Oberon

I sidestepped Henri Serres sword swing and watched him with a bored expression. He stared at me his eyes focused and approached cautiously leading with his sword.

How dull. Despite being 2 years older than me and having a reputation as one of the most skilled young swordsmen in Vesterwood he is not a challenge. Time to finish this.

Henri attempted a feint, but I had already seen through it. Clang! I blocked and looked into Henri’s surprised eyes then kicked him in the abdomen. He stumbled back creating some distance which I quickly closed and then laid my longsword on his shoulder the edge touching his neck.

“Yield.” He said sighing.

I sheathed “Azure’s flight” and stepped back. “Thank you for the duel,” I said intending to leave the training yard of his family’s estate.

Henri ran up to me and put his hand on my shoulder. Don’t leave so soon. Come, join my family and me for dinner later today.” He said smiling and pointing out his family who were watching us with some other spectators close by.

Father told me to stay the day and get close with the Serres family, but I have already done what I wanted to do. I have no interest in staying here any longer.

“I appreciate the invitation, but I promised my younger brother I would spend the day with him.”

“Oswald your half-brother? He is already 13 years old I don’t think he will mind if you stay, kids at that age are at their most independent.”

You’re not wrong, and we are not particularly close I was just using him as an excuse to politely decline. How did you not see that?

Annoyed I shrugged off his arm and started to leave again. “You may be right, but I made a promise and I do not wish to break it.”

“All right, but I will at least walk you out. I want to talk about our duel.” He said walking next to me.

What is there to talk about, I won you lost.

“How were you able to read all my moves? I thought I had you with the feint in the end but seems you anticipated that too.” He spoke looking at me curiously.

Your body language gave you away and your swordsmanship isn’t anything special, it was not hard to predict.

“I was already familiar with your swordsmanship and as the duel went on I was able to somewhat guess what your moves were going to be.”

He shook his head looking impressed. “I see why you are called the “Prodigal Swordsman,” though you are only 16 years old I do not doubt that in the future your name will go down as one of our Kingdom's greatest swordsman.”

Obviously. There is close to no one in this Kingdom who can hope to match me. The only ones I am aware of that I think can put up a fight are Sir Raphael, The Marauder, and maybe that brute Sir Foltest. Perhaps I will find more worthy opponents in the tournament of champions.

“My thanks for your compliment and that has always been my intention, to become the greatest swordsman this Kingdom has ever seen,” I said in a better mood now.

Henri laughed. “That’s all well and good but you can’t just let your life revolve around swordsmanship especially at such a young age. Have some fun, find some new hobbies and interests, are you not engaged? Spend some time with your fiancé and get to know her.

Annoyed again I sighed. “Swordsmanship is my hobby, and it is fun for me. I don’t see why I need to waste time finding something else that I might now even enjoy. As for my engagement, I am not engaged yet, but it seems that the nobles of Vesterwood have gotten word of my father's talk of engagement between me and the daughter of Lord Eldridge Varon.

Henri whistled in what I thought was appreciation. “I only heard that you were getting engaged not that it was going to be to Eleonore Varon! She is only 1 year younger than you and a well-known beauty even now, just imagine what she will look like when she matures a little.” He turned to stare at me with mock jealousy. “You are a lucky young man Oberon were I not already engaged I would be pursuing Lady Eleonore.”

I snorted. “There is more to people than beauty, I have met with Lady Eleonore and while she is indeed beautiful I share nothing in common with her and felt nothing for her.”

He sighed and clasped my shoulder. “I can guess that the 2 of you barely spoke to each other when you met. It’s okay, the first time meetings are always awkward, and you cannot expect to feel anything for each other the first time you meet. It is why I told you to get to know her better, you never know, you might find that you have more in common than you thought.

It’s true that Lady Eleonore and I barely spoke to each other. She was rather cold and only spoke to answer my questions politely. She preferred sipping her tea and reading her book over having an actual conversation. I cannot imagine that I will have much in common with her.

Seeing that we were approaching the front door I decided to say my goodbye again. “I appreciate your advice and will consider it. Thank you for accompanying me but I must take my leave.”

Henri smiled and slapped my back. “Feel free to visit whenever you wish I would like another duel and an update on your relationship with Lady Eleanore.”

