Kael
It had been three days since the test, and Kael could hardly contain his anxiety as he stood in front of his mirror, pulling a loose-fitting shirt over his head. The fabric felt soft against his skin, but it did little to ease the tight knot of worry in his stomach. He recalled Mira's words from their last conversation, how she had assured him that it would only take two to three days for a letter of acceptance to arrive from the Silvercrest Knight Academy. Yet, as the hours dragged on, doubt began to creep in. What if Dean Silverdrake had changed his mind? What if he had seen something in Kael that made him reconsider?
Kael shook his head, trying to dispel the negative thoughts. He had worked too hard, trained too long to let fear take root now. He took a deep breath, reminding himself of the confidence he had felt during the test. He had done well, hadn't he? He had to believe that. With a final glance in the mirror, he steeled himself and headed outside to meet his father in the backyard, a routine that had become a comforting ritual.
As he stepped into the cool morning air, the familiar sights and sounds of his backyard greeted him. The grass was still damp with dew, and the sun was just beginning to rise, casting a golden hue over everything. Kael walked toward the practice area, where he found his father waiting for him, his back turned. A wooden practice sword was already in hand, and Kael noted something different about him today. There was an air of regality about his father, a sense of purpose that made Kael's heart race with both excitement and apprehension.
"Are you ready?" his father asked, turning to face him. The stern look on his face sent a shiver down Kael's spine, and he felt a flicker of confusion. This was not the usual playful banter that accompanied their morning sparring sessions.
"What's going on?" Kael asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.
"This will be our last sparring session for a while," his father replied, his tone serious.
Kael's heart sank. "What do you mean? Why?"
His father's expression softened for a brief moment, but the intensity returned as he explained, "You need to learn what it means to be a knight. Today, we're going to have a real mock battle. I'll show you the true skill of a knight."
Kael's stomach twisted with a mix of fear and anticipation. "Is that really necessary?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
His father's lips curled into a brief smile, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. "Trust me, Kael. You need this."
Kael nodded, swallowing hard. He retrieved a wooden practice sword from the rack near the back door, taking a stance to face off against his father. But as he looked at him, he noticed that his father's posture had changed. Instead of the solid, immovable mountain he was used to, his father now resembled a striking snake, poised and ready to strike.
"Let's begin," his father said, raising his sword.
Before Kael could fully prepare himself, his father lunged forward, attacking with a speed that was almost too fast for Kael to see. He barely managed to raise his sword in time to block the strike, but the force behind it was overwhelming. The wooden sword flew from his grip, and he found himself sprawling on the ground, the breath knocked out of him.
"Get up!" his father shouted, his voice echoing in the morning air.
Reluctantly, Kael pushed himself to his feet, feeling the sting of embarrassment flush his cheeks. "That was unfair!" he protested, rubbing his wrist where the sword had slipped from his grasp.
"Unfair?" his father replied, his expression stern. "The enemy isn't going to go easy on you, nor will your classmates wait for you to get up. You need to be faster!"
Kael retrieved his wooden sword returning to ready position as fast as he could. His father attacked again, swinging from multiple angles with a ferocity that left Kael reeling. He struggled to keep up, blocking and dodging as best he could, but each strike felt like a hammer against his defenses. Kael's heart raced, and he felt the pressure mounting as he was knocked down again and again, each time landing painfully on the grass.
"Why are you targeting my bad side?" Kael complained, frustration bubbling to the surface.
His father raised an eyebrow, a hint of challenge in his gaze. "Do you think your opponents will care about your weaknesses? The best way for someone to take you out is to target your weak side."
Kael gritted his teeth, determination flooding through him. He had to prove himself. "But—"
"Listen," his father interrupted, his voice firm. "The fighting style I taught you is the result of years of research regarding one-armed combat. I've asked my old comrades for advice on how to handle situations like this. You must learn to use your weaknesses as an advantage."
Kael took a deep breath, absorbing his father's words. He realized that his father was right. He had to adapt. Lowering his good arm slightly, he feigned exhaustion, hoping to bait his father into a mistake. Just as he expected, his father struck, whipping his sword toward Kael's right side in a feint before changing direction to the left.
Anticipating the move, Kael jumped toward his father, slipping inside his guard. With a swift motion, he struck his father in the midriff, catching him off guard. The impact surprised both of them, and Kael felt a rush of triumph as his father stumbled back, laughter escaping his lips.
"Not bad, Kael!" his father exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face. "You're learning!"
Kael, now out of breath, couldn't help but smile. "What was the purpose of this training? Why so intense?"
His father's expression shifted, a solemnity settling over him. "Because I won't be here for a while," he said, his voice hoarse. "I've been recalled by the Federation back into service. I'll be deployed with other retired knights on a battleship to help prepare the defenses of Ethra Prime."
Kael's heart dropped, panic rising within him. "What? No! You can't leave!" The words tumbled out before he could stop them, fear gripping him like a vice.
His father raised a hand, a softer note in his voice. "Calm down, Kael. I'm not being sent to the front lines. I'll be stationed at the edge of the Ethra System with the rest of the reserves, just in case."
A storm of emotions crashed over Kael—doubt, fear, anxiety—all swirling within him, threatening to overwhelm him. "But what if something happens? What if you don't come back?"
His father stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on Kael's shoulder. "It's my duty as a knight to defend our planet. But you must be strong now. You'll have to take care of your mother and sister while I'm gone. I don't know when I'll return, or if I will at all. It could be years."
Kael felt the weight of his father's words settle heavily on his chest. The thought of being responsible for his family was daunting, and he felt a surge of panic rising again. "But I haven't even received my acceptance letter yet!" he protested, desperation creeping into his voice.
His father reached into the leather sparring vest he wore and pulled out a letter, the golden words on the front glinting in the sunlight. The back was sealed with a red wax seal, depicting a knight's great helm with two swords crossed behind it—the official symbol of the Academy.
Overwhelmed, Kael took the letter from his father with shaky hands, turning it over to examine it. His father smiled, a glimmer of pride in his eyes. "I'll leave you alone to read it. Come inside when you're done for breakfast."
Kael barely registered his father's words as he turned the letter over again, noticing that the golden words spelled out his name. With trembling fingers, he broke the seal and pulled out the thick paper, his heart racing as he read the contents:
Thank you for applying to the Silvercrest Knight Academy. We are pleased to announce that you have been accepted into the Academy. You are expected to report to the academy main office two days hence by 8:00 in the morning for equipment and node assignment.
Kael's breath caught in his throat. He remembered the nodes—implants that connected users directly to one another, allowing for seamless communication and access to information. They could analyze stats, record thoughts, and even project information directly into the user's vision. It was a revolutionary advancement, and he couldn't believe he would be receiving one.
But all of that was secondary to the realization that he had made it. Here in his hand was the proof that all his hard work had paid off. A wave of exhilaration washed over him, and he felt a smile break across his face, brighter than he had felt in years.
As he prepared to walk inside, laughter bubbled up from within him, a joyous sound that echoed through the backyard. He had been accepted! The weight of his father's deployment still loomed over him, but in this moment, he felt a spark of hope. He would rise to the challenge, just as his father had taught him.
With renewed determination, Kael clutched the letter tightly, ready to face whatever lay ahead. He would honor his father's legacy, protect his family, and embrace the path of a knight. The future was uncertain, but he was ready to forge his own destiny.