The sounds of swords clashing reverberated across the room.
"Quicken your pace, Derrick." A strong male voice instructed.
"Can you keep up old man?" A younger, more energetic voice asked.
"Old man?" Sir Thompson asked, his pace quickened, each strike from his sword more powerful than the last.
Derrick didn't falter, his pace increased along with that of Sir. Thompson, his curly black hair dancing along with him.
Derrick's sword stabbed forward, and Sir Thompson responded with a beautiful deflection.
Derrick could feel the vibration from his sword travel into his hands. Sir Thompson had packed more than enough power into that strike.
Derrick switched to defensive, his eyes scanned Sir Thompson's every move, trying to come up with predictions for his next move.
Sir Thompson struck, and Derrick deflected perfectly, leaving an opening.
Derrick, in his impatience, switched his strategy from defense to attack.
Derrick closed the distance, he raised his sword above his head and brought it down in one marvelous motion.
Sir Thompson smirked, Derrick had fallen for his trap.
He stepped to the left, letting Derrick's blade strike the ground.
Sir Thompson leaped into the air with his sword raised above his head.
Derrick saw this as an opening and went in for an attack, but his hopes were shattered.
Sir Thompson deflected Derrick's blade with his leg, and his sword rested inches away from Derrick's throat.
"I yield," Derrick said with a smirk on his face. He had improved.
"Now that people, that is how you use your sword." Sir Thompson pointed at Derrick while referring to his other students, who all had tired looks on their faces.
This was a usual occurrence for them, Derrick always being set as a standard for the rest.
"I can see the prince remains as arrogant as ever." One of Sir Thompson's other students whispered.
"Yeah, always showing off wherever he goes." Another student spoke with pure disdain.
"And his grandmaster talent just makes things even worse," Clayton, a jealous student, remarked.
"Even a person with a novice talent can excel at swordsmanship, Clayton," Sir Thompson said with his eyes fixed on Clayton.
"Sir Thompson..." There was a look of pure terror in Clayton's eyes.
"Save your lies, Clayton, I heard you loud and clear," Sir Thompson continued.
The students surrounding Clayton quickly backed away, leaving him to take the brunt of Sir Thompson's anger.
"It's okay Sir Thompson, I'm used to it already," Derrick said with his hand on Sir Thompson's shoulder.
Derrick was right, he was used to such treatment and envy.
He had awakened a grandmaster talent, the highest possible talent. Only five other humans have ever been recorded with such power.
Besides that, he was also the youngest and most prominent prince of arguably the most powerful kingdom in the human realm.
He also happened to inherit the genes of his mother, one of the most beautiful princesses to ever live.
Lastly, he was the king's favorite son and most likely to be the crowned prince.
Saying he was privileged was an understatement, he was a chosen one among chosen ones.
"Very well," Sir Thompson said, his greying hair swayed along with him.
"Class dismissed, you all have a big day ahead of you. Go home to your families," Sir Thompson said before turning around and walking away.
"That was excellent work babe," a beautiful girl with golden hair and blue eyes said.
"Thanks Klea." Derrick responded before going in for a kiss, which Klea gladly accepted.
"I suggest you both head to Derrick's chambers," a young male voice said.
"Lancel, I see you are as jealous as ever." Derrick jested at the expense of his best friend.
"Nice work there with the sword, you need to teach me that trick you used," Lancel complimented.
"I'm happy to put you in your place anytime," Derrick responded with a smile.
If Derrick was the most privileged individual in the entire kingdom, then Lancel was the second.
He awakened a master talent, was the son of a high noble, and had looks that were second only to Derrick's.
"I think we should head home, it's getting dark," Klea said while pointing at the darkening skies.
"Agreed." Derrick responded, and they all exited the training room.
As they walked the beautiful streets of the Dravania kingdom, all eyes remained on them.
Everyone admired and envied them, many had tried their best to make their way into the clique, but they failed woefully.
"Well, I guess this is where I say goodbye," Klea said while holding onto Derrick's hands.
"Goodbye Klea," Derrick said. He was about to go in for another kiss when Klea interrupted him.
"Wait, remember tomorrow is the magic awakening test?" Klea said, panicked.
"Relax Klea, you've been worried about this test since we were kids," Derrick said, trying to calm her down.
"I know, it's just..." Klea's eyes drifted away from Derrick's.
"If I fail to awaken a good magic, my mother may never recover." Klea's voice was filled with sadness and pain.
"Klea, you have an advanced talent, be rest assured," Derrick said, trying to ease worry.
"Prince Derrick," a man dressed in knightly attire said.
"Your curfew is almost upon us, you must return to the palace," the man, who was a royal guard, urged.
"I'll take her home." Lancel quickly snatched Klea's hand and dragged her away before Derrick could even say goodbye.
"Prince Derrick, do you seem too relaxed about the upcoming magic awakening ceremony?" The royal knight asked.
"Yes I am, what's the worst that could happen?" Derrick asked.
"You could awaken a subpar magic?" said the royal guard explained.
He had seen many awakening ceremonies, he had seen the pain and tears they brought, he didn't want that for his prince.
"Trust me my prince, these things have a way of testing fate." The Royal Knight had seen the mighty fall and the weak rise at an awakening ceremony.
"The possibility of me, the prince of this kingdom, and a chosen one awakening a bad magic, is next to impossible." Derrick said arrogantly, unaware of the humbling that lay ahead.