Two Princesses, One Throne

Chapter 12

“What the hell happened to you Amara?” Rosella exclaimed as she examined Amara’s state.

“I was just training with Damien.” Amara answered casually as if it was nothing but Rosella almost had tears in her eyes as she looks at Amara’s bruises. Turning her head to Damien’s direction, Rosella glared at him and said, “How could you do this to her?!!!!”

“We’re training. It’s inevitable.” Damien answered without a trace of remorse.

“You should’ve been gentler.” Rosella argued.

“I-It’s okay Rosella. I like it that way.” Rosella looked at Amara like she’s gone insane.

“Are you a masochist Amara? No!!! You got to stop that. Damien is a known sadist, which makes you the perfect prey for hi----“

“Rosella, if Damien was taking Amara seriously, Amara would’ve died.” Richmond commented cutting Rosella off.

“Stop making a fuss about that woman Rosella. She’s one of them so she can cure herself but she intended not to, just to get everyone’s sympathy.” Barbara remarked silencing the group.

“Barbara……”

“What? It’s true. You really need to stop defending her Wilson; you’re not appreciated.” Barbara rebutted. The group ate in silence as they circle around the campfire.

After eating, Amara stood and went into the tent, removing her necklace and putting it safely into her bag. Amara walked away from the group without anyone knowing. Amara winced every time her body aches as she walked. 

“That woman is a headache.” Amara commented referring to Barbara.

“I thought you said you’re not gonna let her get to you?” Amara gasped when she heard a voice from behind.

“Can you stop doing that?” Amara exclaimed placing her palm on her chest where her heart is located.

Opening her hand, butterflies came out from Amara’s hand surrounding them and giving them light to the darkness of the night. “You can’t heal yourself.”

Sighing Amara answered, “Maybe.”

“It wasn’t a question.” Damien sat on the ground with his back resting on a trunk of a tree.

“Damien----“

“Shh.” Damien held his bow tight whilst Amara stood still her hands ready to use her magic in case of any attacks. A strong gust of wind passed by and it was followed by a faint laugh that Amara knew all too well.

“Hmmm. So this is where you’re hiding.” Amara turned her body around to face the woman behind her but she was surprised to see a black smoke that takes a figure of a woman.

“It’s disappointing that I can’t pinpoint your exact location; it seems like my power is yet to be complete. But rest assured that I will find you, sister, and when I do-----“ the black smoke dissipated the moment an arrow pass through it. Amara turned her head and saw Damien holding a bow.

Amara formed her hand into a tight fist her knuckles freezing as she stared at the disappearing smoke before her. As she was slowly consumed by anger, from Amara’s fist, the ice started to crawl its way up to her arm until she felt Damien’s hand holding her fist from behind.

“That’s enough.” Damien whispered and hearing Damien’s voice made Amara blink her eyes. Breathing in and out, Amara tried to calm herself down, with her eyes shut.

Opening her eyes Amara breathed, “I’m still weak Damien.”

“Then get stronger.” Amara’s eyes are filled with determination as she replied, “I will.”

They were in that position with Damien holding Amara’s hand from behind when Wilson found them. Wilson hid behind a tree for a brief moment then he decided to walk back to the campsite. Feeling someone else’s presence, Damien lets go of Amara’s hand.

“We should head back and.......”

Damien took something from his pocket and it turns out to be Amara's amulet. "You shouldn't remove this." Damien placed the amulet around Amara's neck and said, “Let’s go.”

Amara and Damien walked back to their campsite and saw everyone asleep. Damien sat on the ground with his bow and arrows to the side, resting his back on a tree and hugging his sword.

Amara wanted to sleep but after an indirect encounter with Arianna, she can’t fall asleep anymore thus, she stood up and took the bow which Damien gave her.

Opening his eyes, Damien watched as Amara disappeared into the woods not wanting to create noise as she trains. Damien closed his eyes once again and rested.

~~~~~~ 

It was dawn when Wilson woke up and the first he noticed was Amara’s absence. Standing up, he saw Damien resting by the tree making him wonder where Amara is. Wilson took his sword and looked around for Amara.

After walking a few meters away from the campsite, Wilson heard a noise. Following the noise it leads him to Amara who’s shooting arrows from the closest tree to the farthest tree she can possibly reach.

Wilson silently watched Amara as she shoots her arrows and right then he remembered Damien saying something about a woman who can shoot arrows in any direction. Hearing such words from Damien then, made him think that someone finally got Damien’s attention but right now, he’s hoping and praying that, that person is not Amara.

Amara continued to shoot arrows until he felt someone's presence nearby. Aiming her arrow to the person’s direction, Amara held the bow tight about to release the arrow. Seeing Amara aiming at him, Wilson made his presence known but then due to her surprise, Amara released the arrow. But luckily, Amara’s been using her magic to create an arrow and she was quick enough to break the arrow before it could hit Wilson.

Amara ran towards Wilson and said, “I’m sorry Wilson. Are you okay? You startled me; I thought you were an enemy.” Amara apologized.

“No. I’m sorry if I startled you and for breaking your concentration.” Wilson answered back.

“It’s alright. I was about to take a break before you came.” Amara placed her bow down and rested. Wilson noticed Amara panting as she sat on the log.

“Here. I think you need this. All of this.” Wilson handed Amara some water and Amara accepted it.

“Why are you practicing early?” asked Wilson.

“I accidentally woke up early.” Amara answered.

“Wanna go for a hunt for our breakfast?” Wilson offered which caught Amara by surprise but the idea of hunting made her excited.

“Of cou---“

“No.” They both turned their heads when they heard another person's voice from behind them.

“Dami.”

“Damien.” They almost said in unison. Damien walked closer to the two and stood in front of Amara.

“Let’s go. You still need to train.” Damien took Amara but was stopped by Wilson grabbing his arm.

“It’s still very early Damien and she’s already been training long before you came. Besides, her bruises are not completely healed yet.” Damien ignored Wilson and Amara noticed Damien held her tighter.

“Uhm—---“

“Let’s go Amara.” Wilson tried to hold Amara’s arm but Damien puller her behind him.

Sighing, Amara pulled her hand from Damien’s grip leaving the two men to settle their business.

“They really need to grow up.” Amara whispered almost to herself.

As Amara walked back to camp, she gasped when sudden images appeared inside her mind. Breathing in and out Amara clutch her chest and ran to their campsite.

She never had a vision before but what she saw seemed so real. If the campsite will be attacked by dark sorcerers then Richmond, Rosella, and Barbara don’t stand a chance.