Knock! Knock!
Annabella covered her ears with her hands when a knock on the door interrupted her slumber. The blanket was pulled over her. The knocking sound of the door was no longer heard.
The loud banging made her eyes wide open. Her face was already fumed with anger when her sleep was disturbed. Her teeth were clenched angrily. Her blue eyes and the man's blue eyes connected.
"Wake up, grumpy!"
"Who are you calling me grumpy?"
"Sir Andrew wants to see you. Have you lost your memory?" the man said sarcastically.
Annabella snorted. This was the man who had always raised her embers since she stayed at Seraglio Academy.
Her feet were set to follow the man's steps. The same man he had seen in Headmaster Erald's room. After a few minutes of walking, they came to an open area.
Annabella could see a large wall near the area as it was illuminated by the stars and moon. Her eyes were transfixed by the sight of Andrew and a woman fighting each other.
Their movements were very fast.
In the blink of an eye, Andrew had fallen flat on his back on the ground. His sword had slipped out of the hand and fell not far from Andrew.
He just pretending to lose. That's the tactic every man uses when confronting women. It was very obvious that Andrew had made a mistake on purpose.
"Just tell her that you like her! Don't bother to act like a gentleman. It's such an eyesore you know?" shouted Annabella who had been silent.
Andrew clenched his teeth angrily. His molars were already twitching as he was furious. He got up. His feet stepped closer to Annabella and the man who had been watching him and Erena fight.
"We're not officially acquainted yet, are we? I'm Erena and you are?" asked Erena.
"I'm Annabella. Just call me Anna."
A smile was carved on Erena who was very beautiful. Her eyes were light green, and light blonde, and her skin was very beautiful. Her ears were slightly pointed. But why did she think she had seen Erena before this?
"Oh, Prince Eidan! It is a pleasure to meet you, your highness," Erena greeted.
"So am I," replied the man who had accompanied Annabella earlier.
"What is my lord doing here?"
"Sir Andrew directed me to bring the shortie to meet him," said Eidan.
"Who you call shortie?" fumed Annabella.
"Thank you, Prince Eidan."
"You're welcome, Sit Andrew. I'll be going." Eidan continued to walk away.
"How dare he curse me! What the hell? It hurts!" snapped Annabella. Her ear was suddenly pulled by Andrew.
"No need to grumble. We should start now."
"Start what?" asked Annabella who did not understand anything.
"He didn't tell you anything, Anna?" asked Erena.
The young girl shook her head.
"You will enter the Seraglio Academy. To enter the academy, you need to pass an eligibility exam."
"It's just an examination. Just sit on the chair. Grab the pencil and write down my answer, right?" said Annabella.
"It's not about chair or pencil, Anna," said Elena.
"Then what?"
"The entrance test is a test that needs to be passed for someone who wants to enter the Seraglio Academy. To show their eligibility, a duel will be held. If you win the duel, you are eligible to enter the academy."
Annabella was at a loss for words. She didn't want to believe Erena's words.
"You're bluffing, right?"
"That's why you need to practice, Anna."
"If I lose, what will happen to me?"
"You have no chance of leaving the fight unless you win."
"I'm going to kill you right now, Sir Andrew Cranel! What's the difference between being put to a death sentence and dying in a fight? Both still cost my life! I'd rather be put to death sentence rather than die in the fight, you know?" raged Annabella.
"Calm down, Annabella." Andrew stepped back as Annabella approached him with a frowning face.
"Calm down? How can I be calm when my life is at stake?" Annabella's face was already red with anger.
"That's why I will help you to win the fight."
"The decision remains the same. I will die too."
"You will not die, Annabella. I will protect you because you are under my responsibility. If anything happens to you, I will be sorry for involving you in this world. Trust me. Is it very difficult to put your trust in me, Annabella?" Andrew said. He was a little disappointed with the teenager who still didn't trust him.
