Chapter Text
Chapter 1: A Day in The Life of—
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Captain of the Royal Guards, Jin, and his sixteen-year-old daughter, Lynkura, or rather Lynk for short, had originally planned for a stroll then to go fetch some lunch. However, those plans were cut short when they spotted the new batch of trainees in the courtyard. It had been the sounds of clashing blunt training swords and wood shields that had caught their attention.
This year's new selection of trainees were in their first week of schooling, and with their task given, had been mostly left to their own devices to get familiar with those they would be working with for the rest of their lives.
A bonding session, perhaps—one of many to come as they furthered their skills and abilities.
Lynk peered down at them with eager and curious eyes; excited to see how they would grow. Especially those that she had met at the entrance exam, there are plenty of promising people that had applied this season.
Despite Lynk's desire to ignore it, her attention was drawn to one man in particular—a red-haired man, a few years her senior perhaps—that seemed to express some…narcissist traits. None of which are appreciated within the guard, only those with the skills are allowed to do so, and only in tournaments to display these skills. Still, he had taken quickly to berating those around him that he perceived as inferior. If only he wasn't so—because he had the skill!
She had overheard him speaking to two of the other trainees after the second day, declaring himself superior to the teachers and that they should promote him already.
Hutson was a nuisance to put it lightly.
The guards had taken to joking about him. It was quite funny to see what the guards thought of him.
"He's nothing but a child playing pretend."
"Bastard wouldn't know talent if it hit him in the face."
"I can't wait to see someone put the brat in his place."
"…How'd he even pass the entrance exam with that attitude?" She asked her father, brows pinched.
Jin sighed heavily, hands clasped together behind his back. "He was a student under Taluk."
Lynk grimaced. "But that still doesn't explain—?"
"Unfortunately, Taluk has managed to retain some connections within the palace."
"Having Taluk as his teacher does explain a lot though, Papa." Lynk grinned behind her hand.
Jin cuffed Lynk on the back of her head softly. "Watch it, kiddo."
Lynk shrugged, reaching to tug at her braided hair which fell over her shoulder. She was pretty proud of it considering how wild her hair could get. Lynk tilted her head, peering up at her father with a gaze of pseudo-innocence. "Would you be against me… I don't know… putting him in his place?"
Jin gave a long and oh-so thoughtful hum. "I don't know, Lynk, you… wouldn't want to embarrass him, now would you?"
Her smile bordered on a grin. "I'll try not to bruise his ego too much, Papa."
Lynk turned, giving Hutson one more glance before the father and daughter duo went on their way; she'd give Hutson a day or two to see if he… matured. She doubted it, however, Lynk had had dealings with Taluk when he'd still been a knight.
Lynk grimaced, she and a lot of others loathed the man.
He acted more than he was, he lied to further himself and wouldn't hesitate to stab you in the back if it meant he'd get the upper hand and come out on top. For a long while, the Royal Court had been enamoured with his fake persona, but it eventually crumbled down.
His career crumbling may or may not have been her fault—and she seen it all by total accident. It was a good thing her father was Captain and so people knew who she was. She doubted they would have listened to anyone below her statue…which, admittedly, annoys Lynk but as is the way of life.
But—good riddance, Lynk nodded. King Rhoam had even given her a pat on her shoulder when everyone had turned their back. The King was the reason she'd oust him after all, he's approached her and asked if she'd noticed anything weird about Taluk recently. She'd said no—because she'd always considered him weird—then she'd stumbled across him threatening a maid because of something she'd seen. Lynk had run straight to the king.
The King had given her a pass to learn from the chiefs in the kitchen because of what she'd done for him as a reward!
She very much enjoying cooking—since her Mama had passed, Lynk had grasped the role of caring for the home with their Head Bulter Joshua, because her father was always so busy with being the Captain of the Royal Guards and it left him so exhausted at the end of the day sometimes, especially when she'd been younger.
So, Lynk had taken it upon herself to grow up just that bit to be of use around the house, she certainly didn't regard it.
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"Seriously, you're just pathetic." Hutson groused, setting his sword on his shoulder as he scowled at his partner. Said partner's face flushed red as he glared.
The entire class came to an abrupt stop, the sound of the swords clanking halted as they all turned to look at Hutson with annoyance.
Lynk, having heard the silence overtake the training ground, stopped her work of sharping a sword. She ground her jaw back and forth as she listened to Hutson insult his opponent further. Finally, she stood and tightened her grip on the handle of the sword she'd been sharping, intent on putting Hutson in his place.
She slowed to a stop under the arch into the courtyard, hidden in the shadows as Hutson picked on Jaro, a young man that was slightly more rounded then everyone else but had a real talent for archery
"Honestly, you're all a bunch of failures in waiting."
"And how are you able to come to that conclusion?" Her voice had heads turning her way.
Lynk was sure almost all knew who she was, both in relation to her father and her own standing. She saw the way their faces lightened at the sight of her.
Hutson turned towards her, raising a brow cockily. "Really now, sweetcheeks?" His eyes dropped to the sword in her hand and scoffed, a smirk curling onto his face. "Now what are you doing hold such a thing? Women don't belong anywhere near such an object."
