"Thank you so much for coming," my father says to the gathering.

"Today, we celebrate an auspicious moment. My son, Adam, is a child no more. He is a man."

Cheers, and the clapping of the enthusiastic and the less enthusiastic spread.

"I'd like to thank the Li family for coming to this event. Soon our families will find unity."

More applause for the Li family.

"But," my father says. "This day isn't about long-winded speeches.

"Please, enjoy the feast."

More genuine applause goes out as the servant comes out with platters of meats, rice, noodles, and everything else.

Mai is energetically talking to our female cousins.

The male cousins keep their distance from me.

When I look upon my kin, I don't find support.

Rather, they look ready to kick out the chair from under me.

But, good food cures most of the enmity.

My mother entertains the ladies of the Li family.

My fiance isn't here. But, the second-born son of the main family, her brother, is present.

He's 17 or 18 to my 14.

His size is that of a fully grown man.

He comes over to me and leans on the table.

"So, little prince," he says. "You think you're good enough for my sister?"

I remain unresponsive as I feel excitement stir in my cousins.

My father rises. But, I shake my head.

Not all of life's trials can be handled by a parent.

The bruiser seems unmoved by my silence.

"Book smarts alone aren't enough for the Li. One must have power and courage."

I know what this is leading to.

"I hear the young master has taken up the sword."

His voice intentionally carries across the banquet hall.

"I'd like to test this skill. That is if this little man is brave enough."

Murmurs of agreement come from the men of my clan.

I stand and look up into the face of my challenger.

"I accept."

Electricity passes through the crowd at the promise of battle.

The man I face smiles.

"Good."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

I lead a procession to my training courtyard.

Not all of the women have followed. But, Mai and her friends find the best vantage point.

Smirks can be seen on the faces of my male cousins. The promise of the little prince's humiliation getting the best of them.

Two wooden swords find their way into our hands.

"You ready, young master?" he growls with unrestrained aggression.

"Yes."

The battle begins with silence.

Both of us have solid defense and footwork.

He tests me first, tapping the sword at my head.

I easily bat the strike aside and advance. But, his feet carry him away.

A bead of sweat forms on his brow as we return to our defenses.

This time, I break out for him.

Without my spiritual energy, I'm bound to the strength of a 14-year-old.

I can't beat him in strength.

But, practice and experience guide me through a routine meant to break a fighter's defenses.

The audience is silent as I lead in with a sequence whose variables change with every strike.

The big man can't keep up and stumbles, landing on his butt.

I simply stand with my sword up waiting for our next engagement.

"I'll concede that you have some skill," he huffs. "But, I'm just getting warmed up."

I don't taunt him. I simply wait for him to return to a fighting stance.

He's more careful as he tests me. His goal was to get me to over-extend.

It's a technique for those who haven't drilled the routines thousands of times.

Sweat drips into his eyes. He wipes it away, leaving himself open.

I don't take advantage. This is a test of skill, not luck.

Once more, I break into a pattern of strikes I can improvise to break his defense.

Before the man knows what's happening, my sword rests an inch above his head.

Silence rings out as everyone is shocked by how fast the contest ends.

Silence, until laughter echoes throughout the courtyard.

"Ha-" he laughs. "You're alright, little lord.

"I haven't properly introduced myself. I'm Marshal Li. I've got a good feeling about you."

He offers his hand.

I take it. It's firm, but not hard.

My cousins look on in shock.

Those who envied me now don't know what to make of me.

Mai comes over with her entourage.

"So that's why you spent so much time training," she smiles. "You just wanted to look cool."

"So, I looked cool?"

"Oi, brother," she groans. "This will go straight to your head."

She waves me aside and returns to the feast. The rest of her girls blush as they move away.

"Come now, little prince." Marshal wraps an arm over my shoulders. "We must share a drink now that you're a man."

The feast carries on as we had left it.

Mother and Father smile at my return, no doubt having already heard the tale.

The Li delegation looks on approvingly as Marshal joins me at the seat of honor.

"You'll love my sister," he says. "She's got a sword instructor of her own.

"She's been practicing all her life.

"She's not the meekest of girls. But, she is pretty."

Marshal gets drunk while I sip at my drink.

It's not that I dislike drinking. It's simply that I know my body's limits are significantly lower than when I drank as Meridian.

Even so, I feel the flush in my cheeks.

"When I think back on the civil war we almost had, I can't help but think of how fortunate we were to avoid it."

"Aye," says another voice. "We were fortunate that insurgent died. What was his name again?"

A few incorrect guesses are shared before someone says it.

"Oh, yes. It was the traitor Meridian. If we hadn't killed him, the peasants likely would have risen and killed off the royal family.

"Forget about the royal family. He went to war with the martial sects."

"It's behind us," one man says. "There's nothing good about talking about ghosts."

I find myself agreeing with the sentiment.

"What are you talking about behind us? We've been on the cusp of civil war ever since."

Despite Meridian dying, I think, the factions and hatreds have lived on.

The party carries on till the family heads each congratulate me and move on.

Dad comes over to me with a smirk on his face.

"You hold your liquor well, my son."

I smile a tired smile.

"Thank you, Father."

Go on, get some sleep.

My path to my room is uneventful.

I begin purging the alcohol with my spiritual energy.

The intoxication wears off as I meditate.

With my coming-of-age ceremony complete, I will face a world of contradictions.

The civil service examination is two years away. And, I face the dilemma of maintaining the tutors that I already have or going to the Royal Academy.

Much as I respect the tutors, I'm coming to view a lot of my workload as repeated material.

The Royal Academy is a prestigious institution to enlighten the best of society. But, more realistically, this is where the youth of the elite make connections. Factions dominate the school. To go there is to enter a world of cold war.

It's that or the Military Academy.

One brings connections in high society and the other connections in the martial sects.

As Adam, I don't feel beholden to the causes of Meridian.

Only now do I realize how little he knew.

I meditate on my options.