“I know that it is not my place to tell you this but-“
“Then, do not tell me. Why are you suddenly telling me?”
Maxineirah was miffed with him but she tried to understand his side.
“Argh. It is because, no one would bother to tell you this. Who would it be if not for me?”
“You sure talk big, Young Duchess.”
“Ugh! Will you shut up and just lend me your ear?!” Maxineirah looked at Creston, threatening him with her glares. She felt like she wanted to pull his ear in front of her mouth.
“Fine. Fine. But do not stop on your tracks.” Creston said when Maxineirah paused her movements for a minute.
‘It is kinda weird that we are talking like this in this situation, and with this atmosphere.’ Maxineirah thought for a moment when she continued her training before speaking.
“Well, I kinda empathize with you. That is different in sympathy and pity. I know that you are aware of that and I also know that you do not want to be pitied. Maybe, you are thinking that I am still young to know things that no matter how mature I act, I would not be able to deny the fact. That there are things I do not know. It is a bizarre thing to listen to me, is it not? Listening to a girl whose few years younger than you, rambling, nagging you for the things that even a young man like you could not understand-“
“Yeah, you have said it yourself, you are weird-“ Creston could not help but to interfere that it made Maxineirah pissed for the nth time but Maxineirah also cut his words by hitting him with the wooden sword she was swinging in his waist.
“You really want a piece of me, huh?” Maxineirah said irritatedly.
“You want me to continue or I will beat you up?” Maxineirah threatened.
“Go on.” Creston waved his hand as he used his other hand to support his aching waist.
“What I am trying to say is you should not succumb yourself too much to the things that happened in the past. You do not need to trap yourself anymore. You are here now, you are free from their grasps, you will not starve, nor your throat will not dry anymore but if you really think that what happened to you was unjust and unfair that you are not at ease then, go take your revenge. No one would be stupid enough to blame you if you take the years of happiness of those people who did you inhumane acts.”
“So do not make that expression again. Even if I do or anyone who does not see it, refrain from doing that.” Maxineirah said without stopping on her tracks this time.
They fell in silence as Creston minced her words.
It was just as simple as it sounds but he never thought of doing that and only felt that he was missing something to do since no one ever gave him advice over things like Maxineirah did.
For him, he grew up parentless, loveless and guideless. He did everything on his own account without anybody to cheer for him and climbed up the ranks on his own hardworks.
Maxineirah stole a glance at her personal guard to see his reaction and found him engulfed in his thoughts but she could tell right away that he was getting her point.
Creston felt something sparked in his chest. He could not help but to admire the child in front of him.
He thought it was absurd for him to get enlightenment from a kid’s words
After Maxineirah’s words, they get back to their practice as if nothing dramatic happened.
Nights like that had gone by until Sir Albinio and Sir Jetarom called for them one day.
The cadets lined up in front of the two old men, Creston stood up behind Sir Jetarom and Sir William -Vice-Captain of Zachrono Knights- stood behind Sir Albinio.
The four of them were standing with their feet apart, hands on their back and in a straight body.
They all looked adorable looking so serious that the oldies and Knights practicing in the training ground had their faces flushed in red.
The eldest one and Head of Zachrono Knights, Sir Albinio cleared his throat as he spoke.
“For the past few months, we have seen your growth and your talents developing so we decided to finally have you spar one-on-one. Every one of you will spar three times, totalling to 6 spars. Spectators will be me, our Sir Jetarom, Sir William and Sir Creston here, and Their Excellencies -Duke Gabriela, and Duke Zachrono. The match will take part ten days from now so you still have a week and three days to enhance your talents.” Sir Albinio informed.
The news made the children happy.
Finally!
They could see how they improved after going through several training sessions.
Sir Jetarom went in front of them and examined them from head to toe, one by one while saying these words: “You will be given freedom to practice on your own starting today. You can pull some Knights training here or wherever to be your practice partner. You can try practicing anywhere you think would suit you or you can use your own methods in practicing. The rules will be given on the D-day of the match. And lastly, for Cadet Maxineirah…” Sir Jetarom paused as he stopped meters away from Maxineirah.
“His Grace told us that it is on you if you want or not to participate in-“
“I will. I want to participate in the sparring match.” Maxineirah did not let him finish his words as she replied with determination.
It was rude of her to cut an adult’s words but the old man seemed not to bother about it.
She did not even bat an eye as she stared directly at the Captain’s eyes.
Sir Jetarom was pleased with her tenacity as he sighed with a smile. “Awesome.” He murmured silently as he went back to his former position.
“That concludes it. It will be a semi-formal fight between four contenders. We wish you all the best of luck!” Sir Jetarom said enthusiastically.
“THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIRS!” The four of them said happily as the Captains and Sir William left the ground, leaving Creston with them.
Maxwell and Grenchant were jumping around happily and Maxineirah and Drenschville made a high five as their blood was boiling with ecstasy. The time had come to see who was the strongest of the four.
