24. Aurelio
Ifall flat on my back, and the air rushes out of my lungs. My vision blurs for half a second as the back of my head smacks into the cobblestone, and in that half a second, a blurry sword races toward my head. I raise my own sword just in time to block a damning blow. The SHING! of metal on metal rings deafeningly in my ears.
“Ah, you have improved. Your reactions are quicker than before,” Emilia says.
I push up as hard as I can, throwing her sword aside. In the space I created for myself, I jump to my feet, shaking my head to clear it. Emilia is already closing the distance once again, her footwork flawless as she feigns a strike and goes for my head quicker than lightning. I don’t have time to process her movements; I can only rely on my instincts as I block, parry, and block again. I can’t think offensively between all the defensive maneuvers that I’m barely pulling off as it is.
Come on, Aurelio, you can’t win if you spend all your time defending!
I see an opportunity to throw her off balance, but I hesitate before I take it. That look in her eyes, and the slight shift in her weight—it’s telling me something I wouldn’t have recognized before, but after fighting that insanely fast wendigo, I understand a trap when I see one. She’s trying to bait me in for an “open” strike, only to shift her weight and strike me from behind. Tensing my legs with all the strength I possess, I stop on a dime and strike Emilia from the front, my blade colliding with hers so hard, my wrists spasm from the reverberation through the sword.
“Impressive,” Emilia muses, smirking. “You caught the feint. Can you catch me, though?”
I see it coming, but I don’t have ample time to react. My eyes round as Emilia suddenly bends back, sending my momentum and my sword straight overtop of her. In one fluid motion, she knees me in the gut, then seizes my shoulders, flips, and slams me into the ground, hard, using her body weight to my disadvantage.My sword clatters out of my hand as she levels the tip of her sword at the side of my neck.
“Do you concede?”
I sigh, closing my eyes. “I concede.”
“Emilia is the winner!” Eren announces.
There’s a smattering of applause from the few onlookers, but through the applause, I hear the roaring laughter of Kharu and the shrill, jeering whistle of Lief.
“Way to go, Aurelio!” Kharu teases. “The Prince acts with such grace, even in defeat!”
My eyes snap open. I glance to my left, shooting a glare into the stands where Kharu and Lief are sitting together.
“They’ll be eating their words if they’re not careful,” I grumble.
“Come now, Aurelio,” Emilia says, shooting me a smile. “Don’t let their words get to you. You’re the Prince of Celestia now; if you lose your head over a few musings, how will you fare in political conversations?”
“That’s Alessia’s problem,” I mumble.
“Your wife’s problems become your own problems before long,” Emilia points out. She stands up, sheathes her sword, and offers her hand to me. “Come on, stand up. You should be proud. You did exceptionally well compared to our previous fights.”
I take her hand, and she pulls me upright. I brush myself off, feeling her infectious smile become my own. Emilia’s right: I have improved significantly from my previous matches with her. I can’t put myself down when the margin between us before was a gaping cavern, and now is only the width of a bubbling stream.
“You would do well to get some real-life experience,” Emilia remarks. “Just from a few life-and-death battles with a wendigo, you’ve made progress that used to take you months to accomplish here in the training ring. You have a ways to go before you reach your full potential.”
I raise a brow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You haven’t even come close to realizing the full extent of your innate talents,” Emilia explains. “With further training, higher stakes, and years of experience, you could one day fight on my level.”
She shakes hands with me, then walks away, a slight smile playing on her lips. I stare after her, watching her undo her braid to let her hair tumble down her shoulders. Her fellow knights congratulate her as she enters the dressing room, and she disappears out of sight, their cheers and chatter fading with them.
She thinks I’m talented enough to compete with her?
I scratch the back of my head, my thoughts turning to the fight with the wendigo. It certainly had scared me out of my wits, but that had been my first fight with a wendigo. If I fought them as often as Daelia does, I would probably face them as calmly as she does. I’ve noticed my instincts improving rapidly since that day, even in everyday situations. Maybe a little adrenaline and a lot of risk is the secret recipe for reaching the greatest heights. Emilia went adventuring for several years as a teenager and young adult before becoming a royal knight, after all.