Since the first time she met Andrew, a sense of trust had been present in her for the man. She felt like she was being protected. Feels like a brother who loves his sister very much. Guilt overcame her when she always blamed Andrew for the reason she was trapped in this world.
"But my father wouldn't let me get involved in any fights." Annabella changed the topic.
"You've been in a fight?" questioned Andrew.
"When I was ten years old, my father told me to make a boy faint," Annabella told him.
"What did you do to him?" asked Andrew curiously.
"I smashed his face and stomach."
Andrew laughed out loud. What a brute young girl. Ten years old was already good at pounding people to a pulp. There was no way Annabella could win the match that would take place a week from now.
"Just grab your weapon. We should practice now."
"I'll go first, Andrew." Erena voiced.
"Thank you, Erena."
"You're welcome." Erena walked away.
"She's very beautiful, isn't she?"
"She is."
"Gotcha! I know it. You like Erena."
"What? No!" sighed Andrew. His face immediately turned red when Annabella managed to tease him
"You're blushing, my lord," Annabella chided when she saw Andrew's face was already red with embarrassment.
"Go get your weapons." Andrew changed the subject.
"Have you forgotten? I'm just a weak human being."
"Stop fussing. Hold your weapon." Andrew handed a sword to Annabella after invoking the Gate of Weapon War Realm.
"Why is it light? It's not that heavy anymore." Annabella flicked the held sword left and right.
"The gravity on Earth and in Sylvania are very different. Show me how you hold the sword."
"Like this?" She raised her sword like the Statue of Liberty that she always saw on television.
"You must hold it using both hands. If you hold the sword with one hand, your opponent will get a chance to attack you because you are too exposed. Understand?" Andrew pointed out how to hold the sword.
"Like this?" The sword was held with both hands.
"You are very stiff. If you continue like this, you will have no chance of defending yourself. To defend yourself, you need a good posture."
"What's the point of me learning from you if I already know all that?"
"Look at me. Hold your sword tightly with both hands. Open your step like this." Andrew held his sword with both hands. His grip looked firm. The open step looked composed.
"I'm sleepy." Annabella yawned.
"Can't you be serious? I'm trying to train you. This is not a joking matter," Andrew said. He was furious when he saw Annabella looking playful.
"My father said that I'm not allowed to fight. The highlight is... He wants me to keep away from dangerous weapons like this sword."
"Why did your father advice you something like that?"
"Because I almost killed my cat with a knife when I was seven."
"If you're that brave when you're young, you should be eager to win this duel. Or else, your life is at stake."
"Don't say that!" said Annabella. Sleepiness was suddenly replaced with fear.
"You are very gnarly. This is the extent of our training. Tomorrow, there is no mercy for you."
Andrew finished their training as Annabella didn't want to hear his words.
"Oh, great!" Annabella rolled her eyes upwards.
***
ANNABELLA put on the clothes Erena had given her. A pair of brown-colored leather pants and a pair of tops from Erena. Those were the only clothes she had.
Her golden hair, which was already long enough to reach her waist, had to be tied up. Before she was in Sylvania her hair was about at her shoulder.
If she saw Erena, she would ask the woman to cut her hair.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"I'm coming!" screamed Annabella.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"You don't know the meaning of patience, do you?" Annabella fumed.
She came out of the store after finishing tying her hair into a ponytail using the ribbon she found in the store room.
"Sir Andrew is waiting for you, air-headed."
"What did you call me?"
"Grumpy human."
"You call me that again you're done!" Annabella warned the man.
"Weak!"
Thump!
The man was already holding his face from being pounded by Annabella. His molars stung when being hit by the girl.
"Serve you right, white-headed!"
"What's wrong with that tight face, Annabella?" asked Andrew. He could see Annabella's sour face wincing.
"Ask him!"
"Prince Eidan?"
"I'll go first, Sir Andrew." Eidan excused himself to leave.
"What has happened?"
"That white-headed man cursed me!"
"So?"
