The Daily Report

'Our beloved Prince Damon, seems to have found his girl number 1: Ashley Ambrose. Ashley, when asked about this said that she was absolutely delighted when Prince Damon invited her to his Palace. She said that they had known each other for quite a while and that she had instantly felt sparks the first time they met. "I have a great feeling going into this and am sure that it's going to be fun," said Ashley.
When asked her about her paired partner, she replied "Ashton was upset when I told him about this initially but soon got over it. He loves a great challenge and that's exactly what he sees this as. It's going to be great having 2 people wanting to impress me." So, with our first girl already announced, the bar has been set high. Who will be the other 9 girls? Will it be you? Only time will tell.'

I huffed and folded the newspaper. What a snob. God! If I do say yes to Damon, I will have to deal with people like her. Ugh.

"Did you read the newspaper honey?" asked dad. "Prince Damon has found his girl number 1."
"Yeah I did. She's pretty," I said recalling the picture that was given, "but she seems like too much work."
Dad laughed.

"Is it because she likes looking presentable unlike you?" said mom coming up from behind.
"I'm really not in the mood for this right now." I told dad and got up to leave. I heard some argument going on behind me but I payed no attention. Some things, whatever you do, don't change.

***

"So what are we doing here exactly?"

"I am teaching you sword fighting."

"Sword fighting?" Vivian asked me, eyebrows raised.

"Sword fighting," I replied in the affirmative.

Vivian and I had decided to hang out today. Since I was not allowed to work (another one of the stupid, annoying rules) I passed my time sword fighting. Grandpa had taught it to me when I was young, saying that in a country like ours, having this knowledge will only help. Vivian had gotten off from work too because his restaurant got shut early today so I thought why not teach it to him.

"Okay look," he said, "I know how you have been training since you were like ten and the only thing I have been trained in that includes something hardly as sharp and dangerous as that sword is cutting vegetables with a knife. So yeah, it won't be easy, at all."

I laughed and replied, "Everyone likes a good challenge, Vivian, so stop giving lame excuses and here, take this." I said as I gave him a sword.

We were in the public garden. Now I know what you must be thinking, 'You're sword fighting in a garden in front of so many people?'
Two things:
1. It's grass so you won't get hurt if you fall or something and
2. We aren't the only ones. Part of the garden is devoted only for people who train. So, you'd find many people here doing things like archery, kick boxing and knife throwing too.

"Okay, so are you right-handed?"
I asked him and he nodded.
"Well then looks like I'll have to switch," I said. Though while on the field you wont really have a choice, since I was teaching it to him for the first time, I didn't want to make this any more difficult and us being opposite handed would only make training more difficult. Good for him though I knew how to use a sword with my right hand too.

"Now hold your sword like this," I said as I showed him how to hold the hilt of the sword. He did as I said.
"Great. First rule of fighting, always be aware. Not only of your surroundings but of your opponent too. Study them. See their posture. Try to recognise their strengths and weaknesses. Never be stiff and always remain hunched like this, with your other hand out while fighting."

Vivian nodded and imitated me.
"Good, now attack me."
"What?" He asked, wide eyed.
"Vivian, I'm teaching you how to use a sword. Of course you would have to attack me for that."
"Oh yeah," he said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "But what if you get hurt?"
I smirked and said, "Not to boast or anything but the only person getting hurt out of the two of us would be you."

He laughed and attacked me. He did what any rookie would do, swing it forcefully. I easily dodged him and ducked. Then bent myself and kicked the sword right out of this hand.

"In the field, force has nothing over technique. It won't matter if you are facing a person who is hundred pounds more than you too if your technique is perfect."

He nodded, genuinely listening, and I continued. "You hold your sword unnecessarily tight. While that is important, strength must come right from the top of your arm so when you attack, the strength of your entire arm is put to use rather than just your hand. Since nothing above your hand was guarded, I easily kicked your wrist and your sword fell. Understood?" I asked him but instead of him answering someone else behind me did.
"Completely."

I turned to find Damon there standing in his black gear with two guards behind him. I glared at him and he smirked. Looks like I was going to kill someone today.
"Your Majesty," said Vivian.
Damon merely nodded and looked at me. "So, I see you know how to use a sword."
"You see correct," I told him.
"Amelia," Vivian warned from behind me. I huffed and bowed, "Your Majesty," with a smile as fake as it can get.

Vivian didn't know about the agreement between Damon and I and I wanted it to remain that way. At least till I'm sure of what is the deal between us myself. Damon seemed to figure out what is happening and said, "I'm sorry if I'm interrupting something but I was just curious. Usually it's the guy teaching the girl such stuff not the other way round."

"Yeah, well that was like decades ago. Now not only can the girl teach the guy how to use a sword but she can defeat him too."

"Well, if it is so, would you like to have a match? Let's see who wins."
He said challengingly.

"Done."

"What do I get if I win though?"

"Bragging rights?" I replied unsure.

He laughed and said, "We'll get to that later."

"What do I get if I win?"

"You wont."

"We'll get to that later," I replied.

He chuckled and we got into position.
"Are you sure about this?" Vivian asked me quietly.

"Learn and watch," I said with a smug expression. Damon didn't know what he was getting himself into.

"You're left handed?" He asked me and I nodded.
"Well then looks like I'll have to switch," he said. Exactly how long was he seeing us for? I thought to myself but I didn't have too much time to think as we soon got down to business.

A loud clash and our swords met in the air. He came close and said, "It'll be fun watching you lose."

"You wish."

***

A long game and still none of us could defeat the other. I wasn't liking it and could sense my ego getting hurt. I'm sure he felt the same.

We eventually stopped seeing this was going to go nowhere. Both of us were dripping in sweat and after I took a good look around did I see that there was quite an audience that had gathered to see us, including some reporters.

"You did great. Better than I expected," Damon said holding out his hand.
I shook it and replied, "Yeah, yeah, you weren't so bad yourself."
He chuckled.

Just then one of his guards came up to him from behind and whispered something in his ear.
Damon nodded and turned to me, "Well I have to go now Amelia but we will settle this sometime soon." And with that he left.

I drank some water and Vivian came up to me and said, "That was great. But, how did he know your name?"
Shoot, I still hadn't told Vivian about my encounter with Damon. Any of them. So even though I hated to do it, I looked at Damon walking with his guards in the distance and replied, "Well from the Selection I guess. He must have a great memory."