"Sorry, please excuse me," I said quickly, my voice betraying a hint of embarrassment. "Where is the soldiers' accommodation? I just came in here today."
He smiled softly, his lips curving in a way that suggested he wasn't bothered by the collision at all. He didn't look like a soldier—not in the way they all did, stiff and polished—but I couldn't place what he was.
A high-ranking official, perhaps? His voice, when he spoke, was smooth and velvety, like something straight out of a dream.
"It's over there," he said, his gaze lingering on mine for a second longer than necessary. He gestured toward a place just behind me. "Then turn right. You can't miss it."
"Okay, thank you," I replied.
I turned away, a strange feeling lingering long after I'd walked off in the direction he'd pointed me toward.
I got to the accommodation soon enough. It was a tiny bed, barely enough room to stretch out fully, but I could manage. After all, it was only temporary. I wasn't here to lounge around in comfort—I was here to train, to prove myself.
I set my things down, organizing them as best as I could. The room was bare, nothing more than the bed, a small wooden chest, and a few hooks on the wall for hanging clothes. It wasn't much, but it was mine for now.
I bent down to put my clothes under the bed, trying to make the space feel a little more like home. As I did, I heard the door open behind me. I turned to see the woman from earlier—the one I had sparred with in training—entering the room. Her eyes immediately found mine, and there was no mistaking the disdain in her expression.
"You won't be so lucky tomorrow, newbie," she sneered, her voice dripping with poison.
It was clear she had some sort of beef with me. Maybe she was still upset about the fight, maybe she didn't like the attention I'd gotten from the others, or maybe it was something else entirely. Either way, I wasn't about to engage with her.
I didn't respond. There was no point in adding fuel to the fire. I had just arrived, and I didn't want to stir up trouble.
The next day was a test of endurance.
The instructor stood before us with a wooden box. "One by one," he said. "You'll place your hand inside. The creature inside will bite. You'll endure it. Antidote will be provided after. If you pass out before the time runs out, you fail."
My throat went dry. I wasn't scared—well, maybe a little—but I had endured worse. I had endured heartbreak, humiliation, betrayal. What was physical pain compared to that?
Still, my heart freaked as the box was brought to me. I inhaled deeply and put my hand inside.
The sting was instant, I could feel the creature chewing through my skin.
I grit my teeth so hard I thought they might crack. The pain was unbearable, worse than anything I'd felt before. A sweat bead formed on my forehead, my fingers trembling, but I didn't cry out.
I glanced sideways and I saw Luke. His lips were tight, his forehead slightly furrowed, but he wasn't making a sound.
Then I heard a scream from the other side. "Fuck!"
I didn't need to look to know who it was. Her voice was unmistakable. It was from the woman that seemed to dislike me so much. Annie.
I smirked. Just a little. Somehow, that made the pain feel... bearable.
We remained like that for ten more minutes. Ten long, excruciating minutes of white-hot agony. Then, finally, we were told to remove our hands.
I pulled mine out. It was bloody, swollen, marked with angry red punctures. My fingers were shaking, but I didn't show the pain on my face. I tore a strip of cloth from my sleeve and quietly wiped the blood away.
John's eyes met mine. He said nothing, but he looked at me a little longer than necessary. It was obvious that he was impressed.
After that, we started sparring with each other again. I honestly don't know how I got through those five days, but somehow—I did. Every part of my body ached every single night. My muscles screamed each night, and yet, I kept pushing.
Luke and I got closer, too. He always found a way to sit beside me during breaks or help me adjust my grip during training. There was a warmth in him I hadn't expected to find here.
I soon found myself wishing we'd be assigned to the same place as the other.
But fate had other plans.
"You'll guard Prince Jesse's room," Instructor John said to me.
I felt a bit disappointed. I blinked at him. "Okay, sir," I said, trying to sound neutral, but deep down I was quite surprised as to who I was guarding. The prince?
I wondered how I ended up working for the prince out of everyone. I didn't ask too many questions—I'd learned quickly that curiosity didn't always serve you well here
John escorted me to my quarters and briefed me on my tasks, which seemed fairly straightforward. My primary duty was to accompany the prince and protect him whenever he ventured out. Given that the prince rarely left the palace, I realized I'd have plenty of free time.
After John left me to settle in, I was still arranging the room when I heard a knock on the door. Assuming it was John, I went to answer it quickly but was stunned when I saw the man I bumped into a few days ago instead. He was dressed in royal clothes this time around. I figured out quickly that he must be a prince.
The prince chuckled. "Aren't you going to welcome me in?"
I immediately bowed, regaining my composure. "Your Highness, I wouldn't dare."
"So, can I come in now? " He asked while already stepping inside.
"Yes, of course. What brings you here, Your Highness? " I asked, my voice shaking.