Elias Leywin POV
A sharp, stubborn knocking dragged me up from sleep, each hit against the door landing with just enough force to refuse being ignored.
"Mr Leywin?" a woman's voice called.
"Uhhh, five more minutes…"
The words slurred out of me as I rolled over, burying my face deeper into the pillow.
The knocking didn't stop.
"Mr Leywin, is everything okay?"
The concern in her voice cut through the haze. Before I could answer, the lock clicked.
"I'm coming in."
"It'sugh fine, I'm up, I'm up," I yawned, forcing my eyes open as I stretched. My joints popped in protest.
"Very well, Mr Leywin, Breakfast will begin shortly, so please prepare yourself appropriately."
I could practically see the bow she gave through the door.
I ripped the covers off me and swung my legs over the side of the bed, only to be met with the harsh Autumn air nipping at my skin. I pushed myself off the bed, my feet meeting the wooden floor with a thud. It was cold of course it was. Winter was coming.
After a quick wash i made my way to the dresser at the far side of the room and pulled out a simple but formal set of clothes consisting of dark trousers and a white tunic.
"I hate formal wear," I muttered as I fought a button.
Another knock rasped my door "Mr Leywin, may I escort you to the dining hall?"
I pulled the door open. The maid greeted me with a slight nod, her face unreadable but polite.
"Uh, yeah. Sure, of course, lead the way," I smiled, smoothing down my still-damp hair with one hand.
"Then please, follow me."
We walked through the long corridors, the only sounds audible being the chirping of birds from the courtyard.
'The palace really was something else, even after being here for a weekend…'
The maid stopped at the end of a wide staircase, in front of two tall, arched doors.
"The Royal Families are already seated," she said softly.
I hesitated for a second, then pushed onwards and spread the doors wide.
The dining hall stretched out before me. It was magnificent to say the least. So beautiful in fact that it was as if I were looking at a painting.
Light spilt across the marble floor in warm colours, filtered through stained glass high above. Gold traced the ceiling in delicate patterns, chandeliers hanging like frozen constellations.
At the centre, a table stretched long with figures alone to remind me exactly where I was.
At its head was humanity's King, Blaine Glayder. He sat upright, gesturing boldly as he spoke. To his left, the King of Dwarves, Dawsid Greysunders, leaned forward eagerly, his arms crossed. Across from them, the King of Elves, Alduin Eralith, watched with a slight smile at his equal's conversation.
Queens were gathered at the other end of the table. Queen Priscilla was mid-sentence, her tone light but precise. Queen Glaudera sipped from a small porcelain cup, nodding thoughtfully while Queen Merial listened closely, her posture graceful but firm.
That Tess girl sat beside Kathlyn, a book open between them. Tessia's lips moved gently as she read its world aloud. Kathlyn watched and read along smiling.
'I guess they're both princesses.'
A hand slapped my back.
"About time you showed up."
I turned, barely stopping myself from flinching. Curtis grinned like he'd been waiting for that.
"Thought you were gonna sleep through breakfast and make me sit through this circus alone."
"Morning to you, too," I muttered.
He laughed, clapping my shoulder again before jerking his head toward the table.
"Come on, Lias. They've already brought out the good stuff!"
The smell grew stronger as we approached, rich and warm enough to make my stomach twist. A maid placed fresh fruit and pastries down, bowing before stepping away.
We sat. Metal clinked softly against porcelain. Conversations blurred into background noise.
Curtis leaned closer.
"Seriously though… I'm glad you're here."
I glanced at him. "You mean at breakfast?"
His expression flattened. "I mean in general."
"I didn't know you saw me that way." I blushed. "I'm sorry, my prince, but I don't enjoy the company of m-"
He struck the back of my head. "Zip it." He berated. "I didn't get a chance to thank you for what you did back at the ball. With Kat."
"So are you gonna do that or…?"
"Dick," he muttered.
"I didn't really do anything special." I smiled.
"You threw yourself between her and that spell." Curtis said deadpanned
"I didn't do anything really." I repeated, waving my hands at the royal.
He leaned over and gripped my cheek, pulling on it slightly, "Oh, so you're saying my sister is worthless?" he questioned.
I grunted in pain, and he released my cheek. I rubbed the reddening flesh, which was not needed as golden light sprang up to it.
"But seriously, Elias-"
"I know, I know." I shook my head. "You don't have to make a big deal out of it."
