One week after Amy's funeral, the air in the training grounds was thick with heat and mourning. Though the sun had already begun to dip behind the castle walls, sweat still poured from the bodies of the two sparring warriors, Joshua and Lancelot.
Lancelot's wooden blade cut diagonally toward Joshua, but the younger werewolf bent low, sweeping his opponent's legs. Lancelot stumbled, but caught himself with one hand, twisting mid-air to bring his sword slashing upward. Joshua blocked it just in time, the sharp crack of wood on wood echoing across the quiet grounds.
They stood locked together, blades pressed with raw force, muscles straining, breaths ragged.
"You've grown a lot in this short time," Lancelot grunted, pushing harder.
Joshua smirked. "Yeah, but we've been at it for hours. Shouldn't we stop?"
"What, tired already?" Lancelot shot back, sarcastic despite his own breathlessness. "If my father weren't away on business, he'd be so disappointed in you."
Joshua grinned. Lancelot grinned back.
Without warning, Joshua launched forward. His feet left the ground in a spinning roundhouse kick. Lancelot blocked it with a grunt, using his free arm, then countered with a swift slash of his blade but Joshua twisted his leg around Lancelot's chest, flipping backwards with agility.
In mid-air, as Joshua's eyes met the sky, he lost sight of his opponent.
Too late.
Lancelot dropped his sword and leapt into the air, grabbing Joshua mid-flip in a tombstone hold. The two came crashing down in a blur of limbs and speed. Joshua's head hit the sand with a dull thud. Everything went black.
Joshua awoke, limbs spread wide across the training ground's soft sand.
"You finally awake?" came Lancelot's voice, distant and lazy. "I thought you were dead."
Joshua turned his head. Lancelot was lying a few feet away, similarly splayed out.
"I would have been dead if this was concrete," Joshua muttered, eyes still on the sky.
"Definitely," Lancelot agreed. "You should stop doing those flashy backflips. Leaves your back open."
"I'll try to fight more efficiently," Joshua replied, then turned serious. "Hey, Lancelot, have you patched things up with Merlin yet? With your father, the King, the Queen, Jonathan, Tiffany, and Grandma all away arranging things with Athena's family… this is your chance. You need to tell Merlin how you feel before it's too late."
"What do you mean, 'my feelings'?" Lancelot asked stiffly.
Joshua sighed. "Still denying you have feelings for my sister, huh? Look, it's just the four of us here now, me, Blanchette, Merlin, and you. You won't have to worry about your father. If you care about her, talk to her."
"Whatever," Lancelot muttered, rising and heading back toward the house.
"Stubborn idiot," Joshua said to himself. "Upsy daisy."
He stood, dusting himself off, and made his way to the garden for his usual afternoon tea with Blanchette.
The garden glowed in the soft light of the sun, streaks of gold shining through the trees. Blanchette sat on the bench, radiant in a flowing white dress, her red hair catching the sunlight like burning silk.
Joshua's breath caught. She's looking… beyond beautiful today.
"Hello, gorgeous," he said as he sat beside her.
Blanchette turned, cheeks pink. "Hello, Joshua."
"You're… really beautiful today."
"Then kiss me," she said, gazing into his eyes.
"K-Kiss you?" he stammered, face flushing.
"We've gone on so many dates. And you still haven't kissed me."
Joshua hesitated. "O-Okay."
"This is my first kiss," she whispered, leaning in. "Please… take it slow."
My first kiss was with Amy, Joshua thought, then shook the memory away. Focus. This is now.
He gently put his arms around her waist, drawing her closer. She looped hers around his neck. They leaned in, eyes fluttering closed.
Their lips met, soft, tentative, until Joshua felt something strange. Wait... is that her tongue?
His eyes widened.
Her first kiss and she's giving me a French kiss?!
He returned the gesture, and their tongues entangled, hot, messy, full of nervous longing. Time stopped. When they finally pulled apart, they slid away from each other, blushing furiously as the setting sun bathed the garden in gold.
"S-So… how was it?" Blanchette asked, flustered.
"It was good!" Joshua stood up awkwardly. "I... I'm going to go train now! Night training! Yeah!" He walked stiffly away like a malfunctioning golem.
Joshua strolled through the hallway with a bounce in his step, warmth pulsing through his body, every nerve buzzing.
Lancelot appeared around the corner.
"You look like you just drank a barrel of lightning," he said.
"I kissed Blanchette! A French kiss!" Joshua replied, beaming. "I feel amazing."
Lancelot blinked. "Her saliva… she's a Pure Noble Human. Maybe that explains the boost."
"Makes sense. See ya!" Joshua dashed back outside.
Lancelot remained behind, thoughtful. (If Joshua can do it, so can I.)
He found Merlin in the dining hall, just about to leave.
"Merlin," he said, stepping in front of her. "Do you have a moment to spare? I'd like to speak with you."
Merlin stopped, her expression darkening. "What do I look like to you? You think you can just talk to me again after weeks of silence? After the..."
Glass shattered.
Seven werewolves burst through the main dining window, snarling, muscles rippling beneath their torn armor.
"Look! Beta Jack was right!" one of them shouted. "Only the young ones are here. The grown-ups are gone!"
Lancelot stepped in front of Merlin, drawing his sword. His face turned ice-cold, his stance unshakable.
The werewolves laughed.
"дндндндедндедедедеддндндн!!!"
Their mocking laughter filled the hall.
Lancelot didn't flinch.
This time, he wasn't holding back.