Kinslayer: Medea's Creed (Chapter 3)

 Bret...

...had no idea when he dozed off on his reading. His reading habits have been somewhat of a closely guarded secret. Heavens forbid anybody find out he reads! Worse still it's a trait he shares with his twin. A force of habit. Tonight he dreamt of living free, away from his confounding responsibilities. A simple life on the countryside with his sweet little sister who seemed to be walking into his room. Walking into his room? . he snaps awake, his sister Sabel was always sleepwalking acroos the castle and somehow she always seemed to end up in his chambers. "Hey Hey, come here"

"Bbbbret?"

"Yes dear, Bret. Want some water?"

"Yes"

He pours her a cup from the the pitcher. As she drinks, his face lights up in excitement.

"Want some magic?" 

"Yeees" she giggles in the five year old fashion they both enjoyed. 

Bret fishes under his bed to reveal a panel. He whips out a loosely bound stack of parchment and slams it on the tabletop sending dust every which way. With an air of accomplishment he exclaims "Magic!"

Sabel looks on in confusion. As If waiting for the next beat. The face of someone who was obviously accustomed to the eccentricity of  her brother but was not sure what to make of this new iteration.

"Magic?"

"Yes Sabel, magic. I've been studying magic ever since I found our that uncle Seth was the kingdom's great wizard"

"Okay?"

"What this means is that he must have a lot of useful knick knacks, items, information and suchlike stored away somewhere in the castle. And look what I found!"

"A lot of parchment paper?"

"A grimoire" he peels away the false covering to reveal the original binding of the book. It's dull gold spine glistens in the moonlight. "You see there are things written in it. I'm not sure how it works but when you read it magic happens. This seems to be the second in a five volume series."

Sabel begins to tear up. "But I don't want to read. I want magic! I want milk.. And water! I'm sleepy!" She begins to cry and sob. 

"Okay okay, fine. Wait" he scrambles across the room to the table and flits through the pages. He stutters some words. Suddenly the air in the room goes still as everything freezes. Instantly it began to snow in the room. The snow melted as it touched the ivory floorboards, turning them from a dark brown to an almost milkish white. Sabel stops crying and begins to chuckle in glee, playing about in the falling snow. 

Bret seemed to be amazed by what he had just achieved. Although he had told Sabel that he has been studying magic. Studying being a stretch. He never thought he'd actually get around to a point where it eventually worked. He pondered this as Sabel giggles around him. Was this what power meant?  The words float in front of his eyes as the world seemed to take a sideways orientation to things. Sabels giggles echo in his ear and blackness envelopes him.

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The Great Bell of the capital city tolled dawn. The weary Biron shuffles towards the door at the first knock. He shouldn't be tired, but try as he might, he couldn't catch a wink last night. He had training but it didn't mean his energy was going to come out of nowhere.

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"Master, Master" 

Silence

"Master! Master. The first bell has already rung"

Silence

"Master"

"Leave me"

"Master you'll miss training altogether"

"Sabel!" Bret starts off the bed. The maid is unable to hide her shock because she isn't Sabel.

"Sabel? Lady Sabel should already be at the day's lessons." Unlike some other members of this royal family

"What are you talking about? What time is it?"

"Way past training time sir"

"Damnit!, why didn't you wake me sooner?"

"I di-" she stops herself knowing the futility of the venture.

"Your armor is ready for you, young master"

"And my brother?" 

"Long since run out of patience and is now content to sit and fume as he waits for what he describes as your 'Royal nincompoop' ass  to come get beat"

"Aha! The nerve. We'll see which nincompoop ass is more royal". That made more sense in my head.

 

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"Is Biron the great home?" Bret jests as he crests the hill that served as their training ground. Getting to the top of the hill is in and of itself The morning warmup. So usually no more warmups were required once you made to the training ground in one piece. Usually.

"Welcome my lord. The young master will now please do ten laps round the training ground" The Quartermaster mentions in an overly polite tone meant to hide his sarcasm. Bret's enthusiasm gives way to a glare that could have cut through steel. Ten laps round the hill was no joke.

"Ten rounds while your brother must sit and watch. However long it takes. I suppose it will make for good spirit".

By the time Biron had excruciatingly watched Bret run all ten versions of his punishment he had just about had it.

"Now, you'll duel, while testing your balance." A thin smile crosses his lips "you may choose your weapon. You may strip your Platemail. Young masters, take your position". Biron crosses over to the weapons rack as Bret saunters around for a bit. Easing it off.

"Young master, do you intend to duel without a weapon?" The quartermaster calls out. Bret walks to the rack when Biron jibes "certainly, today's victor will be me"

"Ooooooo the boss, and what makes you so sure? Hmmm?" His regular spirit returning to him once again.

"Because you shouldn't be in any condition to fight. Not after last night" he let's out an unnerving cackle. "So Brother. Shall we?"

"Gentlemen, are we here to talk. Or to duel?" The quartermaster interrupts.

Silence.

" Very well then. Hajime!"