*Four years Later*
Vivian and Victor both stood, holding each other, in a balcony and watched the spectacle unfolding down below them. Victor could not help but shed a tear which Vivian had to wipe for him.
"It's been a while now but each time I see him it's like he's learnt and is doing something new" Victor said.
"Likewise" Vivian added "How long has it been since he started now? Three years?"
Artur sat on some hay that was stacked like steps and watched his father's men train in his father's yard. His body had changed significantly. He could not be blamed though; he was growing and was training too. As a baron's son, he was required to learn these things but that was not really his driving force.
Ever since he found out that some random stranger could just toss a glove in front of him and tell him to pick it up, he determined in his mind to be strong. Besides, he loved swords right from his previous life.
He had picked up the sword too early and was skilled at it. His father's men called him a prodigy, he could even go against a lot of them and put them in tight corners. It made his mother worry that he was not having a normal childhood and was too mature but whenever she thought about that night when Artur spoke in his real voice she felt that he could make his own choices.
***Three years ago***
"Mom, dad, I want to learn how to use a sword" Artur informed his parents.
Vivian, whose face was speaking happy happiness a moment ago suddenly had a look of surprise but Victor was calm and stoic. Vivian challenged him.
"Artur what are you talking about?"
"I said I want to learn how to use a sword"
"B-But why? You are still so young so why are you trying to learn something like that. You should enjoy your-"
"I know you care about me mother, but this is what I want to do. I am the son of a baron and one day I might be called upon to serve my king. When that time comes, I want to be able to do things without putting you both in a constant state of fear" Artur explained.
"But Artur you know that being a baron is more than just knowing how to use a sword, right?" Victor said.
Artur nodded in affirmation "And that is why I had Lily help with learning a lot these past two months"
"But Artur, you just turned eight years old"
"But most eight years don't think or act like me, do they?" Artur countered "My path is different from others. I will be fine, so don't worry about me"
***Present day***
It was his turn. It was the part of the soldiers' training which they called sparring day and as the name suggested, they all sparred with each other throughout the course of training.
Eleven-year-old Artur got down from the haystack and took off his shirt. His body was well built and he was tall for an eleven-year-old but compared to the other men he was still short and underdeveloped. At the corner of the open yard, he saw the silhouette of a small person and smiled when he saw that he was just Angela.
He walked to the middle of the yard where the captain of the guard stood waiting for him. The captain of the guard and his teacher, Lucas was a very strict man and showed no tolerance for laziness especially during training. As Artur approached, he gave the little boy such a frightening look that would scare off most kids but if Artur were to look at his real age he was probably around twenty-two. It would take more than that to scare him.
"It's your first time joining us on sparring day and you'll will be using a real sword to fight another person for the first time. Do you remember the rule?"
"Yes master. During training..."
Lucas tossed a sword at Artur who caught it and drew it. One of the soldiers came out of the group and stood opposite to Artur with a sword in his hand. They both took battle stances and pointed their swords at each other, waiting for Lucas to give the start command.
Lucas stepped back and when he made some decent space between him and them he ordered them to start.
'...I am no longer the baron's son. If I think like one, I will die. Titles hold no value in battle, but battles hold values in titles'
Their mock battle began and the soldier charged at Artur with everything he had. Just by looking Artur already knew the amount of power that this man had put into his sword. It was like he was looking to end the fight once and for all, not allowing a little boy to even dream of having the chance to attack him.
Artur knew that if that attack landed it would cut straight through his skull and he did not have enough physical build to withstand an attack of such degree. He speedily dodged he blade which smashed the ground where he formerly stood and thrust his sword at the man's neck. He also wanted to end the battle quickly because in stamina he was way lower and a prolonged battle would only result in disadvantages.
The knight dodged Artur's sword and kicked him from the side. The kick was so strong that it was enough to send him three feet away. He was lucky to have seen it coming and blocked it.
Vivian wanted to interfere but Artur anticipated that and looked at her with warm eyes, tearing through her anger. The knight charged at Artur again but Artur used size to his advantage this time and rolled under the man. He raised his sword up but the soldier moved out of harm's way and sent another kick at the young boy.
That was his undoing.
Artur sidestepped the foot and caught his ankle, pulling it with all his strength. The man lost his balance and Artur delivered a punch to the gut.
A little boy's attack would normally not do much to a man who was armored with muscle but if it was the right spot then it might just be enough.
Not all battles were won with swords.
Just as the soldier was doubling over in pain from getting a punch below the left ribcage Artur fired himself like a projectile and sunk his head in the middle of the soldier's face and he fell.
The soldier reached out for his sword but Artur got on top of him before his hand could get to it and struck him in the face with the hilt of his sword.
The soldier pushed him off and went for the sword but when he turned around the tip of Artur's blade made slight contact with his neck. Artur grinned at him and the soldier also smiled, dropping his sword.
"You got me, I lost" He said and the watchers went up in cheers for Artur. He was immediately surrounded by his father's soldiers and got some nice words from them. All except Lucas.
Artur was happy about his victory, but he could not help feeling that his opponent held back against him. Three years just so his opponent could hold back against him, that was not what he wanted but he had to put on a smile or his mother would start to worry again.
Vivian was so happy that her son won and even boasted to Victor that Artur could take on all of his men himself.
He made eye contact with his mother and she blew him a kiss which he caught and plastered to his cheek. He waved at her and then proceeded to go meet Angela who was still at the corner, waiting for him.