The morning after the tournament, Teysa finds herself on the third floor of the infirmary. Her head is throbbing, her body is sore, and her face is sporting a few bruises and swelling.

Teysa's hair is an absolute mess, tangled and disheveled from all the chaos that unfolded. As she looks around, her eyes zero in on her torn and blood-stained clothes resting on the table beside her. The sight sends a shiver down her spine.

It's as if the memory of Daegon choking her lingers in the air, and she can almost feel his ghostly hand grazing her skin again.

Despite her injuries, Teysa summons the strength to prop herself up a bit, just in time to see her grandmother bursting into the room.

“Teysa? You're up!"

She rushes over to embrace her.

"Oww, oww... Ouch!"

"Oh, sorry! I'm just so thrilled that you're finally awake! I was so darn worried about you, Teysa. You got beat up real bad!"

Teysa musters a faint smile, "It's alright, Grandma. I'm happy to see you too."

Margaret's smile falters, her worry evident, "Your Grandfather’s on his way. He just had some super important stuff to take care of first."

Teysa rolls her eyes, "Who cares? I don't wanna see him anyway."

"Teysa! How can you say that? He loves you. He really does."

"Then why won't he let me win!? I'm sick of always losing."

"Well, as much as it pains me to see you lose, Teysa. It's for your own good.”

"For my own good!? How!? He told me not to fight and then he let that lunatic sucker punch me from behind! He didn't do a damn thing while I got pummeled over and over again! Now look at me."

"I get how it might've seemed, Teysa. But you gotta understand, he had to make it look like an unfair fight. Otherwise, you'd have attracted far too much attention."

"You sound just like him right now. That's all he ever tells me too ."

"What does he say?"

"He tells me I can't draw too much attention to myself. He says it's 'cause I'm a girl, but he never explains it further. So why can't girls be tough fighters too? Huh?"

"Some folks just aren’t ready to see a girl with power like yours, Teysa. You're strong. But if you had beaten Daegon last night, you might've caught the attention of some really bad people. It isn't every year that a girl makes it as far as you did."

"That's just not fair!"

"No, it's not. But we live in a man’s world, and unfortunately for us gals... we don't get to play Kings in it."

"But I’m not even trying to be the King! That's Grandpa's job. I just wanted to win the dang tournament that I've been fightin' for all this time.”

"And next year could be the one, Teysa. I’m sure it's only a matter of time before-"

"No. I'm tired of waiting, Grandma.”

Margaret’s eyebrows shoot up in disbelief as Teysa says, “I‘m done fighting."

"Come on, Teysa, surely you don't mean that, do you?"

"Yes, I do mean it! I love to fight, but I'm not even sure that it's fun anymore. Grandpa always makes me hold back against stronger opponents and I'm tired of losing to them. He really let me get hurt this time,” she vents. “I feel like I don't have any freedom because I'm always waiting for him to say something. And it doesn't even stop at the battlefield either. You should see how many of his goons follow me everywhere I go. Like he's afraid I'm going to get into trouble or something. I’m just tired of it, Grandma. Can I just please be a normal girl from now on? Do you think that’d be okay?"

“Is that okay? Teysa, you are a normal girl! There's nothing wrong with being a girl and loving to fight. It just means that you'll have more obstacles to overcome if you want to become a real fighter. But trust me, you can handle it. I'm sure of it.

"Oh yeah? And what makes you so sure?"

“Because you remind me of someone special. Someone who not too long ago had to face the same obstacles as you. She was a fierce warrior in her time and she won many tournaments too.”

"She did? But I thought no girl or woman had ever won a Royal Tournament before."

“That's still true. But let me ask you, Teysa, what do you know about the world beyond this Kingdom?”

Teysa thinks for a second, "Hmmm... Nothing really."

“Well, then what if I told you that outside of this Kingdom, there is a vast world filled with a lot more tournaments? Maybe even stronger fighters too!”

"Wow, no way! Is there really?"

"Yes. The Royal Tournament that you know of here is only available to the Royal Class. But outside of the Kingdom, you can find countless tournaments that are open to just about anyone, and you'd be amazed at the talent you can find. It's an entirely different world out there, Teysa. I’d say it's perfect for someone who loves to fight.”

"Hmm, so the girl that I remind you of... was she from the outside world then?"

“No, she was actually from right here in this Kingdom. Just like you!”

“Really? She was?”

Margaret nods and asks, “Remember your room back home?”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Uh-huh.”

“That used to be hers,” she reveals.

Teysa's eyes widen with a mix of shock and excitement, "It did?”

