The sun rose over the twin kingdoms of Aerwyn and Dravara, painting the sky in golden hues that shimmered like victory itself. It was the first day of the annual Intra-Kingdom Sports Competition, a tradition older than the stone walls that marked the borders between the two lands. Every spring, the kingdoms laid down their arms and raised their banners—not for war, but for sport.
The fields of the neutral valley of Velanora buzzed with energy. Flags of crimson and silver representing Aerwyn flapped beside the midnight blue and gold of Dravara. Thousands gathered—nobles, villagers, and warriors alike—filling the valley with laughter, cheers, and the unmistakable crackle of anticipation.
This year, the stakes felt higher. The royal heirs, both turning that of age,fifteen were to compete for the first time.
Prince Kael of Aerwyn adjusted the leather straps on his archery gear, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon. Tall for his age, with wild pitch black hair and a spark of mischief in his crimson-red eyes, Kael was more interested in outwitting his opponents than outscoring them. The competition was a game, and games were meant to be enjoyed.
Across the valley, hidden beneath a sun-shaded pavilion, Princess Elira of Dravara watched the festivities unfold. She wore her silver curls braided with gold thread, her sky-blue eyes sharp with curiosity. Elira had trained for months in secret, determined to prove that a princess could be more than a figurehead. She wasn't just here to smile and wave.
When the two locked eyes for the first time—across the archery range, of all places—something changed. Neither of them could explain it, but the world seemed to hush around them for just a heartbeat.
The announcer's voice boomed across the valley, "Next round: Prince Kael of Aerwyn versus Princess Elira of Dravara!"
The crowd roared.
Kael grinned, nudging his friend beside him. "A princess in the competition? Finally, something interesting."
Elira stepped forward, bow in hand, unshaken. "Let's see if the prince can keep up," she said under her breath, her gaze never leaving his.
Their arrows flew—swift, precise, and deadly accurate.
Tie.
Another round.
Still a tie.
By the end of the third match, the crowd was breathless, and so were they. Neither won, but neither had lost. It was as if fate itself had decided they were equals.
Later that evening, while the stars danced over campfires and laughter echoed across the valley, Kael found Elira by the edge of the lake. She was skipping stones—elegantly, effortlessly.
"You nearly had me," he said, approaching quietly.
She didn't turn to look at him, but a small smile tugged at her lips. "I was about to say the same."
And just like that, beneath a sky filled with stars and the thrill of the event still in air the Day 1 of the competition came to an end.