Nero woke up feeling something tickling his face. As soon as he opened his eyes, the boy saw a familiar blackbird which sat right next to his face, looking into his eyes. He tried to get rid of it with his arm, but the bird quickly evaded it and once again started tickling the boy.

Cursing at his bad luck, Nero gave up and once again opened his eyes.

“Doggone! Fine, I get it. I will go get your lunch. Just wait a bit,” said Nero as he started dressing up. After dressing up, Nero paused and looked at the small, black griffon that was already on the floor, ready to follow him.

“Since, we will have many years ahead of us, let’s think about your name,” said Nero as he looked carefully at his griffon.

“Well, you have black feathers, two wings, and a small tail, have sharp claws, and a yellow beak. Maybe Grimtail, no, too dark. Let me think more,” said Nero as he saw how griffon shook his head in disagreement.

“You are the descendent of the ancient noble griffon, which means - you are very noble. A noble,” said Nero as a light appeared in his eyes, “Ethel - the noble one in the old imperial language,”

As soon as a small, black griffon heard him, its tail started moving intuitively, and that’s how the boy realized that a small griffon liked the name.

“Then, you are Ethel from now on,” said Nero as he moved towards the door. “Come on, Ethel, let’s go,”

The small, black griffon said nothing and just followed him.

...

..

.

“Doggone! How much can meat get inside your stomach? You ...” said Nero as he just wanted to curse a small, black griffon that has just eaten its 6th kg of meat, which Nero spent hours catching. If not for his skills with hunting traps his mother taught him, he would be in a tight spot.

He hunted everything, hares, foxes, birds, and other small animals, but that was still not enough. The small bastard easily stored apart pieces of meat and looked at him for more. The purple-eyed boy was now looking at his new friend with a dejected expression and sweat all over his body. He has already regretted meeting this small, but gluttonous griffon.

Fortunately for him, Ethel finished his last piece of meat and calmly bent over near the ladder to the house. And fell asleep with a happy expression on his face. It was the last drop to Nero’s draining patience, and he already wanted to hit that small griffon with his leg when a familiar sound resounded from nearby.

Changing his expression, the boy turned and looked at his teacher, who was already holding a training sword. After a quick sigh, Nero calmed down himself and raised his sword, preparing for the battle. Soon, a training duel started.

It took only a few quick defenses and counter-attacks for Gustav to disarm his disciple. Pausing for a moment, Gustav allowed Nero to take his sword. However, the old man knew that today’s duel differed from the previous ones. He felt as if something occupied his disciple’s mind, and that’s why he was much worse than before. The old man already knew which thought occupied his mind.

“Since you already know the truth behind your origins, train harder. Weak can’t survive against such enemies. Clear your mind, and focus,” said the old man as he raised his sword and made a fast thrust at Nero’s chest. Fortunately, his reminder worked and the boy finally focused and parred his teacher’s sword and evaded further attacks.

“Did you know him?” asked the boy as he continued to evade and dodge Gustav’s attacks.

“Yes, I was one of his teachers around 300 years ago when I was still a counselor in the palace, serving his father,” said Gustav as he continued to attack Nero, “I have already told you that life at the palace isn’t like the one you hear from the tales, especially for the seventh prince. Even at that period, there was an active and violent inner struggle, happening among the king’s children. The second prince, fifth prince, sixth prince, and the first princess united against the crown prince and the alliance of the third and fourth princes. Only the second and third princesses and your father didn’t want to take part in that struggle and stayed neutral,”

Gustav parred Nero’s thrust and counter-attacked, hitting Nero on the left side.

“Everything changed when the struggle entered the active phase when kings’ health deteriorated. Soon, his younger sisters, the second and the third princesses died. That changed the balance. Your father realized he couldn’t stay neutral and was forced to choose a side. Three opposing parties needed his talent and the allies he earned during his service in the army. He was like a delicious piece of meat, they couldn't lose.”

“How my father acted in that situation?” asked the boy as he once again tried to attack his teacher.

“I don’t know. It's a mystery, but, your father got a chance to escape. The dying king ordered him to take charge of a small distant city at the eastern border and made it in secret. He saved his life because, right as he left the capital, the inner struggle for the throne intensified. The coalition of third and fourth princes crumbled, and they lost all means to continue fighting. Soon, they died because of mysterious reasons,” explained Gustav as he sighed and parred Nero’s attack and once again hit him on his left side.

“What happened next?” asked Nero.

“No idea. I left the palace during that period. I just couldn’t continue to bear watching how children I spent so much effort teaching and transferring my experience and wisdom died. I wasn’t the only one who left. Many teachers who taught royal children left one by one to wait till the storm would end. That was the day when I saw your uncles and aunts for the last time,” said Gustav as he released a bitter sigh.

“I see. Politics and mind games. Teacher, what type of person was my father?” asked the boy, as he clenched his sword and dodged Gustav’s thrust.

“He was very talented. My comrade, who taught him about sword mastery and inner energy, always praised him. He called him a genius. Besides, he was very hard-working, intelligent, and compassionate,” said Gustav with a slight smile on his lips. “He dreamed of becoming a general and worked hard for his dream. That’s why when he became ten years old as soon as he evoke his source, he became a page of the knight in the army. The next time I saw him was when he returned to the palace as a thirty-year-old man. The army changed him and let him show his talent. Your father was very good at tactics and strategy, was strong, handsome, and very intelligent. He was commanding an army squad, comprising 3000 people and was right on the track to become general.”

