As it turns out Father didn’t want a word with me and as I got into a routine of practice dinner and outing into the city, time began to quickly pass, and next thing I know 2 months had flown by and my Brother was about to become 12 and have a coming of age ceremony.

Currently I’m a level 2 QI apprentice which happened after I activated the QI point at my heart. As Rafael suggested I focused on pushing my qi through my heart until it reached a point where I could store a little qi in my heart. Rafael had explained that the qi points allow for a better flow of qi around your body and by opening the points you allow qi to run more freely.

Our private sessions have become more frequent and my outings into the city less so. I haven’t been back to the blacksmiths yet and the only thing I’ve done is go to Bren’s bar to relax and talk with Dara.

It’s mid-day and I’m in the training hall with Rafael currently trying to unlock the QI point in my brain. We've only been on this point for 2 weeks so I’m not too worried about how long it’s taking but Rafael Seems to be pushing me extra hard today.

“Young master the first 3 levels of the QI apprentice stage are the hardest levels once you have opened them both not only are the other levels much easier you will be able to do much more outside of training activation, the QI point in your brain allows you to send QI to you brain which can help you unlock the final point the 5 senses much easier”

And what is his revolutionary training method, to put it simply it’s to stimulates my brain as much as possible and by doing that it makes it easier for the QI point to become unlocked as much like the first point exhaustion and stress are stimulants for growth.

Looking at this rough man in front of me you’d think his training would be simple but even father was surprised when he saw the method.

“To think this is your method of training Rafael honestly I’m impressed. I didn’t even think of this but it makes so much sense”

“You flatter me my lord”

It started 2 weeks ago first it was sparring then they introduced a sound mage who would create a loud bang every now and again to distract me, but it also distracted the guard and after getting used to it and being up against a different guard every day soon this training was working for me and the guards, that begun to interest my Father leading to him watching over this and adopting it into the guards training schedule.

Days after the sound mage was introduced a light mage was also introduced to create a bright flash occasionally, and after that a pile of incense was to be burned on the field. The goal was to stimulate all the 5 senses as much as possible and by doing that your brain would be working overtime eventually leading to unlocking the QI point.

Listening to them talk is enough to distract me from my opponent as he lands a hit on my back and I’m flung to the floor. This would be enough to stop a normal spar but I know this isn’t the end and getting beat up till fainting is the norm now, quickly standing up and jumping away I’m able to avoid a kick, I know the guards I’m up against have lowered their skills to my level but still I think it’s still to far.

“BANG”

Flintching in surprise and covering my eyes for a second out of instinct I’m awarded a moment of clarity and peace, Fuck I’m going to wake up in bed now arn’t I.

Upon opening my eyes I’m faced with a familiar ceiling, sigh they insist this is good for me but I’m not too sure. Hearing the door open I shoot up to see who it is only to spot Rafael and my Father enter, face full of smiles, definitely a demon family.

“hahaha perfect my boy, another brilliant showing. I imagine the duke will be most pleased by your progress when he sees you at Noah's coming of age.”

“Congratulation young master”

I’m only confused for a second before checking my body with QI to find I’ve unlocked the QI point in my brain, is that what the moment of clarity was before getting knocked out. I can't help but smile, finally my pain is over.

“hahaha but Rafael to think this training not only helps Joseph but also trained guards I’ll be using this full time now for everyone, It means I’ll need more mages but it’ll be worth it in the end”

Realising it isn’t over I send a sour look to the cause of my troubles, my own attendant but his expressionless face shows no reaction, going to stand up I feel like my legs are jelly and nearly fall over only for Rafael to catch me.

“Joseph I’m pleased with your work today you can take the day off go and see your brother it’s his coming of age next week and you 2 need to look good there’s a nice store where you can get suits made called madam Erailias, Rafael will lead you there”

Saying his peace he quickly leaves, he’s been distant recently the upcoming visit from the Duke has unsettled him and he’s putting extra pressure on us, even Anita who’s usually so enthusiastic looks deflated now. Finally able to stand I go and look for my brother to drag him to the tailors.

It wasn’t hard to find him, I know his spots pretty well now and if he’s not training he’s going to be in one place.

Opening the door to the watch tower I climbed to the top thinking why he couldn’t brood elsewhere. My legs are already jelly and this doesn’t help, getting to the top after leaving Rafael at the bottom I see Noah.

He looks like he usually does now, distant and cold, his bright personality now extinguished, he turns to look at me before quickly looking out to the city. I imagine this point is just as important to him as it is to me, father probably brought him up here as well.

“Noah, what's wrong?”

“Nothing Joseph I’m just a little shaken it’s been a long week”

Walking up to him I stand beside him looking out to the same view of the city but instead of looking out I look to my brother, my family. I see his tired eyes and bruised skin. Father has been tough on him these past few days. I personally think he's going too far but I’m still a child. I look at his hand on the railing and see the faint scars are still there reaching out to his hand. I place my palm on the back of his hand, jolting him to look at me properly.

