The next day we returned to Cathopia, packing up was faster than I thought as the tent went down just as fast as it went up. Dad led the way, knowing the forests quite well. Returning home faster than when we had left.

King Alton was already waiting at home for Tigra. He was so pleased to see her, scooping her up in his arms and giving her a hug. “Have fun Tigra.”

“Sure did, can’t wait to go again,” laughed Tigra, hugging King Alton. She was over the moon to see him. “I learned so much from Yamato.”

“I bet you did.” King Alton looked at dad. “Thanks.”

“No problem.” Dad put our stuff away in the other room.

“Soon it will be time for the academy test. I’d do your last preparations if I were you,” said King Alton.

“I already have everything planned,” responded dad, glancing at me. “He’ll be ready.”

“You always do.” King Alton went to leave. “Later.”

“Bye Alex.” Tigra waved carried off by her dad. I waved back then looked at dad.

“We only have a few weeks left; I hope you’re ready for the next portion of your training.” Dad looked at me.

I nodded. “What is the next part?”

“You already started it yesterday,” answered dad. I thought back on yesterday, apart from cooking and hiding, the only real training was when we were practicing with the sticks, with movement and stance. I nodded acknowledging I knew what he was talking about. “Good. We’ll begin tomorrow.” And that’s what we did.

There wasn’t much time for playing when dad got serious, during the last few weeks of my training, increasing the number of laps I had to do around the castle, from twenty to thirty. Working my way up to higher numbers with the sphere, the consequence being increased as I reached up to twenty five spheres, any more than that and I would just be bombarded by more than four.

Dad took extra care and detail in teaching me swordsmanship, saying it was one of the main weapons used by Feles warriors, along with daggers as it was also capable of swift movements.

Dad mainly covered a lot in the basics of swordsmanship. The basic stances I had picked up in a few days, he’d show me what to do, then together we would go over the movements, so I could mimic him, knowing exactly what I was doing. Swipe left, right, left, right and jab. Dad did these in different orders to try and confuse me, but it didn’t work.

After I had learned the basics dad and I would start sparring, this became my favourite part of training. At first sparring with him was difficult considering how skilful dad was, but once I began to understand what was happening in these session, the movements of my sword was smooth, flowing almost like water.

“Well done,” smiled dad.

“I am really understanding this now,” I said panting after our last round of sparring.

Dad kneeled down in front of me, presenting me with his wooden practice sword. “Until you gain the title knight-in-training you will not be allowed to carry a real sword, so I want you to have this one.” I stared down at it. “It got me through my years at the academy and it will for you too.”

“Thank you dad.” I gladly took the sword. “I’ll do you proud.”

“I know.”

Day of the knight academy test

The day of the knight academy test came along much faster than I thought, unfortunately I had been training late yesterday with dad. He wanted to make sure I was prepared for almost anything they threw my way.

During our preparation, we had practice almost all night, so when it actually came to getting up for the day, I slept in. I was tired from working so hard the last few weeks, it had almost been none stop.

Half asleep, I heard someone barge into my room. I recognised the voice straight away, it was Tigra. “Alex!” She shouted, storming over to my bed.

“Five more minutes.” I rolled over, feeling something jump up onto my bed.

“Alex Fang! Get up!” I turned over a little sleepy eyed, looking up to see an angry Tigra. “We’ll be late.”

“For what?”

“The academy entrance test.” Tigra reached down grabbing my arm. “Come on.”

“I’m coming.” I got up, suddenly wide awake, this was one thing I couldn’t miss, no matter how tired I was from the day before. As I rushed over to my wardrobe to get changed, Tigra left my room. “He’s up.” She sounded quite annoyed as she said those words.

Mum had been waiting patiently with Tigra as I left my room. She smiled at me. “Ready Alex.”

“Yeah,” I nodded, looking around. “Where’s dad?”

“He had some business to deal with, but he said there was no way he would miss your test,” answered mum. I felt sad hearing mum’s words, he had most probably left before I had even woken up. “He’ll make it, he promised.” That promise was all I needed to hear; I knew he would be here in time.

We left for the training grounds just outside of the academy grounds and near where dad and I would often practice. There were a lot of other Feles there, from all ages and species waiting to have their power and strength tested.

Depending on how you did during this test, depended on where you were placed in the academy. With the training I had with dad, he was certain I would be put in the higher classes, ready to reach knight-in-training in a few years.

I felt nervous standing in line waiting like everyone else to be tested, mum was with me, encouraging me, gently stroking my head to try and calm me down, but it was just embarrassing.

“Mum,” I moaned.

“I’m just trying to help you calm down,” responded mum.

“You’re lucky your mum is here,” smiled Tigra sadly. “My mum is busy with her royal duties.”

