Chapter 1

Cassia

Cassia's father, King Julius, stood next to her as they beheld the camp built by her father years ago to train young adults into becoming warriors. It was situated in the middle of a forest, far from the town her father ruled over and Cassia took in her surroundings. From where they stood at the entrance, right below the sign that read Camp Trillion, she could see the many cabins made of fine timber littered across a clearing. Off to the side was a large lodge where meals and classes were held, and already, she could see commoners roaming the area with their friends, their eyes wide with fascination.

She scowled. She couldn't believe her father was sending her away to be amongst commoners.

"Well, this is Camp Trillion," Cassia's father said, waving towards the camp. "Astra and you are to stay here for four months. And you must learn how to behave better. This will not only teach you how to become a warrior, but also discipline."

"Do I have to stay here," Cassia whined. "I can train at home."

"Cassia. With the way you've been behaving lately, you need a setting that will force you to stop acting out. I am tired of dealing with your shenanigans. As a King, I must focus on my people and I can't with you around."

Cassia bit her lip. Her eyes narrowed and next to her father, Astra fidgeted in her spot, keeping her eyes fixated the bright blue sky above them. Astra's red hair was up in a ponytail and her green eyes were averted. She'd been Cassia's guard since Cassia was fourteen and Astra was merely three years older than her, making her twenty-one. And after spending four years with Cassia, she was tired of Cassia's bouts of anger.

"You can't change me," Cassia hissed, her brown eyes locked on her father's.

Her father looked like her. With dark brown hair and the same big brown eyes, her father resembled her. Cassia didn't know her mother, so the parts of her she got from her mother were a mystery.

"I know," her father said. "I have tried time and time again, but you never listen. This is my last chance to see if you're worthy of being a Queen one day."

Cassia's jaw clenched. She wanted to argue more, to throw a tantrum and embarrass her father in front of the commoners roaming the field, but she said nothing. She was exhausted. And with her father sending her to camp, she realized in some ways she already lost her ongoing battle with her father.

"Very well, Astra and you should go to your cabin," her father said, waving them off. "I'll try to visit when I can."

Cassia shot her father a look as he waved, an uneasy smile on his face, and she stalked off. Astra trailed behind her as she stormed through the field, past the other campers who gave her looks, and into the cabin that was hers. She entered it and Astra did, too.

The cabin was puny. It consisted of merely two single beds attached to separate walls and separating them was a nightstand made of fine wood. There was a washroom connected to the room, but nothing else was in the drab wooden cell with walls the colour of bark.

"This is lovely," Astra said.

Cassia scowled and tossed her satchel onto a nest of white bedsheets. She opened it and Astra opened her own as well.

And the first thing that appeared was her dagger, sheathed in a sheath made of fine leather. She picked it up and laid it against her pillow as if it were a stuff animal she treasured.

"Maybe this will be good for you," Astra said. "This camp might be your calling."

Astra smiled and Cassia blinked. She wore an uneasy expression. It was as if Astra feared landing on the mine within the minefield of Cassia's temper.

"I highly doubt that," Cassia hissed. "And I don't appreciate you lying."

Astra avoided her gaze and Cassia continued unpacking. And with a heavy heart, she prepared for their first meal.

*****

In the wooden lodge there was a colossal cafeteria. Cafeteria tables littered the area a few meters apart each, and people sat with friends at the wooden tables, laughing and chatting. It was clamorous and Cassia settled down in one table and Astra sat across from her. Neither of them spoke as they ate under the blinking lights.

Cassia's eyes slid across the room. There were about a hundred others in the camp and they all seemed to be around her age. They had different hair colours and different skin colours, and they were all citizens of her kingdom of Oflaria, which was an island located off from the other kingdoms of their world.

Oflaria was an old kingdom. It existed for centuries and despite the world outside of the kingdom evolving and adapting, Oflaria stuck to traditions. Citizens of Oflaria favourite weapons were swords and they still used horses to travel around the island. They were somewhat stuck in the medieval times, but without the oppression of women and other issues existing.

They also barely had contact with the outside world either - the only way to contact them was by boat, so it was rare for other kingdoms to bother contacting her father. But in the rare times people did, her father would learn new advancements and the few times he liked them, he would add them to his kingdom, which was how the camp came to be. He heard of it from a kingdom across the ocean and he stole their idea and added cabins and lodges to his own camp he named Camp Trillion.