“Trust Father, he’s a good person Noah and anything he does, he does for us, him sending you into the army will make you a stronger person, you will lead this family and this city in the future. Isn’t it ok to sacrifice for the greater good”

Looking at him I can see there’s a light in his eyes, It seems that’s all he needed. Going into the army at 12, even I think he’s far too young. I know he won’t see any fighting but still, I wonder if he even believed my false words but I know I’ll be in this position soon.

“Yes, everything is for the Greater good.”

Smiling, he turns to me in the sunlight, his face is illuminated orange fitting with his hair colour, it’s only now that I see a bit of sadness in his eyes but leaving that we head off into the city.

Walking with Noah I see that he’s back to his original self, full of smiles. It soothes me to see him acting like this. He's always been so optimistic and the contrast to before is too jarring.

Walking through the streets of the noble district is always strange for me but Noah seems to take it in his stride acting like a little king.

“little bro you’ve really put me in a good mood today?”

“It’s nothing Noah It’s something that I’ll also have to face someday as well”

Flashing a sad smile he turns to me, “Don’t worry I’ll be there for you as you we’re for me, after all I’m meant to be the big brother hahaha”, scruffing my hair I wonder if a smile has crept onto my face, it’s time like these I remember he’s just a normal child, trying to act like our father.

“Knock it off, come on let’s get a move on '' shaking off his hand I quickly ran along, definitely not trying to hide my face at all.

“hehe”

We made it to Madam Erailias and I wasn’t at all surprised by the building. A striking building with a suit and dress in the window on full display, the building itself with a mixture of colours and was lighting up the street. A light blue door with a wooden frame, was in contrast with the rest of the darker red building with orange lights lighting up the 2 story store.

Rafael proceeds to enter first followed by Noah and me, upon entering the clothes on display catch my attention. I’ve never really been a fashion person but having noble studies pushed down my throat has at least got me conscious of it. Some of these clothes were too bold in design while some were just the right amount of subtle, I knew that for this occasion I needed to dress subtly and have my brother be the centre of attention.

A middle aged woman appears from the back, standing just above a dwarf in height, blond hair and a pair of glasses she made her way over to the only customers in the shop. “Hello, what can I do for the Little Masters of our city? '' Face full of smiles it felt a bit weird being called little by someone just as tall as my brother.

“Madam Erailia I require a suit for my 12th birthday and my little brother will need one as well for the ceremony” who is this boy and what has he done to my brother, it seems he’s actually been listening in noble studies.

“Ohh little master is 12 soon ohhh how you grow I remember making suits for your Fathers wedding yes I was beautiful a dark red suit for that grumpy man heh. hmm what should I make for you a bright suit, yes ohh I could but a Rose on the design yes to match you eyes….”

As the madam was brooding about our designs I picked up on how she called our father a grumpy man which is quite the opposite of what I see in the man, looking at my brother just standing there with a stiff smile I see I need to break her out of her trance.

“Madam would you be able to take our sizes we have practice to attend to”

“ohhh yes how silly of me little lords are busy people yes yes, right away.”

While she was getting our sizes I felt the need to keep the conversation going so decided to ask her about my Father as she seemed to have made his wedding suit.

” You made our Fathers wedding suit?”

“Yes I did my finest design, cost the lord 1 platinum yes”

Ridiculously expensive, 1 platinum is enough to buy an obsidian sword but I’m more interested in what he was like.

“The lord was alone after his father died in the war, this city was called city Kumar before, the lord and the mistresses parents all died in the war as is common in this outer district. The lord's father was a knight for the kumar family; the duke saw fit to pair the two orphans together and have the city stay under their leadership.

The lord wasn’t a knight and while he had training, he was going to become an adventurer and travel, but instead he was tied to this city after his fathers sacrifice. When he came for his suit the duke came with him to pay for the suit, your father was alone with me for hours after the duke paid and left, in which we talked for the rest of the day.

I didn’t see him again until a week after the wedding after he came to get a dress for his wife and the man was a completely different person, full of happiness and life. It seemed he found purpose and I have to say city Moon has been better off with him.”

Listening to her talk about my father seemed to make time pass even quicker and before I know the measurements have been taken and we are on our way, having said our goodbye. Standing outside with my brother I realise it’s quite late now and we need to head back for our dinner.

“Little bro, I never knew that about our father”

“Father had a whole life before us you can’t expect to know everything about him”

“I know but, I thought Father had always loved mother, I didn’t know the duke just put them together”

“That's our price to pay for these easy lives, the pay off to being a noble is serving our country for the people. We don’t get to make all the decisions for our lives but I don’t think father was unhappy with the outcome, At least he looks happy to me.”

“haha I wonder who the duke will pair up with me, they better be pretty”

Little brat with a city on his shoulders, sigh I wonder how father dealt with all this.