Rina
The training session was more vigorous than I had imagined. Under my father, the soldiers of Ashmere trained only to the point where blood was drawn. While this may have made us weaker in training it allowed us to have more soldiers ready at any time.
Rina and her soldiers however had no such reservation when sparing. I watched as the soldiers' hands were cut off, or stabbed through the stomach. One unlucky soldier lost an entire arm and a leg. The reason for this was that there was an elven healer, Yunaesa Zyldove who would immediately heal the wounds of the fallen combatants. Soon it would be my turn to face the succubus warrior
As I stepped forward to face Commander Rina, a surge of adrenaline coursed through my veins, mingling with the apprehension that gnawed at the edges of my resolve. Her piercing gaze bore down upon me, assessing me with a scrutiny that left me feeling exposed and vulnerable.
"Lord Caius Bellona," she said, her voice a measured cadence of authority. "You have shown promise, but promise alone will not suffice in the crucible of combat. Today, you will prove your mettle, or fall by the wayside like so many before you."
Her words hung in the air like a heavy shroud, laden with the weight of expectation and challenge. I squared my shoulders, steeling myself for the trial that lay ahead, determined to face whatever obstacles stood in my path.
With a swift motion, Commander Rina drew her sword, its blade gleaming in the dappled sunlight that filtered through the canopy above. The air crackled with the anticipation of battle, the tension mounting with each passing moment.
"Come, Lord Caius," she beckoned, her voice a clarion call to arms. "Show me what you are made of."
I met her gaze with a steely resolve, my grip tightening around the hilt of my own sword. With a swift motion, I lunged forward, my blade singing through the air as it sought its mark.
The clash of steel echoed through the training grounds, the sound reverberating against the walls of the courtyard as we sparred with a ferocity born of determination and skill. Each blow was met with a counterstrike, each feint countered with a parry as we danced across the battlefield, locked in a deadly dance of blades.
I could feel the sweat trickling down my brow, the burn of exertion searing through my muscles as I fought with all the strength and skill at my disposal. Despite the intensity of the battle, a sense of clarity washed over me, driving me forward with a singular focus and purpose.
As the duel raged on, I found myself drawing upon reserves of strength and determination I never knew I possessed. With each passing moment, I grew more confident, more assured in my abilities as a warrior and guardian of my people.
And then, in a sudden burst of speed and agility, I saw my opening. With a swift motion, I feinted to the left, then struck out to the right, my blade finding its mark with unerring precision.
The clash of steel rang out like a symphony of victory as Commander Rina's sword fell from her grasp, clattering to the ground in a chorus of triumph. I stood victorious, my chest heaving with exertion as I surveyed the battlefield, the echoes of battle fading into the stillness of the afternoon air.
Commander Rina regarded me with a mixture of respect and admiration, her gaze alight with a spark of recognition. "Well fought, Lord Caius," she said, her voice tinged with a note of approval. "You have proven yourself worthy of our ranks, a true warrior in every sense of the word."
Her words filled me with a sense of pride and accomplishment, a validation of my father's training. In that moment, I knew that I had found my place among the elite guard of Aphrodisia, a champion of justice and defender of the realm.
And yet as the duel had raged I found myself unable to access the aura that I had grown so used to using. It was like something or someone had blocked it, limiting my potential.
My eyes gleamed over to Lilith as she stood there watching me. A seductive smirk painted her face and she gave me a nod of approval before leaving to continue her duties as ruler of Aphrodisia. I turned to Yunaesa and realized that she was the maid who had cleaned up my plates from earlier.
She walked over me and started to heal the wounds Rina had given me. Her eyes, a pink haze, were dull and she was non-responsive. After healing me she bowed and moved to heal Rina's injuries.
After that the soldiers were dismissed and I went to the bathing pools, located under the castle.
As I descended into the bathing pools beneath the castle, a sense of tranquility washed over me, soothing the lingering ache of battle and exertion. The warm, inviting waters enveloped me like a comforting embrace, washing away the sweat and grime of combat as I submerged myself beneath the surface.
In the dimly lit chamber, the gentle murmur of cascading water echoed against the stone walls, mingling with the soft sighs of those seeking solace and respite from the trials of the day. As I reclined against the smooth, polished stones, I allowed myself to drift, lost in the gentle rhythm of the currents that surrounded me.
My thoughts drifted to my family and their demise. Tears stained my eyes and dropped into the pools beneath.
As I reflected on the events that had led me to this moment, my thoughts turned to my family and the tragedy that had befallen them. The memories of Ashmere, once a bastion of strength and prosperity, now lay in ruins, consumed by the flames of betrayal and treachery.
I remembered the faces of my loved ones, their laughter and smiles etched into the fabric of my being. My father, a stern yet compassionate leader; my mother, a beacon of kindness and grace; my sister, whose laughter once filled the halls of our castle home.
And then there was my apparent half-brother, Leonius, whose crusade had been the destruction of my family. The memory of his face, twisted with malice and deceit as he stabbed my father, ensuring his death.
I stepped out of the bathing pool and grabbed a towel. Surprising me, a dryad stood by the door with freshly folded laundry in her hands. "Your clothes Lord Bellona."
The name sent shivers down my back. I am now the lord of house Bellona. Grabbing the clothes I had realized my signet ring had been placed on top. I was so distracted by the events of the day that I didn't realize it was missing.
The ring was a simple design of a dragon eating its own tail to form a circular shape. My father's ring had the actual stamp part that allowed for the signing of imperial documents. Surely now it rested in my half-brother's hands.
Sighing, I said,"Thank you, you may go now," to the dryad with purple hair. Polux, was the term granted to these specific sentient dryads. I was growing increasingly used to the occurrences in the castle. Something that frightened me as the serenity seemed unnatural.
"I was instructed to help you dress," she responded.
"I can dress myself. Take the time to have a break and relax," I said noticing the nervousness in her eyes.
After getting dressed I stepped out of the room and towards the throne room where I had assumed Lilith would be. There I found her discussing what sounded to be an important discussion regarding the affairs of the castle and the demons themselves.