[Arthur's POV]
The training yard was empty when I arrived.
That was how I preferred it. No soldiers running their drills, no officers barking orders across the open space, no one watching me with those curious eyes that always wondered what made the Duke's ward so special.
Just me, the cold morning air, and the familiar weight of a sword in my hand.
I walked past the outdoor rings and headed for the indoor hall—a smaller building near the back of the estate, reserved for private training sessions. The door opened with a soft hiss as I approached, and the mana-lamps flickered to life one by one, illuminating the space I'd come to know better than almost anywhere else.
The hall was simple in its design.
Reinforced walls that could withstand stray strikes, a smooth floor that allowed for quick footwork, weapon racks lined up neatly along one side, and in the corner, a sleek console that controlled the training simulations.
