He walked out of his room and out of the building. He looks around the same surroundings in which he had been living for three weeks before making his move towards the backyard.
He greeted the citizens who wished him good morning with a smile and a greeting back.
Arriving at the backyard, which he had never stepped on before, he was presented with a large field. Some targets for archery activity in a row and an open shed where the items are situated. There are also some people practising weapon wielding on the other side, like swords and spears.
He could hear the sound of the weapon clashing from where he was standing.
'So, this is the training ground.'
His training with Tereni was always in the forest.
"You are here, Your Highness."
He looked to his left to find Chief Yosen.
"Yes, I am sorry for being late."
"You're not late. Follow me."
He followed the large step of Chief Yosen from behind. They are walking towards the open space in the middle. There is some kind of circle-like space that was made of rock. No, it was like an open training court.
He could see the chief of nymphs at the side of the open court. When they made eye contact, she waved her hand at him, and he nodded in acknowledgement.
"Please, stand up in front of me."
He did as told and stood in front of Chief Yosen in the court.
'Are we going to fight?'
The situation looked like it, with Chief Gurina as the referee or something.
"Please be ready."
Eh, just like that?
"Wait, are we going to fight? Hand-to-hand combat?"
Chief Yosen looked at him in confusion before he frowned. Chief Gurina also facepalmed.
"Tereni didn't tell you anything about today."
Michaelis shook his head.
"No. Chief Tereni just said that for the rest of the week, I'll be training under you and Chief Gurina. She didn't specify what training I'd be doing."
Chief Yosen sighed again. He should have expected this. That's why Gurina said this crown prince looked so clueless when he came here.
"Sigh, then I'll explain what we'll do today and the rest of this week."
Chief Yosen began his explanation. Chief Yosen and Chief Gurina would train him in hand-to-hand combat. They wanted him to use his aura while fighting and holding back. Chief Yosen said this is a way for him to know when to strike a strong blow at a real enemy and when to use a certain strength when having a light duel.
In short, he needs to refrain from using his aura while fighting if possible, but this training was a way for him to lessen his blow if he ever used his aura to fight.
There would be chaos if he were discovered to have injured someone by using an aura. After all, the aura is a forbidden power.
Chief Yosen would train him while Chief Gurina would observe him. He didn't know if he could do it in just a week. But he only has a week left here, so he would just need to do the best he could.
"Do you understand, Your Highness? I can't see or use any aura except by using those glasses."
Chief Yosen pointed at Chief Gurina, who was now wearing black glasses.
"The glasses could detect an aura flowing from someone's body. She will stop you if you lose control."
"I understand. But why did you not wear those glasses yourself while fighting me, Chief Yosen?"
Chief Yosen let out a small laugh.
"You did not notice, Your Highness?"
Notice what? Now, Chief Gurina is also chuckling.
"I can't see."
Ayo what. Since when?
"I'm sorry, that was insensitive of me."
"You don't need to feel sorry over this, Your Highness. It is actually good news because your inability to know about my blindness is proof of my competency to hide my condition from anyone who wants to harm me. Don't you think so?"
Somehow, it's true. Chief Yosen would not be seen as weak just because he is blind. But if his enemies know that he is blind, wouldn't that be an advantage on his side if they let their guard down around him? Is Chief Yosen someone who doesn't like to be seen as weak?
"Thus, I want you to be serious, Your Highness. Don't hold back because I know you learned hand-to-hand combat from that boy, Raihan, am I right? Don't think of me as so lowly because of my blindness. That is an insult to me."
Oh, that's why. Chief Yosen was more appreciated for having a serious fight. He is a fighter who wants a fight that is not meaningless. A true fighter.
"Very well. I would not dare to look down on you."
Chief Yosen took a stance. Michaelis opened up his aura and surrounded his body with it. His aura began with a large flow before he lowered the flow. He is also taking a stance.
But he has a question. How did Chief Yosen 'see' all this time?
"Start!"
They dashed toward each other. Chief Yosen is more into punching, and he always deflects the punch by using his hands. He is in defence while Chief Yosen keeps attacking. He can't find a chance to counterattack.
"You are good with defence, just like Raihan."
"Uh!"
He crouched down and touched his stomach. It didn't hurt that much; he just didn't expect the punch to land at all.
"However, you need to be faster if you want to win against me."
Michaelis grinned. As expected from an expert. He stood up and took a stance again.
"Also, don't forget. This fight is not for you to win but to control your aura."
"I understand."
"You are excited."
"I am curious to know how you saw me, Chief Yosen."
"How about you find out while we're fighting?"
"Will do."
They dashed towards each other again, but this time Michaelis was making an attack rather than just defending. His smaller body gives him an advantage while dodging.