They could not wait any longer for that day to come in a blink.
“Attention Cadets.” Creston stole their attention.
They immediately stood up properly and went back to their former positions.
“For ten days before the match, you can choose a master to teach you if you want. It can be anyone, just not the Captains and Vice-Captains because we are quite busy teaching you. This will be the last day I will train you. I congratulate you all in advance because whether you win or lose in the sparring match, that day will be the mark of your closing ceremony-slash-moving up. Do all your best and climb on your careers cleanly. It is my honor to be an instructor of such young nobles like you, Your Graces.” Creston said as he also clapped his hands shortly before they finally proceeded to their last training.
“Stretch your backs!” Creston shouted as he pounced Maxwell’s back with slight force.
“Make your feet sturdy!” He held Drenschville’s left leg and stomped his foot harder on the ground before hitting it with five slaps.
“Cadet Gabriela! Stop talking! You have been talking to everyone since we started!” Creston shouted when he saw him starting another new chit-chat to Maxineirah this time.
Grenchant was startled and shrank in his place in embarrassment when he heard some small chuckles from the Knights around and even Maxineirah and her brother and Drenschville chuckled silently.
Grenchant was being scolded again, as always, even in his last days with Sir Halnois.
“Good job, Cadet Maxineirah.” Creston praised.
The Knights and the three boys were proud hearing that when Maxineirah felt the opposite.
‘That is our lady!’
‘That is my beauty and brain sister.’
‘As expected from a future leader.’
‘Of course, she is as cool as me because she is my friend.’
“Seems like Sir Halnois favors your sister, Maxwell.” Grenchant leaned a little and secretly whispered to Maxwell.
“It is not surprising anymore. Just do not try to cross his line.” Maxwell replied back, whispering.
“Cadet Maxwell and Cadet Gabriela! Stop bickering there! Do you have anything to say to me?!” Creston butted in and made the two of them winced.
“But it seems to me that he likes you more.” Maxwell teased.
Contrary to what Maxwell really wanted to do and say, he froze while swinging his sword and his movements became tangled because he was distracted for a moment.
“Cadet Gabriela, that was your last warning.” Creston warned that made Grenchant shut his mouth tightly.
“Although your Knight is cool, he is also stern-“ Grenchant was trying to talk to Maxineirah for the last time but Creston seems to have many ears and eyes planted around them.
“GABRIELA!” Sir Halnois shouted in irritation. This Gabriela kid was just as hard-headed as his father.
“Pfft-“ they all tried to stop themselves from laughing at the naughty Grenchant and forbidding Vice-Captain Halnois.
Maxineirah thought that Creston’s tutoring to her already ended but she was told again to go to the secluded training area that night.
Creston once again emerged from the shadows but Maxineirah was not surprised anymore because he had been doing that and Maxineirah was already used.
“Are you going to teach me again?” Maxineirah asked once Creston stood in front of her.
“Why? You do not want me to?” he asked back.
“I thought you told us not to pick a Vice-Captain because you are all busy?”
“Well, it is midnight. Do you think I still have something to do? And you are not the one who picked me. I chose you, Young Lady.” Creston said when Maxineirah looked at him suspiciously.
“I did not know that the Vice-Captain of Phantom Knights has a lot of free time in his hands to still have time to teach me. Do you not have any secret missions?”
“I do not have. Currently.” Maxineirah eyed him with doubt because of his answer.
“Do you not get sick seeing my face 24/7?”
“Who would not? Of course, I do. And I am thankful because I really do not see you 24/7. It is 16/7, My Lady, if you do not know well.” Creston replied rudely but covered it in his polite voice and choice of words.
Maxineirah’s hand balled into a fist as Creston was starting to piss her again.
‘I really want to punch him on the face. Can I?’ Maxineirah thought but after remembering their height difference, she became more pissed because she could not do anything but to threaten the young man.
“Ugh! You really are getting on my nerves!” she was nettled over him.
“Anyway, if you currently do not have any missions, then why are you teaching me? Do not tell me, my father told you to tutor me privately?” Maxineirah squinted her eyes, observing his reaction to see if she was right.
Creston was taken aback by her sudden question. He fell in silence as he did not know what to answer her because it did not come to his mind that she would ask that. He forgot that her Young Mistress was so smart.
And that only confirmed Maxineirah’s conclusion. She did not expect that she would get an answer that quickly from Creston. He must be really surprised.
Maxineirah felt like her head hurt because of frustration. No wonder, Creston came to her, not because ‘he has something to confirm’ but because he was ordered to.
‘I thought he said I have limits on how much I can learn?’ Maxineirah wondered.
She did not know why her father was doing this when he clearly told her before she started learning that her lessons should be limited because she might hurt herself while training.
Did the Duke trust her that she could do it? Or did he saw her as a talent so he instigated private training with the Vice-Captain of the Phantom Knights?