Once again my father’s words inspired me. I walked to the corner where Carl was practicing. My eyes fell on the red head guy, his hair colour was just like his mind, blazing fire, always burning him and others.

I waited silently for him to finish. However, he didn’t stop even though a lot of time passed.

“Ha ha”

“Hwing hwing” the sound of his sword cutting the air and his shouts were reverberating in the air.

I was hesitant when I found that he didn’t show any sign of stopping although he was soaked with sweat. Though I knew him for a long time, he did not look friendly at all in the morning.

‘What should I do? should I just leave’

When I turned back, I suddenly heard something dropping. When I looked back in a hurry, I noticed a familiar sword rolling on the floor. I was startled and stopped because the boy looking at the sword was very strange to me.

“Damn it.”

The boy kicked the ground nervously and lay on the ground.

‘Should I just turn around now?’ He didn’t look good. When I was hesitating for a moment, the boy who caught his rough breath, greeted me, covering his eyes with his hand.

“why are you here?” his voice had no friendliness in it. It was clear that he was annoyed about my presence there.

“Oh, you are practicing hard.”

“Well, not so much.”

I shook my head at his unusual reaction. Did something bad happen to him?

“Hey.” i called again, as he was looking distracted from the conversation.

“Huh?”

“Are you okay?”

“Oh, yes. I’m okay.”

“That’s good to know.”

When I was about to ask him what happened, Carl suddenly picked up the sword again after springing to his feet.

“Are you practicing again?” I asked , surprised as his face was already red, and his breathes were still shallow. He must have been training since morning.

“Yes. If you’re not going to practice, just leave and mind your own business.”

“I am here to ask you to teach me too.”

He shook his hand as if he was annoyed and began to wield the sword again. What the heck? Would he not even respond to me now? And why was he so angry, What happened?

“Carl, I said I am here to learn sword wielding from you.” my voice came sharper than i had expected, but good thing was i was finally able to gain his attention.

“And why would i teach a young crying girl, go and cry in front of your brother.” he snarled with a mocking face.

Was he like that before too? No, he was caring, though he was sarcastic, he had helped me every time.

“I am not a young girl, I am an adult who can make her decisions. Are you afraid that I would be a better knight than you if you would train me, that is why you are afraid of teaching me huh!!?” I shouted in anger, and his steps halted.

I smirked at the result but it turned stiff when I noticed everyone was looking at me strangely. Oh lord! I shouted more than what was required.

Now I must be sounding like an arrogant and rude girl, whom they dislike further.

He raised a brow as he looked at me.

“So you think you could be a better knight than me?” he asked out loud, it was clear that he wanted to embarrass me further.

“I would be if you train me.” i replied confidently as this was not the time to cower under the scrutinizing gazes of everyone.

“Very well, but then don’t complain to your father later that your perfect hair is spoiled. Or your soft dresses are ruined. Oh no, you will cry for the small scratches that you will get while training.” he said in a mocking tone, mimicking the crying of a young girl.

Was he a bully from the start! This man needed nothing but beating, but I bore everything, because I needed him right now. I would show him later what crying was.

“Noah, she is my sister. Treat her properly” i saw Nickolas coming out of the crowd and shouting at him, he was almost there to clutch his shirt and start a fight. And all that was because of me.

“If she is so precious Nickolas, why don’t you keep her in the safe. She is the one who came to me crying that she wanted to learn from me, and now she needs you even for speaking for herself. What an embarrassment!!” said Carl, whom Nickolas was calling Noah, was that secret identity father was talking about, but why did he need to hide his name!!

“Mind your tongue, Noah.”

“Why don’t you do it first?”

“Both of you! Would you keep your personal problem aside? And Ca.. Noah I would not cry even if my clothes got ruined or I got a few wounds on my skin. Now would you start training me or you can only use your mouth to fight?”

“But Abigail” I heard Nickolas stopping me. It was clear he did not like Carl, but I knew he would not be able to train me perfectly.

I would always be his sister first and then a knight. So it was impossible for him to be harsh on me. And Carl, the way he was talking to me, it was clear that he did not like me. So I was sure he would treat me harshly and give the toughest training one could bear, and that was all what I needed right now.