His aura is becoming more violent each time he fails to land a blow. He frowned and clicked his tongue in frustration. But he didn't notice this occurrence.
He jumped and swung a kick. His kick was blocked by Chief Yosen's arm. He dodged the upcoming punch from the other side, twisting his body in midair.
'The air felt strange.' Chief Yosen thought while frowning.
Michaelis didn't know what had distracted Chief Yosen in that split second, but he managed to find a gap and land a punch on his chest. Michaelis didn't hold back, and he punched Chied Yosen straight in the chest.
"Stop!"
Chief Yosen's eyes widened a bit. Michaelis did not manage to stop and make contact with the hard surface. He heard something breaking.
A strong blow was created. Chief Yosen flew back.
"Oh no, oh no."
He heard the panicked voice of Chief Gurina. He finally could see what he actually punched.
"Are you okay, Yosen? Thank God I managed to stop the punch from directly touching you! Oh no."
He looked at his front to see some large tree branches that had a hole in them. He blinked before he took out his hand from inside the hole.
"I'm fine. Don't worry."
Did he lose control? Is he injuring someone right now? Did he just let his emotions take control? Michaelis frowned.
"Are you okay, boy?"
Chief Gurina asked him, but his gaze was fixed on Chief Yosen, who was now standing in front of him while holding his chest.
"I apologize. I can't seem to control my aura when fighting just now."
He bit his lower lips and looked down. This kind of failure makes him sick, especially when his failure affects someone else.
"I am fine. Your punch did not even touch me, thanks to Gurina."
"Still—"
"This is the purpose of this training. Today is your first day; it is normal that something like this happens."
"True true. So don't worry. You'll improve in no time, boy."
Chief Gurina patted his head. He lowered his head more.
"Yes."
"Should we continue?"
"Yes."
"Then, let's continue."
Chief Gurina took back the broken trees that she seemed to be controlling. They were standing facing each other just like before, and the training began again until it was time for lunch.
What Michaelis didn't notice was the slight frown on Chief Yosen's face and the worried face of Chief Gurina throughout the training that day. He is becoming sloppy in his every move that day; it's more like his mind is being preoccupied by something else.
That is something both of them needed to take care of because Michaelis wouldn't be improving if he didn't put his mind into this training and might injure anyone in this state.
×××××
"Your Highness, we need to talk."
Michaelis looked at Chief Gurina. Strangely, this woman never comes to him alone like this.
"Yes?"
"What is in your mind?"
He tilted his head.
"Nothi reallyly. Why did you ask?"
"You still want me to tell the truth even though you already know why I asked?"
He looked down, trying to hide his grimace.
"You are worried that you might hurt Yosen again, aren't you?"
He didn't give any response to the soft voice that was asking him. Gurina sighed slowly at the lack of response.
"You don't need to worry, little crown prince."
He didn't need to worry, she said? What if he overdid it and somehow really landed a strong blow on Chief Yosen while training? He would hurt that guy really badly, and when that happened, he couldn't forgive himself forever.
He just didn't want to feel that kind of guilt. He would never recover if something like that happened again.
"You don't understand."
"Maybe I am."
Now he frowned even more.
"You don't want the feeling of guilt to eat you up if ever you injure Yosen. You would feel really bad if something like that happened, and you wouldn't be able to forgive yourself forever for such mistakes, or you would call it a failure."
Michaelis clenched his hands.
"I once injured my close friend, and I can't forgive myself."
Michaelis finally raised his head to look at Chief Gurina. Her face looked sad.
"The feeling of injuring someone is something I really don't want to feel again. But do you know how I overcome the feelings?"
He just waited for the answer.
"I trained and trained and trained to not repeat such a mistake again. I vow to myself that I'll save more by helping everyone I hurt, even strangers in the past. By doing that, I managed to become much better at handling myself and avoid acting carelessly and on impulse anymore."
Chief Gurina gave him a sweet smile before she patted his head. He didn't notice that his face was becoming hot every few seconds by looking at the smile.
"Hence, practise. Yosen also said to not hold back against him, and what you've done will make him angry, you know. Be stronger, and I am sure that feeling of guilt will eventually die down when you see the fruit of your hard work. Yosen would be proud if that happened, and me too!"
"What... happened to your friend now?"
"Hm? He is doing fine now. Having a family and kids. He is also already forgiving me. Ah, that is also something crucial when handling the feeling of guilt. Always apologize and make sure the person you injured feels better. Understand?"
He nodded and looked down. Maybe this guilty feeling towards Chief Yosen can be lifted by doing what Chief Gurina said.
"Let's continue training, shall we?"
Chief Gurina offered him a hand, and he took it.
Michaelis may not feel guilty anymore, but Michael will always be haunted by it.