Shifting Tides

Royal Studies

"Don't push yourself too hard, Adam."

"I have to..."

"...."

About a month ago when they had just arrived home, Adam was hit with quite an unreasonable demand.

"Learn how to act as royalty and be on par with Shina in terms of studies by the end of the month."

It sounded absurd but with the current circumstances, it was a choice the king had to force onto the boy. He dictated that they had to announce their relationship during Shina's coming-of-age ceremony at the end of the of the year.

In the present, Adam was studying in the library with Shina while practicing proper etiquette at the same time. Often times, he would fall unconscious in the middle of doing something that it worried Shina a lot.

Shina and Celia had been trying their best to help him get the hang of it while not to overwork him. The king's demands were too much for a boy like him to handle and it'll be a miracle if Elizabeth doesn't take action against the king.

Adam was good at studying but the amount of material he had to digest was too much. History, Geography, Politics, Mathematics. He had to cover a lot of topics.

"Let's go get some fresh air, okay?"

"That sounds...nice."

Adam's eyes were slowly becoming that of an owl's. He put down the social etiquette book on the table filled with books and followed Shina to the training grounds as it was quite an open area.

"Oh, Sir Scott."

"Celia? Oh, Shina and Adam too. What are you all doing here?"

Scott was training some soldiers on the dusty field due to their lack of experience. He was renowned for his combat prowess and his was asked by the king himself to train these people.

"We're here for some fresh air. Adam had probably grown tired from being in the library for so long."

"I get ya. Being stuck in such a stuffy room for that long would drive anyone cray cray."

"We'll be sitting on the sides so please continue whatever you're doing....Adam? Where are you going?"

Adam walked towards Scott and brought out his signature sword, pointing it towards him. His hair grew white and his eyes garnered a calm blue color to it.

"Oh? That's quite daring of you to invite me to a duel even though you look like an owl."

Scott sneered at the cold Adam who still stood his ground with his sword. He looked very tired of Scott's jokes.

"Fine...Troops, stand aside."

The soldiers made way to the sides of the grounds and observed the duel that was about to happen.

Scott brandished his blade and took a few steps back with shield in his opposite hand. He stared at the dead-eyed boy in front of him, waiting to see who would go for the first strike.

While having the first move is advantageous, if the enemy is of a high skill level, the chances of the attack being countered would be very likely.

This was the case for this duel. Just as Scott was wary against Adam's sheer strength and speed, the opposition too was wary against their experience.

After a few seconds of dead silence, Adam heaved out a sigh and disappeared from his spot, leaving a puff of dust behind.

Scott felt his life flashing before his eyes and immediately turned back to stop a blow from behind. His opponent had just moved at an insanely high speed but his own experience made it easy for him to react.