The Girl Who Fell From the Heavens

The Tournament

Yula and Jesper were eating breakfast in the king's Great Hall.

"Hey, Yula?" Jesper said.

Yula turned to regard Jesper.

"Are there any other demigods?"

Yula nodded.

"I think so," she said, "but Mother told me they were bad people and to stay away from them."

"Oh, that must make you feel lonely, huh?"

"No. I have you and Jiro."

"What about Princess Tina and Prince Kira?"

"They're okay too, but their hearts don't sound as good."

The sides of Jesper's mouth curled upwards. Yula gave him a kiss and returned to eating.

"Well, aren't you too close?" Jiro commented.

"Yes," said Yula.

"Nothing wrong with that. I wish nothing but the best for you."

Later that day, Yula and Jesper went to see the site where Yula's castle would be built. It was a large clearing in a dense forest. It smelled like home.

"We were thinking we'd clear out some of the forest," said the lead architect.

Yula shook her head.

"Keep as much of it as you can," she said.

"Yes, Your Grace."

Then, Yula and Jesper returned to Igiri. They went back to the castle and took a bath.

"Jesper, I have something to tell you," said Yula. "It's a secret.

Jesper looked at her, eyes wide.

"What is it?" he asked.

"It's that, well, I didn't fall from Heaven. I was pushed. By my father. I was supposed to be born with the body of a god and the will of a human. Instead, both are midway. So, my father cast me out to Earth. He told me not to involve myself with the gods, which is why I couldn't enter the Terragium. I should have told you earlier."

Jesper's mouth curled upwards and he patted Yula on the head.

"That doesn't change how I feel about you at all," he said. "I love you, Yula."

"I don't know if I love you. I don't know what that kind of love feels like," she said. "But, I think I love you too."

Jesper gave Yula a kiss she eagerly returned. Then he scratched behind one of her ears the way she liked. After that, they finished bathing. Then, they were summoned by the king.

"We would like to hold a tournament and a feast in your honor," said the king.

Yula tilted her head and blinked.

"Why?" she asked.

"To honor you. It shows that our swords belong to you. And our finest food."

"Oh, okay," said Yula.

The next few days were spent setting up the tournament and feast, which were to take place just outside the castle walls. The tournament consisted of a jousting competition and a melee. Several knights participated in both. Supposedly, these knights came from across the kingdom of Igirium to take part in the tournament. The jousting was actually rather boring to watch. Men on horses simply charged at each other on horses and tried to knock each other down with lances that shattered on impact. Jiro won that competition.

Then, there was the melee. It was actually rather fun to watch. People from all over the kingdom attacking each other with blunted weapons. It was chaotic and exciting, but a little noisy for Yula's tastes. Jiro abstained from the melee, claiming it wouldn't be fair of him to enter. So, some knight Yula didn't know won. Sir Kell Lora.

"Do you know who he is?" Yula asked Jesper.

"No," said Jesper, shaking his head.

"He's a new knight," said Jiro. "Not very well known."

Yula nodded in acknowledgement.

After that, they had the feast. The food was the best Yula had ever had on the surface. The atmosphere left something to be desired, though. It was too noisy and crowded. Yula was ready to get up and leave when a voice rang out.

"Attention, people of Igiri!" said the voice. "Deliver your demigoddess to us and no one will be harmed!"

Yula stood, undid her cloak, handed it to Jesper, and ran in the direction of the voice. In an instant, she was face to face with a man with pitch black skin, three mouths, and yellow eyes. All three mouths curled up.

"Perfect," he said.

Two identical men stepped out from the shadows, oblivious to the fact that Yula had already seen them.

"The sound of your hearts," said Yula, "is disgusting. I'll kill you all right now."

Yula bared her fangs and snarled.