𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕃𝕚𝕖𝕤 𝕆𝕗 𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℕ𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕤

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 14 - Memories

(Ash's P.O.V)

Never show weakness. Be ready to fight at any time. Be vigilant. Be strong. Be brave.

Those were the rules I grew up on.

My parents never forced me to be ladylike, or be perfect, all they wanted was a daughter that was strong enough to hold the weight of her kingdom on her shoulders one day.

I spent hours every day learning to fight with different weapons until I was perfect with all of them.

When I was old enough, my parents took me to negotiations so I saw how the royal meeting worked.

I learned about law and history and politics and the weaknesses of all the elemental tribes.

I learned how to survive in nature with nothing but the clothes on my back. What plants were poisonous and what could help me.

My teacher threw scenarios at me and I had to answer them. What if the kingdom was attacked and your parents were assassinated? What if your kingdom was overthrown? What if someone tries to assassinate you? What if you had to flee from the castle all alone?

Josephine, or known to me as Jo, was my teacher.

She was skilled with all the things I needed to learn.

She attacked me with a sword, telling me to parry with my shield.

I did.

"Ash, you needed to parry faster. If I was an assassin you would be dead." We tried for hours until she was satisfied. "Very good ash." she said, smiling warmly.

"We will be moving on to plant magic very soon." "Really?!" I asked excitedly. "Really. I think you're ready."

I snapped out of the memory with jaring suddenness. Jo had been like an aunt to me, caring for me as more than a little warrior born to serve the kingdom one day like my parents did.

I wondered what Arlo and Annabella had been called for. Probably nothing good.

"I'm gonna get to bed" I informed Aaron. "Okay" he said. I climbed into the bed we shared and soon fell asleep.

* * *

I woke up slowly, realizing my face was pressed against the wall and my body was facing the opposite way, making me in instant pain. "Why do I do this to myself?" I grumbled.

I got up and was greeted by river. "It's early to get up, especially for royalty."

Every morning for years jo would come before dawn, saying that i couldn't have breakfast until i beat her in a swordfight or another weapon of my choice.

Easy, I want the axe. I replied one day. I was still getting used to using an axe, so that morning was a little harder for me. I picked up the axe, carefully hiding the way it threw me off balance.

When Jo and I were finished, I showered and went down to breakfast. I had my once long black curls neatly braided like I had taught myself to do.

"How was your morning, dear?" My mother asked. "Good, I started training with axes." I replied. "We're so proud of you," my father said. I tried to smile back. I knew I had a duty to my kingdom, but sometimes I wished I could be a villager. To meet other kids. To have a life outside my responsibility.

The familiar words of my parents echoed through my head. "You have a responsibility to your kingdom. You're so lucky you get the honor of being the next protector of this kingdom. A normal life? Please. Ash, your kingdom needs you."

"Yeah... I like... the dawn." I said. I missed jo. "Well, you can come to collect breakfast for us since you're already up." "yeah. I'd like that."

We wrote a note for the others and walked out.