Niya's skin was flushed with the heat of the afternoon sun or was it due to continuous practicing for hours? She was breathing hard due to a lack of oxygen from moving so fast that she even forgot to breathe. Sweat trickled down from her brows. Inside her armor, her shirt was drenched with sweat.
"How about we take a break for now Niya?" asked Ralph in his hoarse voice.
The boy is too innocent for this world thought Niya. If it was an actual battlefield and not practice, he would have died till now.
Ralph had been her best friend for six years now. Which is a long time considering that the girl is only twenty years old.
It was considered odd in most of the empires for a girl to be still unmarried and not have suitors at Niya's age and spend time with boys too. But it was not the biggest social etiquette she had ever broken. In fact, at this moment, she is sparing with swords. If any other woman was seen sparing it would have become the biggest social scandal for the season, or maybe for the next upcoming seasons too. Not that it is guaranteed how long a scandal would last.
People of noble society are quite fickle and easily bored. This is what happens when you have nothing better to do than to look pretty and attend tea parties and gossip. Most would think women are more prone to gossip than men, but the truth is men are not any better. In a high society where most things are served to ladies and lords on a silver platter and they have nothing to do then to lord over people. Unlike them, commoners probably do not have enough time to gossip, too busy earning their living.
In the kingdom of Jyon and many other kingdoms, it would be the worst nightmare for any noble lady if she is ever caught sparing with swords wearing tunics and shirts and probably looking like an ugly mess. But for Niya, it is a usual occurrence. And at this point, the ladies of high society are so bored with this gossip that they have even stopped talking about it.
"No, Ralph I need to practice more. I want to win this weekly spar." Said Niya panting and unwilling to stop.
As the daughter of a high official. Niya is the woman with the most power in the whole empire. Because the empress died even before Niya was born and the emperor has only two sons.
When Niya was seven years old, she asked for swords and to be enrolled in the academy to become a knight instead of asking for a new doll or the prettiest dress available in the empire, her father was surprised. But the old general loved his daughter so he agreed.
Niya is the only female knight in the whole empire of Jyon. Society hates her for it but cannot do anything to stop her.
For some time, Niya tried to change herself. But it never was something that made her feel happy. So, she turned back to being a knight.
"You are already our second-best knight. What else do you want?" Ralph asked with exasperation.
He knew what Niya wanted. The whole order of knights knew.
Niya gave her friend a look sighed and cursed loudly. It should be considered rude for a lady to curse but Niya hardly considered herself to be one.
"Let it already go Niya. You cannot win from him. That guy is practically a monster." Said, Ralph.
That is not true, thought Niya. She knew who her dear friend was referring to. Her archnemesis. His royal highness the second prince. Or as he preferred Niya to call him, Leh.
Since the first day Niya enrolled in the academy, for her Leh has been like a constant reminder that she can never be good enough. It does not matter even if she works herself to death.
"Please Niya. I cannot practice any longer."
Finally, Niya decides to take mercy on her childhood friend and nods toward him.
As soon as she does that, Ralph does not even bother to go to the shed where the resting area is there to use when tired from practicing. Without caring if his clothes get dirty, he lies where he was standing.
Niya goes to the makeshift table at the side and unwraps the cloth tied around her hand. While she does that she observes that her hands are not soft and delicate like most ladies.
Sometimes Niya wants to be considered just like other ladies but people do not let her do that.
What Ralph said was the truth, Niya is the second knight in the whole order despite being a woman. She does not believe that being a woman makes her weak. But the unfair treatment she got from teachers and other students was a huge hurdle and a challenge she had to go through to become a knight.
But the biggest challenge she had to go through was him. The second prince of the empire of Jyon. The best knight in the order of knights. Her archnemesis. Leh.
He was there when Niya first enrolled in the academy. Was there throughout it. And is still here. His presence haunts her like a shadow. Or more like she is shadowed due to his presence.
As the only female student in the academy and the brightest student, Niya gained a huge plus point. But then he came along.
Leh started the academy a week later than all students. And the week is how long Niya's glory lasted. After that everything changed, if she answered a question, he will answer it first now. If she did something good, he will do it better. If she won over everybody in swordplay, he will win over her.
