Page 39 of Glass Hearts
“Oh, nothing, just like to think out loud sometimes.” I hate lying about my powers, especially to someone I now consider a friend. I will tell her, when the time is right.
“Gotchya! Well, today I have an important job for you to attend!”
“Oh?” I take a sip of my amazingly delicious coffee. She makes the best coffee, it is deadly how good it is.
“Today, the princes’ schedule includes battle training instead of any courting events. Want to attend it with me? They like to have the help on hand just in case they need a drink and whatnot.”
“Of course, the pampered princes need help at all times,” I snort. Bri elbows me as we leave.
“Hey now, they aren’t that bad. And anyhow, they never requested it. It was the council that voted and then ordered for them to be attended to at all times. It’s honestly the easiest job too; they never ask for anything,” she shrugs.
As we enter the castle arena, the first thing I notice is that each prince is shirtless, talking with an older bald man who is just as buff.
“That’s Master Bruce. He is from the Terra Isle and has known Sy since he was a babe. Master Bruce fought in the war of villains and was the leading commander of the enforcers. The old man canfight.” Bri informs me as we take a seat off to the side, in the bleachers.
The arena is a large sand-filled pit with stone seating all around. This part of the castle must have been here since the early era of Eldor. Villian battles are a thing of the past, but I don’t miss that lots of blood stained these grounds. I spot the court ladies on the other side of the bleachers with binoculars and fans. The Quadias are even here, and I know they are not fans of fighting. I am sure they are loving this view, though.
Jealousy eats me from the inside.As if I have the right to be jealous.
“Of course, just because the princes finally get a break from them, the ladies won’t leave them alone,” Bri notices my awareness of the court ladies.
“This may seem like a silly question, but why would the princes need to train if they have their legion of castle enforcers?”
“Everyone should train! Especially if you are a regular target for power,” Bridgette takes out her own set of mini binoculars. For some reason, a flare of jealousy spikes at my friend getting a set of binoculars to see the princes better. My feelings must have been visible on my face as she laughs.
“Ha! I knew it! You are just as obsessed with them as they are with you. As the wing woman on both sides, I would just like to mention that those fuckers out there are like annoying older brothers to me. These binoculars are so I can watch what Master Bruce says. I take what he teaches them and practice on my own time.”
“You can’t join them for training? I am sure they would let you.”
“Unfortunately, a large portion of the council is still quite misogynistic. Father has been trying to fight for more rights for us females. Yet to them, it is stillimproperfor a lady to be fighting. The princes had been teaching me quite a bit when we were younger, but now that they are older, more responsibilityhas been given to them. So that means less time to hang out with me and teach me.” Sadness sounds in her voice. She truly does love them.
The arena, including the whistling ladies, falls into silence as the princes begin to practice. The ground starts to shake as large boulders seem to emerge from the ground. Archer uses his wind, flying, to avoid the sharp edge of the protruding rock formation, aiming for him from Sylas. On the opposite side of the arena, Grayer is shooting balls of fire at Koi, who counteracts each ball of flame with a water ball of his own. Then, Grayer and Sylas team up against Koi and Archer. All elements battle together as I even lose sight of the princes among all the water, fire, rocks and wind.
They truly are magnificent.
“Man, do they ever show off on their warm-ups,” Bri mutters.
“This is a warm-up!?”
That’s when the ghouls come into the arena.
Ghouls have mainly been eradicated to the Obsidian Isle, where the villain prison remains. They are quite rare to find in Velora, especially with our large population of enforcers. My anxiety and worry pick up as I see the Princes unsheathe their swords and prepare for the battle. Well, all except Koi.
“Why doesn’t Koi have a sword!?” I panic, grabbing Bri’s forearm.
“He doesn’t want to kill, ever. He worries he will become like his father, who is known to be a ruthless bastard. His father tried to make Koi violent, even using Grayer to get him to kill. But that’s a story for them to tell you.” My stomach sours. I have heard many things about the water king being a brutal ruler.
My worries start to vanish as I truly see what the Princes are capable of. Archer and Sylas are brutal in their fighting; they are swift in working together to take down a horde of oncoming ghouls. They make their battle look like a dance. Grayer and Koitake on their horde, but instead of just using swords and fighting like Sylas and Archer, they are battling with their powers. Grayer uses his sword and firepower to kill each ghoul as Koi is at his back, sending a blast of water to take out the approaching ghouls about to get to Grayer before he is ready to kill them.
That’s when I see that Gray is looking at me.
My traitorous heart drops. “Fucking focus, you damn fool!” I yell, and Bri laughs.
“Girl, loosen your grip on my arm a bit! I need that arm.” I release her in a blush, forgetting I had held onto it.
Wearing a devilish smile, he winks as he continues his brutal take down of the remaining ghouls. When the last ghoul is defeated, he drops his sword and… blows a kiss my way. Koi notices and sends me a cute smile and wave.
Archer and Sylas also finish their set as the arena resets back to its original sand state. As if the ghouls and all their elements had never been there.
