The sword match.

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.

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"Your Highness, is there anything else you require?" Edmund said as he looked at Lydan, who had just finished his dinner and was sitting on the Chesterfield with his eyes closed.

"No, thank you, I don't need anything else. You can leave now." Lydan opened his eyes and gestured as he smiled and looked at Edmund.

Lydan was left alone in complete silence as Edmund made a bow and exited the room.

"I should get some sleep," Lydan stated in his mind as he reclined back on the chesterfield.

Sh…sh…sh.

Lydan curled up on the chesterfield and muttered in his mind, "Not again," as soon as he heard the faint whispers.

When suddenly Lydan felt severe pain in his chest scar, the whispers began to become louder and louder–In anguish, he covered his ears, closed his eyes, and winced.

Knock… Knock.

All the whispers he was hearing were abruptly subdued by a knock at the door.

Lydan was curled up on the divan when immediately he got up and ran toward the door as soon as he heard the knock.

When Lydan opened the door and found Feron standing in front of him, he immediately exhaled in relief.

Feron looked at Lydan's terrified expression and a scowl crept across his forehead.

He walked over to Lydan and placed his hand on his shoulder to calm him when he saw that he was shaking with fear and breathing heavily.

On the next morning...

Sunlight was streaming in through the window in his room, and as he was sound asleep on his bed, the chirping of the sparrows seemed to him to be a melody.

When Ophni was peacefully dozing off, he abruptly heard voices speaking to one another.

"What's going on, exactly?' Ophni yelled in frustration and abruptly sprang from his bed.

Ethen entered through the door, calling out "Your highness."

"What are these sounds at this hour of the morning?" Ophni questioned.

Ethen moved closer as he put the clothing on the chair next to the bed and bowed.

"All this is the sound of all the nobles standing in front of the seminary discussing,"

Ethen said as he offered a glass of lukewarm water to Ophni, who was sitting on the bed and facing him.

Ophni took the glass in his hands and drank water, "But the sun hasn't even risen, so what are they all doing outside?" He said.

Ethen answered, "All of them have convened outside at the behest of Professor Edward."

Ophni grinned, "Why did he invite them to assemble there?" He said.

"He has asked for all the royalties too," Ethen said as Ophni, who was grinning, stopped and turned to face Ethen.

To clarify, Ophni questioned, "What did you say?"

"And he said that he will take an extra two hours of those who will come late," Ethen said as he again made a bow.

Ophni yelled as he rose to put on the uniform that Ethen had just brought into the room, "Why didn't you tell me that before?"

...

The academy's entrance courtyard was filled with students standing there and conversing with one another.

"What do you suppose the cause might be?"

"How are we going to attend classes with the royals when we haven't even seen them in almost a week?"

"Don't you think it's odd that we haven't seen any of the royals for a week at all, including princess Lynorr?"

"But, the teachers claimed that they were enrolled in exclusive classes for royalty."

"This is all quite odd because, from what my father has informed me, all of the royal heirs have finished their studies."

The rumors about the royals were being discussed in private by some of the nobles, while others were as confused as the royals themselves.

As soon as they all noticed the approaching royals who were approaching them while exuding an atmosphere of dominance, they immediately ceased speaking to one another.

When a loud voice suddenly emerged from the fog in front of the academy, all the nobles' attention was diverted from observing the approaching royals to that voice.

Richard commented as he and other instructors his age emerged from the fog, "Pleasant morning to all those who didn't have a good morning today."

When Ophni heard what Edward said, he immediately glared at him, "Take deep breaths and calm down" Lydan gestured as he walked next to him while Ophni smiled, staring at him.

Lydan and Ophni were ahead of Arlo and Lynorr; as they walked side by side, they eventually arrived and took positions in front; Ayrton and Feron were standing behind them all.

Edward declared, "If everyone is here, then let me tell you all that starting today all the classes of Royals and Nobels will be together."

"We haven't seen any of these teachers before, right?" Lynorr enquired.

"Because all of these teachers formerly attended Noble's classes," Arlo answered, "and it appears that they will now be attending our classes as well."

"So, you talked to Lydan last night, what did he say?" Ayrton asked.

"He was scared when I went to him so I calmed him first and then we talked" Feron answered as he stole a glance at Ayrton.

"Why was he scared, because of you?" Ayrton again asked.

"Not at all, he was scared because of his curse," Feron said as he smirked.

"He seems alright today though," Ayrton said again.

"That's because I comforted him last night," Feron said as he noticed Ayrton, who was clenching his hand tightly.

They were both talking to each other with their gaze fixed on Lydan and the others in front of them, and that's why they couldn't hear anything Edward was saying.

"Has he forgiven you?" Ayrton questioned while keeping his gaze on Lydan.

Feron turned to face Edward and stated, "You too know if he forgave me or not because you were hidden there last night, weren't you?"

Ayrton suddenly cast an incredulous glance at Feron, who was standing next to him.

Feron was ignoring the frantic glare from Ayrton when he heard Edward; his eyes widened much as Ayrton's did.

Everyone stared at them with anticipation as Edward said, "The first sword match will be between prince Ayrton and prince Feron."

To be continued...