It would have been better if it was not for his gleeful attitude every time Niya lost to him. She even admired him initially, which is a great thing considering she has a competitive spirit. But no, he had to go on reminding her every moment of the day that he is better than her.
But not this time. No, this time Niya will win, and show him that he is not anything that special and that it takes very little effort from me to make him lose.
"Come on, Ralph break time is over."
Ralph made a disgruntled sound and got up.
Clang
The sounds of swords clashing filled the air. This round Niya was much more aggressive than last. Anger filled in her veins from thinking about the second prince.
Ralph tries his best to defend but gradually his stance becomes weaker and weaker. He starts moving backward in weak defense. Niya on the other hand keeps moving forward and attacking aggressively.
Then she gets impatient and takes a leap and ends the match in an instant with her sword on Ralph's throat and his sword falling behind him.
This is too easy. Nya needs something tough, someone, tough to practice with. Leh.
"I wonder what is the fun in sparring with children. Is it so much fun to win that you practice with them?" Sounds a mocking voice behind her.
Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.
Niya knows that Leh is the perfect partner for her to spar with. Even the weekly matches with him help her improve a lot. But he shall never know this. His head is already too huge with pride and his nose is too high. Also, the fact that she can barely handle her annoyance at his existence. If he became her dueling partner, she would literally wear the most garish dress that this society calls fashion and get herself a husband. This is how much she despises Leh's company. Thought Niya.
While Niya and Leh talked. Ralph effaced himself.
"You will see who wins in the next duel."
Leh clucked his teeth.
He walked to the gate of the sparring ground where Niya was standing. She raised her sword to his throat to keep him away. He kept on walking. He knew Niya would not hurt him. He does not have a sword to defend himself. That would be unfair.
As if he could read her mind, he smirked,
"I don't know about seeing but I will still win the next duel."
Niya did not let him distract her for a long time and asked "What are you doing here anyways. Is royal practice ground too small for you that you have come to the minister's manor to practice now?"
Ralph's jaw dropped at the insulting tone Niya used with Leh. And he was even more surprised when all the second prince did in return was smile and answer her question. If it were anyone else, they would have been made to spend at least a week in royal dungeons.
"No, though palace grounds are too small but I doubt your minister's whole palace is enough to suffice my practice. I have come to bring a message to your father." He says showing off a little.
"Then go ahead and give it to him. I do not see him here. Then why are you bothering us." Niya says making a shoo motion at him.
"Are you not going to be a good host and show the way to him? Have you got no politeness?" He mocks.
"My apologies your highness, if you go in the right direction, you will reach the main entrance of the palace. I am sure steward there will be thrilled to show you to my father's study." Niya says sarcastically.
There was more anger in Niya's voice now as the point of her father's study was sensitive for her. However, much freedom her father gave her there were still some things that were off limits even to her like her father's study. It was where he discussed politics which Niya was not allowed to partake in.
"It is Leh for you"
"Huh?" Niya asked baffled.
"I said refer to me as Leh."
"Sure." She turned and started ignoring his presence.
"Last offer, I can teach you much more than any tutor you will hire."
"Not even in your dreams." Shouted Niya from where she was standing.
Leh was annoyed and remarked,
"I do not know about being a good warrior. But I can say for sure that nobody can teach you how to be a good lady."
Niya was already immune to these kinds of remarks so she instantly replied.
"Just like how nobody can teach you how to be the proper prince."
Leh walked closer to Niya and whispered in her ears.
"One day you will practice with me and that day is closer than you think."
Ralph thought that finally the prince's patience was over and he was going to harm his dear friend. Even though defending Niya might be considered treason he was still willing to do it.
But even before he could pick up his sword the prince left.
As soon as the prince was far away from hearing range Ralph jogged to where Niya was standing and asked him in a scolding tone,
"Niya, do you have any idea what offending a royal could lead up to?"
"Why are you so scared of him, Ralph? He might be the prince but he is still under the crown prince. And I am sure his majesty knows what a trouble Leh is."
"For goodness's sake, Niya stop calling him by his name." Ralph insists with a troubled look on his face.
"Why do you care about it when he himself insists I do not call him by his title?" Niya asks exasperated at how scared her friend is.
"Because one day he will become general of the army as his brother ascends the throne. And then he would be powerful enough to harm you too."
Niya just scoffs at him.