“Don't you get it, Teysa? I'm talking about your mother!”

"My mother?"

"Absolutely! Your mother was a remarkable fighter! She possessed the same fiery spirit and unwavering determination as you do. With her blood flowing through your veins, I am confident that you can accomplish incredible things, just as she did!"

"So my mother was a fighter too, huh?"

“Yes, and your grandfather treated her the same way that he's treating you now. Just like you, she had to deal with his strict rules. But your mother was quite the rebel. She never listened to him and would often sneak out of the Kingdom to avoid his control.”

"What!? But wouldn't Grandpa get angry?"

“Of course, he would. He used to send search parties to find her all the time, but they never had any luck because your mother was always on the move, exploring new places and honing her skills. She had a deep love for fighting, so she spent most of her time training and competing around the world.”

Teysa’s face beams with excitement as she exclaims, “Wow, so then she must’ve been really strong then, huh?”

Margaret's smile fills with pride and warmth as she says, "Well, she wasn't a prodigy like you, so she had to work twice as hard to become the fighter she was. But yeah, you could say that." Margaret chuckles and adds, "Even though your Grandfather never found her, she always stayed in touch with me. And you know what? I would sneak out of here sometimes too, and I'd go watch her compete. It was our little secret!"

"Grandma! You rebel!"

Margaret lets out a laugh, “Guilty as charged! The rebel spirit runs in all of us, Teysa, ready to fight for what we love. Your mother embraced that spirit, and you must too. It's in your blood, my dear. So please, don't stop fighting.”

Teysa nods, her curiosity still lingering. "Grandma?"

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"I love it when you talk about my mother. I don't know much about her, so hearing good things makes me happy." Teysa's voice softens. "But... I never hear anyone talk about my father. No one ever does. It's like he never existed. Why is that?"

Margaret's face tenses up, struggling to find the right words.

"I-I'm not sure if you're ready for that type of story just yet, Teysa. It's a grown-up tale, and maybe when you're a little older, I can share it with you."

"But he's my father. Don't you think that I deserve to know about him? Or at least know his name?”

“You're absolutely right, Teysa. You deserve to know. But sometimes, certain stories are just too difficult to share.”

“I don't get it. Why is it so hard to talk about him?”

“I'm sorry, Teysa.”

“Oh c’mon, Grandma! You say that fighting is in my blood, right? So was my old man a great fighter too?” she asks, her eyes filled with hope.

Margaret looks away with a serious look on her face, contemplating her next words.

Suddenly, there's a knock at the door, and both of them turn to see the nurse entering the room. "Hey, Teysa, how're you feeling today?" the nurse asks.

Teysa, with a warm smile, responds, "Pretty banged up. But I'll manage."

"Don't worry, you'll get better soon. Why don't you rest for a while?"

The nurse approaches Margaret and says, "Excuse me, Your Majesty. Can I have a moment of your time?"

"Of course, I'll be right out.”

As the nurse exits the room, Margaret turns to Teysa and speaks with a sense of urgency, "This is your chance, Teysa! Your Grandfather will be up here any minute now, and he's going to take you home."

Feeling perplexed, Teysa seeks clarification, "What are you saying, Grandma?"

Margaret's eyes fill with determination as she says, "I'm saying that you gotta make a choice. You can either stay here and deal with your grandfather's rules, or you can venture out, chase your dreams, and become a great champion! I can't bear to see you hurt anymore, Teysa. I wanna see you win!"

Teysa takes a moment to think, and Margaret pleads, "Promise me you'll keep in touch, Teysa!”

With excitement, Teysa nods and replies, "I promise, Grandma!"

Margaret smiles, wiping a tear of pride and sadness from her cheek as she walks out of the room. She meets the nurse and eagerly asks, "Where's he at?"

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty," the nurse explains. You told me to inform you upon the arrival of King Marco. But he's already here and he's making his way up the stairs. I'm sorry I couldn't warn you fast enough!"

Margaret's smile remains, and she reassures the nurse, saying, "No worries. Is that all?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," the nurse confirms.

"Then you're dismissed," Margaret replies.

Suddenly, a loud THUD echoes from Teysa's room, causing the nurse to jump. "Heavens! What was that?" she wonders aloud.

A horse squeals in the background, and she rushes to open Teysa's door. But in response, Margaret stops the nurse and firmly says, "That'll be all, nurse. Thank you."

Reluctantly, the nurse turns around and leaves. Margaret then turns her gaze back to Teysa's room, a big smile on her face. "You do your best, Teysa. I can't wait to see what incredible things you'll achieve!" she exclaims with excitement.

