-time skip 17 years-
Kasey POV
I felt the enemy breathing down my neck, forcing a shudder down my spine. With a swift move and a well placed blow to the temple, a crack thundered the mountain range.
"Ow! Could you not hit me so hard when we're training?!"
"Sorry Alex! I guess I just don't know my own strength..." I discarded the flimsy wooden sword and lent my hand to my training partner.
Without a word, Alex rolled his eyes but took the help anyway; he had always been the boastful type.
"Let's rest for a while, okay? One beating at a time," he chuckled, letting himself drop down onto a rock nearby the practice area.
"Oh come on! Do we have to rest after every round?! This is getting ridiculous Alex," I whined, pouting at Alex with the hope that he would change his mind.
"It's not my fault! They're the ones who-" Alex began, but was interrupted by the shout the senior Combat Trainer.
"All halt!" sir barked at the group of novice fighters, who all eagerly dropped their fights to face him.
"Good, good... Now! You all know how this works, I call out two names, and whoever is still alive at the end of their duel gets in to the Royal Guard!" he explained, as though we hadn't heard those exact lines on his last visit.
Every trainee stood silent, hoping that finally they would hear their own name called; that they could escape the dead end of the Quihry Mountains.
"Alexander Windele," sir shouted, and a confident smirk flushed my face; he would be free finally, I was sure of this much at least.
I looked to Alex, who looked back at me with desperation, as if waiting for me to confirm that he was ready. I gave him a short nod and he let out an inaudible squeak, hurrying to the rack of intricate weapons and pulling from it the largest broadsword there.
The Combat Trainer watched, scowling at the excitable boy as he took up a waiting stance on one side of the cleared field. Ready to fight, Alex steeled his expression, but was unable to keep a determined smirk from lighting his face.
"Now, Windele's opponent! Kasey Verity, step forth to face your opponent!" his voice echoed in my ears and my vision went white.
I had two choices, kill or be killed, an easy choice it seemed. But to kill someone who I had grown to know like a brother; how could I live with myself.
I stepped into the ring, picked from the line up of weapons and stood my ground. I barely noticed as the Combat Trainer yelled into the jeering crowd, "Three, two, one, begin!"
I had not cared to take notice, but it was apparent that Alex had, as he lunged forward at me with a heavy blow. I parried it but he was not discouraged, as he charged at me with another strike.
I was in utter shock. The blistering cold loneliness clung to me, clawing at my already broken heartstrings and snapping each thread one by one. Like a ton of bricks the realisation hit me that I could only trust myself.
The bitter sting of tears blurred my vision as I clashed steel again with my friend. "A-Alex.. Why?" I choked out, though I could barely hear myself over the other trainees' yelling.
"Because I could never win! And I hated you for that! While you received all the praise, no one cared about me! But I care, and I will kill you! Even if you take me down with you!" he swung to kill; his broad sword aimed at my neck and I struggled to keep the metal from tearing into my throat.
In one swift move, I swung myself away from him, and with little control he blindly staggered toward me again, arms above his head. Dashing out of the way a second before it was too late, the heavy blade sunk into the soft soil.
I looked at him sadly, my only ever friend struggling to retrieve his sword in a maddening rage. "Goodbye Alex," I felt the tears I had bitten back slip away from my eyes as I struck.
"And the winner is Kasey Verity!" the voice sounded distant, as if someone else had heard it and I was merely listening in. The adrenaline that had kept me sane as I fought slowly drained out of my limbs and I fell numb.
"Welcome of the Royal Guard," I felt someone clap me on the back, and looked up to see Mr Undiea's grimy smile.
