Blaine, The Young Heir of Caldfell

Celia, the princess of Caldfell giggles at the scene in front of her, her pastel blue and gold dress, bunching up as holds onto it tightly entranced by the fighting. Her brother, the prince. Dressed in a slightly darker pastel blue suit with golden accents and a gold and white cape attached over his shoulders. Standing up abruptly, his gaze is drawn towards Joshua; the youngest of Roderic. He had continued reading instead of paying attention to his siblings. Turning to his mother he questions. “Mother, may I go speak to him?”

Her voice, cold, calculated, but still caring, replies promptly. “You may, but please be careful. While I trust Roderic, I'm hesitant to trust everyone here. You know how people are, my son.”

“Thank you, mother.” Blaine waves his hand as he runs off, leaving a bit of his decorum behind in his excitement. Celia turns around, watching him race off. “What?”

—-----------------------

Reading the page's explanation of the proper forms technique Joshua mumbles aloud to himself. “So instead of leveraging my right side I’d have to utilize my left. Also, it says specifically to not amp your movements with aura. Interesting.”

“Young master Joshua, it seems you have a visitor. You may wish to greet him properly.” Gideon informs him.

Looking up he sees Blaine approaching as he waves Gideon off. “No need for that, he’s still a child himself.” Draxis dumbfoundedly sighs. “So are you kid…”

Standing up himself the Prince of Caldfell, stands slightly taller than himself. “Hello there, I’m Blaine. Nice to meet you.” The blond-haired boy reaches his hand out with a smile.

Taking his hand with a polite and firm grip, he shakes it. “I’m Joshua, nice to meet you as well Blaine. How can I help you?”

Joshua closes the book in his left hand, before tucking it into his blazers inside pocket. Its bookmark, faintly peeking through from the page he was in the middle of reading.

Blaine, forgetting his tact, speaks the words on his mind. “You’ve got this aura around you that just drew me in.”

“?” Joshua gives him a weird look.

Blaine recognizes he messed up with his words again and face palms. “My bad Joshua, I’m not the best at conversations. I normally don’t get to interact with anyone but my sister and my mother.”

Getting the social cue, Joshua waves Blaine towards the forest path nearby. “It’s gotten a bit loud over here, walk with me.” Joshua motions with his head and Blaine nods his own as the two of them start walking the path that led towards that memorial shrine.

Blaine cheerfully smiles, letting Joshua take the lead while Saria follows the two of them silently from a distance. Performing her duties to a T.

“So, what were you reading?” Blaine curiously asks about the book he saw Joshua entrenched into.

“It’s a book about swordsmanship, are you interested in it?” Joshua replies calmly, still probing the blond-haired boy.

Blaine’s voice raises with a hint of excitement. “Very much so, but being in line for the throne they don’t want me to be in danger. The closest I get to practicing with a sword is my imagination. And wooden ones if I can successfully sneak one out of our knights training rooms.” Joshua thinks back to his past, but nothing relatable comes to mind on this topic.

“Just be nice and talk to him, they’re a neutral party after all. Can’t go wrong gathering allies like this. You’ll need them.” Draxis comments on Joshua hesitant replies.

Joshua lets out a sigh and smiles. “While I can’t relate to that in particular, since all of my siblings and I are expected to be put in danger and overcome it. I can understand someone being overprotective.”

Blaine looks down in thought, a soft smile stretching across her face. “Mother is such a worrywart; Especially since father fell ill. It’s taken a toll on her mental health. I mean it took a lot of convincing from me and my sister to even get her to come here.our court mage was heavily against the idea. I’m glad though, I’ve gotten sick of the same routine every day.”

“It is nice to have a change of pace sometimes ain’t it.” Joshua grins as the two boys continue walking around oblivious to the shadows bouncing around the forested area around them. Draxis feels their presence as they are quickly snuffed out. Leaving the topic be, he remains quiet.

“I heard you mentioned knights, does the royal family have a proper knighthood? There used to be one here at the main estate when my father was still young. But between his father and the overseers, they decided that it wasn’t the most efficient way of training soldiers so they went with more modern methods.” Joshua asks, trying to redirect the conversation.