"Of course I do," he said. "Kat's my sister and she nearly…"
"But she didn't."
"But you almost did." He said with a heavy exhale, "I saw what happened to you…"
I placed a hand on the older boy's shoulder, "I'm fine, Curtis." I reached for the napkin wedged under my plate and laid it on my lap. "I haven't eaten in days, I'm starving, so maybe we could talk about this later?"
He laughed as he mimicked my movements.
---
"So you're staying behind?" I asked, looking up to the older boy as we made our way out of the dining hall.
He nodded. "My parents are still shaken up after the attack, so they want me to stay in the capital for another week or so."
"That's understandable," I rolled my shoulders as I clutched my almost bulging stomach. "This castle isn't the worst place to be held up in for another week."
We stepped into one of the open-air courtyards. The late morning sun filtered through the high stone arches, casting long shadows across the polished flagstones. A breeze tugged at the ends of my hair as I tilted my face up to the sky, grateful for the fresh air after the heavy atmosphere inside.
"You know," Curtis began after a pause, "you handled everything better than I expected."
I glanced at him. "You already said that."
"I mean it." He crossed his arms.
"…Thanks," I muttered quietly.
Footsteps echoed from behind us.
Kathyln stood just outside one of the arched garden entrances, her long dark hair fluttering slightly in the breeze. She wore a simple navy dress, elegant but unadorned, and though her posture was as straight and composed as ever, there was a quiet hesitance in her eyes.
Curtis followed my gaze and stepped aside. He nudged me. "I'll give you two a moment."
I swallowed and turned to face her fully as she approached.
"Hey, Kathlyn," I greeted, offering a small smile.
She stopped in front of me, her hands clasped neatly in front of her. "Elias," she said softly. "Do you have a moment?"
"Of course."
"Thank you," she said after an air of silence. "For protecting me at my birthday party." She fiddled with her hands. "You were put in danger because of me."
I scratched the back of my neck, heat rising to my face. "I didn't really think about it like that."
"That's what made it mean more," she added quietly.
Something shifted in her expression. The usual formality, the cool distance she always wore like armour… it wavered.
"You could've been killed," she whispered.
"But I wasn't," I replied gently. "And I'd do it again."
Her lips parted slightly at that, her eyes widening just a little. Then, before I could say anything more, she stepped forward and pressed a soft kiss to my cheek.
My breath caught.
"Uh…"
My face exploded in red.
She looked down, a small smile touching her lips. She nodded and, without another word, turned and left.
A quiet snicker from behind me broke my shock.
Cynthia stood near the carriage with her arms folded loosely, a knowing look dancing in her eyes. "My, my," she hummed, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips. "Did I see what I think I saw back there?"
"Grandma…" I groaned, dragging a hand down my face.
"Oh, I'm Grandma now?" she chuckled.
"You can't go calling me your grandson without any repercussions." I retorted, trying my best to hide my growing embarrassment from the woman before me.
"Very well," she said, smirking as she ducked into the carriage.
I let out a sigh as I dragged my feet towards my self-proclaimed grandmother.
---
A teal blade arced down towards me.
I raised my left arm to intercept the strike. Golden flames gathered from the air around me and focused them upon a singular point just before the blade. The dense golden flames shimmered as the sword's arc slowed drastically as it moved down through them.
I sidestepped entirely by firing a burst of mana at my left foot.
Power flooded my wand. Gold bled into shape, stretching into a blade that hummed in my grip. I struck up towards my older brother.
He shifted in a flicker of movement far too fast for me to follow.
Steel met flame. The impact rang sharp across the training grounds as Arthur caught the strike on the flat of his sword. Lightning crawled along the teal metal, snapping and hissing.
I tore my weapon back just before the current leapt. It still bit, a jolt racing up my arm and forcing my fingers tight around the wand.
The flames collapsed at my command. In their place, a golden sphere began to take shape. It elongated before coming to a point. Ribbons of it's same gold began to grow along the ever elongating length. It was growing increasingly impatient.
"Rhongomyniad!" I cried.
The aerodynamic spell exploded from my wand like a bullet. The spinning mass screamed through the air, pressure building around it as it drove straight for his chest.
Art planted his foot and slashed upwards. His blade pressed through the air against my spell as he deflected it high into the blue above us.
Boom!
