The warm golden sun was bright out with the clouds being shy in the blooming green courtyard full of lush green grass from the passing season of spring, blinding Maximillian with wash of light on the marble stairs next to the large quartz fountain with an angel adorning the peak while trying to memorize what his teacher explained to him about warfare strategies.
The breeze swept over him, making hair that was a mess uncover his dark eyes that were rimmed with red from the lack of sleep over the past few days from the grueling training.
He wasn't going to lie to himself though since it was hard, but it was better for him to be needed than to be pitied. He squeezed his hands, the blisters brushing the hot skin, and the pain reminded him to stay in the moment. And breathe.
Normally, his teacher would rather do physical learning rather than tossing a textbook, but today was a new day. Maximillian didn't complain, because the somewhat helpful book kept him occupied with the constant thinking and visualization.
He liked the content enough to enlighten himself with new knowledge that somehow easily pieced itself into his head, making the instructions come to life in a graphic manner.
The pages of the military concepts were rough under the small fingertips that were bruised and battered after holding a sword for hours with his young yet capable hands, doing other grueling tasks that he didn't mind to do to keep himself busy.
Like a mist in his memory, the grief that had used to linger now dulled away into a passing memory that shined bright of the moment back then when his family were still laughing with him yet gone within the next.
He shook his head lightly, causing his black hair to fall across his forehead and shield his dark eyes. He didn't want to think about that today. It always left an agitated feeling in his chest that was painful. His fingers tightened his hold on the book, creasing the pages slightly before he eased off as his hands trembled.
Max suddenly stiffened, his senses sharpening when there was movement behind him. The subtle rustling of leaves and crunching of grass made him twist around and sigh out a long breath of relief to see the beautiful creature tumbled to her feet, her dress getting caught in the thin branches.
The little girl struggled with her dress for a moment before popping out of the bushes and catching sight of him. She tilted her head in confusion before deciding that she was curious and slowly made her way over to him.
Max stood there watching her incredulously taking in her golden hair that was in waves with a blue ribbon running through the long locks into a soft bow on both sides of her head.
Her powder blue skirts were rimmed with dirt along the hem, and her little shoes stuck out from her dress covered with mud. They made eye contact and her crystalline blue eyes creased as the girl smiled while Max averted his gaze to his dusty boots from the training ring.
Max was still shocked by her disgruntled appearance; he moved away when she started to approach him. He put out a hand to try and keep some distance between them. It was funny since he had gotten used to dodging blades to the swift change of dodging a child.
"Are you sad?" the young girl tentatively asked. She couldn't be more than four years old and lightly poked his side with a finger.
He froze with the light weight pressing down on his arms and peered down to the blonde head that was peeking up at him, and he carefully studied her. He was holding a real doll.
Max was eight but never got the luxury of holding any toys before his parents were taken away from him in a flash years ago, and then, he was always on his own, getting tossed around becoming collateral for people who's power far surpassed what he could ever have.
Max didn't want to throw her off of him, scared of his strength and finally shrugged before telling the truth. "Do you miss your father and mother."
The girl laughed. "My mother and father are inside. Where did yours go?"
Max smiled. "Somewhere nicer."
"Like a chocolate shop?"
He grinned. "That's lovely. How does heaven sound to you?"
The girl had a serene look on her face. "Pretty."
"It's very pretty," Max whispered.
Max looked up into the pink and orange sky with the sunset coming down soon and smiled at the thought of his parents in the sky watching over him. "Yeah. It's beautiful up there."
Her timid voice was calming. "They will come to see you soon."
He blew out a breath wanting to desperately hear his mother's and father's voice one last time but knowing that it would never happen. "I hope so."
She placed her head on his shoulder, and he glanced down at her with his hands shaking. He needed to get her off of him, as the uncomfortable feeling started to settle in when he realized that it wouldn't be best for her to be found with him when he escaped for a breath of fresh air only.
He was a complete stranger to this girl, and he hoped that she wasn't mistaking him for someone else, because it could have been dangerous for her. In the end, it would only bring her and him trouble if she stayed with him since he shouldn't have been in the courtyard anyways along with the girl who clearly escaped the grasp of her caretaker.
This girl was a noble judging by her flashy attire, but he couldn't be sure with her dirty dress and mud-covered shoes. Either way, Max tried to pull himself away from her, however, the young child held onto him tighter shaking her head against his shoulder.
She was kicking her little feet in protest, making her skirts flare up. Max sighed as he pressed a hand down on the edges of the skirt to keep it from flying up in the air.
"Go home. It is going to get dark soon," he said sternly.
"No! I want you to play with me!"
Max eventually gave up trying to pry the girl out of his arms, tired of keeping the girl's hands locked away, and laid back against the steps to watch the sunset. The young child eventually stopped, and Max blew out a tired breath. He wasn't in the mood to talk, and silence fell over them.
The flaring of oranges and pinks danced through the sky as the sun played behind the clouds. Sunshine shone on his face, and Max closed his eyes to bask in the last few minutes of the sun before nightfall came.
A snore sounded from his side, and he glanced down to see the child passed out in his arms. He huffed out a quiet laugh and ran a hand down her hair, letting the golden strands filter through his fingers. Sounds were calling from the courtyard, and he realized that people were looking for the child.
Max carefully laid the girl down on the stairs next to a pillar on the flat level, making sure she wouldn't tumble down the steps and injure herself the moment she awoke. He had held a sword for the first time around her age, and it was the grueling experience that made him better. It kept his mind sharp.
He bent down to grab the sword that was accompanying him and left the book beside the girl, running off quickly before the young child wakes. He ran up the marble steps two at a time to the training grounds where he knew he was going to get reprimanded by his teacher for running off.