AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I do realize that most other nobles know me as a party going loser – only because I am sure that is how my parents describe me to them – but if they see who I am at the ball, who I can be, then they’ll realize that everyone was wrong about me.
I have several advantages. I know that Prince Carisu is as much of a partygoer as I am. In fact, he throws several lavish parties throughout the year and has an open tab at every pub and tavern in Vhoig.
One of the other advantages I have is that I have received all the same training and schooling that Ocuri has.
I have just never used it, even though I remember most of everything I learned during childhood and adolescence.
Maybe I can become a royal advisor,I think to myself as I wait for my fine clothing to be packed up.Becoming a royal advisor might actually impress Mother and Father. All I need is to show them that I am worthy of their respect. And their love.
I wish I came into town in a carriage.I think this to myself as I balance all the items I have bought in my hands and start the walk home.
I am used to walking, and I am quite fit, but I think I overestimated my abilities to carry heavy clothing and jewelry.
I have not felt this confident about myself in a long while. To my surprise, I can actually envision the future. I have not been able to do that in a long time.
I envision a future where I have moved out of my family’s home and I am living in my own mansion in the High Towns. I am successful as a royal advisor to Prince Carisu, and I have met a dark elf woman to have on my arm.
The vision is so vivid that I can smell the home I am living in. It smells like nimond beans and rirzed herbs.
The vision is so vivid that I can tell that I am happy.
The only thing I cannot see is the face of the dark elf woman I am mated to.
The walk up the hill to my family’s mansion is long, and my arms are straining from the effort by the time I have reached the front doors.
I am still feeling quite confident as I walk in. I can hear my parents somewhere in the house as I make my way up to my quarters.
I have completely forgotten that Ocuri arrived home yesterday, because when I see him in the hallway outside my quarters, I am very surprised.
“O-ocuri,” I want to kick myself for stuttering his name. “You’re here?”
He gives me a snide smile – the only smile he seems to be capable of – and looks me up and down.
“So many packages, brother,” he says in a sing-song voice, and I am not unaware that he is mocking me. “Where are you going with all this?”
I don’t answer him and walk past him. Ocuri laughs loudly, and I realize that his presence here could completely ruin my efforts to prove myself.
Why do I feel like everything is about to go wrong?
5
SALINA
With closed eyes closed, I take a deep breath, silencing the disturbances in my mind. I clench my firsts, slowly restoring my vision as I exhale. Time slows down as I picture the maneuver I’m about to make.
I spring forth like an animal out of a cage, advancing upon a set of target dummies. Each of them have bullseyes on their chests, clawed, scratched, and marked from years of use. Luckily for them, they’re not my target.
Behind them is another dummy. That’s my prey. I envision the face of Ocuri on it, a thought that fuels me to move with swift grace. That gray skinned bastard may have been long gone but the hatred I have for him still lingers.
A mechanism hurls the bodyguard dummies toward me. Held stationery in their arms are wooden swords that move at high speed. I time my movements, waiting for the opportune moment.
When they are mere inches from me, I roll forward onto my hand, angling my body with such precision that I slide between the two dummies without touching them or their mock weapons.
The third dummy jumps toward me. Thinking of it as Ocuri makes for easy work as I jump, this time grabbing the neck of the target as I flip over him in a magnificent display of athleticism. I twist the dummy’s neck mid air, tearing the head clean off.
Landing in a crouched position, I snicker as I drop the head from my hands. Turning around, I marvel at my work. My skill is unmatched, only growing better the more time I spend at Nakam.
“Sythar better get some replacements,” I chuckle, kicking the head away. Grabbing a towel, I wipe myself off and leave the training room, having come here to blow off some steam at the excitement of getting another shot at the Thuvrol family.
