~Aurora~

　　The heat of the incident had succumbed quite well. The final list of contestants have been selected, from which Odin and I are also a part. The final list consisted of Clara, Odin, two other men and myself. I couldn't identify the men, nor get to know about them, because of a certain someone. And that certain someone had been imparting indirect knowledge about them upon knowing that I was interested in knowing their background!

　　Doing so - learning where they come from - I can come up with a good battle strategy which will affect my performance grandly.

　　"Hey!"

　　"Whoa-!" I was walking down the library corridor, having exited the space and into the corridor, a heavy man suddenly pounced over me from behind!

　　"The books might have fallen, genius!"

　　"Does it look like I'm going to miss an opportunity to make you jump over a pile of books falling over? Nah, that's not me, Fangborn." I rolled my eyes at him.

　　"So? What's your strategy?"

　　"First rule of winning - never let your enemies know your stance. Who knows...? You might use them against me, just like that."

　　I scoffed at his accusation, "What a friend I have. Also, what makes you think I'd even think about using your stances against you, Odin? You're a clumsy little guy, almost too stupid to be in a fight with me too! Stop living in the land of imaginations, it's too bad. Trust me with this," I chuckled in the end, while his smile faded.

　　"Hey...it's not okay to joke about your trauma, idiot." I shrugged my shoulders. Letting him take few books from me, we walked back to the garden to sit and read about war art. I breathed deeply, before answering once again,

　　"It was a bad experience, I agree on that. But hey! I've learned a lesson!"

　　"What lesson?" He asked with curiosity,

　　"That reality is much, much better than imagination any which way. Your mind is capable of going against you. And it's dangerous as hell."

　　"...That literally sent a chill down my spine. An eighteen year old isn't supposed to speak like this, Aurora."

　　"Times are changing, Odin. Aren't they? Anyway, what regime are you following to train yourself? It's been three days since the incident happened and Alexia Thorn was thrown out of the kingdom and Trials. What's going on with you?" I asked teasingly,

　　"Oh, nothing."

　　Well...

　　I know a blush when I see one! His cheeks were dusted pink as I cooed at the color! It was so cute on him! Especially when his all-white appearance complimented the change of tint on his cheeks!

　　"Tell me who is it already! Is it a kingdom resident? Someone from the participants? Or...is it a boy!?"

　　"A boy!? That's atrocious! I like women!" His panicked voice answered as I chuckled even more! We've reached the garden as I placed the books down. There were absolutely no audience around us to witness our little skit of back and forth tug! I'm sure I'll get him to confess who's stolen his heart, today!

　　"Aurora, we are deviating. Let's continue learning the stances. I'm in defense positions. Which one are you following?" His sudden topic change switched my mood off. All my excitement has been drained away, and I puckered my lips out, feeling discouraged. Well, if he doesn't want to reveal things to me, it was fine with me. I am not a pusher.

　　"Okay. Let's do this,"

　　With literally no one in the garden, this space had become our little private gym space. We practiced a lot of postures and stances for absolute defense. Books never lie. Thousands of years of experiences of thousands of people are recorded in these books. That's why I like them. That's why I love reading than practicing.

　　"Phew!" Heaving out heavily, I chuckled at Odin who was sweating pearls of hardwork as well. We giggled at each other, and seen how far our fight power had come. That's right.

　　We accidentally fell into battle and fought a trial battle with each other. He was a good sport, had high stamina and was a great offensive player. That pushed me to take on the defensive side, which was also to my advantage. After landing many unsuccessful blows on me, he had exhausted himself. With a smirk, i had taken the opportunity to one up him on that.

　　"Smart," He commented on my fight style. All I had to do again, was smirk like a cocky player. Following that, at the moment, I insisted that I head back to my room and rest until dinner.

　　"Are you sure you're going to come down for dinner tonight? You look exhausted." Odin stood by my room's doorframe. He was checking if I would go for training by myself or something like that, deceiving him upon it.

　　"I don't think I would come down for dinner. Have fun, Odin! I'll see you tomorrow." Narrowing his eyes at me, I shrugged my shoulders and gave a goofy smile. Entering my room, I insisted that Odin would leave first before I close the door back again.

　　Odin left quite reluctantly. Upon closing the door, I furrowed my eyebrows as I analysed his facial expression. It looked as though he wanted to talk to me about something specific. Well, I'm not exactly in the best position by myself.

　　I should be taking a nap now, for I should work even harder in the night.

　　Stripping away from all my clothes, I waited for the water to heat up. I liked sitting naked on the bed, pondering and fantasizing about my victory in the near future. When I shall be rewarded with victory...The first thing I should be doing is confess to Prince Emeric. I've been holding back my feelings for a little too long now. Who knows...?

　　Prince Emeric might even lose interest in me if I keep slacking off and not reciprocate his feelings! He's a good man, I want him in my life. But...what if either him or I get the chance to meet our mate?

　　Will my life turn upside down again?

　　No. I think I will reject my future mate if Prince Emeric shows equally passionate feelings towards me. I wish to keep this thought under other thoughts...because it is bothering me!

　　Standing back up, I went into the bathroom to check if the water was heated up. Upon noticing the change in lights on the geyser, I switched the machine off and stepped into the little space under the shower head.

　　A lowly moan of tense muscles easing under the warm water escaped my lips. A lot of things have gotten off my mind upon realizing that there is no one to pull me back anymore. There is no one to put a barrier in front of me, and steal my reward away from me. It was peaceful.

　　It will be the last, final trial in a few more days. My training has been discreet. And I guarantee myself a thousand percent that other four contestants with me are training this way as well. In their room, in the training ground at a much odd hour than mine, in the forest. Possibilities were endless.

　　But mine...it somehow always clashes with someone of my interest.

　　As I closed my eyes and imagined a vague memory of his sculpted body, skin covered with a sheet of sweat, I couldn't help but bite down on my lip. I could feel the rush in my cheeks, I held them to squeal in a slow voice.

　　I can't wait for the 'bumping into each other' soon, with Prince Emeric~