"Remember, Tone, be on your best behavior, ok. This is the king you are meeting today so none of the condescending stuff you always do."
"Dad, when have I ever done something like that or when have I not been on my best behavior?" Tone said with a hurt expression on his face.
"Well let me see, how about when you almost got Dale eaten by a wolf or when you food poisoned the mayor's daughter." Paul gives Tone a critique of his behavior.
"Hey, you know that I told her not to eat the food, plus how was I supposed to know that the cave was a wolf den."
'But dad's right, I need to make a good impression. I might need to make good with the royal family for future needs.'
Me and dad continued on the carriage until we came in front of a huge mansion.
'Wow, this place is bigger than I thought it was going to be.'
A butler comes and takes us inside to a room door. "The king is inside waiting on you"
We both nod at the guy and dad opens the door. I then walked in behind him. There in the room sitting on the couch was a guy with blonde hair and golden eyes to match with a crown on his head.
"Paul, as always it's good to see you." The king said with a huge smile on his face.
"It's always good to see you too, Lord Maxwell." Paul said with a bow.
"Haha, this is my home, no need to be so stiff, just call me Richard.
Paul shook his head and went to take a seat. It was then that Lord Maxwell looked at Tone. "Oh you must be Tone, it's good to put a face to a name." He said as he reached his hand out for a handshake.
Tone performed a slight bow while shaking his hand. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you as well Lord Maxwell, I've been told nothing but great things about you from my father."
"Oh really? I'm surprised, all of our unbearable moments from our youth, haha." He laughed. "Also call me uncle."
'He's just like Dad said he was, easygoing and outspoken.'
"I'll do just that, Uncle Maxwell."
It was then that the door opened to show a kid that was about 4'7 with blonde hair and blue eyes.
( for comparison Tone is about 4 '3, Whisper is 4' 5, and dale is 4 '6.)
He looked at me then greeted his dad. "Good morning, father."
Lord Maxwell, looking at the boy, beamed with a smile on his face. "Ah, Arthur, I see you finally made it." He says as he patted the boy on the head.
"Dad, you're going to mess up my hair while we have guests." Arthur said, pouting face.
Arthur, this is my sworn brother Paul and his son Tone.
They exchanged some pleasure trees and talked about the kingdom. After that Arthur took Tone and showed him around the estate. This is because they were told that Tone will be staying for the next 3 weeks and learn magic and swordsmanship here with Arthur.
"So this is the training ground that all the princes and princesses use." Arthur says as he brings Tone to their last destination. "Oh I think someone is here?"
In the training grounds you see an orange haired girl swinging a greatsword around with ease using the weight and the momentum to carry her into the next motion.
'She's good.'
"That's Morgan, my older sister. She has 3 more years until she is off to Spindell Academy. She also just formed her core so sparing with her has become a real pain in the ass."
The girl, noticing us, stops what she was doing and walks over to us. "Sup, little brother, are you back from what dad wanted you for?" Morgan asked with her blue eyes looking at me.
"Yeah, he wanted to introduce me to the boring face guy next to me." Arthur says as he pointed at Tone.
Tone kicks him in the but and gives him an annoyed look. "The name's Tone, it's a good day to meet a lady as beautiful as you." He said as he reached his hand out.
She shakes His hands. "Oh a charmer I see, and a fighter. She says as she inspects tone hands.
Arthur sees a chance to get back at tone for kicking him. " Aye sis i heard that Tone is a good swordsman you should have a match."
Tone confused looks at Arthur only to see a huge smile on his face. ' Why is he smiling so hard?'.
"Oh good idea lil bro, let's go shmove talker." Morgan then pulls Tone to the training ground.
In the Royal estate training grounds two people stand on opposite sides. One with an average size sword with a deadpan look on his face. The other with a heavy greatsword and an excited expression.
"Are you ready, smooth talker?" Morgan asked as she lifted her sword over her shoulder.
'How is she lifting that huge sword?'
"Yea let's get this over with." Tone says as he gets into position.
"Alright both of You, you don't have to hold anything back i already let the healers know that they might be needed. Sis, don't go too hard on him ok." Arthur says to Morgan only for no reply. He looks at her only to see her with a serious expression.
"Arthur, I might have to take this seriously." Morgan finally answered.
Arthur, now surprised by this, looks over at Tone. "It seems I've misjudged him. Ok, begin."
Instantly they both bolt at each other. A wind picked up as their sword clashed.
'Shit." Tone thought as he had to take a step back.
They continue to exchange a few times each with Tone taking a step back.
'How are you swinging that sword so effortlessly? Each of her swings are straightforward with no give. As if I'm just an object in the way of her true goal.'
It was at this moment that the king and Paul walked in.
"Oh I thought it was going to be Arthur and Tone, not Morgan." the king said.
Paul looked at the fight and commented. "She is good with the sword. It seems like she has the advantage in the swordfight department."
You're going to be surprised soon paul her magic is different." the king said leaving paul interested.
" Ok, let's kick it up a notch." Morgan said
"I was waiting for you to say that."
We both started to release mana. My taking on the form of lightning and hers the form of some purple air? We both stopped showing off and lunged at each other, my speed being noticeably faster than her. But when we started to clash her sword had gotten much faster.
You're fast but I can be faster." Morgan said as she started to defy the law of Physics, moving around in a way that should not be possible. The more we continued to cross swords the slower I started moving. My body started to feel heavier.
As I go for an upward slash, she goes for a downward slash. It is here that I see the purple hue on her sword. Right when our swords meet I feel a huge weight bear down on me. I let go of my sword and make lightning surge around my fist as I go for a punch.
My fist connects and she takes a few steps back, not from the force of my attack but from the electricity that's messing with her senses. It doesn't seem to work for long as she prepares to launch herself at me.
"I surrender" I say with my hand up in the air.
She stops and nods her head. "Yea anymore then this and I'd kick your but" Morgan said with a grin on her face.
"Yea yea whatever you say I'm starting to run out of mana is why I ended it" I say as I fall to the ground tired.
"Wait, is your mana pool that small?" Morgan asked with a surprised look on her face.
"Yes sadly my mana pool is quite small compared to most people"
"Don't you have any idea why?" Arthur asked as he helped me up.
It's because he's a twin if I'm not mistaken" the king say as him and Paul walks up.
Ohhhh that makes so much sense" both Arthur and Morgan say in unison.
Me confused "wait what does having a twin have to do with any of this"
Paul looking awkward "actually being a twin has everything to do with your low mana and weapon comprehension. You'll learn what I mean soon."
I nodded my head. The king then proceeded to critique my fight with Morgan. "You don't use your spell right. You need to use your spells to make up for your combat abilities and vice versa. When doing that you can make up for your lack of sword skills and low mana."
"I see thank you uncle maxwell" I say as I bow.
" good in one hour you will meet the head mage and he will teach you how to sense your mana sea" Said The king clearly happy that I remembered to call him uncle
The hour went past in a blur as all that was on my mind was what does being a twin have to do with my lack of mana and comprehension skills.
"So you're the kid that was able to fully empty your mana sea before being able to sense it fully." a guy with deep blue hair and aquamarine eyes appears in front of me. He has a face that screams I'm smarter than you and I want you to know it.
Fully coming out of my thoughts "yes that would be me." I see as I give a slight bow to the man.
I see, good I was waiting for you, fellow me. He says as he turns and starts to walk.
I follow right behind him as he leads me down to a room with a magic circle in the middle.