A Rare Gift

Leonora looked at Thalric with pity as a stranger and turned to leave. As a trained knight and loyal subject she was here to pay respect to the new crown holder. But now that the ceremony had been cancelled, she had nothing to linger for.

She could hear whispers around her.

"Who would have thought prince Thalric would be rejected. I have wasted such a precious gift tonight. I should have waited for the ceremony to end before giving it." one started and many complained about the precious things they have lost today. 

"Do you think Prince Ethan is betrothed? What if he still needs a wife by his side?" someone giggled in the corner and more laughter followed. 

Leonora shook her head and turned to leave. She knew all the shortcuts of the palace at the back of her hands. Her eyes only lingered on the crown for a fleeting second before she lost her interest and left.

She only stopped when she had reached the training grounds. She found the place desolate. So, she picked up the sword and started practicing. 

Only the rustle of wind and sound of swords cutting it followed her ears. This silence and this sword was her only solace.

Who would have thought someone would come there to ruin it.

When Leonora heard footsteps, her eyes darkened. Was the royal palace not enough to continue your gossip that you have come here to stain my training grounds.

Leonora held the sword tightly and turned with force to attack the intruder. She could always apologize and blame them for entering when she was practicing. Since she was already dressed as a royal knight, who would know it was her! 

Her back twisted and the sword found in the air cutting another breeze. But her hands froze and the sword paused just an inch away from that face.

She looked at the man in the dark. Though there was no source of light, she could recognize the pair of silver eyes anywhere.

"Your highness." Leonora bowed her head. She was wearing the mask of the knight so Thalric could not see her face yet heat rose to her cheeks. She was going to kill the prince!?

She should work on this temper of hers! Leonora bit her lips feeling indignant. Who would have thought that prince would sneak up on her.

Thalric did not look surprised at all. He only stared at the masked knight with a cold glance and the sword that could behead him with an indifferent look.

"You are training on your off day, you must be very diligent." he nodded and only then Leonora took her sword back and bowed her head in respect.

"Spar with me!" he announced in a commanding tone and Leonora paused. She stared at the young boy who had already suffered much. Would she not be bullying him if she attacked him tonight?

Thalric frowned when she did not move.

"Are you refusing to follow my command?" his voice went sharp at once making Leonora sigh. If there would have been any other knight, he would have flunched and attacked already since that was the command.

But she looked at his pale face. There was still anger hiding in those cold eyes. He must be suffering.

Thalric's eyes narrowed when the knight did not listen to him but turned to leave. He stomped his feet in anger.

"Are you ignoring me?" but before he could scold the knight and announce a punishment. The man returned with a small gift in his hand.

Thalric blinked and stared at the small wooden box. It was his sixteenth birthday and he had received hundreds of gifts. From precious gold mines to rare diamonds. From land to carriages, he had received so many gifts but all of them were received before the crowning ceremony was cancelled.

After Ethan returned, they all were reluctant to present him gifts. Those who were happy that they had left an early impression were regretting their haste. Their unbrazen tone and words had irked him enough to leave his own birthday party and roam in the dark gardens.

He had only come here when he heard the sword. 

"Are you sure you want to give it to me?" He raised a brow and looked at the knight with a mocking smile. Perhaps he was practicing here all this time and did not know what happened in the courtroom.

Thalric shook his head just thinking about it.

"Perhaps you should return to the palace first and hear the latest gossip before gifting it to me." He looked at the small box with disinterest and took out the sword from his hilt. But the knight only brought the box closer making Thalric frown.

"I have already reminded you. Did you not hear me? Aah! Forget it, since you are so eager to give me this gift, I will take it." He took the wooden box from the knight with a frown. 

The man was too stubborn and hardly spoke. How was he to know what the man wanted! The moment he looked at the wooden box with interest, a breeze touched his face and he blinked.

Thalric frowned and looked around but the large and burly knight that was hard to miss even in the dark knight had disappeared completely as if it was nothing but his illusion. If not for the wooden box in his hands, Thalric would have believed that the man never existed. The sword was gone and so was the man.

Thalric searched the training ground but there was no place to hide.

"What a strange character!" Tharic sighed and then stared at the box. For a second, he forgot about what happened in the royal court and opened the box in his hands.

A large star shaped night lamp was inside the box. The gift was strange. The moment Thalric took it out, it started to glow lightly.

"The rare magic of light! Does it still exist?"