“Sorry.” I felt sorry for her, sometimes she was unable to spend much time with her parents, being the king and queen meant doing a lot of work for the Kingdom, not just Cathopia, but the other tribes which resided within Panthera.

“I’ll be routing for you on her behalf.” Mum patted Tigra softly on the head. “You know she would have come if she could.”

“Yeah.” Tigra slowly nodded, not convinced.

“Hunter not coming to take the test?” Mum wondered about Tigra’s brother.

“No, he said it would be too boring,” answered Tigra. “Dad will make him enter next year.”

“Shame.” Mum shook her head.

My attention return to the building the test was being held. I noticed most of the Feles who went into the building to be tested, were coming back out defeated and feeling ashamed, they hadn’t made it, even those far older than me struggled to enter, I couldn’t help but wonder why.

“Strange.” Mum watched another go by. “I’ve never seen so many sent away before.”

“Huh…” I looked up at her, was she really that worried about it? I just thought it was because they weren’t strong enough.

Waiting for hours was starting to get annoying and seeing the steady flow of Feles failing at this made me more than a little nervous. I was so tempted to just turn and leave but mum kept me strong; her hands on my shoulders, so I really couldn’t go anywhere.

“Your father would be so proud,” she’d smile. “You can do it, just wait a little bit longer.”

“Yeah right.” I sighed.

It was soon our groups time to enter the building, it was groups of six at a time. Tigra was the next to face her test.

On entering the building, it was just a huge empty space with the four master Feles from different clans sat at a table on the opposite side of the room. There was a Pardus, an Onca, a Lynx, an Uncia. I struggled to tell the different between an Onca and Pardus as they both had spots, but Onca were more heavily built than the Pardus and their spots were slightly different.

I felt my blood boil as next to them was none other than Dumah, watching Tigra with such glee. I had this overwhelming urge to attack him, were we really destined to fight?

I noticed Tigra’s disgusted expression as she saw him. Had she had dealings with him, or had she managed to avoid him like she did the day of my sixth birthday.

“Good luck.” I smiled, trying to get Tigra’s mind back on what we had come here to do.

“Thanks, but I don’t really need it,” she shrugged. “It doesn’t really matter what I do, I would have been accepted into the academy for just being royalty.”

I glanced up at mum wondering if this was true. She nodded. “It is traditional for all members of the royal family to be entered into the academy, some end up leading their own units, trained by the best instructors and masters, especially Tigra as she is next to take the throne.”

I thought I would be surprised but being the princess, Tigra got so much attention sometimes and everything given to her on a silver platter, unlike me none of them knew Tigra absolutely hated it all.

I remembered what dad told me about, that each Feles had a different test to take on, to prevent anyone from somehow cheating, or even preparing properly. I wasn’t too worried Dad had trained me in all the fields, from strength to agility, combat to strategy. I wondered if Tigra had done the same as she was called up.

“Princess Tigra.” The Uncia had spoken. “You are tasked to smash all the targets.”

“Alright,” she nodded, standing out in the centre of the room as multiple targets both on the ground and airborne circled around her. I wondered how she would handle this task set before her, but she tackled it with such ease.

I watched her in anticipation as her body began to spark with lightning energy, which flickered about the room, it went in the directions of all the targets using her stunning lightning to smash them to dust. She began moving as if she was dancing.

Tigra moved with such confidence shooting the lightning around effortlessly, just by a simple flick of her fingers. As she finished with such grace and accuracy, standing posed almost like she was ready for more, the masters stood up clapping, she truly was amazing.

Dad had mentioned about Tigra having the ability to control lightning, saying she got it from her mum, did all the royal family have these natural abilities compared to those who needed the assistance of a talisman.

“Never would I have thought she would have mastered it already.” Mum was almost speechless as she stumbled over her words. I glanced up at mum wondering when Tigra had even picked up on her family’s natural skills when a two weeks ago she hadn’t even known about it.

“Amazing your highness,” said the Uncia.

“Just like your mother,” smiled the Lynx.

“You’ll be in the top classes,” nodded the Onca.

“Simply stunning,” smiled the Pardus. Bunch of suck ups I thought.

Dumah walked towards her, continuing to clap. “Ah, such beauty,” he sighed, casually placing his arm around her.

Tigra’s eyes widened as she pulled away from him and hissed. “Don’t touch me. I don’t even know you.”

“Oh, don’t be like that.” He pretended to act sad. “You’ll have to get used to my touch eventually.” The more I watched the more I felt angry.

“Well Princess Tigra, welcome to the academy, you’ll be placed in one of the highest classes,” said the Uncia.

“Thank you.” Tigra moved away from Dumah completely ignoring him. She glanced back at me, mouthing. ‘Good luck.’ Then she headed off around the corner to wait with the rest who had passed.

“Next,” called the Pardus. I gulped, it was now my turn, I wondered how I would do. I would soon find out; it would be far tougher than I could have ever imagined.