Amara's POV

Many knew of a princess born of fair beauty, first born and heir to the Northern Aster Kingdom's throne.

Many knew of my name, Amara Aster...but very few knew of my identity.

The only individuals blessed with the knowledge of me being the princess was my very ill father King Allerick, younger twin brother Kaladin Aster and my uncle (which was my mother's older brother) who raised me most of my life to becoming the best right hand knight.

I may have not been well known as the princess but I was practically the hero of my people when it came to my victories in battle alongside my Uncle Alastair who went by the title General Thane.

Morning was yet to come as I briskly walked through the corridors, shoving my helmet on as I tucking my single-braided hair away.

I made it my mission to always rise before the sun on my days of training, to always be a step ahead.

In order to be the best I could be and the strongest I wished to become, I had to go above and beyond expectations.

Never faltering my strength and always keeping guard to what and who was around me.

After all, not only was I the Princess of the Northern Kingdom but also the Royal White Knight of Aster.

The Knight said to have beaten twenty men in a single fight. One who never lost a battle.

Even if I was given fairytale stories under my name, it showed just how great my beloved people believed in me and I'd gladly let them tell the tales if that's what kept their spirits high.

After all I was to be a Knight that was worthy of their title, a Knight that would soon someday even best General Thane himself as the gossip went.

And as a Royal Knight, my gender was even concealed along with my identity so many thought of me as just another male pier in the system of royal knights who'd lay their life down for the King.

The other top royal knights that were just below me in a few ranks were William Gander and Seth Dieahfold. Also know as the formidable duo of the knights.

As royal knights we all hid our identity for the majority of the time expect early morning training.

Well, all expect me. I was the only one out of everyone else that kept my real identity a secret. So one could only imagine the curiosity of my peers in which was constantly growing.

But thankfully my Uncle Alastair played a big role in keeping my identity a secret and only let their curiosity get so far as to know my alias.

———

After I had a least an hour of training the sun began to show itself through the misty clouds.

Sweat beating off my skin, trapped beneath my light weighted armor as I raised my sword above me to strike for my hundredth time.

"Rise and shine~" By the deep but soothingly-toned voice I could only assume it was William.

I knew that if I really let my feelings go I would have blushed even beneath my armor...but knowing my duty as both Royal Knight and Princess.

I allowed myself no such luxury.

"Morning." Was all I said while bowing my head for just an instant in respect for both William and Seth as they did the same.

William and Seth had no helmet to conceal their faces as they wore loose tunics and trousers as well as boots on their feet.

Justin held his sword loosely in hand over his shoulder with Seth's in its sheath.

"So how's training so for Asher?" Seth spoke to me tiredly as he yawned.

I glanced his way seeing his dark brown hair as short as always as his amber eyes met me.

His dark skin defined his white shirt even more than compared to William who had orange curly hair.

And compared to Seth who was like the contrasts of night, William seemed to be just as the morning having pale skin with freckles all over.

"Training is training. And just finished so the training ground is all yours boys." I spoke in a deeper voice than my normal as I finished my last hit, having sword in hand.

As I walked away I felt the wavering glance of William on me.

Out of all my peers William was the most curious to know who I really was.

At one point he went as far as trying to sneak in my personal bath room at the age of fifteen.

Funny enough we were both the same age but for a growing lady I hadn't fully matured yet being that I was a late bloomer and very small when I was younger.

So in some aspects of me at the time, one could say I looked like a boy if it weren't for the pink.

My Uncle Alastair obviously didn't take too kindly to that and had William scrub every inch of castle along side the maids and such.

William cleaned for a good year before my uncle forgave his foolishness.

Luckily William, at least I hoped, never saw anything to indicate that I was indeed a girl.

———

As the day wore on so did my energy.

Once I found the time, I took it upon myself to lay under an oak tree that was surrounded by small purple and white flowers that smelled of something soft and sweet.

I tried forever to figure out what they reminded me of but couldn't quite place it.

As a small flower twirled between my thumb and index finger a hawk flew by with a message in its talons.

"Doesn't look like one of ours?" I spoke as I heard rustling behind me.

It was my uncle.

By now, before I had taken a rest, I had changed into more comfortable attire for the evening with a dress made of fine fabric in the color of a soft pink and scattered pink flowers tucked in my hair to match.

As always I kept my sword named Starfall by my side. It had been a ceremonial gift from my father when I had finally achieved my goal of being knighted to the royal guard.

"It isn't." Was all my Uncle said as he took my hand gently with my hair swaying into the direction he led.

The flower I had once held was now lost somewhere beneath the night's sky.

———Character Mood Boards———

(Amara Aster)

(William Gander)

(Seth Dieahfold)

(Kaladin Aster)

(Alastair Thane)

(King Allerick)