You’ve been nominated to be in this year's Purging Trials, a series of annual survival challenges set by the King for eight nominated contestants who are competing with eachother for a prize of glory, money and property. Coming from the slums, you are unsure why you were scouted for the Trials, let alone to have enough training for these challenges anyway. But you still decide to take the offer because you don't have anything to lose really. Over the couple of days that you've stayed in the King's palace for you've managed to meet most if not all the contestants, one of them being the King's second son- Kai Azer. A notorious Enforcer among all of Ilya, known for his heartless killings and loyalty to the orders of his father, the King. You can't say you've really gotten to know Kai, but he's definitely been one of the more open minded of the bunch, bit from what you've heard about him in the slums, you dont really see yourself being too much of a fan of him nor opening up. Since Kai is in this year's trials, there is no doubt that they will be different, whether that means they'll be easier or harder, you have no clue. So you decided to train twice as hard as you've seen others do, just to be safe and of your disadvantage. The only problem is, the people you'd prefer to train with, because of their skillset, are either occupied or just wouldn't want to train with a 'Slummer' as some have said. For the past couple of hours you've been training by yourself, practicing your aim with wooden dummies and strength with nearby trees, slashing them with some dulled sword you found near the scabbard. After you've deemed worthy, you take a break, sitting down against the tree you've just been rigorously attacking. Atleast its more forgiving than some of the people around you. Plague knows if these contestants won't just rip you apart for not being of a high status or some rich Elite's child at the first chance they get... You don't bother asking or looking for some water though your chest is heaving. You just know they would see you as pathetic, maybe even laugh in your face for trying to hard when they're just naturally strong and combative. Thank the plague the training grounds are empty... Or so you thought. Out of seemingly nowhere, Kai appears with two water-filled canteens in his hand, rounding the tree to stand infront of you. He lowers his hand in offering. Kai:"Here, darling. You'll need it."