Forging bonds.

Another year has passed, marking the sixth year Alexander has inhabited this world.

"Focus my lord, your strikes must be more thought out," Elise said,m while dodging all of Alexander's sword swings.

Alexander was growing increasingly exhausted.

He was trying his best, but with his small arms and heavy sword, it made for an awkward and difficult fight.

"Elise I'm just not good enough for this, I think gun training would be a better use of our time," Alexander explained while attempting to muster up the strength to continue swinging his sword.

Elise sighed as she quickly knocked the sword out of Alexander's hands.

As the sword went up Alexander came down, collapsing onto the ground and breathing heavily.

"My lord, we have been over this." Elise said, sheathing her sword, " A gun is only as useful as the bullets you carry and the range you fight."

She continued, "But a sword will be with you always, do you understand?" Elise asked as she took a knee beside Alexander.

Her white shirt was sweaty, as she had been training both Marcus and Alexander back to back.

Alexander sighed as he looked up at Elise, "You say that, but what if I'm fighting someone with a gun, then what happens, I get shot before I even get the chance to swing back."

Elise chuckled as she dropped down onto the grass beside Alexander, "That's why you practice your essence abilities, so that you can dodge and weave, close the distance, and strike, it's all about how you use what you have."

Alexander nodded his head as he slowly pushed himself off the ground.

He stumbled forward a few steps before falling over.

"My lord, are you alright?" Elise asked, quickly rising up.

Alexander gave a thumbs up, before standing back up and continuing towards the mansion.

His goal was his bed, and he was trying to get there as fast as possible.

As Alexander continued to walk up the cobblestone path, he could feel his muscles ache in pain, his sword dragging against the path, making a small, drawn-out scraping sound.

As Alexander reached the front door of the mansion the door opened, revealing his mother and a guard.

Alexander's mother looked down at him and smiled, her golden eyes filled with a joy that made Alexander's heart skip a beat.

"Alex, do you want to come to the store with me? I've gotten word of some new books being delivered today."

Alexander looked up at his mother and chuckled, he was tired, and in all honesty, he just wanted to go to bed.

But this was his mother, and she barely asked anything of him.

Ugh, women and money, my only weaknesses.

Alexander slowly nodded his head, "Of course Mother, there's a book I've been meaning to get as well." He replied.

His mother's eyes widened with excitement, "excellent, go change your clothes while I get our carriage prepared."

Alexander nodded as he entered the mansion, placing his sword beside the door with its blade down.

He then began to unbutton his shirt as he made his way upstairs.

His movements were slow and sluggish.

When he finally reached his room he began to remove all of his clothing and placed them on the floor beside his bed, he then grabbed a change of clothes and began to put them on.

Once he was dressed he began to make his way back downstairs where he was greeted by the sight of Marcus examining his sword.

Alexander scratched behind his ear in confusion, "Uhm, don't you have your own sword?" He asked, before reaching the bottom of the stairs.

Marcus quickly turned around and chuckled nervously, "Your sword blade is all scratched up, I was curious as to what had caused it, that's all."

Alexander shrugged his shoulders as he yawned, "knock yourself out then." He said as he continued towards the front door.

As Alexander reached the front door, Marcus stopped him by grabbing his shoulders.

Alexander looked up at Marcus with tired eyes, "What is it, I'm going to be late meeting my mother."

Marcus nodded with understanding, "I get that, but I was wondering if you wanted to spar sometime, you know to test our skills against each other."

Alexander blinked blankly at Marcus for a few seconds, his eyes rolling to the back of his head as he struggled to maintain consciousness.

Marcus blinked a few times in confusion before shaking Alexander and stirring him awake, "Alex!" Marcus exclaimed. "Are you okay?"

Alexander stirred awake with a yawn as he shifted his gaze toward the front door, "What man, I gotta go, or something." Alexander slurred his speech as he squinted his golden eyes.

"But I asked you a question, do you want to spar against each other?" Marcus repeated, titling his head curiously.

Alexander gave Marcus a look of contempt, "Dude you're like three years older, you'd clobber me." Alexander explained with a loopy chuckle.

Marcus smiled, "Yeah, that may be so, but what if I teach you, what if I became your second trainer."

Alexander chuckled once more, "If that's what you want to do then I'm not complaining."

Marcus nodded, "Good." He said with a grin, "Now, uhm, go be with your mother, and bring me back some cake or something."

Alexander gave a thumbs up, "You got it."

With a shoulder tap, Marcus released Alexander from his grasp, then went to pick up his sword, "I'll go polish this for you, hopefully, I'll be done before you get back."

Alexander nodded as he turned towards the front door.

Stepping outside he was welcomed by the sun's rays shining down and the slow breeze of the wind blowing past him.

