AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The book was believed to hold records dating back to before the Advenians even came to Earth, going as far back as our time on Allium. I would have given anything to be able to read it, read about all the powers that had and have existed. It wasn’t uncommon for Advenians to want to keep their abilities a secret. Most bragged about whatever ranking they possessed, but if someone had a special ability, the less known about it, the fewer weaknesses could exist. Most Advenians kept small parts of their abilities to themselves.
“I wonder if he’s going to make it. That looked really bad. He lost so much blood,” Vallie whispered. I looked over at her and she now traded Miles’ hand for the table’s edge.
“Of course he will,” Yuri exclaimed. “After all, he is our Prince now, and will be King in half a year with Lunder’s training. He has to make it. Plus, they probably have tons of Luxian healers here on work visas that will tend to him.”
I gave Vallie a half-smile to try to reassure her, but Sie had taken a beating. I was surprised he’d been able to continue using his ability while being so injured. My mind still whirled, trying to comprehend why he hadn’t used compulsion from the beginning of the fight and what else he might be hiding about his powers.
SIX
SCOTLIND
Vallie rushedto find me after our classes ended the following day. There had been constant talk about what had happened after the tournament with Sie—or the Prince now.
During our morning lecture, our professor announced that we had a mandatory meeting in the auditorium at the end of the day. Everyone was gossiping about what it meant and if he had recovered.
As we filed into the auditorium, I looked around and realized that only the year twelve students that were graduating filled the seats, not the entire school. Chairs were grounded into the floor, all facing a raised platform. The room itself had no windows. It was one of the few rooms that had electricity in it. An overhead light hummed above us as Vallie and I claimed two empty seats near the back.
There was a buzz flying around as all the students were chatting amongst themselves until our Principal broke the noise by clearing his throat.
“I know you are all probably wondering why we brought you here today, but rest assured, this is an exciting time. As you all know, Sie Axel Noren won the King’s Tournament yesterday, making him the Prince of Tennebris. After his coronation this winter, he will be our King over the next ten years. He is doing well and recovering just fine, but that’s not why you are here today. As the tradition stands, King Lunder will mentor Prince Noren over the next six months, teaching him everything he needs to know about ruling our great Kingdom. As is custom, we cannot have a King without a Queen. Many of you are aware that the Prince is not yet married and has claimed no significant other he wishes to pursue.”
A small hum of excited murmurs filled the auditorium.
“So it’s true. He lived and will really be the King.”
“He’s so scary.”
“I hope I get to be his wife.”
“When he was fighting…”
“Silence!” Principal Myers shouted as everyone stopped talking. “The High Council has decided to consider any female from the ages of eighteen to fifty.” Principal Myers paused for a moment, surveying the room.
With an Advenians’ average lifespan lasting well into the thousands, it wasn’t uncommon for a marriage age gap. Most Advenians’ aging drastically slowed sometime in their mid twenties.
Principal Myers continued, “That is why you are all here. Every female graduating this year over the age of eighteen will be included as a potential suitress. This goes for all of the six high schools in our Kingdom, not just LakeWood. That being said, there is potential, however slim, that essentially any of you sitting in this very room could be selected. Any of you could potentially be the future Queen of Tennebris. After your examinations in two days and your Trials and rankings the third day, we will be sending your scores to the High Council for review, as well as every other female who has graduated within the past thirty-two years.
“There will be a banquet held the day after your Trials in Addler once the High Council has reviewed everyone’s files. Every female from the six villages who is being considered is required to attend. Professor Hale will also be selecting five guard students to attend as a training exercise. At the banquet, the High Council will announce who will be the future Queen. Since your graduation was supposed to be held that day, it will be pushed back to the following day. Everyone will leave their dorms by the sixth night following graduation.”
Vallie and I exchanged glances at each other as another uproar of screams and cheers rang across the auditorium. Every single female practically jumped out of their seats with excitement and exhilaration. I thought I heard a few groans under the cheers from the males in our class.
I didn’t hear anything our Principal said after that as he rambled on about the logistics of how the banquet would proceed and how it would affect our Trials and graduation weekend.
My mouth felt dry as I momentarily freaked out about what would happen if I was selected. I wouldn’t be able to hide that I was Luxian from a husband. I thought that trying out for the guard meant I was safe, that I wouldn’t have to take a spouse. A guard wasn’t encouraged to get married. That didn’t stop them from sleeping around, but they never actually committed to anyone.
Of course, I wasn’t a guard yet. I wouldn’t know until after my Trials, and they could still fail me. But still, why would I even be considered in this? Wasn’t just trying out for the guard enough to show devotion toward the profession, enough to not have to be considered for marriage? It must be a mistake.
I took an uneven breath, then another and another, until I started to calm down. The likelihood of me being selected was slim, practically non-existent. There were six villages among the Tennebris Kingdom, and of that, they included every female who wasn’t yet married and had graduated within the past thirty-two years.
I was already a laughing stock at my school for being a female with no abilities and trying out for the guard. A nix would never be Queen. The High Council would make its decision after reviewing everyone’s rankings and Trials. I let out a steadying breath. Once they saw my file and realized I was a rank zero, they would pass right over me.
I tried not to dwell on the fact that the chances of being selected for the guard were just as slim. There had never been a rank zero guard before. There were rarely even high-ranked females that were guards.
Principal Myers said our guard teacher would be picking his top five students to attend the banquet. Maybe I could convince Professor Hale to select me for that. It would look good in my folder and be an opportunity for me to prove my dedication, devotion, and determination to be a guard. Plus, on the bright side, this banquet would give me an extra day with my best friend.
The next day,only one class sat between me and my guard training. I just had to get through my Human Relations lecture, which was dragging on more slowly than usual. I planned to talk to my guard professor about the banquet after this class. I practiced what I would ask Professor Hale over and over in my head until it became second nature. I was so focused on reciting my thought-out speech that I didn’t realize I was being asked a question. Everyone in the class turned to look at me.
“I’m sorry, Professor, could you please repeat your question?” I asked softly, shifting uncomfortably in my seat from all the gawking eyes on me.