If Emilia says it would work, I should heed the advice. She knows what she’s talking about. She rarely offers her compliments, after all, reserving them for opponents she truly believes in. I look down at the sword still in my hand, a smile creasing my face.
If anything, I should look into it to give Alessia a run for her money.
“Prince Aurelio. I offer my congratulations. Your match with Emilia was truly impressive.”
When I turn, Eren is standing there, a wistful smile on his face. I find myself reflecting the expression.
“Thank you, sir. You flatter me.”
“The flattery is well-deserved. I see your time with Alessia has only made you more competitive in the art of swordplay,” Eren says. “Our country is lucky to have such a dedicated man as its role model.”
“Please, sir, there’s no need for that,” I say, shaking my head. “I’m lucky to have Alessia to push me to greater heights. Without her, I’d be the same aimlessly wandering soul as before.”
“That may be so. But it has to count for something that you’ve chosen to take heart in a position where passion is not required.”
My face reddens as I slightly bow my head. “You flatter me again, sir.”
“Oh, don’t bow your head to me. You’re the prince of this great nation. Stand up straight, Aurelio.”
“Old habits die hard.”
Eren’s eyes twinkle. “They do indeed.”
My heart swells. I wonder how hard it’s been for him not to call me “son” the whole time I’ve been here. That used to be his favorite way to call on me when I lived here. Eren is the father I wish I’d had all along. I’ve never had someone be so hard on me before, and by the same token, I’ve never had someone be so kind to me in all my life. He’s the man that convinced me to stand up and care about something rather than waste my life idling around, pretending to be a knight. I didn’t care about much, but he convinced me to care about the sword, the knighthood creed, and my brothers and sisters in arms.
Without him, I wouldn’t be a man at all, but a lost, careless boy.
“It’s getting late,” Eren says, glancing up at the orange hue of the evening sun on the eastern walls. “You better get going if you want to make it in time for dinner at the palace. I’ll see you out.”
I nod gratefully. Eren leads the way up into the stadium and out the front doors, Kharu and Lief following in my wake. Eren walks us into the entrance hall, then waits by the front doors, his eyes shining sadly as he stares at the statues behind me.
“You know, you always reminded me of these fellows,” he says quietly. “The way you carry yourself, and the way you speak to others freely, despite your status…you’re one of the common people, and yet, you stand heads above them. You’re a wonderful man, Aurelio. All must be well with the Moonbreaker family for Queen Alessia to choose so wisely.”
“Enough with the sappy idle chatter, old man,” I laugh. “You’re going to make yourself cry again.”
Eren looks back at me, his eyes misty. “I can’t help it. I’m getting too old for stoic goodbyes.”
“I’m down the street. You can always visit.”
“It’s not the same.”
I smile. Of course it’s not the same. I’m not living under his roof anymore, seeking his constant guidance on every little issue. He’s taught me all I need to know to be the man Alessia and the people of Celestia deserve. I can’t grow any more than I already have among the halls of the Meadow Hills training ring. Now, as Prince of Celestia, I have every resource at my fingertips to reach greater heights; all I have to do is ask, and the path will be laid for me.
“I know. I’ll come see you as often as I can, Eren,” I promise.
“I’ll hold you to it. And you’re buying my drinks from now on,” Eren chuckles.
“Of course.”
I pull my hood over my head, open the doors, and start the walk back home—my new home, the palace, where my lovely wife is waiting for me.
***
“Aurelio, we’re going adventuring!”
I blink slowly. “…I’m sorry, what?”
“You heard me! Grab your cloak, we’re going to the Guild!”
I’ve only just walked into the bedroom, and Alessia is already walking out, beckoning for me to follow. The giddy grin on her face tells me she’s had this plan stewing for a while, probably since she left earlier. I never would have guessed this was her plan, however. There’s never been a queen in all of Celestia’s history that has become an adventurer, not even for a short time.
