Destinies Met

Chapter 2: Cora's New Journey - Royal Academy

Princess Cora, 17 years of age, engaged to the prince of the Land of White, Prince Logan. Their destinies already planned out for them to be married upon legal age of Cora turning 20 years of age. 

It has been about four years since Cora found out she was engaged to the prince of the land of White, so she had come to terms with it and accepted it, knowing it was for her people and her Kingdom.

Cora’s mother, queen May, on Cora’s 17th Birthday suggested to put Cora into an educational system to teach her about how to be queen and to run a country and about economy and war strategy. She suggested that although the kingdoms were at peace now, but what if later war breaks out with other nations. May told her husband that Cora would need to know how to combat such situations. Both Margon and May agreed to put their daughter in the school that only royal families could attend, so she did. The school was for royal children to learn from the basics, to the most complex, battle situations and scenarios and how to run a country and a nation. Cora thought to herself at a young age, that she needed to learn how to stand on her own, in case her parents were no longer there, and, if she needs to run a country, or multiple nations on her own, if her future husband, is not with her for any reason at all.

But for now, Cora was able to enjoy her teenage life while she had it, without the need to worry about marriage for now. She spent most of her time with her family until she the time came for her to attend the school of royalty. “I will work hard and learn all I can, to become a great queen, to lead our people in a way that they will have confidence in me as their queen. I…. want to be someone they could look up to and I can be there for my people….” Cora thought to herself writing down in a journal how she truly felt. Cora grew up to be an introvert type personality and she kept to herself a lot, she never talked often, only when spoken to and only if she had to speak, she would.

One night, she is sitting on the balcony of her bed room in the palace, looking at the clear starry sky and the moon, thinking to herself and pondering what life was going to be like, at the royal school academy. 

The next day, the horse and carriage had arrived at the palace to pick up Princess Cora to take her to start her educational journey: “Goodbye Mother, Father, I will write to you when I am at the school.” Cora said hugging her parents. “My child, remember, who you are and do not cause too much trouble.” King Margon said holding his daughter in his arms, and finally holding her mother in her arms, saying an emotional goodbye, watching their daughter go to school to learn royalty, economics and war strategy; So that she would be prepared for the future, whatever that may hold.

Watching their daughter being carried away by the horse and carriage to the royal school of the Kingdom of Gitana, where all royals around the nations sent their children to learn since the time of peace 17 years ago between the land of White and Nomadia, sent their children to learn the ways of life and royalty.  

That afternoon, princess Cora arrived at the royal school in the Kingdom of Gitana, which was about half a day's journey away from the Kingdom of Nomadia. Among other royal dignitaries’ children, she was among the princes and princesses who were born after the peace treaty after the war. Everyone knew Princess Cora was engaged to the Prince of the Land of White, so everyone kept an eye on her to see if she would slip up, being a young woman becoming mature in her own right. As everyone is being taken to their own rooms in this university like school, they had their own rooms of royalty, like a home away from home. Directly across from princess Cora, was a young boy, by the name of Laden, of royal blood but not a prince or a King.  For that evening, the royal teenagers were allowed to get some rest, seeing it was late in the evening so the principle of the academy advised the students via a formal hall meeting to get some rest and that food would be served to their dorms that evening, so that they could get some rest and be refreshed for the following morning. 

The next day, princess Cora and the other royal teenagers introduced themselves in the class, however there was one boy who stood out from the rest. His name was Laden. No one sat next to him, nor did they eat with him, as he was a half breed of Gitanian and Nomadian. Because of the royal blood, no one would associate with half breeds.

Laden, when introduced himself, he stood out from the rest of the royal boys, as he was a thing of beauty to look upon, however, no one acknowledged him because he was a half breed.

After presentations, classes, orientation and lectures, during the lunch time, princess Cora would go over and sit next to Laden. “Hello..” She would greet him kindly. “what is a princess doing talking to a half breed?” Laden responded coldly. “You are still human, aren’t you?” princess Cora responded kindly as she sat next to him to eat together. The other royals almost didn’t talk to Cora for doing such a thing.

“Your friends are keeping a distance because of this….” Laden said in a low husky tone of voice as he drank his morning drink to wake him up. Cora turned around to look at them, “who cares? They don’t talk to me anyways… I am Cora…” She smiled and did a kind introduction. “I am Laden…” He smiled at her in a husky tone of voice.

There is silence between them for a moment, “Hey, aren’t you the princess that is engaged to the prince of the land of White?” Laden asked her kindly. “Yeah, that’s me.” Cora smiled bluntly then looked down to eat her breakfast. 

Whilst she was walking along the gardens outside the school, the bell rang, and it was time to attend strategIc class. She attended the class and sat in front of Laden, which their tables were together opposite each other.

