While I felt that my conversation with my father on the topic of why his majesty was coming wasn’t complete, we had arrived at the gates to the banquet hall, and as such decided to talk about this at a later date.
As I stood before the gate with my dad, one of the guards announced our entry.
“The prime minister of the Ararin empire, count Jacob forester, and his son the main character of today’s party have arrived.” the guard to the left of the door shouted as we started to walk in towards the gate
“You guys told me this would be a simple party? What in the world is this?” I whispered at my father as I stopped at the front of the gate, looking at the kinds of people my parent’s had invited. While the number of people was quite small,(enough to be called a ‘small’ party) all the people here were of the highest importance, great businessmen, important nobles, minister’s from the imperial council, great warriors all above 6 stars, and great mages of the same caliber.
“Well you are leaving soon, for the academy, and as such we won’t be able to see you for the next 7-8 years, as such we decided to go all out” he said leaving me with an expression that laid somewhere between frowning and shocked.
“Damn it dad, we can still talk via video calls, you know, and you know I am not a fan of big parties like this.” I said as I sighed and walked into the room.
“We know that, but we still did it, and it also makes us feel better about sending you to the academy.” he said with a tiny laugh, that honest to god annoyed me more than anything, as I truly did dislike parties all my life, especially ones with nobles, as there was always a separate secret conversation that was happening between them, which always annoyed me, much more so in the later parts of my life from when I became a general, because from then on people didn’t stop sticking to me for their own agendas.
“Haaah, well no point crying over spilled milk” I sighed as I looked at my dad and waved my face.
“That is the spirit.” he said as he smiled and patted my shoulder.
“Well, let’s get this over with.” I said to myself.
Appearing before us as soon as we entered, was my mother who was lavishly dressed up, with fine jewelry, and and a great back dress.
“Jacob, Julian, the two of you are finally here, his majesty already arrived about 5 minutes ago, what took you so long?” she said as she looked at my father.
My father flinched before he said, “Nothing, honey, we just had a little father - son conversation.” to which I nodded when she looked at me.
“Hmmm I see, well whatever, quick let’s go, we don't want to keep the emperor waiting for too long.” she said as she shrugged.
“Yes, let us move with haste.” my father said with a nod.
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“Jacob my friend, it has only been a few days since we met, but how have you been?” a well built man with long golden hair, and bright golden eyes, said as he looked at my father.
“I have been fine your majesty” ,y father said as he bowed and looked at the emperor.
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“Eyy, I'm not here as the emperor here, you know, I am here as your old friend, and godfather to Julian” he said as he waived his hand and looked at my father.
“Oh that so, well Christopher, I have been doing pretty well, but because of you know what, I've been having quite a headache.” my father said, as he had a complete 180 in the way he talked to the emperor.
“Augh don't bring up work here right now, I barely got secretary of defense to let me leave to come here you know. Uff that spoiled my mood” the emperor said as he had a frown on his face and moved his head from side to side.
“Yeah well whatever” my father said as he shrugged.
With a scoff the emperor looked away from my father, and started to talk to men, “*scoff*, ohhh my dear boy Julian, how are you doing son? Your father told me that you have been training recently?”
“I have been doing well for myself your majesty, and as for my training, well it’s exhausting, but I am doing the best I can.” I said as I nodded and made an exhausted expression.
He folded his arms and looked at me and started to talk, “Hooooh I see I see, hmmmm now I'm curious, come on Julian my boy, let’s see what you can do. Follow me we will head out to the training hall. Hey Jacob, the training hall is still down and to the right correct?”
“… Christopher, you crazy battle maniac, just because you are strong doesn't mean you can just do this.” my mother said before my father could even agree to the emperor's suggestion
“Don't worry Amanda, I won't hurt him, I will just see how good he is right now, so that I know how far he progresses in the future you know, also he is like my own child, you think I will do anything to harm him?” the emperor said, as he looked at my mother who was being held up by my dad.
“Haaah I know that you wot be that irresponsible, but keep good control of your strength, we all know you have a hard time doing that. Also yes, the training hall is still where it used to be.” my father said as he tried to stop my mother from running to the emperor and hitting him.
“Huh what about my opinion?” I said as I looked at the three old friends talking about me.
The emperor looked at me all confused thinking I was joking before bursting out into laughter after he saw that I was serious, “Huh? Haahhahahahhahahaha ah you silly goose, you don't have a choice in the matter.” he said as he moved closer to me.
“Huh whaa ….” before I could even complete my words the emperor proceeded to grab the back of my suit and dragged me straight out of the hall.
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*******
“Come on choose what weapon you want to use?” the emperor said once we arrived at the training hall.
“Huuuh I didn't even get to eat anything from the buffet stuffed with all my favorite dishes, haaaahh” I whispered underneath my breath as I lamented over the fact that I couldn’t even eat all those great looking dishes that were lined up in the banquet hall. With another sigh I picked the training spear and began to walk up stage.
“Did you say something?” the emperor said as he looked at me with squinted eyes.
“Huh no I didn’t” I said as I frantically waived my head.
“Good good good, well now that you have selected your weapon, let's start our fight shall we.” he said as he picked out a sword and jumped onto the stage.
“You say as if you are asking my opinion” I retorted as I took my stance.
“No now come on.” he said as he smiled and pointed the blade straight at me, taunting me to come at him.
“AGHHHHHHHHHHHHH” I screamed as I took the taunt and ran straight at him.
Klank klank
Bash, slash, whoosh
Klank klank
The sounds of our weapons clashing each other filled the room, but none of them actually landed on him. Most of them were blocked by his swords, while some were simple dodged with minimal movement.
“Is that all you got?” he said with a disappointed face.
“It has been two days since I started exercising, how strong do you think I was going to get *huff huff huff*” I said as I breathed hard and corrected my stance with my spear pointing to the middle of his eyes.
“Huh seems like I expected too much from you” he said once more as we moved his head from side to side, in disappointment.
“Hooooh uncleeeeeee, that's it I'm pulling out all the stops.” I said as I was wayy too annoyed by the man's words, I don't know what it was about him, but the emperor I feel just had the god gifted ability to annoy everyone around him, that he spoke to.
‘Great tyrant’s world spanning steps’ I thought to myself as I rapidly changed my footwork from the basic form to a much wider, and speed focused form.
“Oh that is much better” he said with a condescending smile.
“Haaaaghhhh take this you damn monster” I said as I moved towards my godfather at my peak speed.
‘Demolition spear of the great tyrant’ I whispered under my breath as I stabbed at him with the technique.
Klank
“Rude much child” he said as he looked at me and swatted my spear away.
“Haah haaah haah, yeah well whatever, I give up, you god damn monster.” I said as I threw down my spear and laid down on the concrete floor flat on my back from exhaustion.