***Hyperion Empire***

***Soltain City***

~~~Kana Kumio POV~~~

Soltain City is much bigger than my hometown. The walls alone seem to make the city feel like double the size than it actually is. I wonder how big it is compared to the capital?

When we entered the massive gates our carriage moved down the main cobblestone street heading straight to the castle. I looked out to see the street was as filled with as many people I have ever seen in one place. Stalls and shops were placed on both sides of the street and carriages were coming and going. There were shiny armored guards walking in groups with spears and there were also knights flying in the sky. I couldn’t believe this was Max’s home, it was just…just so big!

The guards and even some of the people stopped and bowed as we passed by. I even saw a girl who was probably my age looking at me and then bowing. I wonder where she lives? After the girl bowed, another few girls our age ran up to her and they ran off. They really looked like they were having fun, I wonder if Aunt Sophia would let me play with them sometime.

Looking back in the carriage, I saw that Arthur was asleep like usual and Max were looking at the people on the streets with rather unhidden arrogance. His pride has only been getting worse and he’s starting to get louder with it.

I looked at my Aunt Sophia and asked, “I saw some children playing near the shops can we go join them?” I made sure to bat my eyelashes and look up to her with my cutest expression I could make. That usually worked on both big sister Skylar and my auntie.

“Why would you want to spend your time with some dirty commoners? They have their place why we have ours.” Max replied.

Now I was mad, his pride was tolerable but there’s only so much I’m going to take from him. But before I could say anything my aunt’s face turned cold.

“Max by my right as your mother if you don’t fix that feeble little attitude of yours your father and I will chain you up in the castle until you drop the arrogant phase. You have been acting like a spoiled little piece of trash and just because I’m your mother doesn’t mean I won’t strip you naked and throw you out into the streets right now in the buff. I could expect that type of demeanor from other nobles but seeing it come from my own son just sickens me. You better drop your pride voluntarily or I’ll put you through experiences where you’ll never be able to respect yourself again. I care not if you chose to think yourself superior in your own mind but if you don’t change your haughty exterior by the time we reach the castle I will change it for you. Your actions only continue to embarrass me, your family, and especially yourself.”

I had to hide a giggle thinking what it would be like for aunty to throw out Max naked and in broad daylight. That would definitely knock him down a few pegs.

Max’s face scrunched up and turned almost as red as my hair. I could see and hear him gritting his teeth as he replied, “Sorry Mother.”

Aunty clearly was not in a good mood nor satisfied with his answer, the trip was long and we we’re all getting tired.

“Oh rest assured my son you will be sorry when training begins. I’ll be sure to tell your grandfather of your recent attitude and he’ll certainly make the proper ‘adjustments’.”

She then turned to me, “As for your question my darling I’m afraid we need to head straight to the castle. Your main teacher has no doubt made arrangements for our arrival. Perhaps at a later date.”

Knowing her current mood, I thought it would be good not to argue with her. I smiled showing off a mouth filled with my two sharp canines and plenty of baby teeth. “Ok aunty, I can’t wait.”

---------------------

Unlike my clan or Arthurs, the Soltain House was very small. My father told me that there were only five actual Soltains and that’s if you included Aunty Sophia even though she was only Soltain by name.

There was only one member of Max’s family I have yet to meet. Max’s grandfather was apparently a war hero in both the first and second wars and was once the Head of the House. In both wars he became well known because he was such a good leader. But Auntie told me that like big sister Skylar used too, he doesn’t like my family. I wonder what my family did to be so hated by both?

Aunty told me to just be myself with him and I should be fine. So that’s what I am going to do.

The man looked almost exactly like Max’s dad except he had blue eyes and his forehead had a line across it. His golden hair also seemed to be a little duller than Max’s dad. He wore plain looking leather armor under his fur lined cloak but had some really cool looking metal gauntlets on.

“From today onwards you three will be training with me until you go back to your own homes to learn family techniques. My training will be completely different from what you’ve previously underwent as I believe teaching through experience is the best way for students and soldiers alike to learn. I’m going to be honest, I haven’t seen you two boys in years and the Kumio girl is completely new to me. So today will be more of an introduction day.”

Behind him were racks of weapons all laid out for us to see. Some I recognized and others I have never even seen before.

“Today will be very simple. You will give me your name, your goals for the future, and then you will pick a weapon. That weapon will be with you at all times starting today. You will either hold it or carry it but you will not have it anywhere except on your person. Now I will start, for those of you who don’t know me my name is Maximus Soltain and I am your combat instructor.”

