She's the Prince

Chapter 24

Shared Secrets

Ares stared at the swirling liquid in his cup, his mind restless. It had only been weeks since he was thrust into a world he didn't recognize, trapped in a body that wasn't his own. The weight of it all—the strange powers, the looming competition, and the constant threat of discovery—pressed heavily on him. Sitting across from Ninazu in the Zodiac Pavilion, Ares needed to spill his truth. But would Ninazu believe him? Or worse—what would he do with the knowledge?

"I was in another world," Ares began, quiet but firm. "Then somehow, I ended up here. Stuck in the body of Prince Ares."

Ninazu's eyes sharpened, his face unreadable. "You mean... you and Prince Ares are in the same body?"

Ares exhaled heavily. "Honestly, I don't know. Sometimes the memories—the sensations—blur. It's like this body has a life of its own, but it follows me too." He looked down at his hands, feeling the unfamiliar strength in them. "Prince Ares... he might still have control over some things. It's like we're both here, somehow."

Ninazu leaned forward, studying him. "And what about your abilities? Are they yours or his?"

"If you're talking about combat, I have no control over it. My body acts on its own—like when I almost shot you with that arrow. I didn't do that. Prince Ares did." Ares paused, the memory of the fire still fresh. "And the fire... it came out of nowhere. I don't know how or why, but this body reacted when it was in danger."

Ninazu's silence stretched, making the tension in the room thickened. Finally, Ares spoke again, his voice low. "Now you know the truth. What do you plan to do with it? Who knows what will happen to Prince Ares if I have to leave?"

He drank some hot chocolate and kept his eyes on Ares the whole time. "I'm not a shaman. I don't have the power to separate you from him."

Ares leaned back, somewhat relieved but still wary. "I just thought... maybe you'd consider it. Better safe than sorry, right?"

A faint smile touched Ninazu's lips. "You're different," he noted.

Ares remained silent, sipping his drink. His mind was a storm of confusion.

"Are you prepared for tomorrow?" Ninazu suddenly asked, changing the subject.

"No," Ares admitted. "I've never fought with a sword or a bow before. I know judo, but that's it."

"Judo?" Ninazu raised a brow.

"It's a form of physical combat," Ares explained. "It won't help me much in a sword fight, though."

Ninazu smirked. "And yet, you still seem confident."

"Irritating, isn't it?" Ares shot back. "I could still smash your head in, though."

Ninazu blinked, confused. "Head... below?"

Ares stifled a laugh, realizing the miscommunication. His classmates' jokes about body parts from his world now seemed hilarious, but explaining it to Ninazu? Impossible.

Before Ares could answer, Callan walked into the gazebo and sat down, putting a sword on the table. His eyes immediately found Ares, suspicion lurking behind his casual demeanor.

"He knows," Ares said, gesturing towards Ninazu.

"Knows what?" Callan frowned.

"That I'm not Prince Ares," Ares replied, meeting Callan's gaze. "I told him everything."

Callan's eyes flickered with anger. "You've told him everything? Why?"

"Because it's better than lying," Ares responded coolly. "I'd rather know the truth now than have it blow up later."

Callan's fists clenched. "You don't just trust anyone with a secret like that."

Ninazu, calm as ever, sipped his drink. "Why are you so concerned, Callan? Shouldn't you trust your friend?"

Callan's expression darkened. "You don't know him like I do."

"Maybe not, but I've been around long enough to see your intentions," Ninazu countered. "Before you learned his secret, you didn't even like Prince Ares."

"What does it matter to you?" Callan shot back, his voice rising.

"You're both acting like children," Ares spoke, angry. "Weren't you two friends before?"

Ninazu leaned back, arms crossed. "We were never 'friends.' I'm just doing my job."

"Right," Callan added. "A question and an answer. That's all it's ever been."

Ares sighed, raising his hands. "For the love of—just stop. You're both unbearable."

Before anyone could respond, Callan broke the tension by shifting the conversation. "I've seen the schedule for tomorrow's competition."

Ares perked, grateful for the change in topic. "And?"

"Shooting, mainly. There will be a hunt," Callan explained.

"A hunt? With real animals?" Ares asked, his stomach sinking.

"No," Callan said flatly. "You'll be hunting each other—with arrows."

Ares's eyes widened. "Isn't that... dangerous?"

Ninazu shrugged. "That's the point. You either dodge or get hit."

Ares tried to process it all. "It's like airsoft, I guess," he mumbled.

"Airsoft?" Both Ninazu and Callan looked puzzled.

"Never mind. It's just... I'm going to have to be careful, aren't I?"

"Very," Callan said. "Especially since you'll be up against Captain Wezn and me."

Ares felt a pit form in his stomach. "Great."

"Just stay alert," Ninazu added. "You could get seriously injured."

Ares gave a weak laugh. "Not sure if you're trying to encourage or terrify me."

Ninazu smirked. "Depends on how you take it."

Before Ares could reply, Ninazu stood and gathered his things. "I'm leaving," he said, throwing a small paper bag towards Ares. "Drink this before the tournament. It'll keep you from tiring too quickly."

Ares caught the bag and frowned. "What is it?"

"A tonic," Ninazu explained. "Just mix it with water."

Without another word, Ninazu exited the pavilion. Alora and Samiya entered, noticing the paper bag but saying nothing.

"That healer is stingy," Callan muttered. "Only gives you powder."

Ares shrugged. "I'll take what I can get."

As the women cleared the table, Ares turned to Callan. "He knows the truth," Ares whispered. "Do you think it's going to be a problem?"

Callan stared ahead, his voice quiet but firm. "I hope not. But we'll have to be careful, from now on."

Ares nodded, a sense of unease creeping over him. Tomorrow, the competition will begin. But the real battle had already started.