It'd been two weeks since my birthday, I'd been reading over what I can from the book that Mr. William gave me, but its almost harder to read than any other book but I couldn't place why, it was like each word took an actual effort to read and yet I just couldnt stop.
The training with my new mentor, Sir Lanius, turned out to actually be for a reason. The 'sparing' would increase my body's responce to battle, specific muscles started to develop and my body got used to wearing armor and training for prolonged periods of time. I am still no where near able to go toe to toe with him, its honestly frusterating getting beaten over and over.
"Maybe today" I find myself muttering, excited for the training, determined to at least hurt him. But as he entered my room in the morning to collect me for the lesson he was wearing his full armor, training swords no where in sight. "Good your awake. We're gonna do something different today". I grit my teeth, day after day he beat me up and the one time I look forward to it- wait isn't this a good thing? Why am I wanting to fight?
"Something different?" "Yes, you have improved... at a notable rate and I think its time you spar with your peers, I worry you may become demoralized if you don't see a benefit to this." my peers? I hadn't even put a thought to it but this was the main training grounds of the order, of course there would be others training here.
"what would that accomplish? getting beat by someone younger isn't going to change anything?" honestly I doubt I can beat them, they probably got actual training instead of the abuse I've been put through. "You don't get it do you? Theres a reason your the 'prodigy', I didn't believe it at first but your adapting quicker than most. Now quit your whinning and follow me."
He led me down the tower, through the main hall and into... a larger hall? Then out some doors and into a huge courtyard filled with armored teens training with eachother under the supervision of knights. and all I could think of was... why I had never been to this part of the keep? Had I just assumed the whole thing was just my wing and I the only one here?
"These are the promising future squires of your generation, the strongest, fastest, and... well the richest parents. Not all talent comes from physical capibilities you see, but the opportunities you can afford to take. Speaking of which, their break period starts soon so why don't you go talk with them, after all they are training to serve under you one day."
Luke is taken aback by this. "Wait what? They are training to-?" "Yes, after all you are the 'young master' who is supposedly going to be at the forefront of our order one day." interjects Lanius, It dawns on Luke then, the thing hes pushed away and blamed all his life. The 'prophecy' which had been repeated to him dozens of times, that he will lead humanity to prosparity, the same reason they train him so rigorously, to 'temper' him.
Luke looked out on the young trainees, wondering how similar they are to his situation... already knowing how different they are. "I- I don't know if I can" "You've faced a banner knight for weeks without a break and have grown from it, enough to put me on the deffensive on a few occasions... and your scared of a few initiates?"
"Thats... Well I'm not scared of them that way I guess Its more... I'm not sure, maybe its cause I'm used to the routine of training with the scribes and mentors and not... well people my age." Luke could barely articulate his fear, experiencing something new. he was nervous.
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Fun Fact: There are dozens of noble houses throughout the human nations which send their sons and daughters with dreams of grandour to train under the Dragon's Bane Order and earn prestigue as revered knights and paladins.