As our carriage made its way down the lively main road of Luminia, we drew the attention of many pairs of eyes from a wide variety of species that populated the city.

Elves with pointed ears and lithe frames lived alongside broad-shouldered humans and short yet sturdy dwarves. I could even see satyrs mingling with the other races as equals, despite standing out with their goat-like features. They all shopped and haggled with the many stalls that stood in front of the wooden and brick buildings that lined the street. Most buildings seemed to be inns catered toward adventurers and lower-ranking nobles who were just visiting. 

“You look impressed, Kai.” My father spoke for the first time since the gate, breaking my thoughts. “I suppose you’ve never seen such a diverse mix of species before, the Vale Domain is made up of mostly elves and humans. Although dryads do live within the parts of the Verdantia forest on the south of the Domain, they hardly venture into cities.”

Luminia wasn’t just the capital and most fortified city on the continent, it was also home to the royal family. It housed their palace as well as the throne to Arboreus. On top of being home to the royal family, it functioned as the primary hub for adventurers and lower-ranking nobles in the Sylvanmore Domain.

“Your training will be under the supervision of a Guardian,” my father spoke once again, his voice steady and commanding. “And you will have a training partner hailing from a very important house who just so happens to be your age.” 

As my father said this, our carriage turned onto a new road. I leaned forward to get a better look, the road was breathtakingly beautiful, it was a perfectly paved path lined with trees in full bloom. As we approached the end of the road, the atmosphere changed drastically. The buildings on this street were incredibly different from the ones we had come across up to that point. Each house was magnificent and more opulent than the last. 

At the end of the road, six mansions, each emblazoned with a crest, stood proudly. Based on the crests and number of houses, I assumed each mansion represented one of the Six Great Houses of Arbores. The mansions were dramatically different, showcasing the unique styles and strengths of each House. The mansion of the far right was particularly impressive, towering over even the most regal of homes. 

“That one is the home of House Sylvanmore, not the official palace where ceremonies take place, but their day-to-day home,” my father explained, noticing my gaze. “This one on the left of it belongs to us.”

“Wow Father, it’s beautiful,” I spoke softly, my jaw agape at the utter beauty of it all.

It took me a few seconds to truly take in my father's words, but soon enough my eyes wandered to the Vale mansion, clearly identifiable by our crest carved into the front gate. Though it was not as grand as the Sylvanmore mansion, it was still a sight to behold. The manor itself was large and imposing, with tall walls and intricate carings decorating the front. 

“Well, Kai, what do you think?” My father inquired with a grin, “We’ll be staying here for the foreseeable future.”

“It’s amazing Father, possibly even nicer than our manor in the Vale Estate,” I replied, my eyes still wide with amazement at the beauty of the mansion.

As my father led me through the massive doors and into the foyer, I was once again reminded of the importance and power of my family, I could feel the weight of expectation pressing down upon me. The space was cavernous, with a high ceiling that echoed with the sound of our footsteps. Rich, mahogany paneling covered the walls, reflecting the warm glow of the chandeliers that hung above us. Intricate moldings adorned the corners of the room, and a sweeping staircase led to the upper levels of the mansion.

Every detail of the mansion seemed to have been crafted with purpose and care, from the gleaming marble floor to the gilded frames of the portraits that hung along the walls, likely of the past Dukes and Duchesses. It was a place of opulence and sophistication, a place where one could easily imagine the sound of laughter and music floating down from the ballroom above.

Despite my awe at the beauty of the mansion, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was a small, inconsequential being in its presence. But I drew strength from my father and the knowledge that I was a member of House Vale and there to fulfill my purpose. I took a deep breath and stepped forward, ready to face the challenges that lay ahead.

The next morning, my father and I woke up before sunrise, heading straight for the training grounds without a chance to look around the ‘Marble City’. The sun had just started to rise when we arrived, casting an orange glow on the training grounds. It was a beautiful sight, the dew on the grass glistening in the morning light, but my mind was elsewhere. I was here to meet someone, someone my father had arranged for me to train with. House Vale was well known for its military prowess and it was only natural that I had a suitable partner as I followed in the path of my predecessors.

For generations, members of high-ranking noble families had come here to train and hone their skills. I was proud to be one of them, even if I was still only a child. 

As I approached the center of the training grounds with my father, my attention was drawn to a boy around my age who seemed to be training with an instructor.

I was captivated by the young trainee as he navigated the training exercises with precision and grace. Though he was still young, he exuded the confidence of a seasoned warrior. His athletic build moved with precision, and his medium-length chestnut hair shimmered in the golden light of the sun. His eyes, a striking green, burned with an inner fire, adding to the enigma of the boy.

My curiosity was piqued, and I found myself wondering more and more about him. 

“Who’s that?” I wondered aloud.

"I'm surprised you don't recognize him," my father said with a hint of amusement. "That's Prince Arden Sylvanmore, the youngest scion of the royal family of Arboreus."

