Impressing Varian And Queen Selene

Kael strolled through the long hallways, a spring in his step and a wide grin plastered on his face. His energy was contagious, even if no one else understood the reason behind it. He caught snippets of whispers from the maids and guards as he passed by.

"Is that really young prince Kael?" one maid muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Wasn't he sulking and half-dead yesterday?" a guard replied.

Kael smirked to himself. With his enhanced hearing, he caught every word. But he didn't stop or turn to acknowledge them. Let them talk; he had more important things to focus on—like seeing the look on Varian's face when he showed up.

As he approached the training grounds, the sound of familiar voices reached him. He slowed his pace, recognizing the calm, firm tone of his master, Varian, and the softer, melodic voice of his mother.

"...he's strong-willed, but sometimes I worry he pushes himself too hard," his mother was saying.

Varian replied, "That's part of growth, Queen Selene. He'll find his footing."

Kael rounded the corner and walked into the open space, his grin still intact. His mother turned first, her eyebrows raising slightly in surprise.

"Kael?" she called, her voice tinged with curiosity. "You look… unusually happy today."

Varian glanced up from where he stood, his arms crossed. His expression mirrored Aria's surprise. "Well, this is a change," he said, his tone light. "You're practically glowing. What's the occasion?"

Kael shrugged, trying to look casual despite the excitement bubbling inside him. "No occasion. Just feeling great today."

His mother tilted her head, clearly unconvinced. "Yesterday, you looked like you were on the verge of collapse. Now, you're bouncing around like a child with a secret. Care to explain?"

Kael chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Maybe I just needed a good night's sleep."

Varian raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Sleep, huh?" He gestured toward the training dummies in the corner of the grounds. "Well, since you're feeling so refreshed, why don't you show me what you've got?"

Kael's grin widened. "Gladly."

As he walked toward the training area, he couldn't help but picture their reactions when they saw what he could do now. He clenched his fists, feeling the overwhelming power coursing through him, and couldn't wait to let loose.

Varian smirked as Kael took his place on the training field. He crossed his arms, leaning slightly toward Selene with a teasing tone. "Since you're so full of energy today, let's start with something light. Fifty laps around the field, followed by your usual exercises."

Queen Selene gasped, her eyes widening in horror. "Fifty laps? Varian, isn't that a bit much? He's just a boy!"

Kael didn't flinch. Instead, he turned to Varian with a smirk that matched his master's. "Fifty laps? Sounds good. I'll make it quick."

The casual response wiped the smug look off Varian's face, replacing it with a flicker of confusion. Even Selene paused, her mouth slightly open as she stared at her son like he'd grown a second head.

"Kael, sweetheart," she said softly, walking closer. "You don't have to push yourself. Varian can reduce it, can't you, Varian?"

Varian didn't respond immediately, his eyes narrowing as he studied Kael. Something was off, and he didn't like being left out of the loop. Finally, he shook his head and gave a curt nod toward the field. "If he says he can do it, let him try."

Selene frowned, her worry evident. "But—"

Kael interrupted her with a grin. "It's fine, Mother. I've got this." He took off without waiting for further protests, his pace steady and controlled as he began the laps.

Varian and Selene watched in silence. After a few moments, Varian spoke, his tone low. "He's not just trying to impress me. Something's changed."

Selene didn't respond. She was too busy clutching her hands together, her heart racing as she watched her son sprint like it was the easiest thing in the world. Not once did Kael stumble or slow down. In fact, his speed seemed to pick up as he went along.

By the time Kael finished his fiftieth lap, he wasn't even breathing hard. He jogged back to them, a cocky grin plastered on his face. "What's next?"

Varian blinked, clearly unsettled, but he didn't let it show for long. He crossed his arms again, his voice calm. "Push-ups. Two hundred."

Selene's hand flew to her chest. "Varian! Stop this madness! He's just a—"

"It's fine," Kael interrupted, dropping to the ground before she could finish. "Two hundred? Easy."

Varian's jaw clenched as he watched Kael begin. Each push-up was perfect, his form flawless, his movements smooth and steady. By the time he hit two hundred, there wasn't even a bead of sweat on his forehead.

Selene's worry had shifted to shock. "What is going on? Is this really my Kael?"

Kael stood, brushing dirt off his hands. "Alright, what's next? Or are we done here?"

Varian stared at him, his smirk completely gone. For the first time, he looked genuinely unsure of how to proceed. This wasn't the Kael he knew, the boy who'd always struggled through training with complaints and frowns.

Selene stepped forward, placing a hand on Kael's shoulder. "Kael, are you feeling alright? Did something happen?"

Kael smiled at her, his tone light. "I'm fine, Mother. Better than ever, actually."

Varian narrowed his eyes but said nothing. Whatever was going on, he was determined to figure it out. But for now, he had no choice but to continue. "Fine. Let's move on to sparring. Let's see how far that energy of yours really goes."

Kael's grin widened, his excitement unmistakable. "Finally."