“They’ll be eating their words if they’re not careful,” I grumble.
“Come now, Aurelio,” Emilia says, shooting me a smile. “Don’t let their words get to you. You’re the Prince of Celestia now; if you lose your head over a few musings, how will you fare in political conversations?”
“That’s Alessia’s problem,” I mumble.
“Your wife’s problems become your own problems before long,” Emilia points out. She stands up, sheathes her sword, and offers her hand to me. “Come on, stand up. You should be proud. You did exceptionally well compared to our previous fights.”
I take her hand, and she pulls me upright. I brush myself off, feeling her infectious smile become my own. Emilia’s right: I have improved significantly from my previous matches with her. I can’t put myself down when the margin between us before was a gaping cavern, and now is only the width of a bubbling stream.
“You would do well to get some real-life experience,” Emilia remarks. “Just from a few life-and-death battles with a wendigo, you’ve made progress that used to take you months to accomplish here in the training ring. You have a ways to go before you reach your full potential.”
I raise a brow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You haven’t even come close to realizing the full extent of your innate talents,” Emilia explains. “With further training, higher stakes, and years of experience, you could one day fight on my level.”
She shakes hands with me, then walks away, a slight smile playing on her lips. I stare after her, watching her undo her braid to let her hair tumble down her shoulders. Her fellow knights congratulate her as she enters the dressing room, and she disappears out of sight, their cheers and chatter fading with them.
She thinks I’m talented enough to compete with her?
I scratch the back of my head, my thoughts turning to the fight with the wendigo. It certainly had scared me out of my wits, but that had been my first fight with a wendigo. If I fought them as often as Daelia does, I would probably face them as calmly as she does. I’ve noticed my instincts improving rapidly since that day, even in everyday situations. Maybe a little adrenaline and a lot of risk is the secret recipe for reaching the greatest heights. Emilia went adventuring for several years as a teenager and young adult before becoming a royal knight, after all.
If Emilia says it would work, I should heed the advice. She knows what she’s talking about. She rarely offers her compliments, after all, reserving them for opponents she truly believes in. I look down at the sword still in my hand, a smile creasing my face.
If anything, I should look into it to give Alessia a run for her money.
“Prince Aurelio. I offer my congratulations. Your match with Emilia was truly impressive.”
When I turn, Eren is standing there, a wistful smile on his face. I find myself reflecting the expression.
“Thank you, sir. You flatter me.”
“The flattery is well-deserved. I see your time with Alessia has only made you more competitive in the art of swordplay,” Eren says. “Our country is lucky to have such a dedicated man as its role model.”
“Please, sir, there’s no need for that,” I say, shaking my head. “I’m lucky to have Alessia to push me to greater heights. Without her, I’d be the same aimlessly wandering soul as before.”
“That may be so. But it has to count for something that you’ve chosen to take heart in a position where passion is not required.”
My face reddens as I slightly bow my head. “You flatter me again, sir.”
“Oh, don’t bow your head to me. You’re the prince of this great nation. Stand up straight, Aurelio.”
“Old habits die hard.”
Eren’s eyes twinkle. “They do indeed.”
My heart swells. I wonder how hard it’s been for him not to call me “son” the whole time I’ve been here. That used to be his favorite way to call on me when I lived here. Eren is the father I wish I’d had all along. I’ve never had someone be so hard on me before, and by the same token, I’ve never had someone be so kind to me in all my life. He’s the man that convinced me to stand up and care about something rather than waste my life idling around, pretending to be a knight. I didn’t care about much, but he convinced me to care about the sword, the knighthood creed, and my brothers and sisters in arms.
Without him, I wouldn’t be a man at all, but a lost, careless boy.
“It’s getting late,” Eren says, glancing up at the orange hue of the evening sun on the eastern walls. “You better get going if you want to make it in time for dinner at the palace. I’ll see you out.”
I nod gratefully. Eren leads the way up into the stadium and out the front doors, Kharu and Lief following in my wake. Eren walks us into the entrance hall, then waits by the front doors, his eyes shining sadly as he stares at the statues behind me.
“You know, you always reminded me of these fellows,” he says quietly. “The way you carry yourself, and the way you speak to others freely, despite your status…you’re one of the common people, and yet, you stand heads above them. You’re a wonderful man, Aurelio. All must be well with the Moonbreaker family for Queen Alessia to choose so wisely.”
“Enough with the sappy idle chatter, old man,” I laugh. “You’re going to make yourself cry again.”
Eren looks back at me, his eyes misty. “I can’t help it. I’m getting too old for stoic goodbyes.”