I was surprised to see him here. I knew of House Sylvanmore and their close ties with House Vale but I had never met Arden, though I had met his oldest brother, the crown prince, at one of those dreaded noble parties. But seeing Prince Arden's immense talent and drive, combined with his royal blood, made it apparent that he was destined for greatness.

“Father,” I asked, surprised, “is he going to be my training partner?”

My father chuckled, his eyes alight with amusement. "Well spotted, Kai," he said, gesturing for me to follow him. "And that man over there is the Guardian who will be guiding you both."

As my father and I approached Prince Arden and his instructor, I felt a sense of anticipation coiling like a snake in the pit of my stomach. The stories I had heard of House Sylvanmore's talent and skill had only fueled my curiosity, and now I was about to train alongside one of their own.

As we drew closer, the Guardian noticed our approach and a warm smile grew on his face, his arms open wide in greeting. He was a tall and imposing figure, with broad shoulders and a strong jawline. His long, messy dark hair fell over his shoulders, and his dark blue eyes seemed to see right through me. A spear was strapped to his back, adding to his imposing presence.

"Greetings, Prince Arden and Lord Kai Vale," he said with a bow. "I am honored to be your instructor for the duration of your training in Luminia. My name is Blake Arward, I am a 3 Star Guardian"

Arden stepped forward "It's a pleasure to meet you, Kai. I've heard a lot about you."

"It's an honor to meet you too, Your Highness. I've heard a lot about you as well." I replied, a genuine smile making its way across my face.

“No need for such formalities, please, call me Arden”. He offered me his hand in greeting, and I gladly accepted. 

“Very well, Arden, I’m excited to work with you.” Turning to the instructor I said, “Let’s get started, shall we?”

As soon as the introductions were made, my father left to attend to his own business in the city, and the real training began with Blake Arward, our instructor. With his rugged features and piercing blue eyes, Blake commanded respect as he led us to the center of the training grounds, ready to push us to our limits.

"The first step in harnessing your magical abilities is to build a strong foundation in your physical form," Blake boomed, eyeing us both. "Your bodies must be ready to handle the immense power of mana before you can even think of wielding it."

And so, our grueling physical training began, with Blake driving us to our limits and beyond. I felt my muscles burn as I struggled to keep up, but the thrill of the challenge kept me going. As the training session progressed, I felt a sense of competitiveness rising within me. I wanted to prove to both Arden and Blake that I was just as skilled and capable as the prince.

After what felt like hours, Blake finally called a halt to the exercises and led us to a nearby spring for a drink of water. As I drank, I could feel a weight being lifted off my shoulders. I knew that I had pushed myself harder than I ever had before and that this training would be very beneficial.

“Good work today boys, I expect to see you both here tomorrow bright and early. Our training with the sword will commence then" Blake instructed.

Both Arden and I nodded eagerly.

While we were not yet ready to utilize magic first-hand, Instructor Blake took a moment the next morning to explain the mechanics of magic to us. He told us that every human is born with mana channels throughout their bodies, which allow for the manipulation of magic. The strength, size, and number of these channels determine the level of control and mastery a person has over their magic. 

Those with weak channels can only perform basic spells and may struggle with even those, while those with strong channels can effortlessly perform higher-level spells. It was important to note, he added, that mana channels are not only used for spells, but also for strengthening various parts of the body. Mana channels can be strengthened over time through use, in a similar fashion to ordinary muscles.

Arden and I met with Instructor Blake as frequently as his busy schedule allowed. Under his guidance, we focused on physical training and honing our bodies to become stronger and more resilient. We trained with swords, learning how to fight with speed, power, and precision. 

As we continued to train with Instructor Blake, Arden and I discovered that we both had different preferences when it came to fighting styles. Arden was drawn to fast, powerful strikes that could take down an opponent quickly. He found that his speed was an advantage in combat and he was able to use it to dash in quickly, deal a heavy hit, and then dash out.

I preferred a more precise fighting style, keeping control of the flow of battle. I focused on efficiency and making sure that every movement I made was purposeful. My goal was to make sure that I wasn't wasting any energy in battle and I wanted to be able to use my strength and skills with utmost efficiency, as my father and many Vale warriors had before me.

Our different fighting styles developed over time as we continued to train with Blake. He would teach us different techniques and then observe as we sparred with each other. Over time, we found that our fighting styles were complementary to each other, which made for an interesting dynamic when we worked together in friendly matches against Instructor Blake. I could hold off Blake, wearing him down and creating openings for Arden to dash in with a powerful attack that would either land or force Blake to open himself up to me. With this, we managed to land a few hits on Blake, though it was clear he never took our sparring matches seriously. 

I could feel myself growing with each day, I could sense the same progress from Arden. We were on the cusp of something that would change our lives forever.