The King of Caerulues council chambers were vast and cavernous, its ceiling supported by towering columns adorned with intricate carvings and patterns. Sunlight streamed through stained glass windows, casting colorful patterns on the polished stone floor. A long, oak table dominated the center of the room, around which four advisers, their faces etched with seriousness. At the head of the table, a throne of gleaming gold and velvet stood tall, occupied by the King, his crown glinting in the afternoon light. The air was thick with tension as the council members sat ramrod straight as the Kingdom's future sat on a knife's edge.

King Varric finally spoke, breaking the tension in the air. His words were heavy with authority: "We cannot allow our enemies to believe we are weak. A show of force is necessary to maintain our position of strength in the region. We must demonstrate that any aggression towards us will be might in kind."One of the four councilors stood from his chair and bowed at the waist before speaking, "Your majesty, I agree. The insolence and arrogance of the Salubritas have gone unchecked for too long. I proposed we station as strong force along our northern border as an act of deterrence, and if provoked, we are positioned to make an immediate attack."Another councilor stood and bowed before King Varric and asked, "Your majesty, if I may?"Sighing, the King motioned to continue and said, "Yes, Rex, you may, but how many times have I told you that within these walls, you do not always need to ask for permission to speak? It's a council room for a reason, not a decree hall."

"Of course, Your Majesty," replied Rex before continuing to address both King Varric and the other councilors. "I do not have any disrespect for the plan you are proposing, Councilor Harper; however, I wonder if that is the most prudent move this Kingdom should make at this juncture. The Salubritas are one of the few countries in the region that have not completely fallen into ruin in the past century. A test of military might between our two countries may result in the complete and utter destruction of the entire region." Murmurs of agreement could be heard from the King and the other councilors, including Councilor Harper. "What I propose is something a little more reserved but still sending a strong message." Said Rex, continuing to explain his plan. At its conclusion, the King barked with laughter, "Rex, you sneaky man. If this plan works out, then Caerulues will get the respect of the surrounding kingdoms and increase its wealth. Shall we put this plan to a vote?"

Ten minutes later, Rex walked out of the King's Council Chambers with a content smile on his face. His plan was going smoothly. He just hoped he wouldn't get caught or the King would have his head on a pike. Smoothing his face, he headed towards his appointed suites within the castle. He had been a councilor for this Kingdom for nearly 30 years, and he was still in a rush every time a new scheme was coming into motion.

Entering the suite and closing the door behind him, Rex looked over the chambers that he and his wife had called home for the past few years. The suite was a testament to their wealth and power. The bedroom was a spacious chamber with a four-poster bed draped in velvet curtains. Sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows, casting colorful patterns across the polished wooden floor. A large fireplace roared in the corner, casting a warm glow on the room. In the adjoining study, a grand writing desk was piled high with papers and books. The walls were lined with tapestries depicting scenes from his family's history, and a portrait of his family's founder hung above the fireplace.

Rex's eyes were immediately drawn to the woman striding towards him. His wife, Mella, held a statuesque figure with a mane of rich, dark brown hair; her gaze was a mesmerizing blue that always seemed to catch the sunlight. Rex had fallen for her as soon as he had laid eyes on her nearly 40 years ago. Besides her beauty, Rex fell in love all over again as he had gotten to know her. Her intellect was as sharp as a scalpel, and her tongue as sharp as a whip. Together, it had only taken ten years to rise in the political arena of Caerulues. With a shrewd understanding of alliances and a knack for exploiting their rivals' weaknesses, they quickly rose from obscurity to become the most powerful couple in the Kingdom. Their influence was felt in every corner of the realm; their name whispered in hushed tones of both admiration and fear. Although many outside the Caerulues court would attribute their meteoric rise to good luck, those at the top knew that the pair was ruthless and had clawed and fought to the top.

"So, did the King accept our proposal?" asked Mella.

"He did! We must send out messengers immediately if we want the right people in the right places." Responded Rex. Mella handed over three letters already sealed with wax.

"Already done, they just need to be delivered," said Mella.

Walking over, Rex kissed Mella on the check and said, "What would I do without you,"

Snorting and smiling, "You'd still be a nobody local lord if it weren't for me and my brilliance."

Rolling his eyes, Rex went to the door before turning back and saying, "I can't wait to call you my queen." And left the room.

Mella stood in the room with a satisfied expression on her face as she rolled the words over and over in her head. "All hail Queen Mella!"

