He had to go for a stroll. The guilt he felt was overflowing over any other thoughts and the soft bed did not offer comfort Cormac would be able to accept at the moment. Aviana was missing from the lounge. She had not come back from the visit of the principal's office and Cormac feared the worst.

He fought with his thoughts from the moment he excused himself from Gavin and came into his room, but that might have been around two hours already. He knew what was going on and he was still cowering in his room, afraid to be included more in the situation.

Again it came, the usual fears of his bad qualities. The cowardice, the weakness. Again it hit him in his mind, in his heart. He was supposed to be strong. Not for the reason of his birth, but because of what he always wanted to be. Cormac wanted to be the kind of man to lead. To be strong, just, to be a pillar for those who might need the support. To be a force of good where it would be needed. But he had nothing to offer.

No. That wasn’t true. Now, he had something he could do about the situation. He could come clean. He could say what happened and clear Aviana's name.

He overpowered the little voices demeaning him. They were still there, trying to slow his step, but he ignored them. He walked out the lounge, heading to where he thought the principal's office might be.

He would say everything and what if Rodrick wanted a go at him again? He is welcome to try, Cormac would not be caught unawares again. He would run. He would run from the group cowardly. But he would not be a coward now. Not when it mattered.

With a renewed resolution Cormac walked fast across the stone paths. The sun was disappearing in the distance as the night began to take hold of the day. He walked with purpose, for the first time since…well…a long time.

His body must have still hurt, but he felt it none. The pill did wonders, he would have to thank Gavin later when they would meet.

He paid no mind to any of his other feelings or emotions, trying to grasp the determination with which he set off. He was like a real lord for once and he relished in the feeling. Enough to not realize that he had been lost for some time.

It only occurred to him when he was met with a dead end. A big stone wall at the end of a hallway. Brooms, buckets and towels were stacked in a shelves around. He was somewhere far away from his destination. But he knew the grounds fairly well by now, how could he just get lost?

He turned around, deciding to leave the mystery a mystery and find the way again. Only to find a man with long brown hair, a black suit with grey pants to match and of course, fine grey leather boots. He never saw his face before, but he was still sure. This was the man that snooped around in his mother's chambers, the one that got him in so much trouble.

He balled his fists by instinct, anger rising to his cheeks.

"What an awfully aggressive expression. You reek of animosity." said the man playfully, almost singing the words. "Fabulous."

"Who are you?"

"Oh, little old me? I am but a humble servant of course. Much less interesting than you, my liege." he moved from left to right, seemingly appraising Cormac from every angle. "Though if you forgive me, I did expect you to be more…" he

spread his arms wide apart, extending them and sweeping in a circle. "man-sized."

"What do you want from me?"

"Oh I would not dare expect anything from you, sir. I just came here to warn you, as is my duty." he stood at attention, his arms folded behind his back.

"Warn me about what?"

"Just that someone will come to kill you is all."

Aviana and her father never talked too much. She did not feel neglected or anything, but she shared no relation to the man, other than blood that is. All her time spent home was either with her tutors, her personal maids or when her mother had something to teach her about her rein. Even now, walking together about in the school premises, they walked silently. Neither comfortable to start the discussion.

Their quiet walk lasted a while, now the sun has disappeared over the west hills and their time was coming to a close. Much to her and probably her father's relief.

"How is class?" he asked awkwardly, looking into a seemingly random direction.

"Good." she replied quickly. "It's pretty good"

"That is good…yes. Do you still hold your wish?"

"Yes, I do.."

"As you wish, I will inform your mother." he looked down on his feet. "She will be upset to hear it."

"I know, sorry."

"I…I understand. You were given the space to make your own decisions, it would be hypocritical to not respect it .´Don’t worry, your mother will understand…in time." He turned around, a gentle yet somber smile across his face. "I will have to take my leave then. I hope that your stay will be most enjoyable. If you ever need something, you have but to ask."

"Yes father. Have a safe trip." she returned a smile of her own.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

The king waved her goodbye and walked away. Leaving Aviana alone and frankly, confused about how she felt.

She had this conversation with herself numerous times, always trying to decipher whether her feelings were genuinely a byproduct of her "rebellious phase" - as her mother called it - or actual desires. She couldn’t ever take her mother's mantle if she was half-hearted about it and this school proved underwhelming in her goal of emancipation.

She had autonomy, yes, but she still had a strict schedule she had to adhered to. She wanted to try something new, something…unusual?

Master Norman was skulking about around the corners of the highway, sniffing loudly. He was so invested in following the supposed scent, he did not even realize she was observing him. Suddenly his head jerked to a hallway and he started running fast.

She, completely confused and frankly taken out of her dilemma, followed suit. Whatever their training master was doing, it was impossibly weird.

"Kill me? Someone is going to come over here and kill me you say?"

