crown [C. TARTAGLIA]

04

"no, if you do it like that you'll end up breaking your thumb." leonid walks over to you and held your fist, arranging it in the right way. "there, that's how you do it. now begin."

and so your training starts.

it had been a couple of years since your parent's met their demise. ever since then you had been living with leonid, a butler of yours ever since you were young.

you stood and punched the sand bag, over and over until you were satisfied. leonid watched over you from a distance, hands crossed to his chest observing your every move.

"you're improving. that's good." he comments.

"it's not enough." you replied. "no, it's not enough. i still have a lot to go through."

he sighs as he hears the words you often said time and time again. "alright, then i'll continue to teach you everything i know."

"thank you leonid." you look down on your gloved hand as sweat dripped from the side of your forehead. "one day, i will catch him."

°

present day...

childe sighed in relief as he sat on top of a tree, letting the cold breeze calm him down to ease the stress away. it had not even been a full day but ever since he met you all he felt was his energy draining little by little.

"finally, some peace and quiet." he rests his head on the trunk as he sat on one of the thick limbs, trees rustled from above him providing him with comfort.

from the moment he met you all he could think about was how much of a unqiue individual you were. you were experienced in fighting, quick witted, and good looking as well. when he saw you taking the ring the old lady placed inside your bag, he followed you with the thought that you were behind the thievery that took his ring.

he took the ring out of his pocket and examined it again in his hand. "alexandrite..."

he had to wonder who trained you and why. it wasn't always that you could get a hand in martial arts at such a young age yet actually master it, were you some martial artist's daughter? or perhaps you were trained for something. either way, he was curious.

"hey."

all of the comfort childe felt soon vanished as soon as he heard your voice down below. "really? it hasn't even been an hour."

"yeah i know i'm amazing, now hurry back down."

"why do you always have to bother me? just go have a tour of the palace or something." he placed his ring back.

"no need, i already memorized a map of the entire thing."

childe simply gave you a blank stare before sighing once more, "what in the world do i have to do to get rid of you?"

"you won't."

suddenly, an idea sparked into mind. "say, what if i bested you in a duel. would you leave me alone then?"

"fine." you grin. "but if i win, his highness would have to do something for me in return."

°

how long was this going to keep up? was what childe thought as he sparred with you below the tree he previously sat up.

every move he could come up with you found a counter to. not only that but even if he managed to slip a couple of punches, you wouldn't even budge. same goes for him though, but he definitely underestimated your abilities.