Kingdoms Divided

Chapter 5

Jiban is woken up by a helper the next morning where they tell him to get ready so they can escort you to the field. Before Jiban can ask any questions, the helper leaves for Jiban to get ready. He gets up and puts on the clothes given to him the night before. He finds himself fixing his hair in the mirror in the room once he is dressed. In the mirror he can see what he is wearing, white and silver, the colors of the Kingdom of Lun. He is not only wearing the enemy's colors, he is in what looks like a uniform of sorts. This is not the one he saw the other soldiers wearing though, it doesn't look like a soldier's uniform that would be worn into battle. Before he can go too deep into his thoughts, the servant knocks on the door asking if he is ready.

    "Y-yes." Jiban takes one more look at himself before leaving and follows the servant who leaves him with a guard which takes him the rest of the way. The guard doesn't speak, but gives Jiban a sour look the whole way to the field. They arrive at a field with many others dressed as Jiban is. Men and women both are practicing archery, sword fighting, and things that Jiban has never seen till now, he is at the training field. There are even little boys and girls training with older individuals, another culture shock for Jiban for sure.

    "Good morning Ji, hope you slept well." Lennox walks over to him, now standing behind him in his full king attire. Jiban whips around to look at him and is in shock by his beauty for a moment. The way he looks standing there with a sword, hands behind his back, in full authoritative manor, something about it made Jiban's heart skip. "Ji-'' Lennox asks again.

    "Uh- yes. I slept fine." Jiban manages to spit out.

    "Are you wondering what you're doing here today?" Lennox asks and waves the guard to leave. "Walk with me." They start a tour around the training field where Lennox shows him where everyone starts their training, and where they workout in order to stay in shape. Where they practice combat and archery. "I want to see what you got." Lennox says, stopping at an archery post handing him a bow and arrow. "So this is why I am wearing a soldier's uniform? You want to see if I tr-" Jiban begins, but is interrupted.

"Oh no no, these are not a soldier's uniform. You have to earn that. This-" Lennox grabs a piece of Jiban's shirt. "-is simply training fabric. Nothing more."

    "Training? I think I had enough training as a kid." Jiban thinks back to his earliest memories where his father trained him for hours at a young age. As prince he has been in many battles, leading some, and being a part of others with his father to teach him how to protect their kingdom. Jiban trained with his brother and other soldiers as well to learn the 'proper' way to battle as the Northern Kingdom does. They have a certain edicate and tactic to their style of fighting, even though Jiban sometimes would rebel against that to do his own thing.

    "We'll see about that." Lennox shaves the bow and arrows into his hands. "Shoot." He says pointing at the targets. Jiban looks around and sees many are distracted from their training now, just waiting to see what he does. He swallows his nerves and begins to set up the bow, pulling back on the string before letting go. He hit the middle of the target. "See I-"

    "That was cute." Lennox chuckles.

    "Cute? What do you mean cute!?" Jabin is offended.

    "Do it again." Lennox says, and so he does, again and again. The same results every time, still Lennox is not impressed. "You're consistent, I'll give you that."

    "You know what, if you can do better, then you do it." Jiban says taking off the gear and pushing it into Leenox's hands. The whole field is watching now and there is an "Ooooooo" sound from the surrounding traneeies. Lennox's face changes to a smile as he clearly is now cocky. "Gladly." Lennox replies, taking the gear and putting it on.