Deep inside a mansion, a kid stood. He looked at his surroundings. Mountains of paper rose around him. The kid sighed. He rested his head on his hand. His wavy, orange hair covered his forehead. The smell of old paper and snownut oil hung in the air.
_The Sun mansion, Louis Sun, Age: 12. A few days after the duel_
"All of this is due tomorrow." The kid closed his eyes.
"Lord Louis!" A maid called.
"Come on in." Louis answered.
The door to his room opened. Three bowls of greenery, roasted meat and legumes were arranged in front of him.
"You may go." He said, without taking a glance at the maid.
The maid did so. Behind the door, servants whispered to one another.
"Lord Louis became more bitter after that fight."
"He's only twelve, it's expected."
"He was always like that! He always resents Lord Ariel like a Ursian."
Louis stopped listening. The words mixed up to an incomprehensible mess.
He reviewed the fight in his head.
"I challenge you to a duel Ariel!" He had said.
Ariel turned his head to him.
"Are you sure?"
A day later, Louis, dressed in training armor, walked towards the garden. Ariel stood in front of him, dressed in the same armor. Both of them held wooden swords. Louis looked at his hands, they were filled with calluses and friction burns.
I will win this time. He smiled to himself.
His father and mother sat on a bench nearby.
I will put a good fight!
Stepping closer to Ariel, He put his right leg forward and left leg back. He held the sword in one hand, the other placed on his hip. Ariel grabbed the sword with both of his hands and faced him.
Louis dashed forward and thrust his sword. With an uninterested face, Ariel parried the thrust. Then he kicked Louis back.
He stumbled backwards. Ariel raised both of his hands and slashed toward Louis.
Placing his foot on the ground, Louis recovered. He met Ariel's sword with his.
The wooden sword cracked.
When did he get this strong!? The last duel he wasn't...
Louis' eyes widened.
He was holding back, all the time!
His sword split in half. Ariel tapped his head.
"Better luck next time." Ariel said with a little smile on his face.
Louis sat on the ground.
"As expected from the next house head." A servant exclaimed.
"I remember the times when Vixel was small. Ariel is just like her." An old servant said.
They continued to praise Ariel. He waved at them with a little smile.
Louis stared at Ariel, as he continued to wave at them.
They are praising him, again.
Footsteps came closer to Louis. He turned to Vixel, his mom.
"Maybe fighting isn't for you Louis." She said, while petting his head. After a second she removed her hand.
Vixel put her hands on her hips. "The job of a clerk is important as well!" She said with a bright smile.
Louis sighed.
"Being a clerk doesn't help me become a house head."
Or gets me any praise. He thought. Then stared at the broken sword.
The memory faded. He stared at the plates in front of him. Then back at the papers around him.
The door of the mansion opened. A metal slammed against the wooden floor.
"Lord Ariel!" Servants called.
"The southern expedition is done." Ariel said.
As expected of my brother. Louis clutched his hands with pride.
I have to be good as well.
***
Years passed. Ariel had returned from the Great Fox mission in the dark.
The metal had scraped against the wooden floor hours ago.
Louis stared at the ceiling. Surrounded by paperwork. He replayed the news in his head.
Ariel lost every single man? Without being able to put a fight?
He curled up to a ball.
The scents had diminished.
Who am I supposed to stand beside? Tell me, Ariel.
Louis stood there. He recited every warfare tactic he had memorized. Then he pulled a document which recorded his every win and success. He read them one by one.
"Driving the house lands to prosperity, defeating the northern rebels, inventing new warfare tactics..." He sighed.
Louis hit his head with his hands.
I can't stand beside Ariel. He has fallen too behind. How did he even do such a pointless mistake?
His eyes widened.
It should be because of his dream.
He stared at the papers around him for a minute.
I should be the house head. No, I must be. Ariel cannot do it. Especially after that defeat.
***
_Present day_
Louis grabbed his gauntlets and slid them in. His chestplate and footwear was already on. He sheathed his sword. The same garden where he was defeated countless times stood in front of him. He grabbed his backpack and walked outside of the mansion. The morning star stood in the middle of the horizon.
He relived the Great Fox incident, the countless days of studying to stand beside Ariel.
He sighed.
"Let me win this time, Ariel." He said to himself