I wish the days left me falling into a pattern. But it feels as if I'm learning a new piece every time I turn around. Over the next few weeks I'll be learning different chores. I'll be following different paths. There are classes, but even if I'm not required to show up for them, they do expect me. Specifically me. Everyone else can skip.
I am expected to reach graduation like a royal normally does. At the level a royal normally does.
After our bow class, I sit on the ground staring at the target. Ryan, Jessica, and I were the newest students. I was treated as if I shouldn't be called new.
"The fact they kept forcing you into action was something." Jessica says standing behind me. "The constant comparison with the king must've been annoying."
"It's like the knights are my enemies." I growl out. I could not manage any of the required shots. But those shots being asked for would get me out of the class. I want to learn how to handle a bow properly. I want to take my time learning. There is no reason for me to rush.
"They may be pissed at you for having the queen here. She's been here every day for a few hours." Ryan shrugs. "They're taking out their frustrations on you."
"Afraid you'll change things, maybe?" Jessica scans things. "They can't do anything to or against the queen. But this is all marked training."
I scoff while standing. I pull an arrow and notch my bow. Within a breath, that's the key. I aim for the target and let it go.
It's my first bullseye. The lesson made sense, but I wanted to watch the more experienced trainees and knights do it first.
"You're going to just copy your father's record." Jessica glances at me before heading for the target. "I can hear Atticus now. 'Half a millimeter to the left, Your Highness. This was not what I was expecting from you."
It has me laughing. "I started missing on purpose actually. I didn't think it would get worse for the misses, but there was no way I was going to beat my father's scores. I don't want to." I accept my arrow back.
"Can't blame you for that." Jessica pushes me aside to test her own skills. She hits the target. That's all to be expected of us now. We'll want to be able to do nine out of ten bullseyes for comfort before truly calling ourselves skilled with the bow. "The more weapons you manage, the easier your magic training will be."
"Really?" Ryan wasn't there for the magic lesson. He gets the non mage lessons about flow of mana. Jessica and I are stuck learning about the full scale.
"Yeah. Each magic has a weapon associated with it. Weapons similar to how the halls uses the term weapon."
"I worry over the bomb move their expecting to mark you skilled enough as a magic."
"Need an AOE and single target." Jessica nods. "I won't pass before October. I get flow; I don't get magic's chaos."
I sigh. I definitely won't pass. Or legally pass. It would depend on luck. "I think the only spells I can get my magic working properly with is the rituals. But that's because it's just flow of magic into the artifacts."
"Could I?" Ryan asks.
I nod. "If you were marked within my family tree. I can't say if the ritual would work. I'm not sure specifics besides you need to be my family tree. Just... Someone without magic can still get it active."
"And we're all long distance cousins somehow." Jessica says. That was brought up in biology. A course few study unless they're interested in specific fields. First aid, magic, adventuring, and potions use biology often, but a general knight won't. I was required to go.
Ryan scans us. "But it's not close." He draws his bow to try his hand now. He misses the target completely. "This is just another field I need to practice."
"I'm glad you reached sharpened status within the week. Hydrangea was not happy you nearly missed that timing." Jessica collects the arrow again. "What's the plan?"
I grunt. There will be another class in an hour. Then I have information booth. "Next class is horse riding, right? I can skip that... Right?"
"Want to join anyway? It should split between those in need of basics and those in need of advancement." Ryan scans the area. Everyone left as was normal. Who wants to continue practicing after a class ends? "We can get a nice ride in. You enjoy that, right?"
"Yeah. A good idea. Let's grab a quick something before that though." I'll be expected in class until I prove I don't need it. I thought I already proved horse riding with Hydrangea, but... Who knows.
And there is a good chance, I'll end up standing on the trainer's side. It's been a threat. Prove I deserve position as a leader. It's not like I can graduate before four months anyway. Even if I pass everything. Only the king can sign off on the allowance for an early graduation. What would happen if that was me?
Mom's been here daily. Father hasn't been. He comes fuming over Mom being here. That's every few days. It's not like Mom is skipping out on her duties. She's just using her downtime here instead of elsewhere. She hasn't touched her knitting lately.
I'm half expecting a big blow out here just because they happen to be at the halls at the same time. It doesn't feel like my place to deal with, but everyone is trying to get me to stop the mess. Mom is a red knight. She may not head out on mission, but she is still well experienced. She proves her skills aren't poor. She suits the title of queen. No one questions that watching her.
I'm tired of being shoved between them. That's been the case since I was little. My parents are... troublesome.
"I'm starting to get used to the meals here." Ryans sits down across from me. Jessica sits at his side nodding. I never minded it. Still don't. "Eat quickly. Class begins soon."