A Better Life....

(Several weeks have passed since Lucan and Amelia got engaged and Lucan was stirring awake before dawn as he sat up and yawned as he looked over at Amelia peacefully sleeping as he leaned over and kissed her on the forehead before getting up and splashing water from a water bowl on his face and putting on clothes and grabbing his sword and going on a jog to the training grounds as he arrives to Alaric waiting with practice swords.)
Alaric: "About time."
Lucan: "Sorry old man, didn't mean to leave you waiting. I know time is important in old age." (Alaric smirked as he tossed Lucan one of the wooden swords as he and Lucan started to practice as Lucan has severely improved from before as someone walks up talking and distracts him resulting in him getting hit.)
Xylos: "Look at the Buffoon, He can actually wield a sword now. So what's the word lover boy? I haven't seen you in some time."
Lucan: "Xylos you costed me a point and now this old fart is going to hold it over my head, despite that it is good to see you friend how have you been?"
Xylos: "Very well, since the Vane's so kindly granted me some gold to get off the ground I am now going into the trading business and starting my own."
Lucan: "So quickly?"
Xylos: "With my years of experience kid you can do anything." (Lucan stabbed the wooden sword in the grass as him and Xylos sat on a hill as Alaric was conversing with a guard as Xylos turns to him.)

Xylos: "You look happy, I didn't think it was possible."
Lucan: "What is that suppose to mean?"
Xylos: "You always looked miserable, carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders when you didn't have too. Always the macho tough guy that couldn't get hurt or allow anyone to help him."
Lucan: "Amelia being in my life has changed me, I don't see the world as so dark anymore it's fun and amazing. I truly want to make something of this Xylos and I believe I am ready."
Xylos: "No ones ever ready kid, but I knew your father and I can say he'd be proud of you." (Lucan looked at Xylos as Xylos shook his head and stood up dusting off his clothes before starting to walk off.)
Xylos: "Don't forget to not be a stranger and stop by sometime, "King Lucan.""
(Lucan Rolled his eyes as he stood up and pulled the sword out of the ground as he rejoined Alaric for the rest of their training session as it rolled into the mid morning.)

Lucan: "You're pretty good for an old guy you know that?"
Alaric: "You're pretty good for a big oaf, if you think I'm so old you wanna race back to the castle?"
Lucan: "Oh you're on old man, give me a second and we can go-" (Alaric took off sprinting back towards the castle as Lucan shook his head and quickly took off after him with Alaric already having a few yard head start as Lucan slowly began to close the gap as the castle approached before he finally surpassed Alaric going through the gate as they make it to the entrance of the castle and both stop as they are huffing and puffing.)
Alaric: "Almost had you."
Lucan: "In your dreams old man."
???: "So this is what our Lord Commander and Lord Constable are up to on this fine morning, how very interesting." (Lucan and Alaric look up as Alaric's wife Emi Vane and Amelia come walking out shaking their heads at them as Emi walks up to Alaric and Amelia to Lucan.)
Amelia: "Are you giving my Brother a hard time Lucan?"
Lucan: "No more then usual my love."
Emi: "Alaric are you challenging this young man to challenges you know that you can't win just to rile him up?"
Alaric: "No Dear its just hard for me to admit when I'm beaten."
Lucan: "So you do admit that I won, HA!" (Amelia slaps Lucan on the arm playfully as he pretends to flinch and shuts up.)
Amelia: "Come on lets go get you washed up, you got duties to attend too."
Emi: "Same for you "Sir Alaric.""
Amelia: "Two of the most powerful men in this country acting like mere children, imagine if the people saw this. They'd think we are doomed."
Lucan: "Hey at least we aren't tyrants on a power trip, we could be cruel to the people."
Alaric: "Very true Lord Constable, I believe our light hearted natures empower the people." (Amelia and Emi usher the two along as they break off in different directions as Amelia forces Lucan into a bath where he bathes and gets dressed in his regular clothes as he enters their room.)

