The week ended in a flash. Each day went by as Tia, and my two maids took great care of my recovery. And soon, I was back on my feet, fully recovered.
“Thank you, guys. I don’t know what I would do without you.” I praise them.
“It is our duty, Master; leave it to us to make sure you are taken great care of,” Celia responds.
“Right, well, thank you regardless.”
I take a step forward but fumble a bit. The strength in my legs had grown a little weak during my rest. Tia quickly stopped me from hitting the ground; I smiled as she helped me.
“Would you like us to help you move around for today?” Milia suggested. I took a moment to look at her but then looked at Tia, holding me up.
“I believe Tia can handle me for now. If there is anything, I will call upon you two.”
They both bow and leave the room. Tia sets me on the bed and takes a seat next to me. I smile and take a deep breath. I looked at the scars on my arms and shoulder briefly. My hair flows to the sides of my shoulders, and I try to slick it back to clear my eyes.
“I’m sorry I spent so long in bed. Our time together is drawing to a close.” I speak softly.
“Father has begun making preparations for an escort back to Duldat. I heard your father hasn’t postponed the farewell party for us.”
“He’s trying to keep a front for the people so no one panics. So, we have just twelve days before we say goodbye.”
“It’s been a little crazy these few weeks, huh?”
“That is certainly true, but I don’t want to say goodbye. At least not yet.”
Tia places her hand on mine. A soft blush on both our faces. We both don’t know how to handle our relationship as of now. I don’t know if she wants to wait or she wants to show it; the questions plague my mind. One thing is for sure: she doesn’t want to leave my side, not yet anyway.
“Tia, could you help me outside? I need to breathe some air.”
“Sure, hold onto me if you feel like you are going to fall; I’ll make sure you stay standing.”
With a nod, she led me out of my room; finding some strength to move, we explored the inside of our manor. The scarlet colors visibly reign as the house colors. We soon arrived outside, and I let go of Tia, attempting to walk alone. I slowly limp to a tree and place my hand on it.
“Caleb?” Tia looks at me. Placing her hand on my shoulder gently.
“I’m going to do it.”
“Do what?”
“Remember I told you what my father said when I woke up?”
“Are you considering his words? Do you really want to stop using magic?”
“It’s not that simple. But I think I can find a middle ground.”
“Middle ground?”
I nod and smile, almost like I spent the last week trying to come up with a proper answer to Father.
“I won’t use magic whatsoever, but that doesn’t mean I won’t practice it. I’ll keep doing it in private like before, but I will not use it even to defend myself.”
“How will you defend yourself? You won’t touch a sword!”
“If it means to protect you and everyone… I might have to.”
“Caleb…”
The sudden thought of holding a sword causes my heart to race. My hands begin to shake, and I stare at them. Illusionary images of blood stain them as I try to blink away the hallucination. Trying to calm myself down, that I got this, that I can compromise my ability to protect what I want to protect.
“I can do it… I have to.”
“Don’t push yourself to do something you don’t want to.”
“Tia, I want to protect you. That assassin nearly killed you because I haven’t trained using a sword. My brother Dunick was only ten years old, and he was already a master of a sword art. If he can do it, so can I.”
She gently leans into my back, wrapping her arms around my waist. I blink softly and turn to look at her. Fighting back her tears, Tia smiles and hugs my head. I lean against the tree so I don’t fall over.
“Just promise me you won’t die.”
“I promise.”
“You better; otherwise, I won’t forgive you.”
“That’s a little harsh, don’t you think?”
“I nearly lost you; I don’t want that to happen again.”
“All the more reason I should learn.”
*
The day quickly progressed, and Caleb spent hours with Tia, talking to her and expressing himself with her. She was soon called by her father for something, leaving him alone. Thinking of making up to Tia for her help, he decided to approach the head butler, Zao.
“Master Caleb, what may I be of service?”
“Zao, I have a small favor to ask.”
“If it is something I can do, I won’t hesitate to aid.”
“Can you teach me… Can you teach me to dance?”
“My my my, the young Master is finally showing interest in things other than books, hmm? Did a young elf bring this matter up?” Zao has a smug look, almost proud that Caleb has asked him for help.
“I want to make it up to her… So, I want to be able to dance with her properly. Even if it is a little progress, I want to give her a lasting memory before she leaves.”