“the number one rule of war is to know your enemy. Once you know your enemy, you can find out their weakness, what makes them tick, how they torture their enemies, how they act and think. Most of the time, other than the physical war, it is psychological. Whether it be in love or war, you must know your strategy how you are going to win and bring peace to you, and those around you…” said the teacher, being a royal bloodline prince himself, however he was assigned this assignment as teacher by his father, the king of the land of Gitana, His name, was prince Raynor. (Laden’s cousin).

When Cora heard this, she was touched to the heart however she took it all in, as she wrote down her notes with enthusiasm. It was 3pm, the bell rang, and strategy class was over for the day, the students left in a rush to go back to their rooms in the school to rest and recover and have dinner. “Princess Cora, please, stay back for a moment.” Prince Raynor requested. Cora looked at him and bowed in respect for him. “My lord…” Cora bowed as the students left, and it was just Raynor and her left in the class room. “How are you settling in?” the prince kindly asked her. “Yes, very well thank you… I really enjoyed your lecture today, this taught me a lot in one class already….” She smiled at him tenderly. “Oh? You may just be my favourite student now, haha” Prince Royal commended her as he joked kindly with her. “Please don’t, my lord, I am just among other students here learning the same things…” She said humbled. “You are the princess that is engaged to the prince of the land of White, yes?” Prince Raynor asked her kindly with esteem. Cora swallowed a breath, afraid to answer, now aware that her fiancé was a play boy. “Yes, my lord…” She said as she looked down. “You don’t seem very enthusiastic about it, well I supposed you wouldn’t be, being engaged since birth to avoid a war?” Raynor questioned with a smirk on his face. She looked at him for a moment and grasped for a moment, “Well, when you put it like that, I suppose….” She said when suddenly, “Cora, lets go!” Laden said as he walked in the room. “Laden…” Cora glanced at Laden. “Ahh, yes, Laden, how good to see you….” Raynor smiled at him softly, as Cora bowed to him and left Raynor’s class. “Cora, if you need anything, please do let me know.” He smiled at her charmingly as he crossed his arms, watching the two of them walk out the class room.

“Thanks for saving me back there…” Cora sighed as she walked together with Laden through the royal dorms leading back to their rooms together. “you looked like you were under a little pressure.” He grinned at her with a cheeky smile. “You could say that.” She laughed with him as they were walking back to their dorms. “Hey, come with me.” Laden said to her, grabbing hold of her hand. She grasped as she looked at him for a moment in time, making eye contact with each other.

Laden took her to a look out to the top of the mountain overlooking the entire kingdom of Gitana.

“Woah…. this is so beautiful….” Cora said astounded and in awe of the view of the kingdom. “You think so?” Laden questioned kindly. “Well, this used to be my kingdom….” Laden said as he sat down on the grass. “What happened?” Cora asked as she sat next to him on the grass. “My uncle, who was a pure blooded Gitanian,  took over the throne when my parents were killed in war 17 years ago, I was the only heir, but because I was a half breed, I was outcast of the family…” Laden said as he looked away for a moment in anger. “So, technically, you are a King….Laden…” Cora said in amazement. Laden turned to look at her and smirked, “You could say that….” He smirked, then looked away.

“What’s your story? You are about to be married soon to the next King in the land of White, why did you come here? your future is already set?” Laden asked her in a kind husky tone of voice.

“My mother…. Thought it was a good idea for me to study war, strategy and economics, even though I will be married to the next King, she thought I will need to handle on my own in a King’s world out there…we may be in peace now, but what about later when other threats come about?” Cora said in response to Laden’s question. Laden pouted his lips in agreement and raised his shoulders, “Makes sense.” He responded simply. “You sound like you come from a good family…” Laden said to her. “Yes, I do…” Cora responded kindly, as she began to miss her family. “Do you have any siblings?” Laden asked her. “no, I am an only child”  She responded kindly as she pulled her legs close to her and relaxed both her elbows on them. “that’s cool” Laden responded simply.  

“What are your plans after studying here, Laden?” Cora asked him. Laden went quiet for a moment, “Don’t know…will see where the road leads.” Laden said as he laid back on the grass, putting his arms around his head to relax, as he stretched his legs laying back. Cora laid beside him simply on her back also, as they both looked at the stars. “And you?” Laden asked her. “Well, after three years, I will be going to the land of White, and be married to Prince Logan….Are the rumours true by what they say?” She questioned concerned. Laden went quiet for a moment, “You may just have to ask him yourself.” He smirked as they got up. “We should head back, otherwise the royal police may come looking for us.” He sighed as he grabbed her hand, “Hey Laden….” She said as they both got up. “Yeah?” He questioned. “Thank you…..” She smiled. Laden blushed. “For what? We are just friends….” He said as they walk back together to their dorms.