“If he was so good, why he didn’t take part in the struggle for the throne and preferred to stay neutral? Teacher, tell me the truth, did he have a real chance of becoming a king?” asked the boy as he put away his training sword. His teacher also paused and put away his sword, understanding that it’s better to continue training after their conversation. Gustav only released a short sigh.

“It’s hard to tell because the crown prince, the second prince, and their coalitions were monsters in the human skin. They were much more powerful than your father in terms of influence, resources, and allies. Your father was superior only in terms of talent and his skills. But, if he started acting and showed his abilities, uniting with the coalition of the third prince, it wasn’t impossible,” explained the old man as he sighed. “But, your father always hated mind games and intrigues which were always happening at the palace. This was the reason he left when he was ten years old, far away from the palace. Ironic that a talented tactician and commander who showed many tricks on the battlefield, hated similar tricks, but at the palace.”

Nero only clenched his fists when he heard his words.

“Nero, remember if you want to revenge your father, you can’t concentrate solely on your power. You will need to master that sphere, which your father ignored. Your life may depend on it in the future,” said Gustav, giving some time for the boy to think about his words. And raised his sword, ending their unplanned, short break.

...

..

.

Laying on the grass and feeling how the wind ticked his hair, Nero enjoyed his short break after his training. Everything would have been ideal if not for the small, black griffon that was lying on his chest. He wasn’t still used to his new gluttonous friend and needed some time to get used to him.

Ethel, as if feeling Nero’s thoughts, just sat quietly without attracting attention, allowing the boy to have some rest. They continued to lie there in the grass at the hill near to his house when a familiar person with a horse appeared before the duet.

Collins tied his horse and sat nearby to Nero, as he always did when they met here. It was their next spot after the pond, where they enjoyed spending their time.

“Looks like you have got a new friend,” said the blonde boy as he pointed at the small, black griffon. Ethel also sobered up and was scrutinizing the new face he never saw before. He was ready to attack if he felt any malicious intent from him towards Nero.

“Calm down, Ethel. He is my friend,” said Nero as he caressed a small griffon.

“So, this thing has a name?” asked Collins as he looked at the griffon.

“Long story and I don’t want to talk about it,” said Nero, watching how his friend nodded with understanding.

Collins was the village elder’s grandson. Other villagers changed their behaviors towards his teacher and mother after the incident at the pond, which alerted the whole village. They became more suspicious towards them and preferred to decrease their contact with them. Collins, unlike them, knew more about the outside world and things like inner energy or magic and behaved as if nothing happened.

Nero was grateful for that.

“By the way, are you ready for the incoming summer’s end celebration? Do you already have an idea who you will invite for dances?” asked Collins with a clear curiosity on his face.

“They will happen in a week, right?” asked Nero with a face as if he just remembered about it.

“Come on, Nero. This is one of the rare days when all village’s youth would gather in one place. You can’t lose such a chance,” said Collins as he patted Nero. “Any ideas who to invite?”

“You know it, Collins. I will most likely spend that day, training or learning. I don’t plan to go there,” said Nero as he shook his head. For a second, a disappointment appeared inside the blonde boy’s eyes, but he quickly sobered up and restarted his storm.

“Come on, Nero, you are the only one who spends all his day training and learning. Even breaks like this one are very rare. You live here for seven years already, but you have never taken part in any celebration in our village. You always spent it training and swinging your sword,” said the blonde boy, pointing at the wooden sword. “Aren’t you curious about how it feels to celebrate?”

Nero only released a sigh when he heard him.

“Collins, I have already told you I need to train and get stronger.” started Nero, but was interrupted by his friend.

“I know it, Nero. You need to get stronger and you plan to leave this village. I respect that. But, you know, I will quote a village’s blacksmith. ‘A sword that is too polished can be easily broken’. Seriously, friend, sometimes everyone just needs a day off. I don’t know what happened to you, but I am sure it was very scary and stressful. A day off won’t harm you,”

“But ...” started Nero when he was once again interrupted by his much elder friend.

“I have already talked with your teacher. He agreed to let you rest on the celebration,” said Collins with a sly and delighted smile when he watched how he cornered Nero with his plan.

“Fine, I will go,” said Nero, giving up on his friend’s pleas.

“Good, that would be a glad chance to teach my younger friend several tricks with girls before I leave the village,” said Collins as he smiled and clenched his fist with joy.

“Wait, are you leaving the village?” asked Nero as soon as he realized the meaning behind his last phrase.

“Actually, I came here to tell you about it. My father will travel on the carriage towards the closest city to purchase and sell some things. I will go with him and will stay there in that city with our family’s distant relative, helping him with his shop,” explained the boy with a smile on his lips.

“Congratulations!” said Nero as he jumped and hugged his friend. “So, it’s finally happening? You will start accomplishing your dreams?”

“Yes, it’s only the first step. I will work for my relative, helping with his trade and gain experience. I will also pass examinations for literacy and will slowly, step by step, learn what I need to become a merchant,” said Collins as he nodded at his friend.

“That’s amazing news, good that you informed me beforehand. I still have time to make something for you.”

“No need, Nero. Your lessons helped me a lot. I am very grateful to you. Just come to bid goodbye on that day,” said Collins, trying to persuade his friend, but only to see that he failed and Nero would most likely give him a gift.

“By the way, when will you leave?”

“The morning after celebration,” said Collins as he looked at Nero. “Just don’t leave early, my friend,”

“Don’t worry, I won’t,” said Nero with a serious expression on his face. And stretching his hand for a handshake. Collins also stretched his hand.

“See you there,” said both youths as they looked into the eyes of each other before they smiled and patted each other.