Kai
A ball of fire skims past my face, nearly singeing my hair off. I barely have the time to duck when I feel a second wave of heat rippling towards me.
Plagues, Kitt's in a lovely mood today.
Dancing on the balls of my feet, I watch as another sphere of fire comes hurtling in my direction as the familiar feel of adrenaline floods through me. I throw up a shield of water, hearing the fire hiss before it melts into nothing more than a thick cloud of steam. Kitt squints, attempting to see me through the smoke before his eyes widen when I suddenly collide with him. We tumble to the ground as I pin him down, raising a flaming fist aimed at his face.
"Yield?" I can't keep the smile from twitching my lips. He coughs out a laugh, his gaze flicking between my face and the blazing fist raised beside it.
"If I say no, are you really gonna punch me, little brother?" Despite the fire burning mere inches from him, Kitt's green eyes glint with amusement.
"I'd think you would know the answer to that by now." I smile slightly as I cock my fist back farther, posing to strike.
"Alright, alright, I yield!" Kitt sputters. "But only because I wouldn't want poor Eli to have to set another one of our broken noses."
I chuckled darkly at the thought of seeing the look on the royal physician's face if we were to stumble in with yet another broken bone. After standing to my feet, I offer a hand to Kitt who's still sprawled on the ground.
The smile he gives me doesn't quite reach his eyes when he finally says, "Plagues, Kai, you're better with my powers than I am."
"And that is why you will be ruling the country," I say simply, "while I'll be fighting on the battlefield, distracting the enemy with my dashing good looks."
"Are you saying I couldn't distract the enemy with my own dashing good looks?" Kitt asks through his deep laughter, feigning offense.
"I'm saying that we are only half-brothers, so I'm afraid that means you only have half my charms."
Kitt barks out another laugh. "By that logic, I suppose you only have half my brains then."
"Thank the Plague for that." The words are barely out of my mouth before he's shoving me with a grin.
We walk the worn path between the dirt training circles that reside on the castle grounds. Imperials in training and other Elites of higher status continue their sparring as we pass, most using abilities while few use weapons.
Heads turn towards us, their eyes burning my skin mirroring the sun beating down on us from above. Ignoring the stares, I breathe in the training grounds' familiar scent of literal blood, sweat, and tears before grabbing a sword from a weapons rack and tossing one to Kitt who's expression can only be described as exasperated.
"You know I've always enjoyed fighting with weapons more than abilities," I say in answer to his pointed look as I mindlessly test the balance of my blade.
Kitt saunters further into the muddy ring, all but rolling his eyes. "Yes, I'm well aware of how much you love to beat down on me with a sword."
I rotate my wrist, swinging my blade as we begin circling each other. "It does happen to be one of my favorite hobbies, yes." I advance suddenly, swinging my sword down hard against his and sending a jolt up my arm. "See, isn't this fun?"
Kitt grits his teeth against my strike. "Riveting."
I fall into a familiar trance, letting my feet dance around the ring as we spare, getting lost in the rhythm. My mind clears. My body hums with energy. I've always felt most alive when I fight. It's what I was made to do, what has kept me sane over the years of training and tutoring.
"A dimwitted king is a dead king."
Father's words ring through my mind, having been drilled through my skull after every complaint about my tedious lessons as a boy. Though, I won't have to worry about being a dead or dimwitted king, seeing that I won't be a king at all. And after arguing just that to Father, he kindly created a new saying for me to live by.
"A dimwitted Enforcer is a defeated empire."
Encouraging.
A sharp pain sears up my forearm, dragging me from my thoughts with a jolt.
"Not that I need to prepare."
A slow smile creeps onto her face at that. "I would think the future Enforcer would want to make a good impression on the kingdom by winning." She's suddenly very interested in her nails, feigning nonchalance.
I run a hand through my hair with a bored sigh. "And I plan on doing just that."
training," I say quietly before loosening my hold on her ability, letting the dagger fall to the ground with a thud. I don't bother saying anything more before I turn and stride towards the castle.
Kitt falls silently into step beside me, seemingly just as lost in thought as I am as we make our way back through the castle gates. With the Trials only two weeks away, it seems I'm no longer able to blissfully ignore their existence and my role within them.
The smell of roasting chicken and potatoes wafting from the kitchens is enough to steal my attention. I shoot a glance at the abnormally quiet Kitt before turning to stride through the kitchen doors.
have the time or energy to duck before the mash joins the matted mud and dirt.
"Never a dull moment with us, is there?" Kitt muses from where he's leaning against a ledge, watching as I pull at the potatoes clinging to my hair.
I hop off the counter and stride over to the cook, giving her a peck on the cheek. "Always a pleasure, Gail." I reach around her to grab an apple from its basket as I say, "I look forward to our next food fight." After tossing one to Kitt, I rub my own apple on my pants before taking a bite.
"Prince Kai?"
I stiffen, sigh, and turn towards the voice behind me. A young boy looks up nervously, his hands fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. I raise my eyebrows, my impatience evident.
"The king requests your presence in the throne room."