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“What about your goals and weapon?” I asked.

The older man glanced in my direction with an expressionless face and replied, “I have already accomplished my goals and only wish for the betterment of my family.” He looked back at the weapons, “I am also ‘proficient’ in all the weapons behind myself.”

“I want to go first! And can I start calling you grandpa because calling you Max is just going to get confusing?” I exclaimed with my hand in the air.

The man seemed a bit confused by my question and I looked over to see Aunty and a red-haired maid giggling. Did I do something funny? Max’s grandpa seemed to be really thinking because he was quiet for a bit.

He sighed, “I suppose so.”

I sported my foxiest grin, “Hello Grandpa Max my name is Kana and one day I want to be strong enough to be the Head of my Clan.” I said in a loud and determined voice. Continuing to walk over to the racks of weapons I noticed it got awfully quiet in the courtyard. Reaching my destination, I began to look over everything on display. My family had me working with daggers since I was younger but I didn’t really care for them. Big sister Skylar uses a spear which I always thought was cool too. I then looked over to the shelf with all the spears and longer weapons until I found the weapon I knew was meant for me. Long wooden shaft with an axe edge about two feet long, and a really sharp spear point at the end of the shaft. I grabbed the weapon with both hands and lifted it up, it was really heavy.

“This! I want a weapon like this to help me reach my goal!” I yelled so everyone in the area could hear me. Looking around I noticed most in the area with big round eyes and gaping at my words. But Aunty Sophia and Grandpa Max just started to laugh. Grandpa Max’s laugh was like a full blown roar and he was even clutching his stomach. What's so funny?

I started to get angry, Why was he laughing at me? “Listen up old man! I need to be stronger to reach my goal and I need your help! I know I may look like a little fragile girl but this is what I want and I’m going to do it no matter what you say!”

Grandpa Max lifted me and my weapon in the air with ease, a huge smile plastered all over his face, “Girl I will help you accomplish your goal if for the sole reason to spite your Kumio elders and traditions. I am going to help you reach your full potential and then some with a goal as great as that. And a halberd?” He looked over to both of Max’s parents, “Which of you have seen a Kumio use anything other than daggers!? And this girl wants a halberd! Hahahaha this is great!”

I was also happy knowing that Max’s grandpa wasn't just mocking me and will truly help me get what I want. He put me down and I had to catch the halberd and hold it in both arms. The weapon was almost three times my size after all.

“Girl you are a beastkin so you have slightly more strength than us humans but I would be lying if I said getting used to that weapon will be easy. Not only are you still young but a weapon like that requires the buildup of momentum to be truly effective. I would suggest just swinging it around now and then and getting used to its flow. You have a long road ahead of you but know I will help you where I can.” He ruffled my hair and then looked at Arthur and Max.

“Which one of you is next? I’d like to eat soon and this was supposed to be quick.” He said looking back down at me. I blushed red from realization and carried myself over to Max’s parents.

Aunty Sophia put me in her lap and the maid lady started stroking my tail. “Ah Kana you are such a good girl if we don’t fix my son soon you’d only be wasted being anywhere near him. I’d have to call off the agreement myself just to ensure your prosperity.”

I lifted my head up to get a better look at the woman I was sitting on. Tilting my face to the side, I said, “What do you mean Aunty?”

She sighed, “Oh nothing darling I was just thinking aloud.”

Arthur spoke up after my little showing.

“I guess I’ll go next. My name is Arthur and I don’t really have a goal at the moment. I know I want to keep training so I can get to a point where no one could hurt me, but besides that my mind is pretty open to future possibilities.”

He walked over to the weapons rack and I noticed his green eyes scanning over all the different armaments. Arthur then picked up two twin daggers and started spinning them with his fingers. “I’ll use these. There pretty light and I doubt they’ll be to hard to figure out.”

Grandpa Max nodded and Arthur walked over to us. All eyes were on my friend Max as he kept looking at the weapons.

“My name is Maximus Soltain II and mom said I was named after you, as for my goals, the only one I am sure about is I want to surpass everyone I meet. So far, all I’ve learned is it’s those with power who make the orders and those without power who have to listen. I’m going to be at the top so no one can boss me around!”

Grandpa Max just grunted. “Pick a weapon already boy I’m getting hungry.”

My friend immediately walked over to the rack with swords. He even looked at me and at my training halberd. Either out of pride or pure competitiveness he picked the largest sword on the rack and held it in both hands. The weapon easily shadowed over him and looked to be over five feet in length.

“A greatsword?”

“Yeah old man this is what I want to use. I need to be strong enough where I can easily use this thing with one hand.”

The older man nodded. “Very well, that's it for today. You will take your weapons wherever you go from now on until I say you can release them. We will begin real training before dawn of tomorrow.”

---Before Dawn---

