Eloria advanced in front of Draven and said:
"So, Sir Draven, will you tell me if you met this child, yes or no?" She said in a threatening tone, while forcing a smile.
Draven stared at her intensely, his gaze impassive.
"Maybe yes, or maybe not... I don't remember it very well. My memory plays tricks on me, sorry," he replied with a smile pretending ignorance.
Eloria remained silent at his answer, looking him straight in the eye, her expression becoming more serious.
"This is not a very chivalrous answer, Commander Draven. If you met this child, you could have simply told me where he is. Unless you have something to hide from me, commander? "
Draven stroked his chin, pretending to think.
"Probably... I can say that I met a child who corresponds to your description, commander, but..."
He paused, then added with a slight hypocritical smile:
"The disadvantage is that this child hit me in the eye. And I'm seriously thinking about making him my first disciple. "
Eloria widened her eyes slightly, surprised by Draven's attitude.
She remained silent for a moment before resuming, her eyes hardened:
"A disciple? Commander Draven, are you considering stealing an apprentice to our command?" She asked in a colder tone.
"According to what you said earlier, he is not yet an official apprentice of your order. And the fact that he is training with the prince only confirms this hypothesis," said Draven in a calm tone, still straight in his eyes, his smile unchanged.
Eloria was slightly surprised to learn that the boy recommended by Daniel was training with the prince, considered the most talented of the royal family.
She replied with a smile:
"Even if that's the case, Sir Draven... I don't understand why you would want to take a disciple now? " she said, with a serious voice.
The knight shrugged his shoulders, crossing his arms with a falsely detached air.
"I think the time has come. And this child... he has a particular look. The kind of look you don't meet twice. I can't let him pass. "
A tense silence settled. The passing servants slowed down their steps, feeling the tension in the air.
Eloria toomed a step closer, until there was only a breath left between them.
"Oh, so that's it," she whispered.
"Commander, I respect you, but I'm sorry: I can't leave you this child. He was under the protection of one of our knights until now," she said in an icy tone.
Draven sketched a cold smile.
"Even if that's the case... I'm sorry, but if you want to get it back, you'll have to go over it. "
The silence was of ice.
As they stared intensely, Eloria breathed lightly, then said:
"Since we both want to train this boy because of his potential... I offer you a little challenge. "
Draven raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"I'm listening to you. "
Eloria raised a finger, a corner smile.
"Let's face each other during the Ardéal of Swords. If you beat me, I'll leave you this child, and I won't get involved anymore. But if I beat you, you will abandon all pretensions about him, and I will personally take care of his training. "
Draven stared at her for a long time... then nodded.
" Okay. If I beat you, commander, you will no longer approach this child, and I will take charge of his training. "
"Deal closed," she replied, extending her hand.
They shook hands, an electrical voltage seeming to cross the air between them.
They looked at each other, each with a hypocritical smile on their lips.
Then Eloria added:
"Let's not forget that after our fight, if the boy chooses one of us of his own free will... we won't be able to do anything about it. "
"Of course. It is his wishes that will come first," Draven calmly replied.
After that, Eloria walked away, and as she turned her heels, she made a gesture of her hand:
"Let's have a good fight, Commander Draven," she said without turning around, a discreet smile on her lips.
Draven watched her walk away in silence.
A few minutes later:
Draven was dozing, leaning against a wall, arms crossed, right in front of the king's office. He seemed lost between waiting and sleep, his head slightly tilted.
Suddenly, the large door opened in a slight squeak.
Arya came out, her boots resounding softly on the marble floor. Seeing Draven half asleep, she stopped sharply, crossed her arms and patted him on the shoulder.
"Hey, it's not really a place to take a nap, you know. Come on, come. We're going to take a ride on the training ground," she said in a calm tone.
They walked side by side in the silent corridors, their steps resounding slightly in the corridor.
"What did you talk about with the king, General? " asked Draven in a calm tone.
"Nothing very serious. Solaris has been making strange movements lately... But the king has already sent Duke Darius to the border. Nothing alarming at the moment," she replied in a measured tone.
They went down the high stairs of the palace, crossed the carefully maintained gardens, and along the training court. The wind made the leaves dance and gently lifted Arya's cape.
On the training ground reserved for the prince, Lucas and Aelrin were sitting side by side on the ledge of a small wall, a water bottle in hand, chatting and laughing together with complicity.
Seeing his aunt, Lucas jumped up, then tilted his head slightly politely.
"Aunt Arya! "
Arya stopped for a moment, watched him in silence, then showed a proud smile. She approached and put an affectionate hand on her head.
