Draco's quest

15.first day training

Draco pov

Yes! It is a dream come true! I couldn’t even believe my luck. Maybe getting lost in this fantasy world was a good thing. 

I chuckled to myself, shaking my head. What was I thinking? Good thing? The hell with this hell hole. I need to find a way to get the f**k out of here. Maybe after properly learning how to handle swords, I might just find a way to escape. Or maybe the king might just let me go. After all, there was no question that he was softening up towards me. 

I sighed and got up from the soft mattress I was given to sleep on. Yesterday was the best day of my life after I got stuck in this place. The king had ordered new furniture, toiletries and clothes for me, which I was immensely grateful for. After a long time, I was able to sleep well. Sleeping on the hard floor with a blanket wrapped around my body was honestly not convenient. 

I stood up and stretched myself. It was time for me to get ready for the day. I smirked when my eyes landed on the wall, which now I know is not just a wall. It was the door to a secret passage that led to a vast room which was illuminated by a violet coloured stone placed in the centre of the room. That was my secret room. 

This was my childhood dream. I dreamt of being a skilled swordsman and had excess to a secret room where I would make plans for the next move. I would train and prepare myself for my missions. However, as I grew up, I had realised that such things only happened in the movies or stories. But look at me now. I couldn’t believe that it was becoming a reality. 

But this world is far from being a reality in my world. This place was full of surprises which I had now gotten used to. 

After freshening up, I studied the scroll I had carefully hidden from the others. I knew it was enchanted. If it could show me where the treasure was, it could only mean that the poem I had recited earlier would have some kind of truth to it. 

Too bad I no longer remembered the whole thing. I did remember parts of it though. 

Worst of the beings rise again? Why did I have a feeling that Killian would be somehow related to it? I shook my head. It couldn’t be. I shouldn’t judge him like that, should I? Yes, he was more like the devil’s incarnation but still, I couldn’t say for sure that the poem was talking about him. 

Sighing and pushing the thoughts away I placed the scroll carefully under my mattress. It didn’t show anything new today. 

Today, my schedule would be to cook breakfast and then attend my first session with the royal trainer. How exciting! I sure hope the trainer is not an ass like Killian or Volga. 

*****

“Faster! Faster!” the trainer yelled from the other side of the training ground. I huffed and gasped for breath as I ran as fast as I could. 

“You need to run faster than that human!” he bellowed.

 Damn it! Can’t he see I’m trying already?

My face was contorted in exhaustion when I was finally able to reach the target he had placed. He shook his head in disappointment. 

“5 minutes! You have taken 5 whole minutes to run 10 rounds around this place.” He stated in an unamused tone.

“Huh!" I gasped. Isn’t that good? This place was huge! And if I managed to do 10 laps in 5 minutes that was awesome. But I guess it wasn’t good enough for these weird freaks.

“You need to up your game.” He shrieked. 

“The eff! I don’t have supernatural powers like you all.” It felt as if my tongue protested on its own and I had no control over it. It had formed those words before I could stop it. 

Oh-oh! I didn’t like the look in his eyes. 

“That mouth of yours! If the king hadn’t ordered me to be kind to you I would have kicked your ass.” He said oh so slowly that it was kind of scary. 

Gulping down a huge lump, I nodded timidly, as I gasped hard and deep, trying to get rid of some of the exhaustion. Sweat trickled down my forehead and dripped onto my already soaked shirt. By the time the warm-up was done, I was practically drenched in sweat. 

“Now! Take a sword from there and come here. We are going to learn how to handle a sword today.” He stated as he pointed to some swords that were placed in a stand beside the wall. 

Yes! Time for some action! However, I was dead tired. Yet, I had to drag myself towards the stack of swords to choose one. I certainly didn’t want to lose this chance.

I took the one I thought was the best in it and made my way towards him. 

“Good. Now have your right hand about an inch from the handguard, holding it in a relaxed yet firm grip primarily with the bottom three fingers of each hand gripping the handle. The strongest part of the grip should be from your little finger to your middle finger. The index fingers should barely be touching and very flexible.” He instructed. 

I clenched my clumsy fingers around its handle, trying my best to imitate his slender ones. I must admit that the whole time I tried to imitate their actions on my own, I was holding the sword however I pleased. I didn’t know that there was a way to hold it. But, did it make any difference? 

“When you hold it like that, it makes it easier to cut deeper and make swift movements rather than any other way.” He answered my unasked question as if he was reading my mind. 

Or maybe he was reading my mind. You would never know what to expect here. 