"Yes, my liege."

"Why?"

The man giggled a bit, unbreaking his eye contact.

"It was a question. If you are really my servant, answer me."

"Oh, I am sorry my liege. I thought it a joke. Well they are coming to kill you for the fact you are a ruler of course. And a special kind at that."

"Explain."

"Sadly, I am forbidden to uncover any secrets to you." The servant only shook his head. "Frankly, even my warning has been me crossing a line. But I wouldn’t let my liege get himself killed. What servant would that make me?"

"Can you fight them then?"

"Unfortunately, no. Believe me, my days are lazy and long, since you are not fit yet to rule. I hope I don’t offend, but I sincerely hope you will get stronger soon. At least strong enough to command me."

"Command you?"

"A mistake! My tongue can be as fickle as gamblers purse. I cannot explain any further."

"What kind of servant are you then? You can't tell me anything, you can't fight when I need you to. What can you offer me."

"I can offer thee my faith, my liege." he said, looking serious for the first time since he saw the man. "Faith that thee will be able to break the cursed chains that bind all. Patience and faith in thee, my liege, is all I have to offer. For now at least. Now if I may, I would advice thee to brace thyself. The murderer is well on his way." The man gave Cormac one last slight bow, then disappeared into a cloud of mist.

Cormac stared at the droplets of water, mouth agape. When he noticed movement behind the little flying crystals of water.

Someone was running at him. Very fast.

His sense of danger flared and Cormac jumped to the side. Narrowly missing the small dagger poised to pierce him.

Now that the running man came closer, Cormac could make out Master Norman. Before he could react in any way, his master slashed with the dagger at his side, not connecting by hair's length. Cormac took a few steps back, jerking from a swing of Norman's other hand. Spit flew at him from his Masters mouth.

He was backing to a wall and he knew it. With every step he took from the weapons reach, he was coming closer to a wall, coming closer to a place he couldn’t run away from.

"Stop running lowly ruler. I know you Cormac, your lungs will give out before your legs, but they will in the end. If you stop now, I will make it quick!" Norman shouted at him, more saliva dropping from his mouth.

Cormac continued to dodge, too preoccupied to even register Norman's words.

When he felt his back make contact with the wall. Then the time seemed to stretch on endlessly.

Cormac saw the daggers blade coming ever closer to his ribs. Saw the crazed expression on his teacher, a crazed expression he saw once before. The spasming of Norman's muscles and the unnatural way he moved. He saw it all, but that was all he could do. Watch.

When a blur entered his view. A blur of red and black jumped at Norman, shoving him to the side.

Norman dropped the dagger during the flight, landing on the ground with a loud thud. Cormac still stood there. Paralyzed.

Aviana had to act quick. The tackle was all she could think off, but that put her in a bad spot. Norman was definitely stronger up close and she was as close as she could get.

A growl sounded from the man and she instinctively pushed herself away from him, only to see a hand grasp the empty air where she was moments before.

Twisting her body she delivered a kick to her masters head and continuing with the motion jumped a little further still.

But Norman seemed unaffected, as he jumped back on his feet. Rushing to her.

She had to dodge the number of blows coming her way. One arm swished above her head, while another she had to block before it connected with her ribs. That made her slow down from backing up, enabling Norman to follow quickly with a punch from the other hand. She dodged down, punching with her own hand as she again twisted from the other.

It connected with his thigh, but he did not stop, nor did he slow down. He kicked with his leg, hitting Aviana across her face. Blood streamed from her nose and tears rose into her eyes. She blinked rapidly to move them away, defending herself more with instinct than her blurry vision.

Her eyes cleared right the moment that her opponent allowed her a little respite, just for his leg to connect with her stomach again. Making her sharply exhale.

His hand connected with her throat and he hefted her to the air. She quickly stabbed with her hand, piercing his eye with her nails.

Norman only shouted, but tightened his grasp, stopping the airflow to her lungs.

Cormac watched as Aviana was slowly fought into a corner, he continued watching when she was kicked and continued still when Norman held her in the air. The girl that tried to save him was turning red, her face full with pain and blood.

Her eyes trailed to him and he looked into them.

Then he awoke from his slumber.

Quickly picking the dagger from the ground, he jumped. Piercing his Masters neck.

Norman's blood red eyes cleared, his anger giving way to confusion. He dropped Aviana, who started grasping for air on the ground. Then he looked at Cormac.

His eyes were wide, as he couldn’t comprehend the situation he was in. And just like that he fell to the ground. A fountain of blood spraying from his neck, his eyes still the eyes of a lunatic. Exactly like the prisoners from the execution.

Cormac dropped on his knees next to Aviana, making sure she was ok. She managed to breathe, which was a much bigger relief than Cormac expected.

He sat there bloodied on the ground, with Aviana at his side and a corpse of his mentor to keep them company.