Two Princesses, One Throne

Chapter 11

“Damien?” Amara called as they traveled to the nearest town to sell the boar’s meat.

“Are you not gonna ask me anything?” Amara asked referring to how she killed the boar earlier.

“Is there anything I need to ask you about?” Damien answered with a question.

“Maybe? You saw what I did. Didn’t you find that strange?” Damien sighed and turned to face Amara. Damien stood in front of her, carrying the boar on his shoulder.

“I’m not gonna show interest to something you don’t want to talk about.”

“Thank yo----“

“But………” Amara raised her eyebrows when Damien suddenly cut her off.

“…………if you really want me to ask you a question then,” Damien took a step closer to Amara leaning in forward to close their distance. Amara blinked her eyes feeling Damien’s presence close.

“Have you found your soulmate?” Amara was taken by surprise by Damien’s question. She wasn’t expecting that question and she’s not expecting it from Damien.

“I—“

“Wow. You guys already got one.” They both turned their heads when they heard someone’s voice which turns out to be Richmond’s.

“It seems that you’ve finally found your partner Damien.” Rosella commented as she got near them.

“Partner?” Amara asked.

“Yeah, as in hunting partner. Most of the time Damien wanted to go alone and the rest of us would pair up. Sometimes Barbara would follow him around but she can’t keep up with him always.” Rosella answered. Amara looked at Damien only to be met by his gaze. He had a frown in his face as if asking her what’s wrong. Amara shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes at him.

“Anyway, we better get going before it gets dark. See you at the camp.” Richmond said waving them goodbye as they left.

“Later Amara.” Rosella shouted as they got farther away with her hand waving at them. Amara waved back and smiled.

Damien walked on ahead and Amara followed behind him. They walked in silence; no one said a word as they walk along the road. After asking such a question, Amara doesn’t know what to say to him. Is she going to answer it? or is she going to ignore it? These two options keep on playing in her mind as they walk until Damien finally breaks the silence.

“Are you alright?” Amara blinked her eyes and when she looked up she bumped into Damien’s chest causing her to stumble back. Damien caught her hand so she could maintain her balance.

“Thank you, Dami.” Damien squeezed her hand tight making Amara frown.

“I told you not to call me that. You’re not gonna like what I’m gonna do to you if you call me that again.” Damien had an evil smirk on his face as he stared at Amara making her step back.

“You don’t scare me Mister but I take your threats seriously.” Amara walked passed Damien and that’s when he noticed the mark on Amara’s shoulder spreading to her chest. Without Amara explaining, Damien figured that the soul or the life force from that boar was the reason why her tattoo is spreading.

~~~~~

Damien and Amara finally reached their stop. They entered a small pub and sold the boar’s meat for a very reasonable price. After selling the meat, Amara and Damien decided to hunt again or that’s what Amara thought.

“Why do we stop?” asked Amara.

“Training. Take your weapon and fight me.” Amara was surprised by Damien’s sudden training but she still held her hand out to create a sword with her ice-based magic.

“Make sure that doesn’t break, princess.” Damien commented.

“Oh, it won’t.” Amara answered and right then Damien started attacking her. Just by the looks of him, Amara knows that Damien is not holding back.

Amara doubled her concentration and recalled all the training she had back at the castle. Damien and Amara sparred using their swords with Damien having an advantage.

Amara noticed Damien getting faster and faster as time passes by and she’s trying her best to keep up with his speed. They continued to exchange swords until Amara’s sword cracked. Damien took this opportunity to completely cut the sword in half but Amara fixed the crack and made a couple of backflips to dodge Damien’s attack.

Amara was panting as she waited for Damien to move but Damien put his sword down. “That’s enough sword for today.”

Amara let out a long sigh making her sword disappear but then Damien gave her a surprise attack, almost punching her face if she wasn’t quick enough to dodge.

“I thought we’re done.” Amara asked her head forming into a frown.

“With the swords, yes, but I didn’t say anything about physical combat which is one of your weakest.” Amara gritted her teeth not liking how Damien underestimated her.

Amara got into combat position and was the first to attack Damien. She threw him a punch followed by a kick from her right leg which almost caught Damien off guard.

“Nice but still weak princess.” Amara threw him another punch but Damien caught her fist pulling her towards him and spinning her around with her right arm locked behind her.

Amara tried to elbow him but Damien caught her elbow. “If I am carrying a knife or a dagger, you’d be dead in a heartbeat princess.” Damien whispered to her ear.

Damien pushed her away causing Amara to stumble. “Technique and skill are important, princess, but you have to make sure your attacks are strong enough to inflict damage on your enemy.”

“You haven’t attacked me yet.” Amara pointed out. Throughout the whole training, she noticed that Damien was just dodging and stopping her attacks. He’s not fighting her with the intention to actually hurt her.

“I thought you’re not going easy on me but I was wrong. I want you to hit me like I am your enemy.” Damien didn’t say anything; he just stared at her until finally, he said, “Alright, as you wish princess.”

Amara was about to say thank you but Damien punched her without warning. Amara fell on the ground and she felt pain on her cheek, although she knows Damien did not use his full force because if he did, her jaw will be broken.

Amara stood from the ground and went for a counterattack but Damien dodges effortlessly. Amara thought Damien was already going fast but she’s wrong; he got faster than he was before. She saw a punch coming from Damien’s left arm so she leaned back to dodge the punch but she did not see the kick coming.

The whole afternoon, Damien and Amara had physical combat with Amara getting all the beating. Amara’s currently sitting under the tree with her back rested on the trunk. Her face is filled with bruises and her body aches all over.

Sighing, Damien walked over to her and said, “I’m sorry. I should’ve held back more.”

Amara chuckled as she answered, “I would’ve beaten you up if held back and you can’t call it a real training without a little pain.”

Damien took her hand and said, “Ice.”

“Huh?”

“Give me some ice.” Blinking her eyes Amara created a small block of ice despite of her confusion. Damien took the ice wrapping it with a cloth and gently placing it on Amara’s bruise.

“What are you doing?” Amara winced feeling the pain from her bruises.

“It’s the least I could do after beating you up.” Damien answered with almost too much confidence making Amara roll her eyes.

“Just this once; next time I will be the one treating you after beating YOU up.” Amara remarked which caused Damien to smile.

“I’ll look forward to it.”