Missing Childhood

Umbara pursed the corners of his lips, looking at the center of the practice field. Someone was waiting for him there to accompany Umbara to practice his sword skills.

"Are you ready?" Umbara asked a question as soon as he got behind the man.

The person in front of him turned around, smiling faintly at Umbara. "Have you come, Baginda?" The man in front of him bowed respectfully.

Umbara laughed out loud when he heard the person in front of him call his name. "Stop it! Don't call me that. " Umbara then put an arm around his shoulder.

"You are indeed a king, so what should I call you?" he asked.

"Then should I call you Prince Ganendra?" The two of them finally burst out laughing together after hearing the words Umbara just said.

"No, you just amused me," replied Ganendra.

From childhood, King Umbara and his stepbrother Ganendra had a good relationship. Umbara actually never felt lonely because of Ganendra's presence. They are like siblings. Even Umbara was never afraid that his throne would be taken by Ganendra. He knew that Ganendra was a good elder brother to him. However, it was Kanjeng Bhanurasmi who always ordered Umbara to keep his distance from Ganendra. His mother always talked about the throne, genealogy, and various things that could be the reason for Umbara not being able to get along with Ganendra. In childhood, Umbara didn't think much of it. But after growing up, even more so when their father died, like it or not, Umbara had to agree to this and occupy the throne of the King.

"Your ability to wield a sword is already very good. It's even surpassed me. "I think you just want to challenge me to a fight, Umbara," said Ganendra.

Umbara shook his head quickly. He disagreed with what Ganendra had just said. "I haven't wielded a sword in a long time. "My hands feel stiff when they are not used for training," answered Umbara.

"Is that true?" Ganendra narrowed his eyes in disbelief. Then nodded slowly. "Oh yeah, I forgot. A king has a lot of bodyguards, so there's no need to wield a sword by himself, right? " Ganendra asked jokingly.

Umbara laughed and pushed his brother away. "Come on, why have you been talking about that? Don't you want to teach your brother to play the sword anymore? " Umbara insisted.

"Then get ready!" I will make this king's hand not stiff anymore," replied Ganendra. Immediately away from Umbara, he drew his sword and pointed it at Umbara.

"Wow." Umbara was amazed to see Ganendra.

From their childhood, Ganendra was a great person. When he was seven years old, he could already fight against the head of the royal guard. His abilities were highly recognized, even by the previous King, their father. That also made Bhanurasmi a little scared, because it was judged that Ganendra could easily use his power to rebel one day. Ganendra, a smart and strong young man, does not rule out the possibility that he will carry out a rebellion one day.

"Just relax. It's just to relax your hands. " Ganendra smiled faintly at Umbara.

Then Umbara raised his hand to Krisna, who had been standing not far from the two of them. As Krisna approached, he lowered his head to give Umbara's sword. He did the same to Ganendra. And this time, they were pointing swords at each other, but with a smile on their lips.

They attack each other, honing their defensive skills and wielding swords against their opponents. Ganendra knew that his brother was already very proficient with the sword. His strength is also very good. His hands weren't as stiff as he just said either. Maybe this was just an excuse for them to get together and do things like they used to. It was long before Umbara was appointed King.

It took more than an hour to tire them both out, and they finally sat down on the sidelines together.

"You lied to me. Your hand movements are so good, how can you call your hands stiff? " Ganendra breathlessly protested at Umbara.

Umbara laughed upon hearing that. "You are right."

"That's the only reason I came to see you," answered Umbara honestly. His breath is also the same as Ganendra's. Panting. Umbara is quite tired of fighting this one brother. Just like Ganendra, Umbara also feels that Ganendra's strength is getting better and that he will not be defeated one day.

"You miss me?" asked Ganendra.

"Yes, I miss when we used to play together. Now, you don't even want to see me when I call you," replied Umbara. Ganendra had kept his distance as long as Umbara was crowned King to succeed their father. He knows that they are now adults, and Ganendra must begin to realize that many people do not like his close relationship with Umbara, even though he truly loves Umbara as his brother.

Ganendra took a deep breath. "It's not that I don't want to see you, Umbara," he said.

"Then?" Umbara still couldn't accept Ganendra's answer.

"Emm... now think about it. What will all the palace dwellers say when they see us pointing swords at each other like earlier? " asked Ganendra.

"They'll know we're training, won't they?" Umbara innocently said what was on his mind.

"That's what's on your mind, not on theirs."

"Listen! They will think that we are really fighting and will think of me as a rebel. And many parties will pit us against each other. " Ganendra explained. What he was most afraid of was not what they would say about Ganendra, but that his relationship with Umbara would be strained because of other people's fights. "I don't want to hear them say bad things about you, Umbara," explained Ganendra.

Umbara was silent for a moment. He knew very well that what Ganendra was talking about was true. However, he couldn't deny that the relationship between himself and Ganendra was very complicated, having to follow the lineage and so on. Umbara thought it turned out that being a king was not as easy as it looked.

Ganendra then cleared his throat when he realized Umbara was silent and thought about his answer. "By the way, I smell blood on your sword." Ganendra changed the subject.