Amelia: "That is much better, clean and proper. Except for that unruly long hair."
Lucan: "I like my long hair, it makes me who I am."
Amelia: "I never said I didn't like it, just that its unruly." (Lucan sat at his desk as he picked up a ink pen and began to do paperwork as Amelia came over and stood behind him brushing his hair.)
Amelia: "You ever think that we became to close too soon?"
Lucan: "What do you mean?"
Amelia: "I mean you saved me and I pretty much fell in love with you immediately."
Lucan: "I tend to have that affect on people." (Amelia smacked Lucan on the top of his head.)
Lucan: "I'm kidding but no I don't think we became close too quickly, Love doesn't have a pace its not a horse race. It can be a long gallop or a short sprint, its not up to everyone else or the universe only us." (Amelia set down the brush as she wrapped her arms around Lucan's neck as he patted her arm as she rested her head on his.)
Amelia: "How do you always know what to say?"
Lucan: "I don't, I just say what comes to mind." (a Knock came at the door as Amelia walked to open it as it was Julian the Younger brother of Amelia and Prince of Sanguis Oros.)
Amelia: "What a surprise! What brings you to see us Julian?"
Julian: "I came to talk to Lucan actually."
Amelia: "Oh of course." (Amelia stepped aside as Julian walked in and stood in front of Lucan's desk as he finished a paper and set his ink pen down and looked up at him.)

Lucan: "What can I do for you Julian?"
Julian: "Do you mind if we step onto the balcony to talk man to man?"
Lucan: "Oh of course." (Lucan grabbed a small box as he opened the door to the balcony and Julian nodded his head as Lucan followed him and closed it as he leaned against the railing setting down the box and pulling out a pipe as he stuffed it with tobacco and lit a small fire on his finger to light it as he took a big puff.)
Lucan: "So what do you need to talk about? Also how come you chose me instead of your elder brother?"
Julian: "I don't think my siblings or parents would approve of what I want to do, they all want me to sit back and live my youth out as a Diplomat of the country but I'm tired of it."
Lucan: "What do you mean Julian?"
Julian: "I want to become a knight, to practice and train with the sword and protect the kingdom. I don't know where to start and my family won't approve of it."
Lucan: "I see.... and you believe that I can help you with that? I'm not Lord Commander, that is your brothers title." (Lucan took a puff of the pipe as he exhaled the smoke and looked at Julian.)
Julian: "You're Lord Constable of the Knights Guard, I believe if I can become a Guard and do a good job then my family will approve of me joining the army."
Lucan: "I see, but you do know that you're over qualified in every field except combat to be a regular guard right?"
Julian: "I understand that but I do not care." (Lucan tapped his pipe as the ash fell out and he pulled out a topper to snuff it as he placed it back into the box.)
Lucan: "Ok, I'll give you a trial run as my High Seneschal, I've been looking for one. You'll be in charge of budgets, supply lines and morale among the guards."
Julian: "Thank you Lucan! You won't regret this."
Lucan: "Doubtful." (Julian took off with a pep in his step as he disappeared from their room after saying goodbye to Amelia as Lucan returned and sat at his desk.)

Amelia: "What was that all about?" (Amelia walked over from sitting on a bench and reading a book as she sat on the arm of Lucan's chair as he sat back with her grabbing his hand in hers.)
Lucan: "Trouble."
Amelia: "What type?"
Lucan: "The Bad type, What I did will probably come back to haunt me. But it made your brother happy and it could have a chance to work out, a small one but its there."
Amelia: "I believe if anyone can figure it out then it'd be you Lucan. Don't underestimate yourself even if you are still new to all of this." (Amelia looked down as they met eyes and they shared a short and soft kiss as Lucan stood and grabbed his sword as he looked at Amelia.)
Lucan: "Please excuse me Amelia, I must got check on the guards and get the report."
Amelia: "Of course Dear, don't let me stop you from your duties." (Lucan smiled as he opened the door and began his way down the halls as he found his way out of the castle but not before running into King Cassian.)
King Cassian: "Hello lad how are you on this fine day?"
Lucan: "I'm good Your Majesty and yes it is quite a nice day today." (Cassian patted Lucan on the shoulder and gave a small chuckle.)
King Cassian: "Lad no more formal greetings, you are my daughters husband to be and soon to be the King. Please call my Cassian"
Lucan: "It's an honor sir, I'm glad that we could become closer in these times."
King Cassian: "You're a good kid and I'm glad you're not just marrying my daughter because I asked you to, I want her to be happy."
Lucan: "I'll make sure that happens sir, she will be the happiest woman alive."
King Cassian: "Good, now onto the matter of Julian I heard you gave him a job as High Seneschal. I am not sure how to feel about this."
Lucan: "Yes sir I did and I know how you and the rest of the family feels about him being in a position that can put him at risk. Please know that I will watch him close and make sure he is in no real danger as well as personally train him in the way of the sword."
(King Cassian Sighed as he patted Lucan on the shoulder and extended his hand as Lucan took it and shook it.)

