"We should train together since we're brothers and my little brother has finally been granted access to this part of the castle. Isn't that right, Sir Alex?" Kai said with a lighter tone than Kion had expected.
"Sure. I was just suggesting that to him, Your Highness."
"Of course you were." Kai rudely cut him off. "But uh, I think it's better if we cut to the chase and fight each other. No need for any of that initial business. Don't you think so?" Kai said as he walked up to Kion slowly.
Kion simply glared at him with such sharpness it could cut through flesh.
"Alright. Break it up." Alex interjected, standing between the two brothers.
"There will be time for all that later, Kai." He added, deciding to address them both by their names to establish a bit of dominance and control.
As the commander of the Platinum battalion, a scouting secondary unit from the Imperial Army, Sir Alexov was someone with high standing, enough that he couldn't be controlled by the princes.
This was why Kai stood down when he spoke. At times, going against a high-ranking commander meant going against the king himself, and even Kai wasn't foolish enough to challenge Alex in the very location that had been assigned to the commander, which was the training courtyard.
"For now…" Alex continued. "Kion needs to train as much as he can since he just got access to this part of the castle and does not have as much battle experience as you."
A smirk formed on Kai's lips on hearing that. It felt good that most of the soldiers wthin the castle still found him stronger and more of a warrior.
"For now, we'll go through the basics." Alex said, turning to Kion.
"We'll run a quick obstacle course to test your reflexes and hone your agility, then we'll go through dummy training—"
"I want to spar with him."
Sir Alex paused. He wasn't sure he'd heard correctly.
"Pardon?"
"I want to go up against the battle hardened warrior over here." Kion said with so much poise, as if he wasn't about to fight a person.
"Your majesty, are you sure? This will be your first training. You do not have to overextend yourself so soon."
"Overextend?" Kion made a face that showed a mocking gesture.
"Don't worry, Sir Alex. I'm well aware of my limits."
The courtyard was quiet for a split second, only the sound of rushing wind filling the arena.
"Well then…" Sir Alex said with a lighter tone, almost as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had wanted to give Kion as much time and space as he needed to naturally grow and ascend, but it seemed the two brothers weren't so far off from each other when it came to their egos.
"You both should select your weapons."
Kai beamed with a smile. This was his main purpose for coming here, and Kion had just handed it to him on a silver platter. Despite the incident that had happened in Kion's room earlier, he was sure of humiliating the younger prince right where he stood.
The thing was, that Kai, unlike Kion had been training for much longer, and as most would expect, had ascended by one grade in terms of physical ability.
Normally, an unawakened cannot ascend due to the genetic limits placed on their bodies. But Kai had gotten so strong that when he'd finally awakened with his brother earlier, he automatically ascended to the Common-grade.
He still had a long way to go in terms of battle, but his brother, who was currently unascended, stood no chance next to him.
What had happened earlier was a slip-up. Kai hadn't been on guard, and Kion had squeezed his bones with unexpected strength. Back then, he could not openly retaliate due to major castle protocols, but in here, a place that was typically reserved for fighting, he could do as he pleased without holding back.
The only major rule in a friendly spar was against killing strikes of any manner, the other one being to stay within the ring. He wouldn't expect Kion to chicken out so soon and exit the fighting ring, so he was sure this was going to be a fight he'd relish.
He twirled his heavy broadsword in his hand with elegant ease. This was going to be fun.
Meanwhile, Kion was as calm as the weather right before a storm hits.
He knew his odds, and they weren't really good.
There was, of course, the element of surprise. This version of him hadn't seen his brother fight before. So he couldn't rely on any prior knowledge of his brother's skills or abilities. He'd only even learned that his brother was already a common-grade warrior from one of the maiden gossips.
And there was the fact that his brother was simply stronger.
It was something that he was well aware of even from his past life.
It didn't matter how skilful one became within his/her grade. An uncommon-grade warrior would definitely body a common-grade 9 out of 10 times. Just how a common-grade would demolish an unascended like him without even breaking much of a sweat.
Kion was indeed, doomed from the start.
But there was one thing no one knew he had.
The experience of a lifetime.
In his first life, Kion had fought all his life. This had gotten him very used to battle, even more than Kai in this second life.
It may not have been enough to defeat him, but Kion knew he was not backing down.
His dying promise to himself was to ensure no one underestimated him ever again.
And the first step to achieve that was to gain respect within the castle. His brother was simply an uncomfortable obstacle he had to deal with to get there.
Since it wasn't an option for Kai to respect him, then Kion would have to make do with fear. Either way, it ensured that his older half-brother would stay out of his business indefinitely.
Kion's eyes narrowed as he noticed shuffled footsteps from all around the courtyard. People were coming. He was not going to lose today.
At the borders of the arena, people began to gather. Most of them being knights, bodyguards and maids within the castle walls that clearly had too much time on their hands.
Most didn't believe Kion even stood a chance, but one thing was sure: this was going to be an epic battle, as the two princes had never gone up against each other before.
For a good enough time to come, the outcome of this spar would determine who got more respect from the other and within the walls of the castle in general.
Kion scanned the rows of gleaming silver weapons. He picked up a longsword, a fine tuned weapon that he'd gotten too accustomed to in his past life.
Time seemed to still as both brothers stepped into the fighting ring.
"The rules are simple." Sir Alex's voice boomed across the arena as people took their seats across the stands.
"Stay within the ring, and no killing blows." Alex yelled.
"Mana-infused attacks are allowed, but they should not be lethal. If anyone steps out of the ring, they're out. Fight till your opponent is subdued or incapacitated. Both fighters should step into the ring."
Kai and Kion came within ten feet of each other, the tension between them as thick as butter.
They both bowed, and took up fighting stance.
BEGIN!
Kion barely had time to react when Kai vanished into thin air and reappeared right in front of him, his broadsword aimed in a downward slash to his shoulder.