The training ground smelled faintly of sweat and steel. My arms ached, my palms stung raw, but compared to day before yesterday…
"Pshhh," I muttered, swinging the blade one last time. "Today's training was hard, but honestly, it was a breeze compared to before."
I turned my hands upward, frowning at the calluses forming. "Ugh… my hands. They used to be soft and now they're a mess."
"Shadows," I called, wiping sweat from my brow. "How much time has passed?"
One of them, faceless as ever, straightened. "Ahem! It has been five hours and thirty-one minutes, Prince."
I blinked. "That's all? Hm… still plenty of time left. What should I do now?"
I weighed the options out loud. "I could meditate… or just take a break. But Mother did say twelve hours of physical training every day."
My lips curled in a faint smile. "I wonder what Aria's doing right now. She's been following this routine for six years already, hasn't she?"
I grabbed a towel, slinging it over my shoulder.
"W-wait, Prince," one shadow stammered, shifting uneasily. "Where are you going?"
"To see my sister, of course." I grinned.
The shadow hesitated, then exchanged a glance with his companion.
"…The Empress ordered twelve hours of training," the second shadow muttered.
"Yeah, she did," the first whispered back. "But he already finished his routine. A little break won't kill him, right?"
"Mm. We can just say the Prince wished to observe the older heirs' training. That'll pass as a reason."
I tilted my head. "Are you two whispering about excuses?"
"…No, Prince," they said in unison.
I laughed softly and pressed forward. "If I recall, Aria trains with the Royal Knights, right?"
They followed in silence as we crossed the palace halls.
---
Knights' Training Chamber
The clang of steel rang out in rhythmic bursts. Inside, knights sparred in pairs, sweat dripping under the sunlight.
I spotted Lyra first. Sword raised, dueling a knight without a single flicker of mana.
"I'll win this time!" she declared, thrusting forward.
Her blade slashed, thrust, parried. She managed to press her opponent for a heartbeat, even forcing him back two steps. But then, just as she was going for a finishing attack,
The knight ducked, swept her legs out from under her, and leveled his sword at her neck.
"It looks like I win yet again, Princess," he said evenly.
"Ughhh…" Lyra groaned, smacking the ground with her fist. "How many times has it been? I haven't won even once!"
Her eyes flicked sideways, filled with a mix of frustration and admiration.
There—Aria.
She was locked in her own duel, blade flashing in arcs too fast to follow. No mana. Just pure swordsmanship.
And yet, she looked like she was dancing. Her movements were sharp, efficient,reflexes honed to perfection. Every strike flowed into the next, every parry snapped like lightning.
The knight before her wasn't just anyone. He was one of the elite Royal Knights who served under my father, seasoned and battle-hardened. And yet… he looked like he was being pushed back, struggling to keep up with a thirteen-year-old girl.
No wasted motion. No hesitation. Just brilliance.
If mana were allowed, the result might've been different. But even stripped of it, the gap was undeniable.
Unlike Lyra, who fought with desperation, Aria fought with inevitability.
She was a storm contained in a single blade.
Her blade froze mid-swing, her golden eyes narrowing as her gaze snapped toward me.
"Huh? Is that… Kaito?"
The knight in front of her seized the opening, muscles tightening as he lunged with everything he had. "Princess," he barked, "I'd prefer if you focused on me while dueling. A single ounce of distraction could mean defeat in battles!"
Aria tilted her head, almost pitying, then sighed.
Boom.
Her sword met his with such force that the knight was sent flying across the chamber like a ragdoll. Armor clattered against the floor, his weapon flying out of reach.
Gasps echoed through the training hall. Every knight froze, eyes wide. None of them had even seen the movement, all they noticed was the impact.
And then, she was gone from where she stood.
An instant later, Aria was in front of me, strands of black hair swaying like a whip.
My jaw nearly unhinged. "…Did you just… teleport?"
She laughed softly, shaking her head. "No. You know I'm a Vessel, right? I can't use that kind of magic. I just moved quickly."
"…Quickly, huh," I muttered. That was an understatement.
Her smile sharpened. "By the way, what are you doing here? You're not slacking off after muttering those words, are you?"
I raised my hands defensively, grin sheepish. "Hehe… guess what? I already finished my training. Now I'm just here to observe and grow. Right, Shadow?"
The shadow at my back stiffened. "Y-yes, Princess. He speaks the truth."
