Challenge
At dawn, I woke up to a banal Monday morning, with the birds chirping outside the castle window, and the loud, ringing morning bell, waking up the pages and squires. I slowly walked to my wash bin and monotonously washed my face to get ready for a new day.
I languidly made it to the page's wing and began to eat my breakfast. I was in a profound state of mind when I heard a booming voice speak to us.
"Okay all you little girls, listen up. After breakfast you are to get ready and meet me out in the courtyards to enhance your performance in swordsmanship. God help us, you'll need all the help you can get. You are dismissed."
Everyone set out to their rooms to get ready and bring their swords along. The only sounds that were heard making their way to the courtyards were the boys' feet treading across the dirt road, and an occasional mumble that escaped from the lips of a boy from lack of sleep.
All of the young boys were paired up and began their pattern of hitting and blocking. The euphony of the medal swords dancing around each other reminded me of what I came here to do; to become a knight.
The swordsman teacher, who is teaching the young boys, is named Yoan Medulla of Odalia. He is one of the toughest teachers when it came to defending yourself. He would always say to us "You can go all of your life not using wrestling, but once in your life there will be a time when you will need to protect yourself or another with your sword."
Soon everyone was reporting back to wash up. I was in my quarters when a knock sounded at my door. I quickly ran to open it, after tripping over my unmade bed sheets, and pulled the handle to emit a big broad shouldered man with a wiry smile.
"Everyone is report at the dining hall in 10 minutes. I hope to see you there on time."
After he left I quickly straightened up my room and made myself look presentable. I wonder what this is all about, I thought to myself, classes don't start until another half hour. I walked into the hall to find my friend Joseif waiting by my room with a questioning look on his face.
"Jon, what do you think they are calling us for?" questioned Joseif.
"I don't know, I guess we'll find out!" I exasperated with a sigh.
We finally made it to the dining hall and we took our seats. We quietly exchanged a few comments when the King stepped into the room, which then turned dead silent. We all quickly stood up and bowed as low our backs could go. We never see the King unless there is important news that involves us.
"You may all take your seats. I will be very concise and get to the point so you all can make it to your next lessons. I don't know how much you know about the war with Kali, but it is escalating more than we anticipated. Your teaching masters tell me that you are all excelling in your studies. We will need you bright young men to help defend our country. You are leaving in a few days to help the army to fight at our borders and keep the Kalian civilians off of our land."
I tuned out the rest of his speech and began to reflect what he said. This is my chance to serve my country and to go on my first real adventure to prove what I can really accomplish.