—-------------------------

It had been a very long week for Caius. The Caravan had slowly moved through the forest, covering mile after mile. They had moved out of the forest's heart as the trees were slowly becoming thinner and the number of clearings was slowing growing. All the while, both Silas and Katelyn had been thoroughly beaten Caius in body and mind over the past few days. In the mornings before the Caravan departed, Silas and Caius would practice the way of the sword. At first, Silas insists that Caius get used to the weight of a heavy log as a weapon and perform various physical exercises and stretches.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Silas said, "The body needs balance, flexibility, and strength. Without these, your skills will be limited when wielding a sword."

Caius asked, "Stretching, what is the point of stretching when I have sharpened steel?"

Frowning, Silas said, "Stretching is vital for any warrior. It prevents injuries, improves your range of motion, and helps you maintain balance. Think of your body as a bow. If it is too stiff, it cannot be drawn back as far, and your shots will lack power."

Nodding in understanding, Caius asked, "And strength training is that to improve my speed and power?

Smiling, Silas said, "Strength is essential for wielding a sword with power and precision. But remember, it is not just about brute force. You must train your muscles to work together in harmony. Focus on exercises that engage your core, legs, and arms. Remember, consistency is key. Even a small amount of practice every day is better than a lot of practice once weekly."

And with that, I found Caius dripping with sweat every morning, sore, and undeniably tired before the Caravan had even started their trek through the forest. During Caius's time riding in the cart with Silas and Katelyn, Caius came to understand true mental fatigue. Katelyn was a ruthless teacher. As Caius was unfamiliar with a vast majority of the basic subject matter of the world, Katelyn took it upon herself to ensure that Caius had at least a common knowledge base. This included memorizing noble families in the surrounding areas, everyday slang, the different money systems, and exchange rates, but most of all was magic.

The field of magic was vast and was ever-changing as new discoveries were constantly being made. The runic language that seemed to govern the laws of magic was always being improved upon through trial and error. All of the schools were dedicated to improving and discovering new runic shapes and formations. Caius was shocked when Katelyn explained, "Now remember, Caius, runic formation can be simple basic form. For example, a basic fireball runic formation is the rune for the fire that has arching lines that condense the mana in a spherical shape. Without those arching lines that tell the mana what shape to take, you may end up with an explosion of fire rather than a stable fireball."

Another field of magic that greatly interested Caius was that of enchanting or the formation of permanent runic formations. He had read in the book Katelyn had lent him that runic formation, if put into a series, could be chained together to do great works. The book gave the example of Tearael, which had a magic barrier that could be activated along its walls to stop the massive super storms that sometimes released destruction across the countryside. The barrier was made of pure mana that was attuned to air and water and acted as a filtration system to eliminate strong winds and water vapor. The runic formation on these walls was constantly checked to ensure that degradation of the formation did not happen.

Other examples of enchantments were that placed in and on magic swords. These enchantments, such as durability or sharpness, could range greatly in their function. Other such enchantments could have performed runic spells inlaid within them that the user just needs to charge with their own mana.

Caius wished for one of these runic blades. He could picture himself standing in front of a mysterious foe with a blade in hand, releasing fireballs or condensed water drills at an enemy, all before striking them down.

Just the other day, Caius asked Silas about runic blades: "Silas, do you carry a runic blade?"

Silas pulled his sword from the scabbard slowly before proffering it to Caius. "I do not wield a Bladesinger; a normal blade is all I need in battle."

"Bladesinger?" asked Caius in confusion.

"A Bladesinger is both a type of sword and a warrior. The sword is one that has enchantment ingrained into the blade during its construction. A Bladesinger is also a hybrid between a mage and one that follows a martial path such as the sword, spear, or bow. Bladesingers are considered some of the most dangerous people as they are considered masters at both their weapons and the craft of magic. You rarely find such a natural talent in both." Said Silas. His eyes gained a far-off look.

"Are there any Bladesingers in Caerulues? Do they take apprentices?" asked a feverish Caius.

"Whoah there, boy, "Laughed Silas, "You have yet to find your own spark of magic and have barely started on the path of the sword, and yet you wish to become a Bladesinger. Let's take it one step at a time first. "

"Do you at least think I can become a Bladesinger at some point?" asked Caius.

"That all depends on your magical abilities and your mysterious talent. You seemed to have the capability, but the follow-through is completely up to you, as even the most talented swordsmen and mages require years of training." Replied Silas.

Katelyn interjected, "Your magical abilities will also take time to refine to get to the point where potentially casting from the sword instead of your body is like second nature. Correct me if I'm wrong, Silas, but once the sword becomes an extension of both the physical and magical, will you be able to truly wield a Bladesinger and call yourself one."

Caius thought silently for several minutes, slowly turning over everything they had told him. In his heart, this was the path for him, and as if on command, the threads of the world once more appeared before Caius. One thread led towards the direction the Caravan was traveling, and it strobed to the beat of Caius's heartbeat. To Caius, it felt like his heart and destiny were urging him forward along this path.