Eventually, we arrived at a large, open training hall. The air was filled with the sounds of clashing blades and grunts of exertion as soldiers sparred with one another under the watchful eye of their instructors. The room was lined with racks of weapons and various training equipment, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of nervousness at the sight.

“Father! Javier!” I watched as Azriel dropped his wooden sword and ran up to me, his brown eyes wide with excitement. “Are you training today? Are you?”

“Yes, Father has decided to let me start training,” I answered with a smile, my own anxiety fading with his excitement. Azriel managed to appear composed and mature most of the time, but moments like this reminded me that he was just a child. “I hope I can keep up with you, Azriel.”

Kozani chuckled, a warm sound that echoed in the training hall. “Indeed, it's time for Javier to learn the ways of combat. Perhaps you can show him a thing or two, Azriel.”

Azriel beamed at the suggestion, his enthusiasm palpable. “Of course, Father! I'll make sure he's ready for anything!”

With a nod of approval, Kozani turned to one of the nearby instructors, a seasoned warrior with a stern expression. “Where is Lysander? I want him to personally train Javier.”

“Lysander is in the demo room!” Azriel interjected excitedly, already grabbing my hand to drag me off. “I can take you.”

As Azriel led us through the bustling training hall, I couldn't shake off the fluttering of anticipation mixed with a hint of apprehension. Lysander's name seemed to carry weight in these halls, spoken in hushed tones of reverence and awe. The other soldiers almost seemed jealous that I was getting to train with him personally and I could feel my heart moving higher into my throat.

We reached the entrance of the demonstration room, and Azriel pushed the heavy wooden door open with a flourish. My eyes adjusted to the dimmer light inside as we stepped in, and what I saw stole my breath away.

At the center of the room stood Lysander, a towering figure with a presence that seemed to command the very air around him. His skin, the rich hue of mahogany, gleamed with a sheen of sweat as he moved with a fluid grace that belied his immense strength. Long dreadlocks framed his face, swaying with each precise movement, and his brown eyes, sharp and focused, bore into his opponent with unwavering intensity.

The other knight, a formidable warrior in his own right, clashed blades with Lysander in a dance of steel and skill. Their movements were a blur of motion, the clang of metal against metal reverberating through the room like a battle hymn. Each parry, each strike was executed with deadly precision, a testament to years of honing their craft.

Azriel tugged at my sleeve, his eyes wide with excitement as he whispered, “That's Lysander.”

“I… see,” I answered, barely able to speak over my heart in my throat. From his appearance, I could assume he had lived in Solaria when he was alive and I glanced up as I heard Kozani move beside me. 

“He is a skilled warrior, trained in more than just a blade. Nearly all of our commanders are trained by Lysander,” Kozani explained, his voice carrying a hint of admiration. "He is not only a master of combat but also a strategist of unmatched cunning."

I nodded, swallowing hard as I watched Lysander's movements with a mix of awe and trepidation. It was clear that training under someone like him would be both an honor and a daunting challenge. Azriel's grip on my sleeve tightened, his excitement palpable as he watched his hero in action.

As the duel in the center of the room reached its climax, Lysander executed a series of lightning-fast strikes, driving his opponent back with calculated precision. With a final flourish, he disarmed his adversary, leaving him at the mercy of Lysander's blade.

The room erupted into applause as Lysander's victory was met with cheers and admiration from the assembled soldiers. He acknowledged the praise with a humble nod before turning to face us, his gaze piercing as it settled on the emperor beside me.

"Your Imperial Majesty," Lysander greeted, his voice deep and resonant as he knelt on the ground. “We are humbled by your presence."

Kozani inclined his head in acknowledgement, his expression a mix of respect and familiarity. "Rise, Lysander. Your skill continues to inspire us all."

Lysander stood, his gaze shifting to me with a keen interest. "Is this the new Crown Prince?"

“Indeed. I would like you to be in charge of his training, starting today,” Kozani explained and I bowed, doing my best to show respect. The memories of the other summoned told me that Lysander was a force to be reckoned with, and that training with him would be intense and grueling. He pushed people to their limits, but never past them and it was part of why he was so respected and loved by the other soldiers. 

“Have you ever wielded a weapon before, your Highness?” I looked up as I heard Lysander address me and I hesitated, unsure what to say. Of course, in my former life I had never touched any sort of real weapon, but I had taken martial arts as a kid, including Bōjutsu. It seemed Sabien had also used a staff before me so–

Sabien? My thoughts raced, confused by the name. Was Sabien… the name of one of my predecessors? The answer rushed into my mind: yes, Sabien was the one summoned before me, the second one to try and save this world.

“Javier?”

“Uh, yes, I have some experience with a staff,” I finally answered, Azriel’s voice pulling me from my own confusing thoughts. I wasn’t sure if I could use Sabien’s experience as my own, but I still had my own martial art training to pull from, even if it had been decades.

