I like someone else

*****************************

Xavier knew Emily was right and after some days of thinking and being called what he hated to be called, he finally agreed to Emily's proposal.

The teachers had a cool and soothing way of teaching but Emily's way of teaching was somewhat harsh.

"You are acting like a fool, if you hold your sword that way, your opponent can easily knock it out of your hand." Emi facepalmed herself. Xavier was indeed a fast learner but he doesn't listen to instructions.

"I don't appreciate being yelled at, I have royal blood." He said, He hated the way she belittled him, but he can't say he hated her.

"Yes, but your blood is of no use here, in this place, we are all equals." Emily said, her face was just an inch away from Xavier's face now.

"But Carigan doesn't think so, I need a break." He said throwing his sword on the ground and running his fingers through his hair.

"No breaks, do you think Prince Carigan is an easy target, did you see what he did to Simon?" Emily asked Xavier and he recalled when Simon crossed path with Carigan, making the mistake of throwing a stick at him, Carigan used that same stick and broke Simon's bones with just two hits.

"Yes."

"Well, that was just the tip of the iceberg, he was trained by famous street fighters, and swordsman around the continent, he killed a lion with his bare hands and slept with snakes." She said.

"If he's so good, then how did you beat him?"

"I did not..." Emily said, but before she could finish her words, Xavier cut her off.

"You did, back then when he hit my jaws, remember?" Xavier asked.

"No, I didn't beat him, he didn't retaliate because he has..."

"Feelings for you, huh" Xavier completed her sentence and she nodded.

" So you knew?!" Xavier asked and she nodded again. He didn't say anything else and just stared at her for a while.

"Why didn't you accept him, you could be queen of Melech Kingdom,"

"I am happy as a General's daughter, and besides..."

"...I like someone else." She said staring at him as they gazed into each other's eyes.

"So pick up that sword and keep training." She said and Xavier grunt before he picked up the sword.

For some reason, he was happy when she said she liked someone else and he was secretly hoping to hell it was him. he was somehow motivated.

They both had another round of sparing and this time he knocked the sword out of Emily's hands with a smirk playing on his lips. She smiled proudly and patted his shoulders.

"Good job" Emily said.

"Yeah, I got the best teacher," He said and she blushed.

"You look cute when you blush." He said and she hid her face from his burning gaze.

"Let me tell you, even my skills and trainings won't be enough to beat Carigan, so I advice you practice harder." She said.

Let's go eat, trainings takes a lot of energy you need to replenish." She said and walked away holding her burning cheeks.

"Cute." He said with a smile and then caught himself.

"What are you thinking, Arrgh, what is wrong with me?" He asked himself.

Ezekiel POV

I went to the temple's dining hall, it was a huge hall with diverse wooden benches and tables with the total of six pillars. there were lots of students in the hall but luckily I spotted Emily and Xavier eating together, thankfully Carigan wasn't around to witness this or Xavier will be covered in sticky cheese by now, since that was what he was eating.

"My friends, how do you do?" I asked suddenly jumping on the bench Xavier sat on, while taking Emily's pork meat, it was much more preferable than Xavier's cheese.

"How's the training going, Xavier is a handful isn't he?" I asked.

"Hmm, He is but there's room for one more troublemaker," she said with a smirk.

"Nah, no thanks, I'm satisfied with my skills." I said.

"You're just fucking lazy, you won't be able to stand the tension." Xavier said and I stepped on his foot.

"Did you hear the gossip?" I asked.

"What gossip?" Emily asked.

"I heard that King Hagin, the king of Melech Kingdom and Carigan's Father will be observing our battle this year"

"What battle?" Xavier asked.

"It's like a contest, whoever makes it to the finals and wins will be awarded." Emily said.

"Awarded?" Xavier asked again.

"Yes, either you won't remain here as a trainee, and will be awarded as a full swordsman on your leave or remain here and complete your years and gain respect. it's more like a choice." Ezekiel said.

"Hmm, Choice huh." He asked, this was his chance to go back, if he won the contest, he could go back to all what he left behind much sooner than expected, he could go back to his kingdom, his people, and Athena.

He could finally leave this place as a full swordsman and go back early.

Xavier was all smiles as he thought about winning the contest, but how was he going to do that when he was just a beginner and a junior here, there were others here that were ten times more stronger than he was, For instance, Prince Carigan. He was not going to let doubt get the best of him. How fun it would be to spank Carigan right Infront of his Father.