Calm Before the Storm

Almost a year has passed since the ball, and it was business as usual for the most part: more training, more learning, more meetings. I've also been learning more about the people close to me.

"You're getting cocky! Focus on the match!" Malti lunged at me.

I weaved and parried her attacks. "I am focused."

My body has caught up to the speed of my Ular Eye, making it easy for me to make split-second reactions to her attacks now. It used to be that Malti would push me back with her constant barrage of attacks, but now I can hold my ground and even strike back at her. After Malti's flurry of attacks, I responded with a dozen sharp thrusts, putting her on the defensive.

With my Ular Eye, I saw an opening at her neck. I widened my eyes and held my breath, aiming straight for it, barely stopping before actually piercing her. I exhaled slowly, and a smile spread across my face.

"This is where you concede, Malti."

"No, I think this is where we call it a draw." She was smiling too.

I looked down to see her claw-like hand poking into my stomach.

"Haha... yeah, let's just call it that."

We both dropped our guards and called it a day for training. It was a sweltering day, so we lounged about in our room after washing up. Kassim was out meeting somebody and being guarded by Zagan for the day.

"Do you know when Kassim gets back?" I asked Malti.

"He left like two hours ago, so he'll probably be back any minute now. Why?"

"Just curious." I looked out the window.

"Mhmm." Malti looked at me while snacking on dried meat.

"You know, his birthday's in a few months. What do you think I should get him?"

Malti flopped back onto a pile of cushions. "I dunno. I don't give him anything for birthdays."

Good friend you are. But I guess I can't blame her. She doesn't celebrate birthdays.

I stared at the bracelet Kassim gave me, coming back from the ball. I held it up to the window and watched as the light bounced off it. This gift is about as extravagant as it gets. I mean, how am I going to top this? What is something I could give a prince that he doesn't already have? Malti clearly saw the pained look on my face.

"If you want to get into a relationship with Kassim, all you have to do is ask him. I'm sure that we would be more than willing to."

"Wh-what makes you think that!?"

Malti sighed. "Please, I'm not an idiot."

I didn't want to admit it, but she was right. I was curious, and I knew that Kassim was a good person. I am almost seventeen now, three years from being twenty, like in my old life. I never had a relationship in my old life, and to not have one in my new life? No, that was unacceptable. It mattered less and less to me that I was a different sex from my last life.

Malti interrupted my thoughts. "I just want to say... to a person like Kassim, his kingdom will come before everything else, even before a partner or wife."

I just nodded. I knew that already. To Kassim, becoming king is everything to him. It's his reason for living, and I'm sure that nothing could sway him from his goal.

As I was about to speak, the door of our room swung open. Kassim was standing there with Zagan behind him.

"What are you two talking about?" Kassim asked.

"Uh... nothing important," I responded quickly.

"Well, let's go to the council room to discuss our plans, shall we?"

We followed Kassim to the back of the villa, where a secluded door opened up to an airy room. Light filtered in from above with cushioned seats surrounding an empty area at the center of the room. The smell of fresh air filled the room as we moved to sit in our respective seats.

"So, how were today's meetings?" Malti asked first.

"The same old. Nothing much really happened. I was prodding them to see if they had any interest in joining us... they didn't."

Malti leaned back. "Maybe if you had brought me instead of Zagan, they would have more of an interest." She had a smug look on her face.

"No, I think you would have scared them away," Kassim said while smiling at her.

There was a slight pause before everyone started to laugh. That's when a man burst into the room. He was in fine clothing and had a grim expression on his face. He was part of Kassim's faction, who was placed in the Royal Palace.

"There is urgent news, Prince Kassim." The man rushed over to Kassim.

He leaned down to whisper in his ear. Kassim stopped him before he could say a word.

"You can tell all of us. Don't worry."

"As you wish." The man paused, taking a deep breath.

"The king is dead."