I stood outside the palace, looking into the city. My father and his army embarked into the aerial ship outside the city walls. This was one of the few times I was allowed to leave the confines of the palace.

My mother and I were driven in a chariot with commander Salam. I looked to the denizens, who were both joyous and sad over the occasion. Flowers rained. Garlands were passed. Tears were held. And thoughts of the dead seemed to pass by the faces of all.

The buildings of cylindrical form effaced the earth. The stone of the ground shook with the footsteps of the multitude of horses. The wind of the god Vyaytah blew with ease upon the robes of the Marhan. As if to try to calm their sorrowful hearts.

At the exit of the gates, a grand plain with farmlands abound spread into the horizon, surrounded on the sides by great hills and mountains. The aerial ship of whose great pyramid form towered above even the highest structure of the city disembarked half a mile away.

My father shouted, “Wait for us, my people! We shall return victorious, as we always have! That One and All shall manifest in you.”

And the people shouted, “As in you! Hasvyan!”

I wouldn’t see my father for some time. Each time he left, my mother would try to stifle her tears. Her hope was waning, as she could see the visible luster that before fully encased my father, slowly vanish as the years passed. Adding to her worry was that the light of my father hadn’t yet passed to me as had already happened with my forbears.

There wasn’t much that I could do in that situation. I held to my mother as I did before and said, “It will be alright, mother. Father will return, as he always has before. I am here for you, and will be always.”

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A few months passed from his departure. I was kept to my devices while continuing my studies alongside the ministers and officials. Learning the ways of administration, language, history, tactics, and much more, all prepared for the role I was eventually to succeed.

Commander Salam took it upon himself to begin my physical training. I wasn’t a very sturdy individual by any means, but I had the fortitude and stamina to keep with the long days of practice.

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Meditations in the early morning, physical exercises just before dawn, and then hours upon hours of learning the art of the blade. I was given a mock wooden practice sword, as was par for the course.

As the days passed, I found that, while my swings became stable in their motion, they weren’t necessarily effortless. The wooden sword was laced with earth, and this earth seemed to grow in size. By the end of the first month, it had completely eclipsed the wooden form.

I didn’t complain. I had to fortify myself, if I were to master the arts by the time I was to compete for Viruka’s hand.

Though I didn’t wish to admit it, she had enamored me so. Enough for me to feel it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to marry her. Even with doubts, it hurt to think another could take her away.

As such, my resolve took me to greater heights, where even as a child I was able to hold my own against commander Salam.

A day came where he put me to test.

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At the side of the palace, there was an area meant for stationed soldiers to rest and spar. But now it had turned almost into a small arena. All the soldiers had left their posts to watch what was certain to be a match worthy of spectating.

Commander Salam and I looked to each other from opposite ends.

He was dressed in uniform, while I donned armor alike to my father’s, though, of course, of a fit that was snug against my small frame. Alike to the soldiers and Salam, my fhorlia was scaled. I would’ve felt burdened by the weight of the armor had my body not already fortified from the commander’s rigorous regimen. I was ready.

Our blades were at our sides. And we each looked intent on victory. The murmurs and clamor of the soldiers slowly died down.

When silence was achieved, Salam spoke, “Now we shall engage in battle, Prince Yurva. Long have you practiced in the ways of our forbears, and now is time for you to put your efforts to test. Let us see how well you fare against me. While I promise no reward, if you can overpower me, then the road ahead will indeed prove fruitful!”

The commander made it seem I had a chance at winning. This struck me as rather odd, but I gave it no mind. At the time, he perhaps said as such to give me more resolve toward victory in our fight.

Whatever the case was, I was ready for the first battle where blades of steel would clash. While I had learned much of the ways of combat in my previous life, nothing could compare to how we would clash.

We posed ourselves for combat. We drew our breaths and struck the blades into the dirt. Wind arose from the blades and pushed the audience back a few steps.

We brought our blades to hold and pointed them up. And as the ritual proceeded, we rotated the blade slowly around, till at last, we angled them toward each other.

The stage was set for battle.

“By the rules of war, we do now engage! Having sought the permission of all elders and related associates, we do now face each other. Look upon us with favor, forces of the world. Let the Light ever shine among us. May the Gods and Benefactors pronounce this battle!”