sit in stunned silence for a moment, not really knowing how to respond.

I want to scream. I want to cry and shout. I want to run into the Council Meeting and force them to remove the Eleventh Legion. Anyone knows going to the war front is a death sentence, there's a reason why civilians don't go to the war front. Although Odelia and Andrew have gone through a lot of training, we train for individual combat, not trench warfare. The Council has successfully doomed my two oldest siblings. I can only imagine what Olympia is going through.

"You guys can't leave!" This is the first thing Tenny has said since he walked in. He climbs off my cot and runs to hug Andrew. After Father died, Tenny became very close with Andrew and looked up to him. "I will talk to Mother about this after I get out of here. If all goes well, you won't be leaving."

We all sit in silence for a moment, possibly the last time we're all together like this. I look from Andrew, with his arm around Tennyson, over to Olympia with her head on Odelia's shoulder. We're very close, even for siblings. I am determined to keep us together, even if it's the last thing I do.