All I have to do is just make it to the carriage, and then I'll be in sweet dreamland.

Alex made his way down the stairs and onto the cobblestone pathway.

His steps were slow but consistent, each step he took made his arms swing back and forth as if he was a tiny zombie wandering the mansion grounds.

When he eventually reached the front gate, the guard quickly tipped his cap and slightly pulled the gate back, allowing Alexander to pass through.

"Thanks," Alexander said as he continued his trip towards the stables.

When he finally got there he noticed that his mother was chatting with Elise.

As he grew closer he began to hear the last snippet of their conversation.

"Oh I don't know, I was thinking about it, but I'm worried how Alex will react, I honestly think it's better to cross that bridge when it's time, instead of worrying about it now," Erica said as she crossed her arms.

Elise nodded, "Of course my lady, it was only a suggestion, but I'd hate for his talent to go to waste, even at such a young age–"

Elise paused in her words as Alex's steps grew louder, she smiled and waved, "Are you ok my lord, you look exhausted." Elise said teasingly.

That's an understatement…..

Erica chuckled at Elise's words, "he's just overreacting, he's probably just as ecstatic as I am about going to the bookstore, isn't that right Alex."

Alexander looked up at his mother and smiled, "You know what mother, I'm so excited I can barely keep my eyes open."

There was a small bit of laughter, but it didn't come from Erica or Elise.

It came from the emerging guard, who held the reins of a Windwalker.

And that certain Windwalker was Liz.

She began to laugh and chirp when she saw Elise and Alexander, her paws hitting the ground with excitement as her tails began to sway like flags in the wind.

"Woah girl." The guard said as he tried to calm Liz down.

Liz however, was still trying to get to Elise and Alexander.

Elise chuckled as she raised up a hand, "It's alright Ben, I'll handle Liz from here, you can help Lady Erica and lord Alexander enter the carriage."

The guard– Ben, nodded as he handed Liz to Elise.

He then approached Alexander and his mother, helping them into the carriage with a simple smile. 

As they got settled into the cushy leather seats, Alexander leaned back and crossed his arms. 

He closed his eyes for a moment, yawning as he did so. He listened to the sounds of Liz being attached to the carriage, while Ben and Elise conversed.

It was around then his mother broke this hypnotic atmosphere with a gentle touch to his shoulder. "How was practice?" She asked softly, noticing her son's exhaustion.

Alexander looked over to his mother with a tired smile. His golden eyes were barely visible due to his low-hanging eyelids. 

It was literal hell and I'm not any better with a sword now than I was yesterday!

"It was fine, mother." Alex answered sleepily, "Truly the greatest practice in the history of practice, maybe ever." He said with a loopy giggle.

His mother laughed softly as she reached a hand to Alexander's cheek. Her gentle touch sent a shiver down Alexander's spine. "You have such a way with words darling, it makes me wonder." She said in a thoughtful tone.

Suddenly the carriage began moving, gently rocking as it pulled away from the stables and onto the road leading to the city. 

"Wonder about what?" Alexander asked curiously.

His mother grinned, "if you could charm a woman with such words, I believe it would be quite the sight." She answered with a soft laugh.

Alexander grinned from ear to ear. 

She'd be surprised how easily I swept women off there in my old life, hell I could probably get her.

Alex then chuckled for a moment, until he took a moment to process what he had just said. 

He then stopped smiling.

Wait a minute…

— — —

It wasn't long before they entered the city, the hustle and bustle of the busy city streets greeting them with open arms. 

Ben slowed the carriage down as they neared the bookstore.

Alexander looked out the window with a casual gaze. Watching as people went on about their lives, some walking the sidewalks with a purposeful stride, while others looked lost and disoriented.

So people even looked back to Alexander, some with respect and others with disdain and hostility.

Alexander sighed as he looked away from the window. He remembered when he first visited the city, where he got that same variety of looks.

"Don't worry about them, my son." Alexander's mother said reassuringly. "They only envy what they don't have." She then moved closer to him, "but what they don't know is that your father built his fortune by hand, before that he was a peasant, like them."

"Really?" Alexander asked in disbelief, looking at his mother with a raised eyebrow. Alexander found it hard to believe that, especially with how young his father looked.

His mother nodded. "It's a great story." She said with a twinkle in her eyes, "I'm sure he'd love to tell it, you should ask when you see him again."

Oh, you better believe I'm asking him!

The carriage stopped at a street corner. Gesturing out the window with a point, Alexander's mother smiled. "Look, Alex, we're here." 

Alexander turned to look out the window. 

Just outside was a quaint building with large windows that showcased an interior filled with bookshelves and curious guests.

Ben, the guard who was sent with Alexander and his mother, made his way to the carriage door and opened it.

Reaching a hand inside, he smiled at Alexander. "If you will, my lord."