Oh, Din no he didn't, Lynk want to snarl but instead, she took a breath and released it. "These men didn't need to buy their way in, Trainee Hutson. They did so by potential alone, can't say the same about you, however." Lynk's voice was as smooth as the finest silk.
Hutson gritted his teeth and forced a smile; it became an actually amused one. "And how would you know that?"
"I'm the one they faced during their entrances exam."
Hutson burst into mocking laughter. "You? That explains everything. If all you have to do is beat a girl to get into Knight Training, then it really says a lot about Captain Jin!"
Silence.
It was so quiet that a stray cricket could be heard.
Lynk raised the sword, pointing it at him, her face stoic. "Watch your tongue, boy. You should count yourself lucky no guards are here to have heard you speak such disrespect to someone that has taught over fifty percent of the current soldiers. And I, most certainly, won't allow you to spread such dishonesty about a well-respected and accomplished man but I can't say I expected much more from someone who was tutored under Taluk—a man who was stripped of his rank because of dishonesty and loyalty to only himself." Lynk tilted her head. "Did he tell your parents that before they hired him?"
"How dare you! Taluk is a great man!" Hutson snarled; his face flushed with his anger.
Lynk chuckled coldly, lips curling into a sardonic smile before adjusting her stance.
Hutson straightened and smirked when he took notice of the way she shifted; he raised his own sword. "A sword fight then, huh? Well, what better way to put someone in their place then too—"
He didn't get to finish his sentence as Lynk moved, launching herself at the man. Her sudden action had taken Hutson by surprise and with a flurry of movement, he was sitting on his backside, sword several feet from him and gapping like an unattractive fish.
Hutson gulped as Lynk placed her sword under his chin, he raised it in an attempt to put space between himself and the sharp edge.
"It says a lot about the tutor if his student can't even last a second against a girl." Lynk moved the blade, tutting mockingly. "Not even a few seconds." She sighed in pseudo-sadness. "Everyone lasted at least at least thirty seconds against me." Cold blue eyes peered down at the redhaired man. "You should learn when to keep your trap shut."
Lynk turned sharply, intend on reporting back to her father what had just happened when she heard it: the sound of someone getting to their feet, a sharp under the breath hiss, something being grasped from the ground and the trainees crying out in worry.
Feet rush at her from behind and Lynk had enough time to sidestep; immediately she felt the weight of her braid gone—oh Din no. She twirled, disarmed and kicked Hutson in the back.
Hutson hit the ground with a harsh grunt. Two guards, having heard the commotion, came rushing around the corner just as she'd knocked him to the ground.
"What's going on over here?"
Hutson was first to speak, his face an ugly red as he stood. "This bitch attacked me unprovoked!"
The two guards glanced to one another, looking highly amused by the comment. "Unprovoked?" The left guard, Simon, asked in faux worry; he glanced to Tony, who shrugged.
Tony glanced to Lynk. "What actually happened, Lynk?"
"Trainee Hutson has, since his arrival, done nothing but bully and berate the other Trainees. I was forced to step in, unfortunately, it turned into a physical confrontation."
Tony nodded. "That sounds more like it."
Hutson snarled. "She attacked me and now you're believing her twisting of the truth?!"
Lynk raised a brow at him. "You are aware that there were witnesses, yes?" She pointed her head with oh-so-much subtlety towards the other Trainees who all nodded, murmuring in agreement to what they'd just seen.
"Not only that," Simon interjected. "But Lynk is Captain Jin's daughter, and all but officially a member of the Royal Guard herself. She's trained beside and helped tutor previous soldiers in training for the last few years." Simon's eyes narrowed in warning. "It would be best if you came with us now. Your actions will be reported and your application judged."
Tony reached forward, hand landing on Hutson's shoulder with the intent to led him away when he jerked free and rushed Lynk once more. "You bitch! How dare you—!"
Lynk's hand landed on his solar plexus and Hutson's eyes widened as the air was knocked from him. His sword hit the ground again but Lynk wasn't done; her palm hit his jaw, forcing it closed and by the sound that escaped, he'd bitten his tongue. Hutson went stumbling back and this time Lynk reached forward and ripped his Trainee badge from his shirt, not caring that the action tore part of the shirt.
"You are a disgrace to the Kingdom, Hutson, and so I have the right to, starting now, revoke your right to train on these grounds. You will silently and willingly allow Guards Simon and Tony to escort you to the holding cells where Captain Jin and his fellow superiors will judge what punishment you will receive."
Hutson, this time, didn't say anything. His face never once fading from the ugly red of anger and embarrassment.
Once the three had vanished from sight, the sound of someone clearing their throat softly had Lynk turning to see Jaro had approached her holding the braid which Hutson had cut off.
"Thank you, Lady Lynk." He smiled, a blush covering his cheeks. "I'm thankful that one day I might be able to work alongside you."
Lynk took the hair from Jaro and returned the smile and then to all the others as they all moved closer. "And I look forward to being able to see you all grow into capable soldiers."
She waved goodbye for now and made her departure, unaware of the pair of curious green eyes that watched from above.