I looked at Minh, then at Althea, and then at the random guy who just barged in without knocking, which, firstly, was very rude.
"Princess Althea, I've been looking for you for hours," the guy said, looking at me and Minh, "Who are these people?"
Princess? Althea's a maid; why is he calling her a princess ?!... Oh, wait, I get it now.
Turned out, I was LIED to.
I looked at Althea. She looked more annoyed than surprised. I guess she knows this guy.
Althea sighed, "Eugene, I told you that I was spending time with some new friends. I did not tell you to come look for me."
"I am aware, Your Highness, but as your knight, I must make sure you're safe at all times."
"I'm not a child anymore; I can take care of myself perfectly fine," Althea protested, standing up.
This is a first - Althea being angry. Well not angry. Rather, mad to some degree. Lowkey, kinda hot. Wait, no, stop that. Stupid brain, don't make this weird!
"I understand, I truly apologize, princess. It was a fault on my part, but I still believe my concerns have value," the apparent knight reasoned.
But Althea didn't back down, "I understand your concerns, but I am fully capable of fending for myself."
"But-"
"Silence, return to your post immediately," Althea commanded.
The knight tried to say something else but just left quietly. I stared at Althea as she let out a hmph and sat back down, then went back to smiling like nothing'd just happened.
"So, where were we?" Althea asked.
"Stop right there," Minh interjected, "I know I just met you, but what the actual fuck was that?!"
"Oh, right. I suppose I should tell you the truth," Althea replied, taking a deep breath. She put the book she was holding down and stood up, prim and proper. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Althea Sofia Annferd, first princess of the Annferd Empire. A pleasure to make your acquaintance." Althea said, giving us a curtsy.
I sat there, shocked.
"Cool," Minh shrugged
I turn to him, "Cool?!"
"Yeah?" Minh said, leaning back in the chair.
"Are you serious right now?!"
"Yes."
"Don't fucking joke with me right now!" I screamed, shaking him by the shoulders.
"Calm down, you're overreacting."
"You're underreacting!" I frantically shook him harder until Althea placed her hand on my shoulder.
"I think that's enough, Aliya,"
"Right, right, sorry, Your Majesty," I spluttered, letting go of Minh.
He fell back onto the chair, shaking his head before smacking me upside the head.
"Ow," I smacked him back.
Before we could start fighting again, Althea sat in between us, glaring at us.
"Sorry, Your Highness" I muttered, fiddling with my hands while looking down. I heard another sigh come out of Althea's mouth before she pulled me closer to her.
"It's alright, and please just call me Althea."
"O-okay," I said awkwardly. I feel my face get hot as Althea lays her head on my shoulder, and feeling a certain asshole watching me.
After about an hour or two, I think, Seriously, why aren't there any clocks here? Oh, wait, never mind, there's one, and it's a grandfather clock. Just great. I'm starting to miss technology.
Me, Althea, and Minh turned the corridor which opened up into a courtyard - well not quite a courtyard; more like a training ground. There, we saw the knight from earlier. What was his name again, Steve, or something like that? Whatever his name was, he waved at us with a smile. Althea rolled her eyes, I guess she was still mad from earlier. I walked over to him.
Just as I was about to talk to him, someone decided to butt in.
"Phuong, what are you doing?" I turned around and saw Minh standing behind me.
"I'm having a conversation. Have a problem?"
"Kinda," he said, motioning to Althea, who didn't look very happy.
I messed up, didn't I? I walked over to her, "Hey... you good?"
"I'm fine."
"You sure, 'cause you look mad at me."
"I told you, I'm fine."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Really, really?"
"Really, really."
"Really, really, really?"
"Really, really, really," I watched as Althea's frown turned into a chuckle. Good, she looks better when she's smiling.
We made our way to Minh and the knight. They seemed to be getting along as far as Minh with people go.
"Wow, you have friends? This is new."
"And you taking responsibility for your actions? It's a miracle!"
"Hey, I take responsibility!"
"You mean blame your problems on me?"
"Because most of my problems are from you!"
"They're not, and you know it."
"I hate you with a passion."
"Love you too," he shot back.
"I hope you die."
"Uh, hello?" the knight interjected.
"What?!" We both yelled
"Jinx."
"Dang it," Minh muttered before going quiet. Mini celebration aside, Althea then came up behind me.
"Eugene," she called.
So that's his name? I was really banking on Steve.
Eugene knelt down on one knee with his right hand on his chest, "Greetings, Princess," he replied, making Althea sigh.
"Eugene, you know this, no formalities," she said. Eugene looked up at her.
This is awkward. I mean they got in a fight earlier.
Eugene lowered his head and stood up, "Very well, Princess."
"Didn't I say, no formalities?"
"I know," he teased, staring at me and Minh. Dude, can you quit staring at me? Much appreciated. Althea rolled her eyes and looked at me and Minh.
"I see that you three are acquainted," he started
"Not really, but sure," Minh commented. I elbowed him.
"Be polite, douchebag!" I Hmphed.
It's nice to tell Minh off once in a while. I should do this more often.
"Aliya, Minh, this is Eugene. He's my personal knight," Althea explained, motioning for Eugene to speak.
"It's an honor to meet the fable heroes of Asteria," Eugene said, bowing.
Fable heroes of what? Asteria? Is that the god that sent us here or something? I looked at Minh, and he shrugged. Well, he's no help.
"Thank you, the honor is mine," I replied. I have no idea what I'm doing. I stare at Althea. Althea, help me out here, please.
"As Princess Althea's knight, I am thankful that our princess will be well taken care of," Eugene thanked, and then Althea elbowed him in the arm.
"Eugene, I am not a child."
"Yes, yes, I am aware," he conceded, holding the arm that Althea hit.
She crossed her arms with a hmph. This is even more awkward than when it started.