“Now, face me, and mimic what I do.” He commanded and took a position I had seen the Knights take many times. I carefully followed his footwork, copying his body language to the best of my ability. 

I tried my best to follow his instructions, which was hard because he was a pretty fierce coach. But following his instructions paid off. In the end, he looked as if he was pretty satisfied by my performance, though he never said so. 

“Well well, if it isn’t the lousy slave.........” 

My heart dropped at the sound of the voice I despised so much. Killian. I refuse to call him Lord, he was not my lord anyway. And in my opinion, he is not worthy of such a high status. 

“Your highness” the instructor bowed down at once, which I reluctantly followed. I knew for sure, despite me being obedient to him, he would treat me like a freaking doormat. Or perhaps worse than that.

“Duel with me. If you are so good.” He spat out the words, his angry eyes lingered on me for a long time. I narrowed my eyes at the pale-faced devil’s incarnate. Oh, how I wish I could clench a fistful of his shoulder-length hair and slam his ugly face into the dirt. 

I fought against the urge to roll my eyes at him as my instructor respectfully bowed down to him. 

“Your highness. He is not ready for a duel yet.” The instructor’s answer was polite and calm. 

“So? It would save you a lot of work and time if I manage to finish him off for you. Isn’t it Harold?” Killian snickered. 

Meanwhile, Harold looked around in utter confusion. It was obvious that he was speechless at Killian’s bold statement. 

“But.... Sire......” He trailed off and looked from me to him. 

I masked my emotions and I was pretty sure that my face was void of any expressions. I watched emotionlessly as he walked towards the swords stash and returned with one of them to face me. A sly grin decorated his pathetic face. I felt a strange urge build up inside me that told me to fight back. But I didn’t respond. I knew I was far from ready to face him in a duel. 

“Slave. Come and fight.” He mocked, a sly smirk still curving his thin lips.

“What are you doing?” 

I let out a deep whoosh of breath, that I didn’t know I was holding in when I heard the princess. 

“What? I’m just inviting him to duel with me.” Killian’s smirk widened. 

“Have you lost your mind, Killian? He is not fully trained for that. And it is against the law to duel recruits until they pass their tests.” She retorted. “You being a well-trained swordsman should know at least that much.” 

Tests? What tests? 

“Bah! I was just trying to have some fun. Was that so wrong?” he threw the sword he held onto the floor, making the clinging sound echo in the huge room and stomped out of the training hall. I held back a smirk and a scoff. 

Even I would have sulked if that was me.

“Harold, have you told him about the sessions and the tests afterwards?” she asked the trainer who shook his head to indicate that he hadn’t. 

“Well, do it now. I want him to pass with flying colours. He is the one who had found the long lost treasure of Lord Tristan.” She stated and turned around to leave. 

Was there a little smile that I saw? I blinked and shook my head. My mind must be playing tricks on me. There was no way in hell that she, the princess, would smile at someone like me. 

She was gone sooner than I thought, and once again, I was left alone with Harold, the trainer.

“Looks like our princess has a soft spot for you.” He murmured, gaining my attention.

“Huh?” I gasped and he chuckled.

“Never mind. Ok. So actually here is the deal. The king is pleased with your treasure hunt. And he wants you to be trained well so that he can send you to the forbidden forest to hunt for treasure. And for that, you need to be well trained. Before he sends you on the quest, you will have to duel with someone of his choice and that’s your test. If you pass you will be promoted and sent on the quest. Whenever you find any treasure, you will be rewarded each time.” He explained as I listened to him dumbfounded. 

The hell! These people are pushing me into this and didn’t even ask for my opinion. And I thought my dream was becoming a reality. 

“And if you don’t do this, well I think you will fall out of the king’s favour forever.” He added. 

“Huh?” I blinked a couple of times. Looks like I don’t have much of a choice. 

“Sure. I.....I’ll try my best.” I stammered, now feeling a little anxious about this. 

I’ve got this. I must do this and I will. I am capable of this. I am....

I gave myself a little prep talk, hoping to strengthen my determination. 

“Good. I know you can do this..... What’s your name?” he asked to my surprise. This was the first time anyone bothered to ask my name.

“Draco JR” I answered. 

“Yeah. Draco, right?” he asked. He sure looked confident. “I can say I’m pretty impressed by how fast you learn. You are a human but still, you are talented. And I’m sure you can.” He nodded in my direction before turning around to leave. 

I furrowed my eyebrows as a smile slowly curved my lips. Did he just say what I thought he did? Wow. That’s a first. Maybe better days are ahead.