Chapter 40: Fencing class.

Jacob came to fencing class on Tristan's back.

Agatha had asked him to prevent the boy from walking too much because being barefoot could hurt him.

To the two boys, this seemed like an exaggeration, but Jacob found it fun to go horse, so he didn't protest too much.

Tristan liked the child and saw no problem wearing it.

When they arrived at the garden of the HONOR tower, where the day before Agatha had jumped into the lake that led to the bridge between schools, they saw the other princes gathered.

Tristan was thinking about just standing aside.

— Look, there are the boys!

Jacob pointed to the group of three boys they had seen that morning.

Tedros, Rhian, and Chaddick seemed entertained exchanging opinions about the next class.

Jacob urged him to go to the three princes.

Tristan liked Rhian.

But he was talking to Tedros and Chaddick.

He admired Tedros, but his presence was intimidating, and Chaddick… Chaddick just bullied him.

But for the sake of the boy on his back, he plucked up the courage and approached them.

The 3 boys greeted them animatedly, to Tristan's great amazement.

After talking to them for a while, he realized that maybe they weren't that bad.

After thinking this, he realized that they were not supposed to be bad.

They are princes and if they are here they must be the best of good.

Tristan felt a weight of his heart being lifted somewhat at the thought of this.

— Do you think it will come? — Chaddick suddenly asked in a low voice.

— Who? — Tristan asked, curious.

— Professor Espada - replied Tedros.

Rhian and Chaddick nodded.

— oh! — Tristan said understanding—I hope not—I comment absentmindedly as I remembered the day before.

He saw how the three princes and Jacob looked at him and blushed when he realized what he had said.

— It is that the Queen… Sophie – she corrected herself quickly while apologizing – asked me to fall on him with a sharp sword and well…

Tristan blushed and preferred to keep quiet.

— I don't think he was serious—laughed, Tedros.

— Sure? — chanted the others with questioning looks.

—…

Tedros didn't know what to answer.

The truth is, it was very likely that the girl was serious at the time.

But how to admit it would be the same as admitting that she was a "Bad Girl".

Neither he nor any other prince would ever say it out loud.

On the other hand, it would also worry Tristan more.

Yes.

I couldn't say because the conversation would only upset the boy.

Better to divert the topic.

— I don't think it's coming - Tedros concluded.

Resorting to return to the main topic.

The boys nodded and accepted the change of subject for the same reasons as their friend.

Jacob was proposing a cookie bet on whether the professor would show up when they saw a man approaching the garden.

From a distance, the most conspicuous thing was the sword at his side.

With a jeweled gold hilt in the shape of a western dragon, it appears to be on par with Excalibur.

The next thing to call their attention was their appearance.

For a second they thought it was Professor Sader, but they noticed that this man seemed to have a thicker build, plus he could obviously see.

Professor Sader, as everyone knew, was blind.

The stranger with a brisk step approached the beginning of the class.

— Good morning – greeting warmly.

His voice sounded deep and clear, brimming with confidence.

Tristan seemed to grasp something else, but he couldn't tell what it was.

— Due to extenuating circumstances—he began to explain—the fencing teacher decided to take a sabbatical.

— Wow! I'm serious about running away—one of the princes said, and everyone laughed.

— Who would have stayed? — Rhian asked from behind.

The laughter died quickly as they remembered that the man had perfect reasons for a "strategic retreat" and suppressed a shudder.

— I do not deny, nor do I affirm anything—replied the man in front of them—but the important thing is that I am now their new fencing teacher.

He proclaimed with dramatic reverence.

— My name is Stefan, Stefan de Galván you can call me…

— Dad! — They heard screaming from the bottom of the garden.

Jacob had been restless since the man arrived because he could not see him because he was too small.

Even on Tristan, the red-haired boy's head blocked his view.

In addition, his friend was not the highest prince.

Tristan, noticing the problem, carried it on his shoulders.

It was just then that Jacob looked up and saw Stefan introduce himself as the teacher, who shouted for his attention.

The princes watched as Stefan opened his eyes and practically shot out into that section.

Stefan found what he had been looking for since he arrived at school this morning.

— Jacob! — Threw herself at his son and lifted him off Tristan's shoulders as he held him close, letting out shudders of relief.

Jacob hugged him back tightly as the little boy burst into tears.

He hadn't noticed how scared he was.

Despite how great the school was.

I had really had a hard time since I arrived.

He slept alone, his clothes fit badly, and even though Ruby (His System) kept him in touch with Sophie, Adam, and Agatha.

And that Ruby herself kept him company.

It wasn't the same.

Adam was right to be worried when he arrived.

Jacob missed him, they had never been apart.

And within hours in Stefan's arms, when he finally felt safe, he collapsed.

Stefan comforted the little guy in his arms as he caressed his head tenderly.

He didn't expect to have the good luck that his son was right in his first class of the day.

But I was deeply grateful.

He didn't know if he would have been able to stay whole during this class or many more if he didn't get to know something about at least one of his children soon.

Stefan watched as all the boys stared at him.

And once the little guy cried out enough to smile back, he let him go.

Jacob stretched out his arms toward Tristan.

Which caused Stefan to look at the prince in surprise as he reluctantly handed over his son.

Tristan carried Jacob in his arms as he bowed his head and tried to explain himself.

— I… Sophie said… watch and Agatha… He said he shouldn't walk… He's barefoot – Between stumbles, I manage to more or less explain the redhead.

Stefan understood and thanked the boy sincerely.

The poor guy only blushes more.

After clearing his throat, Stefan continued with the explanation of before.

— Surely they have been before in a class in which one of the students is the son of the teacher, it is not relevant—he ruled out with a gesture of the hand—the important thing is that the class begins, there was a lot of talk in the teachers' room about the presentation of the princes on the day of the welcome.

Stefan watched the reaction of the boys, and as expected they all blushed a little.

— As far as I know, many were disarmed in less than a second, and although I am sure there is a lot of talent with the sword—he said bowing his head in recognition to Tedros and Rhian - he should not lose the sword so easily, so this week we will be working on the strength and technique of the grip.

He smiled at them with a little malice and a piercing look at the princes.

— As my daughter says, lesson number one fencing, "how not to stab yourself"—he said as he watched Tristan with a warmer smile.

Everyone could only think of one sentence at that time.

He knows it.

The good guys just wanted to know.

Who "between" them before the father of the girl they loved?

If they had that information.

They could go and wipe out that vile creature.

Tristan for his part gave Stefan a somewhat blushing look back as he churned his own somewhat uncomfortable hair.

— Sounds important—he ended up commenting.

— It is- concluded the teacher and continued to teach the class.

At the end of this, Rhian and Tedros tied for number "1".

With Chaddick at number two.

Tristan managed to muddle through with a "19" as the last place.

It was not a postponement, so he was not at risk of expulsion, but he was still a failure.

Luckily, the teacher had said that the idea of this same class would be repeated all week.

So he had time to get used to it and really learn how to use a sword, or at least as the master said, not to stab himself.

Jacob was happy to have his father there with him, and even happier that he was teaching him how to use a sword.

Now he knew where his sister's talent for fencing had come from.