"Again." A voice rang out, cold and instructive.
I forced myself to stand, wiping off the blood that trickled down my nose, ignoring the burning sensation that coursed through me.
I took a stance, right foot forward, sword towards my opponent.
I dash at him, sword aiming for his throat; I wanted to give my all today, to show my worth. That was just wishful thinking. The man before me was not my regular trainer; he was Dante of the Sword, a swordmaster, one of the best in the Empire.
I brace myself for impact as the handle of his sword slams into my ribs, sending me flying across the training ground like a ragdoll.
"Enough," came the voice of earlier. "This is what you called a prodigy?"
I couldn't just hear; I could feel the overwhelming disappointment in my father's tone. This wasn't the first, nor was it going to be the last he had said such.
"My King, Reinhart isn't proficient with the sword, but I can assure you, he..."
Father scowled.
"Do I hear excuses?" he asked.
"No, your highness."
"Amon and Amiel are excellent swordsmen. Our family are a lineage of swordsmasters and nothing else. I want you to fix this, understood?"
"Yes, my Lord."
"Good. Now prepare for the ceremony. Our guest will be arriving soon."
I watched my father walk away through the porch.
I lay on the hard concrete, trying to regain my lost strength. Dante walked up to me.
"You can do better. Your siblings are no better than you are."
I wasn't sure if he was trying to encourage me or warn me about the repercussions of failure.
"Do not lay too long. Get up and get dressed; today is your day."
My day?
Ah, that's right. Today was supposed to be my birthday, our birthday, but I'd forgotten that. With Father getting more invested in my training, everything else has been a blur.
When I first got reincarnated, I was excited. I had read and watched anime about people getting reincarnated, the excitement, the rush, and the power that followed.
This was nothing of such. No one talks about the lack of good technical advancement, change in culture, change in food, or the grueling training that followed every day. The truth was always hidden, portraying reincarnation as fun and adventurous.
That was only part of it.
I adjusted the collar of my shirt. It was time to know what my ability was. I was excited but still feared what was to become.
I have been able to understand a few things since arriving here. Tradition and culture meant everything. Understanding concepts on a deeper level than normal birthed abilities, and Ren helps power such things. Knowledge is power, quite literally. That's why it is so tightly guarded.
And today was our assessment. A trial every thirteen-year-old underwent to determine the depth of their understanding and knowledge and the best concept to learn to unlock their ken.
Those without Ren are labeled as 'lost,' for they have lost the way of the world.
I descended the stairs into the ballroom. The ballroom was immaculate. The Empire's banner and the family's crest streamed from the marble walls.
The hall was filled with people alike. Aristocrats, nobles, servants, and attendants were all present.
Tables were overflowing with all sorts of food, drinks, and even pastries.
I took one step, then another. All eyes turned to me, pressing with expectations.
My siblings were already standing at the center of the ballroom, impatient yet beautiful and elegant.
I sat in the corner exhausted from the ordeal. I just observed what transpired afterwards. Nobility is moving about, bragging about their achievements, with some lesser nobility trying to coat their words in sugar for those with higher status than them.
I sipped my wine.
It's been a while since I last drank wine. Sneaking it from the kitchen wasn't easy. Nobody in their right mind would let a thirteen-year-old drink wine. It was good, better even than wine from Earth. Not like I had much of it in my previous life.
"You shouldn't be drinking," came a sweet, soft voice. "It's harmful for young health."
A girl stood beside me, unnoticed until now. She was about my age, with long, dark scarlet hair falling down her shoulders, dancing to an unseen wind, and her skin was alabaster-smooth.
No—wait, don't get the wrong idea. It's not like I'm some kind of pedophile or anything; in my past life I wasn't an adult either.
I had been a writer, a good one. I just never lived long enough to grow up.
"My name is Thesis," she said with a small curtsy. "Of House Solmaris."
"Reinhart Morningstar," I responded for formality, not friendliness.
She studied me for a moment, then added. "Your father has quite the presence. Gathering this much nobility under one roof is no easy feat; it's impressive."
"It's rare for triplets to undergo the trial," I said. "They're just intrigued."
She covers her giggle with a hand.
"The rumors were true. You speak far beyond your age."
We're the same age, though!
"All right," Father said, clapping his hands together to silence everyone. "Let's begin the main event."
He gestures, and the crowd parts; a butler wheels in a black briefcase, laying it gently on a pedestal near the center of the ballroom.
He opened it gently but steadily, revealing a crystalline orb, roughly the size of a watermelon.
A Ren Orb.
Everywhere fell silent and oppressive, heavy with anticipation. This was the moment. We were about to know our Ken; this will determine how the rest of our lives are going to play out.
Amiel stepped forward with practiced grace and confidence. The firstborn was going first. He straightened his crimson coat, gave a formal bow, and placed his hands on the Ren Orb.
The orb flared with impenetrable darkness. The orb had become so dark, dark mist bled from it.
"A ken or rarity" The butler announced. "The Ken of darkness."
Some applauded; while some mumbled between ears.
Amon stepped up next; it was his turn. The second child.
He placed his hand on the orb. Immediately, it froze, down the pedestrian beneath it.
"Dual Ken," the butler announced. "Water and Ice."
Like mother huh?
Normally, a person get a ken/ability, the the deeper their understanding of it, the more abilities they might get. For example, a person with the Ken of sir might also get the Ken of sound, since sound is a sub attribute of air.
I exhaled.
"The Ken of paper and pen" The butler announced as I made contact with the orb.
Everywhere went silent, no one dared to speak with father present. But I knew the stain this was on his name.
The ceremony went on for a little bit before I was called aside by Sora, our elder sister and the first born.
She led me to a room.
I immediately felt the tension inside. Dad sat with Mum at one end, Princess Miranda leaning on a wall, her sword making a bump underneath her coat. Her long blonde hair reflected the pale light much like mother's did. Amiel and Amon were present too.
The room was way smaller than I had expected; talismans decorated the wall. I knew what they were all too well.
Sound concealment barriers.
Whatever this was, it was secret.
Father cleared his throat; I've never seen him this serious.
"It's almost night, so I'll cut to the chase. The real trial is about to begin. There are two things you must understand."
He paused, then continued.
"This trial you're about to face is by far the easiest you'll ever encounter. It is going to test your intelligence, knowledge, and mental endurance. DO NOT take it for granted, and remember what you experience is indeed real."
"The second thing you should know is about the test nobles undergo with this trial." Mom continued. "Like you already know, your father and I govern over a vast territory. Your trial is going to take part within it, but at a random location. You must subdue that region either by force or loyalty and claim your domain."
That wasn't what I signed up for.
I wanted a quiet life; was that too much to ask? Why is life always so forceful?
I raised my hand. "What if I fail?"
"There's no option for failure." Dad continued. "Fail the Ken test and you might lose your sanity; the best case is, you die. For the domain, you'll have to subdue and develop it yourself, for that is your inheritance."
I glanced at Miranda. So that's why she's rarely around.
"As you may know, Father is a king candidate—"
With a wave of his hand, Miranda was cut before she could finish.
"That knowledge exceeds them." Father said sharply. "You'll be teleported now. Remember all we taught you; we love you. Failure is not an option."
The talismans flared, stretching into funny-looking shapes.
Sound vanished and light thinned.
The room unraveled, and I was somewhere else.