Not even trying to pretend otherwise, Caspian knew this wasn't his way of doing things.
He would not temper his spirit.
He spat to the side, barely containing his disgust.
"Vorgath, what do you want?"
"My, my. Don't show so much hostility," Vorgath replied with an exaggerated sigh. "We spent so much time together as children. So many fond memories…"
When that failed to provoke a reaction, he changed tactics.
"Look at you," Vorgath continued. "Healthy. Strong. I bet you could give our soldiers a lesson or two—show them the might of royal blood."His smile sharpened. "Even if yours is a little… thin."
"What do you say?" he added. "Care to join me at the training grounds?"
His eyes betrayed his ulterior motive.
To Caspian, though, this was a blessing.
He thinks he'll embarrass me in front of the troops, Caspian realised. Spread rumors. Cut me off before I gain any footing.
Alright. Let's use that overconfidence against you.
"Sure," Caspian said easily. "I don't mind getting some training in after so long in bed."
His confidence was blatant—deliberate.
Exactly the sort of arrogance a dragon would expect from one of royal blood.
Good, Vorgath thought. Take the bait.
He was already picturing the half-breed's inevitable humiliation.
______
They soon arrived at the training grounds.
Weapon racks lined the open space, blades and spears gleaming under the sun. Dragons trained fiercely across the field, clashing with practiced ferocity.
Some retained scales across their humanoid bodies. Others bore tails or wings.
A few looked more dragon than man even in their humanoid forms.
Evolution.
Most of the soldiers were decades—some centuries—old. Many had evolved at least once, some multiple times, their bodies reshaped by power.
The divide in status was obvious.
Noble dragons trained in a separate area, an invisible line separating them from the common soldiers.
No matter the world, Caspian noted, society always found ways to divide itself.
As they entered, the troops bowed.
Vorgath basked in the attention.
"This is Prince Caspian!" he announced loudly. "He's here to do some training after his recent recovery. Let's see what he's got!"
The forced enthusiasm made Caspian want to retch.
A pair of dragons stepped forward, volunteering to spar.
Caspian nodded and walked to the center of the field. The surrounding soldiers formed a loose circle, eyes fixed on him.
Some watched with curiosity.
Others hoped he would fail.
Caspian approached the weapon rack, brushing his fingers across several options, appearing momentarily uncertain—until his hand closed around one.
A sword.
"Dear cousin!" Vorgath called out. "Are you sure you know how to use that?"
Laughter rippled through parts of the crowd.
Caspian ignored him.
Facing the two dragons, he said calmly, "You can both come at me at once."
Some admired the confidence.
Others exchanged doubtful looks.
Vorgath scoffed. "Your pride as a royal—well… half-royal dragon—is admirable. But perhaps you should think this through."
Every word dripped with venom.
"If you don't move," Caspian said flatly, "I will."
The insult ignited the two Level 1 Evolved dragons instantly.
Commoners or not, they were veterans of countless battles. They would not tolerate being dismissed by a boy fresh from a coma.
I hope this weapon mastery actually works, Caspian thought grimly.
[Don't worry, Host. The moment you wield a weapon, it will feel as though you have trained with it for centuries.]
Suddenly—
They moved.
One dragon lunged from the right, wings flaring as it drove forward like a projectile.
The second veered left, scales glinting in the sunlight, eyes burning with intent.
Caspian would be lying if he claimed he wasn't nervous.
This was his first battle in this world.
Even as a spar, too much depended on it.
He couldn't afford failure.
Then steel met steel.
His sword struck the incoming spear and deflected it effortlessly.
The tension evaporated.
Something primal stirred within him.
His draconic instincts ignited—hunger, dominance, certainty.
The fear vanished.
With weapon mastery, empowered bloodlines, and a reforged physique, Caspian found himself doing something unexpected.
He was enjoying the fight.
And asserting his dominance.