Maxim stood in his reception room, before the messenger from Energ. His face was stern and devoid of any emotion. The messenger also had an expression of angst. This is because Energ and Leoch are rivals in swordsmanship. Their rivalry has been on since the age of the founders.
"What brings you to my domain?" Maxim asked.
"My Lord and the strongest swordsman in all of the MANE continent, sent this letter to you as a formal notice of an engagement between both families," the messenger replied.
"Engagement?" Maxim asked in shock as took the letter.
He opened it and it read:
"Maxim, as the only rival I have in this entire continent, there is no other family I'll entrust my child to. My daughter Sylvia has taken a liken to your son and I approve of it. Lets engage the little twerps...."
"Really? She's interested in Selim?" Maxim thought, his eyes holding suspicion.
He continued reading:
".... And see what they build from where we stopped. I know you would find this suspicious so in three days, my daughter would come visit and connect with her bethroted. There and then, you'll see my sincerity. Your approval is the only thing stopping the formation of the most powerful faction in the continent. Make the right choice Maxim.
Duke Viker Energ."
Maxim exhales deeply then said to the messenger, " Tell the Duke that I will give my approval after the meeting of the engaged."
"Alright, I'll pass on your message to my lord, the strongest....."
Maxim unsheathed his sword and slashed in one fluid motion. The upward vertical slash path the sword followed, left a deep line along the floor and into the wall behind the messenger.The door opened and the Lady of the Barony, Lady Elaine Leoch. The messenger scurried off in fear and Elaine closed the door. She was about to speak when her eyes fell on the line, a deep sword created destruction of the mansion. Her aura blazed. She looked at her husband with a smile that screamed 'lie and you die', and asked, "Dear, what exactly happened here?"
Maxim broke out in cold sweats. He averted his eyes, mumbling words under his breath. Elaine took a step closer to him and said, "I can't hear a word you're saying. Please speak up Dear."
"Well.... I may have unsheathed...."
His sentence was cut by a punch from her that sent him stumbling.
"We have one major rule since we got married," she said rolling up her sleeves, her aura flaring. "No swords in the house, yet you..." She exhales. "Leoch Heavy Swordstyle, First form, Mountain Splitter!"
"Wait, wait, WAIT!"
But it's too late. Elaine walked out of the room leaving an estimated repair bill for the total damage they caused the room on an unconscious Maxim. Gareth,wanting to speak to his father,approached the door. He knocked and the door fell, revealing the destruction. The wall held cracks like tree roots, the windows were all bursted and the floor had more cracks. Gareth's trained instincts kicked in. He entered the room cautiously, eyes scanning for a possible intruder. He heard soft groans and moved towards the direction. He got there and saw Maxim on the floor.
"Father!" He yelled,running to his side.
He cradled his head and asked,"Who did this? Tell me and I'll..."
Maxim muttered,"I'm sorry Elaine, I didn't mean to"
Gareth pinched the bridge of his nose as he groaned.
"Lets get you to your room," Gareth said as he lifted his father.
He walked over to the door way with him, turned back to look at the destroyed room again and shook his head. "This repair is going to cost alot."
Night rolled in like an invited friend and the Leoch family all gathered in Amnest's ward for dinner.
"There's no need for this guys. You shouldn't have come all this way..."
"Nonsense!" Maxim interrupted. "It's a rule that we must eat together if we are all here."
"And RULES are not meant to be broken,my dear daughter," Elaine added, knife in hand, staring daggers at Maxim.
A shiver ran down his spine. He quickly turned to Amnest,"So how are you feeling?"
"Not bad but not great either," Amnest replied.
"Well you don't have to be in a hurry to hold a sword. Heal up completely then you can go play with as many swords as you want" Elaine said.
"A true Leoch fights through the pain. Lady Petra did. After her battles at the Black Sea, she came back heavily wounded but she only rested for two days before going back to..."
"You are not Petra, Amnest. You are my daughter and you will stay in bed till you are fully healed, are we clear?" Elaine said, eyes blazing, twirling the knife around her fingers.
"Yes Mother" Amnest replied, head bowed, staring at her cup.
Selim stood up, stretching and yawning.
"Can I leave? My body hurts and I feel sleepy."
"Alright darling, good...."
"No good night yet Selim please sit back down," Maxim said.
"Eehhh. Why?" Selim asked.
"I have something to what and it concerns you."
"Hmph" Selim said as he sat back down.
"Today, a message came from Duke Viker. An official request for an engagement," Maxim said.
"So that's what the messenger brought?" Elaine questioned.
"Yes. It seems his daughter hs taken a liking to one of our sons."
"Who is it?" Elaine asked excitedly.
Maxim's eyes falls on Selim and everyone followed suit. Selim looked at everyone staring at me then pointed at himself and asked, "Me?"
"Yes" Maxim said nodding. "She's coming in three days time to bond with Selim."
Elaine pulled her boy in for a hug and sqealed. "Oh my baby's first engagement."
"It might be forever," Amnest said.
"That's if she can deal with his..... condition," Kaleb said with a desseritive snort.
"Kaleb, that's not what you should say to your brother," Elaine scolded
"Sorry" Kaleb said, throwing Selim a glance.
"I guess even Selim got a Fiancee faster than you Gareth," Amnest pointed out.
Everyone bursted into laughter, well all except for Gareth who was trying to defend himself and Selim who is still processing that he had been engaged to some Duke's daughter.