Gareth was astonished by the sudden strength displayed by the boy prince. Had he not held his sword tightly, it would have been knocked out of his hand in one go. And before he could think again, Alexander brought his sword down at him aiming for his chest but Gareth was quick to dodge it. Still, the prince wore the same annoying smirk on his face.

"We just began and you are already sweating, master?" Alexander asked circling the area with the same evil smirk on his face.

What! Was Gareth really sweating? He brought his hand to his face and wiped a liquid off his face. So he was indeed sweating! Just two blows from the boy and he was sweating. This angered him. He didn’t want to give Alexander the satisfaction he so much wanted.

"See," Alexander said. Gareth’s nose flared and he attacked the prince with all that he got. And this time, he didn’t hold back. He was not just going to let a boy embarrass him. He let out his full potential making the whole ground turn chilly. Wraiths now filled the place and his sword produced a blinding light. His movements were so fast that one could not keep track with the naked eye.

But Alexander was not affected by this. He in fact loved this version of Gareth. Yes! This was what he wanted. He wanted someone as strong as Gareth. He wanted someone whom he could fight and feel like it. Even if he battled a whole field with thousands of Valorian knights, that would still not quench his urge.

Gareth ran with his sword high in what could be termed a blur before he attacked the prince. But to his surprise, Alexander was not moving or trying to dodge his attack. This somehow scared him. This guy was a prince after all. Who knew what would happen if he even scratched him, let alone kill him? That somehow made him hold back. But Alexander stood still, with that same annoying smirk on his face.

’He is holding back!’ He thought when he saw Gareth slow down. Oh no! He slapped his forehead in exasperation. He wanted to test his new profound powers with this master and he was holding back. Maybe he should attack him to bring the anger out of him, he thought. It had worked, so it was going to definitely work this time also.

And just like that, with a thought, he teleported behind Gareth and he could see him stiffen as he searched for him in the wraiths. He hesitated to attack and crossed his arms over his chest to see what the ’master’ would do. Gareth just searched cautiously in the wraiths but he could see no one. He suddenly sensed a presence behind him and he stiffened in fear. How had he been able to do that? The prince had just teleported behind him! That was not possible! But everything was possible now, and he was seeing it now.

He turned around before he was met by a smiling face of Alexander. "Hello," he greeted before a fist landed on his stomach making him stumble a few steps back and cough out some blood.

"How the hell did you do that?" Gareth asked as he held his stomach in pain.

"Well. I have a few tricks up my sleeve I guess," Alexander said as he stalked toward where Gareth stood holding his stomach. "Next time, before you introduce yourself to me, know your position, knight," Alexander said grabbing Gareth’s jaw harshly.

"What a waste of time! I thought the fun would last," he scoffed. "I will take my leave ’master’." Alexander scoffed again and made for the door.

"What are you?" Gareth asked him, making Alex to halt on his halts.

"It’s who?" He corrected. "I am crown prince Alexander of Valoria," he said before he glared at Gareth one last time and exited the training grounds, dropping the sword on the dusty ground.

Gareth crouched low holding his belly as he coughed out more blood. The Alexander he had met today was still a mystery to him. Many unanswered questions flooded his mind but no one would provide him with answers. Even Alexander himself wouldn’t know the answers to the questions.

The skills he had displayed were unmatchable and only capable of if one was a Crescian. But Alexander was neither. Or maybe he was a Crescian and didn’t know? And now that he thought about it, he envisioned Alexander’s parents and him in his mind. Alexander’s face was close to that of his father’s but his sun-kissed skin was nowhere close to that of his mother’s. In fact, nothing looked similar to that of his mother. They were two different beings. Gareth’s brows furrowed and he vowed to investigate the matter. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Alexander was met by a knight as he walked across the hallways. The knight looked hesitant as if he didn’t believe he was talking to Alexander.

"Your Highness." It sounded more of a question than a statement.

"Yes. What is it?" Alexander asked angrily. That made the knight smile. The usual Alexander grew angry so that at least made the knight believe that he was actually talking to the same Alexander.

"The situation is bad at the throne hall. Everyone is waiting for you. I’m glad that you came." The knight hurried to say.

"How bad is it?" He asked.

"The funeral service has been paused. A neighboring king said that the service cannot continue without your presence." Alexander listened as he walked. A neighboring king! Who was it that had dared to throw a tantrum at another kingdom in their own place? That person deserved much worse than death.

He made his way through the hallway and came to the front of the throne hall. It was now open and people were going in and out but when they spotted him, they all halted and watched him with mixed looks of stunned, surprise, and bewilderment. He knew this had to do with the fact of his appearance. But that did not bother him. He walked with his head held high until he stopped at the front. He spotted two people seated at the front with the same stunned look on their faces.

"Greetings Your Majesty," he said and bowed slightly before he went and took a seat beside the queen and Elle.