Bound

I

The crunching of gravel was all that filled Y/N's ears as she stepped out of her home with all her suitcases in hand.

Even though she told herself she was ready for the next step in her life, she couldn't help but feel bittersweet at leaving Lenor Vale to become a Royal Apprentice.

It was all she could think about during her days at the academy, where she studied vigorously to be at the top of her class and receive a full scholarship to help lighten the financial burden on her parents.

And now her efforts are finally paying off.

She turned around to face what was now going to be her past and the walls that she grew up in.

It was a quaint little hut on the outskirts of Lenor Vale, right next to the forests she loved to run in as a kid.

Oh, how dearly she would miss home. Her parents soon walked outside to bid her farewell and good luck on this new chapter of her life.

"Be sure to write to us every week. I won't be able to rest until I hear that you're all settled and everyone is nice to you," her mother reminds her for what seemed like the millionth time.

"Yes, yes, I'll make sure also to let you know how many breaths I take and if someone stares at me for even a second too long," she replied sarcastically, pulling her mother in for a final hug.

"Don't forget to remind anyone who decides to mess with you that you're Lenor proud and you have a talent for accidentally punching people in the face,

" her father offers as advice and Y/N can't help but roll her eyes at the stereotype that people from here were uncivilized and wild because of their connection to the Earth and nature.

The people in Farnell were utterly ridiculous.

The sound of hooves approaching caused Y/N's mother to pull back and usher her husband to help his daughter load her bags onto the carriage sent by the Royal Family.

Y/N had been personally selected to work under the best healers in the Kingdom and further her career in the Capital.

Although her parents would miss her dearly, they understood that this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance for their daughter, and they wanted nothing more than for her to succeed.

They were already so proud of her and knew she was just getting started.

Once all her bags were loaded, Y/N took one step onto the stairs of the carriage and turned to give her parting words, "I'm off."

——— ??ˋ ? ?ˊ? ———

The ride to the palace wasn't the most pleasant.

Y/N seldom left the village, so she forgot how bumpy the ground was when you were in a carriage and not travelling on foot.

She was sure to have back pain when she woke up tomorrow.

Her only form of entertainment was the one book she brought in her satchel about a princess and a knight finding out they were soulmates and falling in love from there.

While this type of stuff didn't particularly appeal to her, she couldn't deny that the story kept her thoroughly entertained throughout the journey.

Y/N scoffed at how quickly the two main characters fell in love just because they had the same mark on their shoulders.

Living in a world where the main things that were prioritized were soulmates and marriage, Y/N grew sick of society's obsession with romantic love and how they couldn't seem to appreciate the other parts of life that made being alive special.

Heaven forbid she had ambitions.

She wasn't against the idea of falling in love by any means, but she wasn't satisfied with the notion that she had no control over who her life partner would be, and she would just have to accept the life that she was given.

That she had no agency of what a huge part of her life would look like.

It was cruel. While her parents had always been loving to her and each other, she had seen how her case was somewhat of a rarity.

How so many people were forced to stay with their soulmates through abuse and emotional neglect because they were their "perfect match," and who else could possibly want them. What a joke.

As she had expected, the story ended with the couple getting married and living happily ever after until they died.

How realistic. She closed her book and yawned before peeking out the window to see it was sometime around evening, which meant she was close to the end of her travels.

There was nothing more appealing to her than the idea of cuddling up in a warm and comfy bed in the workers' quarters of the palace.

Surely it would be more comfortable than her rusty twin-sized bed at home.

Thinking about home reminded her of the last conversations she shared with some of her classmates when they found out she was offered a position to work in the palace.

How so many of them were envious that she got to leave their small village and enter higher society with the respectable title of an apprentice healer under some of the greatest minds in Renetia.

And with higher society came the possibility of meeting her soulmate amongst nobility.

