“Wake up”

“Wake up?”, Eric questioned himself.

“Wake up!”, Orph screamed.

Eric jolted up and spoke, “Yes, I’m up!”

“What’s this loud noise about?”, asked Bk moments after waking up, rubbing his eyes.

“We have to do the academy for our lessons.”, replied Orph.

“Oh right, you guys are still cadets.”

“Very late cadets at that.”

Orph looked over at Eric and spoke, “Hurry up.”

Eric got up as soon as he could and got ready.

Both of them said their goodbyes and rushed to the academy where they met Shine, who looked like he was waiting for them.

“Oh wow, if you had been 3 minutes late, you guys would’ve been late.”, said Shine.

Eric was catching up his breath and couldn’t even hear Shine properly.

Orph apologized for both of them.

“It’s fine. It’s not like you guys were actually late but be careful next time.”, said Shine.

They both followed Shine to the training grounds.

Shine stopped right in the middle of the training ground, no one else was there.

“The others are out doing their special mission if you’re curious about it.”, said Shine as he brushed off the dust from the place he was about to sit. He looked over to both Orph and Eric and sat down.

“I have one of the best students in this batch and also the worst... I’m not going to tell who’s who.”, he continued.

“Look, I know you guys have had a rough day with all the orphanage and the Duke.”, said Shine before sighing and looking at the ground.

“And you guys helped the Baron for which he was very grateful and as a personal reward from me, you guys are going to have a shining training session!”, exclaimed Shine while getting up.

Shine gestured for them to follow him.

Eric could barely stand, maybe it’s because of the things he did the day before yesterday or the things he did yesterday but it wasn’t looking good for him. Eric looked over at Orph, hoping to find a brother in a situation only to find Orph unfazed by every and in deep thought.

Before Eric could curse Orph and the situation he was in, they had reached their destination. The training arena. All of them went inside, it was filled with seats and weapons. A lot of weapons, from spears to bows and arrows. It reminded Eric of the tournament he had participated in back he was a kid.

“I met you for the first time somewhere similar to this.”, said Shine while looking at Eric.

“Back then, I thought you’d be the greatest knight this kingdom has ever witnessed and mentioned you to the Baron...”, he continued.

“Maybe I had put too much faith on a little kid.”, he continued even more.

Shine put Eric and Orph against each other and spoke,” Since one of you is the best knight cadet, I thought that you guys should face each other and learn from it.”

“So, keep on fighting until you learn something. I’ll be right back,” said Shine before leaving the arena in a hurry.

Eric ran towards where the swords were and picked two of them up, he ran back to Orph and gave him one and then ran back to where he stood originally.

“I wanted to have a fight with you, especially after you awakened your powers.”, said Eric trying to control his excitement.

“Are you sure about this?” asked Orph in an almost monotone voice.

Eric nodded three times while smiling.

Orph sighed and took his stance.

Eric smiled and took his stance as well.

The fight started and ended after five seconds, resulting in Eric’s humiliating loss.

“Why are you even doing this?”, asked Orph putting his sword down.

He went towards Eric who was slumped over and almost in the process of crying. Orph touched Eric’s shoulders with both of his hands and spoke, “There are other weapons, other than the sword.”

He made Eric look at all of the other weapons in the arena.

“If you’re average at everything you do, then you’d also be average at using a spear or even a bow and arrow.”, said Orph while getting up and helping Eric stand up.

“What’s stopping you from using them?”, Orph asked Eric while smiling a little.

“The Imperial rules.”, replied Eric with a stern look.

“What rules?”

“According to section 55D, which clearly states that a knight may only use a sword or two swords and only one sword or two swords if the need arises...”

“Alright, alright. Stop. Who made this rule?”

“I hear the King...”

“Right...”, said Orph while looking at one of the many bows.

He went towards the bows and picked one up, along with a couple of arrows.

Orph came near Eric and spoke, “Here take this.” and handed the bow and arrows to Eric.

Eric protested but before he could speak up his protests. Orph continued speaking, “It’s fine. It’s only banned for the King’s knight and you’re just a knight cadet now.”

“Are you implying that I’ll never be the King’s knight?”, asked Eric.

“I’m not implying anything. I hope you never become the King’s knight.”, replied Orph.

Orph left the bow on Eric’s hand and stepped back before speaking, “What do you think a knight is?” and started at Eric with a serious expression on his face.

Eric looked at the bow and pondered the question, and asked himself other questions. Why did he want to become a knight in the first place? Did he really want to save a princess that much? What even is his goal in life? Eric didn’t know the answer to his question, maybe he will someday in the future but the choice of using other weapons was his and his alone.

Eric got determined and put an arrow in the bow, it was all-natural to him.

“See, this is your talent.”, said Orph smiling.

Eric took a deep breath and aimed at one of the many pillars in the arena, he shot the arrow and it almost hit what he meant to hit.

“I knew you could do it!”, exclaimed Orph.

Eric put down the bow and exhaled a sigh of relief. He thought maybe this would be good enough and clenched his fists.

“What are you doing?”, asked Shine who had just arrived back at the arena.

“Well, whatever. Your training for today's done. Follow me.”, he continued.

Orph and Eric didn’t question the orders they received and followed Shine.

Upon their arrival on the main training grounds, they saw another knight.

Eric asked Shine who the other knight was. Shine looked over and spoke,” Oh! That’s Dave. The kingdom’s supposed strongest knight.”

“Even stronger than you?”, asked Eric.

“They say. Yes.”, replied Shine.

Eric smiled and tried asking another question.

“So, you can say that you got outshine-”

“Shut up.”

“Yes.”