My New Life in TBATE

Friend of the family

When we got back to the mansion, courtesy of a spare carriage from Priscilla, we immediately had to fill Vincent in on everything that happened. He of course questioned about my cheek, which lead through the whole thing and by the end of it he could only sigh in relief that everything turned out okay.

"We will get you a new sword during the auction, Jaron. Do not worry." I gave him a faint smile as I clutched the handle that remained from my wooden sword. Even with it only being half an hour I could feel the loss of not having my sword. Like a phantom limb it was there but wasn't. The weight felt full until I looked at it and remembered it wasn't.

It's strange feeling this way about a wooden sword for but for all intents and purposes it had become apart of me after these years. It was about time I get real sword anyways, my body is strong enough to handle one, though the size will still be a problem.

"Well actually dad, you don't have to worry about that." I say as I scratch my cheek while looking away.

"Huh? What do you mean? Of course we do! We know how much that sword meant to you. Oh! And what am I going to tell Meredith when she inevitably hears about this." He said while holding a hand to his head, thumb rubbing one temple and middle finger the other.

"I'll talk to head mother, but as for not worrying about the sword... Well Queen Priscilla kind of "offered" to buy anything I wanted at the auction tomorrow." I said with a sheepish smile.

"Well we have to refuse." He said instantly.

"No no, I don't think you understand she "offered" to pay for anything I wanted in return for saving her daughter." He glanced back and forth between me and Tabitha before realization dawned on him.

"Ah so you don't have much choice in the matter." A collective nod was shared between me, Tabitha and Lilia.

"Very well, just make sure to not take advantage of their hospitality. Not that I think you would. Oh who am I kidding, knowing Priscilla and even Blaine I imagine they'll buy several things if you just pick one or 2." Again another set of nod were shared before we heard a loud yawn come from Lilia. Seeing the sky was now dark, and everyone feeling the fatigue of the day we called it a night.

[The Next Day]

The next morning I woke up at the same time I always do, just an hour before the sunrise. I head to the bathroom for my daily routine, but to also check out my scar on my cheek. Standing in front of the mirror I hold a light close to it and take in all the details.

At the height of my cheekbone just an inch below my eye it starts just below the outside corner of my eye and traces a downward arc until it reaches my earlobe. Like most scars it had the jagged tearing remnants at the edges of the scar, the width of it was probably only about half an inch. So not terrible, but it definitely contrasted my previously unblemished skin I imagine the maids and my mother will curse the knife thrower until they die. Both them and the assassin.

I'm not one to be to obsessed with looks but I can't lie I had enjoyed having such good looks. Besides it's not like it's hideous, if anything it just makes me look badass and I'm sure as I grow older it will shrink. Leaving the bathroom I go start my normal workout.

Starting with my warmup stretches, after these past 2 and a half years I had become incredibly flexible. Probably as much as any professional ballet dancer, I know they train for years to get that kind of flexibility, but they also don't have mana.

Stretches out of the way I start my first set of 10 laps around the property with wind drafts equal to 100 pounds of weight. After that is my 1000 sword swings broken up into sets of 100 swings at a time. Obviously I didn't have my sword anymore, but that didn't mean I couldn't still do my swings. A lot of times with stuff like this it's a large part visualization as well.