Bryson Coldwater slowly opened his eyes as he lay in bed. Staring up at his bedroom ceiling his eyes slowly adjusted to the dark he focused on the annoying tapping hitting his window. It’s the middle of the night. Bryson groaned as he forced himself up and over to the curtain hiding the noise.
Throwing the curtain open, his sleepiness completely vanished as he saw what was causing this noise. Instead of an annoying squirrel or owl tapping at his glass it was an annoying Lottie Frost banging on his window.
“What the-? What are you doing here?” Bryson said as he opened up the window.
“Took you long enough, what were you doing?” Lottie said peering into Bryson’s room.
“Sleeping, now answer the question.” Bryson growled.
“I saw something interesting. Come on.” Lottie said beckoning Bryson to crawl out the window.
“No.” Bryson denied flatly.
“Please, it’s important!”
“Why are you even climbing up to my window anyways? Just use the door.”
“It’s not as fun that way.” She said shrugging, “Besides it’s good training. Come on Bryson, you need to see this.” She beckoned.
Bryson clicked his tongue in annoyance. This was ridiculous, waking up the middle of night was stupid. But still, as much of a nuisance that Lottie was she wouldn’t be waking Bryson in the middle of the night for no valid reason. Besides, now Bryson was awake and curious.
“This better be worth it.” He grumbled as he crawled out the window, “I’m the son of one four dukes in this world and now I’m crawling around rooftops.”
“Yeah, we’re like spies.” Lottie said as they moved along the rooftops.
“Where are you taking me?”
“The training grounds.”
“The training grounds? What’s happening there?” Bryson asked suddenly curious.
“You’ll see.”
“If you disappoint me I’m throwing you off the roof.”
“Deal.” Lottie said and it wasn’t long before they found what Lottie thought was so interesting. They had hopped onto one of the training buildings that littered the area and peered through the window.
Down in the normally empty building at this time of night was one silver-haired girl desperately running through a training course. Kristel equipped in her full equipment duck and dove running through the entire course, striking at targets that appeared along the course.
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Upon completion of the course she took a brief moment to collect herself before going over to check results. Bryson squinted down through the window and noticed that Kristel seemed to be shaking before she trudged her way back over to the start.
Just as Kristel prepared to begin again Bryson banged on the window.
“Huh?” Kristel said in shock looking up, her surprise doubled seeing the two of them gazing down at her, “L-Lord Bryson?”
“Let’s get down, huh.” Bryson said as he watched Lottie pull out a lockpicking set and unlocked the window lock and opened it.
“Neat trick right?” Lottie said with a proud smile.
“Just make sure you lock it back up when we leave.” Bryson said as he readied to jump down Lottie grabbed onto him and the two of them floated down to the ground like a pair of feathers.
“What are you doing here Lord Bryson?” Kristel said looking nervous seemingly trying to hide the entire room and failing to do so.
“What are you doing?” Bryson said ignoring Kristel’s nervousness, “It’s the middle of the night.”
“I’m… I’m just practicing.” She said quietly as Bryson brushed past her and checked the records for the training course.
“How long have you been at this?” Bryson asked as the entire first page was filled with Kristel’s results.
“Just… after lunch.” Kristel said quietly.
“Did you miss dinner?” Lottie asked looking concerned.
“Maybe.” She replied unable to meet their gazes.
“Why?” Bryson said with narrowed eyes.
“I’m not good enough.” Kristel said sounding pained.
“What?”
“For the past year, my results are worse than the others.”
“Marsh is meant to be better than you, she’s older by two years.” Bryson said in a calming voice.
“It’s not just her, I haven’t been able to beat Sable since then, or Lottie!” Kristel said looking up at Bryson tears welling in her eyes, “The other squires like Clare have begun to surpass me! I’m failing!”
“You’ll get better.” Lottie said giving her a friendly hug.
“But I’m not, I’m not as good as I can be.”
“If you go to the royal guard training school you would be able to get the training needed.” Bryson said.
“I know, but I don’t want to leave you Lord Bryson.” Kristel sobbed, “I’m pathetic, I’m worthless staying here but I’m scared to leave.”
As Kristel cried and Lottie tried to comfort her the sight irked Bryson. He really didn’t like how much strife this indecision was causing Kristel. He understood that everyone believed Kristel would be some type of elite warrior, but considering her upbringing he couldn’t help but find it a bit unfair.
She was an orphan expected to become one of the greatest knights alive when she grows up. Those were lofty expectations and part of the reason why his parents allow her to live under them.
“You don’t need to go.” Bryson said gently.
“Huh?” Kristel said with a sniff.
“If you don’t think you can do it, then you don’t need to do it.” Bryson said.
“But what about protecting you?”
“I can keep myself safe.” Bryson said with a slightly insulted look before returning back to a softer one, “You don’t need to be my unstoppable knight. As long as you’re happy with serving me, that’s fine with me.”
“Lord Bryson.” Kristel said with a sniff as she looked at Bryson in wonderment.
“Come on, let’s leave this place and get some sleep.” Bryson said in a gruffer tone.
“Yes Lord Bryson.” Kristel said as she and Lottie began to follow Bryson.
“Can I have a sleepover with you Kristel?” Lottie asked.
“O-oh! Uh, sure.” Kristel said nodding as she wiped her tears.
“By the way. If I ever have to wake up in the middle of the night because of the two of you again, I’m going to send you two through a wall.” Bryson threatened. As Lottie gave a playful response Kristel looked at Bryson’s back looking thoughtful as she thought about what she wanted to do.