“We do; and I understand that point. My father thought of something similar but was shut down by Fallion. When running a nigh absolute monarchy, power and influence over one's vassals are necessary. I agree with that mentality, but I’d prefer a more relaxed court.” Blaine’s gaze drops as Joshua interrupts.

His question slips through his tongue without restrain. “Who’s Fallion?”

Oh like I said, we also have a residential mage. That's who he is. He’s a younger high elf hybrid with silverish skin.” Joshua’s eyes widen, having missed its mention somehow. “Mage?”

“Oh yeah, I don’t know if you knew this, but the Caldfell royal family is a neutral territory. From what father used to tell me we trade with both you guys and the Zephyr clan.” Joshua’s eyes narrow, that not matching the history he’s familiar with.

Joshua narrows his eyes in concern. “Thats not what I’ve heard. I’ve been told that the royal family has always been an ally of Terra and have also had sparse meetings with the Zephyr for the sake of appearances. And from the history I’ve learned, the residential mage never had any say on political decisions. That just seems like a bad idea. Those people are usually evil.”

“I know what you mean, I thought it was weird when I asked my tutors. They said apparently my father years ago had a problem and the court mage solved it so well that he made him his personal advisor.” Joshua’s mouth is left agape. “That sounds like the dumbest thing i’ve heard all day… No offense.”

Blaine chuckles, scratching his neck. “None taken, He’s said the same about you Terra guys. That you’re all bad people and only care about yourselves.” Blaine laughs at Joshua's reaction. Joshua pauses trying to think about how far the Zephyr clan’s influence reached.

“Well that thought process isn’t wrong, many of our clan are extremely selfish, but father and some of us children alongside many of the overseers truly want what's best for the entire population.”

Blaine nods his head. “I figured it was more nuanced. No one group is whole heartedly evil.” Joshua rolls his eyes as his brain forces him to speak. “Demons.” Blaine doesn’t hear him and continues onto the next topic in his head.

“Personally, I think they’re a bit eccentric and weird. Ie mages. Fallion spends most of his days up in his tower tinkering and experimenting. He mainly comes down for meetings or if he is summoned to help with other issues. Mana is helpful for a multitude of things. Especially in a land that has more natural mana.” Blaine’s mind drifts off to the younger man wearing purple robes with a gold and cyan trim alongside a black scarf that he always wears around his neck.”

“That's fair. I guess. Do you know if there were any ulterior motives for coming here?” Joshua questions curiously, not worrying about his own decorum..

“Honestly, I don’t think so. Mother just said that we established relations hundreds of years ago and so we maintain the connection. Her advisor is a long time family friend who was knighted years ago.” Blaine's mind pauses while Joshua silently nods. Clasping his hands together, before reaching forward with his right index finger, he excitedly remembers why they came here. “Now I remember. Thanks for jogging my memory. I believe I remember mother speaking to Celia about how we get a bunch of raw resources from your clan while the zephyr’s supply more magically engineered technology. Through Fallion”

“I see. So y’all came to make a business proposition. Fair enough. I guess being an foreign water locked kingdom has its benefits. No direct competition or competing kingdoms.” Joshua chuckles, a grin on his face.

“Sure, but I wish I had more freedom to explore. Being cramped up in a manor all day and having to attend ‘training sessions’ for manners and etiquette is dreadful.” Blaine sighs, his gaze lowering towards the ground.

His words strike Joshua the wrong way, as the youngest stops in his tracks and turns to the prince with fervor in his voice. “It’s better to be wealthy and safe than live in the slums and fight for every single scrap you can muster. Fighting day in and day out isn’t a way to live a fulfilling life.”

Realizing he struck a nerve, Blaine profusely apologizes waving his hands around before bowing. “I’m sorry if my words got under your skin, I just don’t have anyone to vent to at home. Sister spends all her time with mother and the knights while I’m being groomed to take my father’s place.”

