Phineas was soaking in praise from his friends as Crystal got up off the ground. She tried to stand up, but she fell over, grabbing her leg. A nurse rushed over and immediately started tending to her leg. A large gash was open on her left knee. Crystal felt tears welling up, but she pushed them down. You failed. You have yet to even start, and you have already failed.

Violet ran over to her side and grabbed her arm. The nurse began to protest, but before she could speak, Violet yelled, “You idiot! Why did you do that?”

Crystal felt the tears welling up more. No! You can’t do this right now. Out loud, she said, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Violet let go of Crystal’s arm, kneeling down next to her. “Phineas is a dick, but he’s still trained. Why did you think you could fight him?”

“I don’t know,” Crystal replied. A tear ran down her cheek. “I just wanted to not be useless. I wanted to prove them wrong. I wanted to not be worthless.” More tears fell down her cheeks. “I just wanted to…to try…to…”

Violet grabbed Crystal’s shoulders for a moment before pulling her into a hug. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to…” Crystal sobbed as Violet fished for words. “I’m sorry.”

Crystal cried into Violet’s shoulder as footsteps approached. Crystal managed to regain control of herself as the elders approached her, the crowd splitting around them. Philemon was at the front. “This is why you are not ready,” he declared. “You lost a duel you were outmatched in, and your first instinct is to cry over it? You are not even ready to lead a single knight.”

He turned to leave, but Chief Isla appeared from the crowd, grabbing him by the shoulder. “The ceremony is not yet finished, Philemon,” she proclaimed. Crystal started. She looked up at her mother. Chief Isla appeared disappointed, and Crystal could not help but look away.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see it was her mother’s. “You have made a fool of yourself today, dear.” Crystal felt the tears returning, but Chief Isla continued, “But it is not this moment that will define you. We are defined by what we do in response to our failures. Do you understand?”

Crystal met her mother’s eyes, and she saw something there. She saw her mother’s regrets, her mistakes that still weighed on her. For a moment, Crystal was frozen. Slowly, she managed to nod her head. “I will try, mother.”

Chief Isla smiled. “Do not try, dear. Trying is for those without responsibility. Succeed.”

Crystal nodded again, but Claudia spoke up, “You cannot still believe in your daughter after this. She is an arrogant, spoiled child who holds no right to your throne.”

“She is my daughter,” Chief Isla declared, turning to the elder. Chief Isla placed her right hand on her hip. “If you have an issue with her right to rule, then you can challenge me for my throne, Claudia. We already have a ring prepared.”

Claudia paled and took several steps back. “I apologize, my Chief. I did not mean to question you. I only wish for what is best for our village.”

Chief Isla allowed her hand to rest. “Yes, you did mean to question me, Claudia.” The chief took a step forward. “You insulted my only daughter, and by doing so, you have questioned not only her but me. Leave my sight.”

Claudia ran as fast as an old cornered animal freed from a trap, pushing her way through the crowd. Chief Isla turned to address the crowd. She said, “My beloved people, the coronation of my daughter has not gone as planned. She has experienced turbulence and trials before even beginning. But thus is the life of a ruler. We must face whatever trials may come, no matter how sudden.”

She reached a hand out for Crystal. The nurse had finished wrapping her knee, so Crystal tried to stand up. Her leg buckled under the weight. Crystal fell back to the ground, but Violet caught her, helping her to her feet. Violet wrapped Crystal’s arm around her shoulder, keeping the weight off the injured leg. Crystal reached out for her mother’s hand with her free arm. Chief Isla accepted her daughter’s hand and smiled.

“When trials come, good leaders will continue to stand,” Chief Isla continued. “My daughter has shown her youth and inexperience today. She may not be ready to properly take over.” The crowd began shifting, but Chief Isla raised her voice, silencing any murmuring. “That is why she will go on her quest. She will learn what it means to be a proper ruler, and she will do this with the help of her loyal bodyguard Violet Holt.”

The crowd began to chatter, but one voice rang out above the others. “What?” Phineas demanded, pushing his way past the crowd until he stood before Chief Isla. When his eyes met hers, he withered for a moment before straightening up. “I defeated the Chief-To-Be. I won the right to be her bodyguard!”

“No,” Chief Isla declared. “You fought for your honor. My daughter insulted you, and you challenged her to prove you are not a coward. Congratulations. You won. As far as being a bodyguard, you have proven yourself inadequate.” Crystal’s eyes widened as her mother continued, “Phineas Trave, you have injured the very woman you were assigned to protect.”

“But it was a duel—“ Phineas argued.

“Does that change your assignment?” Chief Isla demanded, raising her voice even louder. “You were charged by myself and the council to see that no harm befell my daughter. Instead, you have injured her so severely that she cannot stand on her own. Tell me: does that sound like you have done your job properly?”

Phineas’ face turned strawberry red, but he said nothing. Chief Isla continued, “While you celebrated injuring your charge, Lady Violet was doing your job. She made sure my daughter was not gravely injured. She comforted my daughter as she cried. And most importantly, she is the one holding my daughter up while you complain to me about a perceived injustice.”

Chief Isla let her words hang in the air. Crystal had rarely seen her mom tear into anyone so thoroughly, much less in public. Phineas clenched his fists, and for a spark of a moment, Crystal thought he was going to punch her mother. Instead, he declared, “I apologize, my Chief.”

The third chief of Velestot nodded. “Good. You may not be a coward as my daughter has claimed, but you have much to learn about humility. You will be suspended from official duty until my daughter returns from her quest.”

“But—“ Phineas began.

“Do you wish to question my authority?” Chief Isla demanded.

“No, ma’am,” Phineas responded, eyes falling straight to the dirt.

“Good,” Chief Isla said. She turned to Crystal. “Now, let us try this ceremony again.”