"My little nephew, are you okay? It's been a long time... But from what I see, you're training seriously, and you're progressing day by day"
"I'm trying to improve, but I'm still far from strong..." Lucas replied, scratching his neck with a slightly embarrassed smile.
Arya leaned slightly, then whispered in his ear, a small smile on the corner of his lips:
"You know, no need to try to hide it from me, Lucas. I can feel it... I know you've already reached the Twoftera stage. "
Lucas widened his eyes slightly, surprised that she guessed it. He still wanted to keep it a secret.
But Arya straightened up, still smiling:
"I can't wait to start training you, starting next week. "
"Really?! Lucas exclaimed, his eyes shining with enthusiasm.
Arya gently ruffled his hair, her look full of tenderness.
"I hope you will give everything you have. "
"Of course! Lucas replied, his fists clenched, looking more determined than ever.
Arya's gaze then turned to Aelrin, silent next to Lucas. She stared at him for a moment, attentive, then their eyes met.
In the eyes of the young boy, she saw this flame, the raw ambition, the pure determination.
"Lucas... Who is this boy? Are you presenting it to me? She asked in a calm tone.
Lucas turned to Aelrin, then returned to Arya with a sincere smile.
"I present to you Aelrin. He is my friend, but not only... He is the one I chose to be my very first knight. "
Arya raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Lucas' assurance.
"This boy?" She thought.
"What could Lucas see in him?"
She stared at him a little longer.
Draven watched the scene with a discreet smile.
"The prince is already starting to form his own guard... Interesting."
"So, is this your first knight? " said Arya, sighing slightly.
She then crouched in front of Aelrin, and her gaze became softer.
"Nice to meet my nephew's first friend and knight. I hope you fight with all your heart. "
Aelrin straightened up abruptly and bowed deeply:
"I swear to you that I will do everything in my power to be worthy of the prince! "
Arya gently stroked his head, smiling.
"I'm glad to hear that, Aelrin. Do not hesitate to come and see us if you need help. We will always be there for Lucas' friends"
Arya's gesture awakened a distant memory in Aelrin. His cheeks blushed slightly, and he replied in a softer voice:
" Okay..."
Arya straightened up and resumed:
"Come on, kids. We have to go. We will meet again very soon. "
She made a gesture of her hand, then turned her heels, leaving at Draven's side, under the admiring eyes of Lucas and Aelrin, fascinated by the natural aura she gave off.
As they drove away, Arya resumed, the tone calm:
"I don't know what you and Eloria said to you, but if this child was chosen by my nephew to become his first knight... then I hope you find a way to integrate him into our order, or to take him under your wing. It would be a waste to neglect such potential. "
"Don't worry, General. I will take care of it personally," Draven replied calmly.
"Perfect," she concludes with a slight smile.
They continued on their way, joining the carriage that was waiting for them to leave the castle.
One day later — in the north:
About twenty-four hours later, the landscapes had radically changed.
The northern sky, leaded by dark clouds, seemed to weigh on the lands below. The snowy mountains bordered wild expanses: dense forests, plains swept by icy winds, and fortified cities with icy charm.
On the gateway of the Atherion, dominating the skies, the young prince Dayvon observed the panorama, standing near the captain of the airship.
"The North is very different from the center... I'm always surprised, even if it's not my first visit here," he said calmly, his eyes on the horizon.
A discreet smile was born on his lips.
"I think we can deactivate the stealth of the ship," he added, in a calm tone but imbued with a certain malice.
The captain nodded his head, then issued the orders. The crystals hidden on the hull of the ship briefly lit up with a bluish glow before going out, as if a veil had just been lifted.
Suddenly, the Atherion appeared in the northern sky, like a monster of metal and magic, majestic, imposing, accompanied by two secondary ships that split the clouds on its sides. His aura was overwhelming, almost unreal.
On the ramparts of the fortress of Varyndor, the domain of Duke Turner:
A guard yawned while looking at the leaden sky, leaning against the railing.
"Pfff... Always that damn gray sky. We would think that the sun will not return to the North," he growled.
But his eyes suddenly widened. He turns pale, swallows, as if he had just seen a giant monster.
"By all the gods..." he whispered, his voice trembling.
He rubbed his eyes, but the vision remained the same.
Up there, dominating the clouds, the Atherion had just appeared as if by magic, accompanied by two other ships. Its shadow covered the walls, and its imposing presence made the air itself vibrate.
"Tell me I'm dreaming..." he breathed, frozen.
Then he suddenly come to his senses and rushed to the alarm bell.
"Royal ship! The royal ship is here!!" He screamed as the signal sounded throughout the city.
In the Atherion, Dayvon watched the citadel draw through the window.
An amused smile, appeared on his lips.
"I'll finally be able to have some fun..."
TO FOLLOW...