Reaching the top, I follow him as he walks to a side room. The light reflecting off metal catches my eyes as the door opens. Three sets of metal armor on mannequins, but one set draws my eyes immediately. An impossibly black armor, accented in gold with a green leaf over the heart. It appears to absorb the light around it, entranced, I step toward it. A hand quickly covers my eyes and turns me around.

“You should know better than to look directly at it for so long.” The serious tone catching me off guard. “Three seconds at most, and you must look away.”

After he uncovers my eyes, I apologize before turning around. Watching him as he walks over to the last stand, and begins putting on the set of armor. Looking back at the first, I notice the feeling of a pull. Constantly making me take glances at it, trace the lines of gold accenting, moving in weaves in an odd pattern. Tearing my eyes away is difficult, having to make a conscious effort not to stare.

“Lylie.”

The serious, deep voice catching my attention again. “Sorry, I’m trying.” A slight thread of fear and uncertainty lace and weave through the words as I begin to feel myself wanting to turn back to look. Feeling myself picked up, we move into the hallway.

“It’s okay Lylie, I’m not upset.” kneeling down I feel the gloved hands on my cheeks. “Look at me Lylie.”

Looking at my father, I feel his thumbs under my eyes. His eyes staring into mine as he opens mine further. The itch of air turns into a soft sting, as his face moves closer. “You’re developing quickly, that's my girl.” He lets go of my face as he stands. “I’m going to have to cover that armor."

“What was happening?”

His smiles wider down at me, a look of pride on his face. “I believe you are starting to form a mana core."

“Cool! What’s tha-”

“Don’t bother asking, you’re years away from it mattering. I’ll tell you when the time comes. Now, wait out here, I need to get the rest of my equipment.”

A mana- Nows my chance!

I quickly move to the staircase, and take a second to look around. Seeing I’m alone, A phantom sense of pressure on my back goes mostly ignored. With a tight grip on the railing, I make my way to the bottom.

“Ly-”

“Dad, here!”

Another feeling of excited jitters flows across my body as I see my dad at the stairs. Walking swiftly, the metal easily moves with his body. Helmet held firmly to his side, bright smile on display.

This kid really liked armor, though I guess it is kind of cool. Letting myself act with less restraint, I immediately feel a rush of joy and wonder. Knees pumping in childish excitement. Joyous memories of my new dad run through my mind as I calm my own memories and thoughts.

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No, these are my thoughts and memories too. This IS me, I just have additional memories.

“Come on Lylie, we can't be late.”

Bouncing with excitement, switching between hops and runs as I move. The excitement held on a leash as my hand remains firmly held, preventing me from racing around. Remaining content in just allowing the emotions to flow, to feel the excitement my new memories feed me. The amused deep chuckle mixing with my own light cackle.

The hallway is made of sturdy gray stone, tall arched windows allowing the streams of the morning light to filter in. Occasional etchings and marks scar large stone bricks. That seems kind of uniform, is there a purpose? Tapestries and what appear to be rugs are hung, adding a myriad of colors.

As we make a turn, I see railings, angled and descending. Fuck, another staircase. As we near, I feel I feel my grip tightening on the hand of my dad. The large calloused hand provides a small sense of assurance as we near. Even still, I feel myself falter at the beginning, unable to make the first step. Quit hesitating, you’re giving yourself away. I feel the smile leave my face, as I ready to force myself to move.

With a quick look over my shoulder, I catch movement in the corner of my eye. With a barely contained shout, I feel my body struggle briefly at the feeling of weightlessness. Though brief, I doubt it was unnoticed, as I lie cradled.

My father quickly makes his way down the stairs, the occasional kiss on the forehead giving away the ease in which I’m seen through. As I feel my grip tighten, I again feel the tickle of a thick beard, and lips on my brow.

Reaching the bottom, I’m gently set back down on the ground, as we continue the trek. The hallway begins to narrow visibly, all windows disappearing as we reach a set of large double doors. Intricate stamps of lines seem engraved in the metal rivets of the door.

The symbols definitely do something, probably some sort of defensive magic? That would mean the stone bricks are enchanted as well. I should check around, see if I can notice differences.

Only a single door is opened, before we exit. The heat feels almost physical in pressure as we step past the archway. The sudden, unexpected change of temperature briefly steals away my breath. How is it so hot? Was there AC inside? My eyes slowly adjust to the dizzying reflection off of the white stone walkways. As we walk the distant ringing of metal and shouts enter my ears.

“Dad going to train too?”

“No, just going to watch today, have the boys run through a few drills and spar.”

Following the walkway, we make a turn. As sounds grow louder a skip returns to my step as I try to rush forward. My dad picks up his own speed, as we make a final turn, passing under another set of arches. I feel my brows rise with the widening of my eyes; dozens of circles have been marked out in the hard-packed dirt, enclosed by a waist-high fence. In each ring, pairs of men, and women alike are engaged in fierce practice bouts with metal rounded swords and wooden staves.

In one circle, a hulking man, giant even compared to my dad, fights. His shield is used more for bludgeoning as he swings it around, with the occasional swing of a wooden club. The man before him, tall and lanky, only meets the giant’s chest. He dodges and deflects, always circling toward the man’s right. Wow he’s actually hol- A loud crack resounds as the man trips, and the giant didn’t waste a second before delivering a heavy blow to his head.

In another, two women fight with staves, both tips painted red. The jab, twist and dance around each other, carefully balancing offense and defense. Seconds pass, as they're both breathing hard, neither giving ground. Wood clacks as they try to deflect and break the other’s guard.

In the next, two men wrestle in a clench as the sound of metal rings out. Metal gauntlet striking full helmet, the arm holding a sword trapped under the arm of the man swinging. His legs buckle, but he doesn’t give up, raising his other arm in defense. Undeterred, the blows rain down, before finally, he knocks his opponent unconscious.

My eyes are caught by white and green robes as a woman makes her way into the first ring. Oh, Is she a healer? I try to step closer and observe, but I'm stopped by my father. I still catch the sight of glowing light as the woman appears to draw something in the air. Eyes fixed, I watch as the lanky man stirs awake. That was fast, though I don’t know if it healed possible trauma, or only awoke him.

I feel a hand press to my back, as it leads me to a shaded area. A small obstacle course, possibly for children?

“Stay away from the rings, but I have already gotten permission from Lord Gregor for you to use the course as long as no pages are training. Never come here without me, you are not yet old enough to be here.”

“Thanks daddy!” I give an excited shriek before hugging him, eyes firmly locked on the course. Before I get the chance to move to it, I’m stopped again.

Walking me toward the middle of the course, he points out a rope wall, elevated wooden posts and a knotted rope for scaling a small wall. “I’ll have one of the apprentices keep an eye on you, but be careful.” As he starts to walk away, he hesitates and kneels down. “Don’t tell your mother, this is our secret so you can train like you wanted.”

Quick flashes of memories, a conversation. A smile nearly splits my face at the memory. “I CAN BE LIKE DADDY?!” I feel my body vibrate with pent up excitement and anticipation. Wholly unable to suppress the overflowing glee, and admittedly, a little unwilling.

I see a few heads turn, I imagine a smile under their visors as I see a goofy grin on my father’s face.

“I’ll do what I can Lylie, now have fun, but be careful.”