I stepped out of the carriage, the crisp air biting my skin as I scanned the bustling courtyard. Guards marched in formation, creatures of all shapes and sizes hurried about with a sense of urgency. It was clear that something was happening, but as usual, no one had bothered to tell me. That was nothing new. Information was always withheld, kept just out of my reach, as if I wasn't a part of this kingdom. I'd grown used to it over time, or at least, that's what I tried to tell myself.
As I walked toward the main doors of the castle, a question nagged at the back of my mind. Had Larina left already? She hadn't mentioned it outright, but it was obvious. She was my tutor, after all, and with my training more or less complete, I'd assumed she'd left without any need to linger. Without a student to teach, what reason did she have to stay?
Or so I thought.
I pushed the heavy door open and stepped inside, the familiar sight of dark stone walls and flickering torches greeting me. Despite the grandeur of the castle, it always felt a bit suffocating, like the place was too large for its own good. The long, shadowy hallways stretched out before me, lined with portraits of past rulers, their eyes following me with that same disapproving gaze.
I shrugged off the unease, making my way toward my chambers. The plan was simple: drop off my things, change, and head for the training grounds. Since Larina had most likely left, I'd practice alone like I had been for the past few days. But as I approached the door to my room, I saw something that made me stop in my tracks.
Leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed and a faint smirk on her face, was Larina.
"Back already?" she asked, her voice teasing.
I blinked, unsure whether I was more confused or surprised. "Larina? You're still here?"
She pushed herself off the wall, straightening as she gave me a sideways glance. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"I just figured…" I scratched the back of my head, feeling a bit foolish. "Well, since my lessons are over, I assumed you'd have gone. I mean, no student, no teacher, right?"
She chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Is that what you thought?"
I crossed my arms, trying to regain some composure. "Well, yeah. It made sense. What else would you have to stick around for?"
Larina gave me a long look, her expression softening just slightly. "You think that's all I'm here for? To teach you and leave once you're done?"
I shrugged, unsure how to respond. "I guess I didn't think about it much."
She sighed, her gaze shifting to the window. "I'm not just your tutor, Aiden. I'm part of this kingdom too, and there's a lot more going on than just your training."
I frowned. Of course, she was right, but it hadn't occurred to me that her role extended beyond just being my teacher. I hadn't thought about why she'd stay after my lessons ended.
"Well, I'm glad you're still around," I said, breaking the silence.
She smiled, and for the first time, it seemed genuine. "I thought you might be."
Before I could say anything else, heavy footsteps echoed down the hall. I turned to see a familiar figure approaching, his presence filling the space around him like a burst of sunlight through the castle's gloom.
"Ah, there's my boy!" my father, King Xedeth, called out, his voice booming with warmth and pride.
A grin spread across my face despite myself. My father's larger-than-life personality never failed to lift the mood, no matter how tense things were.
"Father," I greeted him with a bow.
He waved me off, pulling me into a bear hug instead. "None of that, now! You're my son, not one of my council members!"
I stiffened for a second but quickly relaxed, laughing as I returned the hug. His sincerity always caught me off guard, especially in a place where sincerity was a rare commodity.
When he pulled back, he gave me a look-over, his golden eyes gleaming. "You've been growing, haven't you? Soon you'll be towering over me!"
I chuckled. "Not quite yet."
Xedeth clapped his hands together. "Good, good! Now, Aiden, why don't you join me for a walk? We've got things to discuss."
I hesitated, glancing back at Larina. Something about her still seemed... unsettled. But she gave me a reassuring nod, and I decided not to question it for now.
"All right," I said, turning back to my father. "Lead the way."
As we walked down the hallway, I couldn't shake the feeling that something more was happening—something they weren't telling me. But for now, I had no choice but to wait.