A Conversation with Breakfast

Lucas finds the two of us during breakfast. He's a red knight, so he wouldn't eat in the cafeteria. "Your ID will flash just after normal lunch times. Please meet me at the booth." He offers us his grin before disappearing.

"Can't really deny him, but I wonder if it's smart. Just the three of us?" Daniel rubs his head. His eyes are where Lucas was.

"He's a red knight with noble blood."

"And you're the crown prince. Everyone will know. I expect something." Daniel grumbles. "This could be called a graduation test. We won't know, though."

"Or it could be we wander the capital letting everyone know I'm a knight."

"Trainee." Daniel leans back. "I worry, though."

Callie sits down next to Daniel. "It's June..." She counts off her fingers. "Can't be a graduation test... Can it?"

"We're in the fourth month. So... Yes?" Daniel eyes her. Then waves at me. "But Thomas is joining us."

Callie stares at me. "Lucas is taking the three of us? Why? What is going on?"

"We are just wandering the city telling everyone I'm a knight." I huff. That's all it is. Although the lack of guards may be weird. Three trainees? And Lucas? Who is their trainer. Now I'm questioning things. "Don't think about it. How can I graduate before I even hit a full month." We're getting close to a full month.

It would put me as the youngest knight ever as well as the fastest to earn knighthood. That's... Crazy... Right? I shake it off. Royals have been given the test early. But always for a reason. What would be their reason this time?

"Right." Daniel exhales. "Glad you'll be with us, Callie."

"I think I want to have a flyer key for this trip. I could flee or fly out of range if something happens."

"Yeah." Daniel nods at me. "Wish you had teleportation. You can see if they'll offer a hearthstone for you."

A heartstone... That would be a teleportation stone set for the knight halls. I think of the other heartstone I may be able to access: one for my audience hall of the castle. If I was ever going anywhere with my family, they'd make sure I keep it with me at all times.

But we're just going into the capital. It would be silly to offer me a heartstone. A flyer would be plenty. I'll make sure there is one available to answer me. It wouldn't take more than a minute or two for it to answer. I have enough skill to handle basic flying with it. Nothing fancy, but enough to pass allowance to have a key on me at times.

"Heartstones are for those leaving grounds." Callie waves it off. "I may be worried about a possibility, but it sounds stupid to suggest the capital can really be seen as dangerous for the prince. Guards are never more than a block or two away. And the halls will be a fifteen minute run max."

Meaning I wouldn't need to survive long to manage. This probably isn't a real graduation test. It's a test of another sort. As well as letting the world know I'm not staying trapped in my room. How many people will remember me from my various travels around. I think it over. "You'll have helmets on. I'm gonna be without. So everyone can see my face."

"Sorry." Callie offers me a frown.

That's been how they work it though. The eagle wings in sight plus a lacking helmet. Everyone wants to know what I look like. I'm a crowd draw. "The looks curse, though... Once it ends or gets removed..." What will I look like? Odin must know. Who else, though?

"So helmet or not won't really matter." Daniel nods. "Everyone knows you have a lot of curses. We should let the rumor mill have that be a question. Make sure everyone knows you are looks cursed. See if someone gets the urge to remove it."

I smirk at him.

Daniel laughs. "There are so many reasons I'm glad I'm not a prince. Xavier has a ton of blessings too, right?"

"Yup." I know my list is longer, but my little brother will also suffer. I can grasp most truly are a blessing while we're young. I'm just coming to the point where I don't need the protection of blessings. For me, those blessings are really curses. It'll be years before everything is removed. And there is a chance I'll ascend first. Odin promised if he is present for my ascension, he'll make sure all my curses are removed on that day. No matter when it is.

'Minus the magic one.' That was his caveat. I had to be acting king before that could be removed. The rest would be removed even if I had a regent. At this point... I should be fine. Although Odin seems to think the magic one is still unknown.

I know why that one is cursed. All higher skilled mages need it. It's a blessing placed on all babies who access high levels magics. It cannot be removed until the body can handle the mana flow. Some never have it removed. I would only have the access that I do now. To beg it to work and hope the answer isn't truly bad. Plus the rituals.

Odin seems to think I'll manage at some point. It'll cut out at twenty. I would need to be recursed if I can't handle it. That would be horrible. But I can't think too much about it. I'm a mage without access to my mana.

"I bet you're cute enough to draw a crowd." Callie stares at me. "If you take after your parents, I can't see how you'd be ugly. Made your current image odd."

I rub my head. I should be muscular given what I can manage. I don't see that. I see an image that's possible given my parents, but only if I got all the bad traits. It does seem unlikely. "I'd rather not lose it yet. The subpar looks curse gives me a little less watch and care."

"People make assumptions that benefit you." Daniel nods.

I nod. That's a true benefit. I don't look ugly, just not very good.

Callie gets up. She ate. "I'm going to check on Jessica." Jessica and Ryan didn't sit with us. They're chatting with a few other trainees. One of which is Rich. I've seen both manage to spar against him. The matches help all of us.

Daniel watches her sit down before turning back to me. "Lucas told me you were going. I didn't think he'd add Callie."

"Just in case, maybe? She's able to use healing magic."

"A point. Sounds like an in case." Daniel stands up. "Why don't you ask about the flyer key now? Then we can meet in Courtyard A for that ritual attempt."

I think of the upcoming classes today. "Are you joining biology with us?"

"No thanks. Callie should though. They like making sure the higher skilled healers understand it better."

I nod. That's how it is. Ryan and Jessica are both in class with me. It is one class that I cannot pass. I just don't know enough. But I'm quick to answer and offer possible conclusions. It would suit better if I just continue learning. Passing the test for such a class wouldn't mean I know everything.