King Cassian: "I'm not sure I'd say ok if it was anyone else but I have a strong feeling that he will be in good hands with you. Make sure to watch him close."
Lucan: "Yes sir you won't regret giving him this chance." (Cassian smiled as he walked off back towards his chambers as Lucan exhaled and continued on his way to meet with the Knight-Commander of the guard and get the report of the previous day as he arrived and conversed with him before heading back to his office.)
Lucan (Thinking): "I can't imagine the amount of work I'll have as King if my work as Lord Constable is any prelude then I'll never leave my office." (Lucan looked around but did not see Amelia as he sat down at his desk and began to go over the report as he quickly finished it up and looked at the time as he realized he was late for his Magic training as he took off and eventually made his way to the same training ground he was at with Alaric earlier in the day as a female mage with golden hair wearing normal clothes was waiting for him tapping her foot.)
Kaelith: "You're late Lord Lucan."
Lucan: "My Apologies Kaelith, I lost time doing paperwork its got me swamped."
Kaelith: "Whatever lets get to work, we are going to work on your light magic side today. Specifically conjuring and using it to boost your power as well as mastering some basic spells." (She tossed Lucan a spell book that held basic spells anyone can learn from novice level all the way to elite status as Lucan flipped through it and landed on one later into the book as he pointed at it.)
Lucan: "I want to learn this one."
Kaelith: "No offense my lord but that is Warp, that is a Master Level Mage spell. I do not believe you will be able to learn it so easily."
Lucan: "Can't know till I try right?"
Kaelith: "As you wish, I don't have mastery over it myself but From what it says here all you have to do is focus your magic power and focus it into your entire body but especially your eyes and you will warp to the place you are looking, it has a 20 foot radius but can be done as many times as your mana reserves allow-" (She looked up as Lucan had disappeared and she looked behind her as he was now standing behind her when suddenly she went to speak and he suddenly was surrounded by golden light and then gone the next as he was back in his original spot.)

Lucan: "Pretty easy." (Kaelith's mouth dropped open as she stared at Lucan in disbelief.)
Kaelith: "DID YOU JUST MASTER SUCH A HIGH LEVEL SPELL IN ONE GO?!"
Lucan: "Is that rare?"
Kaelith: "Nearly impossible sir."
Lucan: "Nice." (Lucan grabbed the spell book and spotted another that he was interested learning as he raised his hand and without chanting suddenly a massive blade of light appeared in the air as it began to crack and spin at high velocity as it was above a dummy and Lucan shouted out its command to release it.)
Lucan: "LIGHT MAGIC: DIVINE ARC DRILL!" (The sword shot down at high speeds as it bore through the dummy and into the ground before vanishing in an explosion as Kaelith was left speechless as Lucan then placed the book down and casted another spell.)
Lucan: "Light Magic: Divine Boots of swiftness." (Boots constructed of light appeared on his feet as he quickly jumped around even jumping off the air at unbelievable speeds as he then did a backflip and came to a stop as they vanished.)
Lucan: "One more and I'll call it a day." (Lucan chose one more spell but this spell he chose he could not practice as he memorized it and closed the book.)
Kaelith: "What was the final spell?"
Lucan: "Lets hope we never find out, take care Kaelith. See you tomorrow." (Lucan walked off as he waved and Kaelith shook her head as she packed up and took off for the Magic Divisions headquarters as Lucan eventually made it back to the castle as it was dark outside the training grounds and he made his way back up to his room and he quietly opened the door and snuck in as he saw Amelia had fallen asleep on their bed after she had returned and he sat on the bed as he stroked her face before hearing a noise outside as he went to investigate before opening the balcony door to nothing as he dropped his guard and turned to go back in he was hit in the head and blacked out as his body hit the ground and a shadowy figured jumped down from the roof above the door.)