After a busy morning, I returned to my chambers in Regalia Castle to change.
I swapped my formal attire for something lighter, slipping into a simple beige sweater. Adjusting a pair of tinted glasses on my nose i was ready to head out discreetly.
As I stepped out of the room, i came face to face with Kaylen his piercing light blue eyes fixed on me a mix of curiosity and amusement dancing in them.
He was dressed in an unusual outfit: red pants and a modest green shirt, reminiscent of a peasant's attire.
A straw hat rested on his head, giving him a relaxed, almost unrecognizable look.
Raising an eyebrow he seemed taken aback.
"That suits you quite well" he remarked in a neutral tone, though there was a hint of surprise in his voice.
I responded by adjusting my glasses with a casual gesture.
"I prefer not to draw attention. Let's go."
A smile crept onto my lips as I added teasingly:
"And you White Tiger this outfit is a change. It's not often we see you dressed like this."
He shrugged slightly but before he could reply, Raelia appeared at the end of the hallway. Her mischievous smile hinted at a surprise.
Looking into her beautiful orange eyes i asked.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see soon enough" she declared with a mysterious smile, taking my hand with a confident gesture.
Without further explanation, she led us through the castle five guards accompanied us a standard security measure.
Outside, an elegant carriage awaited once seated inside.
Raelia sat to my right, her arm slipping around mine with a familiarity that always caught me off guard.
Kaylen meanwhile, sat across from us his eyes closed seemingly lost in thought.
As we passed through the bustling streets of the capital, Amiria my attention was drawn to a group of children joyfully leaving a school.
Their crystalline laughter filled the air, and I couldn't help but think: I will do everything in my power to protect these moments of happiness and innocence for my people.
Soon, we left the city and took a road lined with greenery.
In the distance, a large property came into view an elegant wooden house stood in the middle of a vast meadow where horses grazed peacefully.
Intrigued, I couldn't hold back my question:
"Who owns this estate?"
Kaylen opened his mouth to answer, but he was interrupted by the sudden opening of the house's door. Sienna appeared on the threshold, her eternal mischievous smile lighting up her face. She wore a long scientist's coat, and her violet eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Finally! Took you long enough, but you're here!" she exclaimed with enthusiasm, striding forward to grab Kaylen by the arm.
Kaylen, visibly embarrassed, frowned.
"Sienna, remember you're in front of the king."
I raised a hand to calm the situation, amused by their interaction.
"No need for formalities. You are all valuable comrades to me. Sienna, just be yourself."
She gave me a broad smile before inviting us inside.
The house's interior was warm and welcoming with a rustic wooden living room that exuded comfort. However Sienna wasted no time, immediately leading us to a staircase that descended to a lower level.
Below, I discovered a fascinating space: Sienna's personal laboratory. Shelves overflowed with notes, diagrams, and strange objects. Instruments combining magic and mechanics were scattered across tables, a testament to their creator's boundless ingenuity.
"Your Majesty, here is my latest invention: the artificial mannequin," she announced proudly.
At the center of the room stood several humanoid mannequins. Their appearance was striking. Each was equipped with a shield and a sword, with a shimmering light blue stone embedded in their chest that emitted a soft, mesmerizing glow.
"Thanks to the energy stone, these mannequins can move and simulate real combat" she explained her voice brimming with enthusiasm.
Raelia chimed in:
"When Sienna told me about her invention, I immediately thought of your training.
These mannequins could greatly help you refine your techniques."
Kaylen, impressed, observed the mannequins closely.
"I must admit their design is fascinating Sienna ."
Sienna, delighted, tightened her hold on Kaylen arm, giggling slightly.
"I knew you would appreciate it."
As for me, I stared at these creations in awe.Even in my own world humanoid robot technology had never reached such sophistication. Their fluid movements were almost natural, almost... human.
"I'm impressed. I didn't think such advancement was possible here," I said, genuinely amazed.
Sienna beamed with pride.
"I'm thrilled you like it, Your Majesty. With these you can hone your skills and prepare for real-life situations."
I nodded, touched by her efforts.
"Thank you, Sienna. Your creativity and dedication are invaluable to our kingdom."
She blushed slightly before continuing her explanations.
We spent a long time in the laboratory, discussing the many possibilities these mannequins offered. Sienna demonstrated by activating one of the dummies.It suddenly sprang to life, executing a series of fluid and precise movements.
I was struck by the efficiency of these machines. Every strike, every defense seemed meticulously programmed to mimic a real opponent.
"These mannequins will revolutionize knight training," I murmured, almost to myself.
Sienna, still enthusiastic, nodded eagerly.
"Exactly they can be adjusted for all skill levels, from novices to experts. I hope they'll strengthen our troops and protect Ednia."
Placing a hand on her shoulder, I smiled.
"With minds like yours by my side, I have no doubt our nation will continue to progress."
Raelia, who had been silently observing, stepped closer.
"So, Jonady are you ready to train with them?" she asked with a mischievous smile.
I cast one last look at the mannequins, a mix of apprehension and excitement washing over me.
"More than ever. Let's show them what I'm capable of."
A spark of determination lit up my eyes. With such talented and devoted allies, I knew nothing could stand in my way. My path to mastery was becoming clearer, guided by the trust and genius of those around me.