“Alessia, are you sure about this?” I question.
“Absolutely! Come on, we’ve got to hurry if we want to get there with time to go shopping!”
“Wait, we’re shopping, too?”
“Of course! How else are we going to get proper supplies?”
She seizes my arm, and I’m tugged out the door with her, forced to tag along behind her as she runs through the halls. The laughter falling from her lips is like music notes floating through the air. I’m not sure at all what she’s thinking, and she has no intention of explaining herself before she drags me along.
Ah, well. I don’t need to understand what’s happening. As soon as Alessia has an idea in her head, I’m powerless to stop her. At least this idea sounds like fun.
Alessia drags me all the way to the front entryway of the palace, where Mina is waiting for us, a giddy grin on her face. She dances on her tiptoes like an excitable school girl when she sees us coming.
“Ooh, he’s finally here!” she squeals. “I can’t wait!”
“You let the servants know that dinner is to be delayed three hours, right?” Alessia confirms.
“Yes, I just returned from the kitchens. Now, let’s get going!”
Three hours?My stomach protests at the idea of going even three more minutes without food, but once again, I’m powerless to change the situation. Alessia’s already put her plan into action, and all I can do is follow along.
We take off down the main street, passing by all the local taverns and shops until we cross the other main street, the one running east and west. On the other side, the Guilds bathe magnificently in the orange-red sunlight of evening. Alessia makes a beeline for the Adventurer’s Guild, and I’m tugged along inside. She runs right for the front desk, which at this hour, barely has a line. In fact, most of the Guild’s main floor is empty, the majority of the adventurers having gone home for the day.
“Queen—Queen Alessia!” the receptionist squeaks.
I cringe; this is the same blonde girl as last time, but she’s still just as flustered. Alessia’s going to give these poor Guild workers a heart attack if she keeps showing up unexpectedly.
“Good evening. I’d like to register myself and my husband as adventurers, please,” Alessia says.
The receptionist goes ghostly white. Her pen falling from her hand, she stares at Alessia with round eyes.
“Re—Register? As adventurers?”
“Yes, that’s what I said. Do I have to speak with your manager?”
The receptionist holds up a shaky finger. “One moment, please.”
She takes off up the stairs, yelling for the Guild Master. A moment later, there’s the pounding of footsteps, and the receptionist comes flying down the stairs, the Guild Master on her heels. He walks right up to Alessia with an astonished look on his face.
“My Queen, is it true? You wish to become an adventurer?” he confirms.
“Yes, I do. I believe it is in my best interest to hone my skills in an environment that is livelier than a training arena. You see, I cannot grow any further with training dummies. The adrenaline of fighting a real monster is the only driving force that will create real improvements in my combat skills.”
“I see. What will become of your royal duties?”
“I am having Mina and my father administrate in my place. I will only be adventuring for six weeks, after which time I will return to the palace with plenty of time to catch up before the knights’ tournament.”
The Guild Master’s face lights up. “Ah! I see! You walk a noble path indeed, My Queen. Improving your skills in combat to prove your worth to your people; how exciting! This is truly a day for the history books! Right this way, if you please.”
I look at Mina as we follow Alessia upstairs. “Is this really happening?”
“Of course! Alessia would have no less than the best quality of training. She strives to be an example to her people, as do you.”
I frown. While that’s true, I have a feeling there’s a further ulterior motive to this adventuring. Alessia could request monsters be brought to the palace, but instead, she’s putting her life on the line to improve in combat situations outside of her home turf.
Could she be preparing to invade Krasta herself, I wonder?
I shake my head. Whatever her reason, there’s no turning back now; as soon as we register our names and fingerprint our Guild cards, history will be made, and Aurelio Moonbreaker, Prince of Celestia, will officially be an adventurer.
Ironically enough, I’m excited. I wished to improve, and like Emilia said, there’s no better training than real, live combat experience.
What’s the worst that can happen?