A few years had passed, and Edward had improved with the long sword. At the age of twelve, he had already started to spar with the knights of the black sun regularly.

Slowly he was able to fight at such a young age even the most experienced knights head-on. Even his father who had not much interacted with his own son in a long time started to show interest in him. He was spotted around the training fields looking at Edward and his progression.

~~

Rikard was often away. Taking care of roaming grey skins or other threats. Evelyn rarely went to her husband on these missions. Edward was curious why not.

"Mom. Can I ask a question? Why don't you go to these missions that father goes to?" Asked Edward.

"Well, you already asked the question I guess I have to answer it now. Well. Unlike your father I have not and will not give my loyalty to the king. Our marriage was an arranged one. The plangent arranged with my own family that was also known for their sword skills. So I guess I can say we are very different people. I guess it is hard for a son to hear this, but I guess it was time.

"Plangent family prizes loyalty above all else. But unlike your father, I believe we should get to choose who we follow. Loyalty is blind but deciding who to follow blindly should not be done with our eyes closed," said Evelyn with a gentle voice.

"But how are you supposed to be able to choose who give your loyalty to?" asked Edward.

"You just know. He may be any kind of person. Even a very naive person. A swordsman gives his life always to someone," said Evelyn with a smile.

"Who did you then decide to give your life to?" asked Edward.

"My lovely kids of course," said Evelyn and smiled at Edward with a warm smile.

~ ~

Rikard then arrived at the training ground where Edward sparred with the other knights while his mother looked at his progress.

"Edward. We have been called to battle. You will come with us," said Rikard.

Both Evelyn and Edward were surprised about this. Edward was just at the age of fourteen. Even if he showed exceptional skill with the sword it was still considered extremely barbaric to send such a kid into the battlefield.

"No. He will not go to war. He is just fourteen!" Evelyn yelled.

"Let the boy earn his spurs. The earlier he goes to the battlefield the earlier he learns the truth. This will not be debated. You already had your way of him learning the way of the long sword, but now he has to learn the way of life," explained Edward and then left the training hall.

The next morning the knights left with Edward with them. A small force of grey skins of around 200 had come down from the mountains. The knights attacked showing no mercy to them. Edward was also pushed in the middle of the battle.

The grey skins fought with great tenacity. They were clearly better than the average soldier in the Jacob kingdom, but against the strong knights of the black sun, they had no chance of winning.

Edward didn't know what to do. He was completely terrified by all the bloodshed around them. Suddenly a grey skin attacked him. Even though it attacked slower than Evelyn he was having a hard time blocking the attacks. He was looking at his father who was standing at the back hoping he would come to help him. Rikard saw that his son was having a hard time, but didn't even flinch.

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Edward knew he had to win this fight. He then countered the attack of the grey skin and killed it by chopping its head off. Edward then forgot his fears and started to kill more and more grey skins. He wanted his father to acknowledge him.

After the battle was over Edward was covered in blood. Rikard still refused to go to his son and just commanded him like he was just one of his own men. Edward acknowledged it and just followed orders as a loyal knight would.

~~

At the age of sixteen, Edward had already taken part in many raids by the grey skins. Through them, he had garnered a reputation among the knights. He was a brutal warrior even at such a young age and he even got the nickname among the knights. The black prince.

Evelyn had started to grow worried about his own son. Edward had grown cold toward many people after witnessing so many battles. He had closed off his emotions so he could keep going through all those battles. Going through life and death at such a young age can do horrible things to a person's psyche.

When Edward was sixteen a message came to the Plangent castle. It was an order from the king to mobilize the knights of the black sun for battle. Rikard Plangent was ordered to lead them and take care of the enemies of the kingdom.

He called all the knights into the training hall. He then addressed them all.

"We have been summoned by the king to take care of an insurrection in the east. We will leave tomorrow morning. That is all," said Rikard to all his knights including Edward.

Evelyn had finally had enough. He went to Rikard.

"I am coming too!" said Evelyn to Rikard.

"Why would you?" asked Rikard.

"I am a swordsman. You know I am better than your average knight here. I am coming along," said Evelyn with determination to her husband.

"Do as you wish," said Rikard and then walked away.

~ ~

The next morning the knights started their march. Edward was surprised to see his mother among the soldiers. She was all armored up as well.

"What are you doing here?" asked Edward from his mother.

"I am here to defend you. That is what a swordsman does isn't it?" said Evelyn with a smile.

~~

After three days of march, they finally reached their destination. They were greeted by a local noble. He took them to a field. On the field were hundreds of peasants. None of them had weapons or even any kind of tools to even use as weapons.

They all were singing beautiful hymns. They were calling for more food and other basic improvements in living standards. None of them seemed hostile. The local noble had asked the king to take care of them since they had refused to work.

Evelyn, Edward, and many of the knights were confused about why they were there. Rikard then rode in front of his knights. He commanded his knights to draw their weapons and prepare to attack. All of them were shocked about this. Only Rikards face was unfazed.

"What do you think you're ordering them to do. They pose no threat. They even have no weapons. What you are ordering us to do would be a massacre," yelled Evelyn back at her husband.

"It doesn't matter what we are ordered to do. We must follow our orders. Edward!" the king said and yelled out for Edward.

Edward and Evelyn were shocked that his name was called.

"You will be leading the vanguard. Attack them now!" Rikard yelled.

Evelyn ran to his son. Edward was as confused. He didn't want to do what his father ordered, but he had a hard time refusing the order. His eyes were in shock and he froze onto the spot.

"Don't do this, my son. You are not a murderer. You do not have to do this," Evelyn yelled at her son.

"If you refuse this order it is considered insubordination and I will personally have to deal with you," said Rikard and drew his greatsword.

All the other knights were afraid of Rikard. His power was well known. Evelyn then came in between Rikard and her son.

"I will protect my son if you dare to do something to him! I will protect anyone here you dare to hurt!" Evelyn yelled and drew her long sword.

"Move Evelyn."

"Make me."

Rikard then tried to attack Evelyn. She was able to block the attack. Evelyn and Rikard started a fierce battle. Both were fierce fighters and swordsmen. Both the protesters and the knights looked in awe at two strong knights fighting each other. Still, it was clear the Rikard was stronger. Rikard was able to pin Evelyn on the ground. He then looked at a confused Edward.

"Kill all these protesters now Edward or I will kill your mother!" yelled Rikard.

Edward knew that he had to save his own mother. He was ready to attack. Evelyn then got a cut on Rikard's leg the was pinning him down and ran to her son. She hugged him. Edward was feeling extremely unbalanced.

"You don't have to do this. Be a better man," Evelyn said while hugging him.

Edward felt a warm liquid on his hand.

Your mother will always love you," Evelyn said with a small tear coming from her eye.

Edward then saw that Evelyn had a large cut on her back. Blood was flowing from it. Evelyn had just saved Edward from his own father.

"Run my son. Run away," whispered Edward to her son and gave him one of her gauntlets.

Edward started to cry. He then started to run away. Evelyn then turned around and was prepared to face Rikard. As her final act, he would hold of Rikard as long as she could to let Edward escape.

Edward ran to a nearby forest. His heart was beating like crazy. His entire world had fallen over him. He then heard clashes of swords in the distance. Then he heard a large cut and heard the scream of her mother. The clashes of swords stopped. Edward didn't stop running. He kept running away. He tough felt huge hatred. Hatred for his father.