Its been eight years since I've seen her, I wonder if she even looks the same, though there isn't much I remember about her, its been so long and I don't really care anymore. Jemma, even thinking of her name hurts, she's been gone for too long and for important parts of my life, things I wished I could have shared with her, but now it seems she has let me down too many times. I know she was off doing things that my father said would make everything better, but so far it has ruined my life: Mother died and now Father has no time for me, I'm all alone in this castle. Things would have been better if she was with me, but it's too late now, I don't think I can forgive her for leaving, I counted on her and she was never there. I started dueling when I was eight, two years after she left, though I was only put through training, how to step and read my opponent before making a move. When I was ten I learned how to use a rapier properly, though with my injury on my left shoulder from that incident before she left, I hold it in my right arm, it doesn't feel right but I manage well. When I was eleven I had my first duel, I lost but I learned. From then on I knew how dangerous this sport was, two challengers each facing one another wearing no armor and just their personal attire, you would fight each other till the other gave in, usually ending with permanent scars to the body and arms, I now have plenty to show. 'No quarter' was not allowed in these duels, that is I was told for my age, I still have yet to know of the future but I think rules change depending on the situation. I got better, winning most but still receiving marks from my losses. I wish she was here for these, cheering me on and wishing me luck. Mom died while I was still learning, I sometimes think she is watching above but I still feel alone, and father was always busy so I never had anyone by my side, someone to be there, to give me strength. I fight alone now, I'm independent, I relied too much on others being there and it was dumb of me to even think they would, now I don't care about anybody but myself, I don't even have a sword bearer anymore, I carry my own weapons and prepare myself on my own, while my opponents share strategies with their master's, most of the time it doesn't do them any good anyways. I don't talk to my trainer anymore, he said he taught everything he can, all I can do now is learn from my mistakes and continue dueling on my own, saying I would get better the more I tried, I would learn things on my own, he never showed at my events anyways. I take dueling very seriously, its the only thing I really have, it carries my family's name and brings honor to EverGlenn, it's what I'm good at, and I think father wants me to continue, to make a name for our family, my goal is to be the best Duelist in all of Azarath, but now she's back. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jasper stood in the Dueling Chamber of the castle, located in the west wing, he was rather tall for being fourteen but still shorter than the adults. He held his golden rapier in his right hand loosely, the soft of his wrist upwards the tip of the thin steel blade pointing down at the floor at an angle. He examined the straight and stillness of the blade, lifting up the hilt to a couple inches from his nose and staring where the steel met the gold, making sure it was sturdy while glancing at his opponent across the room. He was slim like himself, but had a bit of bulk in his arms, a rough chin and rather large feet, then again this was one of the many Princes of Iglasia, age sixteen and third in line to the throne. He challenged the Lone Golden Royal of EverGlenn after one of his younger brother's was defeated and badly injured cause Jasper had pushed a little too far, this was revenge. Jasper was ready, he had his opponent mapped out already and stood awaiting. The Prince wore a loose pearl blouse that was trimmed with gold around the edges and a small pattern on the chest, it was tucked into tight black trousers that gave a small amount of air between the fabric and his skin, those were only lined in the same velvet as their castles curtains, his boots ridges were roughly a few inches from the bottom of his knee and patterned elegantly in gold, with a matching buckle on the vamp to hold firmly against his foot. Jasper stepped back and lowered his rapier with wrist cocked downwards but this time with the soft of his wrist pointing towards the carpet. He held his weapon in a easy grasp, one that was both loose and firm so his strikes were swift and his recoils sharp. He glared at his opponent, a small amount of his hair falling from the crown of his head and swinging to block his right eye, luckily he could easily look past it since the rest of his long hair was wrapped in a velvet ribbon in a ponytail, the ribbon belonged to his mother and he took it when she passed, wanting to keep her close at all times. "En Garde!" he told his challenger, warning him of the duels start. As the two stood ready to strike, Jasper stared with an intent to leave a mark, the command to go was given and the Golden Prince stepped forward striking upwards only to clash blades and the main door to open disruptively by a guard, "Your Highness, please forgive me but the King asked my to let you know when the Princess had returned, her carriage just pulled up at the front, would you like me to put off the duel for another time." Jasper started stirring with anger and dropped his guard, his heels clicked echoing through the room, he whispered to his opponent, "Forgive me," then turning quickly towards the door and shouting at the guard, all his anger towards his sister and his hype for the duel was a bad mix, "I don't care about her anymore, send her my regards or whatever but I'm in the middle of something," he pulled out the small dagger sheathed on his back and threw it at the door, hitting the wood hard and stabbing through the other side. Each duelist was given a small dagger to be sheathed on the lower back in case of a life threatening blow where their rapier could not block in time. Jasper took in a deep breath as the door was shut, he turned back towards to his challenger once again and loosened his legs, trying to re-prepare for the duel, his mind now not concentrated on the match. "Alright, en garde," and proceeded where he left off, sharing strikes with the Prince of Iglasia.