“1, 2, 3…25…45…50 swings.” Jacob counted as his hands grew weak and the wooden sword clattered to the ground.
“One more.” Jacob muttere as he tried to pick up his wooden sword.
“Just one more” Jacob said as he prepared to swing again but a scoff behind him drew his attention.
“Stop it already.” a boy with red hair, Eric, said as he kicked a wooden barrel.
“Everyone here knows that you don’t have any talent.” Eric said with a sneer and a boy with gray hair, Milo, rushed to stop him.
“Eric, you can’t say that” Milo said as he rushed to stop Eric.
“Why can’t I?” Eric said as he pushed Milo away.
“Everyone knows that his father has already abandoned him, what is there to fear?” Eric asked with a mocking laugh but Jacob paid them no mind as he picked up his wooden sword and went back to swinging.
“Swinging as much as you can won’t change anything!” Eric yelled as he laughed.
“It definitely won’t help you manifest holy powers and it certainly won’t grant you talent with a sword.” Eric wheezed as he left the ring.
Present “What are you doing?!” Jacob yelled as he tried to free his hand from Princess Evelyn’s grasp but Genevieve didn’t budge.
“Is this how weak I have become?” Jacob thought depreciatingly as he tried to pull his hand away.
“Am I so weak that I can’t even escape the grasp of a girl that I am older than by two years.” Jacob thought as he laughed silently at his own uselessness.
Dragging Jacob’s palm above Myrah’s mouth, Genevieve forced Myrah’s mouth open and once Jacob’s blood fell into Myrah’s mouth, Myrah’s eyes snapped open.
“What?” Jacob and Myrah said at the same time as the bruises and scrapes on Myrah’s skin healed until they were thin scars.
Not caring that Jacob was there, Genevieve carefully felt Myrah’s side and when Myrah didn’t scream in pain, Genevieve let out a sigh of relief.
“What just happened?” Myrah and Jacob asked in fear.
“Did she?” Jacob asked at the same time Myrah asked “Did I?” as she raised her hands upwards.
“I thought, I thought I was dead.” Myrah said in confusion and Jacob looked at her strangely.
“Wasn’t she passed out from exhaustion?” Jacob thought as he looked at his palm that mended itself without his knowledge.
“I can’t explain everything right now but know this,” Genevieve said as she turned to stare at Jacob.
“If you tell your father what you did just now, you won’t live to see ten years of age.” Genevieve stated plainly.
“My princess!” Myrah said with a gasp as she grabbed Genevieve by her shoulders.
“You can’t threaten someone you just met.” Myrah admonished Genevieve before repeatedly apologizing to Jacob on Genevieve’s behalf.
“I don’t mean to threaten you, I simply meant to warn you.” Genevieve said as she stared Jacob in the eyes.
“Your father is a very greedy man.” Genevieve said calmly but before Jacob could question her, rapid footsteps suddenly headed their way and Genevieve burst into tears as she hid in Myrah’s arms.
“My son found the princess!” The High Priest yelled as he came into view with the Queen and the Queen’s maids behind him.
“Thank you very much for finding her, Jacob.” The Queen said to Jacob before looking at the condition of Myrah and Princess Evelyn and gasping in shock.
“You must have gone through so much.” The Queen said as she knelt down to wipe Princess Evelyn’s eyes.
“And thank you so much for risking your life to save my daughter.” The Queen said sweetly but her eyes kept Myrah in place.
“How did you manage to rescue her?” The Queen asked kindly but the glint in her eyes were dangerous.
“I bumped into the palace guards at the North West region of the castle during my search for Princess Evelyn and followed after them stubbornly even after I was told to go back.” Myrah said guiltily.
“In the midst of our searching we were suddenly ambushed by people who covered their faces with thick black cloaks and in the midst of that madness, I managed to rescue Princess Evelyn with a brave palace knight who tragically lost his life.” Myrah said with tears in her eyes as she conveniently omitted the fact that she had ambushed the palace knights with her power and killed the one who saw her face.
“Your highness, I know you would like to get to the bottom of this but this isn’t the time.” The High Priest said slyly.
“I, Jacob and the holy knights will stay in the castle until we get to the bottom of this so you have nothing to worry about.” The High Priest declared with a manipulative smile that the Queen returned and as the both of them made arrangements, Genevieve locked eyes with Jacob’s.
“What did I tell you.” Genevieve whispered in Jacob’s mind as she was ushered away by the Queen’s maids.
Moments later “Your highness, the assailants managed to get into the vault.” Bella, the Queen’s right hand woman reported and the Queen sucked in a huge gust of air.
“What went missing?” The Queen asked calmly as she simmered in rage.
“Countless magic tools, two whisper peaches and two books on the ancients.” Bella said slowly and the Queen punched through her desk drawer.
“Identify the magic tools that were stolen and send a message to them for me.” The Queen said and Bella nodded quickly as she waited to hear the message.
“Someone, is on to us.”