Briarwood
The early morning sun spread its warm rays over the earth, lighting the various nooks and crannies of the forest neat the small town of Briarwood. As least one person was out in the morning air, enjoying the new day and the warmth it brought. That person wore a dark cloak covering his black pants, white shirt and red trimmed black vest. His face was a handsome one, with darker colored skin coordinating with his short dark brown hair. He walked on dirt trails with his head sown, obviously focused on something else.
"How can Koragg be Leanbow?" he thought quietly aloud to himself. He wandered over a ledge and saw a majestic castle looming in the distance. Udonna had told him and the other rangers when they had first started that the castle was practically off limits unless it was a dire emergency. It belonged to the queen of the Magical realm who apparently did not like guests. Off in the distance behind him he heard the sounds of wood hitting and a familiar male voice. Following the sounds he poked his head through a few tall bushes that stood on a little hillock. His mouth gaped at what he saw.
It was his teacher Daggeron, dressed in his normal clothes sparring an individual in a black fighting outfit with a matching hood. They were fighting in the style of bound battle using wooden swords and a leather chain. Whoever was under the hood was pretty good and kept Daggeron busy dodging their attacks. With a brilliant move the hooded figure flipped Daggeron's sword out of his hand and flying into the air. The wooded sword turned a few times and landed directly in front of where Nick was hiding, its point stabbed into the ground.
"Nick? Is that you under there?" Daggeron called in his light British accent as he peered into the bush. Nick winced at being caught and stood. Pulling the sword from the ground, he handed it to Daggeron with a small grin. "What are you doing here?" Daggeron asked, a small bit of worry on his usually pleasant face.
"I was just walking and I heard you. Who's that?" he asked, pointing at the masked figure who stood twenty feet away. Daggeron's face went white.
"That's… that is… well…" his voice trailed off.
"It's alright Daggeron." The person said voice sweet and undeniably feminine. She pulled off the mask and revealed a pretty face with a mass of long dark hair that curled in soft waves down her back. Her eyes startled him with their strange purple color that was also running in streaks through her hair. She moved forward, pulling off her glove and offering her hand. "I'm Davina."
"Nick." he answered, voice slightly hoarse from the surprise of seeing such a beautiful girl. Her height was slightly shorter than his own, and her voice as soft as an autumn breeze. "You're pretty good." he said quickly letting her hand go. She laughed lightly.
"Thanks." she replied walking over to Daggeron. "He's a great teacher." At Nick's confused face Daggeron explained.
"Davina asked me to train her. Her mother doesn't exactly approve of this, so we meet in the early morning before she'd be missed.
"I guess that makes sense." Nick replied nodding, but his brow stayed wrinkled. "But why doesn't your mother want you to know how to defend yourself?" Davina threw her arms in the air and shrugged. With a look of carelessness she replied offhandedly,
"I dunno, something about being a proper princess."
"Princess?" Nick said in surprise, eyes wide staring at her. Davina cocked her head and looked at him confused. Daggeron smiled at the two.
"It's alright Davina; Nick is one of the five mystic rangers. He didn't know your mother is the queen."
"Well that makes sense." Davina faced him, "My mother is only being protective because she lost my sister already." She saw his confused face again. "My sister left ad hasn't returned yet." Davina shrugged as she paced. "She's a singer; she's probably trying to make a record somewhere."
"We've been trying to keep this secret and would appreciate it if you wouldn't say anything to your friends, Nick." Daggeron said, interrupting Davina's explanation.
"Not even to the rangers?"
"Not even to them." Davina answered. "Please, if more people know, the harder it is to keep quiet." Her purple eyes begged him.
"Alright." Nick sighed, defeated.
"Yes!" Davina said, jumping from happiness. She stopped and looked at him, a thoughtful look on her face. "You know… I could use a sparring partner."