"I was furious, so I punched him in the face!"
Andrew laughed. What a cool girl she was.
"Now, get ready to practice!"
***
"FOCUS, Annabella! Focus!" said Andrew when he saw that Annabella was losing focus.
"I can't take it anymore!" snapped Annabella.
"This fight is between your life and death."
"Then I'd rather die than live in this shriveled world," Annabella snarled. The sword in her hand was already thrown onto the floor.
"This world is not my home. I want to go back to where I came from. This world is not suitable for me. Even if I die, I have no regret!"
"You need to continue this life."
"What am I living for? My father is dead. I don't know who my mother is. I don't know what she looks like. I don't know what her name is. In fact... I don't even have a picture of her. For what reason should I live? I have no one in this world or on Earth!"
"You have me."
"You are not my brother!"
"I can be your brother."
"Impossible... We're from different worlds. Even though I live here, I have no power to protect myself."
"I'm just like you."
"What do you mean?" Annabella's anger began to subside.
"Let's sit down first," Andrew invited.
Annabella sat on a high ledge next to Andrew. She remembered they were already near the forest. When she was on top of the wall, she could see the thick wilderness outside the academy. In the distance, she could see a large lake between two mountains. It was an amazing sight.
"When I was five years old, I had a baby sister. Everyone in the house was excited about her, including me. Who wouldn't be happy to have a baby sister, right? With the blink of an eye, I lost everything."
"What has happened to your family?"
"I don't know what happened that night. I don't remember what my sister and parents looked like. What I do know is that I have a younger sister, a father, and a mother. That's all I remember. When I see you I feel like I see my sister. I also have no one in this world."
"Sorry." Annabella felt sorry for Andrew who had the same fate as her. They were the only ones alive in the world.
"It's okay."
"You can call me Anna," Annabella said. She was comfortable when people called her by her abbreviated name.
"Okay! Let's continue practicing again."
Annabella grumbled.
***
ERENA stepped closer to Andrew who was lying on the grass watching Annabella practicing.
"Practicing?"
"Yes."
"By standing in front of a tree with a sword surrounding her?"
Annabella could not move even an inch because she was surrounded by ten swords guarded by Andrew.
"Practice being patient and focused. All-day long she was busy raging about wanting to return to Earth."
"It's tomorrow, Andrew.."
"Anna gives me a headache. Gnarly. Stone-headed."
"Just like you."
Andrew got up. With one swipe the ten blades surrounding Annabella had disappeared.
"Come here, Anna."
"What?" fumed Annabella. Who doesn't get angry when surrounded by sharp swords? She was not allowed to move an inch.
"The fight will take place tomorrow. I'm done helping you. I taught you to practice using the sword and defend yourself but not even listen to my word. Stubborn!"
"I'm willing to die!"
Tap!
"Auch! It hurts!" screamed Annabella when Andrew flicked her forehead.
"If you wanted to die, I would have let you be attacked by Demons long ago. Now I want you to listen to my advice."
"Aye, aye, my sir," Annabella said lazily.
"If you cannot use the sword, use the hand..."
"That is my basic skill," Annabella slit.
"If your swords fall, don't pick it up."
"Why?" quipped Annabella.
"Don't interrupt when people are talking! Don't pick up the fallen sword. If you try to pick it up again, your opponent will take the chance to attack you. Maintain your position. Don't lose your balance. Keep your feet on the ground, understand?"
"Are you finished?"
"Yes."
"Erena, I'd like to ask you a favor, please?"
"Anything."
"Can't you cut my hair? This long hair makes me uneasy," Annabella said, showing her long golden hair.
"Why do you want to cut it? Your hair is very pretty. It shines when exposed to the sun."
"This hair troubles me. I can't focus if this hair has my way?"
"You won't regret it?"
"No! After all, my hair has gotten longer since I've been here."
"If that's what you want."
"Thank you very much. You're the nicest person I've ever met as long as I've been around."