~~~Maximus Soltain II POV~~~

I will never get used to getting up this early. I absolutely hate being up before the sun has even risen and I feel like one of those zombies Uncle William told stories about.

“Mornings before dawn will always be spent doing weapons training. As halberds and greatswords were weapons commonly used by the Soltains before me, I can teach both Kana and Max the Soltain greatsword and halberd techniques. As for you Arthur, although I consider myself proficient with daggers they are hardly my weapon of choice. Fortunately, my daughter-in-law is far superior in the use of daggers compared to me.” The old man said.

Mom stood next to the old man and spoke to Arthur, “While the others are training in Soltain fighting styles and techniques you’ll be learning from me. I learned how to use the daggers from your grandfather and I’ve even incorporated my own little tricks to make the best use of them. If you find yourself feeling more comfortable with other stances or attacks then feel free to use them. I’ll just make sure they are good enough.”

Arthur nodded. “Thank you for helping me Aunt Sophia."

“No worries darling anything for my little sister’s cute baby boy.” I think my mom still calls him cute because Arthur looks like a little boy version of herself. I mean they literally have the exact same coloring from hair, eyes, and even skin tone.

Arthur and mom went to the other side of the courtyard while Kana and I stood in front of the old man. Kana seemed to figure out how to balance her weapon on both her shoulders with her arms supporting it. I just kept my sword leaning on my left shoulder and had the tip in the ground. Grandpa said we had to keep the weapon on us at all times but nothing about carrying the whole weight of the thing every minute of every day.

“Starting now you will hold the full weight of your weapons in front of you with both your hands. If you drop the weapons before I say so I will restart my timing for both of you and you will do it again.”

I guess I deserve that.

Kana and I both picked up or weapons and held them out in front of us.

“Before you start I want you two to face each other with your weapons in front of you so you can see each other struggle. I noticed you both are competitive and I’m interested in learning who’s stronger.”

“What kind of question is that old man of course I’m stronger than her. This won’t even be fair.” I said.

Missing Kana’s mischievous look I heard her say, “You talk big Max but in all honesty you're probably the weakest out of the three of us. How about you shut your mouth and prove it?”

That done it. This little girl thinks she can ju-

“Both of you shut up and begin.”

I just smirked and we stared at each other with our weapons in front of us. Kana looked back at me with those big golden eyes of hers than always seemed to glow in the dark. The sun still wasn’t up yet so those eyes just continued to bore into me as we faced off. I don’t really remember the last time I truly looked at her but I recognized that determined face from seeing it plenty times before. It was a quality she had that I’ll admit to being a little jealous of. When she really put her mind to something, and I mean when she would shout out that she was going to do something, nothing would stop her from doing it. I remember watching her spend hours with my sister just to improve on her magic power. She was the definition of a hard worker, and I needed to match her in effort if I was going to win this.

If I want to surpass everyone I face I first need to surpass my best friend.