Nestled within the fortified heart of the castle's bastion, the knight's training ground is a sprawling expanse of stone, sand, and steel. High stone walls, draped with banners bearing the kingdom's crest, encircle the grounds, shielding them from the outside world and echoing with the clang of steel on steel.
The central yard is a field of churned earth and trampled grass, where seasoned knights spar beneath the watchful gaze of stern instructors clad in polished plate. Wooden training dummies, splintered from countless strikes, stand lined in a row, some charred from blunted magical force.
Archery butts line one wall, where arrows hum through the air with deadly precision, and mounted knights charge at rings and quintains on a dedicated riding track to hone their cavalry skills.
[Reika] Listen up, you grunts! Everyone in formation, eyes forward and backs straight!
In mere moments, rows of fully armored knights stand tall in an ordered formation before their captain. Among them, a tall, muscular knight with shining armor stands in front. His already rugged face is enhanced by multiple scars along his cheeks and jaw.
[Vice-Captain] Ma'am, everyone is accounted for. We only wait for your instructions.
[Reika] Good, I have a few announcements before we begin training today.
At her words, the Vice-Captain, as well as most of the other knights, can't help but to wonder why a child is standing next to the captain during their military's private training.
[Reika] First order of business, as many of you can see, we have a guest today! This is my son, Sakyo! Until further notice, he will participate in our training regimen!
Murmurs erupt out of every soldier at the preposterous announcement.
[Knight 1] A child?! Joining our training?!
[Knight 2] Is she serious? We barely survive this. How the hell is a kid supposed to?
[Knight 3] Guess this kids another one with a silver spoon in his mouth.
[Reika] SILENCE!!!
With just one word, every knight's voice fades into the wind. Their bodies not still anymore as they can only tremble under the pressure of their captain's fiery presence. Through the deafening silence, only one man was able to speak up.
[Vice-Captain] C-captain, if I may be so bold, I do not believe it is wise to allow a child to join the knight's training.
[Reika] I am aware of the risks, but this is a decision I made after careful consideration.
Despite their reservations about the current situation, the knight's know better than to go against the orders of their captain.
[Reika] Now, we will begin our training! We'll start with a light warm-up, everyone will do fifty laps around the training grounds!
[Sakyo] F-fifty laps?!
[Reika] Hmm, what's wrong? Has the thought of fifty laps already diminished your spirit?
[Sakyo] N-no, not at all.
[Reika] Good, now everyone! What are you all waiting for, a kiss on the cheek or a kick in the ass? Get running!
At her orders, everyone begins running around the training yard.
…
[Sakyo] huff huff huff This is torture…
No wonder everyone says this training is hell. I can't believe this is what she considers a "light warm-up." My legs feel like they're gonna crumble to dust. Everyone's already finished with their fifty laps, but I'm barely started with my twentieth lap.
[Reika] Something wrong? You're way behind.
[Sakyo] I'm huff fine… (Did she run this backwards?)
[Reika] All right, but we won't wait for you. If you fall behind, you get left behind. Everyone, we'll continue to out training! Sakyo will spend the day finishing his laps!
[Knight 1] Poor kid.
[Knight 2] Hopefully, this'll teach him to try using his connections for everything.
[Knight 3] I remember when we were like that.
[Reika] Hey, ladies! You can gossip or you can train, or do I need to sing you a lullaby for your nap? MOVE!!
[Sakyo] (She really is a drill sergeant from hell…)
...
Hours had passed, and the sun begins to set.
[Reika] That's it for today's training! I suppose you all displayed adequate results, so congratulations. You're free for the rest of the day.
The captain walks towards her son, his body dragging across the ground as he finally finishes his fiftieth lap around the training ground.
[Knight 1] Finally, I'm gonna need a week of sleep to recover from this.
[Knight 2] Tell me about it, but it felt like she went easier on us than usual.
[Knight 3] Maybe cause the kid was here.
Just then, a cooling air blows over all the knights as a light snow falls from a small cloud above them.
[Vice-Captain] Now now, everyone, you all survived another day. Just be glad that brat took some of the captain's attention away from all of you.
[Knight 1] Thanks, Vice-Captain. We'd all be dead if it weren't for your ice magic.
[Knight 2] Are you gonna stay to help the kid too?
[Vice-Captain] No, I won't waste my time on a brat who won't even be here tomorrow.
[Knight 3] Still, I can't believe he actually did the whole fifty laps. Most newbies don't even make it that far. If nothing else, he's got some tenacity.
[Vice-Captain] Maybe he does, but if he can't finish this much, he'll never survive our training. It's better for brats like that to get crushed before they get everyone killed.
As the last of the knights walk away, the captain sits next to her exhausted son, collapsed on the ground.
[Reika] Congratulations, you finished your fifty laps.
[Sakyo] weakly Yay...
[Reika] Do you realize now why I didn't want you to join this training?
[Sakyo] Yeah, this is hell...
[Reika] Good, I'm glad you finally see it.
Acting not as the knight captain, but a mother, Reika picks up her son, giving him a piggyback ride out of the training grounds.
[Reika] No one will blame you for quitting after today. You may have only done the laps, but you showed your spirit. You can be proud of that.
[Sakyo] No... I'm not quitting.
Sakyo feels a sudden jolt as his mother stops walking suddenly.
[Reika] Why? You don't have to prove anything to anyone.
[Sakyo] Maybe I don't, but I'm not giving up. I want to get stronger and figure out what my Bloodline Ability is. Even if I never figure it out, I'll need to at least become strong enough on my own. That's why I won't give up. I'll keep pushing myself as far as I need to.
[Reika] Honestly, you're such a stubborn kid.
[Sakyo] Of course, I'm your son after all.
[Reika] Yeah yeah, smartass.... You did good, but I'm still your mother. I'll never stop worrying about you. No matter what happens, you're my baby boy, my Sakyo.
Her sincerity is met by loud snoring as Sakyo already fell asleep, his exhaustion finally catching up with him.
[Reika] Jeez, you could've at least stayed awake to hear that... I love you, but you're really a handful sometimes. Stubborn, prideful, pigheaded... Honestly, you really did get the worst parts of us...
Despite her words, Reika can't stop a smile full of pride from forming on her face.