I tried not to roll my eyes merely nodding and left, making my way back to my family’s castle.

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“You’re back early Oberon we did not expect you back so soon.” My stepmother Ariane said when she saw me heading towards my room.

Ariane, married my father 1 year after my mother Helene died. Though I did not know my mother as she died when I was 2 years old I felt I owed it to her to not let this woman take her place especially since I always thought there was something off about her. She married my father when she was 19 years old, and he was 33 years old, so she still looked young 13 years later. Perhaps that is why I thought she was off; her appearance is the same as it was in my earliest memory of her.

“I finished my duel with Henri Serres faster than I thought so I was able to come back sooner.”

“I see, you’re father wanted you to get closer to the Serres heir so he thought you would stay the night and not return until tomorrow. You should go see him in his room he should be done talking to Oswald soon.” She said then walked away.

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I wonder what they are talking about?

I made my way to my father Louis Flamberges' room and stopped myself from knocking on his door when I heard Oswald and my father speaking.

“You are still young Oswald don’t compare yourself to Oberon.”

“But I heard that when he was my age Oberon was already gaining recognition as a talented swordsman!”

“Everyone has their gifts Oswald and Oberon's only gift is for the sword, I have higher hopes for you.”

“But my mother says that I have to be better than Oberon at everything and that includes swordsmanship.”

Seems like Ariane wants Oswald to take my place as heir of the Flamberge house and consequently the Vesterwood earldom as well. I thought she was up to something since she rarely allows Oswald to speak or spend time with me.

“Stop obsessing over swordsmanship and focus your attention elsewhere. Lord Eldridge wanted to engage his daughter with Oberon, but if I want to convince him you are a better choice then leave a better impression on her than Oberon did. We have set the date for tomorrow morning for the two of you to meet so do your best to win her over.”

What! It was Lord Eldridge that wanted the engagement, not my father? If he wants to engage the daughter of the second most powerful house in Vesterwood to Oswald does that mean he is considering making him his heir? I am not particularly close to my father, and I don’t love him, but I did not expect him to give my birthright away to someone else. For how long has he been planning this and why?

No longer able to hold my anger I opened the door startling Oswald and my father. I stared at Oswald’s grey eyes that he inherited from his mother, and I looked him over a younger slightly chubbier version of me. I turned to stare at my father’s black eyes but addressed Oswald. “Oswald, leave us I need to speak to our father.”

He got off his chair and looked at me with a troubled expression. “O-Oberon I didn’t know about Lady Eleonore.” He said before quickly leaving.

I already knew that Oswald was not to blame for this, he is just a child, and perhaps he does not realize the intentions of his father and mother. I took his seat across from our father’s desk and continued to stare until he spoke.

“How long were you listening?” He said slightly nervous.

“I heard what was most important like you wanting to engage Oswald to Lady Eleonore.”

“Oberon I did that for you as much as I did it for Oswald. You told me that you felt nothing for her and barely spoke to each other. You would have been miserable, so I wanted to save you from that.”

I nodded my head as if I accepted his answer. “So, I suppose that doesn’t change the fact that I am your heir?”

He at least had the decency to flush. “Oberon you are a swordsman, and you would make a fine knight, but you were not made for staying cooped up in a castle in a single territory and I don’t believe you have the temperament for ruling either.”

Again, I nodded my head as if accepting his answer. “Ariane had no say in this like all other matters then, and you in all your wisdom came to this conclusion on your own?”

This time I could see that he was angry. “Oberon! Do not mock me! I am your father and I make all decisions for this house and earldom on my own!” He breathed calming himself. “You will not be mistreated, and you will have more freedom to do what you want. Are you not participating in the tournament of champions in the Sagittarii duchy soon? Do you think you would be able to participate in tournaments and duels if you became earl? You have never expressed any desire to become earl I do not know why this should bother you.”

If you had asked me to pass over my birthright directly then perhaps I would have, but to try and give it away without so much as letting me know!

I glared at my father and spoke. “You are right. I never particularly cared about becoming earl of Vesterwood, but did you and your whore think that you could just pass me over and I would not say anything about it!?

“Oberon!” He yelled standing up.

I stood up as well and drew “Azure’s flight” placing the tip at his throat. He froze and stared at me with wide eyes.

