Tristan woke up. Today he wanted to visit the palace guard and watch them train. He didn't really have anything to do, so he just did what he wanted. Although he could also go hunting some monsters.
Today was also the day when the Emperors Warrior returned from something, Tristan forgot what it was.
After breakfast, he walked around the palace. It was about 9 am, but the training for the guards started at 10. during this time, Tristan had nothing to do. So he spent his time roaming around the palace. On his way to the trainingsfield, Tristan noticed Cornelius and Azuki, talking in a little garden. They seemed to be on guard, but Tristan didn't make it obvious, that he was watching. Cornelius seemed to be showing Azuki something.
She nodded and smiled, then took the item and walked away. When she was gone, Cornelius smiled too and also walked away, holding another item in his hand.
After watching this, Tristan grew even more suspicious of Azuki. She was planning something, he knew it.
When he finally arrived at the trainingsfield, some soldiers and recruits were already there. They were in little group, probably some friends talking and having fun before training.
Soon, there were about 50 recruits and 20 normal soldiers. They split in two groups, the soldiers did their normal every day routine, with wich they didn't need any guidance. The recruits on the other hand waited for a trainer to arrive, wich happened soon.
A young woman arrived and stood before the recruits.
„Welcome recruits! I am Layla and I will be your supervisor today. We will start by getting warm. 50 Pushups."
She silently watched, as everybody got on the ground and started doing push-ups. Tristan sat down on a wall next to the field an watched.
After noticing him, the woman walked towards him. She seemed to be in her twenties.
„Lord Tristan! It's an honour to meet you. I heard the story about saving the prince, I must say, I am really impressed!", she said.
„Thank you", he answered.
„And what makes a Lord like you come to the trainingsfield? What brings us the honour?", it was a fair question, but Tristan was only there to watch, and that he said so.
„I see, if you would excuse me then. I have to go back to training the recruits.", she bowed and hurried back to her trainees.
They were done already, but looked very exhausted.
„Now. Please make groups, those who want to join one of the special guards for any of the royals, please stand over there.", she pointed near Tristan, „And if you want to join the army please stand there, and if you want to join any other guard, like palaces city guard, then go over there.", she pointed at two more spots, and the people split up.
Two people approached the field.
„This is Colonel Hadrian. He will be training the army recruits, and the other one is Guard leader Han Xien. He will be training the guard recruits. For me, I will train the royal recruits.", she introduced the two men.
After that, she turned to the royal recruits.
„Now, let the training begin! First, we will do theoretical lessons. You over there", she pointed at a random recruit, „what's important, when being a royal guard?"
„Uh, strength, Ma'am.", he answered.
„Wrong. Of course, it does play a role. But tactics are very important too. You have to be observant. You need quick reactions. You need good skills. With out all that, your only a lump muscle bag, that could easily be defeated by a five year old with brain.", Layla explained.
„Now. You over there. Wich guard Are you looking to join?", she asked another recruit.
„Uh. I wanted to join Princess Caroline's guard, Ma'am.", the recruit was a women, looking to be not even twenty years old.
„I see. I will be right back."
She went to Tristan and asked him something. He nodded and came back with her.
„This is Lord Tristan, you will try and protect him. We will be doing two teams. The attackers and the guards. Understood?"
„Yes, Ma'am!", the recruits said.
After building two teams, Tristans task was to walk around. He should act like nothing was special and he was just a royal. His protecting group made a weird V-formation, only covering his sides and back, leaving his front completely open. They made the formation themselves, to test their strategic skills.
Suddenly, he felt a change in the air, someone was approaching him. He quickly dodged to the side and pulled the person to him, making the person fall to the ground.
The person was Layla, the leader of the attacker group.
„Outch. You are quick."
„Sorry, Reflexes.", Tristan answered.
Layla turned to the defender group.
„You were supposed to do that, not himself. And second, it shouldn't take one person to take down the person you are protecting. Then, if so happens, and you know that the attackers are more than one, you shouldn't go off guard like that.", she told them.
Then the rest of the attackers jumped out of some bushes and from behind some walls and held the defenders in a tight grip.
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After the training, Layla walked towards Tristan.
„It was fun training with you, you should meet my master some time. I bet he could teach you a lot of things. Anyways, I'm off to duty now, gotta protect the king.", she said.
„Wait, your the kings guard? His personal warrior?", Tristan was startled, he didn't expect to find the warrior so soon.
„Yup, that's me.", Layla answered.
„So is that... the Sword?", he asked.
„Haha, no it's not. The sword of destruction is kept safe by my master. He lives in the hills to the outer lands in a small village, independent from the kingdoms. A warrior like me isn't worthy enough to wield such a godly power.
Now I really got to go, see you around", she winked at him, but before she could leave, a butler game rushing towards them.
„Lord Tristan, Lady Layla! It's his majesty! He isn't feeling well. Hurry, follow me!", they rushed behind the butler.
Arriving at the Emperors room, they could see that the royal family was already there. They were standing around the bed, in wich the emperor was laying. Three maids were standing in the corner, not moving a muscle.
For him, this wasn't a loss, for now, he didn't know if or how it would help him, but it surely wasn't a loss.
He looked at the royals, the little Caroline, crying into her fathers chest, Jakob, standing besides the bed. And Azuki, tears flowing down her cheeks, but not a single emotion could be seen in her eyes.
He looked at Cornelius, who seemed angry and sad. Tristan wondered if the anger was directed towards Azuki.
Looking at Katherine, it was the same as with Azuki. The tears just looked fake.
After a few quiet minutes, Cornelius broke the silence,
„Mom, can I talk to you for a moment?", he asked.
Azuki nodded, wiped her tears and followed her son out of the room.
Then it dawned on Tristan.
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„This is not how it was supposed to be!"
„What are you talking about?"
„You know exactly what I mean. I didn't do it for that!"
„You didn't know what you were doing it for at all! Be grateful! This will only better the situation, believe me. You have a special place in my plans."
„Well your plans are going to fail! You never said that it was for him, .....
for father..."