Mara and Kara quickly became close. Kara was in the archery department and after training they would go back to teach each other on their specialties. They would alternate with days between archery and sword fighting.
Kara was a sweet girl and Mara always got worried that she would get bullied or stepped on especially now that she had a tiny frame. They always stuck together outside the training grounds. Kara, however tiny and sweet she was, was the best archer in the academy in their class. She had perfect aim and was really fast. She also had a really good sense of hearing and therefore it was impossible to be caught off guard by anyone.
Mara was also one of the best at sword fighting and sorcery. Especially sorcery where she just looked like a born natural and this was very weird as humans had to learn the art as they weren't born with it. With all this success, you can imagine the hate that came from the other students.
They couldn't target the princess as they were afraid of royalty but they could target her friend Kara. The hatred was stemmed from their success and the praise they were getting from the sergeants. Kara came back with her nose bleeding and when Mara asked what had happened, she said that she had fallen. She came back all battered for a couple of days till Mara followed her secretly to see what was going on.
"Oh so now that you have started kissing the princess's butt, you have started thinking highly of yourself huh. You have forgotten that you were picked from the gutters right. You are so cheap, befriending the princess so that you can raise your status, Ha! Pathetic," one of the three big girls sorrounding Kara mocked.
"Even getting trained by the princess on sword fighting just so you can show you are better than us," they laughed as they kicked the girl on the ground. Mara took a step to help her friend but stopped and rushed back to the building.
A few minutes later she came to that exact spot with sergeant Ana. As expected the girls were having fun and thus they were still there kicking the girl and mocking her. The sergeant observed and then stepped out to reveal her presence to the girls together with Mara.
Mara rushed to her friend on the ground to help her to the infirmary. She left the sergeant to deal with the bullies. Her friend was bruised all over and weak. Apparently, they had also poured her food so with all the training she wasn't eating. She had lost consciousness buy the time they got there. That night Mara slept next to her in the infirmary.
Due to the said incident, the corporal called for an assembly with all the girls. They were to witness the whipping of the three bullies. They were each to receive ten strokes on their backs Infront of the others as an example to what would happen in the future if that was to happen to them.
Mara went back to check on Kara and thankfully, the girl was awake. "Mara can I ask you a question," she said for Mara to nod. "Why did you call the sergeant, you are very strong and you could have taken them easily?" Kara asked and Mara looked up from helping her with her shoes.
"Kara, even if I dropped the title I still am the princess of the land. However personal the situation might be I have to think about my reputation and my family's reputation especially my father's. Involving myself in a banter with girls as stupid as them would not be good. With how petty they are they could twist the whole situation to make me look bad especially without evidence," Mara explained as she pulled back the dress to cover Kara's knees.
"But if that's the case, what would they think if they saw you tying my shoe laces," Kara asked chuckling. "Shhhh....that is our little secret," Mara said and winked. The girls laughed and left the infirmary.
Weeks passed and in the castle, things were not going well for the King. The trolls had almost destroyed the second wall around the villages. The attacks were getting frequent and very savage. He was getting alot of pressure to call the demons for help. This was not easy as demons always wanted something in return.
His wife was also not talking to him as she was still mad that her poor child had been sent to the infamous academy. No one left there with a sane mind due to the torturous training. She had tried to use her influence as the queen to pull her daughter out only to find out that the King and princess had signed off any outside royal influence on the decision.
She was really mad at him and was at cold war with him. Everything was getting worse in the kingdom. Her son was barely at home as he had gone to the walls to help with the battle with the trolls. She was worried sick as a mother and as a queen yet she couldn't show it as the people were looking up to her.
Months went on and finally Mara and Kara had gotten to the highest level which was also the hardest and deadly. They had to strengthen not only their bodies and minds. They had to fight actual trolls, mind control magic and survive in the wild.
They took a day off where they would be allowed to interact with a family member. Kara was an orphan so Mara asked her to come with and meet her parents. Only her parents weren't there but her brother Zeme. She was glad still to see him there as she missed him so much. She hugged him happily and he couldn't help but see how much his sister had changed.
She had cut her hair from butt length to shoulder length, her childish voice was gone and she just had a more mature look on her face. She seemed more independent and grown up. He felt so proud. "Zeme, this is my friend Kara," Mara introduced the two. Zeme, who had not noticed another presence near her turned his face to see another girl her sister's height bow.
She had green eyes and brown hair tied up in a bun. She was very beautiful and he smiled and nodded at her. His sister continued chirping on about how Kara was the best archer she had seen aside from him and he couldn't help but stare at the fragile looking girl who was apparently not.
This attention from the prince obviously affected her. Also who could blame her right... anyone would kill to get it. She couldn't help but blush and be very consious of herself at that point. Her ears turned red pretty quick and so did her cheeks. She immediately looking down to hide it only for her to hear him chuckle.
"Okay now tell me about you, how is the training for you. Is there anything you want help with or you need sister," he asked Mara who had been going on and on about her friend. "No I am fine, we are about to go for our final level. They say it is the hardest level but I'm sure we will make it."
"Yes it is. But I know I don't have to worry about you as you are very strong. It will be a month long and I can't wait to see you back home. Take care," Zeme said to her and left them. Mara was so happy to have seen her brother. When she turned, she saw her friend all red and looking at the retreating figure of her brother. She couldn't help but smile and hope for something.