13 — Pult's Training

He puffs as the sixth day of the second week of training comes to an end. His knees fall to the ground as his eyes gaze at his ring, the light from it all but faded. Lorelai kneels next to him, patching up the cuts and nicks on his body.

"I'm thinking we should've used wooden swords instead of real ones." Joezand says as Lorelai wraps his bruised forearm.

"You did so well on your first day that I didn't think we'd need them." Lorelai sighs. "But you seem less responsive now that we're studying more advanced techniques. Or maybe the fatigue is getting to you. Anyway, it's looking like you're having trouble with your progress."

She doesn't know that he actually is getting stronger, but the ring's power fading is making him weaker at a faster rate. He'll probably catch up to how he was in the beginning in a week or so, but still... There's no way he beats Pult without Sunnaria's power.

"Maybe a change in routine is in order?" Joezand suggests. "I mean, if this one's not working..."

"We don't have a lot of time. The only change that'd make sense would be increasing the hours, or maybe not having a rest day at all. But both of these wouldn't be productive." She says. "Honestly, with the way things are going... The only chance we seem to have is Pult not taking the duel that seriously. Which is impossible, because he takes everything way too seriously. For as long as I knew him, I never saw him laugh. Only sardonically chuckle."

"Tomorrow we'll go to the church of Sunnaria in the morning, right?" Joezand asks. "Then after that, I'll have to read the mountain of books Agatha wants me to read."

"You could ask Cecilia for help." Lorelai says, and Joezand winces when he hears that name. "She loved reading for you when you were a kid. You two could bond—"

"NO!" He says, a little louder than he wanted. "I mean, n-no. We don't need any bonding. It's fine."

"Uhm... Sure." Lorelai raises her eyebrows, but doesn't press the issue further. "Anyway, we are just about done for the day. What do you say we wrap this up here?"

"I guess that would be fine." He says, as he looks towards the entrance of the training grounds. A figure approaches slowly.

Pult.

He was walking towards the dummies, holding his helmet in one hand and a thin but incredibly long greatsword on the other, supporting its weight on his shoulder pad. While Joezand's rapier is made to be used in one hand, and Lorelai's longsword can be wielded with one or two... Pult's sword was definitely a two-hander. With him being taller and his limbs bigger, Joezand just realized in how big of a disadvantage he's in. Pult's not only way more experienced, he also has so much more range.

"You two were training?" Pult said as he looked over Joezand. His eyes roams over all the patched-up cuts on his body. "Hm. So you are taking this seriously after all."

"Glad you noticed." Joezand says, getting up and stretching his arms. "There's still time to surrender, y'know."

"I'll politely decline, Prince Joezand." He says, removing the top part of his armor. As it falls to the ground with a loud clank, he realizes that Pult's way more muscular than he thought. The shirt clings to the curves of his biceps and pectorals. "If you do improve enough to beat me, I'll let you savor it. It feels good earning something with your own hard work. That'll be the first time you feel such an euphoria."

"Is there anything you say that isn't back-handed?" Joezand grumbles.

"Pult, please." Lorelai says. "You should know how unfair this whole situation is. Prince Joezand is basically back to square one, and he's only got a fortnight left to catch up. He made some great progress in these last two weeks, but—"

"I had nothing to do with the idea of a duel, nor the time allowed for training, or the person he would be dueling." Pult spits out. "Really, Lorelai. You're starting to piss me off, acting like I had a hand in any of this. You want to know why you are pleading to me? It's because you're too afraid to talk to the Emperor yourself. So you keep pestering me about it in hopes that I go do the dirty work for you."

"What? You disrespectful little..." Lorelai groans. "I have been serving the Emperor since you were a child! I was fighting wars while you were eating dirt and playing tag! You think I'm afraid?"

"Then go ask him for an extension." Pult shrugs. "Nothing's stopping you, right? You can even ask for him to change who Joezand's dueling. Why haven't you done it yet? Since it's so obviously unfair."

"That's none of your business!" Lorelai screams. She picks up her sword and starts walking away in long steps. "We're done for today, Joezand. I'll go ask the king for an extension."

Only Lorelai's angry steps are audible in the training grounds, slowly getting softer as she gets away, giving way to silence. Pult quietly sets up a training dummy and starts practicing some maneuvers, doing so with pretty considerable speed. Of course, his sword is too big for him to be as fast as Joezand can be with his ring charged, but it's still impressive.

"So, uh..." Joezand says, scratching his neck. "Why did you decide to be a knight?"

"Money." Pult answers matter-of-factly.

"Cool."

He has no idea what to say to him. The knights seem to mirror who they serve. Lorelai seems looser just like Thaddius, while Pult is uptight like Agatha. So he has no idea how to have a conversation with the knight. Pult also kind of hates him, so that's a big thing stopping their communication. So Joezand just watches the knight train while the sun sets on the horizon.

— — —

"Phew." Pult exhales after finishing his routine, fanning himself. He side-eyes Joezand sitting there, before wiping his forehead with his arm.

"Oh, don't mind me. I was just studying my opponent." Joezand says. "Surely that's fine, right?"

"It is. It's the expected move in a duel, actually. I just didn't think you were smart enough to do it." Pult says. "I'll not try to change my style up in our match, then. To reward you for staying here late instead of going to rest."

"I really don't get you." Joezand says. "I don't know if you want me to win or not."

"I told you. I want you to earn something for the first time in your life." Pult says. "I'll give it my all with the tactics I know. That's how the fight will go. If you're smart, you'll have a chance."

"Hmm, is that so?" Joezand says. "Do you really want that? Or is that what Agatha wants?"

"What she wants is what I want. I am her loyal servant, after all."

"And is there not a single part of you who kind of wants to 'put me in my place' after I caused you so much stress in the past?"

"Who knows?" Pult says, a smirk slightly forming at the corner of his mouth. "I guess we'll have to wait and see, Prince Joezand." He puts his armor back on.

"Tch, I knew it." Joezand gets up, and starts walking away. "Well, I have a full day tomorrow. See ya, Pult."

Pult doesn't answer, watching as Joezand exits the training grounds.