1 Chapter 1: Practice

It was a sunny morning and Wren was just getting finished on cleaning the suits of armor like her master asked. They shone just as bright as the summer sun, glistening in all their glory.

She tossed the sponge down into the wet bucket, causing her face to splash with a mist of the ever clear water. The apprentice training grounds were located in the grand stone castle of Uruk, under the rule of Queen Adelphia. She had been a knight's apprentice for the past 5 years. Wren couldn't wait for her knighting ceremony in exactly 2 years. What a joyous day!

"Master, I've finished cleaning!" Aasimar walked over and congratulated Wren.

"5 minutes-you beat your record! But now it's time for fencing & swordfighting." Ugh. Wren was skilled in horseback riding and running, but definitely not sword fighting. How could Aasimar move his sword so fast that he always got her? There had to be a secret. As they were walking to the training grounds with their swords, the luscious emerald green grass swaying beautifully in the wind under their feet, Wren couldn't help but ask:

"Master, how come you are faster than me? I can run faster than you, but in a fraction of a second you've hit my chest plate. What is your secret? I need to learn it so I can be a better knight!" She pleaded. Aasimar chuckled.

"My dear Wren, there is simply no secret. It is just predicting your enemy's moves. You fight with brutal force, and charge at me instead of taking a smarter approach. I know this from my experience with you, and I can predict your next move, allowing me to figure out which move I need to use to defeat you." Wren looked stunned.

"B-but how can you figure that out in-like, a millisecond? Can you train your brain somehow?"

"Fast reflexes. There. I put it plain and simple."

"How can I learn?"

"Today, as we're training, pay close attention to my every move. Everyday, study it wisely. Once you know my main tactics, you know which moves to use. Practice before bed. Let's say, I attempt a roundhouse kick. What would you do?"

"Maybe dodge it and use the extra time to flip over you, and there. I tap your armor."

"Nice! Let's practice." Practice usually lasted 2 hours, and Wren was surprised how she had managed to beat Aasimar once! After practice, there was lunch. Wren ate a nice big meal, and Aasimar came with the most delightful news afterwards.

"Well, young one, it's finally time to see your mother and Xavier again." Once a year, Wren's best friend Xavier visited her in the capital of the main human kingdom, Wentali, along with her mother. Wren looked forward to this all year! Xavier was amazing and she loved hanging out with him. She couldn't wait to see him again. And there he was.

"Xavier!" Wren shouted, and pulled him in for the biggest hug ever. Then she ran up to her mom and gave her an even bigger one.

"I missed you both so much. I'm so happy to see you again though." The whole day Xavier and Wren were catching up on everything with Aasimar to supervise them. Wren's mom, Anna, stayed in a hotel in Wentali, close to the castle. Xavier had chocolate brown skin, that radiated in the sun light and matched his emerald green eyes perfectly. He had curly hair that matched his complexion and everything about him was awe striking. The truth is, Wren had a crush on him for the longest time, but tried her best not to show it.

"So what happened when I was gone?" Wren excitedly asked.

"Are you serious? I should be the one asking you that. I wish I were a knight. But my parents just freak out and think I'll get hurt."

"Well it's not that fun. I'm not even a knight I'm just an apprentice. How's school?"

"Ugh. Awful. There's this annoying girl named Daeva."

"Never heard of her."

"You should be glad about that." Xavier chuckled. "I'm going to college next year. Turning 16 really soon. I'm sad I can never see you on my birthday."

"I know. But I still think about you every August on the 15th."

"And I still think about you on every November 11th." The words that Xavier said made Wren's heart melt. Sadly, this was only for a week in a year. How she missed him.

"Sir, Queen Adelphia requests to see you." The messenger looked worried. Wren knew something was off, so as soon as Aasimar and the messenger had left the room, she tip toed after them, Xavier behind her.

"What could possibly be wrong that Master needs to see the Queen?" She thought. They arrived at the throne room. Queen Adelphia was wearing a flowy velvet dress with an ermine cape. She had a large crown on top of her head with lots of different gems. The throne room looked almost as elegant and lavish as the Queen herself, with three thrones sitting on top of a pedestal of with a ruby carpet with gold lacing was thrown under, giving the throne room a regal vibe. The windows overlooking the Jarmi Forest that surrounded Wentali, the capital of Uruk with its green landscapes had beautiful stained glass that Wren could look at for days.

"Woah." Xavier looked shocked to see how pretty the Queen looked, and how pretty the throne room looked too. She was 36, while Wren and Xavier were only 15, about to be 16.

"Knight Aasimar, I have received a message from my advisors that the Troblins of Gurr are set to attack. I'm afraid that apprentice of yours, Wren, I think was her name? She should be crowned a knight immediately so she can help fight. No ceremony needed. Train her well before the Troblins arrive." Wren gasped.

Troblins? Her mother always told her stories and legends about the disgusting horrid creatures that lurked in the dark, with boils all over their green and brown skin. Their eyes were similar to a cat, a slit with yellow. They had large pointy ears and a short circle body. Pointy shark like teeth and a large, mischievous smile worn almost all the time. This whole time....they were real?

"I respect your decision, your majesty." Then he walked right past Wren's hiding place. She gasped, but Aasimar didn't see her. Although she was happy to be a knight, there was no way she wanted to fight Troblins. But it was too late. As soon as they got back, Aasimar let Wren know of the news.

"And so, I now crown you a knight." Wren kneeled down and her master touched the sword to her shoulders, one by one. "It is of great honor to be a knight. I promise on my faith that I will in the future be faithful to the lord, never cause him harm and will observe my homage to him completely against all persons in good faith and without deceit." She recited the knight's oath her master taught her.

"It's time for you to meet the other knights."