Chapter 9

Immyrias POV

The last round of the tournament was about to begin. I’d been to visit the healers multiple times since I wasn’t really used to defending myself, I was just used to practicing. They were able to heal me every time. Especially when I had a broken bone. My mother hasn’t come to see me like my father and brother. I had a feeling she was pretty upset with me. I can’t really blame her though, I did lie to her about “dancing lessons” when I was really out training with Celia.

When my name was announced I stood and walked to the middle of the arena. I had no idea who I would be facing since you can’t hear any of this at the healers set up in the palace. When the trumpets sounded the announcer said my next opponents name, “Celia Frostbound” he said. If this was the Celia I knew, I was definitely in for it… when she walked to the center to greet me, it was indeed my friend Celia. She had a scowl on her face and said “you lied to me princess. Your dear mother paid me a visit and asked I teach you a lesson for lying to people.” She was serious. She was pissed at me. Big time. “Celia, I didn’t mean to lie to you, I really didn’t. But I had to keep my identity a secret until now so I would be allowed to train with you.” I gave her a sad look. I was ashamed to lie to her after all she did take me under her wing, trusted me, and taught me quite a bit.

Celia looked at me and started, “You had all the time in the world to tell me. You should have trusted me like I trusted you. I could have kept your secret if you trusted me.” She looked at me and then the ground gave a sigh and continued, “I thought you were my friend, I trusted you and told you things I haven’t told anyone except my uncle.” She got into her fighting stance and watched me. “Celia, it was the only way I was allowed to train… I’m sorry I didn’t mean to hurt you or upset you but I’ve wanted to train all my life and I finally got the chance. And I got to meet you in the process which was unexpected but also amazing! I’ve never had the opportunity to have a friend like you.” I finished and she stared at me for a moment. Finally she spoke up, “Are you ready to fight princess?” And she got back into her position. Maybe later I could try talking to her again. But right now she was pissed, and she wanted to fight.

I got into my position, and watched her. It was long until she made the first move. I dodged her left leg swoop and right arm punch. I got a weak punch into her side while dodging. She stumbled but caught herself quickly and turned to face me again. She was angry. It was in her movement and I knew with all her years of training, I was no match for her like this. She charged again and faked a punch but instead grabbed my stomach and threw me to the ground. She was quick and sat on top of my hips and started punching wherever she could land a hit. I was blocking as best I could but she found her way around my arms too many times for me to block. There was a loud cracking sound heard and I’m pretty sure my collarbone on the right side was broken. I tried my best to block it so she wouldn’t keep hitting it. Then she grabbed my left arm and pinned my wrist under her boot, and grabbed my right arm so I could move.

“Come on princess, I taught you better than this. Did you get stupid all of the sudden and forget everything? Maybe you are the useless royal after all!” She said tauntingly. I knew it was to rile me up but I couldn’t help getting angry. I kicked back with my knee as hard as I could and there was another loud snapping noise, this time it was one of her ribs though. Maybe two if I landed it right. She let out a short scream and I lifted her up and off my hips by landing a punch with my left arm when I got it out from her boot. She fell to my right side and I got on top of her next. I did the same thing she did to me, and she was stuck. She couldn’t move her legs without more pain while I was sitting on her, so I leaned down and said, “Don’t you ever say I’m useless again! I may not be a real princess but I will never yield, this is what I’m good at. This is where I belong! This-“ I was cut off by Celia head butting me in the face, she freed her right arm and landed a punch on my face. I was disoriented and stumbling to stand back up.

“You say you’re not useless, you say you belong here? You should become a jester!” She yelled at me. I looked back up to my family in the stands, my father had a worried look on his face, my brother and sister mirrored his worry but my mother. My mother had no emotions on her face. Like she didn’t care. I couldn’t give up. Not with how hard I’ve worked and how far I’ve come. I would never give up! Celia took advantage of me being distracted and came in for a punch to the gut which she landed and knocked the wind out of me. I was dizzy, I’m pretty sure I have more broken bones in my torso and I was going to wear down too fast after this. Or pass out from the pain, I don’t want to do either of those in front of everyone. I meant what I said. I am never going to give up.

Celia came in for another gut punch but I managed to side step and instead I managed to land a kick to her head. She fell and laid there for a second, when she stood she had blood dripping down her face where I landed my kick. I could taste blood in my mouth so I spat it out and looked at her. I may be in more pain than ever before but that wasn’t going to stop me. Celia ran towards me and we locked arms she managed to bring up a fist and open it, she gave me a dirty smirk and blew what was in her hand into my eyes. Dirt? Either that or sand. While I couldn’t see and was trying to clear my eyes she grabbed my head and threw it down but just as she did, she threw her knee up to meet my face and met the bridge of my nose. I fell and she stood where she was. I was groaning from pain and I now had blood coming down my face from my nose which was also most definitely broken at this point.

Celia stood there and watching me squirm to get up. I was so disoriented I could stand straight up or stay still. She laughed and eyed me. I started walking towards her, I could tell her head was really nothing her from the kick I landed before. I had one opportunity to run an attack plan. One shot to claim the round. One chance. When I was close enough Celia had to spit out blood that fell into her mouth and shake her head at the taste of it. That was my moment. I put all my remaining energy into this, I ran up to her, I landed two punches to her face and as she stumbled back a bit I used the same move she used on me, I punched her face downward and lifted my knee to meet her face. I actually landed that move! I couldn’t believe it! I actually did it! She fell back onto the ground and I fell to my knees and hands. I couldn’t make out any of the noise around me. I was in so much pain my vision began to go black and before I knew it, I passed out.