"Hello, everyone."

Cassia turned her attention to a man who stood at one end of the cafeteria. His voice bellowed out and encompassed the room.

"I'm Dawson and welcome to Camp Trillion," Dawson said, grinning. "This is our first meal of many together and I want to first describe what goes on in the camp."

Dawson began his spiel about the rules, of how bullying wasn't tolerated, girls and guys shouldn't be sharing rooms and how there was a curfew they couldn't leave camp past. Cassia rested her head on her hand, growing wearier by the second. Dawson kept blabbering on and on and she nearly knocked out, but then he said the word contest and she perked up.

"Now, as we know this camp was built to help the citizens of Oflaria become warriors in case they are needed to serve the kingdom," Dawson said. "Which is why, to encourage training and growing your talents, we decided to hold a competition that will last your entire stay here."

Murmurs broke out in the crowd. Like Cassia, most of them were dozing off, but at the sound of a contest they were rejuvenated.

"So every few days, we will hold a contest. It can range from duelling with swords to simple archery, and we will keep track of everyone's scores in each event," Dawson continued. "And by the end of this camp, whoever ends up with the highest score will win the grand prize."

Cassia smiled. It was the first time she smiled since she was told she was being sent to Camp Trillion. Because now, she finally had a way to prove to her father she was good enough.

"The first duel will be held tomorrow," Dawson said. "And it will be a sword fight. All of you must be trained by law, so I expect a good performance."

Dawson bowed and walked off, and Cassia smirked. Adrenaline pumped through her at the thought of taking down the campers around her, who stood no chance against her.

"I can't wait to beat them all," Cassia said. Her voice rose and a few people shot her looks, and she glared right back, her eyes full of mischievous delight. "No one stands a chance."

"Cassia... I don't think you should be making enemies," Astra said, her voice full of worry.

Cassia rolled her eyes. Astra was always her voice of reason, but Cassia never listened. Whatever she wanted, she would do.

"Why? Are you scared?" Cassia asked. "You may be my guard, but I'll protect you. If anyone dares to threaten you, they can welcome my sword up their-"

"Cassia!"

Astra looked horrified and Cassia snorted. It was too easy to make Astra flustered.

"Is that so, princess?"

Cassia jolted at the low voice of a boy. Her eyes slid to the table closest to hers and there was a boy, looking at her with his animated hazel eyes. He had brown hair that was tousled gently, as if someone had ran their fingers through it, and his jawline was sharp and his tanned skin smooth. He was smirking at her and there were two others sitting at his table; a girl with red hair and blue eyes and a boy with dark skin and curly black hair.

"Is what so?" Cassia asked, narrowing her eyes at the boy.

"I heard you shouting about how you'll win," the boy said. "And you know what they say, those who shout the loudest have the least to say."

"Excuse me?"

Cassia's jaw dropped and the boy next to Hunter looked wary. No one had ever spoken to Cassia like that. At least, no one the same age as her because she was a princess. You weren't supposed to talk back to a princess.

"Hunter, she's the princess," the boy with curly hair muttered.

"Well, then why is she gracing us with her presence?"

"None of your business." Cassia scowled. "So why don't you un-grace me with your presence."

Hunter rolled his eyes and Astra shook her head, as if to warn Cassia to stop. To stop before it all blew up, but Cassia was never one to give up.

"Rumour is your father was sick of you, so he sent you here to be rid of you," Hunter said. "At least I'm here by choice."

The girl across from Hunter snickered and Cassia faltered. Hunter's words were a low blow - as if he'd taken a dagger and shoved it into her heart, and she could feel her heart throbbing at the mere statement. Hunter faltered, seeming caught off guard by her reaction, before she ignited again.

"Someone who has holes in their shoes shouldn't be speaking on my life," Cassia hissed. "So worry about your own life, peasant."

Hunter's eyes narrowed at Cassia, hardening like ice, before he shook his head and turned around. His friend shot Cassia a wary look and they all returned to their own conversations, but Cassia continued to fume.

How dare he talk to her like that. How dare someone like him speak as if Cassia was beneath him.

Cassia heated up, feeling a rage boiling within her, hot and heavy, and she forced her eyes away. Astra still looked horrified.

"Please, Princess," Astra said. "Don't make enemies. Your father wants you on your best behaviour."

Cassia smirked. She shook her head and Astra groaned.

"Too late."