Chapter 14: A New Beginning

They stood in the morning chill, the reality of their situation sinking in. They had nowhere to go. The palace had been their home, and now they were outcasts, cast aside by the very people they had once called family.

"What do we do now?" Lyra asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

Alina took a deep breath, steeling herself. "We will leave this kingdom. There's nothing left for us here."

"No. I can't leave without talking to Cedric. I want to see him before I even think of leaving. Besides, where do you want us to go to? We definitely can't go to Mirath or Arenthian. They would see us as outcasts if they found out and believed the lies concerning you. We should go around and find a citizen to put us up." Lyra expressed her concerns.

"You want us to put up with a citizen for a month? You do know that Cedric will not be back for a month, right? So you want me to put up with a citizen so that, once in a while, I get to encounter the faces of the people who betrayed me? Do you know how shameful that is? Look Lyra, I'd rather journey to the unknown than stay behind to continuously face that kind of shame." Alina told her with a sense of sorrow in her voice.

Lyra took a deep breath as she stared in the direction of Cedric's home. "So, you want us to journey into the unknown?" Lyra asked, confused.

Alina's face lightened with a smile as she chuckled and held Lyra's hand. "We will find our way to Belthoria. I went there once with father some years ago. At least it's a place I've been to. We will settle for a while before we make new plans. But we can't stay here in Elaria after such a betrayal. Please, my sister, trust me and come with me," Alina persuaded her.

Lyra gazed at Alina for a while. "I trust you. Let's go to Belthoria." In a low tone, "I think our news is already spreading. People are looking."

Alina nodded in agreement. They pulled their hood over their faces, hiding from passersby who were looking at them and murmuring.

The two sisters began their journey, leaving behind the kingdom that had once been their sanctuary. They traveled for days, their meager savings lessening as they moved from village to village, seeking shelter and food wherever they could find it and asking for directions and rides to Belthoria.

Eventually, they crossed the border into Belthoria kingdom. The new land was a sharp contrast to their former home. Bustling cities with towering buildings, and lively marketplaces filled with merchants and shoppers.

Despite the change in scenery, finding stability was challenging. The sisters wandered the streets, looking for work, but opportunities were scarce for two displaced young women, and they didn't have enough money to start a business. Desperation began to nibble at them, and hope seemed like a distant memory. They waited till nightfall so they could sleep in front of people's stalls.

One evening, as they wandered through a particularly shabby part of the city, the sounds of roaring crowds drew their attention. They followed the sound until they stumbled upon an underground wrestling arena and the sight of fighters engaged in fierce combat. They watched, fascinated, as two female fighters engaged in a fierce battle until one of them delivered a knockout punch to her opponent, earning the crowd's wild applause.

A spark of recognition flashed in Lyra's eyes. Memories of their childhood flooded back—Alina training with the knights, her natural prowess in combat, the way she had always excelled in physical challenges before she got married. Even the slap that made Genevieve wonder if her face was still intact.

"Alina," Lyra said, grabbing her sister's arm. "Do you remember how good you were at fighting? How you used to train with the knights when we were younger?"

Alina nodded, her eyes distant as she recalled those days. "I remember."

Lyra's eyes lit up with determination. "You could fight here, Alina. You're strong and skilled. We could earn an honest living through this."

Alina hesitated, the idea of stepping into the ring seemed scary. "But Lyra, this isn't like training with the knights. This is brutal, and it's dangerous."

Lyra squeezed her sister's hand. "I know it's dangerous, but look around us, we don't have many options. You have the strength and the skills, and we need the money. We can make this work together. I can be your manager, find your fights, and make sure you stay safe. But if you try your first fight, and we see it can't work, we'll keep looking for other jobs. Please."

Alina looked at her sister, seeing the determination in her eyes. Lyra had always believed in her, even when she doubted herself. Slowly, she nodded. "Alright, Lyra. Let's do it. I'll fight."

Lyra hugged Alina excitedly.

Their first step was finding a way to enter the underground wrestling network. Lyra approached the organizers, using her natural charm and persuasive skills to secure a spot for Alina in an upcoming match. The fight was scheduled for the next night, giving Alina little time to prepare.

They spent the night in a cramped inn room close to the arena with other ladies, Lyra coaching Alina on strategy and helping her remember her old training. Alina's nerves were on edge, but Lyra's confidence in her helped her stay composed.

The following evening, they returned to the underground arena. The atmosphere was electric, with spectators packed into the dimly lit space, eagerly awaiting the night's matches. Alina wore simple and cheap fighting gear, her heart pounding as she stepped into the ring. The announcer's voice boomed, introducing her as "The Princess Warrior," a name Lyra had suggested to remind Alina of her inner strength. Lyra psyched up Alina in the ring, boosting her confidence.

Her opponent was a seasoned fighter, a woman with a reputation for being ruthless in the ring, Diana "The Viper" Valdez.

The bell rang, and the match began. Alina moved in quickly, aiming to establish her power early. But Diana, with agility and speed, avoided her grasp and countered with a swift kick to Alina's abdomen. Alina staggered, surprised by the strength of Diana's attack.

The crowd gasped as Diana landed blows on Alina and slammed her onto the mat. Alina's face contorted in pain, she had not felt that kind of physical pain in a long time. For a moment, it seemed The Viper might pull off a win.

Sensing victory, Diana moved back, aiming to run and land on Alina. At the last second, Alina rolled away, causing Diana to crash into the mat. The momentum shifted as Alina pulled herself up, screaming in pain. Her eyes now blazing with determination as her instincts took over.

She remembered Lyra's words of encouragement, the belief that they could build a new life through this. With that, she pounced on Diana, lifting her and delivering her spines to the ground. The ring shook with the impact. The crowd erupted as Alina, feeding off their energy, unleashed a burst of powerful moves, her training and natural abilities shining through. Diana, now on the defensive, struggled to keep up.

But as Diana struggles to get up with a broken spine, Alina, with a final surge of strength, lands a decisive blow, knocking Diana to the ground for good.

Lyra jumped into the ring, and she raised Alina's hand in triumph. She had emerged champion in her first fight.

The crowd erupted in applause, chanting "Princess Warrior!" They marveled at how one as graceful and beautiful as she possessed such power. Alina stood tall, her chest heaving, a sense of triumph washing over her. She looked at Lyra, who was beaming with pride and relief.

As they collected their earnings for the night, Alina realized that this was just the beginning, and it seemed like they were ready to take on this new world and carve out a life for themselves.

As they left the arena, the bond between the sisters felt stronger than ever. Alina had found a way to channel her anger and strength, and Lyra had found a way to continue supporting her. They were no longer princesses in a palace, but they were fighters and survivors, and they were ready to face whatever came next.