“Then grab a staff and let us begin, so I may gauge your skill,” I frowned at his words, since I wasn’t dressed for combat but when Kozani said nothing, I nodded, accepting the command. I walked to the rack that Lysander pointed, selecting the weapon closest to a bo staff. It felt familiar in my hands, the weight and balance reminiscent of the countless hours I had spent training in my youth. As I turned back to face Lysander, I saw that he was still wielding his sword, a gleaming blade that seemed to hum with power in his expert grip.

“Javier!” I looked up to see Azriel and Kozani sitting among the soldiers watching, although it was clear that the emperor’s presence was making everyone a little nervous. I waved back up to Azriel before I turned to face Lysander, taking a deep breath to settle myself. This was just to gauge my skill: it would be okay if Lysander beat me soundly. 

With a nod from Lysander, we stepped forward into the center of the room, the eyes of every soldier in the hall fixed on us. My grip tightened on the staff, my palms slick with sweat despite my attempts to steady myself. Lysander, on the other hand, seemed as composed as ever, his gaze steady and unwavering.

"Let us begin," Lysander said simply, his voice carrying across the room with authority.

I nodded in response, steeling myself for what was to come. As the first strike came from Lysander, I reacted instinctively, blocking with the staff and countering with a swift jab towards his midsection. To my surprise, Lysander deftly sidestepped the attack, his movements fluid and graceful.

We continued to exchange blows, the sound of metal striking wood filling the air as we moved around each other in a dance of combat. Despite my initial nervousness, I found myself falling into a rhythm, my body moving almost of its own accord as I followed Lysander's lead. My main concern was that Lysander’s sword would eventually cut through my staff, but it only made me grip the smooth wood tighter. If it was reinforced with magic, I wouldn’t have to worry about that.

But I can’t. I gritted my teeth, pushing Lysander away with the staff as I put some distance between us. Sabien had eventually switched to using a metal and bladed staff, but I felt much more at home with the simple bo staff. I had already let it slip that I could sense magic around me and even if Sabien’s memories could tell me how to reinforce the wood, it would only make me stand out more. I couldn’t afford to use magic until I had my revealing ceremony, showing me and everyone else exactly what kind of magic I had.

Lysander, for his part, seemed impressed by my skill, his brow furrowing ever so slightly as he adjusted his tactics to match my movements. His strikes were precise and calculated, each one aimed at testing my defenses and probing for weaknesses. But I met each one with determination, refusing to let him gain the upper hand. I couldn't help but chalk up my skill to Sabien's memories of his own training, guiding me through the motions with a familiarity that was both comforting and unsettling.

Whispers started as our spar dragged out, and I frowned, realizing I needed to allow Lysander to overpower me. I had already proven that I wasn’t completely weak, but I was also technically cheating. The last thing I needed was for Lysander to say he had nothing to teach me, and so I gradually allowed Lysander to gain momentum, yielding ground with each strike until he finally landed a decisive blow that sent me stumbling backward, my staff clattering to the ground. The room fell silent as Lysander stood before me, his sword pointed at my chest in a gesture of victory.

"Well fought, Your Highness," Lysander said, his tone respectfully but I could see the frustration in his eyes. Had he figured out that I stopped trying to match him? “You show promise, but there is much yet to learn."

I accepted his hand, allowing him to pull me back to my feet. As I dusted myself off, I could feel the eyes of the soldiers still upon me, their murmurs of approval mingling with whispers of curiosity.

"Thank you, Sir Lysander," I replied, doing my best to maintain my composure despite the rush of adrenaline still coursing through my veins. "I look forward to learning from you."

I could hear the other soldiers start to leave the demo room and even with the distance between us, I could hear Azriel excitedly talking to Kozani about the amount of skill I had shown. A small smile came to my face, but before I could turn to walk away, I felt Lysander’s hand on my shoulder and his whispered words sent a shiver through my body. 

“Come after the sun sets, and don’t hold back this time,” Lysander's whispered command hung in the air, sending a chill down my spine. His words held a weight that I couldn't quite comprehend, a sense of urgency that stirred a flicker of unease within me. I should have known I couldn’t fool a warrior as seasoned as Lysander and I could only nod as he walked away from me. 

I retrieved my staff from the ground and turned to find Azriel and Kozani waiting for me at the edge of the training hall. Their expressions were a mix of pride and anticipation, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude for their unwavering support.

"Javier, that was incredible!" Azriel exclaimed, his excitement bubbling over as he practically bounced on his feet. "You held your own against Lysander! You are so cool!"

Kozani's smile was more reserved but no less genuine. "Indeed. Lysander is not an easy opponent to face, especially for your first training session."

“Thank you, Father,” I beamed, excited by Kozani’s praise. As we made our way out of the demonstration room and back to the main training hall, I tried to settle my nerves. Sunset was still hours away, but I knew the worry and anxiety would likely eat away at me for the rest of the day.