“In that case, allow me, your servant Zao, to provide that skill.”
With a proud look, Zao and Caleb would participate in hourly daily lessons. He was preparing himself for the party. Even with fragile legs, Caleb could work hard enough to push through the lesson.
Later that evening, Caleb approached his father, dressed up in his Aris house attire; Valum excused his wife Regina from the room. She left with a scoff toward Caleb, returning to her two children.
“I see you have something to say to me. Very well, out with it, Caleb.” Valum sits in his chair and allows his son to approach.
“I will stop using magic.”
“You will?”
“Yes.”
“What made you decide that I thought you were very clear-“
“I know what I said! But I had time to really think about it. And in some ways, you are right, father; public knowledge of my magic should be kept hidden from everyone possible. So, I came to tell you my terms.” Caleb stood firm; determination was not the only aura surrounding the boy.
“Your terms? Speak, son.” Valum was finally willing to accept what he had in mind—not letting his protective instincts to push down his son.
“I will keep my magic hidden, but I will continue to practice it in private like I have been. This isn’t something we can discuss; it is final, with or without your approval. You get what you want, and I still get to develop my abilities.”
“How will I know that you won’t use it the first chance you get? You’re still a nine-year-old boy; if you have nothing to use, you will cast your magic someday when you feel like it.” Valum needed reassurance; he wouldn’t back down unless his son could devise a valid reason to prevent himself from tapping into the Demon King’s blood within his veins. He looked into his son’s light blue eyes.
“I will take up the sword, father. I will defend myself if I have to defend my honor, life, and heart.”
Valum was surprised. His son always showed disdain for wielding a sword to the point of fear from Caleb. Valum had gotten up from his chair and approached him.
“Are you sure? I know how much you never wanted to use one. Am I to believe you will learn?”
“That is right, father. If I want to keep casting spells, I am willing to put everything I have into wielding a sword!” Caleb clenches his fist and extends it to his father. Valum notices a slight magic spark in Caleb’s eyes. Almost like his son has signed himself to an oath, Valum can’t help but accept the terms.
“Very well. I will have Commander Eckhart train you and his new recruit privately when he is available.”
“Eckhart isn’t here?”
“With the recent event, Eckhart has taken the liberty to improve our central guard. So, I am afraid you won’t start until he returns the day of the banquet. Until then, I want you to study the sword arts within our library; you can’t learn the sword without knowing our swordcraft’s basic history and bloodline.”
“And my magic?”
“You may practice under guise. However, I have the condition.”
“Yes?”
“You can’t guarantee that someone will follow you in your “practice,” I must assign a personal lookout for you.”
“I thought we were meant to keep this secret, father.”
“That is why I trust Zao to look after you.”
What seemed like on cue, Zao appeared from the shadows in the room and approached the two. His gentle posture is replaced by pure skill and talent for the shinobi arts.
“Z-Zao?”
“Allow me to introduce myself fully, Master Caleb. I am Zaofain Huan-Ling, an agent of Xiou-Hou, the Kingdom across the world. I hope you still look upon me with the same bright eyes as usual, sir.”
“Zaofain, or Zao, we shall continue to call him. He needs to train his pupil in the meantime. Makes this agreement perfect.”
“So, they will keep a close eye on me then?
“Precisely, Master.”
“Zao, mind introducing her?”
“Very well, my Lord. Mei, you may reveal yourself.”
A slender shadow silently lands on the floor; the young female with jet-black hair tied into a small ponytail walks with barely a sound. Caleb blinks for a second and realizes he has seen her before, only briefly, but she was one of the maids to Regina.
“Hello, my lord, I am Mei Huan-Ling; just Mei is acceptable to call me. It is an honor to serve you.” The woman is very young. She must be in her early twenties at least. She still had room to grow, but Caleb could understand that her father clearly trained her to be one with the shadows at birth.
“Is this acceptable, Caleb?” Valum speaks clearly.
“If they only look out for me, then I have no issue with it. I accept the conditions, Father.”
“Very good; I am glad we came to an agreement.”
“Zao, Mei, I appreciate your protection.”
They bow and show off their skills by silently blending into the shadows and vanishing from the room.
Caleb has finally made a pact with his father in order to continue his request. However, a looming thought of wielding a sword still plagued his mind; his shaking hand couldn’t cease that night.
