The corridor was brightly lit, rays of light bouncing off the portraits of the Lockheart predecessors hung on the wall. A reddish carpet stretched the length of the corridor beneath their feet where Luna and Nyx walked on.
Nyx glanced at Luna over his shoulder for a while before saying, "Luna, let's go to the training hall."
"Okay!" Luna said, her face lighting up with a cheerful smile. The sight of it was a little too much to bear, and Nyx wrenched his gaze away.
The sight of it was like a dagger to his heart. Nyx wrenched his gaze away, his right hand clenching into a white-knuckled fist at his side, he thought, This time, I'll make sure to teach you as much as I physically can in the time I have.
I'll make sure that you won't have to rely on useless people. Nyx frowned as he kept his gaze ahead at the corridor.
Useless people like myself. People's inability, their lack of strength. I'll train you to the best of my abilities so you will never have to rely on anyone, so that I won't fail you anymore.
The bitter thought echoed in his mind as he came to an abrupt halt before the large doors to the training hall. He turned to Luna, saying, "Then let's go inside."
Luna nodded enthusiastically. Just as Nyx opened the doors, she darted into the training hall, onto the compacted dirt in the middle.
"Come in!" she said with a bright smile directed at Nyx.
Nyx just stood in the door frame, looking at his beloved sister who genuinely loved him in his eyes. After I promised to protect you, I dedicated every spare hour to swordplay. Even since our return to the palace, whenever I could I've done nothing but train. And for what? He frowned at the thought. You love me so much, yet I remain a failure in my own eyes.
I'm sorry that, even though you love me so much, I am a failure in my eyes, he just frowned at his thought.
He shook his head, physically brushing off the sentiment. Enough. I need to give my all.
He walked in, closing the doors behind him, with a serious face saying, "Then let's start our training, sister."
…
Nyx grabbed a wooden sword from the rack with his right hand, and with his left he took one more.
He looked at the sword in his right hand; for a while he stood there as Luna watched him. Just as she wanted to ask him, he turned and threw the sword from his left hand towards her.
Luna stumbled as she grabbed the sword. Hugging it, she looked at Nyx as he spoke: "Luna, remember the time I dueled with Ron?"
Ron? What duel? Luna's frown deepened. I've forgotten everything from before the balcony scene. And what was wrong with those kids on the balcony? Why did their words hurt? The confusion must have shown on her face, so she quickly masked it with a nod. "Yes?"
"Good. Then you remember I used magic spells during that duel, one to enhance my speed, another to enhance my strength. I'll teach you those two today."
"Well, now that you know that, here's a problem: Can you use mana?" Nyx asked.
Those words piqued Luna's interest. With glimmering eyes she said, "I think so!"
"That's good. Then, I'll teach you and you will master it today!" he said with a grin and closed eyes on his face.
"...What?" Luna let out the word dumbfounded as she swallowed her saliva.