"Can you imagine being at a ball on your 25th birthday and you accidentally bump into a Viscount. The force of you hitting him causes him to spill the wine he was holding all over his suit, and you offer to help him clean up.

You two go to a private room where he begins to undress and you see your soulmark on his toned body. Your heart starts beating erratically at the realization that this powerful man is the one for you. And he's standing before you, half undressed, ready for you to pounce."

Y/N cracked a smile at the ridiculous scenario someone genuinely posed to her and told her to be on the lookout among people of higher social status.

With her birthday being only a month away, the only thing she felt was dread.

She knew that when the mark would appear it would hurt like hell.

She would have to remember to try and ask for a day off that day.

She could feel the change in terrain when the shaky ground underneath the wheel changed to smooth cobblestone, signalling her arrival.

She began to pack the stuff she brought with her into the carriage into her leather satchel and patiently waited as she passed through the gates and into the parterre.

Standing up for the first time in hours, she took her first step out in front of the palace in awe.

She had always heard whispers about the beauty of the palace very few in her village had seen.

And yet, words didn't seem to do it justice.

It was made of a brilliant white stone with gold accents and red roofing.

The outside was so clean it practically glowed in the evening sun.

There was a large staircase leading to the main entrance, with flowers growing all along the side and black metal gates surrounding the entire structure.

At least she would never have to worry about the safety of this place.

Trying her best not to seem like a foreigner from how much she was gawking at the place, she quickly began grabbing her bags, but after realizing there was no way she would be able to carry them all, she sheepishly asked the coachman to help her with her belongings.

Carrying her stuff up the huge flight of stairs, she was met with knights on either side of the massive door leading inside.

As she approached, the guards looked at her inquisitively, and she pulled out the document stating that she was an official member of the Royal Staff.

After inspecting her paperwork, they nodded at her and open the doors to let her through.

Once inside, a handful of maids notice her presence and rush to take her bags from her and begin heading past the grand staircase and into what seem like winding corridors.

Not expecting her belongings to be ripped from her, Y/N stood there dumbfounded before she heard a throat clearing behind her.

She turned around and came face-to-face with an older woman with graying hair, glasses with a chain wrapping around the back of her neck, a cane in hand and the straightest posture Y/N had ever seen.

"You will have to excuse their lack of manners; they have been anxiously awaiting your arrival," the woman announced in a regal voice. Y/N could tell right away that she was some sort of mentor figure from the way she carried herself with confidence and discipline.

"Oh, it's no problem, I was just a little shocked, is all. I'm Y/N L/N, the new apprentice healer. If it isn't too much trouble, do you think you could show me where the Physician's wing is?" she asked, regaining her composure.

"I know who you are. And I assume the entire palace staff does as well, with all the whispers about a healer from Lenor Vale coming to study in the castle. You must know how unusual it is for someone from your village to come work here. I am Healer Ellis.

I understand you've endured a long journey and are ready to head to bed, but I appreciate you being anxious to meet me before doing so," she remarks with a hint of a smirk on her face.

Y/N felt her stomach drop at the realization that she was currently face to face with the Healer she would be studying under for the next year.

Healer Ellis was known as a legend among Healers all over the continent.

Her extensive research into various ailments and how they could be cured with herbs grown across the land, and how experienced she was with emergencies, made her one of the most respected professionals in the Physician world.

Y/N remembered reading about her accomplishments and being impressed and it only occurred to her now that she had never actually seen a picture of her face.

"Oh, hello! Sorry, I didn't realize. It's very nice to meet you. I really appreciate you choosing me as your apprentice, and I hope to learn as much as possible during my time here with you. And don't worry, I rested quite a bit on the trip over here, so I can help with anything you need."

she lied. She was ready to drop dead from exhaustion.

"That won't be necessary. Today, you can just unpack, and one of the maids will fetch you your dinner. I'll need you to be well-rested for your first day of training tomorrow." Healer Ellis explained, gesturing for Y/N to follow her down the hall.