The Vengeful Princess

Chapter 4: The Forsaken

4 Years Ago

"Again!" Irelia kicked my arm out from under me as I attempted to get up, sending me face first into the mud. Every part of my body screamed in pain. I was covered in mud, sweat and my own blood from head to toe. I had never felt more filthy. Over the past few days, I had been beaten daily, forced to sleep on a hard wooden bed, do not only my own, but also other's laundry, eat the same meager food and portions every meal and wear the same combat clothes that were stained with my own sweat and blood every single day. 

"No, I can't do this anymore!" I cried as I pushed myself off the ground. "I quit." For once I was glad for the torrent of rain that poured down, hiding the tears of frustration and shame that flowed openly down my face. Celina, you have to avenge your people. Celina, you have to do this for everyone we've lost. Celina, you have to reclaim the throne. I was sick of everyone dictating what I had to do.

Irelia laughed mirthlessly as I stormed past her, before she dropped to her knees and forcefully swept the length of her arm across the back of my knees, bringing me down onto the ground again. "You are not a Princess anymore, you are one of the Forsaken! If you can still stand, you can continue. Again!"

A strangled cry of pain slipped out of my lips as I fell to my knees. I felt my face crumple as tears continued to trickle out. I stayed kneeling on the ground, feeling my legs slowly sinking into the mud. I refused to get back up. It was my one small act of defiance. 

Irelia's black combat boots made their way into my line of sight. She bent down until she was at eye level with me and grabbed my chin as she forced me to look into her eyes. "Useless. You're utterly useless. Not only that, but you're also a coward. You bring shame to the Northern Aztalon nation. Everyone gave up their lives for you and this is how you repay them?" She walked away, disgusted. 

I gritted my teeth as I stared at the back of her retreating figure, anger slowly rejuvenating my body and numbing my pain. Filled with adrenaline, I rush after her, slamming the full weight of my body into her side. I watched as she fell into a forward roll before agilely landing on her feet, a satisfied grin forming on her face. "That's what I want to see! That anger you feel right now? Use it to your advantage." She gestured for me to attack. Twisting my upper body, I swung my leg up into her side. She grabbed my leg with both hands and pulled me forwards, sending me off balance and onto the ground once again. 

"Get up!" She spat, "You're now an orphan, while King Francis is in your home, throwing parties and feasting? Does that not anger you?" I glared up at her, channeling my hate into a powerful sweep of my leg, using the momentum to propel myself up. Every time I attacked, she dodged and used it to her advantage, landing blow after blow with counterattacks. She was one step ahead of me every single time, anticipating my every strike before I had even executed it. 

"Your reflexes aren't fast enough and you still need to learn to rely on all your senses, not just your sight. Each move should be an instinct of the body, not a thought of the mind." She tossed a towel at me. "We will continue your training tomorrow." 

My muscles spasmed as I lowered myself into the ice bath. I was so exhausted that I could barely feel the stinging cold against my skin. My hands wandered into my hair, feeling along the thin scar that ran across the back of my head. My mind was woozy from fatigue and clouded from the painkillers I had downed earlier, but right then and there, shivering in the icy bath, half naked and covered in cuts and bruises, only one thing was clear to me. King Francis took everything from me. No matter how long it takes, no matter how difficult it is, I would take everything from him. I will have my revenge.