The King arrives, his voice filled with urgency and concern as he says, "Margaret! How's Teysa? I swear, I tried to make it here sooner, but this stubborn nurse kept blocking my path. Is she hurt badly? I fear I may have crossed a line this time."

Margaret lets out a frustrated sigh, her voice tinged with annoyance. "You definitely went too far, Marco. She's just a kid you know.”

Marco's eyes well up with regret as he enters Teysa’s room. He gazes around, searching for his granddaughter but she’s nowhere to be seen. His heart skips a beat when he notices the open window, inviting the cool breeze from outside.

"No, no, no!" he exclaims, his voice filled with panic. He can hear the distant murmur of people outside, their complaints echoing through the air. Without a moment's hesitation, he rushes to the window to investigate.

And there, right beneath him, he sees a man and a woman frantically cleaning up a wagon that had fallen victim to Teysa's unexpected landing.

"You two! What the hell happened here?" he demands.

Startled, the man and woman look up, their eyes widening in recognition. "It's the King!"

Marco takes a deep breath, desperately hoping for answers. "Please, tell me, did you see a young girl? Teysa, my Grandaughter. Which way did she go?"

The man nods, his face etched with sympathy. "Yes, Your Majesty! She fell from that very window, right onto our poor horse. The poor creature panicked and started kicking, causing this chaos. We're doing our best to clean up the mess."

Marco's heart sinks, realizing that Teysa has finally run away. He musters his resolve and looks to the woman for any glimmer of hope. "Did you see which direction she went?"

The woman shakes her head, her voice filled with regret. "I'm sorry, my lord. She vanished as quickly as she landed. We couldn't keep up with everything that was happening all at once."

Marco's mind races, contemplating where Teysa might have gone. The weight of the situation settles upon him, and he knows that finding his grandaughter is now his sole mission.

Marco storms away from the window, frustration evident in his voice, "Damn it! She's gone!" He rushes past Margaret, who can't help but smile. He grabs the phone from the wall and dials a number, anxiously waiting for someone to pick up. He glances back at Margaret and accuses her, "You did this, didn't you?"

"Oh, please, Marco. Do you really think she wants to see you after what happened yesterday?"

Marco gives her an angry look, and as someone answers the call, he quickly shifts his attention. "Security, this is Alder," the voice on the other end says.

"This is your King speaking, Alder," Marco commands. "Close the main gates immediately! No one gets in or out, understand?"

"But, sir.”

"Just do it!”

"Yes, My King, right away!"

"And keep a close watch for my granddaughter. She's gone missing, so dispatch all squads across Royalee. Bring her back to me at any cost!"

"Yes, sir!"

Marco hangs up the phone and glares at Margaret. "If that girl brings ruin to our Kingdom... the blood of our people will be on your hands."

Margaret simply shrugs him off with a dismissive sound as the King walks away.

***

Meanwhile, Teysa hobbles along in an alleyway, her injured leg causing her to limp. "Geez," She says. "That was a much higher drop than I expected."

The walls of the surrounding buildings are tall and made of brick, casting the alleyway in shadow.

The smell of waste and rotting garbage permeates the air, causing Teysa to wrinkle her nose in disgust.

She glances down at the ground, trying to avoid stepping on anything unpleasant, but the ground is littered with trash and debris.

Suddenly, the aroma of homemade food wafts through the air, and Teysa's stomach growls in response, "Oh wowwww, that smells great!"

She closes her eyes and follows her nose, the scent leading her deeper into the alleyway.

Her mouth drools and her stomach growls again, "Maybe I should've waited until after breakfast to run away."

She clenches her gut in discomfort, "I really hope whoever is cooking that yummy food is willing to share with me."

As she approaches the source of the delicious smell, Teysa steps on something soft and squishy, "Huh?"

Her foot slips out from under her, and she tumbles backward, flailing her arms in an attempt to regain her balance.

She lands hard on her backside, the impact jarring her injured leg and causing her to cry out in pain.

As she tries to get up, she catches a whiff of the substance that caused her fall and gags in disgust, "Ewwww it's poooop!"

Suddenly, a large rat darts out from behind a nearby trash can, and Teysa shrieks in terror, "Get it off! Get it off! Get it off!"

She scrambles to her feet, but her injured leg gives out, and she falls forward, smacking her head against the back door of a nearby building.

She crumples to the ground, unconscious.

Not a minute later, a slim man with medium-length blonde hair and nerdy glasses opens the door. He looks both ways before he picks up Teysa and takes her inside.