Distractions Needed

"Welcome back." Stuart calls to me.

"Is my training over?"

"Yes. It's fine. You'll have hours tomorrow. Keep a watch on your timer."

"Thank you." I offer him a bow before heading for my room.

I'm still pissed off when a knock lands on my door. I want to blow them off, but this is my job. It may be my only real chance at escape from the requirements I was born with. I can understand why everyone is happy to not be me.

"Thomas?" Jessica? Callie probably gave her word. "Callie told me you were requested by your father."

"I was. Saw him." And got pissed. I try to calm down some before throwing open the door.

Jessica stands there looking a proper knight. She's the first trainee of this term to gain a sharpened sword. But I was the first to gain a specialty sword. "Are you alright? The way you returned had most worried."

I close my eyes wanting to just... give up on my titles. "My father won't deny me my titles at least."

"So things went well?" Jessica seems uncertain how that is possible.

I think of offering her entrance to my room, but know the dangers that offer. My room is marked. Jessica especially is a danger. "I'm a caged bird."

"Is that all? I can see why that's trouble, but..." Jessica steps back. "Shall we chat while practicing?"

I grunt stepping out of my room. "Father gave me my sword." I show off the fancy weapon. It was specially made for me months ago. I was just not allowed to use it until I proved myself. "Do you think your parents have done the same?"

"It's possible. I doubt they're going to show up in the next few hours to offer, though." Jessica has one of those families. That's how we can have a marriage contract. Why, though? There are so many confusing points.

I should assume someone was marked as my future queen in case I started fighting things. I didn't look for any ladies. I didn't request to join the dances. I've done a lot of things. "I wonder if Xavier has someone named."

"Probably. I think our contract started when we were about his age."

I grunt. That's horrible. Xavier hasn't even understand what a prince is. He's just a happy go lucky child. I worry over how our parents act, but he has so many who give him that happy childhood. My complaint growing up was being constantly surrounded. Xavier likes being surrounded. When will he wish for the freedoms? We all do after a while.

"It means nothing until you prove adult." Jessica nudges me. "It's just them randomly picking a match in age out of the nobles. That's all."

"I worry." I think of my father. He didn't accept my request to not treat Jessica special. We will be set up if there is any reason to. It'll be pick someone early or accept the contract. I hate it.

"Let's focus on being knights for now. I know it's a big deal and can create a bunch of issues in the future, but-"

"My father is going to start marking you princess sooner than you realize." I step into a position. With space, I give my sword the practice strikes like before. This will be my sword for a while. I'll earn another specialty weapon at some point, but I should learn this one properly.

"That's... Horrible." Jessica sighs. "It truly only means I get denied the more dangerous quests. But you realize, I was going to be denied them anyway." Jessica has a point. Nobles are treated different. It's not just me. "Ask Hydrangea."

"I don't want to."

"Then read up on the type of missions and campaigns nobles get." Jessica swings her weapon around. "I think it's about time to add in bow training. I want to get back to that."

"I want to wait for Ryan to join us."

"What about me?" Ryan appears reviewing each of us. "I heard the king called for you, Thomas. Can't believe he's getting interested in a random nobody knight."

I grin at Ryan. "Thanks. He gave me the sword he had made a for my birthday. It's been waiting for me."

"I wonder if they made one for Jessica." Ryan eyes our friend. I have no idea. "The Warton sounds like it. I think Callie got one from the Hellsgate."

"She did." Jessica practices. Ryan moves into position. His blade is still dull. My weapon is new. "How much longer to you need to practice Ryan?"

"Make me wish I could've passed this morning. Sheez. You two are monsters."

"Trained." Jessica hides her sword away to rest some. "I practiced with wooden swords before. It wasn't the same as an actual blade, but close enough. Thomas knows his family's rituals."

"I wonder what it would do if I embued my sword with mana while doing the rituals. My mana is blocked, right now. I don't know how long until I have real access and control. It can answer me, but..."

"Doesn't always work right." Ryan says. I already explained that. I don't need to explain again. My mana level is higher than theirs.

"I think it's about time for a meal. This has been a long day." Jessica looks at the sky. It'll be dinner time. I skipped lunch. I shouldn't be doing such things.

"Go ahead. I want to practice a little more. I'll meet you there." Ryan continues his strikes. I need to do the same, but there's no need to rush. Ryan hasn't gotten a sharpened sword yet. Hydrangea wants him done before the week ends.

It's only been three days. "We'll be here until October..." I think of the time line.

"If we push for it, we can get a mission in before the Telligence one." Jessica is ahead of me. We're going for a meal. I need one.

"I don't think so. I think even if we graduate we'll be waiting here for the Telligence mission. It's an important one and easy over all."

Jessica sighs holding the door for me. We scan the place finding no one we know. The meal just opened, though. Jessica must've known I missed lunch. "I have information booth in an hour, so I'm eating early. You don't need to rush anywhere, though. Enjoy the down time."

"Yeah. I'll sit with you." A meal should help.