Helix

Chapter 13 - Ruby

The weeks seemed to settle in like dust that finally started to gather on a table. As the cool, autumn winds started to blow in and the leaves dyed into fiery colors, days at Rephia blended into each other. Under Toph's watch, Hady and I continued to practice the rapier, and we quickly climbed to the top of our rapier class. We mastered the three basic principles of rapiers, and had started on practical application. I still couldn't use a Skill though, and despite Hady's success at using Light, I was still struggling. Toph tried to help, but I knew that Skills were greatly dependent on the user and not the teacher.

"Your Highness, you have been summoned to the court," my butler informed me one day. I was walking back to my dorm with Hady, exhausted after a long day of rapier training, and I quickly told her to go ahead. My butler's words took me by surprise; I spent so much time here with little talk back home that it felt like our connection had faded.

"When is it?" I tried to sound apathetic, but I had a feeling my voice that raised an octave higher gave away the quickening beating of my heart. I wasn't sure how to face father – tell him that I've disobeyed his wishes and didn't get along well with Maverick? Confess that I don't want to marry him? That was not the Ruby he sent to Rephia.

The butler extracted a white envelope from the folds of his big sleeves and handed it to me. It was crisp white without a speck of dust and had a deep red royal crest stamped over the seal. Exactly how the royal family appeared to the public: immaculate, orderly, and of mythical status. "This Sunday, Your Highness. Everything is written in the letter."

Numbly, I nodded and thanked him for relaying word. "Please tell Father I look forward to our meeting," I said politely.

It was Thursday, so I had three more days to think about how I would meet Father. I tried asking Toph at dinner, but his suggestions were as stupid as they were naive.

"Meet him?" he repeated incredulously. "If you don't want to see him, just stay here with me! I'll beat anyone who dares to take you away." He said it so matter-of-factly that I couldn't tell for sure if he was joking.

I then tried to ask Maverick, who had became increasingly easier to work with ever since his fight with Toph. He just pressed his hands on my shoulders and, looking deep into my eyes with sincerity, suggested, "I hope to see you alive after this, Elaena." Rolling my eyes, I shook him off.

Hady was the last person I saw that day. I still hadn't told her my identity as a princess yet, so I omitted the royalty part. Hady clenched her hands for a moment, then settled into a calm yet puzzled expression. "Scared? Why should you be scared of your own father?"

At the end of the day, no one was really of help. As Fire encouraged me on Saturday night, I really just "had to do it".

Shaking my head, I went back to eating my food and awaited the dreaded Sunday morning.

I must've had a scowl on my face, because Yusha punched my arm playfully. "Why so grim?" she said. "Think about something else to distract yourself."

"Oh, I know!" Fire interrupted. "Have you guys heard of the annual Rephia Tournament coming up?" As if remembering something, she hastily shook the contents of her satchel on the table and picked out a crumpled piece of paper. Smoothing it out, she proudly displayed it to all of us.

WHITE PHANTOM TOURNAMENT –

TIME: NEXT WEEK MONDAY

EVENTS: TO BE REVEALED

PRIZE: TO BE REVEALED

The flyer itself was plain and colorless, with just a few bold words written over that disclosed nothing specific. Yet, something about it was domineering and commanded interest.