Aria tapped her chin, pretending to think. Then her lips curved. "Oh-ho? If you really want to grow, why not duel me instead? Observation only takes you so far."
I froze. "H-huh? M-me? Duel?"
Her golden eyes glittered with amusement. "Yes. Do you see anyone else here observing our skills?"
My mouth opened, then closed. "…Listen, Aria. I don't know what you're expecting, but I'm a complete newbie. I just started training . I don't even know a single technique. And you—you're tossing around Royal Knights like toddlers. And you want me to fight you?"
Aria tilted her head, then nodded as if making a decision. She raised her hand to her chin, her golden eyes sharp, her beauty striking in a way no thirteen-year-old should possess.
"Well… maybe it's a little much for your first day. Why don't you duel Lyra instead? She's closer to your level. A newbie, even if she pretends not to be."
"W-what?" Lyra's head snapped toward her. She scoffed, gripping her sword tighter. "I may not be as good as you, Aria, but don't lump me with beginners. I lose against Royal Knights because they've had decades of experience, not because I'm weak. And I definitely won't lose to a kid like Kaito."
She tossed a wooden sword toward me. It clattered at my feet.
"Here. Pick it up. Come face me."
I froze. For a moment, my mind couldn't process what just happened. But the knights were watching, Aria was watching, and Lyra's eyes were burning holes through me. I bent down, picked up the sword, and stepped into the dueling space.
"Uh… c-can you please go easy on me?"
Lyra's expression twisted with fury. "Go easy? Don't make me laugh. I'm already the laughing stock compared to Aria. If I go easy on you, they'll think I'm even weaker. Don't worry, little brother,"she raised her blade, smirking.I'll end this in one blow. It won't hurt much."
One of the knights raised his hand. "Begin!"
Lyra charged. Her steps were sharp, practiced. Maybe she couldn't stand toe-to-toe with Aria or Knights, but compared to me? She was a storm.
Her sword blurred.
Baam!
The impact rang out, my wooden sword soaring from my hands before I even realized she'd struck. A rush of air slammed against me as if her blade carried the wind itself.
Cheers erupted instantly.
"Excellent, Princess Lyra!"
"Well done! You've improved greatly since your arrival!"
Lyra stood tall, smiling brightly, basking in the praise as the knights clapped.
Meanwhile, I stared at my empty hands.
"…Huh? Did I just… lose?" My voice cracked with disbelief.
It wasn't just losing. I expected I won't amount to much but I hadn't even lasted a second.
I'd wanted to survive at least a few exchanges, maybe hold my ground for a minute. But no—
The duel had ended the moment it began.
"With a single strike, I was finished. I lost… to the family's laughing stock. The one who can't even sense mana. And worse—I lost before Aria."
Aria crouched down slightly, her smile soft but her words sharp.
"Now, now. Don't lose too much hope. Soon enough, you'll be strong enough to beat Lyra. She may not look like it, but she trains harder than most. She doesn't have the same talent we do, nor the wealth her mother could pour into potions. All she has is her body, and a determination that refuses to break. She might not amount to much in the long run… but if she's accepted into Zyberg Academy, she could surpass the likes of Kael or Seren—the ones who do nothing but chase empty praises."
Her voice was matter-of-fact, but it only made the sting sharper.
My chest tightened. My throat burned. And only few words came from my mouth.
"Hic… Aria… hic… Ariaaa…"
The tears fell before I could stop them.
"I—I lost. I lost before you. But I swear, I'll work harder. Harder than even Lyra. Harder than you! Next time, it'll be me. I'll be the one smiling. I'll be the one winning. I won't lose again—not in front of you!"
The wooden sword slipped from my hand as I turned and bolted out of the training chamber, my vision blurred by tears.
Behind me, silence lingered, broken only by the sound of my footsteps fading.
Aria watched me go, her golden eyes narrowing, her lips curling into the faintest smile.
"…Does he think of me as his bride or something? To swear he won't lose in front of me?"
She stood tall again, her gaze sharpening, her voice dropping to a whisper no one else caught.
"Sorry, Kaito. But this was necessary. Lyra wanted a confidence boost and you needed the push. To train harder, to crave strength more than comfort. Because in two years…" Her eyes glimmered, a flame behind gold.
"…it's happening again. And this time—it'll be your turn."