The spell detonated in the air and granted Xyrus, if only temporarily, a second sun. Art and I both watched as its light began to fade against the sky.
We locked eyes, and in the very same instant, he was already moving.
Clang!
His blade hammered down against a wall of dense flame I had gathered above me. The pressure groaned under the weight of his strike. I staggered back, my boots dragging through the grass.
He didn't let up.
Lightning flickered down the length of his sword again as he slashed, feinted, and drove forward with relentless precision.
I channelled golden flames onto the soles of my feet, leaping sideways and landing near the edge of the training field. I sucked in a breath, refocusing my mana channels.
"Come on, Lias," Arthur said calmly. "You can do better than that."
I couldn't help but grit my teeth. I released that pressure with a breath.
"You're not wrong, Big Bro," I smiled as I lowered my left arm towards the ground. From beneath the soil, spiralling golden drills erupted like jagged teeth, flying towards him, erratic and rapid.
They encircled the area in a protective arc as they guided my brother around the courtyard. I exhaled, taking any chance at a break I could have.
My brother didn't slow down.
He vanished again with one smooth step in a burst of flame-assisted movement, reappearing temporarily between the paths of the two spells.
"Changing the terrain won't help if you don't take control of the tempo," he smiled.
Both spells collided behind him. He bent his knees and shot forward in a blur.
Blue missed my face by inches as I managed to pivot to the side.
His blade arced upwards in a Crimson and Blue.
I struck down with my own formed of golden flame.
Both blades continued their tug of war as lightning built along the length of my brother's sword.
The air around us hummed with static, prickling against my skin. I kicked off the ground, channelling golden flames into my legs to launch myself back just as he slashed horizontally. A jagged arc of electricity tore through the space I had been standing in a heartbeat before, scorching a black line across the grass.
"What the hell, bro?" I questioned as I continued my retreat.
"At least I didn't blast you with a spell that exploded on impact." He retorted.
"Quit using cheap tricks, Big Bro!" I shouted. "Just cause I'm the better swordsman does that mean you should cheat?"
He stopped his chase. His face dropped.
'Why is he looking at me like that?'
He exhaled as he changed his grip on his sword.
He shot forwards in a blur of blue.
I whipped my wand around, a golden blade already mid formation, but he was already inside my guard. His sword flicked up and knocked my wand skyward, and in the same motion, his free hand channelled a thin thread of water around my ankles, which instantly hardened into ice.
He swept my legs from under me with the flat of his sword before I could shatter it, sending me crashing onto my back.
The sky spun above me.
I raised one hand to my head. I let out a groan as golden light already surrounded me.
My brother sat down next to me and patted my chest. "It's not that you're a bad swordsman." He smiled, "I'm just better."
"You still cheated." I protested.
"Sure, Lias." He laughed. "Just heal up me too while you're at it," he said, gesturing to me.
"Yeah, yeah," I waved my left hand at him as a brilliant golden light shone up from my hands.
I bathed him in the golden light, the small cuts and scuffs on his body stitching themselves back together.
"I'm glad you're back." I groaned as I forced myself to sit upright.
"I'm glad to be back," he smiled as he forced himself to his feet.
He offered me a hand. I took it as I stood level with his chin.
"You're getting taller." He patted my head. "You'll be taller than me next time I'm home"
'Next time…'
He placed a hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll be coming back more often from now on."
I nodded. "I know…"
He released me. "Anyway, best not to keep Mom waiting, she booked this really fancy place for us to go for dinner later." He smiled back at me. "Race you there!" he shouted as he shot ahead.
---
I opened my mouth and let the mana-rich air flood my lungs. It filled me slowly, settling deep in my chest. I held it there. Counted the seconds by the pressure building behind my ribs. Then I let it go. The breath left me in a long, steady stream, tension bleeding out with it.
In.
Hold.
Out.
The rhythm settled with ease, my body growing used to the atmosphere.
Footsteps brushed against the silence behind me.
A light tap struck the back of my head. "You're getting better at that," she said, warmth threading through her voice like it always did.
A laugh slipped out before I could stop it. "I'd hope so, Grandma."
I opened my eyes as I looked back at her.
She stood there, exactly where I expected her to be. Watching. Smiling. A letter held loosely between her fingers.
My gaze dropped to it. Staying maybe a moment longer than it should have.
"So what's with the letter?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
She tilted it away from me. "How would you feel about taking a class excursion to Zestier?"