Taking a deep breath Joshua apologizes himself, walking forward and lifting Blaine from his bowed state. “No need to apologize, it’s just a sore topic.” Flipping his hair, Joshua turns away and looks toward the trees stoically. “Unless you’re strong and or benefiting the clan in some way, being in the succession battle is harsh.”

“Are you actually trying to win even though you’re the youngest?” Blaine questions with genuine curiosity.

Joshua's eyes glisten with a red glow as he turns back to him. “I will become the patriarch; age is irrelevant as the clan head decides who will succeed him. I’ll prove to my father I’m the only one who is qualified.” Clenching his fist together he pulls it close to his chest before dropping his arm back to his side.

“Well then I suppose you’ll need some allies for that.” Blaine smiles cheerfully as he offers his hand once more.

Slightly doubtful of Blaine’s intentions, Joshua takes his hand. “If you're offering me your assistance, I won’t deny it. But aren’t you supposed to remain neutral?”

The cape over his shoulders, resting with their golden epaulets sway with the wind as he thrusts his hands forward with passion. “Only when I become king, but that's probably a few years out. Until then, the prince of Caldfell will stand by your side. Joshua Von Terra.” Blaine looks down and closes his eyes. “After all, if assisting you allows me to see more of the world, then I’d say it’s worth it.”

“Why me?” Joshua questions.

“Like I said earlier. When I saw you, I was drawn in like a moth to a flame. There's just something about you that makes me trust you.” Joshua smirks, taking his hand into his own once more.

“Creepy.” Draxis comments in Joshua’s mind.

“I mean thanks, I guess all I can do is try my best and not let you down.” Joshua rubs the back of his neck while smiling sheepishly.

The two of them spend a bit of time in the flora continuing to chat about their particular circumstances as they eventually head back to the arena. Unknown to the pair, the bodies of six mysterious individuals dressed in black and purple robes were left sprawled out in the forestry, their throats slit and eyes blinded.

As the two boys make their way back to the arena, Wilhelm is left lying on the ground completely exhausted as Vilhelm collapses to one knee, his eyes glowing a brilliant blue hue. Blaine waves to Joshua, saying that they’ll talk later as they’ll be staying in their manor for a few days. Joshua nods his head.

—-----------------------------------

“The winner of this sparring match is Vilhelm Von Terra.” The patriarch calls out, throwing his right arm into the air. His overcoat, flaring from the sudden movement. Vilhelm, whilst exhausted, stands back to his feet walking over to help his brother back to his feet. Reaching his hand out, Wilhelm takes it.

“I didn’t realize you had that in you Wil, If I hadn’t taken Joshua’s advice seriously, I would have been screwed.” Vilhelm lets out an exhausted sigh as he helps pull his twin back to his feet.

Tired, but proud of themselves, they chuckle aloud as the two of them make their way back to their seats. As this happens, however, the high overseer makes his way around the arena and whispers into the patriarch's ear.

“Roderic sir, intruders tried to breach our barricades but were taken care of swiftly by Sa…”

“That’s enough, thank you for informing me. I guess I’ll have to push forward the match between Roxanne and Joshua. I was hoping to have overseers Raphael and Kurelis fight as well.”

Raising his voice once again everyone goes silent. “Due to unforeseen circumstances, the main match will be pushed forward. I’m sure you’re all interested to see how well the self-made captain of Blackwood compares to the rest of his siblings.” A hint of jubilance rests in his last words.

Joshua’s eyes widen alongside the twins as their father blatantly exposes his efforts to the crowd of people causing the overseers to keep Joshua in mind for later.

“Come on up my youngest, you too Roxanne. It's time to show everyone what you’ve learned and how you’ve grown since Blackwood.” The patriarch bellows with pride, excited to show off the growth of his youngest.

Joshua takes a deep breath as he stands up confidently as he can and makes his way through the gate to the arena. As he steps onto the dirt ground, he begins stretching his muscles and cracks his neck as he steps forward, his blade still sheathed.

“Good luck kid. Don’t forget what you’ve learned. You're not the same man you used to be. Show her what I've taught you and your true potential.”

“Thanks, Draxis.” With a proud smile, Joshua mumbles to his master as he clenches his fists.