"So, mind telling us why we're here?" Minh asked.
"Of course. As you know, you two are heroes. Although, I doubt you have any combat experience, judging from your mannerisms."
"I think that'd be obvious."
"Yes, very," Althea agreed.
Yeah, now that I think about it, we are built like twigs, aren't we? I smile. I already know what this means, and I love it. "So, you're going to train us?" I asked.
Althea smiled at me, "Yes, exactly."
Let's fucking go!
"So, when do we start? What kind of weapons do we get to use? Are we gonna have some overpowered teacher?"
To be honest, I kinda expected this to happen. We're in an isekai world, the training arc was bound to happen somehow.
"I can see you're enthusiasm, but I suggest taking a moment to calm down," Eugene added.
"'Kay," I responded, stepping a little closer to Minh.
He stepped away from me, rude, and asked, "So, how exactly are you going to train us?"
"Eugene will explain that part, I'll be in the study if you need me," Althea said, pushing Eugene forward before slipping away.
"Wait, Princess!" he called, but Althea was long gone.
I guess she got tired of us. Sorry Althea.
He sighed, "Very well," he turned to us and explained, "I'll be the one training you two. As a knight commander, it is my duty to ensure that our heroes will be a major asset to our ranks. In other words, not some children."
"Hey, we're not kids! We're fifteen years old, thank you very much."
"I'm twenty seconds older," Minh added.
Seriously Minh?!
"Shut up," I growled, elbowing him in the arm, and he hit me back. But Eugene pulled us away from each other and shook his head disapprovingly. "fifteen? Still young but, not that young to be this immature. Get your act together," Eugene chastised.
Is it just me or does he sound like Mẹ? I looked away from Minh. I didn't wanna see his ugly face anyway.
Eugene sighed, "You two are going to get along, and you're gonna like it. Now come with me, we'll be starting soon."
He picked us up by the collar and took us to what I think is the training grounds.
On the ground, he handed us two wooden swords before getting one for himself.
"We'll start with the basics," he said, standing straight in some type of sword stance.
I tried to copy him, but due to having the posture of a shrimp, it hurt to stand up straight. At least I tried. Unlike Minh! He just stood there like some idiot.
"Angelo, I implore you to take this seriously," Eugene reprimanded.
Minh rolled his eyes and actually did it properly.
"Very good, now we're going to do practice swings. Follow my movements," Eugene explained, swinging the wooden sword forward.
Looks pretty easy. I swung my sword, tripped, and fell flat on my face.
I could hear Minh laughing at me. I got to my feet and whacked his ankles, making him fall down.
"What the fuck?!" he shouted, whacking me back.
The fighting continued for a while until Eugene pulled us away from each other, "Fine. If you two are so eager on fighting each other, let's have a mock battle."
Me and Minh stood on opposite ends of the training grounds, wooden swords in hand. Eugene sat on one of the benches on the outskirts of the grounds.
"Whoever gets knocked down is the winner," Eugene announced, "Begin!"
Before I was ready, Minh ran towards me, swinging his sword. I managed to block it, staggering a few steps back, and then I swung my sword, hitting his arm. He yelped, holding his arm, then hitting my waist.
Ow, holy fuck! That hurts!
I tried to aim for his face but missed. But I did stab his chest though; I'll call that a win.
Minh staggered back, then went for my stomach. I dodged but tripped and fell. Before I crashed to the ground, I used my sword to stop my fall and threw a roundhouse kick to Minh's waist, knocking him down. I steadied myself and blankly stared at Minh.
I won... I won and with the most badass move ever!
I smiled triumphantly, "Take that jackass, I fucking won!"
As Minh rolled his eyes, he grabs my feet and pulls me down with him. I yelp as I hit the ground, laying next to him and after a few moments we started laughing, "You can't end on a loss, can you?"
"It's not my fault you decided to use your feet in a sword battle!"
"It wasn't against the rules!"
"Well, it should be!" Minh said, holding his stomach from laughing too hard.
Eugene got up from his bench and stood above us, "Seems you two had fun," he commented, helping us to our feet.
I brushed off the dirt on my clothes and Minh gt up after and fixing my hair.
"After observing your battle, I gained some insight into your skills. You two are quite talented," he stated.
He turned at me. "Aliya, you have good reflexes and a strong lower body, but your accuracy in your strikes needs work," he explained.
Then, moving on to Minh, "Angelo, you have good arm strength, and your accuracy isn't half bad, but you fail to have the reflexes to dodge or defend against attacks," he stated.
"Thanks, I guess?" he nod along.
I lean to Minh, "Do you know what he's talking about?"
"What makes you think I know?"
"I don't speak fitness- instructor."
"I don't either!"
"Ahem," Eugene interjected. We both stopped whispering and stared at him. "Anyway, you two, now that I've seen what you have to work on, we'll start training. No fighting, is that clear?" he asked, glaring at us.
"'Kay," we both nod
"Jinx."
"Damn it," I curse
SideStoryDated-11yrs
YardCleaning
"Phương, đừng nhảy lên lá nữa!" I shouted.
Mẹ told us that we had to rake the leaves before she got back from work. We would've been done sooner if it hadn't been for somebody jumping on the leaves and making a mess.
"Chúng ta sẽ dọn dẹp nó sau!"
"Ý bạn là tôi sẽ dọn dẹp nó!" I yelled, pulling her off the leaves and shoving a rake in her hands.
"Dọn dẹp ngay bây giờ!" I yelled.
She's so lazy, leaving me to do all the work! And you're gonna get dirty like that! She rolled her eyes, taking the rake, and started raking the leaves. I continue raking the leaves, raking them into a big pile. After a while, we finished cleaning the yard. We put away the rakes and went inside. There, Mẹ had come back home and brought home Pho to eat.