“W-What are you doing!?” He hissed.

“Perhaps I should claim what is rightfully mine before it is stolen.”

He gulped and sweat dripped from his forehead. “O-Oberon I apologize for not letting you know of my plans beforehand and not asking you if you were okay with it. I see now that it upset you and I am at fault for the situation at hand. Now, put your sword down and we can talk about how to make this right.”

I heard footsteps approaching but I ignored them and continued glaring at my father.

“What a man the Earl of Vesterwood is, cowering and begging before his son.”

He flushed in anger and shame but did not say anything and then the door opened, and I heard gasps. I turned my head slightly but kept my sword at my father’s throat. I saw Oswald who was shocked had arrived with his mother Ariane who did not look surprised and instead I noticed a faint smile.

I see. She set me up. I am a fool for taking things so far there can be no reconciliation from this.

Behind Oswald and Ariane were 2 knights who looked back and forth between me and my father they looked shocked and conflicted. I took a deep breath and calmed down I had done enough and made my point.

Before I could sheathe my sword a dark impulse came over my and I drove my sword through my father’s throat. As he was choking on his blood I quickly turned around intending to finish the others off. I saw that Oswald was so shocked that he fell backward, Ariane looked confused and scared. She probably did not expect me to go so far. The knights were shocked as well but they were well trained and drew their swords intending to fight me no doubt, but they had to pick up Oswald who was on the ground first. I was quickly approaching and one of the knights stepped over Oswald intending to meet me and he hesitated, so I drove my sword through his helmetless face my sword going through his mouth and out the back of his head. I quickly pushed his body away and he fell on Oswald and the other knight. Before the other knight could react I cleaved his skull killing him instantly. Oswald was pinned down by a dead knight in plated armor and could not move so I turned towards Ariane who was trembling in fear.

“W-What have you done?”

“Was this not part of your plan Ariane? Did I go too far?” I said staring at her while placing my boot on the dead knight pushing him down further crushing Oswald who was underneath him.

“P-Please I-I’m sorry for whatever I did I-I’m sorry.” Oswald somehow got what he wanted to say out between sobs.

“Oberon for everything I’ve done I apologize I pushed you too far but my son your brother had nothing to do with it! He is innocent let him go! Please I beg you!” Ariane pleaded tearing up.

I nodded in agreement. “Yes, he is innocent his only crime was being born to a woman like you.” I brought my sword down and slashed his throat.

“NOOO!” Ariane ran to her son kneeling and placing her hands on his bleeding throat.

I kicked her away and stood over her. I dropped my sword and began to choke her. She looked up at me trying to slap me and continued struggling so I tightened my hold on her and eventually she stopped struggling.

I stood up numb, looking at what I just did, and noticed that Oswald was somehow still alive, and he was standing looking at me. The blood running down his throat and mouth made him look ghastly.

“Oberon is this what you wish you had done to us?

“Do you believe that this is the moment that your life turned out the way it did?”

“Maybe if you were not so prideful you would not have caused a scene and turned your father against you.”

“Perhaps what happened to you was for the best, you are a better person now. At least that is what you tell yourself.”

“Oberon!, Oberon!, Oberon!, Oberon!” My father, Ariane, the knights, and Oswald all stared at me and yelled.

I closed my eyes and covered my ears running from the room.

NO! This is not what I want. I am no longer what I once was.

“Oberon, Oberon, wake up, we’re here.” A gentle voice said grabbing my hand.

I was still running eyes closed but I followed that voice and squeezed the hand grabbing mine and then when I felt I reached the end I opened my eyes.

“Oberon, you’re finally awake we were waiting on you.” Val smiled at me and was letting go of my hand, but I held it tighter.

“Thanks for waking me up,” I said smiling back at her.

Perhaps she noticed that I had a bad dream because she leaned in to hug me and I held her tightly.

Cough! I turned and saw that Sir Foltest who was across from us was looking at us grinning, Lady Brigette next to him was blushing but didn’t look away. Lady Alexandria next to her had her head turned away from us but her eyes were sneaking a peek.

“Hahaha, it seems that I showed you all something embarrassing. Let us not dwell on it and enter Leonis.” I said pulling myself away from Val who reluctantly let me go.

I thought I stopped having those dreams. Are they a reminder or a warning I wonder?