Steel n silence

The path to the practice grounds was a silent, taut thread stretched between Aerion and Romona. The air, crisp and biting, held the promise of a heavier snowfall. Romona, usually a vibrant presence, walked with a quiet observation that bordered on concern. Aerion, his face a mask of carefully concealed turmoil, felt the weight of her scrutiny.

"What are you thinking?" she finally asked, her voice breaking the stillness.

"Nothing," he replied, the word flat and unconvincing.

"You don't look okay. You don't sound okay, either."

Aerion sighed, a gust of breath that seemed to carry the weight of his unspoken thoughts. "What do you want to know, Romona?"

"Just… you're sinking into something. You're not behaving like a future king." She paused, offering a gentle caveat. "Don't misunderstand. But kingship is messy."Things can get far messier than this."

"Yeah, I know." He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture of frustration. "Sometimes, I think this whole ruling thing isn't for me."

Romona abruptly stopped, turning to face him. Her gaze, direct and unwavering, held him captive. "Don't let one mistake unravel you."

"I know, but…"

"No. Look at me, Your Highness."

Aerion met her eyes, a flicker of vulnerability in their depths. "Yes?"

"Do you think I doubt you?"

"Probably. You know I'm not easy to be around."

She closed her eyes, a moment of quiet reflection. "Just… calm your nerves. We're meeting Lady Vivienne. Don't make… that face in front of her." She resumed walking. "Yeah, yeah. It's all this Mateo and the royal "ibrary. It feels like something out of a badly written webnovel."

"What's that?" Romona asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.

Aerion's eyes widened slightly. "Nothing." He recovered quickly. "Just… nothing."

The practice field opened before them, a wide expanse of snow-dusted ground. Soft, ethereal flakes drifted down, creating a scene of cinematic beauty. Vivienne stood in the center, her back to them, gazing up at the swirling snow. As they approached, she turned, a warm smile illuminating her features. She gestured for them to join her.

Romona bowed respectfully. "My Lady."

Vivienne patted Romona's head affectionately. "How have you been, darling? Are you keeping up with your tasks?"

"Yes, My Lady."

Aerion, his patience wearing thin, spoke up. "So, Maa, what did you call me for?"

Vivienne tilted her head, her eyes assessing his tense posture. "Go pick a weapon of your choice." She gestured to the boxes lining the edge of the field, filled with an array of armaments.

Aerion raised an eyebrow, but complied, selecting a lightweight wooden sword.

"No," Vivienne said, her voice firm. "I said a weapon. Not a toy."

He glanced at her, then back at the boxes. Vivienne, moving with an almost unnerving silence, bent to examine the weapons. She chose a shining, straight sword.

"You're going to use that?" Aerion asked, his eyes wide.

"Do as I asked, my child."

Aerion surveyed the swords, spears, and hammers, his gaze finally settling on something that caught his eye. He pulled it from the box: a twinblade, its dual blades gleaming in the soft light.

Vivienne's smile widened. "Excellent choice."

Aerion stood beside her, the twinblade balanced in his hands. "Is this alright?"

She nodded. "Baby, let's spar."

"I understood that much," he replied, his tone dry.

Vivienne chuckled. "I know my boy is smart. But we'll use only weapons and our physical abilities. No Shaktih."

Aerion's eyebrows shot up. "Alright. No Shaktih." He settled into a fighting stance.

Vivienne mirrored his stance. Romona, meanwhile, retreated to the shelter of a nearby shed, her eyes fixed on the unfolding scene.

The clash began, a flurry of steel against steel. Aerion moved with a hesitant clumsiness at first, the twinblade an unfamiliar extension of his will. He tried to exploit its dual blades, hoping to catch Vivienne off guard, but she anticipated his every move, her sword a blur of precise blocks. Her face remained impassive, betraying nothing.

The brief, Intense exchange was broken by Vivienne's voice, sharp and clear. "Calm down."

The words, seemingly out of nowhere, startled Aerion. Before he could react, the hilt of her sword grazed his jaw, a chilling reminder of her superior skill. "Look," she said, her tone devoid of emotion, "I could have killed you."

Aerion nodded, his pride stung, and they resumed the spar. This time, he attacked with a desperate ferocity, his movements driven by frustration. Vivienne, however, remained an impenetrable wall, effortlessly deflecting his every strike.

"What happened, little crown prince?" she taunted, her voice laced with a subtle undercurrent of amusement.

"I made a judgment," he retorted, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

Vivienne's lips formed a perfect 'O.' "Oh, did you?"

Aerion, ignoring her, attempted a flanking maneuver, spinning the twinblade in a wide arc. But the blades met only air. A flicker of movement in his peripheral vision warned him a moment too late. He stumbled backward, his feet slipping on the snow.

Vivienne pressed her sword against his shoulder, the cold steel a stark reminder of his vulnerability. "Like this? Did you really think you were qualified to make a judgment?"

Aerion glanced aside, his eyes catching Romona's watchful gaze.

"Look at me," Vivienne commanded, her voice firm. "Not at her."

Aerion met her eyes, his expression a mixture of defiance and suppressed anger.

"But," she continued, her tone softening slightly, "if you believe you're right, then make your judgment. Even if you're not yet qualified. Authority is not always the right choice, and sometimes, you can influence those in authority."

She lowered her sword and offered him a hand. [Enough. I can't pretend to be a toddler anymore. I'm tired of this.] Aerion's inner monologue was as sharp as the steel they had just wielded. Aloud he asked, his voice calmer now, "You know I talked to Lucian. He's trying to… evolve his thinking about me, he said. But I think he still sees me as too immature to discuss certain things."

Vivienne remained silent, allowing him to speak.

"See, Mother? I just want him to understand."

[How can I ask her anything without revealing anything? Do I have to stay silent? Can't help Raquel?]

Vivienne returned her sword to the box. "I think, my boy, you should relax. You're tired. And you have your entrance exams in a few days."

Aerion rolled his eyes. "School. Whatever."

"And," she continued, "I think you should trust your brother. He's very intelligent."

Aerion raised an eyebrow, suspicion flickering in his eyes. "What are you implying?"

Vivienne walked toward the shed, retrieving her veil. "I'm saying he's your brother. Trust him." A cryptic smile played on her lips as she turned to leave.

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" Aerion asked, his confusion evident.

Vivienne paused, her back to him. "You didn't win to ask me questions, remember?" She disappeared into the castle, leaving Aerion standing in the snow, his mind swirling with unanswered questions.