The Blandest

After Daemon explained about his nightmare, he asked why Reiner was in his room. Reiner told him that he came for calling Daemon for dinner, but found him sleeping peacefully so he just left without calling him. He returned after the dinner for discussing about the High Council but found him to be in that horrified state.

Then like suddenly remembering something Daemon checked his body. He was astonished to find that all of the previous trainings pain and tiredness was completely gone. He didn't understand what happened but he was sure the training was real and not some other nightmare.

Reiner offered him some meat jerky which Daemon gracefully snatched off from his brother's hand.

"What about the High Council?" Daemon asked while chewing on the jerky Reiner gave him.

"The Pegasus lord has informed that all of the important guests can attend the meeting, so that includes you."

"Oh. Why would he do that?" asked Daemon munching on his jerky. "I thought the meeting is only for the selected members and not anyone can just join it?"

"That was how it had been. Something must have happened for the inexorable lord to change that?" Said Reiner thoughtfully.

"Mhmm… this jerky is great." Daemon said stuffing his mouth.

Reiner looked at his innocent brother dearly. He didn't want to drag him to the depths of war and other vile things at his young age. But he also knows that if anything happens to him then Daemon should be the next heir for succession. It's not because he doesn't like Amon, it's just that he lacks what it has to be a duke. Amon was hot tempered and quick to jump to conclusions thus creating problems. In a way he was like Marakin though no that much cruel, but overall, something like that. But Daemon on the other side is cool headed and a perfect judge of character. He knows what to say and how to act in any situation. He was more like his father. Not to mention he is a unparallel genius. The only down side is his lethargic state. He knew he somehow have to change it. If trained well he could be a pillar in the upcoming war.

*Sigh*

Suddenly he thought about an idea.

"Hey Daemon, say what do you think about joining the academy?" He asked. He knew if something can change Daemon, then it is the academy. What he need right now was some challenges and interaction with other people. Though he wasn't sure about how to convince him, he tried.

"Mmm... Why sho shudden?" Daemon asked with mouthful of jerkies.

"You know... there are many books in the library of the academy. You have seen it too. right?"

"Yeah, I've seen it to. So, what about it?" he finished the jerky and was washing his hands using magically created water. After washing, the water flew through the open windows.

"Daemon?" Reiner asked in a low voice.

"Oh, come on! There isn't a wash basin in the room. and you don't want your sick and scared little brother to go outside. Do you?" Daemon said with puppy eyes.

*Sigh*

"You know what, do what do you want, I don't care anymore." Reiner knew arguing with Daemon is useless when he is the one at the wrong. So, he changed the subject to the original conversation.

"So, what do you think about joining the academy?"

"Well, to be honest I don't know. A part of me wants to enter the academy again and complete it so I could at least lower the disgrace I made for the family. But a part of me don't want to go back to that hell hole. You know with all that bullying and other things." He said that with wisdom scarce among his age. All of his previous demeaner changed.

"You never talked about the bullying when you were in the academy." Reiner asked carefully. He understands it is a sensitive matter for his brother.

"Well, I didn't want to drag our family in to something trivial." Daemon said softly.

Reiner was able to feel the raw emotion Daemon was feeling just by that sentence.

"Bullying is no trivial matter."

"Well, that was in the past. Besides they were also from the great families. What could have we done."

Reiner bit his lips. He knows that too. when his father complained about the bullying, the dukes just answered that the academy matters should just be sorted by the kids themselves. Since two of the five great families were together on it, the king didn't raise any voice against it. They weren't also not able to act on it. if they were to act, then a civil war would have broken out which would had wiped their family out. So, in order to avoid that, nothing was done on that matter. Even though Daemon was a prodigy, when dealing with someone older and experienced than him, would only result in his demise. And that was what happened to him.

"Well. Any way let me think about it." Daemon's voice interrupted his thoughts.

Reiner stood from the bed and walked towards the door and came to a halt. He turned and spoke.

"Ok. Do what you want. But make haste, since the admission for the advanced classes are closing soon. And also sleep well tonight. We have a meeting tomorrow."

"Okay, I will."

With that he turned around and exited the room before closing the door behind.

Due to him feeling full of vigour and vitality, Daemon thought about doing some training rather than sleeping. It was only 8 in in the night. He had time before the meeting. He thought about doing some training for the next few hours. This time slowly and steadily. With that he took a mana potion from his dimensional ring and chugged it and started the same previous training. Only this time, it was much slower and smoother.

For the next few hours Daemon trained peacefully and slept through the night after that.

*****

When morning came Daemon woke up early. The previous training session wasn't like the first session. It was only for two hours and that too wasn't very intense. He took it slowly and steadily. It wasn't painful too. So, he slept peacefully without much tiredness and pain.

Daemon brushed and bathed. He wore the most beautiful dress he had. It was a gift from his mother on his birthday. It was a purple outfit. Since he didn't have any fashion sense, he usually let his family chose something for him. The little kid was the one who selects his dress more often. He smiled thinking about all the funny dress she chose for him. Even though he knew it was funny, he still wore it. Just to see the little kid laugh.

He wore the dress and went to his father's room where they will together visit the king's room and eat breakfast before the meeting starts. It was also a last-minute check for any last preparation between the representatives of human realm.

He was very excited to see the whole High Council. He was excited because this will be the first time, he will see the other races. Seeing the Pegasus was too much for him but to see all of the other major races of this continent, in a single room was very much exciting too.

After finishing necessary last-minute check on his dress, he left his room and walked to his father's room which was only a couple of meters away. Since this is the Pegasus castle and nothing will happen to anyone here, the guards were relieved of their duties and was on other rooms. That was why he didn't encounter a single guard on the floor including his own four commanders who came with them. He knocked on the door. "Come in." An elegant voice answered the call. When he went inside, he saw his father and brother reading some magazine or a book. They both were draped in elegant clothing befitting the duke and the next duke.

"You are here. That looks good on you." Said his father resuming his reading.

"Thank you, father."

"Well of course it's good, after all mother was the one who got it for him. If it was his, I don't think the Pegasus will let any of the human representatives on the meeting." Reiner grinned slyly.

"Well brother, if they are permitting your entry then I don't think I have a problem at all from entering the meeting because you are the blandest person I have seen." Daemon rebuked. Earning him a smile from his brother.

"At least your joke is like your fashion sense. Very comical."

"Well, I could at least tell a nice funny joke unlike you, who talk and joke like they are both the same thing."

Silence prevailed the room as the two brothers eyed each other. Hoping to find something deep from their eyes. Neither of them moved or blinked for even a moment. Then suddenly both of them laughed at the same time. Like nothing offensive was there between them.

"Enough with the jokes. Let's go meet the king." Duke stood up from his seat. Reiner did the same.

"Yes father." Daemon said.

Together they started their walk towards the King's room.